The Effect of Scalp Acupuncture on Autism: Could This Be a Possible Treatment of Autism?

No current conventional treatment methods have been proven effective in improving core symptoms of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). In pursuit of a potent remedy for ASD, scalp acupuncture, one of the complementary and alternative medicines (CAM), may have potential in treating children with ASD according to recent clinical studies. In our first study, the effect of scalp acupuncture on prominent symptoms of ASD was investigated. Factors contributing to the effectiveness of ASD such as age and onset pattern had also been evaluated. Results showed that verbal communication and social and behavioral aspects of the patient could benefit from scalp acupuncture. Moreover, early intervention before 3 years old will bring about better therapeutic outcomes. The effect of scalp acupuncture on emotional and behavioral problems in children with ASD was further elaborated in the second study. Our observation on patients noted drastic improvements in emotional and emotion-related behavioral problems after the introduction of scalp acupuncture. Feedbacks from parents also reflected a positive progress in performance on cognitive, social, and behavioral aspects after treatment. The influence of scalp acupuncture on the sleeping quality and habit in children with ASD was investigated in the third study. Children had shown less resistance and anxiety toward sleep after scalp acupuncture

Survey of oral hygiene behaviour, knowledge and oral hygiene status among Hong Kong adults : a pilot study

Objectives: To study the correlation between oral health behaviour and knowledge with respect to the oral hygiene status of Hong Kong Chinese adults. Materials and methods: Subject selection was by convenience sampling. A total of four outreach visits were arranged in March 2015. The participants’ oral health behavior and knowledge were evaluated through a self-reported questionnaire, while existing oral conditions were recorded following clinical examination using Visible Plaque Index (VPI) and Gingival Bleeding Index (GBI). Data analysis was carried out using SPSS on results obtained from the questionnaire as well as clinical examination. Results: A total of 147 subjects participated in this research project, of which 72% (103/147) were female while 28% (44/147) were male. Male subjects had statistically significantly higher mean VPI scores compared to female subjects interproximally, buccally and lingually (t-test, p<0.05). Furthermore, there exists a statistically significant negative correlation between oral health knowledge score (mean = 9.3, SD = 3.1) and VPI score (Pearson correlation test, p=0.025). Subjects who agreed accumulation of plaque or bacteria as a contributing factor to caries and periodontal diseases are statistically significantly lower than subjects who disagreed this statement in terms of mean VPI scores (53% vs 63%, t-test, p<0.05). Conclusion: Participants with better oral health knowledge who also recognized accumulation of plaque or bacteria as one of the contributing factors to dental caries and periodontal disease had better oral hygiene levels in terms of VPI.published_or_final_versio

The therapeutic effect of scalp acupuncture on natal autism and regressive autism

Abstract Background Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is a common disease and the incidence has been rising constantly. Acupuncture is one of the most widely used complementary and alternative medicine therapies. Despite studies had been done on the effectiveness of acupuncture on ASD children, how factors such as chronological age and the onset pattern influence the effectiveness of the therapy remains unclear. The aim of this retrospective study is to know how symptomatology of ASD alters upon the introduction of scalp acupuncture and how do age and onset type affect the effectiveness of the therapy. Methods ASD children aged 2–11 years old were invited to join the study. In the course of the investigation, they received a total of 30 sessions of scalp acupuncture therapy. They were then evaluated to compare the performance on various aspects before and after the treatment. The influence on the therapeutic effect by factors including chorological age and onset pattern were further taken into consideration and analyzed. In addition, investigation on the relationship between allergies and onset pattern of ASD was performed by statistically analyzing the received epidemiologic data from the participants. Results 68 children with ASD participated in the study. It is found that the significant effective rate of scalp acupuncture on ASD is 97%. Scalp acupuncture can improve verbal communication problems the most while noise sensitivity improves the least. The therapeutic effectiveness decreases with increasing age and children with natal autism benefit more from acupuncture than those with regressive autism. In the latter part of the study, we observe a positive correlation between the family history of allergy and onset pattern. Conclusion Scalp acupuncture is an effective treatment for alleviating the symptomatology of ASD. The therapeutic effectiveness is expected to be higher for those patients with natal or early onset of the disorder, and at a younger age when they receive the therapy. The study result helps to formulate an ideal regimen for ASD patients and allow therapists and parents to make appropriate expectation towards the therapeutic outcome of acupuncture. Early intervention of scalp acupuncture therapy recommended. The relationship between the family history of allergic disorder and the onset type of ASD hints that the etiologies of natal and regressive ASD are discrete. It shows a great significance in differentiating the onset pattern in carrying out clinical assessments or researches on ASD patients. Trial registration This retrospective study was approved by the Committee on the Use of Human and Animal Subjects in Teaching and Research, Hong Kong Baptist University on 4th Aug 2017. The retrospectively registered number is HASC/Student/17-18/011

CC16 levels correlate with cigarette smoke exposure in bronchial epithelial cells and with lung function decline in smokers

