An Iterative Scale Purification Procedure on lz for the Detection of Aberrant Responses

Many person-fit statistics have been proposed to detect aberrant response behaviors (e.g., cheating, guessing). Among them, lz is one of the most widely used indices. The computation of lz assumes the item and person parameters are known. In reality, they often have to be estimated from data. The better the estimation, the better lz will perform. When aberrant behaviors occur, the person and item parameter estimations are inaccurate, which in turn degrade the performance of lz. In this study, an iterative procedure was developed to attain more accurate person parameter estimates for improved performance of lz. A series of simulations were conducted to evaluate the iterative procedure under two conditions of item parameters, known and unknown, and three aberrant response styles of difficulty-sharing cheating, random-sharing cheating, and random guessing. The results demonstrated the superiority of the iterative procedure over the non-iterative one in maintaining control of Type-I error rates and improving the power of detecting aberrant responses. The proposed procedure was applied to a high-stake intelligence test

Characterization of two immunomodulating homogalacturonan pectins from green tea

Two natural homogalacturonan (HG) pectins (MW ca. 20 kDa) were isolated from green tea based on their immunomodulatory activity. The crude tea polysaccharides (TPS1 and TPS2) were obtained from green tea leaves by hot water extraction and followed by 40% and 70% ethanol precipitation, respectively. Two homogenous water soluble polysaccharides (TPS1-2a and TPS1-2b) were obtained from TPS1 after purification with gel permeation, which gave a higher phagocytic effect than TPS2. A combination of composition, methylation and configuration analyses, as well as NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) spectroscopy revealed that TPS1-2a and TPS1-2b were homogalacturonan (HG) pectins consisting of a backbone of 1,4-linked α-d-galacturonic acid (GalA) residues with 28.4% and 26.1% of carboxyl groups as methyl ester, respectively. The immunological assay results demonstrated that TPS1-2, which consisted mainly of HG pectins, showed phagocytosis-enhancing activity in HL-60 cells

The epidemiology of hospitalized influenza in children, a two year population-based study in the People's Republic of China

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The epidemiology and disease burden of annual influenza in children in mainland People's Republic of China have not been reported in detail. To understand the incidence and epidemiology of laboratory-proven influenza hospitalization in children in China, a review of available laboratory and hospital admission data was undertaken.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We conducted a retrospective population-based study in Suzhou and the surrounding area of Jiangsu province, China for hospitalized cases of respiratory illness at Suzhou Children's Hospital. Cases of pneumonia or respiratory illness were identified from hospital computer data bases. Routine virological testing by fluorescent monoclonal antibody assay of all hospitalized children identified influenza and other viruses. We calculated incidence rates using census population denominators.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Of 7,789 specimens obtained during 2007 and 2008, 85 were positive for influenza A and 25 for influenza B. There were 282 specimens with parainfluenza virus and 1392 with RSV. Influenza occurred throughout the year, with peaks in the winter, and in August/September. Overall estimated annual incidence of laboratory-proven influenza hospitalization was 23-27/100,000 children 0-4 years old, and 60/100,000 in infants 0-6 months, with an average hospitalization of 9 days.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Influenza disease in young children in this part of China is a relatively common cause of hospitalization, and occurs throughout the year. The use of influenza vaccine in Chinese children has the potential to reduce the effect of influenza in the children, as well as in their communities. Studies are needed to further assess the burden of influenza, and to develop and refine effective strategies of immunization of young children in China.</p

Homoisoflavonoids are potent glucose transporter 2 (GLUT 2) inhibitors–a potential mechanism for the glucose-lowering properties of Polygonatum odoratum

Foods of high carbohydrate content such as sucrose or starch increase postprandial blood glucose concentrations. The glucose absorption system in the intestine comprises two components: sodium-dependent glucose transporter-1 (SGLT1) and glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2). Here five sappanin-type (SAP) homoisoflavonoids were identified as novel potent GLUT2 inhibitors, with three of them isolated from the fibrous roots of Polygonatum odoratum (Mill.) Druce. SAP homoisolflavonoids had a stronger inhibitory effect on 25 mM glucose transport (41.6 ± 2.5, 50.5 ± 7.6, 47.5 ± 1.9, 42.6 ± 2.4, and 45.7 ± 4.1% for EA-1, EA-2, EA-3, MOA, and MOB) than flavonoids (19.3 ± 2.2, 11.5 ± 3.7, 16.4 ± 2.4, 5.3 ± 1.0, 3.7 ± 2.2, and 18.1 ± 2.4% for apigenin, luteolin, quercetin, naringenin, hesperetin, and genistein) and phloretin (28.1 ± 1.6%) at 15 μM. SAP homoisoflavonoids and SGLT1 inhibitors were found to synergistically inhibit the uptake of glucose using an in vitro model comprising Caco-2 cells. This observed new mechanism of the glucose-lowering action of P. odoratum suggests that SAP homoisoflavonoids and their combination with flavonoid monoglucosides show promise as naturally functional ingredients for inclusion in foods and drinks designed to control postprandial glucose levels

GATA2 mutant variant allele frequency may reflect prognosis in Chinese adult patients with de novo cytogenetically normal acute myeloid leukemia

