Dietary supplementation of benzoic acid and essential oils combination enhances intestinal resilience against LPS stimulation in weaned piglets

Background The benefits of combining benzoic acid and essential oils(BAO)to mitigate intestinal impairment during the weaning process have been well established,while the detailed underlying mechanism has not been fully elucidated.Previous research has primarily focused on the reparative effects of BAO on intestinal injury,while neglecting its potential in enhancing intestinal stress resistance.Methods In this study,we investigated the pre-protective effect of BAO against LPS-induced stress using a modified experimental procedure.Piglets were pre-supplemented with BAO for 14 d,followed by a challenge with LPS or saline to collect blood and intestinal samples.Results Our findings demonstrated that BAO supplementation led to significant improvements in piglets’final weight,average daily gain,and feed intake/body gain ratio.Additionally,BAO supplementation positively influenced the composition of intestinal microbiota,increasing beneficial Actinobacteriota and Alloprevotella while reducing harmful Desulfobacterota,Prevotella and Oscillospira.Furthermore,BAO supplementation effectively mitigated oxidative disturbances and inflammatory responses induced by acute LPS challenge.This was evidenced by elevated levels of T-AOC,SOD,and GSH,as well as decreased levels of MDA,TNF-α,and IL-6 in the plasma.Moreover,piglets subjected to LPS challenge and pre-supplemented with BAO exhibited significant improvements in intestinal morphological structure and enhanced integrity,as indicated by restored expression levels of Occludin and Claudin-1 compared to the non-supplemented counterparts.Further analysis revealed that BAO supplementation enhanced the jejunal antioxidative capacity by increasing GSH-Px levels and decreasing MDA levels under the LPS challenge and stimulated the activation of the Nrf2 signaling pathway.Additionally,the reduction of TLR4/NF-κB/MAPK signaling pathways activation and proinflammatory factor were also observed in the jejunal of those piglets fed with BAO.Conclusions In summary,our study demonstrates that pre-supplementation of BAO enhances the anti-stress capacity of weaned piglets by improving intestinal microbiota composition,reinforcing the intestinal barrier,and enhancing antioxidative and anti-inflammatory capabilities.These effects are closely associated with the activation of Nrf2 and TLR4/NF-κB/MAPK signaling pathways.

Exploring impedance spectrum for lithium-ion batteries diagnosis and prognosis:A comprehensive review

Lithium-ion batteries have extensive usage in various energy storage needs,owing to their notable benefits of high energy density and long lifespan.The monitoring of battery states and failure identification are indispensable for guaranteeing the secure and optimal functionality of the batteries.The impedance spectrum has garnered growing interest due to its ability to provide a valuable understanding of material characteristics and electrochemical processes.To inspire further progress in the investigation and application of the battery impedance spectrum,this paper provides a comprehensive review of the determination and utilization of the impedance spectrum.The sources of impedance inaccuracies are systematically analyzed in terms of frequency response characteristics.The applicability of utilizing diverse impedance features for the diagnosis and prognosis of batteries is further elaborated.Finally,challenges and prospects for future research are discussed.

Causal associations between gastroesophageal reflux disease and essential hypertension: A bidirectional Mendelian randomization study

BACKGROUND Clinical studies have reported that patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease(GERD)have a higher prevalence of hypertension.AIM To performed a bidirectional Mendelian randomization(MR)analysis to investi-gate the causal link between GERD and essential hypertension.METHODS Eligible single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs)were selected,and weighted median,inverse variance weighted(IVW)as well as MR egger(MR-Egger)re-gression were used to examine the potential causal association between GERD and hypertension.The MR-Pleiotropy RESidual Sum and Outlier analysis was used to detect and attempt to reduce horizontal pleiotropy by removing outliers SNPs.The MR-Egger intercept test,Cochran’s Q test and“leave-one-out”sen-sitivity analysis were performed to evaluate the horizontal pleiotropy,heterogen-eities,and stability of single instrumental variable.RESULTS IVW analysis exhibited an increased risk of hypertension(OR=1.46,95%CI:1.33-1.59,P=2.14E-16)in GERD patients.And the same result was obtained in replication practice(OR=1.002,95%CI:1.0008-1.003,P=0.000498).Meanwhile,the IVW analysis showed an increased risk of systolic blood pressure(β=0.78,95%CI:0.11-1.44,P=0.021)and hypertensive heart disease(OR=1.68,95%CI:1.36-2.08,P=0.0000016)in GERD patients.Moreover,we found an decreased risk of Barrett's esophagus(OR=0.91,95%CI:0.83-0.99,P=0.043)in essential hypertension patients.CONCLUSION We found that GERD would increase the risk of essential hypertension,which provided a novel prevent and therapeutic perspectives of essential hypertension.

