ABSTRACT
Objective:To study the effect of adapted rhythmic gymnastics based on International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health-Children and Youth Version (ICF-CY) on the fundamental motor skill development for children with low function autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Methods:Three boys aged 7.2 to 8 years with low function ASD (IQ 47 to 53) participated in the exercise since September, 2019. Their activities and motor function were analyzed with ICF-CY to develop a 12-week rehabilitation exercise, including physical fitness, gymnastics skills content and game. They were assessed with ICF-CY based Questionnaire and gross motor of Peabody Developmental Motor Scales (PDMS-2) before and after training. Results:The qualifiers of body structure, body function, activity and participation improved somehow after training. The scores of gross motor skills of PDMS-2 improved. Conclusion:The adapted rhythmic gymnastics training based on ICF-CY may improve the functioning, especially motor function, for children with low function ASD, which can be a kind of rehabilitation exercise.
ABSTRACT
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a potential etiology of disc degeneration. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is currently regarded as a powerful treatment option for type 2 diabetes. Apart from the beneficial effects on glycaemic control, GLP-1 has been reported to exert functions in a variety of tissues on modulation of cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. However, little is known regarding the effects of GLP-1 on nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs). In the present study, we investigated the effects of liraglutide (LIR), a long-lasting GLP-1 analogue, on apoptosis of human NPCs and the underlying mechanisms involved. We confirmed the presence of GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R) in NPCs. Our data demonstrated that liraglutide inhibited the apoptosis of NPCs induced by high glucose (HG), as detected by Annexin V/Propidium Iodide (PI) and ELISA assays. Moreover, liraglutide down-regulated caspase-3 activity at intermediate concentration (100 nM) for maximum effect. Further analysis suggested that liraglutide suppressed reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and stimulated the phosphorylation of Akt under HG condition. Pretreatment of cells with the Phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor LY294002 (LY) and small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) GLP-1R abrogated the liraglutide-induced activation of Akt and the protective effects on NPCs' apoptosis. In conclusion, liraglutide could directly protect NPCs against HG-induced apoptosis by inhibiting oxidative stress and activate the PI3K/Akt/caspase-3 signaling pathway via GLP-1R.