In this study, we analyzed GATA2 mutations (GATA2mut) and co-mutations in 166 Chinese patients with cytogenetically normal acute myeloid leukemia. This was done through targeted next-generation sequencing of 34 genes associated with myeloid leukemia. GATA2mut was identified in 17 (10%) patients being significantly correlated with co-mutations in CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha (CEBPA) double mutation (P = 0.001). We observed that the N-terminal zinc finger domain (ZF1) was linked to CEBPA mutations, while the C-terminal zinc finger domain (ZF2) was associated with Wilms' tumor 1 (WT1) mutations. It was also noted that patients with GATA2mut had lower platelet counts at diagnosis (P = 0.032). In the entire cohort, GATA2mut had no significant prognostic impact on overall survival (OS) (P = 0.762) and relapse-free survival (RFS) (P = 0.369) compared to patients with GATA2wt. The OS (P = 0.737) and RFS (P = 0.894) of the ZF1 mutation were similar to those of the ZF2 mutation. Most patients with GATA2 mutations were classified in the ELN2022 favorable- and intermediate-risk groups. GATA2mut patients in the favorable-risk group were divided into GATA2High and GATA2Low groups using a median cutoff variant allele frequency (VAF) of 40.13%. GATA2High patients were associated with worse OS (P = 0.031) and RFS (P = 0.021) than GATA2Low patients. In the intermediate-risk group, the high median VAF of GATA2 (≥38.51%) had no significant effect in OS and RFS compared with the low median VAF (<38.51%). This study offers new insights on the prognosis of GATA2mut in the favorable-risk group, where VAF can be used as a guide

Clinical features and gene variation analysis of COQ8B nephropathy: Report of seven cases

ObjectiveCOQ8B nephropathy is a relatively rare autosomal recessive kidney disease characterized by proteinuria and a progressive deterioration of renal function, eventually leading to end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The objective is to study the characteristics and correlation between the genotype and the clinical phenotype of COQ8B nephropathy.MethodsThis is a retrospective study focusing on the clinical characteristics of seven COQ8B nephropathy patients diagnosed by gene sequencing. Basic clinical information, clinical manifestations, examinations, imaging, genomes, pathology, treatments, and prognosis of the patients were reviewed.ResultsOf the seven patients, two were male children and five were female children. The median age at the disease onset was 5 years and 3 months. The initial main clinical manifestations were proteinuria and renal insufficiency. Four patients had severe proteinuria, four had focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) diagnosed by a renal biopsy, and two had nephrocalcinosis after an ultrasound was performed on them. There were no other clinical manifestations such as neuropathy, muscle atrophy, and so on in all of them. Their gene mutations were all exon variants, which were classified as heterozygous or homozygous variants by performing family verification analysis. Compound heterozygous variants were predominant in all, and all gene variants were inherited from their parents. One novel mutation, c.1465c&gt;t, was found in this study. This gene mutation resulted from changes in the amino acid sequence, thus leading to an abnormal protein structure. Two patients with early diagnosis of COQ8B nephropathy presented with no renal insufficiency and were treated with oral coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), and they maintained normal renal function. For the remaining five who were treated with CoQ10 following renal insufficiency, the deterioration of renal function could not be reversed, and they progressed to ESRD within a short time (median time: 7 months). A follow-up of these patients showed normal renal function with a CoQ10 supplement.ConclusionFor unexplained proteinuria, renal insufficiency, or steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome, gene sequencing should be considered, in addition to renal biopsy, as early as possible. Timely diagnosis of COQ8B nephropathy and early supplementation of sufficient CoQ10 can help control the progression of the disease and significantly improve the prognosis

Exploring atherosclerosis imaging with contrast-enhanced MRI using PEGylated ultrasmall iron oxide nanoparticles

Plaque rupture is a critical concern due to its potential for severe outcomes such as cerebral infarction and myocardial infarction, underscoring the urgency of noninvasive early diagnosis. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has gained prominence in plaque imaging, leveraging its noninvasiveness, high spatial resolution, and lack of ionizing radiation. Ultrasmall iron oxides, when modified with polyethylene glycol, exhibit prolonged blood circulation and passive targeting toward plaque sites, rendering them conducive for MRI. In this study, we synthesized ultrasmall iron oxide nanoparticles of approximately 3 nm via high-temperature thermal decomposition. Subsequent surface modification facilitated the creation of a dual-modality magnetic resonance/fluorescence probe. Upon intravenous administration of the probes, MRI assessment of atherosclerotic plaques and diagnostic evaluation were conducted. The application of Flash-3D sequence imaging revealed vascular constriction at lesion sites, accompanied by a gradual signal amplification postprobe injection. T1-weighted imaging of the carotid artery unveiled a progressive signal ratio increase between plaques and controls within 72 h post-administration. Fluorescence imaging of isolated carotid arteries exhibited incremental lesion-to-control signal ratios. Additionally, T1 imaging of the aorta demonstrated an evolving signal enhancement over 48 h. Therefore, the ultrasmall iron oxide nanoparticles hold immense promise for early and noninvasive diagnosis of plaques, providing an avenue for dynamic evaluation over an extended time frame