[Treatment of autism children: observation on efficacy of behavior training with retention of needles on head].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect difference of behavior training with head needling retention and behavior training after acupuncture for autism children. METHODS: Sixty qualified autism children were divided randomly into simultaneous head needling retention and behavior training group (trial group) and behavior training after acupuncture treatment group (control group) with 30 case in each group. Retention needles on the head with simultaneous behavior training was applied for the trial group. The main acupoints included Sishen Xue, Dingshen Sanxue (3 points for mental tranquilization), Nao Sanxue (3 points for the function of brain), Shou Zhisanxue (3 points for mental activities on hand) and Zozhi Sonxue (3 points for mental activities on foot). Other points were combined according to conditions of patients. Needles on the 4 extremities were withdrawn first after 30 minutes, needles on head were remained during behavior training. While behavior training was applied to the control group when acupuncture treatment was completely accomplished. Treatments were applied once a day to both groups. And 3 months was taken as one observation cycle. Estimation was made on therapeutic effect and developing level of autism children with CARS and PEP. RESULTS: The total effective rate of the trial group was 83.3% (25/30), better than 66.7% (20/30) of the control group (P < 0.05). The CARS scores of both groups declined after the treatment. And the score of trail group was lower than the control group (all P < 0.05). While the PEP scores of both groups increased, and the score of trail group was higher than the control group (all P < 0.05). The increasing level of scores of cognitive understanding and cognitive expression were all better than the control group (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The effect of behavior training with head needle retention on autism children is better than behavior training after acupuncture treatment, especially in enhancing cognition understanding and cognition expression.

Mitochondrial proteomic analysis of isopsoralen protection against oxidative damage in human lens epithelial cells.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the protective effects of the natural medicinal monomer isopsoralen (ISR) with estrogenic activity against oxidative damage in human lens epithelial cells B3 (HLE-B3) caused by hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) and to pursue the possible mitochondrial proteomic regularity of the protective effects. METHODS: HLE-B3 cells were treated with H(2)O(2) (300 µ mol/L), ß-estradiol (E(2): 10(-8) mol/L) and H(2)O(2), ISR (10(-5) mol/L) and H(2)O(2), or left untreated. Altered expressions of all mitochondrial proteins were analyzed by protein array and surfaceenhanced laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF-MS). The mass/charge (m/z) ratios of each peak were tested by the Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test, and the protein peak value of the m/z ratio for each treatment by pair comparison was analyzed with the Nemenyi test. RESULTS: H(2)O(2) up-regulated the expressions of two protein spots (with m/z of 6532 and 6809). E(2) mitigated the oxidative damage, and the expression of one protein spot (m/z 6532) was down-regulated. In contrast, ISR down-regulated both of protein spots (m/z 6532 and 6809). CONCLUSIONS: ISR could effectively inhibit H(2)O(2)-induced oxidative damage in HLE-B3 cells. The protein spot at m/z of 6532 might be the target spot of ISR against oxidative damage induced by H(2)O(2).

[Effects of ecdysterone on the expression of NF-kappaB p65 in H2O2 induced oxidative damage of human lens epithelial cells].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of ecdysterone (ECR) on the expression of nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB in H2O2 induced oxidative damage of human lens epithelial cells (HLECs). METHODS: The cultured HLECs were divided into 5 groups, i.e., the control group, the H2O2 group, the beta-estradiol (E2) group, the ECR group, and the pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate group (PDTC) group. The expression rate of NF-kappaB p65 in the HLECs were detected by flow cytometer (FCM). RESULTS: The expression of NF-kappaB p65 occurred in normal HLECs (9. 53%). The expression rate of NF-kappaB p65 in the H2O2 group obviously increased (39.87%, P < 0.01). The expression rate of NF-kappaB p65 in the PDTC group obviously decreased (5.90%, P < 0.01). The expression rates of NF-kappaB p65 in the ECR group (13.99%) and the E2 group (25.18%) ranged between the control group and the H2O2 group, but still lower than that of the H2O2 group (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The activation of NF-kappaB in the HLECs could be induced by H2O2 ECR with the estrogenic activity could effectively inhibit the activation of NF-kappaB.

