OBJECTIVE: To explore the association between acupuncture during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) and the live birth rate (LBR) using different propensity score methods. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, eligible women who underwent a COH were divided into acupuncture and non-acupuncture groups. The primary outcome was LBR, as determined by propensity score matching (PSM). LBR was defined as the delivery of one or more living infants that reached a gestational age over 28 weeks after embryo transfer. The propensity score model encompassed 16 confounding variables. To validate the results, sensitivity analyses were conducted using three additional propensity score methods: propensity score adjustment, inverse probability weighting (IPW), and IPW with a "doubly robust" estimator. RESULTS: The primary cohort encompassed 9751 patients (1830 [18.76%] in the acupuncture group and 7921 [81.23%] in the non-acupuncture group). Following 1:1 PSM, a higher LBR was found in the acupuncture cohort (41.4% [755/1824] vs 36.4% [664/1824], with an odds ratio of 1.23 [95% confidence interval, 1.08-1.41]). Three additional propensity score methods produced essentially similar results. The risk of serious adverse events did not significantly differ between the two groups. CONCLUSION This retrospective study revealed an association between acupuncture and an increased LBR among patients undergoing COH, and that acupuncture is a safe and valuable treatment option. Please cite this article as: Zheng XY, Jiang ZY, Li YT, Li CL, Zhu H, Yu Z, Yu SY, Yang LL, Tang SY, Lü XY, Liang FR, Yang J. Association between acupuncture and live birth rates after fresh embryo transfer: A cohort study based on different propensity score methods. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(5):528-536.
Humans ; Female ; Propensity Score ; Embryo Transfer ; Adult ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Pregnancy ; Live Birth ; Birth Rate ; Cohort Studies

Colorectal cancer(CRC) is a common malignant tumor worldwide. Due to the treatment intolerance and side effects, CRC rank the top among various cancers regarding the incidence and mortality rates. Therefore, exploring new therapies is of great significance for the treatment of CRC. Aerobic glycolysis(AEG) plays an important role in the microenvironment formation, proliferation, metastasis, and recurrence of CRC and other tumor cells. It has been confirmed that intervening in the AEG pathway can effectively curb CRC. The active ingredients and compound prescriptions of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) can effectively inhibit the proliferation, metastasis, and drug resistance and regulate the apoptosis of tumor cells by modulating AEG-associated transport proteins [eg, glucose transporters(GLUT)], key enzymes [hexokinase(HK) and phosphofructokinase(PFK)], key genes [hypoxia-inducible factor 1(HIF-1) and oncogene(c-Myc)], and signaling pathways(MET/PI3K/Akt/mTOR). Accordingly, they can treat CRC, reduce the recurrence, and improve the prognosis of CRC. Although AEG plays a key role in the development and progression of CRC, the specific mechanisms are not yet fully understood. Therefore, this article delves into the intrinsic connection of the targets and mechanisms of the AEG pathway with CRC from the perspective of tumor cell glycolysis and explores how active ingredients(oxymatrine, kaempferol, and dioscin) and compound prescriptions(Quxie Capsules, Jiedu Sangen Decoction, and Xianlian Jiedu Prescription) of TCM treat CRC by intervening in the AEG pathway. Additionally, this article explores the shortcomings in the current research, aiming to provide reliable targets and a theoretical basis for treating CRC with TCM.
