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

Objective To investigate the expression of SORT1 in the gastric cancer tissue and analyze its relationship with clinical prognosis of patients as well as the pathways and mechanisms involved in gastric cancer progression.Methods The Gene Expression Profiling Interaction Analysis database,Western blot,and immunohistochemistry were employed to predict and analyze the expression of SORT1 in the gastric cancer and the adjacent tissue.The clinical case information of 109 patients who underwent radical surgery for gastric cancer in the First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical University from April 2015 to April 2017 was collected to analyze the relationship of SORT1 with the clinicopathological parameters and prognosis of the patients.Cell proliferation was detected by the CCK-8 assay and colony formation assay,while cell migration and invasion were assessed by the scratch assay and Transwell assay,respectively.Western blot was employed to determine the expression of proteins related to epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)in gastric cancer cells,followed by further analysis on molecular mechanism through which SORT1 regulates EMT in gastric cancer cells.Results Western blot and immunocytochemistry results showed that SORT1 was highly expressed in the gastric cancer tissue(P=0.003,P<0.001),which was positively correlated with malignant progression of tumors(all P<0.05).The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed shortened postoperative survival periods for the patients with high expression of SORT1(P<0.001).The Cox regression model indicated that SORT1 expression was an independent risk factor affecting the 5-year survival rate after surgery for gastric cancer patients(P<0.001).Up-regulation of SORT1 expression promoted the proliferation,migration,invasion,and EMT of gastric cancer cells(all P<0.05),while down-regulation of SORT1 showed the opposite effects(all P<0.05).Western blot results showed that high expression of SORT1 promoted the expression of β-catenin,cyclin D1,and c-Myc(all P<0.05).Moreover,in vitro use of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway inhibitor(XAV939)effectively suppressed the EMT enhancement caused by high expression of SORT1 in gastric cancer cells(all P<0.05).Conclusions SORT1 is highly expressed in gastric cancer and affects patients' postoperative survival periods.It is involved in the proliferation,migration,and invasion of gastric cancer cells and may promote the EMT of gastric cancer cells by activating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.
Humans ; Stomach Neoplasms/pathology* ; Cell Proliferation ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; Cell Movement ; Prognosis ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Adaptor Proteins, Vesicular Transport/metabolism* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Shexiang Tongxin Dropping Pill (STDP) in treating stable angina patients with phlegm-heat and blood-stasis syndrome by exercise duration and metabolic equivalents. METHODS: This multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial enrolled stable angina patients with phlegm-heat and blood-stasis syndrome from 22 hospitals. They were randomized 1:1 to STDP (35 mg/pill, 6 pills per day) or placebo for 56 days. The primary outcome was the exercise duration and metabolic equivalents (METs) assessed by the standard Bruce exercise treadmill test after 56 days of treatment. The secondary outcomes included the total angina symptom score, Chinese medicine (CM) symptom scores, Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) scores, changes in ST-T on electrocardiogram and adverse events (AEs). RESULTS: This trial enrolled 309 patients, including 155 and 154 in the STDP and placebo groups, respectively. STDP significantly prolonged exercise duration with an increase of 51.0 s, compared to a decrease of 12.0 s with placebo (change rate: -11.1% vs. 3.2%, P<0.01). The increase in METs was significantly greater in the STDP group than in the placebo group (change: -0.4 vs. 0.0, change rate: -5.0% vs. 0.0%, P<0.01). The improvement of total angina symptom scores (25.0% vs. 0.0%), CM symptom scores (38.7% vs. 11.8%), reduction of nitroglycerin consumption (100.0% vs. 11.3%), and all domains of SAQ, were significantly greater with STDP than placebo (all P<0.01). The changes in Q-T intervals at 28 and 56 days from baseline were similar between the two groups (both P>0.05). Twenty-five participants (16.3%) with STDP and 16 (10.5%) with placebo experienced AEs (P=0.131), with no serious AEs observed. CONCLUSION STDP could improve exercise tolerance in patients with stable angina and phlegm-heat and blood stasis syndrome, with a favorable safety profile. (Registration No. ChiCTR-IPR-15006020).
Humans ; Double-Blind Method ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/adverse effects* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Angina, Stable/physiopathology* ; Aged ; Syndrome ; Treatment Outcome ; Placebos ; Tablets

