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

Obesity, as a chronic recurrent disease, has become a major public health challenge in China. To implement the requirements of the Healthy China Initiative (2019—2030), under domestic guidelines or consensus statements on overweight and obesity, and in alignment with the latest scientific advances globally, the Quality control protocol for adult overweight and obesity screening in health management (examination) institutions (2025 edition) was developed. This protocol was drafted by the Health Management Center of Shanghai Changzheng Hospital and formulated through multiple rounds of deliberation by experts in China’s health examination quality control field. The protocol establishes unified standards for screening facilities, personnel qualifications, and measurement or testing procedures. It defines specific screening items, outlines a standardized screening pathway, and sets requirements for the final medical review, ensuring the scientific validity, effectiveness, and safety of the screening process. The implementation of this protocol will enhance the consistency of weight management practices for adults across health examination institutions and strengthen the quality control of overweight and obesity screening programs.

OBJECTIVE To explore the distribution and drug resistance of pathogens isolated from the children with recurrent respiratory tract infection(RRI)and analyze the expressions of Toll-like receptors(TLRs)in peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs)so as to provide bases for the diagnosis.METHODS A total of 52 children with RRI who were treated in Hainan Modern Women and Children's Hospital from Oct.2021 to Oct.2023 were re-cruited as the case group,meanwhile,61 healthy children who received physical examination were chosen as the healthy group.The distribution and drug resistance of the pathogens isolated from the case group were statistically analyzed.The levels of PBMCs TLR2 and TLR4 were compared between the two groups.The values of TLR2 and TLR4 in diagnosis of the children with RRI were analyzed by means of receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves.RESULTS Totally 311 strains of pathogens were isolated from the 52 children with RRI,among which gram-negative bacteria were dominant;Haemophilus influenzae was the major species of gram-negative bacteria,and Staphylococcus aureus was the predominant species of gram-positive bacteria.The H.influenzae strains were mainly resistant to ceftazidime,cefepime and gentamycin,but were sensitive to imipenem and meropenem.The S.aureus strains were highly resistant to penicillin and ampicillin,but were sensitive to vancomycin and nitrofuran-toin.There were significant differences in the levels of PBMCs TLR2 and TLR4 between the case group and the healthy group(P＜0.05).The area under the curve(AUC)value of the joint detection of TLR2 and TLR4 was higher than that of the single detection in diagnosis of the children with RRI(P＜0.05),the sensitivity of the joint detection was 76.92％,with the specificity 95.08％.CONCLUSIONS The gram-negative bacteria are dominant a-mong the pathogens isolated from the children with RRI.Imipenem and meropenem are recommended for the treatment of H.influenzae infection;vancomycin and nitrofurantoin are recommended for treatment of S.aureus infection.The children with RRI show the abnormal expressions of TLRs in PBMCs.The joint detection of TLR2 and TLR4 can raise the diagnostic value of the RRI children.

Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease has become a common chronic liver disease with changes in lifestyle and the increasing prevalence rate of overweight and obesity in adults and even children. The liver synthesizes bile acids via cholesterol metabolism, which are important signaling molecules that modulate and regulate host glucose, lipid metabolism, and immunity. Abnormal bile acid metabolism closely correlates with the occurrence and progression of metabolic-associated fatty liver disease. This article systematically organizes the research of bile acid metabolism in children and adults with metabolic-associated fatty liver disease from the perspective of analyzing bile acid profiles by mass spectrometry detection, and compares the characteristics of bile acid metabolic disorders across different age groups and different developmental stages of disease so as to provide a reference for subsequent research.

Objective:To examine the impact of returned migration experience on the prevalence of non-sui-cidal self-injury(NSSI)and its associations with childhood emotional maltreatment(EM),social support and sleep quality.Methods:A total of 3 901 middle school students in Guizhou Province were investigated with the Adoles-cent NSSI behavior Questionnaire,Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-short Form(CTQ-SF),Adolescent Social Sup-port Scale,and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index(PSQI).Results:The prevalence of NSSI among middle school students in Guizhou province was 22.8％,with the rate of 27.3％among returned migrant middle school students.Social support and sleep quality partially mediate the relationship between childhood EM and NSSI in mid-dle school students,with effect sizes of 0.06.The EM scores of returned migrant middle school students(β=-0.62)and non-returned migrant middle school students(β=-0.50)were negatively correlated with social sup-port scores in childhood.The sleep quality scores of returned migrant students(β=0.22)and non-returned migrant students(β=0.14)were positively correlated with NSSI scores.Conclusion:The prevalence of NSSI in returned migrant students is higher.Social support and sleep quality play an important role in the relationship between child-hood EM and NSSI in middle school students.The relationship between childhood EM and social support,sleep quality and NSSI in returned migrant middle school students is stronger than that in non-returned migrant middle school students.