Abstract Background Club cell protein-16 (CC16) expression has been associated with smoking-related lung function decline. The study hypothesis was that CC16 expression in both serum and bronchial epithelium is associated with lung function decline in smokers, and exposure to cigarette smoke will lead to reduction in CC16 expression in bronchial epithelial cells. Methods In a cohort of community-based male Chinese subjects recruited for lung function test in 2000, we reassessed their lung function ten years later and measured serum levels of CC16. CC16 expression was further assayed in bronchial epithelium from endobronchial biopsies taken from an independent cohort of subjects undergoing autofluorescence bronchoscopy, and tested for correlation between CC16 immunostaining intensity and lung function. In an in-vitro model, bronchial epithelial cells were exposed to cigarette smoke extract (CSE), and the expression levels of CC16 were measured in bronchial epithelial cells before and after exposure to CSE. Results There was a significant association between FEV1 decline and serum CC16 levels in smokers. Expression of CC16 in bronchial epithelium showed significant correlation with FEV1/FVC. Bronchial epithelial cells showed significant decrease in CC16 expression after exposure to CSE, followed by a subsequent rise in CC16 expression upon removal of CSE. Conclusions Results of these clinical and laboratory investigations suggested that low serum CC16 was associated with smoking-related decline in lung function, demonstrated the first time in a Chinese cohort. The data also lend support to the putative role of CC16 in protection against smoking-related bronchial epithelial damage. (Abstract word count: 243) US clinical trial registry NCT01185652, first posted 20 August, 2010

Neurocognitive function, performance status, and quality of life in pediatric intracranial germ cell tumor survivors

Background: Intracranial germ cell tumors (GCT) are more common in Asia than in the West, accounting for about 15% of brain tumors in Asian children. The survival rate for intracranial GCT is excellent, but there are concerns about the effects of radiotherapy on neuropsychological function and quality of life of patients. Methods: Intracranial germ cell tumors (GCT) are more common in Asia than in the West, accounting for about 15% of brain tumors in Asian children. The survival rate for intracranial GCT is excellent, but there are concerns about the effects of radiotherapy on neuropsychological function and quality of life of patients. Intracranial GCT survivors in Hong Kong aged ≥ 6 years who received cranial irradiation in the past 15 years were recruited. Neurocognitive function and performance status were assessed by the Hong Kong Wechsler Intelligence scale and Karnofsky/Lansky performance scales (KPS), respectively. Quality of life was assessed using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) Generic Core Scales. A chart review was performed for tumor characteristics and complications related to the tumor and its treatment. Results: Twenty-five intracranial GCT survivors were recruited. Longer length of time since treatment was associated with lower IQ scores. Larger tumor size was associated with lower KPS scores. Hemiparesis, poor manual dexterity, and complications with multi-organ involvement were associated with significantly lower KPS scores. Higher irradiation dosage was associated with lower PedsQL physical scores. Conclusions: The majority of GCT survivors had average intellectual functioning, satisfactory performance status and relatively good quality of life, except in the physical aspect. Comprehensive evaluation and long-term follow-up of GCT survivors are essential to provide timely support and improve long-term outcomes

Homoharringtonine (omacetaxine mepesuccinate) as an adjunct for FLT3-ITD acute myeloid leukemia

An in vitro drug screening using primary AML samples identified homoharringtonine (omacetaxine mepesuccinate) as an effective adjunct for treatment of FLT3-ITD AML.</jats:p

Minimal Residual Disease-Based Risk Stratification in Chinese Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia by Flow Cytometry and Plasma DNA Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction

<div><p>Minimal residual disease, or MRD, is an important prognostic indicator in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia. In ALL-IC-BFM 2002 study, we employed a standardized method of flow cytometry MRD monitoring for multiple centers internationally using uniformed gating, and determined the relevant MRD-based risk stratification strategies in our local patient cohort. We also evaluated a novel method of PCR MRD quantitation using peripheral blood plasma. For the bone marrow flow MRD study, patients could be stratified into 3 risk groups according to MRD level using a single time-point at day-15 (Model I) (I-A: <0.1%, I-B: 0.1–10%, I-C: >10%), or using two time-points at day-15 and day-33 (Model II) (II-A: day-15<10% and day-33<0.01%, II-B: day-15≥10% or day-33≥0.01% but not both, II-C: day-15≥10% and day-33≥0.01%), which showed significantly superior prediction of relapse (p = .00047 and <0.0001 respectively). Importantly, patients with good outcome (frequency: 56.0%, event-free survival: 90.1%) could be more accurately predicted by Model II. In peripheral blood plasma PCR MRD investigation, patients with day-15-MRD≥10⁻⁴ were at a significantly higher risk of relapse (p = 0.0117). By multivariate analysis, MRD results from both methods could independently predict patients’ prognosis, with 20–35-fold increase in risk of relapse for flow MRD I-C and II-C respectively, and 5.8-fold for patients having plasma MRD of ≥10⁻⁴. We confirmed that MRD detection by flow cytometry is useful for prognostic evaluation in our Chinese cohort of childhood ALL after treatment. Moreover, peripheral blood plasma DNA MRD can be an alternative where bone marrow specimen is unavailable and as a less invasive method, which allows close monitoring.</p></div