Humans ; Colorectal Neoplasms/genetics* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Glycolysis/drug effects* ; Animals ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Signal Transduction/drug effects*

Objective To explore clinical effect of the fifth metatarsal head excision and non-excision in rheumatoid arthritis(RA)forefoot deformity reconstruction.Methods Retrospective analysis was performed on 50 patients(76 feet)with moderate to severe forefoot deformity caused by RA treated from May 2015 to January 2019.According to degeneration of the fifth metatarsophalangeal joint,the fifth metatarsal head was retained or excised by wind-like forefoot reconstruction,and divid-ed into the fifth metatarsal head preservation group(preservation group)and the fifth metatarsal head resection group(resec-tion group).Twenty-four female patients in preservation group,aged from 47 to 81 years old with an average of(60.37±8.60)years old;the course of disease ranged from 13 to 22 years with an average of(19.00±3.06)years;body mass index(BMI)ranged from 21 to 28 kg·m-2 with an average of(23.53±2.47)kg·m-2;six patients(6 feet)with moderate hallux valgus defor-mity and 18 patients(30 feet)with severe hallux valgus deformity;treated with the first metatarsophalangeal joint fusion com-bined with the second th the fourth metatarsophalangeal joint arthroplasty and the fifth metatarsophalangeal joint cleanup.Twenty-six female patients in resection group were female,aged from 30 to 80 years old with an average of(58.53±13.70)years old;the course of disease ranged from 8 to 25 years with an average of(17.94±3.92)years;BMI raged from 20 to 28 kg·m-2 with an average of(24.60±2.03)kg·m-2;4 patients(4 feet)with moderate bunion valgus deformity and 22 patients(36 feet)with severe bunion valgus deformity;treated by the first metatarsophalangeal joint fusion combined with the second th the fifth metatarsophalangeal joint resection of the metatarsophalangeal head.Operation time and postoperative complications between two groups were observed,hallux valgus angle(HVA),intermetatarsal angles between the first and the second metatarsals(I-MAFS),intermetatarsal angles between the first and fifth metatarsals(IMAFF),Japanese Society for Surgery of Foot(JSSF)score before surgery and at the latest follow-up were compared.Results Fifty patients were followed-up from 14 to 46(25.30± 8.83)months in resection group and 12 to 48 with an average of(24.30±1 1.12)months in preservation group,while no signifi-cant difference between two groups(P＞0.05).There were no significant difference in operation time and postoperative compli-cations between two groups(P＞0.05).JSSF scores,HVA,IMAFS and IMAFF in fesection group were improved from(45.09± 3.35)points,(38.90±13.67)°,(12.88±1.72)°,(32.50±2.99)° before operation to(81.60±3.27)points,(15.40±0.90),(9.06±2.27)°,(22.20±1.98)° at the latest follow-up(P＜0.05);preservation group were improved from(47.09±3.96)points,(43.30±12.65)°,(13.99±3.13)°,(33.20±6.14)° to(83.10±3.66)points,(15.20±1.54)°,(8.99±1.02)°,(24.70±1.88)°,respectively.There were no significant difference in JSSF score,HVA,IMAFS and IMAFF between two groups before opera-tion and the latest follow-up(P＞0.05).At the latest follow-up,there were statistically significant differences in pain and defor-mity in JSSF scores between two groups(P＜0.05).Conclusion Both rheumatoid anterior foot reconstruction and anterior foot reconstruction fifth metatarsophalangeal joint debridement showed significant improvement in clinical efficacy and imaging re-sults.Compared with rheumatoid prefoot reconstruction,the fifth metatarsophalangeal joint reconstruction for the treatment of moderate and severe deformity of rheumatoid prefoot showed better improvement in pain,but worse improvement in deformity.For the moderate to severe deformity of the forefoot caused by rheumatoid disease,patients with mild to moderate degenerative deformity of the articular surface of the fifth metatarsal phalanges may be considered for use.

