[Effect of acupoint catgut embedding therapy on joint attention and social communication in children with autism spectrum disorder: a randomized controlled trial].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical effect on the joint attention and social communication in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) between the combined treatment of acupoint catgut embedding therapy with rehabilitation training and the simple application of rehabilitation training. METHODS: A total of 60 children with ASD were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each one. In the control group, the routine ASD rehabilitation training was adopted, including conductive education, speech training and music therapy, once a day. In the observation group, on the base of the treatment as the control group, the catgut embedding therapy was applied to Shenting (GV 24), Baihui (GV 20), Shenmen (HT 7) and the optic area (the point of scalp acupuncture), once a week. In the two groups, the treatment for 4 weeks was as one course, at the interval of 1 week between the courses. A total of 3 courses of treatment were required. The social domain of the autism treatment evaluation checklist (ATEC) and the autism behavior checklist (ABC) were adopted to assess the therapeutic effect of the two groups. RESULTS: After treatment, the scores of each item of the social domain in ATEC and the scores of ABC (feeling, communication, physical movement, language and healthy behavior) were all lower than those before treatment in the two groups (P<0.01). The scores of each item in the observation group were lower than those in the control group after treatment (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The combined treatment of acupoint catgut embedding therapy with the rehabilitation training effectively improves in the joint attention and social communication. The therapeutic effect of this combined treatment is better than the simple application of rehabilitation training.

Study on the consistency of the position of the brackets on the digital occlusal model and the actual position af-ter indirect bonding / 口腔疾病防治

Objective@#To provide the experimental basis for the coherence of the indirect bond position by comparing the position of the bracket on the digital occlusal model and the position of the transfer to the initial plaster model.@*Methods@#Fifteen digitized models were selected for the brackets on the dental denture model, the brackets were transferred to the initial plaster model by indirect bond transfer trays, The line distance between each bracket position in digital dental model and initial plaster model was measured with OrthoRx software. @*Results @#The difference between the position of the orthodontic brackets and the position of the initial plaster model was less than 0.20 mm, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). @*Conclusion @#The position of the bracket on the digital occlusal model is consistent with that of the original plaster model, which provides a theoretical basis for digital indirect bonding.

Clinical research on intelligence seven needle therapy treated infants with brain damage syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether the intelligence seven needle therapy administered in infants with perinatal brain damage syndrome (BDS) as early intervention would improve patients' neural development. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial was conducted. Sixty-four infants with BDS were randomly assigned to two groups: the comprehensive group and the control group. Both groups received routine early intervention; in addition, the comprehensive group received intelligence seven needle therapy. Before and after treatment, the Bayley Scale of Infant Development (BSID), Gesell Developmental Schedules, Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM), transcranial doppler ultrasound (TCD), and cranial imaging examination were tested for contrast. RESULTS: After treatment, the comprehensive group showed significant difference in the Mental Development Index (MDI) scores of BSID compared with the control group (P<0.05), however, no significant discrepancy in psychomotor development index (PDI,P>0.05) was observed. The children's development quotients (DQ) of the comprehensive group exhibited a significant superiority in improving the social adaptation DQ of Gesell Developmental Schedules compared with the control group (P<0.01), as well as GMFM and linguistic and social intercourse (P<0.05). Again, no discrepancy in the fine movement DQ was found (P>0.05). The total scores of GMFM in the comprehensive group were higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). Comparing the two groups, the comprehensive group showed a significantly greater recovery rate than the control group on TCD after treatment (P<0.05). After 6-month follow-up, some recovery in both groups, specifically on broadening of brain outside space by cranial imaging examination were observed. The comprehensive group demonstrated a significantly greater recovery rate than the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The developmental level of intelligence, motion function, linguistic competence and social intercourse can be promoted for infants with perinatal BDS by treating with the intelligence seven needle therapy. This approach can improve the brain blood supply and promote the growth of frontal and parietal lobes.

[Rice area change in Northeast China and its correlation with climate change.] / 气候变化背景下东北水稻的时空分布特征.

Based on the time-series map of rice area, a spatial production allocation model (SPAM) which has been applied for mapping the global level crop allocation datasets was deve-loped to simulate the spatio-temporal dynamics of rice area in Northeast China during 1980-2010 within 5'×5' grid cells. The spatio-temporal variations of rice area with temperature and precipita-tion during past 30 years were explored. The results indicated that the rice area expanded significantly northwards to46° N before 2000. After that, the increased sown area mainly occurred in the northern parts of Northeast China. Meanwhile, rice area also expanded eastwards to 131° E and toward the higher elevation regions (above 200 m). Due to a northward movement of accumulated temperature belts, the new rice area mainly appeared in the regions with an annual accumulated temperature (AAT) between 2800 and 3400 ℃·d. The trend of precipitation during the study period increased before 2000 and decreased afterwards. The increased rice area was found mainly in the regions with precipitation range from 300 mm to 600 mm.