Biocontrol of Aspergillus flavus Strains Isolated from Bambara Groundnut (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc.) Seeds Using Essential Oils of Lippia multiflora Moldenke, Ocimum americanum L. (Lamiaceae) and Eucalyptus cameldulensis Dehnh

In nature, plant extracts play a crucial role in defending plants against biotic and abiotic stressors. Moreover, the use of plant-based products, such as plant extracts, represents a promising alternative to synthetic fungicides, which pose potential health risks to consumers. In this study, the antifungal activity of the essential oils (EOs) of Lippia multiflora, Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Ocimum americanum was evaluated against two strains of Aspergillus flavus via the agar dilution method. These two Aspergillus flavus fungi was isolated from Bamabra groundnut seeds. Lippia multiflora essential oil (EO) showed the best results compared with the other oils, with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 9000 μg∙mL−1. The MIC for Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Ocimum americanum EOs was 10,800 μg∙mL−1. In view of their antifungal properties, these EOs could be used to develop a new, safe antifungal agent for food preservation.

Oxygen is an essential gasotransmitter directly sensed via protein gasoreceptors

The current restrictive criteria for gasotransmitters exclude oxygen(O_(2))as a gasotransmitter in vertebrates.In this manuscript,I propose a revision of gasotransmitter criteria to include O_(2) per se as a signaling molecule and'essential gasotransmitter'for vertebrates.This revision would enable us to search for protein-based O_(2)-binding sensors(gasoreceptors)in all cells in the brain or other tissues rather than specialized tissues such as the carotid body or gills.If microorganisms have protein-based O_(2)-binding sensors or gasoreceptors such as DosP or FixL or FNR with diverse signaling domains,then eukaryotic cells must also have O_(2)-binding sensors or gasoreceptors.Just as there are proteinbased receptor(s)for nitric oxide(GUCY1A,GUCY1B,CLOCK,NR1D2)in cells of diverse tissues,it is reasonable to consider that there are protein-based receptors for O_(2) in cells of diverse tissues as well.In mammals,O_(2) must be acting as a gasotransmitter or gaseous signaling molecule via protein-based gasoreceptors such as androglobin that very likely mediate acute sensing of O_(2).Accepting O_(2) as an essential gasotransmitter will enable us to search for gasoreceptors not only for O_(2) but also for other nonessential gasotransmitters such as hydrogen sulfide,ammonia,methane,and ethylene.It will also allow us to investigate the role of environment-derived metal ions in acute gas(or solute)sensing within and between organisms.Finally,accepting O_(2) per se as a signaling molecule acting via gasoreceptors will open up the field of gasocrinology.

Dynamic Update Scheme of Spectrum Information Based on Spectrum Opportunity Incentive in the Database-Assisted Dynamic Spectrum Management

