There is a significant delay between parents having concerns and receiving a formal assessment and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnosis. Telemedicine could be an effective alternative that ...shortens the waiting time for parents and primary health providers in ASD screening and diagnosis. We conducted a systematic review examining the uses of telemedicine technology for ASD screening, assessment, or diagnostic purposes and to what extent sample characteristics and psychometric properties were reported. This study searched four databases from 2000 to 2022 and obtained 26 studies that met the inclusion criteria. The 17 applications used in these 26 studies were divided into three categories based on their purpose: screening, diagnostic, and assessment. The results described the data extracted, including study characteristics, applied methods, indicators seen, and psychometric properties. Among the 15 applications with psychometric properties reported, the sensitivity ranged from 0.70 to 1, and the specificity ranged from 0.38 to 1. The present study highlights the strengths and weaknesses of current telemedicine approaches and provides a basis for future research. More rigorous empirical studies with larger sample sizes are needed to understand the feasibility, strengths, and limitations of telehealth technologies for screening, assessing, and diagnosing ASD.
Abstract
Background
Inflammatory injury of gallbladder mucosal epithelial cells affects the development of cholelithiasis, and aquaporin 3 (
AQP3
) is an important regulator of inflammatory response. ...This study reports a mechanistic insight into
AQP3
regulating gallstone formation in cholelithiasis based on high-throughput sequencing.
Methods
A mouse model of cholelithiasis was induced using a high-fat diet, and the gallbladder tissues were harvested for high-throughput sequencing to obtain differentially expressed genes. Primary mouse gallbladder mucosal epithelial cells were isolated and induced with Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) to mimic an in vitro inflammatory injury environment. Cell biological phenotypes were detected by TdT-mediated dUTP Nick-End Labeling (TUNEL) assay, flow cytometry, Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, and Trypan blue staining. In addition, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) determined the production of inflammatory factors in mouse gallbladder mucosa.
Results
Whole-transcriptome sequencing data analysis identified 489 up-regulated and 1007 down-regulated mRNAs. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that
AQP3
was significantly down-regulated in mice with cholelithiasis.
AQP3
might also confer an important role in LPS-induced gallbladder mucosal injury. Overexpression of
AQP3
activated the
AMPK
(adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase) /
SIRT1
(sirtuin-1) signaling pathway to reduce LPS-induced inflammatory injury of the gallbladder mucosa epithelium, thereby ameliorating gallbladder damage and repressing gallstone formation in mice.
Conclusion
Data from our study highlight the inhibitory role of
AQP3
in gallbladder damage and gallstone formation in mice by reducing inflammatory injury of gallbladder mucosal epithelial cells, which is achieved through activation of the
AMPK
/
SIRT1
signaling pathway.
The gearbox is an important component of a wind turbine (WT). Once the gearbox is damaged, problems such as long-term maintenance and high maintenance costs will occur. Therefore, it is necessary to ...carry out on-line condition monitoring (CM) of WTs. Because a large amount of data is accumulated by the supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system, CMs based on data-driven methods have been widely investigated. In this paper, a CM method that is based on the KNN regression method and bagging ensemble strategy is proposed. The proposed method is validated by SCADA data collected from a field WT. The results show that the ensemble model can achieve the desired estimation accuracy and improve the operation efficiency by approximately 30%.
The oil–gas separator of the gas storage compressor serves as crucial equipment in a natural gas storage system to improve gas storage purity and efficiency. Its optimization is also essential to ...improve the separation efficiency and lifespan. Collision and centrifugal separation are two widely used optimized structures for oil–gas separators, and the enhancement in separation efficiency, as well as the decrease in pressure loss of optimized separators, has been thoroughly discussed. However, the velocity uniformity in the filter inlet has not been considered, which affects the filtration performance. Thus, the overall efficiency of the separator is reduced. Accordingly, optimization of an oil–gas separator with the consideration of velocity uniformity in filter inlets is introduced in this study. The effects of critical dimension parameters of optimized equipment on separator performance were analyzed. The results show that bb = 0.4, lb = 3, hb = 1.5, and kb = 0.5 and le = 0.9 and he = 4.11, as well as lc = 0.5 and dc = 0.52, are suitable for the case of placing baffles, adjusting the separator height and inlet position, as well as adding an inner cylinder, respectively. Subsequently, the analytic hierarchy process was employed to compare different optimized cases. It is observed that the overall rating for adding an inner cylinder reaches 88.46, which is the more suitable optimized method for the oil–gas separator. This work is relevant for oil–gas systems to improve their separation efficiency and enhance the gas storage performance.
Younger age at onset is generally thought to be a predictor of poor outcome in Early Onset Schizophrenia (EOS), but there is a paucity of epidemiological data supporting this belief. This study aims ...to describe long-term outcomes and predictors of patient functioning in EOS, with a focus on the effect of age at onset.
