Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine ›› 2025, Vol. 45 ›› Issue (2): 450-457.DOI: 10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.2025.02.011
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Effect of acupuncture on brain activity in patients with decreasing ovarian reserve: a resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging study
BAI Tianyu1, YANG Jiaen2, YIN Liang3, LI Jinling4, LIU Jianxian3, LI Zongchang3, SUN Zeming3, JIA Ning2, XU Chengchao5(
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- 1 Department of Acupuncture, Moxibustion and Massage, Shandong Provincial Third Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan 250031, China
2 Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, People’s Hospital of Gaoming District of Foshan City, Foshan 528500, China
3 Department of Imaging, Shandong Provincial Third Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan 250031, China
4 College of Acupuncture, Moxibustion and Tuina, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250355, China
5 College of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250355, China
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Received:2023-12-22Accepted:2024-05-25Online:2025-04-15Published:2025-03-10 -
Contact:XU Chengchao, College of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250355, China. Xuchengchao_zj@126.com, Telephone: +86-531-89628147 -
Supported by:Innovation and Development Joint Fund of Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province: based on the Nuclear Factor-erythroid 2 Related Factor 2/AU-rich Element Antioxidant Pathway, the Effect and Mechanism of Menstrual Stimulation Acupuncture on in vitro Fertilization and Embryo Transfer Pregnancy Outcomes in Poor Ovarian Response Patients were Studied(ZR2022LZY008);Shandong Provincial Traditional Chinese Medicine High-level Personnel Training Program Supported by Special Funds(6 [2021]);Qilu Health and Health Leading Talents Training Project(3 [2020]);Clinical Science and Technology Innovation Program of Jinan Science and Technology Bureau: Study on the Regulatory Mechanism of Menstrual Regulation and Pregnancy Promotion Acupuncture Method based on rs-functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technology on the Brain Function Network of Decreasing Ovarian Reserve Patients(202225059);Shandong Traditional Chinese Medicine Science and Technology Development Plan Project: a Multimodal Neuroimaging Study of Menstrual Stimulation Acupuncture in Patients with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome(Q-2022099);Shandong Traditional Chinese Medicine Science and Technology Development Plan Project: based on the Immunoregulation of Treg Cells, the Mechanism of Menstruation and Pregnancy Promotion Injection in the Treatment of Early-onset Ovarian Insufficiency was Explored(B-2022002)
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BAI Tianyu, YANG Jiaen, YIN Liang, LI Jinling, LIU Jianxian, LI Zongchang, SUN Zeming, JIA Ning, XU Chengchao. Effect of acupuncture on brain activity in patients with decreasing ovarian reserve: a resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging study[J]. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2025, 45(2): 450-457.
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Table 1 Demographic and clinical characteristics of DOR and HC groups
| Characteristic | DOR group (n = 16) | HC group (n = 17) | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age (years)a | 35.0±3.6 | 32.6±3.3 | 0.060 | |
| Education years (years)a | 15.6±1.4 | 16.8±1.7 | 0.098 | |
| BMI (kg/m2)a | 22.9±4.8 | 22.4±3.0 | 0.801 | |
| SAS scoreb | 43 (40, 47) | 36 (33, 41) | 0.005 | |
| SDS scorea | 46.4±5.3 | 37.9±7.9 | 0.001 | |
| Modified Kupperman scorea | 12.7±4.3 | 9.8±3.4 | 0.036 | |
| Marital Status [n (%)]c | Married | 14 (87.5) | 14 (82.4) | 1.000 |
| Unmarried | 2 (12.5) | 3 (17.6) | ||
| Fertility circumstance [n (%)]c | Multipara | 9 (56.3) | 10 (58.8) | 1.000 |
| Nullipara | 7 (43.7) | 7 (41.2) | ||
| Ovarian function | FSHb | 6.97 (5.56, 12.64) | 6.02 (5.02, 7.37) | 0.171 |
| AMHb | 0.35 (0.11, 0.68) | 3.14 (1.84, 4.91) | <0.001 | |
| AFCb | 5 (3.25, 6) | 15 (12, 16) | <0.001 |
Table 1 Demographic and clinical characteristics of DOR and HC groups
