OBJECTIVE: To compare the differences of plasma valine level between autistic and healthy children, and to explore the relationship between plasma valine level and developmental quotient in children with autism. METHODS: In this study, a total of 29 autistic children and 30 typically developing children of the same age range were recruited as the autistic group and the control group. The childhood autism rating scale (CARS) was used to assess autistic core symptoms and severity in the autistic children. Children's developmental quotient was evaluated by Gesell developmental schedules (GDS), and plasma valine level was measured by high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The correlation between plasma valine level and developmental quotient scores in the autistic group was analyzed. RESULTS: The plasma level of valine in the autism group was significantly lower than in the control group (P < 0.05). Children in the autism group got significantly lower scores in the adaption, gross motor, fine motor, language function and personal/social function subscales in GDS than in the control group (P < 0.000 1). Plasma valine level in the autism group showed significant positive correlations with scores of the fine motor (r=0.441, P < 0.05) and personal/social function (r=0.437, P < 0.05) subscales in GDS, but showed no significant correlations with scores of the adaption, gross motor and language function subscales in GDS (P>0.05). According to the criteria of CARS, children in the autism group were subdivided into the mild to moderate subgroup and the severe subgroup based on the severity of the autistic symptoms. Compared with children in the mild to moderate subgroup, children in the severe subgroup got significantly lower scores in the adaption, fine motor, language function and personal/social function subscales in GDS (P < 0.05), while there was no significant difference between the two subgroups in gross motor scores and plasma valine level (P>0.05). CONCLUSION The level of valine in plasma of autistic children is relatively lower, and there is a certain relationship between plasma valine level and the fine movement and personal/social function among children with autism.
Humans ; Autistic Disorder/physiopathology* ; Child ; Male ; Female ; Valine/blood* ; Child Development ; Child, Preschool ; Case-Control Studies

Early and objective assessment, as well as early intervention, are of particular importance for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to improve the long-term outcome. However, due to a lack of objective biomarkers, the current assessment of ASD depends mainly on limited behavioral observation. Recent advancements in software and hardware multimedia technologies provide new ways to identify ASD early. Evidence supports that the combination of machine learning with eye-tracking technology is expected to be a useful tool for the early and objective diagnosis of ASD. The current study reviewed the research on the combination of machine learning with eye-tracking technology for the identification of ASD. The limitations and future directions have also been proposed.

Early and objective assessment, as well as early intervention, are of particular importance for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to improve the long-term outcome. However, due to a lack of objective biomarkers, the current assessment of ASD depends mainly on limited behavioral observation. Recent advancements in software and hardware multimedia technologies provide new ways to identify ASD early. Evidence supports that the combination of machine learning with eye-tracking technology is expected to be a useful tool for the early and objective diagnosis of ASD. The current study reviewed the research on the combination of machine learning with eye-tracking technology for the identification of ASD. The limitations and future directions have also been proposed.

Objective:To observe the effect of Yi Jin Jing(Sinew-transforming Qigong Exercises)intervention on anxiety in asymptomatic patients with Corona Virus Disease 2019(COVID-19)infection during quarantine.Methods:A total of 160 asymptomatic patients with COVID-19 infection were stratified by gender and divided into an observation group and a control group by the stratified randomization method,with 80 cases in each group.The control group was given basic nursing in the cabin,and the observation group was given additional Yi Jin Jing exercises once a day,20 min each time,and trained continuously until 1 d before leaving the cabin.The Hamilton anxiety scale(HAMA)score was compared between the two groups.Results:A total of 154 cases were included for data analysis in this study,including 74 cases in the observation group and 80 cases in the control group.After intervention,the HAMA scores in both groups increased(P<0.05),while the score in the observation group was lower than that in the control group(P<0.05).In the control group,the HAMA score of females after intervention was higher than that of males.The scores of mental anxiety and somatic anxiety in both groups were higher than those before intervention,while the score of mental anxiety in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control(P<0.05).However,there was no statistical difference in the somatic score between the two groups(P>0.05).Conclusion:Patients with COVID-19 infection will get anxious during quarantine.Yi Jin Jing exercise can effectively reduce the aggravation of anxiety in asymptomatic patients with COVID-19 infection during concentrated quarantine.

Objective To investigate the difference in event-related potential P300 between the patients with chronic insomnia disorder and the health population. Methods P300 was collected and analyzed for 26 healthy volunteers and 26 patients with chronic insomnia disorder，and 20 electrode caps were worn according to the standard position of international 10~20 system for EEG scalp recording. The auditory Oddball model and MATLAB software were used for data analysis，and the amplitude and latency of P300 were compared between the two groups. Results Compared with the healthy volunteers，the patients with chronic insomnia disorder had lower amplitudes of Fz，Cz，and Pz electrodes，with significant differences at Fz and Pz electrodes (P<0.05). There was an increase in latency without statistical significance (P>0.05). Conclusion There is a difference in P300 between healthy volunteers and patients with chronic insomnia disorder，which may be associated with the cognitive function of patients with chronic insomnia disorder.