Numerous studies on the formation and consolidation of memory have shown that memory processes are characterized by phase-dependent and dynamic regulation. Memory retrieval, as the only representation of memory content and an active form of memory processing that induces memory reconsolidation, has attracted increasing attention in recent years. Although the molecular mechanisms specific to memory retrieval-induced reconsolidation have been gradually revealed, an understanding of the time-dependent regulatory mechanisms of this process is still lacking. In this study, we applied a transcriptome analysis of memory retrieval at different time points in the recent memory stage. Differential expression analysis and Short Time-series Expression Miner (STEM) depicting temporal gene expression patterns indicated that most differential gene expression occurred at 48 h, and the STEM cluster showing the greatest transcriptional upregulation at 48 h demonstrated the most significant difference. We then screened the differentially-expressed genes associated with that met the expression patterns of those cluster-identified genes that have been reported to be involved in learning and memory processes in addition to dipeptidyl peptidase 9 (DPP9). Further quantitative polymerase chain reaction verification and pharmacological intervention suggested that DPP9 is involved in 48-h fear memory retrieval and viral vector-mediated overexpression of DPP9 countered the 48-h retrieval-induced attenuation of fear memory. Taken together, our findings suggest that temporal gene expression patterns are induced by recent memory retrieval and provide hitherto undocumented evidence of the role of DPP9 in the retrieval-induced reconsolidation of fear memory.
Animals ; Fear/physiology* ; Male ; Dipeptidyl-Peptidases and Tripeptidyl-Peptidases/genetics* ; Memory Consolidation/physiology* ; Time Factors ; Mental Recall/drug effects* ; Mice ; Gene Expression Profiling

Objective To investigate the status of population dynamics and distribution changes of Aedes aegypti in Guangdong Province.Methods Continuous monitoring was conducted from May 2018 to July 2024 in Wushi Town and Qishui Town,Leizhou City,Zhanjiang City,Guangdong Province.Additionally,a survey of the distribution of Ae.aegypti along the Leizhou Peninsula coast was carried out.Results The density of Ae.aegypti in Zhanjiang showed a gradual decline from 2018 to 2024.The last detection of adult Ae.aegypti in Wushi Town was in September 2021,and the last larva was found in October 2023.No Ae.aegypti was detected in Qishui Town during surveys from 2021 to 2024.A survey of 18 coastal villages in the Leizhou Peninsula revealed no detections of Ae.aegypti.Conclusions This study provides a basis for understanding the distribution and population density fluctuations of Ae.aegypti,assessing its invasion risk,and scientifically conducting relevant prevention and control efforts.

Objective:Invasive pulmonary mucormycosis(PM)is a rare but highly lethal opportunistic infection.COVID-19 associated mucormycosis(CAM)is difficult to diagnose,often leading to misdiagnosis or missed diagnosis,and has poor treatment outcomes.This study reports a case of successfully treated CAM and explores optimized diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.Methods:A retrospective analysis of the diagnosis and treatment process in a 50-year-old female patient with COVID-19 associated with diabetic ketoacidosis(DKA)and invasive pulmonary mucormycosis was conducted.Combined with a literature review,the therapeutic efficacy of local bronchoscopic instillation in conjunction with systemic treatment using liposomal Amphotericin B(L-AmB)was specifically evaluated.Results:The patient was rapidly diagnosed with Rhizopus microsporus infection through metagenomic next-generation sequencing(mNGS).She subsequently received antifungal treatment with intravenous L-AmB combined with local bronchoscopic instillation.After treatment,the patient was significantly improved,with imaging studies showing gradual absorption of the lesions.Follow-up at six months revealed no recurrence.A literature review suggests that early diagnosis and multimodal therapy are key to improving survival rates in patients with CAM.Conclusion:mNGS can significantly improve the early diagnosis rate of CAM.The combination of local and systemic treatment with L-AmB is valuable in improving prognosis.Early diagnosis,multimodal antifungal therapy,and individualized management are key to increasing the survival rate of patients with CAM.

Liver diseases have a high prevalence rate worldwide with relatively poor long-term clinical outcomes and have become one of the leading causes of disease burden and death around the world,which poses significant challenges to public health.Eosinophils(Eos)are a class of highly conserved multifunctional immune cells that play critical effector roles in allergic diseases.In recent years,an increasing amount of evidence has shown that Eos plays an important role in the pathogenesis of liver diseases,exerting a protective or harmful effect in different liver diseases,which has become a research hotspot in this field.This article elaborates on the role and potential mechanism of action of Eos in liver diseases,in order to provide a new perspective for in-depth research on the pathogenesis of liver diseases and lay the foundation for developing therapeutic strategies targeting Eos.

