OBJECTIVETo explore the effective therapeutic method for reducing adductor muscle tension in the children of spasmodic cerebral palsy.

METHODSOne hundred and forty cases of spasmodic cerebral palsy met the inclusive criteria were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 70 cases in each one. In the control group, the conventional physical therapies (Bobath therapy and lower extremities therapy) and scalp acupuncture (seven-intelligent needles, motor area, sensory area, foot-motor-sensory area and balance area) were adopted. In the observation group, on the basis of the treatment as the control group, the three-spasm-needle therapy was applied to Jiejian, Xuehaishang and Houxuehai. The physical therapies were given once every day, acupuncture was given once every two days, the treatment of 20 days made one session. There were 15 to 20 days at the interval among the sessions and 3 sessions were required totally. Separately before and after treatment, the modified Ashworth scale was used to evaluate the adductor muscle tension, and measure the adductor muscle angle, and D and E regions of gross motor function measure (GMFM-88) were adopted for clinical efficacy evaluation.

RESULTSAfter treatment, the scores of the adductor muscle tension were decreased to different extends in the two groups (both P<0.01), the adductor muscle angle was increased as compared with that before treatment (both P<0.01) and the scores of D and F regions in GMFM-88 were all improved (all P<0.01). The efficacy in the observation group was more significant than that in the control group (all P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe three-spasm-needle therapy effectively reduces adductor muscle tension and improves the range of motion in hip joint, independent walking, running and jumping abilities in the children of spasmodic cerebral palsy.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Cerebral Palsy ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Muscle Contraction ; Muscle Strength ; Muscles ; physiopathology ; Treatment Outcome

ObjectiveTo investigate the adjuvant effect of heatshock protein 110(HSP110) on the immune responses induced by an altered peptide ligand of human papilloma virus type 16 E711-20 peptide (HPV16E711-20).Methods The complex of HSP110 and an altered peptide ligand of HPV16E711-20 was constructed in vitro.Fifteen 6-week-old C57BL/6 female mice were randonly and equally divided into 3 groups,including complex group,ligand group,and phosphate buffered solution (PBS) group,to receive intraperitoneal immunization with the complex (100 μg),peptide (10 μg),and PBS (100 μl) respectively.Immunization was carried out with an interval of 2 weeks for 2 times.Two weeks after the last immunization,the mice were sacrificed followed by the isolation of splenocytes.MTT assay was performed to evaluate the proliferation activity of splenocytes,intracellular staining for interferon(INF)-γ to detect cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs),standard chromium-51 (51Cr) release assay to estimate the lethal effect of specific CTLs on target cells.Statistical analysis was performed by using t test with SPSS 10.0 software.Differences were considered as statistically significant when the P value was less than 0.05.ResultsA significant increase was observed in the proliferation index ( 1.87 ± 0.122 vs.0.32 ± 0.071,t =4.01,P ＜ 0.01 ) of,and percentage of CD8+IFN-γ+ T lymphocytes(3.9％ vs.0.4％,t =3.88,P ＜ 0.01 ) among splenocytes from the complex group compared with the ligand group.At the effector-to-target ratio of 100 ∶ 1,50 ∶ 1,25∶ 1 and 12.5 ∶ 1,the death rate of target cells was 54.7％,72.2％,61.5％ and 39.8％ respectively after incubation with CTLs from the compleximmunized mice,higher than that from the ligand-immunized mice (35.2％,49.3％,28.1％,17.4％,respectively).ConclusionHSP110 could enhance the immunological effect of the altered peptide ligand of HPV16E711-20,and can serve as an immunological adjuvant.

ObjectiveTo determine the genotypes of human papillomavirus(HPV) in patients with giant condyloma acuminatum.MethodsSixty-seven outpatients with giant condyloma acuminatum collected from January 2007 to January 2010 were included in this study.Lesional specimens were obtained from these patients.The genotypes of HPV were determined by flow-through hybridization and gene chip assay.ResultsOf the 67 cases of giant condyloma acuminatum,63 (94.02％) were positive for HPV DNA.Among the HPV DNA-positive specimens,84 (60.87％) harbored low risk types of HPV,54 (39.13％) high risk types of HPV.Type 6 and 11were the predominant low risk HPV types,while type 16 and 18 were the major high risk HPV types.