To solve the problem of delayed update of spectrum information(SI) in the database assisted dynamic spectrum management(DB-DSM), this paper studies a novel dynamic update scheme of SI in DB-DSM. Firstly, a dynamic update mechanism of SI based on spectrum opportunity incentive is established, in which spectrum users are encouraged to actively assist the database to update SI in real time. Secondly, the information update contribution(IUC) of spectrum opportunity is defined to describe the cost of accessing spectrum opportunity for heterogeneous spectrum users, and the profit of SI update obtained by the database from spectrum allocation. The process that the database determines the IUC of spectrum opportunity and spectrum user selects spectrum opportunity is mapped to a Hotelling model. Thirdly, the process of determining the IUC of spectrum opportunities is further modelled as a Stackelberg game by establishing multiple virtual spectrum resource providers(VSRPs) in the database. It is proved that there is a Nash Equilibrium in the game of determining the IUC of spectrum opportunities by VSRPs. Finally, an algorithm of determining the IUC based on a genetic algorithm is designed to achieve the optimal IUC. The-oretical analysis and simulation results show that the proposed method can quickly find the optimal solution of the IUC, and ensure that the spectrum resource provider can obtain the optimal profit of SI update.

Recent advances in essential oils and their nanoformulations for poultry feed

Antibiotics in poultry feed to boost growth performance are becoming increasingly contentious due to concerns over antimicrobial resistance development.Essential oils(EOs),as natural,plant-derived compounds,have demonstrated antimicrobial and antioxidant properties.EOs may potentially improve poultry health and growth performance when included in poultry feed.Nevertheless,the incorporation of EOs as nutritional additives is hindered by their high volatility,low water solubility,poor intestinal absorption,and sensitivity to environmental conditions.Recently,nanoencapsulation strategies using nanoformulations have emerged as a potential solution to these challenges,improving the stability and bioavailability of EOs,and enabling targeted delivery in poultry feed.This review provides an overview of the antioxidant and antibacterial properties of EOs,the current limitations of their applications in poultry feed,and the recent advancements in nano-engineering to overcome these limitations.Furthermore,we outline the potential future research direction on EO nanoformulations,emphasizing their promising role in advancing sustainable poultry nutrition.

Comparative Chemical Research in Essential Oils from Six Apiaceae Species Growing in the Northern Region of Vietnam

Our study aimed to compare the essential oil(EO)concentration and composition of several Apiaceae species growing in the Northern region of Vietnam.The yields of EOs from materials ranged from 0.03%(root EO of Angelica acutiloba and aerial parts EO of Heracleum bivittatum)-0.27%(leaf EO of Xyloselinum vietnamense).Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS)allowed the identification of 74 components in the EOs of six Apiaceae species,making up 94.4%–100.0%of the oils.In EO from Angelica acutiloba,(Z)-ligustilide accounted for an extremely large proportion(94.9%).EO of Angelica pubescens was dominated by six character-istic components includingα-pinene(21.5%),β-phellandrene(18.1%),p-cymene(12.2%),3-methylnonane(8.7%),o-cymene(8.1%),and D-sylvestrene(6.2%).The EO from Cryptotaenia japonica was characterized by high amounts ofα-selinene(48.7%),β-selinene(23.7%),and trans-β-farnesene(5.4%).The EOs from leaves and stems of Xyloselinum vietnamense were characterized by high concentrations of sabinene(69.8%and 33.8%),4-terpineol(8.7%and 7.4%)andβ-pinene(4.0%and 6.5%)while EOs from aerial parts and root of Xylo-selinum leonidii comprise four characteristic monoterpenes includingα-pinene(28.2%and 52.8%),β-pinene(7.9%and 10.3%),β-phellandrene(7.6%and 15.3%),and sabinene(3.0%and 4.1%).Additionally,cryptone is also one of the major components in the EO of Xyloselinum leonidii(13.2%in the aerial parts oil and 2.8%in the root oil).In the EOs isolated from the aerial parts and root of Heracleum bivittatum,α-pinene(22.5%and 70.2%)andβ-pinene(43.2%and 20.0%)were the predominant monoterpenes.Sabinene appeared in the EO from aerial parts of Heracleum bivittatum with a relatively high concentration(13.5%)while bornyl acetate(5.1%)was also one of the main components in the EO from its aerial parts but was not detected in other Apiaceae species in the present study.These databases help identify and control the quality of plant material studied from the family Apiaceae growing in Vietnam.