Liver diseases have a high prevalence rate worldwide with relatively poor long-term clinical outcomes and have become one of the leading causes of disease burden and death around the world,which poses significant challenges to public health.Eosinophils(Eos)are a class of highly conserved multifunctional immune cells that play critical effector roles in allergic diseases.In recent years,an increasing amount of evidence has shown that Eos plays an important role in the pathogenesis of liver diseases,exerting a protective or harmful effect in different liver diseases,which has become a research hotspot in this field.This article elaborates on the role and potential mechanism of action of Eos in liver diseases,in order to provide a new perspective for in-depth research on the pathogenesis of liver diseases and lay the foundation for developing therapeutic strategies targeting Eos.

Objective:Invasive pulmonary mucormycosis(PM)is a rare but highly lethal opportunistic infection.COVID-19 associated mucormycosis(CAM)is difficult to diagnose,often leading to misdiagnosis or missed diagnosis,and has poor treatment outcomes.This study reports a case of successfully treated CAM and explores optimized diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.Methods:A retrospective analysis of the diagnosis and treatment process in a 50-year-old female patient with COVID-19 associated with diabetic ketoacidosis(DKA)and invasive pulmonary mucormycosis was conducted.Combined with a literature review,the therapeutic efficacy of local bronchoscopic instillation in conjunction with systemic treatment using liposomal Amphotericin B(L-AmB)was specifically evaluated.Results:The patient was rapidly diagnosed with Rhizopus microsporus infection through metagenomic next-generation sequencing(mNGS).She subsequently received antifungal treatment with intravenous L-AmB combined with local bronchoscopic instillation.After treatment,the patient was significantly improved,with imaging studies showing gradual absorption of the lesions.Follow-up at six months revealed no recurrence.A literature review suggests that early diagnosis and multimodal therapy are key to improving survival rates in patients with CAM.Conclusion:mNGS can significantly improve the early diagnosis rate of CAM.The combination of local and systemic treatment with L-AmB is valuable in improving prognosis.Early diagnosis,multimodal antifungal therapy,and individualized management are key to increasing the survival rate of patients with CAM.

Objective To investigate the effects of sakuranetin (SK) on motor functions in the mouse model of spinal cord injury (SCI) and decipher the mechanism. Methods Fifty-four C57BL/6J mice were randomized into sham,SCI,and SK groups.The mice in the sham group underwent only laminectomy at T9,while those in the SCI and SK groups were subjected to spinal cord contusion injury at T9.Behavioral tests were conducted at different time points after surgery to evaluate the motor functions of mice in each group.The pathological changes in the tissue were observed to assess the extent of SCI in each group.The role and mechanism of SK in SCI were predicted by gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses.Reverse transcription real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR,ELISA,and immunofluorescence were employed to evaluate the inflammation and activation of microglia in SCI mice.BV2 cells in vitro were classified into control (Con),lipopolysaccharide (LPS),and LPS+SK groups.The effects of SK intervention on the release of inflammatory cytokines and the activation of BV2 cells were evaluated.Furthermore,the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase(PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) signaling pathway activator insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) was used to treat the SK-induced BV2 cells in vitro (SK+IGF-1 group),and SK was used to treat the IGF-1-induced BV2 cells in vitro (IGF-1+SK group).Western blotting was conducted for molecular mechanism validation. Results Behavioral tests and histological staining results showed that compared with the SCI group,the SK group exhibited improved motor abilities and reduced area of damage in the spinal cord tissue (all P<0.001).The GO enrichment analysis predicted that SK may be involved in the inflammation following SCI.The KEGG enrichment analysis predicted that SK regulated the PI3K/Akt pathway to exert the neuroprotective effect.The results from in vitro and in vivo experiments showed that SK lowered the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α,interleukin-6,and interleukin-1β and inhibited the activation of microglia (all P<0.05).The results of Western blotting showed that SK down-regulated the phosphorylation levels of PI3K and Akt (all P<0.001) and inhibited the IGF-1-induced elevation of PI3K and Akt phosphorylation levels (all P<0.001).Conversely,IGF-1 had the opposite effects (P=0.001,P<0.001).The results of reverse transcription real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR,ELISA,and immunofluorescence showed that the SK+IGF-1 group had higher levels of inflammatory cytokines and more activated microglia than the SK group(all P<0.05). Conclusion SK may suppress the activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway to inhibit the inflammation mediated by SCI-induced activation of microglia,ameliorate the pathological damage of the spinal cord tissue,and promote the recovery of motor functions in SCI mice.
Animals ; Spinal Cord Injuries/pathology* ; Mice ; Microglia/metabolism* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Neuroinflammatory Diseases/pathology* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/metabolism* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism* ; Male ; Inflammation ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I/metabolism* ; Disease Models, Animal