Stent under-expansion is a relatively common situation during coronary intervention procedure,which can lead to serious consequences such as stent restenosis,stent thrombosis and stent rupture.How to early identify and deal with stent under-expansion has achieved widespread attention in recent years.Intraluminal imaging guided percutaneous coronary intervention plays an important role in the prevention of stent under-expansion.Besides,recent studies have demonstrated the feasibility of shockwave balloon,excimer laser coronary atherectomy and rotational atherectomy in dealing with stent under-expansion.This paper reviews the pathophysiology,intraluminal imaging evaluation and management of stent under-expansion to provide a reference for coronary intervention.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of θ short burst rapid pulse stimulation(TBS)in treating schizophrenia by meta-analysis.Methods:Randomized controlled trials(RCTS)on TBS in the treatment of schizophrenia were searched from CNKI,Wanfang,VIP,China Biomedicine,Web of science,PubMed,Embase and Cochrane Library databases to December 2022.The main study indicator was the Positive and Negative Symptoms Scale(PANSS).Risk quality assessment of the included literatures was performed by two reviewers and statistical analysis was performed using RevMan5.3.Results:A total of 13 RCTS with 641 patients were included.Meta-anal-ysis showed that TBS targeting the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex(DLPFC)with intervention duration longer than 2 weeks decreased the PANSS total scores(WMD=-4.63,95％CI:-5.75--3.51,P＜0.001),positive symptom scores(WMD=-1.13,95％CI:-2.00--0.26,P＜0.05),negative symptom scores(WMD=-2.51,95％CI:-2.77--1.53,P＜0.001)and general psychopathological symptom scores(WMD=-1.20,95％CI:-1.80--0.60,P＜0.001).The adverse reactions of TBS included dizziness,and no serious adverse e-vents were reported.Conclusion:TBS has high safety,and stimulation of left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex targets for more than 2 weeks could effectively improve psychiatric symptoms in patients with schizophrenia.

Objective To compare image quality of 3.0T and 5.0T MR cholangiopancreatography(MRCP).Methods Eighteen patients with bile duct dilation(bile duct dilation group)and 7 healthy volunteers(healthy group)were prospectively enrolled.MRCP was performed with 3.0T and 5.0T scanners,respectively,and the ability for displaying details of bile duct tree,signal-to-noise ratio(SNR)and image artifacts were compared between 3.0T and 5.0T MRCP.Results In bile duct dilation group,the number of branches,total branch length and the maximum branch length of bile duct tree on 5.0T MRCP were all greater than those on 3.0T MRCP(all P＜0.05).In healthy group,the number of branches and total branch length of bile duct tree on 5.0T MRCP were both greater than those on 3.0T MRCP(both P＜0.05).In both groups,the SNR of 5.0T MRCP was greater than that of 3.0T MRCP,but the difference was not significant(both P＞0.05).No significant difference of image artifacts was found between 3.0T and 5.0T MRCP(P=0.054).Conclusion 5.0T MRCP might display better anatomical details of bile duct tree than 3.0T MRCP,with SNR and image artifacts comparable to 3.0T MRCP.

Patients with severe trauma require an extremely timely treatment and transfusion plays an irreplaceable role in the emergency treatment of such patients. An increasing number of evidence-based medicinal evidences and clinical practices suggest that patients with severe traumatic bleeding benefit from early transfusion of low-titer group O whole blood or hemostatic resuscitation with red blood cells, plasma and platelet of a balanced ratio. However, the current domestic mode of blood supply cannot fully meet the requirements of timely and effective blood transfusion for emergency treatment of patients with severe trauma in clinical practice. In order to solve the key problems in blood supply and blood transfusion strategies for emergency treatment of severe trauma, Branch of Clinical Transfusion Medicine of Chinese Medical Association, Group for Trauma Emergency Care and Multiple Injuries of Trauma Branch of Chinese Medical Association, Young Scholar Group of Disaster Medicine Branch of Chinese Medical Association organized domestic experts of blood transfusion medicine and trauma treatment to jointly formulate Chinese expert consensus on blood support mode and blood transfusion strategies for emergency treatment of severe trauma patients ( version 2024). Based on the evidence-based medical evidence and Delphi method of expert consultation and voting, 10 recommendations were put forward from two aspects of blood support mode and transfusion strategies, aiming to provide a reference for transfusion resuscitation in the emergency treatment of severe trauma and further improve the success rate of treatment of patients with severe trauma.