OBJECTIVE To explore the distribution and drug resistance of pathogens isolated from the children with recurrent respiratory tract infection(RRI)and analyze the expressions of Toll-like receptors(TLRs)in peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs)so as to provide bases for the diagnosis.METHODS A total of 52 children with RRI who were treated in Hainan Modern Women and Children's Hospital from Oct.2021 to Oct.2023 were re-cruited as the case group,meanwhile,61 healthy children who received physical examination were chosen as the healthy group.The distribution and drug resistance of the pathogens isolated from the case group were statistically analyzed.The levels of PBMCs TLR2 and TLR4 were compared between the two groups.The values of TLR2 and TLR4 in diagnosis of the children with RRI were analyzed by means of receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves.RESULTS Totally 311 strains of pathogens were isolated from the 52 children with RRI,among which gram-negative bacteria were dominant;Haemophilus influenzae was the major species of gram-negative bacteria,and Staphylococcus aureus was the predominant species of gram-positive bacteria.The H.influenzae strains were mainly resistant to ceftazidime,cefepime and gentamycin,but were sensitive to imipenem and meropenem.The S.aureus strains were highly resistant to penicillin and ampicillin,but were sensitive to vancomycin and nitrofuran-toin.There were significant differences in the levels of PBMCs TLR2 and TLR4 between the case group and the healthy group(P＜0.05).The area under the curve(AUC)value of the joint detection of TLR2 and TLR4 was higher than that of the single detection in diagnosis of the children with RRI(P＜0.05),the sensitivity of the joint detection was 76.92％,with the specificity 95.08％.CONCLUSIONS The gram-negative bacteria are dominant a-mong the pathogens isolated from the children with RRI.Imipenem and meropenem are recommended for the treatment of H.influenzae infection;vancomycin and nitrofurantoin are recommended for treatment of S.aureus infection.The children with RRI show the abnormal expressions of TLRs in PBMCs.The joint detection of TLR2 and TLR4 can raise the diagnostic value of the RRI children.

Aim To evaluate the ameliorative effects of different ratios of Renshen-Huangjing(RH) on SPS-induced PTSD-like behaviors in mice,and to investi-gate the action mechanism using bioinformatics analysis and experimental studies.Methods The aqueous ex-tract was extracted in four ratios of RH in a total weight of 60 g,i.e.1∶0(RH1),2∶1(RH2),1∶2(RH3),and 0∶1(RH4).The extraction rates of Rg1,Rb1,and polysaccharides from different ratios of RH were then detected using UPLC-UV method.The SPS model was established,and RH1,RH2,RH3 and RH4(400 mg·kg-1)were administered by intragas-tric gavage for 14 day,followed by behavioral tests to e-valuate the PTSD-like behaviors.The serum CORT,IL-1β and IL-10 were determined by ELISA.The possible targets of action were analyzed using bioinformatics.The expression levels of Calpain-1,PSD95,BDNF and GluN2B in the hippocampus were detected by Western blot.Results The SPS model induced PTSD-like be-haviors in mice.Serum levels of CORT and IL-1β in-creased and level of IL-10 decreased in SPS model.After treatment with different ratios of RHs,RH2 showed the best therapeutic effect,which was manifes-ted in the suppression of PTSD-like behaviors,the re-duction of CORT and IL-1β levels,and the promotion of IL-10 levels;160 overlapping targets might explain the therapeutic effects of RH on PTSD,and these tar-gets were enriched in inhibiting synaptic damage,exer-ting antioxidant properties and suppressing neuroin-flammation,respectively.RH2 prevented the SPS-in-duced decrease in the expression of Calpain-1,PSD95,BDNF and the elevation of GluN2B.Molecular docking showed strong binding of Rg1 and Rb1 to Calpain-1,PSD95,and BDNF,respectively.Conclusions The a-queous extract of RH in a 2∶1 ratio can more effec-tively prevent SPS-induced PTSD-like behaviors,and its effect may be related to targets such as Calpain-1,PSD95,BDNF and GluN2B.