[Risk factors for interictal epileptiform discharges on electroencephalogram in children with spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical symptoms and features of interictal epileptiform discharges (IED) on electroencephalogram (EEG) in children with spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy (CP) and to analyze the risk factors for IED. METHODS: Eighty-three children with spastic hemiplegic CP were recruited, and their clinical data, results of video-electroencephalogram, imaging findings, and cognitive levels were collected. The influencing factors for IED were determined by multiple logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The incidence of epilepsy was 13% in children with spastic hemiplegic CP; 34% of these cases had IED. The incidence of epilepsy in children with IED (32%) was significantly higher than that in those without IED (4%) (P<0.01). The incidence of IED in children with complications and brain cortex impairment increased significantly (P<0.01). The incidence of IED varied significantly between patients with different cognitive levels (P<0.01). Brain cortex impairment (OR=11.521) and low cognitive level (OR=2.238)were risk factors for IED in children with spastic hemiplegic CP (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Spastic hemiplegic CP is often found with IED on EEG, and the incidence of epilepsy is higher in children with IED than in those without IED. Brain cortex impairment and low cognitive level have predictive values for IED in children with spastic hemiplegic CP.

Acupuncture reduced apoptosis and up-regulated BDNF and GDNF expression in hippocampus following hypoxia-ischemia in neonatal rats.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Acupuncture attenuates neuronal damages following ischemia. AIM OF THE STUDY: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the beneficial effects of acupuncture on hypoxia-ischemia induced brain damages in neonatal rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Male postnatal 7 days rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: sham control (sham), hypoxia-ischemia (HI), and HI plus acupuncture treatment (HI+Acu). The rats in HI and HI+Acu groups were submitted to model of neonatal HI, established by occluding the left common carotid artery followed by a 3.5h period of hypoxia (8% O2-92% N2). At 24h after HI, animals were stimulated by acupuncture treatment once a day and the treatment continued during 4 weeks, 5days/week. Behavioral functions, learning and memory ability, and body weight were observed at different time-points after HI. DNA fragmentation assay were performed with TUNEL staining to evaluate apoptosis and expression levels of mitochondrial Bcl-2, mitochondrial Bax, Cleaved caspase 3, Cleaved caspase 9 in the damaged hippocampus were detected by western blotting 28 days following HI. GDNF, BDNF levels in hippocampus were also determined. RESULTS: The results showed that acupuncture significantly promoted growth and development, improved neurobehavioral function, learning and memory ability after 20 days' treatment. Furthermore, we obtained one interesting finding that acupuncture attenuated cellular apoptosis and up-regulated GDNF and BDNF levels in hippocampus. CONCLUSIONS: All of these results suggest that acupuncture as a potential treatment may exert neuroprotective effects via inhibiting cellular apoptosis, increased GDNF and BDNF expression levels in rat hippocampus experiencing HI.

Screening for five prevalent mutations of SLC25A13 gene in Guangdong, China: a molecular epidemiologic survey of citrin deficiency.

Citrin is the liver-type aspartate/glutamate carrier isoform 2 (AGC2) encoded by SLC25A13 gene, playing important roles in the urea cycle and the malate-aspartate shuttle. Citrin deficiency (CD) has proven a disease entity with high prevalence in south China, including Guangdong with the largest population, but CD epidemiology in this province has not been well characterized. This study aims to screen for five prevalent SLC25A13 mutations, c.851_854del (p.R284fs286X), c.1638_1660dup (p.A554fs570X), c.615+5G>A (p.A206fs212X), IVS16ins3kb (p.A584fs585X) and c.1399C>T (p.R467X), to calculate the mutation carrier rate in Guangdong. A total of 2,428 used blood samples for health examination were collected as the research subjects, including 1,558 from 5 cities in the Pearl River Delta area and the remaining 870 from 4 peripheral cities, and the 5 mutations screened using High Resolution Melting Assay and HybProbe assay. A total of 52 carriers were detected, including 2 carriers of a novel c.1420G>A (p.V474M) mutation that impairs citrin function, as judged by the functional analysis in the yeast system. The carrier rate was higher in Pearl River Delta area than that in the peripheral cities (26/1,558 vs. 26/870, with χ(2) = 4.639 and P < 0.05). The carrier rate was around 1/47 (52/2,428), theoretically with the CD morbidity of 1/8,800 and the number of CD patients over 11,800 in Guangdong population. This study has provided primary epidemiologic data for the evaluation of CD effect in Guangdong province. Moreover, the newly identified c.1420G>A mutation that impairs AGC2 function has enriched the mutation spectrum of human SLC25A13 gene.

