Development of sensory integration therapy in Mainland China: A comprehensive study with bibliometrics and visualization techniques.

Sensory integration therapy (SIT) is an intervention to improve the developmental and learning problems in children. It was introduced in China from late 1980 s to early 1990 s and has received considerable attention from scholars. However, due to its late development in China and its specialised nature, it is worth exploring in depth whether it is recognized by the general public and how it is researched by academics. Therefore, we used Internet survey approach to explore the actual feedback of users towards SIT through the Internet. At the same time, bibliometric method and visualization techniques were used to study 892 journal articles on SIT in CNKI, Wanfang Database and VIP Database to analyze the spatial and temporal distribution, subject distribution, keyword co-occurrence, and keyword clustering of SIT research in mainland China since it came to China mainland. We found that the research on SIT in mainland China has been fruitful. However, the public is less aware of its basic function, therapeutic effects, and necessity. Our findings point to the need to raise awareness of sensory integration disorder and sensory integration therapy among the general public, and to strengthen academic research on sensory integration therapy.

[Effect of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation on nocturnal autonomic nervous function in primary insomnia patients].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) on the sleep quality and nocturnal heart rate variability (HRV) in patients with primary insomnia. METHODS: Twenty-one patients with primary insomnia were included. Using SDZ-ⅡB electric acupuncture apparatus, Xin (CO15) and Shen (CO10) were stimulated with disperse-dense wave, 4 Hz/ 20 Hz in frequency, (0.2±30%) ms of pulse width and tolerable intensity. Electric stimulation was given once every morning and evening of a day, 30 min each time, for 4 weeks totally. Before and after treatment, the score of Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), objective sleep structure (total sleep time [TST], sleep latency [SL], wake after sleep onset [WASO], sleep efficiency [SE], the percentages of non-rapid eye movement period 1, 2, 3, and the percentage of rapid eye movement period to TST [N1%, N2%, N3%, REM%] ) and nocturnal HRV (high frequency [HF], low frequency [LF], the ratio of LF to HF [LF/HF], standard deviation for the normal RR intervals [SDNN], squared root of the mean sum of squares of differences between adjacent intervals RR [RMSSD], the percentage of adjacent RR intervals with differences larger than 50 ms in the entire recording [PNN50%], the mean of sinus RR intervals [NNMean] ) were compared in the patients separately. RESULTS: After treatment, the score of each item and the total score of PSQI and SL were all reduced as compared with those before treatment (P<0.01, P<0.001); SE, N3%, LF, HF, LF/HF, SDNN, NNMean and RMSSD were all increased compared with those before treatment (P<0.001, P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The taVNS improves the sleep quality and objective sleep structure in patients with primary insomnia, which is probably related to the regulation of autonomic nervous functions.

The Application of Hypnosis in Sports.

As an ancient science, hypnosis has been used by humans since the primitive societies during theocratic times. By the 20th century, scientists and psychologists had re-recognized and studied hypnosis and explored its applications in fields such as medicine, education, and military uses. A local form of traditional Chinese "hypnosis" appeared in Huangdi Neijing, but it has not received enough attention from Chinese people; China's modern hypnosis development is later than that of American and European countries. Therefore, people's understanding and applications of hypnosis remain inadequate. With the development of China's economy and state power in the last decades, Chinese people were beginning to attach importance to the investment and development of the sports industry and realized that the psychological quality of the athletes is often a decisive factor in the success or failure of the competition. Meanwhile, hypnosis is an effective psychological training method to be used in daily training and competitions. In light of this, this essay firstly reviews the history of hypnosis before carrying out the methods of a literature review and a logical analysis to explore the applications of hypnosis in sports. Thus, evidence is provided in favor of the use of hypnosis in the sports industry.

The efficacy and safety of omega-3 fatty acids on depressive symptoms in perinatal women: a meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials.

Omega-3 fatty acids (FA), as a nutrient, has been proven effective in major depressive disorder (MDD), however, the results of monotherapy in perinatal depression (PND) remain unclear. To examine the efficacy and safety of omega-3 fatty acids (FA) monotherapy for perinatal depression (PND) compared with placebo. PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and CINAHL were searched from inception up to November 2019. The reference lists of relevant review articles and included studies were also reviewed. Randomized placebo-controlled trials examining the efficacy and safety of omega-3 FA monotherapy in perinatal women with depressive symptoms were included. Pooled standard mean differences (SMD) were calculated and random-effects models were adopted for all analyses. Subgroups analyses and meta-regression were performed to quantify characteristics of the subjects and trials influencing the omega-3 response. In addition, meta-regression was conducted to identify the source of heterogeneity. The study protocol was registered at PROSPERO, CRD42020159542. Eight eligible randomized placebo-controlled trials were included involving 638 participants. There was a significant effect of omega-3 FA on perinatal depression. Omega-3 with higher ratio of EPA/DHA (≥1.5) had significant efficacy both in mild-to-moderate pregnant and postpartum depression with low incidence of side effects. Among the included trials reporting adverse effects, there was no significant difference in incidence of gastrointestinal and neurologic events between the omega-3 and placebo groups. There was no evidence of publication bias. Our findings suggested that omega-3 FA significantly improved depressive symptoms in perinatal women regardless of pregnant or postpartum and well-tolerated. Furthermore, the omega-3 response was linked to higher EPA proportion in omega-3 formula and mild- to-moderate depression.

