Atypical dietary behaviour of children and adolescents with autism make it challenging for their parents to feed a balance diet to them. This qualitative study aims to explore food practices and source of information regarding food practices among caregivers of Malay children and adolescent with autism. A total of 19 caregivers (aged 35-53 years) of Malay children and adolescents with autism (aged 7-18 years) participated in focus group discussions. Respondents were selected using purposive sampling method from three selected special children's educational centers in Selangor and Negeri Sembilan areas. This focus group discussion was transcribed verbatim and analyzed with the assisted qualitative software (NVivo version 11), which several themes were formed. This study found that majority of respondents offered their children sunnah food, Omega-3 supplements and vitamin and mineral supplements, omitted food additives, gluten and casein, seafood, egg and legumes as they thought these may help in improving their children’s behavior and health. The main sources of information regarding these food practices were Autism Club Malaysia, internet, doctor and religious teacher. Majority of respondents had never consulted both dietitians or nutritionists. Nutritionists or dietitians should provide scientific evidence information on nutritional practices through autism association and internet to ensure that caregivers can manage their children’s nutritional problems more effectively.

Ulam is fresh traditional Malaysian vegetables which normally consumed in raw form or after a short blanching process. It contains high antioxidants and polyphenols. However, there is limited study about the relationship between ulam consumption and cognitive status. Thus, a cross sectional study was conducted to determine the relation with cognitive function among 132 middle-aged Malays adults (45-59 years old), recruited by convenient sampling from low income residences in Klang Valley. Respondents were interviewed to obtain data on sociodemography, dietary intake and total ulam intake and also measured for anthropometric parameters at respective community centres. Cognitive status was measured using Digit Span (attention and working memory), Rey auditory verbal learning test (RAVLT) (verbal memory) and comprehensive trail making test (CTMT) (cognitive flexibility). The average ulam intake by the respondents was 15.1 ± 8.2g/day and the top five highest consumed ulam were petai (68.1%), pucuk paku (62.9%), ulam raja (56.8%), pegaga (54.6%) and kesum (44.7%).There was a significant correlation between ulam intake with Digit Span (r = 0.265, p = 0.006), total immediate recall of RAVLT (r = 0.427, p < 0.001) and CTMT (r = 0.257, p = 0.007). Analysis of multiple regression indicated that total ulam intake was a significant predictor for Digit Span (R2 = 0.152, p < 0.05), RAVLT (R2 = 0.335, p = 0.001) and CTMT (R2 = 0.310, p < 0.001). In conclusion, this study showed that ulam has the potential to protect against cognitive decline, however, randomized control trials should be conducted to determine the efficacy of the ulam as neuroprotective agent.

Acupuncture Points ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bloodletting ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Pruritus ; therapy

Objective To investigate the relationship between ?-catenin gene expression and the mechanism of tumorigenesis, development and metastasis of human nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Methods RT-PCR method was used to detect the mRNA expression of ?-catenin in normal human nasopharyngeal tissues and nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Results The results showed that ?-catenin expression in 11 out of 15 nasopharyngeal carcinoma specimens was decreased (73.3%). Conclusion The abnormal expression of ?-catenin changed in the normal adhesive function and the signal transduction pathway of the cell in human nasopharyngeal carcinoma, indicating that the expression level of ?-catenin was a biological marker of tumorigenesis and development of human nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Objective: To investigate the chemical constituents from Osbeckia chinensis. Methods: The constituents were separated by column chromatography and their structures were elucidated by spectral data analyses. Results Sixteen compounds were isolated from O. chinensis and identified as 4-0-β-D- glucopyranosyl-3-O-methylellagic acid (1), 4-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-3, 3′-di-O-methylellagic acid (2), 4-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-3,3′, 4′-tri-O-methylellagic acid (3), kaempferol-3-O-β-L-ramnopyranoside (4), quercetin-3-O-β-D-galactopyranoside (5), quercetin-3-O-β-D- rhamnopyranoside (6), kaempferol-6-C-β-D-glucopyranoside (7), quercetin-3-O-β-D-rhamnopyranosyl-2″-acetyl (8), kaempferol-3-O- β-D-glucopyranosyl-2″,6″-bis-O-E-(4-hydroxy)-cinnamoyl (9) 4′-hydroxyflavone-3-O-(6-O-trans-p-coumaroyl)-β-D-glucopyranoside (10), kaempferol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-6‴-O-E-(4-hydroxy)-cinnamoyl (11), 3β-hydroxy-9(11)-fernen-23-oic acid (12), 1,2-dihydroxy-9(11)- arborinen-3-one (13), cholest-5-ene-2,3,21-triol (14), β-sitosterol (15), and daucosterol (16). Conclusion: Except for compounds 5 and 16, all compounds are obtained from O. chinensis for the first time.

