Examining the efficacy of dance movement and music mixed treatment on social communication impairment in children with autism - Based on family parent-child situation.

Despite impairments in social communication in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), existing studies only examine the effects of either MT or DMT interventions. In the family setting, few studies have investigated interventions for social communication impairments in children with ASD. This study designed and tested a mixed intervention program of both MT and DMT through a 3-month intervention and training for children with ASD in the family setting including parent and child. A pre-test and post-test were conducted in the experimental and control groups, and the childhood autism rating scale (CARS) and autism treatment evaluation checklist (ATEC) scales were used to assess the severity of ASD symptoms and the effects of intervention. A t-test and analysis of variance were performed based on the experimental results. The results indicated that the experimental and control groups did not differ significantly on the CARS pre-test (t = 1.218, p > 0.05) and that there was no significant difference in the ATEC pre-test (t = 0.546, p > 0.05; F = 0.074, p > 0.05, partial η2 = 0.003). There was no significant difference between the pre- and post-test scores for the CARS in the control group (t = 0.635, p > 0.05), and there was no significant difference between the pre- and post-test scores for the ATEC in the control group (t = 0.027, p > 0.05; F = 5.251, p > 0.05, partial η2 = 0.313). There was a significant difference between the pre- and post-test scores on the CARS in the experimental group (t = 4.327, p > 0.05) and the pre- and post-test scores on the ATEC in the experimental group (t = 5.763, p > 0.01; F = 32.615, p > 0.01, partial η2 = 0.759), with the post-test scores being lower than the pre-test scores. This demonstrates that the mixed intervention of MT and DMT in the family parent-child setting can reduce autism and improve social communication impairment in children with ASD.

Comparisons of pathogenic course of two Heliothis virescens ascovirus isolates (HvAV-3i and HvAV-3j) in four noctuid (Lepidoptera) pest species.

Ascoviruses are fatal double-stranded DNA viruses with a special pathogenesis in which cells are converted into vesicles with virions. Several closely related ascovirus isolates that shared more than 90% genomic DNA identity showed different pathogenic courses in previous studies. To investigate the pathogenic differences between the related ascovirus isolates, Heliothis virescens ascovirus 3i (HvAV-3i) and Heliothis virescens ascovirus 3j (HvAV-3j) were used to inoculate four noctuid pest species (Helicoverpa armigera, Mythimna separata, Spodoptera frugiperda, and Spodoptera litura), and the pathogenic indexes were recorded. The mortality of HvAV-3i infected H. armigera and S. frugiperda was approximately 60%, while the other HvAV-infected larvae had mortality rates above 90%. The maximum lethal dilution ratios of HvAV-3i in H. armigera, M. separata, S. frugiperda, and S. litura were 1.90 × 107, 1.90 × 103, 1.90 × 108, and 1.90 × 104 viral genome DNA copies/mL, respectively, while the ratios of HvAV-3j were 8.22 × 106, 8.22 × 102, 8.22 × 105, and 8.22 × 103 viral genome DNA copies/mL, respectively. Extended larval survival time was found in the HvAV-infected larvae; median survival time of the HvAV-infected larvae ranged from 13 to 19 days. An additional larval instar was found in HvAV-infected M. separata, S. frugiperda, and S. litura. Larval growth and food intake were significantly inhibited from 2 days post-infection (dpi) in the tested H. armigera, S. frugiperda, and S. litura after infection with HvAV-3i or HvAV-3j. The detoxification enzyme activity of host larvae was influenced after infection with HvAVs, and two different regulation patterns were detected, one in infected H. armigera and M. separata and the other in S. frugiperda and S. litura. The results obtained in this study provide insights into the pathogenic characteristics of ascoviruses.

Comparative Efficacy and Acceptability of Cholinesterase Inhibitors and Memantine Based on Dosage in Patients with Vascular Cognitive Impairment: A Network Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Considering the lack of direct comparison between cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine in patients with vascular cognitive impairment (VCI), determining how to choose the best treatment plan remains inconclusive. Hence, we conducted the network meta-analysis to compare the efficacy and acceptability of these drugs. METHODS: PubMed, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Embase and Web of Science were searched for double-blind randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for the treatment of VCI, which involved donepezil, galantamine, rivastigmine, and memantine, from database inception to January 1, 2020. Then, a network meta-analysis based on the frequency method was conducted. RESULTS: Eleven RCTs were included. Compared with the placebo, in terms of efficacy, donepezil 5 mg (standardized mean difference = -1.11, 95% confidence interval = -1.88 to -0.34), donepezil 10 mg (-1.44, -2.31 to -0.56), galantamine 24 mg (-1.99, -3.03 to -0.95), and memantine 20 mg (-1.89, -2.93 to -0.86) were more effective for the cognition of ADAS-cog, and donepezil 5 mg (0.46, 0.12 to 0.81), donepezil 10 mg (0.76, 0.34 to 1.17), and rivastigmine 12mg (0.60, 0.10 to 1.10) exhibited superior benefits for the cognition of MMSE. Donepezil 10 mg (-0.25, -0.44 to -0.06; -1.47, -2.79 to -0.15) exhibited improvements for CDR-SB and EXIT25, respectively. In terms of acceptability, memantine was found to be the best. CONCLUSION: Donepezil 5 mg, donepezil 10 mg, galantamine 24 mg, memantine 20 mg, and rivastigmine 12 mg exerted beneficial effects on cognition, and donepezil 10mg provided beneficial effects for executive function and global status. Based on the network meta-analysis, donepezil 10 mg might be the best choice, considering the benefits on cognition function, executive function and global status, but doserelated adverse reactions need to be noted. In the meantime, memantine is a better comprehensive choice in terms of efficacy and safety.

