Serum lactate dehydrogenase activities as systems biomarkers for 48 types of human diseases

Most human diseases are systems diseases, and systems biomarkers are better fitted for diagnostic, prognostic, and treatment monitoring purposes. To search for systems biomarker candidates, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), a housekeeping protein expressed in all living cells, was investigated. To this end, we analyzed the serum LDH activities from 172,933 patients with 48 clinically defined diseases and 9528 healthy individuals. Based on the median values, we found that 46 out of 48 diseases, leading by acute myocardial infarction, had significantly increased (p  0.8) for hepatic encephalopathy and lung fibrosis

An Inverse Prospect Theory Based-Approach for Linear Ordinal Ranking Aggregation with Its Application in Site Selection of Electric Vehicle Charging Station

Considering that it is difficult for experts to provide precise preference values for the site selection of electric vehicle charging station in risky environment, this paper develops an approach for linear ordinal ranking aggregation to validly improve the efficiency and accuracy of electric vehicle charging station site selection. At first, the inverse value function of prospect theory is applied to reduce the impact of risk. Then, through combining with the concept of information energy, the experts' weights can be derived. Besides, a consistency constraint is added to the individual ranking-based alternatives' weights deriving model, which can guarantee the consistency degree at an acceptable level. Additionally, a consensus and standard deviation-based model is established to aggregate the alternatives' weights. Finally, a numerical case about the electric vehicle charging station site selection is presented to show the usage of the approach, meanwhile, comparative analysis and sensitivity analysis are also conducted which show the robustness and practicability of the approach

Mapping Obesogenic food environments in South Africa and Ghana: Correlations and contradictions

In sub-Saharan Africa, urbanisation and food systems change contribute to rapid dietary transitions promoting obesity. It is unclear to what extent these changes are mediated by neighbourhood food environments or other factors. This paper correlates neighbourhood food provision with household consumption and poverty in Khayelitsha, South Africa and Ahodwo, Ghana. Georeferenced survey data of food consumption and provision were classified by obesity risk and protection. Outlets were mapped, and density and distribution correlated with risk classe

A novel COMP mutation in a pseudoachondroplasia family of Chinese origin

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Pseudoachondroplasia (PSACH) is caused exclusively by mutations in the gene for cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (<it>COMP</it>). Only a small number of studies have documented the clinical phenotype and genetic basis in Chinese PSACH patients.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We investigated a four-generation PSACH pedigree of Chinese Han origin. Two patients and two unaffected individuals were recruited for clinical evaluation and molecular genetic analysis. The genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was adopted to amplify the 8-19 exons of <it>COMP </it>gene. Then the products were sequenced bi-directionally for screening mutation. Clinical evaluation revealed that PSACH patients in this pedigree had a severe disproportionate short stature (-10SD). A heterozygous TGTCCCTGG insertion in exon 13, between nucleotide 1352T and 1353G, were identified in the patients except the unaffected individuals, which resulted in a three-amino-acid insertion (451V_452P ins VPG) in the sixth calmodulin-like repeat of the <it>COMP </it>protein.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This c. 1352_1353ins TGTCCCTGG is a novel mutation responsible for severe familial PSACH.</p

Integrating mechanisms of pulmonary fibrosis

Pulmonary fibrosis is a complex and heterogeneous disease; a more detailed and integrated understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms influencing its pathogenesis will aid the design of new therapies