Background and aim:Hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury(IRI)is a significant challenge in liver trans-plantation,trauma,hypovolemic shock,and hepatectomy,with limited effective interventions available.This study aimed to investigate the role of leukocyte cell-derived chemotaxin 2(LECT2)in hepatic IRI and assess the therapeutic potential of Lect2-short hairpin RNA(shRNA)delivered through adeno-associated virus(AAV)vectors. Materials and methods:This study analyzed human liver and serum samples from five patients under-going the Pringle maneuver.Lect2-knockout and C57BL/6J mice were used.Hepatic IRI was induced by clamping the hepatic pedicle.Treatments included recombinant human LECT2(rLECT2)and AAV-Lect2-shRNA.LECT2 expression levels and serum biomarkers including alanine aminotransferase(ALT),aspartate aminotransferase(AST),creatinine,and blood urea nitrogen(BUN)were measured.Histological analysis of liver necrosis and quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction were performed. Results:Serum and liver LECT2 levels were elevated during hepatic IRI.Serum LECT2 protein and mRNA levels increased post reperfusion.Lect2-knockout mice had reduced weight loss;hepatic necrosis;and serum ALT,AST,creatinine,and BUN levels.rLECT2 treatment exacerbated weight loss,hepatic necrosis,and serum biomarkers(ALT,AST,creatinine,and BUN).AAV-Lect2-shRNA treatment significantly reduced weight loss,hepatic necrosis,and serum biomarkers(ALT,AST,creatinine,and BUN),indicating thera-peutic potential. Conclusions:Elevated LECT2 levels during hepatic IRI increased liver damage.Genetic knockout or shRNA-mediated knockdown of Lect2 reduced liver damage,indicating its therapeutic potential.AAV-mediated Lect2-shRNA delivery mitigated hepatic IRI,offering a potential new treatment strategy to enhance clinical outcomes for patients undergoing liver-related surgeries or trauma.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of brexpiprazole in treating acute schizophrenia.Methods Patients with schizophrenia were randomly divided into treatment group and control group.The treatment group was given brexpiprozole 2-4 mg·d-1 orally and the control group was given aripiprazole 10-20 mg·d-1orally,both were treated for 6 weeks.Clinical efficacy of the two groups,the response rate at endpoint,the changes from baseline to endpoint of Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale(PANSS),Clinical Global Impression-Improvement(CGI-S),Personal and Social Performance scale(PSP),PANSS Positive syndrome subscale,PANSS negative syndrome subscale were compared.The incidence of treatment-related adverse events in two groups were compared.Results There were 184 patients in treatment group and 186 patients in control group.After treatment,the response rates of treatment group and control group were 79.50％(140 cases/184 cases)and 82.40％(150 cases/186 cases),the scores of CGI-I of treatment group and control group were(2.00±1.20)and(1.90±1.01),with no significant difference(all P＞0.05).From baseline to Week 6,the mean change of PANSS total score wese(-30.70±16.96)points in treatment group and(-32.20±17.00)points in control group,with no significant difference(P＞0.05).The changes of CGI-S scores in treatment group and control group were(-2.00±1.27)and(-1.90±1.22)points,PSP scores were(18.80±14.77)and(19.20±14.55)points,PANSS positive syndrome scores were(-10.30±5.93)and(-10.80±5.81)points,PANSS negative syndrome scores were(-6.80±5.98)and(-7.30±5.15)points,with no significant difference(P＞0.05).There was no significant difference in the incidence of treatment-related adverse events between the two group(69.00％vs.64.50％,P＞0.05).Conclusion The non-inferiority of Brexpiprazole to aripiprazole was established,with comparable efficacy and acceptability.