Experimental research on male infertility is critical to the study of the pathogenesis of male infertility and the evaluation of drug therapy. This paper reviewed animal experiments on male infertility in recent years. The experimental models of male infertility mainly include oligoasthenozoospermia （OA），teratozoospermia，azoospermia， and varicocele animal models. The OA animal models are mostly induced by glycosides of Tripterygium wilfordii （GTW）， adenine，hydrocortisone， and radiation，which are mainly chemical means. The animal models of azoospermia were usually constructed by intraperitoneal injection of bissulfonyl alkylating agent busulfan and immersion of scrotum in 43 ℃ water. There are few studies on animal models of teratozoospermia，and the induction methods by GTW and methyl methanesulfonate（MMS） are common. The animal models of varicocele-caused infertility are usually induced by operation. The ligation of the middle division of the left renal vein between the lateral inferior vena cava and the medial spermatic vein has a significant influence on testicular morphology and epididymal sperm quality. Animal experimental studies have shown that classic prescriptions for tonifying the kidney and promoting spermatogenesis represented by Wuzi Yanzongwan and clinical empirical prescriptions by modern research have played a significant role in the treatment of male infertility. The mechanism of tonifying the kidney in the treatment of male infertility mainly focuses on inhibiting spermatogenic cell apoptosis. The kidney-tonifying method can regulate the apoptosis of spermatogenic cells，which provides a new treatment idea and a reliable scientific basis for traditional Chinese medicine in the field of male reproduction.

Objective:To observe the clinical effect of the treatment combined with hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) on patients with herpes zoster.Methods:A total of 72 patients with herpes zoster treated in the Department of Dermatology of Zhengzhou Second Hospital from January 2018 to December 2019 were selected and divided into HBO group and control group by random number table method, with 36 patients in each group. The control group received acyclovir and other conventional treatments, while the HBO group received HBO on the basis of the treatments of the control group. The improvement of the skin lesions, scores of numeric rating scales (NRS) on pain, and efficacy of the two groups were observed and evaluated after treatment. After a 3-month follow-up, the occurrence of postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) was statistically analyzed.Results:The time of blistering relieving, incrustation, and complete incrustation of the HBO group were all lower than those of the control group with statistically significant difference ( P<0.05). The NRS scores of both groups were all lower than those before treatment with significantly statistical difference ( P<0.01); and the NRS scores of the HBO group were significantly lower than those of the control group after treatment ( P<0.05). The total effective rate of the HBO group (91.67%) was significantly higher than that of the control group (83.33%). The difference was statistically significant ( χ2=4.31, P=0.04). After treatment, 3 cases of PHN occurred in the HBO group, while 7 cases in the control group; the PHN incidence of the HBO group was lower than that of the control group with significantly statistical difference ( P<0.05). Conclusion:In treating herpes zoster, the treatment combined with HBO can achieve a satisfactory therapeutic effect, which is worthy of popularization and application in clinic.

Objective:To observe and evaluate the clinical effect of hyperbaric oxygen combined therapy on patients with non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION).Methods:A total of 110 patients with NAION admitted to the Department of Ophthalmology of Zhengzhou Second Hospital from January 2017 to January 2019 who met the inclusion criteria were selected and divided into control group (55 cases) and hyperbaric oxygen group (55 cases) by random number table method. The control group was given conventional therapies such as hormone shock, microcirculation improvement, and nerve nutrition, while the hyperbaric oxygen group was given conventional treatment and hyperbaric oxygen therapy, with chamber pressure of 2.0 ATA, once a day, 10 times for a course of treatment for 30 days. The visual acuity, mean sensitivity (MS), mean defect (MD), pattern visual evoked potential (PVEP) amplitude, and latency period of the two groups were observed and analyzed to evaluate the efficacy of treatment. The effect of hyperbaric oxygen combined therapy on serum human chondroglycoprotein-39 (chtinase-3-like-1 protein, YKL-40) in patients with NAION was also observed.Results:Before treatment, there were no statistically significant differences in visual acuity, mean sensitivity, mean defect, PVEP amplitude, latency period, and serum YKL-40 between the two groups ( P>0.05). The visual MD in the hyperbaric oxygen group after treatment was lower than that in the control group after treatment and also lower than that before treatment in the same group, and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05). The visual acuity and MS in the hyperbaric oxygen group after treatment were higher than those in the control group and also those before treatment in the same group, and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05). The PVEP amplitudes of the patients in the hyperbaric oxygen group were higher than those in the control group and also those before treatment in the same group, and the latency period was earlier than that in the control group and also that before treatment in the same group, with statistically significant differences ( P<0.05). The level of serum YKL-40 reached the peak after 7 days of treatment. After 3, 7, 15 and 30 days of treatment, the levels of serum YKL-40 were all lower than those of the control group on the same day, with statistically significant differences ( P<0.05). After treatment, the total effective rate of the hyperbaric oxygen group (83.63%) was higher than that of the control group (74.55%), but there was no statistically significant difference ( P>0.05). Conclusion:Hyperbaric oxygen combined therapy can significantly improve the vision acuity, MS, MD, PVEP amplitude, and latency period of the patients with NAION, and reduce inflammatory response, which is beneficial to improve clinical efficacy.