PP2A alleviates oxidized LDL-induced endothelial dysfunction by regulating LOX-1/ROS/MAPK axis.

AIMS: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of PP2A on the progression of AS and the special molecular mechanism. MAIN METHODS: The expression of PP2A in Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) induced by different concentrations of Ox-LDL was measured by RT-PCR and Western blot. The binding activity of PP2A and LOX-1 was determined by CoIP assay. Western blot was used to measure the protein expression of VCAM-1, ICAM-1 and MCP-1. KEY FINDING: The results revealed that the expression of PP2A was decreased with the increase of Ox-LDL concentration in HUVECs. Overexpression of PP2A alleviated Ox-LDL-induced dysfunction and inflammatory response in HUVECs. The results of Co-immunoprecipitation (CoIP) showed that PP2A had direct effect on LOX-1, and PP2A inhibited the expression of LOX-1. In addition, overexpression of LOX-1 reversed the inhibitory effect of PP2A on Ox-LDL-induced dysfunction and inflammatory response in HUVECs. What is more, PP2A inhibited LOX-1/ROS/MAPK axis. SIGNIFICANCE: it suggests that PP2A alleviates Ox-LDL-induced dysfunction and inflammatory response of HUVECs potentially by regulating the LOX-1/ROS/MAPK axis，which suggests that PP2A has anti-inflammatory effect during the formation of as, and the molecular therapy of PP2A provides a theoretical basis.

Depletion of CPEB1 protects against oxidized LDL-induced endothelial apoptosis and inflammation though SIRT1/LOX-1 signalling pathway.

Atherosclerosis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disease that results from Oxidized low-density lipoprotein (Ox-LDL) induced endothelial dysfunction. Cytoplasmic polyadenylation element binding protein 1 (CPEB1) is closely related to the development of epithelial cells, but the role of CPEB1 in AS remains unknown. The RNA and protein levels of CPEB1 expression are increased by Ox-LDL exposure, which is abrogated by c-Jun amino-terminal kinase (JNK) inhibitor SP600125. CPEB1 small interfering RNA (siRNA) suppressed the oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis. Furthermore, CPEB1 siRNA enhanced the sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) transcription levels in Ox-LDL-treated HUVECs. Co-Immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) assay showed that CPEB1 siRNA declined the ubiquitination of SIRT1, and SIRT1 siRNA enhanced the Lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1), which were decreased by CPEB1 siRNA. In addition, LOX-1 and SIRT1 attenuated the protection of SIRT1 siRNA on Ox-LDL-induced oxidative stress. Therefore, our study revealed that CPEB1 depletion might play an anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic role in Ox-LDL-induced apoptosis and inflammation though SIRT1/LOX-1 signalling pathway.

Effectiveness and safety of warfarin and anti-platelet drugs for the primary prevention of stroke in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation: a meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of warfarin and anti-platelet drugs as the primary approach to the prevention of stroke in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). METHODS: Three English databases (the Cochrane library, Embase, and Medline), and three Chinese databases (the Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Chinese Periodical Full-text Database of Science and Technology) were searched to select potentially eligible studies published before May, 2014. The studies were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that investigated the effectiveness and safety of using warfarin and anti-platelet drugs in preventing stroke in NVAF patients; The statistical analysis was performed using the Review Manager 5.2 software provided by the Cochrane Collaboration. RESULTS: nine articles were finally included. Compared with antiplatelet drugs, warfarin treatment significantly reduced the risk of stroke (OR = 0.62, 95% CI 0.50-05.77), systemic embolism events (OR = 0.49, 95% CI 0.31-0.77), ischemic stroke events (OR = 0.46, 95% CI 0.36-0.59), stroke-related disability or death events (OR = 0.66, 95% CI 0.52-0.84). Warfarin did not increase the incidence of All-cause death events (OR = 0.92, 95% CI 0.78-1.08), intracranial hemorrhage events (OR = 1.28, 95% CI 0.85-1.93), major hemorrhage events (OR = 1.01, 95% CI 0.79-1.29). CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis found that compared with antiplatelet drugs, warfarin treatment significantly reduced the risk of stroke, systemic embolism events, ischemic stroke events, stroke-related disability or death events. And warfarin did not increase the incidence of All-cause death events, intracranial hemorrhage events, major hemorrhage events.