[Impacts on tiptoe deformity and intelligent development in spasmodic cerebral palsy treated with acupuncture at naoqing xue (extra)].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impacts on tiptoe deformity and intelligent development in spasmodic cerebral palsy treated with acupuncture at Naoqing Xue (Extra). METHODS: One hundred and forty-six children with spasmodic cerebral palsy were randomized into a Naoqing Xue group (74 cases) and a control group (72 cases). On the basic treatment (scalp acupuncture, sport therapy), in the Naoqing Xue group, acupuncture at Naoqing Xue (Extra) was applied. In the control group, acupuncture was given at Jiexi (ST 41), Yanglingquan (GB 34) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6). In the two groups, acupuncture was given once every two days, 10 treatments made one session, at the interval of 15 days between two sessions. Three sessions of treatment were given continuously. Before treatment and after 3 sessions of treatment, the angle measurement of ankle passive dorsiflexion, comprehensive spasm scale (CSS) and Gesell intelligence test were adopted for the rehabilitation assessment. Additionally, 30 min after the end of the first acupuncture treatment, the angle measurement of ankle passive dorsiflexion and CSS were applied to assess the immediate effect of the therapeutic methods of the two groups. RESULTS: The immediate effect of the angle measurement of ankle passive dorsiflexion and CSS as well as the effect after 3 sessions of treatment in the Naoqing Xue group were all superior to those in the control group (all P < 0.05). In 3 sessions of treatment, the development quotients of social adaptive behavior and personal social activation function in Gesell intelligence test in the Naoqing Xue group were all higher than those in the control group (all P < 0.05). The development quotients of major movement, fine motion and language were not different significantly as compared with those in the control group (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture at Naoqing Xue (Extra) relieves tiptoe deformity and promotes intelligent development for the children with spasmodic cerebral palsy.

Clinical observation on treatment of clearing the Governor Vessel and refreshing the mind needling in neural development and remediation of children with cerebral palsy.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of clearing the Governor Vessel and refreshing the mind needling in neural development and remediation of children with cerebral palsy. METHODS: A total of 200 cases of children with cerebral palsy were randomly assigned to the treatment group (100 patients) and the control group (100 patients). The treatment group was given the combined therapy of acupuncture and rehabilitation training, and the chosen acupoints were 13 points of the Governor Vessel, Shenshu (BL 23), Taixi (KI 3), Yanglingquan (GB 34), Zusanli (ST 36) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6), and points of refreshing the mind were also selected, which included puncturing Shenting (GV 24) toward Qianding (GV 21), puncturing Qianding (GV 21) toward Baihui (GV 20), puncturing Baihui (GV 20) toward Naohu (GV 17) and Sishencong (Ex-HN 1). The control group was only treated with rehabilitation training. A contrastive analysis of the therapeutic effect between acupuncture combined with rehabilitation training and rehabilitation training alone was made after a treatment course of 3 months. The Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) and Beijing Gesell Developmental Scale were adopted to assess the neural development and rehabilitation outcomes of the two groups. In addition, skull CT/MRI was adopted to evaluate the plerosis of injured cerebral nerve after treatment. RESULTS: The total effective rate in treatment group was 87% (87/100), significantly higher than the 55% (55/100) in the control group. The children's development quotient (DQ) tested by Gesell Developmental Scale and scores tested by GMFM in the treatment group were obviously higher than those in the control group (P<0.01). The improving and curing rates presented by skull CT/MRI in the treatment group were higher than those in the control group (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Clearing the Governor Vessel and refreshing the mind needling could accelerate the recovery of injured brain nerve and the reconstruction of brain function. The acupuncture therapy could ameliorate both the motor development and cognitive development. On the other hand, the forward curative effect of acupuncture combined with rehabilitation training was significantly better than the rehabilitation training alone.

[Treatment of autism with scalp acupunctur].

