[Effect of acupuncture combined with repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on motor function and cerebral hemodynamics in children with spastic cerebral palsy with spleen-kidney deficiency].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical effect of acupuncture combined with repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in the treatment of children with spastic cerebral palsy with spleen-kidney deficiency, as well as its effect in improving cerebral hemodynamics. METHODS: A total of 220 children with spastic cerebral palsy were divided into observation group and control group using a random number table, with 110 children in each group. The children in the control group were given rehabilitation training and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, and those in the observation group were given acupuncture in addition to the treatment in the control group. Acupuncture was performed at Zusanli (ST36), Xuanzhong (GB39), Sanyinjiao (SP6), Pishu (BL20), Shenshu (BL23), Qihai (CV6), Quchi (LI11), Neiguan (PC6), Hegu (LI4) and Tianshu (ST25) once every other day, three times a week for 3 consecutive months. The two groups were compared in terms of Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM), Fine Motor Function Measure (FMFM), comprehensive function score for children with cerebral palsy, clinical outcome, and related cerebral hemodynamic parameters (mean blood flow velocity [Vm], systolic peak velocity [Vs], and resistance index [RI] of the cerebral artery). RESULTS: After treatment, both groups had significant increases in the scores of GMFM, FMFM and comprehensive function (cognitive function, speech function, motor ability, self-care, and social adaptability,P<0.01), and the observation group had significantly better improvements in the scores of GMFM (domains A, B and C), FMFM (domains B, C, D and E), and comprehensive function than those of the control group (P<0.01). The therapeutic effect of the observation group (93/110, 84.55%)was superior to that of the control group (80/110, 72.73%, P<0.05). The observation group had significantly higher Vs and Vm and a significantly lower RI than the control group (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: In the treatment of children with spasmodic cerebral palsy with spleen-kidney deficiency, acupuncture combined with repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation can significantly improve their motor function, comprehensive function, and clinical outcome, which may be associated with the regulation of cerebral hemodynamics.

CRMP1 Interacted with Spy1 During the Collapse of Growth Cones Induced by Sema3A and Acted on Regeneration After Sciatic Nerve Crush.

CRMP1, a member of the collapsin response mediator protein family (CRMPs), was reported to regulate axon outgrowth in Sema3A signaling pathways via interactions with its co-receptor protein neuropilin-1 and plexin-As through the Fyn-cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (CDK5) cascade and the sequential phosphorylation of CRMP1 by lycogen synthase kinase-3ß (GSK-3ß). Using yeast two-hybrid, we identified a new molecule, Speedy A1 (Spy1), a member of the Speedy/RINGO family, with an interaction with CRMP1. Besides, for the first time, we observed the association of CRMP1 with actin. Based on this, we wondered the association of them and their function in Sema3A-induced growth cones collapse and regeneration process after SNC. During our study, we constructed overexpression plasmid and short hairpin RNA (shRNA) to question the relationship of CRMP1/Spy1 and CRMP1/actin. We observed the interactions of CRMP1/Spy1 and CRMP1/actin. Besides, we found that Spy1 could affect CRMP1 phosphorylation actived by CDK5 and that enhanced CRMP1 phosphorylation might disturb the combination of CRMP1 and actin, which would contribute to abnormal of Sema3A-induced growth cones collapse and finally lead to influent regeneration process after rat sciatic nerve crush. Through rat walk footprint test, we also observed the variance during regeneration progress, respectively. We speculated that CRMP1 interacted with Spy1 which would disturb the association of CRMP1 with actin and was involved in the collapse of growth cones induced by Sema3A and regeneration after sciatic nerve crush.

[The role of PKC to TNF-alpha induced beta-1, 4-galactosyltransferase-I expression in endothelial cells].