Correction:Brillouin scattering spectrum for liquid detection and applications in oceanography

After publication of this article1,it was brought to our at-tention that the mathematical expressions‘‰’were mis-takenly replaced by‘%’for salinities.Details are listed below.1.In the last sentence in abstract,“approximately 0.1℃and 0.5%”should be“approximately 0.1℃and 0.5‰”.

A verifiable essential secret image sharing scheme based on HLRs(VESIS-(t,s,k,n))

In traditional secret image sharing schemes,a secret image is shared among shareholders who have the same position.But if the shareholders have two different positions,essential and non‐essential,it is necessary to use essential secret image sharing schemes.In this article,a verifiable essential secret image sharing scheme based on HLRs is proposed.Shareholder's share consists of two parts.The first part is produced by the shareholders,which prevents the fraud of dealers.The second part is a shadow image that is produced by using HLRs and the first part of share.The verification of the first part of the shares is done for the first time by using multilinear and bilinear maps.Also,for verifying shadow images,Bloom Filters are used for the first time.The proposed scheme is more efficient than similar schemes,and for the first part of the shares,has formal security.

Profiles of the Headspace Volatile Organic and Essential Oil Compounds from the Tunisian Cardaria draba (L.) Desv. and Its Leaf and Stem Epidermal Micromorphology

In this work, we investigated aroma volatiles emanated by dry roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and fruits of Cardariadraba (L.) Desv. growing wild in Tunisia and its aerial part essential oils (EOs) composition. A total of 37 volatileorganic compounds (96.7%–98.9%) were identified;4 esters, 4 alcohols, 7 hydrocarbons, 12 aldehydes, 5 ketones,1 lactone, 1 organosulfur compound, 2 organonitrogen compounds, and 1 acid. The hydrocarbons form the maingroup, representing 49.5%–84.6% of the total detected volatiles. The main constituent was 2,2,4,6,6-pentamethylheptane(44.5%–76.2%) reaching the highest relative percentages. Forty-two compounds were determined in thetwo fractions of EOs, representing 98.8% and 97.2% of the total oil composition, respectively. The principal componentswere hexadecanoic acid (34.6%), 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one (18.3%), decanal (15.0%), 6,10,14-trimethyl-2-pentadecanone (13.2%), and n-pentacosane (13%). Micromorphological details of the leaf and stem epidermisusing light microscopy revealed polygonal cells with sinuous walls in the adaxial and abaxial leaf surfaces andnearly rectangular and long ones with linear and thick walls for the stem epidermis. The stomata complexes wereanisocytic in the leaf epidermis and mainly anisocytic and rarely paracytic in the stem epidermis. Non-glandulartrichomes were unbranched and long with an acute apex or short with a convex apex. The glandular ones wereidentified for the first time in this species. They were short-stalked with a large secretory head. The highest stomatalindex (17.02%) was recorded in the abaxial leaf surface. The identification of headspace volatiles and essentialoil compounds can be used to characterize this species, and the various epidermis micromorphologicalfeatures are very useful for biosystematics taxonomic studies within Brassicaceae.

Construction of a Cu@hollow TS-1 nanoreactor based on a hierarchical full-spectrum solar light utilization strategy for photothermal synergistic artificial photosynthesis

The artificial photosynthesis technology has been recognized as a promising solution for CO_(2) utilization.Photothermal catalysis has been proposed as a novel strategy to promote the efficiency of artificial photosynthesis by coupling both photochemistry and thermochemistry.However,strategies for maximizing the use of solar spectra with different frequencies in photothermal catalysis are urgently needed.Here,a hierarchical full-spectrum solar light utilization strategy is proposed.Based on this strategy,a Cu@hollow titanium silicalite-1 zeolite(TS-1)nanoreactor with spatially separated photo/thermal catalytic sites is designed to realize high-efficiency photothermal catalytic artificial photosynthesis.The space-time yield of alcohol products over the optimal catalyst reached 64.4μmol g−1 h−1,with the selectivity of CH3CH2OH of 69.5%.This rationally designed hierarchical utilization strategy for solar light can be summarized as follows:(1)high-energy ultraviolet light is utilized to drive the initial and difficult CO_(2) activation step on the TS-1 shell;(2)visible light can induce the localized surface plasmon resonance effect on plasmonic Cu to generate hot electrons for H2O dissociation and subsequent reaction steps;and(3)low-energy near-infrared light is converted into heat by the simulated greenhouse effect by cavities to accelerate the carrier dynamics.This work provides some scientific and experimental bases for research on novel,highly efficient photothermal catalysts for artificial photosynthesis.