[Inhibition effects of compound leech eye drops on apoptosis of lens epithelial cells and expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax genes in rats].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the inhibition effects of compound leech eye drops (Co-SZ) on apoptosis of lens epithelial cells (LECs) induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and the expressions of apoptosis-related genes Bcl-2 and Bax in rats. METHODS: All fresh transparent LECs in SD rats were bathed in culture medium with H2O2 in vitro, meanwhile Co-SZ were added in the culture medium. All LECs were incubated for 24 hours. The apoptosis rate of LECs was determined by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated biotin-dUTP nick end labeling method (TUNEL). The changes of LEC ultrastructure and the formation of apoptotic body were observed by transmission electron microscopy. The expressions of apoptosis-related genes Bcl-2 and Bax were detected by streptavdin-peroxidase-biotin method. RESULTS: The apoptosis rate of LECs in the Co-SZ-treated group was significantly lower than that in the H2O2-treated group. The changes of apoptotic LEC ultrastructure in the Co-SZ-treated group were less than those in the H2O2-treated group. The expression of Bcl-2 protein was up-regulated and the expression of Bax protein was down-regulated in the Co-SZ-treated group as compared with the H2O2-treated group. CONCLUSION: The LEC apoptosis induced by H2O2 can be inhibited by Co-SZ. The molecular mechanisms of Co-SZ in inhibiting LEC apoptosis may be related to regulating the expressions of apoptosis-related genes Bcl-2 and Bax.

[Effect of Rhizoma Curcumae and arsenite trioxide on proliferation and signal transduction molecule of lens epithelial cell].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of Rhizoma Curcumae (RC), arsenite trioxide (As2O3) on proliferation ana signal transduction molecule in lens epithelial cell (LEC), in order to provide experiment evidence for prevention and treatment of after cataract. METHOD: Proliferation of cultured bovine LEC were induced by induced by recombinant human basic fibroblast growth factor (rhbFGF); Inhibitory rates of LEC proliferation induced by RC, As2O3 were detected by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT); Inhibitory effects of expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) induced by RC, As2O3 in LEC were assayed via flow cytometer (FCM); Concentrations of LEC calcium ([Ca2+]i) were determined by spectrofluoremeter, intracellular concentrations of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) of LEC were measured by radioimmunoassay. RESULT: Inhibitory rates of RC, As2O3 on LEC proliferation induced by rhbFGF increased significantly, showing dose-dependent (P < 0.01). PCNA expression of LEC proliferation induced by rhbFGF were down regulated obviously by RC, As2O3, showing dose-dependent (P < 0.01). Concentrations of [Ca2+]and cAMP increased and cGMP decreased significantly in LEC of proliferation inhibited by RC, As2O3 (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: RC, As2O3 can inhibit LEC proliferation obviously. Signal transductions of [Ca2+]i, cAMP, cGMP may be the important molecular mechanism. There are broad prospect for RC, As2O3 on prevention and treatment of after cataract.

[Signal transduction mechanism of curcumin in inhibiting the proliferation of bovine lens epithelial cell induced by recombinant human epidermal growth factor].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the signal transduction mechanism of curcumin in inhibiting the proliferation of bovine lens epithelial cell (LEC) induced by recombinant human epidermal growth factor (rhEGF). METHODS: There were three groups in this experiment, which were normal control group, untreated group and curcumin-treated group. Proliferation of LEC was induced by rhEGF (50 microg/L). The concentration of intracellular Ca(2+) ([Ca(2+)](i)) in LEC was measured with Fura-2/AM by spectrofluorimetry. The contents of intracellular cAMP and cGMP were assayed by radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: The [Ca(2+)]i in LEC was obviously increased in the untrated group as compared with that in the normal control group (P<0.01), and the [Ca(2+)](i) in LEC in the curcumin-treated group was highest among three groups (P<0.01). The content of intracellular cAMP in LEC was decreased while the content of intracellular cGMP was obviously increased in the untreated group as compared with those in the normal control group (P<0.01). The content of intracellular cAMP in LEC was higher in the curcumin-treated group than that in the untreated group, while the content of intracellular cGMP was lower than that in the untreated group (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The antiproliferation effects of curcumin on LEC may relate to the regulations of multiple processes of signal transduction.