Dataset Information

The Effects of Acupuncture on Pregnancy Outcomes of Recurrent Implantation Failure: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for patients with recurrent implantation failure (RIF) undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) and hopefully provide reliable guidance for clinicians and patients.

Methods

Through searching domestic and foreign medical journals, the literature of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of acupuncture for RIF undergoing IVF-ET was collected. RevMan 5.3 software was used for meta-analysis and Cochrane's risk of bias assessment tool was used to evaluate the quality of the included studies.

Results

Seven documents meeting the criteria were finally included. The results showed that the intervention group contributes more in outcomes including clinical pregnancy rate (RR?=?1.90, 95% CI (1.51, 2.40), P < 0.05), biochemical pregnancy rate (RR?=?1.59, 95% CI (1.27, 1.99), P < 0.05), embryo implantation rate (RR?=?1.89, 95% CI (1.47, 2.45), P < 0.05), and endometrial thickness (MD?=?1.11, 95% CI (0.59, 1.63), P < 0.05) when compared with the control group, and the difference is statistically significant. In terms of the number of embryo transfers and the type of endometrium, the difference between the acupuncture group and the control group was not statistically significant.

Conclusion

Acupuncture therapy on patients with RIF can improve the pregnancy outcome of patients. It is a relatively effective treatment with satisfactory safety and suitable for clinical application. However, as the quality of the included studies is not good enough, the conclusion of this meta-analysis should be treated with caution. More double-blind RCTs equipped with high quality and large samples are expected for the improvement of the level of evidence.

SUBMITTER: Li M

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7878089 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

The Effects of Acupuncture on Pregnancy Outcomes of Recurrent Implantation Failure: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Li Menglin M Liu Yunyun Y Wang Haoran H Zheng Shuzhen S Deng Yinhe Y Li Yuemei Y

Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM 20210202

<h4>Objective</h4>To systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for patients with recurrent implantation failure (RIF) undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) and hopefully provide reliable guidance for clinicians and patients.<h4>Methods</h4>Through searching domestic and foreign medical journals, the literature of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of acupuncture for RIF undergoing IVF-ET was collected. RevMan 5.3 software was used for meta-analysis and ...[more]

PMID: 33613685

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Project description:BackgroundThe effects of acupuncture on in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes remain controversial. And the variation in participant, interventions, outcomes studied, and trial design may relate to the efficacy of adjuvant acupuncture.MethodsWe searched digital databases for relevant studies, including Embase, PubMed, Cochrane Library and some Chinese databases up to December 2018, for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the effects of acupuncture on women undergoing IVF. We included studies with intervention groups using needling, and control groups consisting of no acupuncture or sham (placebo) acupuncture. Primary outcomes were clinical pregnancy rate (CPR) and live birth rate (LBR). Meta-regression and subgroup analysis were conducted on the basis of eight pre-specified covariates to investigate the variances of the effects of adjuvant acupuncture on pregnancy rates and the sources of heterogeneity.ResultsTwenty-seven studies with 6116 participants were included. The pooled clinical pregnancy rate (CPR) from all of acupuncture groups was significantly greater than that of control groups (RR 1.21, 95% CI: 1.07-1.38), whereas the pooled live birth rate (LBR) was not. Meta-regression subgroup analysis showed a more significant benefit of acupuncture for repeated IVF cycle proportion (number of women with a history of prior unsuccessful IVF attempt divided by number of women included in each trial) ≥ 50% group (CPR: RR 1.60, 95% CI: 1.28-2.00; LBR: RR 1.42, 95% CI: 1.05-1.92), and this covariate explained most of the heterogeneity (CPR and LBR: adjusted R2 = 100 and 87.90%). Similar results were found between CPR and number of acupuncture treatments (CPR: p = 0.002, adjusted R2 = 51.90%), but not LBR.ConclusionsOur analysis finds a benefit of acupuncture for IVF outcomes in women with a history of unsuccessful IVF attempt, and number of acupuncture treatments is a potential influential factor. Given the poor reporting and methodological flaws of existing studies, studies with larger scales and better methodologies are needed to verify these findings.

Project description:BackgroundPreimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) is an emerging technology that aims to identify euploid embryos for transfer, reducing the risk of embryonic chromosomal abnormalities. However, the clinical benefits of PGT-A in recurrent pregnancy failure (RPF) patients, particularly in young RPF patients, remains uncertain.Objective and rationaleThis meta-analysis aimed to determine whether RPF patients undergoing PGT-A had better clinical outcomes compared to those not undergoing PGT-A, thus assessing the value of PGT-A in clinical practice.Search methodsWe systematically searched PubMed, the Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Data, and VIP Database for Chinese Technical Periodicals (VIP) from 2002 to 2022. Thirteen published studies involving 930 RPF patients screened using PGT-A and over 1,434 RPF patients screened without PGT-A were included in this meta-analysis. Clinical outcomes were evaluated based on embryo transfers after PGT-A (n=1,015) and without PGT-A (n=1,799).Clinical outcomesThe PGT-A group demonstrated superior clinical outcomes compared to the in vitro fertilization (IVF)/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) group. The PGT-A group had a significantly higher implantation rate (IR) (RR=2.01, 95% CI: [1.73; 2.34]), clinical pregnancy rate (CPR) (RR=1.53, 95% CI: [1.36; 1.71]), ongoing pregnancy rate (OPR) (RR=1.76, 95% CI: [1.35; 2.29]), live birth rate (LBR) (RR=1.75, 95% CI: [1.51; 2.03]), and significantly lower clinical miscarriage rate (CMR) (RR=0.74, 95% CI: [0.54; 0.99]). Subgroup analysis based on patient age (under 35 years and 35 years or older) showed that both PGT-A subgroups had significantly better CPR (P<0.01) and LBR (P<0.05) values compared to the IVF/ICSI groups.SummaryThis meta-analysis demonstrates that PGT-A in RPF patients, is associated with improved clinical outcomes, including higher IR, CPR, OPR, and LBR values, and lower CMR compared to the IVF/ICSI group. These findings support the positive clinical application of PGT-A in RPF patients.Systematic review registrationhttp://INPLASY.com, identifier INPLASY 202320118.