We consecutively enrolled 118 EOS patients who were hospitalized in 2006. Mean age at baseline was 13.3 ± 2.3 years. Sixty-five subjects were successfully interviewed. Mean length of follow up was 10.4 ± 0.3 years. Baseline data were collected from inpatient medical records, while follow up was conducted primarily through telephone interviews of patient relatives. WHODAS 2.0 was used to measure global functioning at follow up. Outcomes included education, employment, marriage status, physical health, subsequent diagnoses and treatment, and patient functioning. Univariate and multivariate regression models were used to assess predictors of outcome, while propensity scores were used to adjust for confounding in analyzing the effect of age at onset on functional outcome.
Of the 65 subjects where follow-up data were available, 3 were deceased at follow up. Five (8%) discontinued treatment. Diagnostic stability was 76%. Nearly a quarter (24%) were using clozapine at follow up. In male and female patients, 61 and 55% respectively were overweight, while 29 and 32% respectively were obese. Sixteen (26%) were economically self-sufficient, while 34 (55%) were unemployed. Thirteen (21%) patients had ever been married. The median WHODAS score was 15 (IQR 2 to 35), roughly corresponding to the 78th percentile on population norms. Extroverted personality (p = 0.01), suspicious personality (p = 0.02), and high level of education (p = 0.001) predicted better functioning. Age of onset was not associated with function in either the univariate model (p = 0.24), full model (p = 0.17) or the final risk factor model (p = 0.11), nor after using propensity scores to further adjust for confounders.
The long-term functional outcome of EOS is more optimistic than generally believed. Age at disease onset does not predict long-term functional outcome in EOS populations.
Background:
The Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC) is a widely used scale in autism clinical intervention research for the assessment of core symptoms and comorbid emotional and behavioral problems ...among people with autism. The aim of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the Simplified Chinese version of the Aberrant Behavior Checklist (SC-ABC) using a sample of people with autism in a Chinese population.
Methods:
In total, we enrolled 799 patients aged 1.5–33 years old. We collected data using the SC-ABC (
n
= 799), Autism Behavior Checklist (
n
= 743), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Rating Scale-IV (ADHD-RS-IV) (
n
= 433) and Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) (
n
= 319). Eighty-four patients were separately assessed with the SC-ABC by two caregivers simultaneously. Forty-four patients were assessed with the SC-ABC again by same caregiver 2 weeks after the first assessment. SC-ABC data from the whole sample were used for confirmatory factor analysis. We evaluated criterion validity using Spearman's correlation coefficient between scores of the SC-ABC and scores of the Autism Behavior Checklist, ADHD-RS-IV and CBCL separately in the whole sample and different age groups. We calculated the intragroup correlation coefficients and Spearman's correlation coefficient for interrater reliability in 84 samples and test-retest reliability in 44 samples. We conducted Cronbach's α for internal consistency.
Results:
For the SC-ABC, the intragroup correlation coefficients of five subscales and the total score in interrater and test-retest reliability ranged from 0.87 to 0.92 and from 0.93 to 0.97 (all
P
< 0.01). The Spearman's correlation coefficient of five subscales and the total score in interrater and test-retest reliability ranged from 0.78 to 0.85 and 0.86 to 0.94, respectively (all
P
< 0.01). Cronbach's α of five subscales and the total score ranged from 0.75 to 0.96 (all
P
< 0.01). The Spearman's correlation coefficient for criterion validity for the whole sample and different age groups ranged from 0.39 to 0.76 (all
P
< 0.01). The model fit for the original five factor model was acceptable, with fit indices of SMR = 0.062 and RMSEA = 0.052.
Conclusions:
The SC-ABC has satisfactory psychometric properties and can be used in the assessment of core symptoms and comorbid emotional and behavioral problems in patients with autism.
Background
Hepatocellular carcinoma still has a high incidence and mortality rate worldwide, and further research is needed to investigate its occurrence and development mechanisms in depth in order ...to identify new therapeutic targets. Ferritinophagy is a type of autophagy and a key factor in ferroptosis that could influence tumor onset and progression. Although, the potential role of ferritinophagy-related genes (FRGs) in liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC) is unknown.
Methods
Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data of LIHC were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) dataset. In addition, transcriptome and clinical follow-up outcome data of individuals with LIHC were extracted from the The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset. FRGs were collected through the GeneCards database. Differential cell subpopulations were distinguished, and differentially expressed FRGs (DEFRGs) were obtained. Differential expression of FRGs and prognosis were observed according to the TCGA database. An FRG-related risk model was constructed to predict patient prognosis by absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and COX regression analyses, and its prognosis predictive power was validated. Ultimately, the association between risk score and tumor microenvironment (TME), immune cell infiltration, immune checkpoints, drug sensitivity, and tumor mutation burden (TMB) was analyzed. We also used quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) to validate the expression of key genes in normal liver cells and liver cancer cells.
