[Application of Preschool Auditory Processing Assessment Scale in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder]. / å­¦é¾„å‰å„¿ç«¥å¬å¤„ç†è¯„ä¼°é‡è¡¨åœ¨æ³¨æ„ç¼ºé™·å¤šåŠ¨éšœç¢å„¿ç«¥ä¸­çš„åº”ç”¨ç ”ç©¶.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the characteristics of auditory processing (AP) in preschool children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) using Preschool Auditory Processing Assessment Scale (hereafter referred to as "auditory processing scale"). METHODS: A total of 41 children with ADHD and 41 typically developing (TD) children were assessed using the auditory processing scale, SNAP-IV rating scale, and Conners' Kiddie Continuous Performance Test (K-CPT). The auditory processing scale score was compared between the TD and ADHD groups. The correlations of the score with SNAP-IV and K-CPT scores were assessed. RESULTS: Compared with the TD group, the ADHD group had significantly higher total score of the auditory processing scale and scores of all dimensions except visual attention (P<0.05). In the children with ADHD, the attention deficit dimension score of the SNAP-IV rating scale was positively correlated with the total score of the auditory processing scale (rs30=0.531, P<0.05; rs27=0.627, P<0.05) as well as the scores of its subdimensions, including auditory decoding (rs=0.628, P<0.05), auditory attention (rs=0.492, P<0.05), and communication (rs=0.399, P<0.05). The hyperactivity-impulsivity dimension score of the SNAP-IV rating scale was positively correlated with the hyperactivity-impulsivity dimension score of the auditory processing scale (rs=0.429, P<0.05). In the children with ADHD, the attention deficit dimension score of the K-CPT was positively correlated with the total score (rs30=0.574, P<0.05; rs27=0.485, P<0.05) and the hyperactivity-impulsivity dimension score (rs=0.602, P<0.05) of the auditory processing scale. CONCLUSIONS: Preschool children with ADHD have the risk of AP abnormalities, and the auditory processing scale should be used early for the screening and evaluation of AP abnormalities in children.

The development, validity, reliability, and norm of a preschool auditory processing assessment scale in China.

BACKGROUND: Children with auditory processing deficits may face problems with language, learning, and social communication. AIMS: To develop a Chinese auditory processing assessment scale for preschool children and establish the norms of the scale. METHODS AND PROCEDURES: The predictive version of the scale was formed by a literature review, qualitative interviews, expert consultation, and a pre-test with a small sample. Nine kindergartens in Nanjing were selected by a stratified cluster sampling plan. First, 734 children from two kindergartens were selected for the large sample pre-test of the scale. Then, 1526 children from four kindergartens and 1151 children from three kindergartens were selected for the reliability and validity analysis and confirmatory factor analysis, respectively. The standardized norm data of the scale were established based on the 3411 points of scale data of the nine kindergartens. Finally, the clinical usefulness of the scale was analyzed by comparing the results of objective auditory processing tests in children with normal and abnormal auditory processing prompted by the score on the scale. OUTCOMES AND RESULTS: The preschool auditory processing assessment scale includes 5 dimensions and 30 items. The Cronbach's alpha value of the scale is greater than 0.9. The confirmatory factor analysis results verify that the scale structure is reasonable. The percentile norm of the scale was established. The results of electrophysiological tests of the normal and abnormal auditory processing groups were statistically different (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: The developed preschool auditory processing assessment scale has good reliability and validity. The scale is suitable for clinical application.

Atmospheric carbonyls in a heavy ozone pollution episode at a metropolis in Southwest China: Characteristics, health risk assessment, sources analysis.

