Objective To investigate the clinical features and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) finding of cerebral palsy in children with bilirubin-encephalopathy. Methods 35 cerebral palsied children with a history of bilirubin-encephalopathy were retrospectively studied. Results 27 cases appeared some early symptoms of the nervous system, including excessive crying without any reason, hypsokinesis, body torquing, opisthotonos, which usually were aggravated by respiratory infection, fever, diarrhea, etc. The marked neuromotor characteristics included the instability and asymmetry of muscle tension and posture, the remaining of some primitive reflexs. According to the Gross Motor Function Classification, there was 1 case with I grade, 3 with II, 4 with III, 5 with IV, and 22 with V (of which 15 cases were younger than 18 months）. 29 cases accepted MRI, and 25 cases appeared abnormal, of which 22 showed typically high T2 signal in the bilateral globus pallidus. Conclusion The clinical and brain MRI findings of dyskinetic cerebral palsy associated with bilirubin-encephalopathy are characteristic and can be recognized easily.

OBJECTIVETo explore the impacts on the fine movement of upper extremity with flaccid paralysis in stroke treated with acupuncture and motor imagery.

METHODSSixty-two cases of flaccid paralysis of upper extremity in stroke were randomized into an observation group (30 cases) and a control group (32 cases). In the control group, the conventional western medication and the passive movement of the extremity were applied. Additionally, the penetrating needling technique was used at the head points [penetrating needling from Baihui (GV 20) to Taiyang (EX-HN 5)] and the local affected extremity [penetrating needling from Jianyu (LI 15) to Binao (LI1 14), from Quchi (LI 11) to Shaohai (HT 3), from Waiguan (TE 5) to Neiguan (PC 6), etc]. The needles were retained for 30 min. In the observation group, on the basic treatment as the control group, during the needle retaining, the motor imagery therapy was supplemented. The treatment was given once a day, 5 treatments a week, for 4 weeks totally in the either group. The scores in the action research arm test (ARAT) and the modified Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA) were recorded at the moment of enrollment, in 2 and 4 weeks of treatment, in the 6th and 8th weeks, as well as after 90 days separately.

RESULTS(1) ARAT score: since the 2nd week, ARAT scores in the observation group were all improved significantly as compared with those in the control group at the each time points (all P<0. 05). In the observation group, the scores were improved significantly in the pair comparison at the time points (all P<0. 05). In the control group, the score in the 2nd week was not different significantly as compared with that before treatment (P>0. 05), but the scores at the rest time points were improved significantly in the pair comparison (all P<0. 05); (2) FMA score: in the 2nd week and on the 90th day, FMA score in the observation group was higher significantly than those in the control group (both P < 0. 05). In the observation group, the scores were all improved significantly in the pair comparison at the time points (all P<0. 05). In the control group, except that in comparison between the 90th day and the 8th week (P>0. 05), the results were all P<0. 05 at the rest time points.

CONCLUSIONThe early intervention of the combined therapy of acupuncture and motor imagery effectively promotes the recovery of the coordination function and the fine movement of upper extremity, especially the improvements of the fine movement in stroke at flaccid paralysis stage. The efficacy is better than the single acupuncture treatment.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Imagery (Psychotherapy) ; Imagination ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Motor Activity ; Paraplegia ; etiology ; physiopathology ; psychology ; therapy ; Stroke ; complications ; therapy ; Upper Extremity ; physiopathology

Objective To study the mechanism of antidepressant effect of Baihe Zhimu decoction based on NLRP1 inflammasome. Methods A chronic unpredictable mild stress（CUMS）induced depression mouse model was constructed. C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into a control group, CUMS group, low-dose Baihe Zhimu decoction group, high-dose Baihe Zhimu decoction group, and MDP group（NLRP1 activator）. After continuous administration for 4 weeks, the behavioral characteristic of mice was investigated. The levels of mice hippocampal inflammatory factors IL-1β、IL-6,TNF-α, and neurotransmitters 5-HT, NE, and DA were detected by ELISA. The expression of inflammasome related proteins NLRP1, ASC, and caspase-1, as well as related proteins in BDNF/TrkB and ERK/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway were detected by Western blot. Immunofluorescence was used to detect changes in BDNF expression in the hippocampus of mice. Results Baihe Zhimu decoction inhibited the activation of NLRP1 inflammasomes in the hippocampus of CUMS mice, improved their behavioral characteristics, increased the level of neurotransmitters in the hippocampus, and reduced the inflammatory response. The NLRP1 activator MDP reversed the above effects of Baihe Zhimu decoction. Baihe Zhimu decoction increased BDNF, TrkB expression, and phosphorylation levels of ERK, AKT, and mTOR proteins, which could be reversed by MDP. Conclusion Baihe Zhimu decoction improved depression like behavior in CUMS mice by inhibiting NLRP1 inflammasome activation and hippocampal neuroinflammatory response, and thereby activating BDNF/TrkB and ERK/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.

Monascus is one of the most essential microbial resources in China, with thousands of years of history. Modern science has proved that Monascus can produce pigment, ergosterol, monacolin K, γ-aminobutyric acid, and other functionally active substances. Currently, Monascus is used to produce a variety of foods, health products, and pharmaceuticals, and its pigments are widely used as food additives. However, Monascus also makes a harmful polyketide component called citrinin in the fermentation process; citrinin has toxic effects on the kidneys such as teratogenicity, carcinogenicity, and mutagenicity (Gong et al., 2019). The presence of citrinin renders Monascus and its products potentially hazardous, which has led many countries to set limits and standards on citrinin content. For example, the citrinin limit is less than 0.04 mg/kg according to the Chinese document National Standard for Food Safety Food Additive Monascus (GB 1886.181-2016) (National Health and Family Planning Commission of the People's Republic of China, 2016), and the maximum level in food supplements based on rice fermented with Monascus purpureus is 100 µg/kg in the European Union (Commission of the European Union, 2019).
Citrinin ; Dietary Supplements ; Fungi ; Monascus