Results
We ultimately identified 8 cell types, and 7 differentially expressed FRGs genes (ZFP36, NCOA4, FTH1, FTL, TNF, PCBP1, CYB561A3) were found among immune cells, and we found that Monocytes and Macrophages were closely related to FRGs genes. Subsequently, COX regression analysis showed that patients with high expression of FTH1, FTL, and PCBP1 had significantly worse prognosis than those with low expression, and our survival prediction model, constructed based on age, stage, and risk score, showed better prognostic prediction ability. Our risk model based on 3 FRGs genes ultimately revealed significant differences between high-risk and low-risk groups in terms of immune infiltration and immune checkpoint correlation, drug sensitivity, and somatic mutation risk. Finally, we validated the key prognostic genes FTH1, FTL, using qRT-PCR, and found that the expression of FTH1 and FTL was significantly higher in various liver cancer cells than in normal liver cells. At the same time, immunohistochemistry showed that the expression of FTH1, FTL in tumor tissues was significantly higher than that in para-tumor tissues.
Conclusion
This study identifies a considerable impact of FRGs on immunity and prognosis in individuals with LIHC. The collective findings of this research provide new ideas for personalized treatment of LIHC and a more targeted therapy approach for individuals with LIHC to improve their prognosis.
Background Health-related risky behaviors (HRB) generally refer to behaviors that have a negative influence on health and quality of life. HRB in adolescents with autism have not been well understood ...so far. We aim to explore health-related risky behaviors and their risk factors with autistic adolescents. Methods In this study, 150 adolescents with autism and 150 neurotypical adolescents were enrolled. Participants in both groups completed the Adolescent Health-Related Risky Behavior Inventory (AHRBI). Autism Spectrum Screening Questionnaire (ASSQ), Wechsler Intelligence Scale, Theory of Mind (ToM) Test, Zung Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), Zung Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS), and Self-Esteem Scale (SES) were also assessed in the autism group to explore risk factors. Results The results showed that the total score of AHRBI and scores of "aggression and violence (AV)", "suicide or self-injury (SS)", "health-compromising behavior (HCB)", and "unprotected sex (US)" subscales in the autism group were significantly higher than those in the control group (Z value = - 4.58 ~ - 2.26, all P < 0.05). Anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, low IQ score, low ToM test score, increasing age, and communication disorder were found as risk factors for health-related risky behaviors in autistic adolescents. Conclusions Adolescents with autism have more health-related risky behaviors than neurotypical adolescents. We should pay attention to the emotional state, self-esteem, cognitive function, and verbal communication levels of autistic adolescent with health-related risky behaviors. Keywords: Autism, Adolescents, Health-related risky behaviors, Risk factors
Abstract
Background
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused an unprecedented need for accessible health care services and significantly accelerated the development processes of telehealth tools for autism ...spectrum disorder (ASD) early screening and diagnosis. This study aimed to examine the feasibility and utility of a time-efficient telehealth tool combining a structured snack time assessment activity and a novel behaviour coding scheme for identifying ASD.
Methods
A total of 134 1–6-year-old individuals with ASD (age in months: mean = 51.3, SD = 13.1) and 134 age- and sex-matched typically developing individuals (TD) (age in months: mean = 54, SD = 9.44) completed a 1-min snack time interaction assessment with examiners. The recorded videos were then coded by trained coders for 17 ASD-related behaviours; the beginning and end points and the form and function of each behaviour were recorded, which took 10–15 min. Coded details were transformed into 62 indicators representing the count, duration, rate, and proportion of those behaviours.
Results
Twenty indicators with good reliability were selected for group difference, univariate and multivariate analyses. Fifteen behaviour indicators differed significantly between the ASD and TD groups and remained significant after Bonferroni correction, including the children’s response to the examiner’s initiation, eye gaze, pointing, facial expressions, vocalization and verbalization, and giving behaviours. Five indicators were included in the final prediction model: total counts of eye gaze, counts of standard pointing divided by the total counts of pointing, counts of appropriate facial expressions, counts of socially oriented vocalizations and verbalizations divided by the total counts of vocalizations and verbalizations, and counts of children using giving behaviours to respond to the examiner's initiations divided by the total counts of the examiner's initiation of snack requisitions. The ROC curve revealed a good prediction performance with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.955, a sensitivity of 92.5% and a specificity of 84.3%.
Conclusion
Our results suggest that the snack activity-based ASD telehealth approach shows promise in primary health care settings for early ASD screening.
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