Ambient carbonyls were continuously observed in the field during a heavy ozone pollution episode in Chengdu, China from August 4 to August 19, 2019, and the pollution characteristics, atmospheric photochemical reactivity, human health risk, and sources of carbonyls were analyzed. Fifteen carbonyls were quantified with average total mixing ratios of 20.38 ppbv Formaldehyde (9.86 ppbv), acetone (4.41 ppbv), and acetaldehyde (3.57 ppbv) were the three most abundant carbonyls. During the heavy ozone pollution episode, the concentration of carbonyls was found to be higher on pollution days than on the clean days, and relatively higher in the daytime, especially at noon on the pollution days. This was influenced by the intensity of photochemical reactions and precipitation. The "weekend effect" with the concentration of carbonyls was higher on the weekends than on the weekdays was pointed out. Formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and hexaldehyde were the dominant oxidative species during the observation. The carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk values of formaldehyde and acetaldehyde were higher on pollution days than on clean days, and these values were higher compared with those of other cities in China and abroad. Long-term exposure to these compounds should therefore be avoided. Diagnostic ratios and correlation analysis together with backward trajectory analysis showed that primary emission and secondary formation accounted 66%-76% and 24%-34% of carbonyls in Chengdu, respectively, with primary emission being the main sources of carbonyls, and carbonyls from the surrounding cities and emission from natural sources also had a significant contribution to the carbonyls in Chengdu.

Aggregation-Induced Emission Luminogen with Near-Infrared-II Excitation and Near-Infrared-I Emission for Ultradeep Intravital Two-Photon Microscopy.

Currently, a serious problem obstructing the large-scale clinical applications of fluorescence technique is the shallow penetration depth. Two-photon fluorescence microscopic imaging with excitation in the longer-wavelength near-infrared (NIR) region (>1100 nm) and emission in the NIR-I region (650-950 nm) is a good choice to realize deep-tissue and high-resolution imaging. Here, we report ultradeep two-photon fluorescence bioimaging with 1300 nm NIR-II excitation and NIR-I emission (peak ∼810 nm) based on a NIR aggregation-induced emission luminogen (AIEgen). The crab-shaped AIEgen possesses a planar core structure and several twisting phenyl/naphthyl rotators, affording both high fluorescence quantum yield and efficient two-photon activity. The organic AIE dots show high stability, good biocompatibility, and a large two-photon absorption cross section of 1.22 × 103 GM. Under 1300 nm NIR-II excitation, in vivo two-photon fluorescence microscopic imaging helps to reconstruct the 3D vasculature with a high spatial resolution of sub-3.5 µm beyond the white matter (>840 µm) and even to the hippocampus (>960 µm) and visualize small vessels of ∼5 µm as deep as 1065 µm in mouse brain, which is among the largest penetration depths and best spatial resolution of in vivo two-photon imaging. Rational comparison with the AIE dots manifests that two-photon imaging outperforms the one-photon mode for high-resolution deep imaging. This work will inspire more sight and insight into the development of efficient NIR fluorophores for deep-tissue biomedical imaging.

Short-term outcomes after transition from Sweet to thoracoscopic esophagectomy: Our experience and cost analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Thoracoscopic esophagectomy (TSE), as a minimally invasive technique, has obtained wide acceptance for treating esophageal cancer. In this study, we report our experience of the transfer from open sweet esophagectomy (OSE) to TSE and compare cost associated with the two approaches for esophageal cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data were taken through a retrospective review of operative outcomes, complications and cost of 91 patients who underwent OSE or TSE for esophageal cancer from January 2012 to June 2014. RESULTS: Among 91 patients, 48 patients underwent TSE, and 43 patients underwent OSE. Patients dealt with TSE had significantly less blood loss (152 ml vs. 204 ml, P = 0.004), shorter chest drainage time (3.3 days vs. 4.5 days, P < 0.001), less patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit after surgery (6.3% vs. 30.2%, P = 0.003), and lower incidence of respiratory complications (16.7% vs. 37.2%, P = 0.026). However, the operative time was statistically longer in TSE group (276.0 min vs. 207.4 min, P < 0.001). The total cost (¥61,817 vs. ¥48,712, P < 0.001) and the day of surgery cost (¥29,701 vs. ¥19,446, P < 0.001) were significantly higher in the TSE group. CONCLUSION: This study shows that TSE is a safe and acceptable alternative to OSE. TSE will be more competitive if its cost can be reduced.

Development of a mediated whole cell-based electrochemical biosensor for joint toxicity assessment of multi-pollutants using a mixed microbial consortium.