ObjectiveBased on the ultrastructure of enteric nervous system （ENS）-platelet-derived growth factor receptor α positive （PDGFRα⁺） cell - smooth muscle cell （SMC） network， the effect and mechanism of Shuwei Decoction （舒胃汤） for rats with functional dyspepsia （FD） of liver-depression and spleen-deficiency syndrome were explored. MethodsFifty SD rats were divided into blank group， model group， low-， medium- and high-dose Shuwei Decoction groups randomly， with 10 rats in each group. The blank group was not set up， and the other 4 groups were set up with the modified composite cause （chronic restraint stress + tail irritation + excessive fatigue + diet disorder） for 21 days， resulting in FD model rats with liver-depression and spleen-deficiency syndrome. After successful modelling， rats in the low-， medium- and high-dose groups were given 3.78， 7.56 and 15.12 g/（kg·d） of Shuwei Decoction by gavage， respectively， while rats in the blank group and the model group were given 10 ml/（kg·d） of saline by gavage； all of them were given gavage once a day for 14 days. Body mass increase were collected before and after gavage， and compared after the experiment； the elevated cross maze experiment was conducted to observe the percentage of staying time and the percentage of times entering the open arm of rats； the gastric emptying rate and small intestinal propulsion rate were measured by black semi-solid paste； HE staining was used to observe histopathology of the gastric antrum； the Western Blotting and RT-qPCR were used to detect the expression levels of PDGFRα， small conductance calcium activated potassium （SK3）， and purinergic G protein-coupled receptor P2Y1 （P2Y1 R）， and mRNA expression in gastric antrum； immunofluorescence double staining was used to detect the co-localization of PDGFRα with receptor tyrosine kinase （C-kit）， protein gene product 9.5 （PGP9.5）， Sk3， and smooth muscle cells （SMCs） in gastric sinusoidal tissues； and transmission electron microscopy was used to observe the ultrastructure of the ENS-PDGFRα⁺ cell-SMC network. ResultsHE staining results showed that the mucosal folds of gastric tissue were clear in all groups， no organic lesions such as bleeding， ulceration and swelling were observed， and the arrangement of gastric glands in the lamina propria of gastric sinusoidal tissues in model group and low-dose Shuwei Decoction group was disordered. The arrangement of gastric glands in lamina propria in medium- and high-dose Shuwei Decoction groups was more orderly， and the lesion degree was less than that in model group and low-dose Shuwei Decoction group. Compared with the blank group， the growth value of body mass， the percentage of open arm retention time， the percentage of times entering the open arm， the small intestine propulsion rate， and the gastric empty rate of rats in the model group significantly decreased after gavage； the expressions of PDGFRα， Sk3， P2Y1 protein and mRNA in gastric sinusoidal tissues decreased； the co-localization expression of PDGFRα with C-kit， Sk3， SMC and PGP9.5 significantly decreased （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）； the ultrastructure of ENS-PDGFRα⁺ cell-SMC network was damaged without gap junction. Compared with model group and low-dose Shuwei Decoction group， the growth value of body mass， the percentage of open arm retention time， the percentage of times entering the open arm， the small intestine propulsion rate， and the gastric empting rate of rats in medium- and high-dose Shuwei Decoction groups increased after gavage； the expressions of PDGFRα， Sk3， P2Y1 protein and mRNA in gastric sinusoidal tissues increased； the co-localization expression of PDGFRα with C-kit， Sk3， SMC and PGP9.5 significantly increased （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）； the ultrastructure of ENS-PDGFRα⁺ cell-SMC network was intact. Compared with medium-dose Shuwei Decoction group， the protein expressions of PDGFRα， Sk3 and P2Y1， the mRNA expressions of PDGFRα and Sk3， and the co-localization expressions of PDGFRα and C-kit， Sk3， SMC， and PGP9.5 in high-dose Shuwei Decoction group increased （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. ConclusionShuwei Decoction can improve the pathological lesion of the gastric antrum in the FD model rats with liver-depression and spleen-deficiency syndrome and increase the gastric emptying rate as well as the small intestinal propusion rate. The mechanism of Shuwei Decoction on FD rats with liver-depression and spleen-deficiency syndrome is related to the protection of the ultrastructural integrity of ENS-PDGFRα⁺ cell-SMC network.