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of different courses of topical tacrolimus 0.1％ ointment in facial corticosteroid-dependent dermatitis and to observe the rebound in patients after treatment with these regimens.Methods A total of 104 patients with facial corticosteroid-dependent dermatitis were randomly divided into 3 groups to be treated with topical tacrolimus 0.1％ ointment twice daily for 4,8 and 16 weeks respectively.The patients were followed up every 2 weeks within the early 4 weeks of treatment and every 4 weeks thereafter.The rebound phenomena was observed in patients on week 4 after the withdrawal of tacrolimus.Results Finally,90 patients completed this trial,including 32 patients in the 4-week group,29 patients in the 8-week group and 29 patients in the 16-week group.No significant differences were observed between the 4-,8- and 16-week groups in the total reponse rate (75.00％,82.76％,86.21％,respectively,x2 =1.35,P ＞ 0.05).The rebound rate in the 16-week group significantly differed from that in the 4- and 8-week group (20.69％ vs.46.88％ and 41.38％,both P＜ 0.05),while no statistical difference was noted between the 4- and 8-week groups.Local burning and itching were reported in 31.73％ of these patients,and all of these irritant reactions occurred within the first week of treatment.Conclusions Topical tacrolimus 0.1％ ointment is safe and effective for the treatment of facial corticosteroid-dependent dermatitis.The total response rate does not increase with the extended treatment course,and 4 weeks of treatment is enough for the marked and stable improvement of facial corticosteroid-dependent dermatitis,but the rebound rate is likely to be reduced by extended treatment course.

Objective To find out the pathologic changes and possible influencing factors in the process of spontaneous regression of plane warts.Methods One hundred and five lesional specimens taken from patients with plane warts were observed microscopically.Results The histologic features indicated slight hyperkeratosis,acanthosis and ballooning degeneration of keratinocytes in stable lesions;a combination of tower-peak shaped hyperkeratosis,cuneate hypergranulosis and ballooning degeneration in progressively increasing lesions;and infiltration of lymphocytes and necrosis of keratinocytes in inflammatory icthing lesions.Conclusions Specific cell-mediated immunity against keratimocytes may be involved in the process of regression of plane warts.There is a positive correlation between the activity of skin lesions and the induction of cellular immunity.

Objective To investigate the effect of CpG sequences on t he induction of anti-dsDNA antibodies and the possible mechanism. Methods Usin g a synthetic oligodeoxynucleotide (CpG-ODN) containing CpG as an adjuvant, nati ve calf thymus DNA (nCTDNA) was used as the mimic self antigen to immunize norma l BALB/c mice. About one week after immunization, anti-dsDNA antibodies were tes ted by ELISA using nCTDNA and native Escherichia coli DNA (nECDNA) as test antig ens. Results The levels of anti-dsDNA antibodies and cytokines including IL-6, IL-12, IFN- but the binding abilities were different significantly. Conclusion The CpG motif can promote the product ion of cross-reactive anti-dsDNA antibodies in normal mice.

Objective To analyze mutations in the cathepsin C (CTSC) gene in a patient with Papillon-Lefèvre syndrome (PLS).Methods Clinical data were collected from a patient with PLS.Two milliliters of venous blood samples were obtained from the patient,his parents and 100 unrelated healthy controls separately.DNA was extracted from these blood samples,and PCR was performed to amplify all the 7 exons of the CTSC gene followed by direct DNA sequencing.Results Two heterozygous mutations were observed in the CTSC gene of the patient.One was a novel mutation c.824C ＞ T at position 824 in the exon 6,which resulted in a substitution of ACC (threonine) by ATC (isoleucine) at codon 275 (p.T275I).The other one was the mutation c.1040A ＞ G at position 1040 in the exon 7,causing the substitution of TAT (tyrosine) by TGT (cysteine) at codon 347 (p.Y347C).His father and mother carried the heterozygous mutation c.824C ＞ T and c.1040A ＞ G respectively.Neither of the two mutations was observed in the 100 healthy controls.Conclusions CTSC mutations are responsible for the clinical phenotype of PLS.Identification of the c.824C ＞ T mutation extends the spectrum of mutations in the CTSC gene and provides a basis for genetic diagnosis of PLS.