Since most risk assessment for toxicants is based on individual single-species test, the deduction of such results to ecosystem evaluation is afflicted with uncertainties. Herein, we successfully developed a p-benzoquinone mediated whole-cell electrochemical biosensor for multi-pollutants toxicological analysis by co-immobilizing mixed strains of microorganism, including Escherichia coli (gram-negative bacteria), Bacillus subtilis (gram-positive bacteria) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (fungus). The individual and combined toxicities of heavy metal ions (Cu(2+), Cd(2+)), phenol (3,5-dichlorophenol) and pesticides (Ametryn, Acephate) were examined. The experimental results showed that the order of toxicity for individual toxicant was ranked as Cu(2+) > 3,5-dichlorophenol (DCP) > Ametryn > Cd(2+) > Acephate. Then the toxic unit (TU) model was applied to determine the nature of toxicological interaction of the toxicants which can be classified as concentration additive (IC50mix = 1TU), synergistic (IC50mix < 1TU) and antagonistic (IC50mix > 1TU) responses. The binary combination of Cu(2+) + Cd(2+), Cu(2+) + DCP, Cu(2+) + Acephate, DCP + Acephate, Acephate + Ametryn were analyzed and the three kind of joint toxicity effects (i.e. additive, synergistic and antagonistic) mentioned above were observed according to the dose-response relationship. The results indicate that the whole-cell electrochemical biosensor based on mixed microbial consortium is more reasonable to reflect the joint biotoxicity of multi-pollutants existing in real wastewater, and combined effects of toxicants is extremely necessary to be taken into account in ecological risk assessment. Thus, present study has provided a promising approach to the quality assessment of wastewater and a reliable way for early risk warning of acute biotoxicity.

A simple, rapid and reliable liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method for determination of methotrexate in human plasma and its application to therapeutic drug monitoring.

A simple, rapid and reliable liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry method was established and validated for the determination of methotrexate in human plasma. After a straightforward protein precipitation by acetonitrile-water (70:30, v/v), methotrexate (MTX) and p-aminoacetophenone (used as internal standard, IS) were separated on a Column C18 column (50 × 2.1 mm, 3 µm; Column Technology, Fremont, CA, USA) using a gradient elution with mobile phase of acetonitrile and 0.03% acetic acid aqueous solution at a flow rate of 0.5 mL/min. The total chromatographic runtime was 5 min for each injection. Quantification detection was performed in a triple-quadruple tandem mass spectrometer under positive mode monitoring the following mass transitions: m/z 455.3 → 308.3 for MTX and m/z 136.1 → 94.4 for IS. The calibration curve was linear over the range of 0.05-25.0 µmol/L with a lower limit of quantification of 0.05 µmol/L. The intra- and interday precisions were <5.2%, the accuracy varied from -4.1 to 4.5%. The recovery was >94%. The LC-MS/MS method showed an excellent agreement with the existing HPLC-UV method using Passing-Bablok regression and Bland-Altman difference plot analysis. The validated LC-MS/MS can be successfully applied to the routine therapeutic drug monitoring of MTX in clinical laboratories.

Assessment of clonality in T-cell large granular lymphocytic leukemia: flow cytometric T cell receptor Vß repertoire and T cell receptor gene rearrangement.

The usefulness of flow cytometric variable ß-chain repertoire (FC-Vß) and T-cell receptor gene rearrangement (TCR-GR) analyses for differentiating T-cell large granular lymphocytic leukemia (T-LGLL) from reactive T-large granular lymphocyte (T-LGL) lymphocytosis has been insufficiently studied to date. In this study, we analyzed the diagnostic value of TCR-GR and FC-Vß analysis in T-LGLL, and compared these results. In our study, FC-Vß analysis was positive in all cases of T-LGLL, and clonality assessment of FC-Vß had equal sensitivity and specificity to GeneScanning analysis but was more sensitive than heteroduplex analysis. Suspected T-cell clonality can best be addressed by evaluating two TCR targets (TCRß and TCRγ), either in parallel or consecutively. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) mutation may provide a diagnostic tool for classifying some cases of T-LGL lymphocytosis as true T-LGLL. Our results further demonstrate a significant correlation of STAT3 mutation with pure red cell aplasia, neutropenia, hepatomegaly, ß2-microglobulin and anemia.