Effect of conditioned stimulus exposure during slow wave sleep on fear memory extinction in humans.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Repeated exposure to a neutral conditioned stimulus (CS) in the absence of a noxious unconditioned stimulus (US) elicits fear memory extinction. The aim of the current study was to investigate the effects of mild tone exposure (CS) during slow wave sleep (SWS) on fear memory extinction in humans. DESIGN: The healthy volunteers underwent an auditory fear conditioning paradigm on the experimental night, during which tones served as the CS, and a mild shock served as the US. They were then randomly assigned to four groups. Three groups were exposed to the CS for 3 or 10 min or an irrelevant tone (control stimulus, CtrS) for 10 min during SWS. The fourth group served as controls and was not subjected to any interventions. All of the subjects completed a memory test 4 h after SWS-rich stage to evaluate the effect on fear extinction. Moreover, we conducted similar experiments using an independent group of subjects during the daytime to test whether the memory extinction effect was specific to the sleep condition. PARTICIPANTS: Ninety-six healthy volunteers (44 males) aged 18-28 y. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Participants exhibited undisturbed sleep during 2 consecutive nights, as assessed by sleep variables (all P > 0.05) from polysomnographic recordings and power spectral analysis. Participants who were re-exposed to the 10 min CS either during SWS and wakefulness exhibited attenuated fear responses (wake-10 min CS, P < 0.05; SWS-10 min CS, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Conditioned stimulus re-exposure during SWS promoted fear memory extinction without altering sleep profiles.

[Inhibitory effect of Tanreqing injection on proliferation of T lymphoblastic leukemia cell line Molt4 in vitro and its mechanism].

This study was purposed to explore the effects of Tanreqing injection on the biologic activities of human acute T lymphoblastic leukemia cell line Molt4 in vitro and its mechanism. Tanreqing injection was proportionally diluted and divided into 9 groups of different concentrations, including 1:2, 1:4, 1:8, 1:16, 1:32, 1:64, 1:128, 1:256 and 1:512. Molt4 cells were treated with those different concentrations of Tanreqing injection, and the cell growth status at various time points of different concentrations was observed under microscope. CCK-8 assay was employed to detect ability of cell proliferation, growth curve was drawn, the inhibition ratio and 50% inhibiting concentration (IC(50)) were calculated. Flow cytometry with PI and PI/Annexin V double stainings were used to detect the cell cycle and apoptosis of Molt4 cells after the treatment of Tanreqing injection respectively. Caspase-3 and Bcl-2 mRNA expression of Molt4 cells were determined by real-time quantitative PCR. The results showed that Tanreqing injection displayed an inhibitory effect on the proliferation of Molt4 cell line. In 1:2, 1:4, 1:8 and 1:16 concentration groups, great cytotoxicity was observed and numerous cells were dead. The inhibitory effect of Tanreqing injection was dose-dependent. IC(50) was 1:142 dilution concentration. In the 1:32 concentration group, S phase cell quantity remarkably decreased (p < 0.05) and apoptosis rate significantly increased (p < 0.05) at 72 hours after Tanreqing injection treatment. Simultaneously, caspase-3 mRNA expression increased and Bcl-2 mRNA expressions was downregulated (p < 0.05). It is concluded that the Tanreqing injection has an inhibitory effect on Molt4 cell proliferation and promotes its apoptosis. These biological effects of Tanreqing injection are partly related to cell reduction in S phase, downregulation of bcl-2 gene and upregulation of caspase 3.

Circadian alteration in neurobiology during 30 days of abstinence in heroin users.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that individuals withdrawn from chronic opiate administration undergo substantial elevations of cortisol levels with blunted corticotropin (ACTH) rhythms and that these changes persist beyond the 7-10 days of acute withdrawal symptoms. However, there are no published studies of changes in expression of clock genes or of other neuropeptides related to circadian-rhythm regulation, which may influence relapse susceptibility. METHODS: Blood samples were collected from 8 healthy control subjects and 16 heroin addicts during pharmacologically unassisted withdrawal on the 3rd, 10th, and 30th days of abstinence at 3-hour intervals for 24 hours. Outcome measures were the relative expression of clock gene mRNA (hperiod1, hperiod2, hclock) and the levels of serum cortisol, plasma ACTH, beta-endorphin (beta-EP), leptin, neuropeptide Y, interleukin-2 (IL-2), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in these subjects. RESULTS: Compared with healthy volunteers, abstinent addicts showed disruptions in diurnal rhythms of hPER1 and hPER2 mRNA expression, along with disruptions in diurnal rhythms of cortisol, ACTH, beta-endorphin, leptin, and IL-2 release. Several of these disruptions (hPER1, hPER2, ACTH, beta-endorphin, and IL-2) persisted for the 30-day testing period, as did elevation of 24-hour levels of cortisol and decreases in 24-hour IL-2 and TNF levels. CONCLUSIONS: These prolonged neurobiological changes may play a role in protracted opiate withdrawal symptoms and contribute to relapse vulnerability.

A comparative clinical study of the effects of the traditional Chinese medicine Jinniu capsules and lofexidine on acute heroin withdrawal symptoms.

OBJECTIVE: Jinniu capsules, comprised of herbs and marine product extracts, are traditionally used in Chinese medicine. In this randomized multicenter clinical trial we evaluated the efficacy and safety of Jinniu capsules used to treat the symptoms of heroin withdrawal, as compared with lofexidine. METHODS: Two hundred and twelve patients with heroin dependence were randomly assigned to the Jinniu capsule or lofexidine treatment groups during a 10-day double-blind clinical trial. The severity of their opiate withdrawal symptoms was measured daily for 10 days. Anxiety was measured on days 0, 5, and 10. Safety assessment of the drugs included measurement of vital signs and side effects, as well as laboratory tests. RESULTS: Withdrawal symptom and anxiety scores decreased gradually over the treatment period, and no significant differences were found between two groups. No severe adverse events occurred during the treatment. CONCLUSION: Jinniu capsules may be an effective and safe agent in the management of opiate withdrawal.