| Characteristic | DOR group (n = 16) | HC group (n = 17) | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age (years)a | 35.0±3.6 | 32.6±3.3 | 0.060 | |
| Education years (years)a | 15.6±1.4 | 16.8±1.7 | 0.098 | |
| BMI (kg/m2)a | 22.9±4.8 | 22.4±3.0 | 0.801 | |
| SAS scoreb | 43 (40, 47) | 36 (33, 41) | 0.005 | |
| SDS scorea | 46.4±5.3 | 37.9±7.9 | 0.001 | |
| Modified Kupperman scorea | 12.7±4.3 | 9.8±3.4 | 0.036 | |
| Marital Status [n (%)]c | Married | 14 (87.5) | 14 (82.4) | 1.000 |
| Unmarried | 2 (12.5) | 3 (17.6) | ||
| Fertility circumstance [n (%)]c | Multipara | 9 (56.3) | 10 (58.8) | 1.000 |
| Nullipara | 7 (43.7) | 7 (41.2) | ||
| Ovarian function | FSHb | 6.97 (5.56, 12.64) | 6.02 (5.02, 7.37) | 0.171 |
| AMHb | 0.35 (0.11, 0.68) | 3.14 (1.84, 4.91) | <0.001 | |
| AFCb | 5 (3.25, 6) | 15 (12, 16) | <0.001 |
Figure 1 Different brain regions between DOR patients and HCs A: a whole-brain diagram; B: a sectional diagram. The hot color indicated that DOR patients had increased ALFF in contrast with HCs; whereas the cool color indicated that DOR patients had reduced ALFF in contrast with HCs. GRF theory correction with significant voxel level P < 0.05 and cluster level P < 0.05, two-tailed. DOR: decreasing ovarian reserve; HC: healthy control; ALFF: amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations; MFG: middle frontal gyrus; IFG: inferior frontal gyrus; SFG: superior frontal gyrus; ITG: inferior temporal gyrus; MTG: middle temporal gyrus; GRF: Gaussian Random Field.
Figure 1 Different brain regions between DOR patients and HCs A: a whole-brain diagram; B: a sectional diagram. The hot color indicated that DOR patients had increased ALFF in contrast with HCs; whereas the cool color indicated that DOR patients had reduced ALFF in contrast with HCs. GRF theory correction with significant voxel level P < 0.05 and cluster level P < 0.05, two-tailed. DOR: decreasing ovarian reserve; HC: healthy control; ALFF: amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations; MFG: middle frontal gyrus; IFG: inferior frontal gyrus; SFG: superior frontal gyrus; ITG: inferior temporal gyrus; MTG: middle temporal gyrus; GRF: Gaussian Random Field.
Figure 2 Different brain regions between post-acupuncture and pre-acupuncture A: a whole-brain diagram; B: a sectional diagram. The hot color indicated that decreasing ovarian reserve patients had increased Amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations values compared with healthy controls. The cool color indicated that DOR patients had reduced ALFF values in contrast with HCs. GRF theory correction with significant voxel level P < 0.05 and cluster level P < 0.05, Two-Tailed. DOR: decreasing ovarian reserve; HC: healthy control; MFG: middle frontal gyrus; SFG: superior frontal gyrus; SMA: supplementary motor area; GRF: Gaussian Random Field.
Figure 2 Different brain regions between post-acupuncture and pre-acupuncture A: a whole-brain diagram; B: a sectional diagram. The hot color indicated that decreasing ovarian reserve patients had increased Amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations values compared with healthy controls. The cool color indicated that DOR patients had reduced ALFF values in contrast with HCs. GRF theory correction with significant voxel level P < 0.05 and cluster level P < 0.05, Two-Tailed. DOR: decreasing ovarian reserve; HC: healthy control; MFG: middle frontal gyrus; SFG: superior frontal gyrus; SMA: supplementary motor area; GRF: Gaussian Random Field.
Figure 3 Group differences in functional connectivity based on the seed The hot color indicated that DOR patients had increased ALFF compared with HC. GRF correction with significant voxel level P < 0.05 and cluster level P < 0.05 (two-tailed). DOR: decreasing ovarian reserve; ALFF: amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations; HC: healthy control; GRF: Gaussian Random Field.
Figure 3 Group differences in functional connectivity based on the seed The hot color indicated that DOR patients had increased ALFF compared with HC. GRF correction with significant voxel level P < 0.05 and cluster level P < 0.05 (two-tailed). DOR: decreasing ovarian reserve; ALFF: amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations; HC: healthy control; GRF: Gaussian Random Field.
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