Monte Carlo simulation from proton slip to "coupled" proton flow in ATP synthase based on the bi-site mechanism.

ATP synthase couples proton flow to ATP synthesis, but is leaky to protons at very low nucleotide concentration. Based on the bi-site mechanism, we simulated the proton conduction from proton slip to "coupled" proton flow in ATP synthase using the Monte Carlo method. Good agreement is obtained between the simulated and available experimental results. Our model provides deeper insight into the nucleotide dependence of ATP catalysis, and the kinetic cooperativity in three catalysis subunits. The results of simulation support the bi-site mechanism in ATP synthesis.

[Multiple comparisons in categorical data analysis].

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the method for multiple comparisons of categorical data and propose an approach to deal with the percentage data. METHODS: The method of multiple comparisons for percentages was verified based on Bonferroni methodology and Monte Carlo method using SAS 9.13 software. RESULTS: The type I error could be enlarged if the statistical tests were conducted without adjustment of the significant level after dividing the data of several categories or percentages into several four-fold tables. For the percentage data, the correction of adjustment of the significant level was the number of pairwise comparison minus one, as supported by the results of Monte Carlo simulation. CONCLUSION: Multiple comparisons of categorical data should be applied appropriately. Multiple comparisons of percentages data need to be conducted with the number of pairwise comparison minus one.

Comparison of reliability between the PUMC and Lenke classification systems for classifying adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

STUDY DESIGN: Comparison of 2 radiographic scoliosis classification systems by multiple surgeons. OBJECTIVE: Compare the reliability of Peking Union Medical College (PUMC) and Lenke scoliosis classification systems and analyze their differences. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The PUMC classification is a newly reported system based on radiographic measurements with recent popularity, while the Lenke classification is widely accepted worldwide in surgical design. Both these classification systems have their own individual characteristics, hence it is necessary to compare their reliability. METHODS: Five scoliosis surgeons independently evaluated and classified presurgical radiographs of 62 adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients based on the PUMC and Lenke classification systems on 2 separate occasions. Radiographs were cleaned before each evaluation. Inter- and intraobserver reliabilities were quantified using Kappa statistics. Data were compared using chi2 analysis. RESULTS: The PUMC classification's inter- and intraobserver percentage of agreement averaged to 91.0% (Kappa coefficient 0.896) and 90.2% (Kappa coefficient 0.892), respectively. While those of the Lenke curve type classification were 86.5% (Kappa coefficient 0.808) and 87.4% (Kappa coefficient 0.826). The PUMC classification from 10 individual measurements had 17 cases (27.4%) of disagreements, while in the Lenke curve type classification, 24 cases (38.7%) had disagreements. PUMC classification normally has discrepancies between type IIb, IIc, and IId, while Lenke classification has discrepancies in curve types 1 and 2. Out of 17 inconsistent PUMC curve type cases, 7 did not affect surgical fusion levels, while in the Lenke's only 2 out of 24 cases with discrepancies did not affect fusion range selection, with an obvious statistical difference. CONCLUSION: The reliability of both PUMC classification and Lenke curve type classification were categorized as good-to-excellent. PUMC classification is relatively simple, with less confusion among inter- and intraobservers, with corresponding surgical fusion guidance and planning. The mismatch of curve classification had less influence on PUMC's fusion range selection than Lenke's.

[Stressed level of urban vegetation: its assessment based on Hyperion hyperspectral data].

To quickly obtain the information of urban vegetation stressed level is of great significance in maintaining urban vegetation health and improving urban eco-environment. Based on the analysis of stressed vegetations physiological and spectral characters, and by using Hyperion hyperspectral data, 14 hyperspectral vegetation indices related to stress were calculated, and a classifier of urban vegetation stressed level was developed based on this calculation and BP Neural network. The application of this classifier in identifying the vegetation stressed level in a case study area of Guangzhou City showed that the vegetations in commercial and residential districts were apparently experienced higher stress than those in suburban regions, and the stressed level showed a ringy distribution around large pieces of greenbelts. This classifier was able to quickly and accurately identify the vegetation stressed level, and thus, could be used as an effective tool in monitoring urban vegetation stressed condition.