AIM: To investigate the role of protein kinase C (PKC) to regulate the expression of beta-1, 4-galactosyltransferase-I(beta-1, 4-GalT-I)and the influence to cytoskeleton and adherence ability of human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs) when stimulated by tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha). METHODS: Cultured HUVECs were pretreated by various PKC inhibitors or PMA, an excitomotor of PKC respectively for 30 minutes, then stimulated by TNF-alpha for 4 hours, beta-1, 4-GalT-I expression were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot, expression of beta-1, 4-galactosylated carbohydrate chains and cytoskeleton were assayed by immunofluorescence, adherence ability of HUVECs was observed by endothelial-monocyte cell adherence test. RESULTS: Up-regulated expression of beta-1, 4-GalT-I and beta-1, 4-galactosylated carbohydrate chains in HUVECs stimulated by TNF-alpha were suppressed by PKC inhibitors and increased by PMA. F-actin and beta-1, 4-GalT-I were partly co-localized in HUVECs, PKC inhibitor inhibited the effect of TNF-alpha on the distribution of f-actin and beta-1, 4-GalT-I. Adherence ability of HUVECs enhanced by LPS was significantly suppressed by PKC inhibitor. CONCLUSION: PKC signal transduction pathway may participate in regulating beta-1, 4-GalT-I expression in endothelial cells (EC) stimulated by TNF-alpha, furthermore, polytypes of PKC may participate in this regulating process; PKC might regulate cytoskeleton reorganization and adherence ability of EC through beta-1, 4-GalT-I during inflammation.

[Temperature sensitivity of wheat plant respiration and soil respiration influenced by increased UV-B radiation from elongation to flowering periods].

Field experiment was carried out in the spring of 2008 in order to investigate the effects of increased UV-B radiation on the temperature sensitivity of wheat plant respiration and soil respiration from elongation to flowering periods. Static chamber-gas chromatography method was used to measure ecosystem respiration and soil respiration under 20% UV-B radiation increase and control. Environmental factors such as temperature and moisture were also measured. Results indicated that supplemental UV-B radiation inhibited the ecosystem respiration and soil respiration from wheat elongation to flowering periods, and the inhibition effect was more obvious for soil respiration than for ecosystem respiration. Ecosystem respiration rates, on daily average, were 9%, 9%, 3%, 16% and 30% higher for control than for UV-B treatment forthe five measurement days, while soil respiration rates were 99%, 93%, 106%, 38% and 10% higher for control than for UV-B treatment. The Q10s (temperature sensitivity coefficients) for plant respiration under control and UV-B treatments were 1.79 and 1.59, respectively, while the Q10s for soil respiration were 1.38 and 1.76, respectively. The Q10s for ecosystem respiration were 1.65 and 1.63 under CK and UV-B treatments, respectively. Supplemental UV-B radiation caused a lower Q10 for plant respiration and a higher Q10 for soil respiration, although no significant effect of supplemental UV-B radiation on the Q10 for ecosystem respiration was found.

[Therapeutic effect of scalp-acupuncture combined with exercise therapy on spastic cerebral palsy of the child].

OBJECTIVE: To observe clinical therapeutic effect of scalp-acupuncture combined with exercise therapy on spastic cerebral palsy. METHODS: Eighty children of spastic cerebral palsy were randomly divided into a scalp-acupuncture plus exercise therapy group and a exercise therapy group, 40 cases in each group. The scalp-acupuncture plus exercise therapy group were treated with scalp-acupuncture and exercise therapy, with Yundongqu (the motor area), Pinghengqu (the balance area), Ganjuequ (the sensory area), etc. selected for scalp-acupuncture, and puncture at main points Baihui (GV 20) and Sishencong (EX-HN 1) and exercise therapy. The exercise therapy group were treated by exercise therapy. Changes of GMFM scores and WeeFIM scores before and after treatment were compared. RESULTS: There were significant differences in GMFM scores and WeeFIM scores before and treatment in the scalp-acupuncture plus exercise therapy group (P < 0.001) and in the exercise therapy group (P < 0.05), the former being better than the later (P < 0.05); the total effective rate was 92.5% in the scalp-acupuncture plus exercise therapy group and 72.5% in the exercise therapy group with a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05), the former being significantly higher than the later. CONCLUSION: The scalp-acupuncture combined with exercise therapy can improve motor function of limits of children with spastic cerebral palsy, with therapeutic effect better than that of simple exercise therapy.