Randomized control trial of using tongue acupuncture in autism spectrum disorder

Objective The therapeutic approach of traditional chinese Medicine (TCM) in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a functional one. To study the efficacy, safety and functional brain change from the use of tongue acupuncture (TAC) on ASD children. Methods 21 autistic boys (3–16 years old) were randomly assigned to TAC group (TAC: n = 12; receiving daily TAC for 8 weeks) or control (C: n = 9; no acupuncture). Primary outcome measures included Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC), Reynell Language Developmental Scale, Symbolic Play Test (SPT), Functional Independence Measure for Children (WeeFIM), Clinical Global Impression (CGI) Scale and Cerebral FDG Metabolism by PET. Results There were significant improvement in speech domain of ATEC (p = 0.030), Self-care domain of WeeFIM (p = 0.021), cognition domain of WeeFIM (p = 0.001) and Total score domain of WeeFIM (p = 0.001) in TAC group compared to the C group. There were significant difference in positive clinical response between C and TAC group in language (p = 0.0211), functional (p = 0.0011), parental Impression criteria (p = 0.0003) and overall cerebral glucose metabolism (p = 0.0451) using ROC criteria. No significant association of PET Glucose Metabolism with Clinical response was found. None of the children developed any side-effects. Conclusion A short course of TAC can improve specific functions in children with autism spectrum disorder, especially speech and cognition function. No statistical significant association of PET Glucose Metabolism with Clinical response. Larger scale with more sample size trial should be done for further investigation.published_or_final_versio

Systematic review of studies examining transtibial prosthetic socket pressures with changes in device alignment

Suitable lower-limb prosthetic sockets must provide an adequate distribution of the pressures created from standing and ambulation. A systematic search for articles reporting socket pressure changes in response to device alignment perturbation was carried out, identifying 11 studies. These were then evaluated using the American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists guidelines for a state-of-the-science review. Each study used a design where participants acted as their own controls. Results were available for 52 individuals and 5 forms of alignment perturbation. Four studies were rated as having moderate internal and external validity, the remainder were considered to have low validity. Significant limitations in study design, reporting quality and in representation of results and the suitability of calculations of statistical significance were evident across articles. Despite the high inhomogeneity of study designs, moderate evidence supports repeatable changes in pressure distribution for specific induced changes in component alignment. However, there also appears to be a significant individual component to alignment responses. Future studies should aim to include greater detail in the presentation of results to better support later meta-analyses

Pilot study of efficacy of tongue and body acupuncture in children with visual impairment

We studied the efficacy of tongue and body acupuncture in affecting visual recovery in children with central and peripheral visual disorders. Twelve children (five boys, seven girls) (age range 18 months to 14.5 years) with visual disorder with static functional visual ability for at least 12 months were recruited for the study. The causes of cortical visual impairment (10) included severe perinatal asphyxia (4), postencephalitis (1), traumatic brain injury (1), hydrocephalus (1), and increased intracranial pressure (3). Peripheral causes (2) were due to congenital optic atrophy. We used the following assessment tools: clinical visual improvement, defined as improvement of vision by one grade in one or both eyes with measurement of visual acuity; the functional visual outcome scale of 0 to 5, with positive outcome defined as improvement in one level on a functional scale; visual evoked potential, with positive improvement defined as 10% improvement in P100 latency of one or both eyes; [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) of the brain, with positive improvement defined as a 10% increase in glucose metabolism in one or both occipital lobes; and the Clinical Global Impression Scale (parental report). Tongue and body acupuncture consisted of 60 sessions, with 5 sessions per week. Four children showed clinical or functional improvement (33%). Of nine children with abnormal visual evoked potentials, five had improvement (56%). Of seven children who underwent PET, six had improvement in glucose metabolism in the visual cortex (86%). Seven parents (58%) reported improvement (three children had 75% improvement; four children had 25% improvement). There was a significant correlation between the interval of onset of visual impairment and starting treatment with clinical or functional outcome, with a longer interval resulting in a better outcome (P = .0282). However, there was no correlation between cause, severity, or clinical or functional visual outcome with improvement in the visual evoked potential or PET. We demonstrated that tongue and body acupuncture can improve the visual status of children with visual disorders, both peripheral and central in origin. As children with chronic visual impairment also showed some visual recovery, more studies should be done to assess the full potential of acupuncture as an adjunct to Western medicine in neuroplasticity.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Computational models of the foot and ankle for pathomechanics and clinical applications : a review

202211 bcwwAccepted ManuscriptRGCOthersNSFC (11272273, 11120101001)Publishe

Gait asymmetry and variability in older adults during long-distance walking : implications for gait instability

202205 bcfcAccepted ManuscriptOthersHMRF; Beijing Municipal Science and Technology CommissionPublishe

Pilot study of positron emission tomography (PET) brain glucose metabolism to assess the efficacy of tongue and body acupuncture in cerebral palsy

We aimed to assess the efficacy of tongue and body acupuncture with clinical function and brain glucose metabolism in children with a severe type of cerebral palsy. Four children were recruited. The motor function belonged to grade 5 of the Gross Motor Function Measure (ie, completely nonambulatory). Daily tongue and body acupuncture was applied for 5 days a week for 8 weeks. The Functional Independence Scale for Children (WeeFIM), Clinical Global Impression Scale (CGIS), and positron emission tomography of the brain with [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) were performed at baseline and after acupuncture. None of the children had any significant change in the Functional Independence Scale for Children score, despite the fact that all mothers scored 3 on the Clinical Global Impression Scale (ie, 25% improvement) in overall function. The brain glucose metabolism, however, showed a > 10% increase in the frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital cortices and cerebellum. Thus, a short course of tongue and body acupuncture was shown to increase brain glucose metabolism, despite lacking any clinical functional improvement seen within the 8-week course, possibly owing to the severity of the motor dysfunction and the short duration of treatment. The objective increase in brain glucose metabolism might serve as a surrogate marker for assessing the subclinical efficacy of an alternative treatment before any objective clinical improvement is evident. A larger-scale study for different degrees of severity of cerebral palsy and an impairment model should be undertaken to correlate clinical with neurometabolic change.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Prediction on the plantar fascia strain offload upon Fascia taping and Low-Dye taping during running

202009 bcmaVersion of RecordPublishe

Effects of ankle arthrodesis on biomechanical performance of the entire foot

2015-2016 > Academic research: refereed > Publication in refereed journal201810_a bcmaVersion of RecordRGCOthersRGC: 251039/18M, PolyU152216/14EOthers: PGMS Project ID: P0031887, P0014008, P0000341, P0000341Publishe

A half marathon shifts the mediolateral force distribution at the tibiofemoral joint

202106 bcvcNot applicableOthersITF (ITS/262/18), NSFC (11732015)Early release12 month