Objective To compare the effects of quadratus lumborum block at the lateral supra-arcuate ligament(QLB-LSAL)and erector spinae plane block(ESPB)on early postoperative recovery in patients undergoing posterior lumbar surgery.Methods Ninety-three patients,aged 25～70 years,BMI 18～30 kg/m2 and ASA physical status Ⅱ or Ⅲ and scheduled for posterior lumbar surgery,were randomly divided into QLB-LSAL combined with general anesthesia(Group Q),ESPB combined with general anesthesia(Group E),and general anesthesia alone(Group N).Postoperatively,all groups received patient-controlled intravenous analgesia(PCIA).The following parameters were recorded:the scores of Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale(RASS)and Bergman Comfort Scale(BCS)at awakening,6 h,12 h,and 24 h postoperatively;Likert scale score at PCIA cessation;the scores of Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index(PSQI)and Early Postoperative Quality of Recovery-15(QoR-15)at 1 day preopera-(P<0.05).(2)Compared with Group N,group Q exhibited lower PSQI scores and higher QoR-15 scores at 1 and 3 days postoperatively(P<0.05).No statistically significant difference in PSQI scores was observed between group E and N(P>0.05),while group E had higher QoR-15 score than group N only at 1 day postoperatively(P<0.05).Both at 1 and 3 days postoperatively,group Q had lower PSQI scores and higher QoR-15 scores than group E(P<0.05).(3)Postoperative awakening time,extubation time,PACU stay time,time to first anal exhaust and time to first ambulation were significantly shorter in group Q than those in group N(P<0.05).Group E only showed shorter time to first anal exhaust compared to group N(P<0.05).Furthermore,group Q had a significantly shorter PACU stay time than group E(P<0.01).(4)There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions among the three groups of patients.(P>0.05).Conclusions Both QLB-LSAL and ESPB effectively improve postoperative analgesia and early recovery quality.However,QLB-LSAL demonstrates advantages in enhancing patient comfort,analgesia satisfaction,sleep quality,and accelerating overall postoperative recovery.

Objective:This study aimed to investigate the regulatory role and mechanism of myosin heavy chain 9 (MYH9) in the invasion of Zika virus (ZIKV) into human glioma cells (U251).Methods:Utilizing CRISPR/Cas9 technology, MYH9-knockout U251 cells (U251-MYH9 KD) were constructed. Following ZIKV infection, the protein expression levels, RNA load, and viral titer of ZIKV were detected through western blot (WB), Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), and plaque formation assays, respectively. The infection efficiency of ZIKV in U251 cells treated with the MYH9 inhibitor blebbistatin was assessed. The binding and internalization efficiency of ZIKV were measured in U251-MYH9 KD cells. The interaction between MYH9 and the ZIKV envelope protein (E) was studied using co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP). The effects of soluble MYH9 recombinant protein and anti-human MYH9 antibodies on ZIKV infection were evaluated by qPCR and plaque formation assays. Results:It was found that knockout or inhibition of MYH9 significantly suppressed ZIKV infection in U251 cells. MYH9 knockout notably inhibited the binding and internalization of ZIKV in U251 cells. MYH9 interacted with the ZIKV E protein, and both MYH9 recombinant protein and anti-human MYH9 antibodies, by blocking the binding of ZIKV E protein to cell surface MYH9, inhibited ZIKV infection in U251 cells in a dose-dependent manner.Conclusions:MYH9 facilitates ZIKV invasion into U251 cells through interaction with the ZIKV E protein.

Cardiac fibrosis is characterized by an elevated amount of extracellular matrix (ECM) within the heart. However, the persistence of cardiac fibrosis ultimately diminishes contractility and precipitates cardiac dysfunction. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are emerging as important regulators of cardiac fibrosis. Here, we elucidate the functional role of a specific circular RNA CELF1 in cardiac fibrosis and delineate a novel feedback loop mechanism. Functionally, circ-CELF1 was involved in enhancing fibrosis-related markers' expression and promoting the proliferation of cardiac fibroblasts (CFs), thereby exacerbating cardiac fibrosis. Mechanistically, circ-CELF1 reduced the ubiquitination-degradation rate of BRPF3, leading to an elevation of BRPF3 protein levels. Additionally, BRPF3 acted as a modular scaffold for the recruitment of histone acetyltransferase KAT7 to facilitate the induction of H3K14 acetylation within the promoters of the Celf1 gene. Thus, the transcription of Celf1 was dramatically activated, thereby inhibiting the subsequent response of their downstream target gene Smad7 expression to promote cardiac fibrosis. Moreover, Celf1 further promoted Celf1 pre-mRNA transcription and back-splicing, thereby establishing a feedback loop for circ-CELF1 production. Consequently, a novel feedback loop involving CELF1/circ-CELF1/BRPF3/KAT7 was established, suggesting that circ-CELF1 may serve as a potential novel therapeutic target for cardiac fibrosis.