The Timing and Dose Effect of Acupuncture on Pregnancy Outcomes for Infertile Women Undergoing In Vitro Fertilization and Embryo Transfer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Women undergoing in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) often utilize acupuncture to enhance pregnancy outcomes. Yet, the optimal timing for acupuncture sessions and the relationship between dosage and effect remain uncertain. Objectives: To investigate the impact of the timing and dosage of acupuncture on pregnancy outcomes, drawing on existing research. Methods: A comprehensive search of eight databases was conducted from their inception to January 14th, 2023, without restrictions on language. Only randomized controlled trials comparing acupuncture with either sham acupuncture or no adjuvant treatment were selected for inclusion. This meta-analysis assessed the efficacy of acupuncture in IVF-ET, analyzing the influence of varied timing and dosage on pregnancy outcomes. Subgroup analyses were undertaken to address any heterogeneity across the studies. Results: A total of 38 RCTs involving 5,991 participants were analyzed. In infertile women undergoing IVF fresh cycles, acupuncture performed during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) significantly increased the clinical pregnancy rate (CPR) (relative risk [RR] = 1.33, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.07-1.65, p = 0.01), whereas acupuncture administered either before COH or on the day of ET did not demonstrate reproductive benefits. Regarding frozen cycles, acupuncture before freeze-thaw embryo transfer (FET) significantly enhanced the CPR (RR = 1.71, 95% CI: 1.36-2.16, p < 0.00001) and live birth rate (LBR) (RR = 2.40, 95% CI: 1.20-4.79, p = 0.01). Improvements in CPR were observed across all dosage groups, but only the high-dosage group showed a significant increase in LBR (RR = 1.75, 95% CI: 1.05-2.92, p = 0.03). Conclusions: Timing and dosage of acupuncture are crucial factors affecting pregnancy outcomes in IVF-ET. For women undergoing IVF fresh cycles, acupuncture during COH yielded more significant reproductive benefits. In addition, acupuncture before freeze-thaw embryo transfer (FET) was associated with improved pregnancy outcomes in frozen cycles. Furthermore, higher dosages of acupuncture were linked to more favorable outcomes.

HOGG1 polymorphism in atrophic gastritis and gastric cancer after Helicobacter pylori eradication.

AIM: To investigate the association between Ser326Cys human oxoguanine glycosylase 1 (hOGG1) polymorphism and atrophic gastritis and gastric cancer after Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication. METHODS: A total of 488 subjects (73 patients with gastric cancer, 160 with atrophic gastritis after H. pylori eradication and 255 controls) were prospectively collected. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis was performed to distinguish hOGG1 Ser326Cys polymorphism. Statistical analysis was conducted by two-sample t test for continuous variables and χ(2) test for categorical variables. Logistic regression models were used to find the risk factors for gastric cancer and atrophic gastritis. RESULTS: Neither the hOGG1 Ser/Cys nor the Cys/Cys genotype was associated with gastric cancer. Compared with the Ser/Ser genotype, odds ratio (OR) for Ser/Cys was 0.96, (95% CI: 0.51-1.84) and OR for Cys/Cys was 1.1 (95% CI: 0.48-2.1). No association was detected between hOGG1 polymorphism and Lauren type of gastric cancer (P = 0.61) either. However, Ser/Cys and Cys/Cys were significantly associated with atrophic gastritis with OR: 1.76 for Ser/Cys (95% CI: 1.03-3.0) and 2.38 for Cys/Cys (95% CI: 1.34-4.23). After controlling for age, gender, smoking and alcohol, there were still significant associations with OR: 2.05 for Ser/Cys (95% CI: 1.14-3.68) and 2.76 for Cys/Cys (95% CI: 1.47-5.18). CONCLUSION: HOGG1 polymorphisms (Cys/Cys and Ser/Cys) are associated with atrophic gastritis. No significant association is detected between hOGG1 polymorphisms (Cys/Cys or Ser/Cys) and gastric cancer.

Protective effects of heat shock protein70 induced by geranylgeranylacetone in atrophic gastritis in rats.

AIM: To investigate the effect of geranylgeranylacetone (GGA) on the progression of atrophic gastritis in rats and its potential mechanism. METHODS: Atrophic gastritis was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats with 0.1% ammonia solution, 60% ethanol, and 20 mmol/L deoxycholic acid for 24 weeks. Accompanied by the induction of atrophic gastritis, 200 mg/kg GGA was administered by oral gavage for 8 weeks (weeks 17-24). The histological changes in gastric mucosa were quantitated by the index of inflammation, the gastric mucosal thickness, and the amount of glands of 1 mm horizontal length in antrum. Endogenous heat shock protein (HSP)70 levels and distribution were determined by immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry in gastric mucosa. RESULTS: GGA alleviated the pathological progression of atrophic gastritis with inflammation relief (inflammation index: 1.40 in the GGA group and 1.65 in the atrophic gastritis group) and glandular restoration (mucosal thickness and quantity of glands: 194.3 microm and 38.7 mm in the GGA group; 123.3 microm and 32.7 mm in the atrophic gastritis group; P<0.05). GGA significantly induced HSP70 synthesis (P<0.05). Moreover, quercetin, an inhibitor of HSP70 expression, aggravated the infiltration of inflammatory cells and glandular loss in the antrum. CONCLUSION: GGA prevented the progression of atrophic gastritis in rats via the induction of HSP70 expression.