Project description:BackgroundUterine natural killer cells (uNK) are the most abundant lymphocytes found in the decidua during implantation and in first trimester pregnancy. They are important for early placental development, especially trophoblast invasion and transformation of the spiral arteries. However, inappropriate uNK function has been implicated in reproductive failure, such as recurrent miscarriage (RM) or recurrent implantation failure (RIF). Previous studies have mainly focussed on peripheral NK cells (pNK), despite the well-documented differences in pNK and uNK phenotype and function. In recent years, there has been an explosion of studies conducted on uNK, providing a more suitable representation of the immune environment at the maternal-foetal interface. Here, we summarize the evidence from studies published on uNK in women with RM/RIF compared with controls.Objective and rationaleThe objectives of this systematic review and meta-analysis are to evaluate: differences in uNK level in women with RM/RIF compared with controls; pregnancy outcome in women with RM/RIF stratified by high and normal uNK levels; correlation between uNK and pNK in women with RM/RIF; and differences in uNK activity in women with RM/RIF compared with controls.Search methodsMEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science and Cochrane Trials Registry were searched from inception up to December 2020 and studies were selected in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Meta-analyses were performed for uNK level, pregnancy outcome and uNK/pNK correlation. Narrative synthesis was conducted for uNK activity. Risk of bias was assessed by ROBINS-I and publication bias by Egger's test.OutcomesOur initial search yielded 4636 articles, of which 60 articles were included in our systematic review. Meta-analysis of CD56+ uNK level in women with RM compared with controls showed significantly higher levels in women with RM in subgroup analysis of endometrial samples (standardized mean difference (SMD) 0.49, CI 0.08, 0.90; P = 0.02; I2 88%; 1100 women). Meta-analysis of CD56+ uNK level in endometrium of women with RIF compared with controls showed significantly higher levels in women with RIF (SMD 0.49, CI 0.01, 0.98; P = 0.046; I2 84%; 604 women). There was no difference in pregnancy outcome in women with RM/RIF stratified by uNK level, and no significant correlation between pNK and uNK levels in women with RM/RIF. There was wide variation in studies conducted on uNK activity, which can be broadly divided into regulation and receptors, uNK cytotoxicity, cytokine secretion and effect of uNK on angiogenesis. These studies were largely equivocal in their results on cytokine secretion, but most studies found lower expression of inhibitory receptors and increased expression of angiogenic factors in women with RM.Wider implicationsThe observation of significantly increased uNK level in endometrium of women with RM and RIF may point to an underlying disturbance of the immune milieu culminating in implantation and/or placentation failure. Further research is warranted to elucidate the underlying pathophysiology. The evidence for measuring pNK as an indicator of uNK behaviour is sparse, and of limited clinical use. Measurement of uNK level/activity may be more useful as a diagnostic tool, however, a standardized reference range must be established before this can be of clinical use.

Project description:BackgroundThe effect of acupuncture on sensory perception has never been systematically reviewed; although, studies on acupuncture mechanisms are frequently based on the idea that changes in sensory thresholds reflect its effect on the nervous system.MethodsPubmed, EMBASE and Scopus were screened for studies investigating the effect of acupuncture on thermal or mechanical detection or pain thresholds in humans published in English or German. A meta-analysis of high quality studies was performed.ResultsOut of 3007 identified articles 85 were included. Sixty five studies showed that acupuncture affects at least one sensory threshold. Most studies assessed the pressure pain threshold of which 80% reported an increase after acupuncture. Significant short- and long-term effects on the pressure pain threshold in pain patients were revealed by two meta-analyses including four and two high quality studies, respectively. In over 60% of studies, acupuncture reduced sensitivity to noxious thermal stimuli, but measuring methods might influence results. Few but consistent data indicate that acupuncture reduces pin-prick like pain but not mechanical detection. Results on thermal detection are heterogeneous. Sensory threshold changes were equally frequent reported after manual acupuncture as after electroacupuncture. Among 48 sham-controlled studies, 25 showed stronger effects on sensory thresholds through verum than through sham acupuncture, but in 9 studies significant threshold changes were also observed after sham acupuncture. Overall, there is a lack of high quality acupuncture studies applying comprehensive assessments of sensory perception.ConclusionsOur findings indicate that acupuncture affects sensory perception. Results are most compelling for the pressure pain threshold, especially in pain conditions associated with tenderness. Sham acupuncture can also cause such effects. Future studies should incorporate comprehensive, standardized assessments of sensory profiles in order to fully characterize its effect on sensory perception and to explore the predictive value of sensory profiles for the effectiveness of acupuncture.

Dataset Information

The Effects of Acupuncture on Pregnancy Outcomes of Recurrent Implantation Failure: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Publications

The Effects of Acupuncture on Pregnancy Outcomes of Recurrent Implantation Failure: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Similar Datasets

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