Objective:To observe the clinical effect of the treatment combined with hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) on patients with herpes zoster.Methods:A total of 72 patients with herpes zoster treated in the Department of Dermatology of Zhengzhou Second Hospital from January 2018 to December 2019 were selected and divided into HBO group and control group by random number table method, with 36 patients in each group. The control group received acyclovir and other conventional treatments, while the HBO group received HBO on the basis of the treatments of the control group. The improvement of the skin lesions, scores of numeric rating scales (NRS) on pain, and efficacy of the two groups were observed and evaluated after treatment. After a 3-month follow-up, the occurrence of postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) was statistically analyzed.Results:The time of blistering relieving, incrustation, and complete incrustation of the HBO group were all lower than those of the control group with statistically significant difference ( P<0.05). The NRS scores of both groups were all lower than those before treatment with significantly statistical difference ( P<0.01); and the NRS scores of the HBO group were significantly lower than those of the control group after treatment ( P<0.05). The total effective rate of the HBO group (91.67%) was significantly higher than that of the control group (83.33%). The difference was statistically significant ( χ2=4.31, P=0.04). After treatment, 3 cases of PHN occurred in the HBO group, while 7 cases in the control group; the PHN incidence of the HBO group was lower than that of the control group with significantly statistical difference ( P<0.05). Conclusion:In treating herpes zoster, the treatment combined with HBO can achieve a satisfactory therapeutic effect, which is worthy of popularization and application in clinic.

Objective:To observe and evaluate the clinical effect of hyperbaric oxygen combined therapy on patients with non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION).Methods:A total of 110 patients with NAION admitted to the Department of Ophthalmology of Zhengzhou Second Hospital from January 2017 to January 2019 who met the inclusion criteria were selected and divided into control group (55 cases) and hyperbaric oxygen group (55 cases) by random number table method. The control group was given conventional therapies such as hormone shock, microcirculation improvement, and nerve nutrition, while the hyperbaric oxygen group was given conventional treatment and hyperbaric oxygen therapy, with chamber pressure of 2.0 ATA, once a day, 10 times for a course of treatment for 30 days. The visual acuity, mean sensitivity (MS), mean defect (MD), pattern visual evoked potential (PVEP) amplitude, and latency period of the two groups were observed and analyzed to evaluate the efficacy of treatment. The effect of hyperbaric oxygen combined therapy on serum human chondroglycoprotein-39 (chtinase-3-like-1 protein, YKL-40) in patients with NAION was also observed.Results:Before treatment, there were no statistically significant differences in visual acuity, mean sensitivity, mean defect, PVEP amplitude, latency period, and serum YKL-40 between the two groups ( P>0.05). The visual MD in the hyperbaric oxygen group after treatment was lower than that in the control group after treatment and also lower than that before treatment in the same group, and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05). The visual acuity and MS in the hyperbaric oxygen group after treatment were higher than those in the control group and also those before treatment in the same group, and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05). The PVEP amplitudes of the patients in the hyperbaric oxygen group were higher than those in the control group and also those before treatment in the same group, and the latency period was earlier than that in the control group and also that before treatment in the same group, with statistically significant differences ( P<0.05). The level of serum YKL-40 reached the peak after 7 days of treatment. After 3, 7, 15 and 30 days of treatment, the levels of serum YKL-40 were all lower than those of the control group on the same day, with statistically significant differences ( P<0.05). After treatment, the total effective rate of the hyperbaric oxygen group (83.63%) was higher than that of the control group (74.55%), but there was no statistically significant difference ( P>0.05). Conclusion:Hyperbaric oxygen combined therapy can significantly improve the vision acuity, MS, MD, PVEP amplitude, and latency period of the patients with NAION, and reduce inflammatory response, which is beneficial to improve clinical efficacy.