Objective To report a Chinese pedigree with benign familial chronic pemphigus (BFCP),and to screen mutations of ATP2C 1 gene in this family.Methods A 39-year-old male patient with BFCP andhis family members underwent a clinical investigation.Blood samples were collected from all the members in this family and from 50 unrelated healthy controls.Genomic DNA was extracted from the blood samples,and PCR was performed to amplify all the 28 exons and flanking sequences of the ATP2C1 gene followed by DNA direct sequencing.The resulted DNA sequences were compared with the reported sequences of APT2C1 gene in Genbank (Number:NM_014382.2 and NC_000003.9).Results There were 24 family members in the four-generation pedigree,with 8 members affected by BFCP.A single-nucleotide substitution,c(1696C→T),in exon 17 of the ATP2C1 gene was identified in all of the members with BFCP,but not in unaffected third-or second-generation members or unrelated healthy controls.This substitution was also found in 1 out of 4 family members of fourth-generation.Conclusions The nonsense mutation c(1696C→T) in the ATP2C1 gene,is likely to be responsible for BFCP in this Chinese four-generation pedigree.The underage family member of fourth-generation who carried the mutation c(1696C→T) but had no clinical symptoms of BFCP,should be closely followed.

Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of Governor Vessel-unblocking and brain-refreshing scalp acupuncture for cerebral palsy (CP) complicated with intellectual disabilities. Methods:A total of 300 CP cases aged between 1 and 5 years were randomly allocated into a treatment group (n=150) and a control group (n=150). Patients in the treatment group were treated with Governor Vessel-unblocking and brain- refreshing scalp acupuncture combined with rehabilitation training, whereas patients in the control group received rehabilitation training alone. The Beijing Gesell developmental (Gesell) scale and gross motor function measure (GMFM) scale were used to assess the motor and intellectual development before and 3 months after the treatment. In addition, the head CT/MRI examination was applied to assess the brain nerve repair before and after the treatment. Results:After the treatment, the total effective rate in the treatment group was 78.0%, versus 42.7% in the control group, showing a statistical significance (P<0.05). As for scores of five subscales in the Gesell scale, there were significant intra-group differences in the treatment group (allP<0.05); and the scores in the treatment group were significantly better than those in the control group (allP<0.05). As for scores of five dimensions in GMFM scale, there were significant intra-group differences in the treatment group (allP<0.05); and the scores in the treatment group were significantly better than those in the control group (allP<0.05). According to the head CT/MRI findings, the total effective rate was 73.3% in the treatment group, versus 62.0% in the control group, showing a statistical significance (P<0.05). Conclusion:When used in combination with rehabilitative training, Governor Vessel-unblocking and brain-refreshing scalp acupuncture can significantly improve the clinical efficacy for cerebral palsy complicated with intellectual disabilities. It can also improve the patients' motor function, intelligence and language ability.

Objective To analyze mutations in the GJB2 gene in a Chinese patient with keratitis-ichthyosis-deafness (KID)syndrome complicated by cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. Methods Clinical data were collected from a patient with KID syndrome complicated by cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. Peripheral blood samples were obtained from the patient and her parents, and DNA was extracted from these blood samples. PCR was performed to amplify the exon 2 of the GJB2 gene followed by direct DNA sequencing. Results A mutation (c.148G > A)was identified at position 148 in exon 2 of the GJB2 gene, which caused a codon change from GAC to AAC and resulted in the substitution of aspartate by asparagine at position 50 in the connexin26 (Cx26)protein (p.Asp50Asn). Inaddition,anothermutation(c. 79G > A), which led to the substitution of valine by isoleucine at codon 27 in Cx26 (p.Val27Ile), was found at position 79 in exon 2 of the GJB2 gene. Neither of the two mutations was detected in the patient′s parents. Literature review revealed that 13 cases of KID syndrome complicated by cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma had been reported in abroad, and the mutation c.148G > A was detected in the GJB2 gene in all the 7 cases finally diagnosed by gene sequencing. Conclusion GJB2 gene mutations may be responsible for the clinical phenotype of KID syndrome in this Chinese patient, and the mutation c.148G > A may be related to the development of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.