OBJECTIVE: To verify the efficacy on autism treated with scalp acupuncture for regaining the consciousness and opening the orifice in children. METHODS: Seventy cases of child autism were divided into an observation group (30 cases) and a control group (40 cases). In observation group, the cases were treated with scalp acupuncture for regaining the consciousness and opening the orifice, in combination with music therapy and structure education method. Scalp acupuncture was applied to intelligent nine needles (frontal five needles, Sishencong (EX-HN 1)), affection area, heart and liver area, once a day, at the interval once every one week. Totally, 60 treatments made one session. In control group, music therapy and structure education method were applied simply. Clancy Autism Behavior Scale, Childhood Autism Behavior Scale (CARS), Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC) and Gesell Developmental Scale (social adaptive behaviors and language development) were adopted to assess the scores before treatment and after 1 session of treatment. RESULTS: After treatment, the scores in Clancy Autism Behavior Scale, CARS and ABC were lower apparently in observation group as compared with those before treatment (all P < 0.01), and the scores in Clancy Autism Behavior Scale and ABC were lower than those in control group (both P < 0.01). In observation group, the scores of social adaptive behavior scale and language development scale were improved obviously after treatment (both P < 0.01), which were all higher than those in control group (both P < 0.01). In observation, between the group aged from 4 to 6 years and the group aged from 2 to 3 years, the value differences in Clancy Autism Behavior Scale, ABC and social adaptive development scale did not present statistical significance in group comparison before and after treatment (all P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Scalp acupuncture for regaining the consciousness and opening the orifice can significantly improve the efficacy on autism, effectively relieve child autism symptoms and enhance the intelligence, language ability and social adaptive ability. Moreover, the efficacy cannot be impacted by child's age.

Etiological analysis of neurodevelopmental disabilities: single-center eight-year clinical experience in south China.

Etiology determination of neurodevelopmental disabilities (NDDs) currently remains a worldwide common challenge on child health. We herein reported the etiology distribution feature in a cohort of 285 Chinese patients with NDDs. Although concrete NDD etiologies in 48.4% of the total patients could not be identified, genetic diseases (with the proportion of 35.8% in the total cases) including inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) and congenital dysmorphic diseases, constituted the commonest etiology category for NDDs in this study. The two key experimental technologies in pediatric metabolomics, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and tandem mass spectrometry (MS-MS), proved to be substantially helpful for the exploration of the NDD etiologies in this clinical investigation. The findings in this paper provided latest epidemiologic information on the etiology distribution of NDDs in Chinese, and the syndromic NDDs caused by citrin deficiency and the novel chromosomal karyotype, respectively, further expanded the etiology spectrum of NDDs.

[Effect of acupuncture-moxibustion combined with nerve growth factor on compensation of cerebral function in the children of cerebral palsy].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the compensation of cerebral function in acupuncture for rehabilitation of cerebral palsy. METHODS: One hundred children of cerebral palsy were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group, 50 cases in each group. The treatment group were treated with scalp acupuncture at the Motor Area, Foot Motor Sensory Area and Equilibrium Area, body acupuncture at Binao (LI 14), Fengchi (GB 20), Huantiao (GB 30), etc. and injection of nerve growth factor into Zusanli (ST 36), in combination with rehabilitation training; the control group were treated only with rehabilitation training. Their clinical therapeutic effects and recoveries of brain lesion detected by CT, SEPCT were investigated. RESULTS: The total effective rate was 84.0% in the treatment group better than 52.0% of the control group. After treatment, the development quotient (DQ) in the treatment group was higher than the control group (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture can promote compensation of cerebral function in the children of cerebral palsy.

Cytotoxic triterpenoid saponins from the roots of Platycodon grandiflorum.

Bioguided fractionation of the ethanol extracts obtained from Platycodon grandiflorum roots led to isolation of two new triterpenoid saponins, characterized as 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-2beta,12alpha,16alpha,23,24-pentahydroxyoleanane-28(13)-lactone (1) and 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-2beta,12alpha,16alpha,23alpha-tetrahydroxyoleanane-28(13)-lactone (2) by 1D- and 2D-NMR and MS techniques, as well as chemical means. Both compounds showed cytotoxic activity against human ECA-109 cells.

[Effects of acupuncture on quality of life in children with spastic cerebral palsy].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of acupuncture in children with spastic cerebral palsy (SCP). METHODS: One hundred SCP children, 2 to 7 years old, were randomly assigned to two groups equally. The control group was treated with rehabilitation training using Bobath and Vojta physical training methods and the acupuncture group treated also with the same training but with acupuncture conducted additionally. The therapeutic course was 3-12 months arranged according to the state of illness. RESULTS: The total effective rate, development quotient (DQ), improvement rate of brain hypogenesis and atrophy showed by skull CT, and recovery rate of cerebral emission computed tomography (ECT) were all higher in the acupuncture group than those in the control group (all P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture obviously promotes the compensation of cerebral function and shows a favorable effect in improving quality of life of the children with SCP.