Objective The aims of this study were to investigate the expression of microRNA-30a(miR-30a)in human bladder cancer cell lines and their effects on the proliferation,apoptosis and migration of human bladder cancer cells.Methods The expression levels of miR-30a in bladder cancer cell lines(5637 and T24)and bladder epithelial immortalized cells(SV-HUC-1)were detected by real-time quantitative PCR(qRT-PCR).The expression of miR-30a was up-regulated or down-regulated by T24 cells transfected with miR-30a mimic or 5637 cells transfected with miR-30a inhibitors and controls using NC mimic or NC inhibitor.The effects of miR-30a expression on the proliferation,apoptosis and invasion of bladder cancer cells were investigated by flow cytometry,MTT and Transwell assays.Results The expression level of miR-30a in two bladder cancer T24 and 5637 cell lines was significantly lower than that in normal bladder SV-HUC-1 cell line(P<0.05),and the expression level of miR-30a was lower in the high degree of malignancy in bladder cancer T24 cells than that in malignant degree of relatively low 5637 cells.After 72h transfection,the values of optical density(OD)in the miR-30a mimic group(0.83±0.09)was significantly lower than that in NC mimic group(1.21±0.12)in T24 cells(P<0.01).The OD values of miR-30a inhibitor group(1.28±0.14)was significantly lower than that in the NC inhibitor group(1.09±0.14)in 5637 cells(P<0.01).The apoptotic rate of miR-30a mimic group in T24 cells(21.27±2.42)% was significantly higher than that in the NC mimic group(10.61±1.29)%(P<0.01).The apoptotic rate of the miR-30a inhibitor group in 5637 cells(6.78±2.57)% was significantly lower than that in the NC mimic group(13.42±1.40)%(P<0.01).The number of transmembrane cells in miR-30a mimic group in T24 cells(183.57±16.61)was significantly lower than that in NC mimic group(465.80±9.20)(P<0.01).The number of transmembrane cells in the miR-30a inhibitor group in 5637 cells(581.25±11.02)was significantly lower than that in NC mimic group(397.13±7.57)(P<0.01).Conclusion Up-regulation of miR-30a can inhibit the proliferation of bladder cancer cells,promote cell apoptosis and reduce the ability of migration and invasion in bladder cancer cells.The low expression of miR-30a in bladder cancer cells may be related to the development and metastasis in bladder cancer.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Endoscopy ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasal Septum ; abnormalities ; surgery ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of sacral canal injection on nerve root local inflammatory factors in rat model with lumbar disc herniation, in order to identify its mechanism of treatment.

METHODSForty-eight male SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation group(group A), model group (group B), Chinese medicine group(group C) and western medicine group(group D). There were 12 rats in each group. The model of lumbar disc herniation was established using compression and inflammatory stimulation in group B, C, D. All rats were given epidural catheterization and group A and B with physiological saline (1 ml/kg), group C with mixed liquor of 2% lidocaine and compound Danshen injections and physiological saline (2:2: 16) and group D with mixed liquor of 2% lidocaine and triamcinolone acetonide injection and physiological saline (2:2:16), once a week for a total of three treatments. Four rats were killed every 1 week after injection for once, and the inflammatory factors of tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), interleukin-l (IL-1) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were detected by ELISA method.

RESULTSThe levels of TNF-alpha, PGE2, IL-1 and IL-6 in compressed nerve tissues in group B were increased than those of group A (P < 0.01). The levels of PGE2, IL-1 and IL-6 in group C and D were decreased than those of group B, and group D was much less(P<0.05). There was no significant difference in level of TNF-alpha among group B, C, D (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCompound compression with inflammatory stimulation can lead to massive release of inflammatory mediators, such as TNF-alpha, PGE2, IL-1 and IL-6. Both injection with compound Danshen injections and triamcinolone acetonide injections by sacral canal can reduce the levels of part inflammatory mediators (PGE2, IL-1 and IL-6), and the effect of Glucocorticoid is better than Danshen (P < 0.05).

Animals ; Dinoprostone ; analysis ; Disease Models, Animal ; Injections ; Interleukin-1 ; analysis ; Interleukin-6 ; analysis ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; Spinal Nerve Roots ; immunology ; Triamcinolone Acetonide ; administration & dosage ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; analysis

Objective: To observe the effect of 2 Hz electroacupuncture (EA) on long term depression (LTD) of synaptic transmission in the spinal dorsal horn in rats with neuropathic pain, so as to explore the central mechanisms of the antinociceptive effects of 2 Hz electroacupuncture on neuropathic pain. Methods: The neuropathic pain models were produced by tight ligation of the L5/L6 spinal nerves in Sprague Dawley rats. The C fiber evoked field potentials in the spinal dorsal horn were recorded with extracellular recording techniques. The parameters of the electroacupuncture were as follows: frequency of 2 Hz, wavelength of 0.6 ms, intensity of 1,2,3 mA lasting 10 min for each intensity, stimulation time of 30 min. The positive stimulating electrode was placed in acupoint “sanyinjiao” and the negative electrode in “zusanli”. Results: (1) 2 Hz electroacupuncture significantly decreased the amplitudes of C fiber evoked field potentials in the spinal dorsal horn in rats with neuropathic pain to (49.4?0.6)% of the control, compared with that (100.1?1.2) % of the control before EA (unpaired t test, P

MicroRNAs(miRNAs)are a class of small RNA molecules which play a pivotal role in the regulation of genes involved in diverse processes.Recently,many viral-encoded miRNAs have been discovered,which suggests that viruses also use this fundamental mode of gene regulation.Although the functions of most viral- encoded miRNAs are unknown,some of them are involved in evading CTL,mediating latent infection,apoptosis suppression,etc.Uncovering the role of viral miRNAs in the pathopoiesis offers an immense opportunity not only to develope effective antiviral therapies,but also to identifying novel molecular targets for developing antiviral reagents.Therefore,recent progress on vmiRNAs was reviewed.