A Study on the Convergence of Family Particle Swarm Optimization

The sociological concept of family has been introduced in the particle swarm optimization (PSO) and the family PSO (FPSO) has been proposed, in which the particle swarm consisted of different families, each family consisted of different members, and there were different constraint relationships between family members. To further study the sensitivity of FPSO to the control parameters, this paper proposed a special model of FPSO and analyzed the convergence of FPSO theoretically. This model offered a new view to research the particle trajectory and divided the position sequence of particle into the even and odd subsequences. By mathematical analysis, the condition of two subsequences convergence was obtained and the related convergent theories and corollaries were proved. Simulations for benchmark functions showed that the convergence behavior of model and experimental results provided a valuable guideline for selecting control parameters

Association of interleukin 17 / angiotensin II with refractory hypertension risk in hemodialysis patients.

Objective: The study was performed to investigate the association of interleukin 17 (IL 17) or angiotensin II (Ang II) with refractory hypertension risk in hemodialysis patients. Methods: Ninety hemodialysis patients were enrolled into this study, and those with hypertension were divided into two groups. The Easy-to-Control Hypertension group (ECHG) had fifty patients, while the refractory hypertension group (RHG) had forty patients. Twenty healthy individuals were recruited as the control group. IL17 and Ang II were determined using a human IL 17 / Ang II enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Serum IL 17 and Ang II concentrations in RHG patients were higher than those in ECHG patients. Results: Serum IL 17 and Ang II concentrations in both patient groups were higher than those in the control group. Linear regression analysis showed a positive correlation between IL 17 and Ang II. In multivariate regression analysis, we found that IL17 and Ang II were associated with refractory hypertension risk in hemodialysis patients. Conclusion: IL17 and Ang II were associated with refractory hypertension risk in hemodialysis patients. There was also a positive correlation between IL 17and Ang II

Bloodstream infection, peritonitis, and pneumonia caused by Pasteurella multocida in a patient with liver cirrhosis despite no animal contact: case report and literature review

Pasteurella multocida is an opportunistic pathogen. Previously reported infections associated with P. multocida have often been linked to contact with cats, dogs, and other animals. Cases of systemic multiple-site infections following P. multocida infection are rare. This case study presents a 49-year-old middle-aged man with post-hepatitis B cirrhosis and no history of animal contact. The patient was admitted with symptoms of fever accompanied by diarrhea, abdominal distension, and cough. Blood tests showed elevated levels of CRP, PCT, and IL-6, and blood culture revealed the growth of P. multocida. CT scans revealed a large amount of abdominal effusion, a small amount of pleural effusion, and pulmonary infection foci. The patient’s condition improved after successive administration of ceftriaxone and levofloxacin to fight the infection, and abdominal puncture and drainage. Multiple-site infections caused by P. multocida are rarely encountered in patients with liver cirrhosis but without animal contact, which could be regarded as serious conditions warranting careful attention in terms of clinical diagnosis and treatment

A Computer-aided Method for Improving the Reliability of Lenke Classification for Scoliosis

ABSTRACT Classification of the spinal curve pattern is crucial for assessment and treatment of scoliosis. We developed a computer-aided system to improve the reliability of three components of the Lenke classification. The system semi-automatically measured the Cobb angles and identified the apical lumbar vertebra and its pedicles on digitized radiographs. The system then classified the curve type, lumbar modifier, and thoracic sagittal modifier of the Lenke classification based on the computerized measurements and identifications. The system was tested by five operators for 62 scoliotic cases. The kappa statistic was used to assess the reliability. With the aid of computer, the average intra-and interobserver kappa values were improved to 0.89 and 0.81 for the curve type, to 0.83 and 0.81 for the lumbar modifier, and to 0.94 and 0.92 for the sagittal modifier of the Lenke classification, respectively, relative to the classification by two of the operators without the aid of computer. Results indicate that the computerized system can improve reliability for all three components of the Lenke classification

Deletion of scavenger receptor A protects mice from progressive nephropathy independent of lipid control during diet-induced hyperlipidemia

Scavenger receptor A (SR-A) is a key transmembrane receptor in the endocytosis of lipids and contributes to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. To assess its role in hyperlipidemic chronic kidney disease, wild-type and SR-A-deficient (knockout) mice underwent uninephrectomy followed by either normal or high-fat diet. After 16 weeks of diet intervention, hyperlipidemic wild-type mice presented characteristic features of progressive nephropathy: albuminuria, renal fibrosis, and overexpression of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1/Smad. These changes were markedly diminished in hyperlipidemic knockout mice and attributed to reduced renal lipid retention, oxidative stress, and CD11c+ cell infiltration. In vitro, overexpression of SR-A augmented monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 release and TGF-β1/Smad activation in HK-2 cells exposed to oxidized low-density lipoprotein. SR-A knockdown prevented lipid-induced cell injury. Moreover, wild-type to knockout bone marrow transplantation resulted in renal fibrosis in uninephrectomized mice following 16 weeks of the high-fat diet. In contrast, knockout to wild-type bone marrow transplantation led to markedly reduced albuminuria, CD11c+ cell infiltration, and renal fibrosis compared to wild-type to SR-A knockout or wild-type to wild-type bone marrow transplanted mice, without difference in plasma lipid levels. Thus, SR-A on circulating leukocytes rather than resident renal cells predominantly mediates lipid-induced kidney injury

A Computer-aided Method for Improving the Reliability of Lenke Classification for Scoliosis

Classification of the spinal curve pattern is crucial for assessment and treatment of scoliosis. We developed a computer-aided system to improve the reliability of three components of the Lenke classification. The system semi-automatically measured the Cobb angles and identified the apical lumbar vertebra and its pedicles on digitized radiographs. The system then classified the curve type, lumbar modifier, and thoracic sagittal modifier of the Lenke classification based on the computerized measurements and identifications. The system was tested by five operators for 62 scoliotic cases. The kappa statistic was used to assess the reliability. With the aid of computer, the average intra- and interobserver kappa values were improved to 0.89 and 0.81 for the curve type, to 0.83 and 0.81 for the lumbar modifier, and to 0.94 and 0.92 for the sagittal modifier of the Lenke classification, respectively, relative to the classification by two of the operators without the aid of computer. Results indicate that the computerized system can improve reliability for all three components of the Lenke classification