Floquet spectrum and universal dynamics of a periodically driven two-atom system

We investigate the Floquet spectrum and excitation properties of a two-ultracold-atom system with periodically driven interaction in a three-dimensional harmonic trap.The interaction between the atoms is changed by varying the s-wave scattering length in two ways,the cosine and the square-wave modulations.It is found that as the driving frequency increases,the Floquet spectrum exhibits two main features for both modulations,the accumulating and the spreading of the quasienergy levels,which further lead to different dynamical behaviors.The accumulation is associated with collective excitations and the persistent growth of the energy,while the spread indicates that the energy is bounded at all times.The initial scattering length,the driving frequency and amplitude can all significantly change the Floquet spectrum as well as the dynamics.However,the corresponding relation between them is valid universally.Finally,we propose a mechanism for selectively exciting the system to one specific state by using the avoided crossing of two quasienergy levels,which could guide preparation of a desired state in experiments.

Antibacterial,antioxidant and antiproliferation activities of essential oils and ethanolic extracts from Chinese mugwort(Artemisia vulgaris L.)leaf in Shanxi

Background:Artemisia vulgaris,a medicinal aromatic plant,is widely used as a food item,tonic pharmaceutical,and cosmetic industry additive owing to its antibacterial,antihypertensive,hepatoprotective,antioxidant,and antispasmodic properties.But the effect of different geographic locations on the chemical composition and bioactivities of its extracts is unclear.Methods:Biological activities of essential oils and ethanol extracts of three varieties of Artemisia vulgaris leaves,which are grown in Shanxi province China,were studied.Results:Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis revealed that the main components of essential oils were terpenes and ketones.Essential oils and ethanol extract of Artemisia vulgaris leaves possessed good antioxidant activities,and their half maximal inhibitory concentrations determined using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2’-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonate)assays were 57.0 and 22.9μg/mL,respectively.The essential oils also exhibited remarkable antibacterial activity against three foodborne pathogenic bacterial strains.The ethanol extract presented a high anticancer activity against the MGC-803 human gastric cancer cell line.Conclusion:These biological activities were well correlated with the composition of the extract and EOs,which in turn is affected by the genetic composition of Artemisia vulgaris and geographic location and diverse climatic condition under which it is grown.These findings demonstrate the remarkable potential of Artemisia vulgaris as a valuable source of antioxidant,antibacterial,and anticancer agents.

Comparison of inebilizumab or rituximab in addition to glucocorticoid therapy for neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders

AIM:To investigate the short-term efficacy and safety of inebilizumab for neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders(NMOSD).METHODS:A total of 33 patients with NMOSD treated with inebilizumab(Group INB,n=15)or rituximab(Group RTX,n=18)in addition to high-dose glucocorticoids were included.Both groups underwent hormone shock therapy during the acute phase.Subsequently,Group INB received inebilizumab injections during the remission phase,while Group RTX received rituximab injections.A comparison of aquaporins 4(AQP4)titer values,peripheral blood B lymphocyte counts,and visual function recovery was conducted before and 8wk after treatment.Additionally,adverse reactions and patient tolerability were analyzed after using inebilizumab treatment regimes.RESULTS:Following inebilizumab treatment,there was a significantly improvement in the visual acuity of NMOSD patients(P<0.05),accompanied by a notable decrease in AQP4 titer values and B lymphocyte ratio(P<0.05).Moreover,inebilizumab treatment showed a partial effect in preventing optic nerve atrophy(P<0.05).However,there were no significant differences in other therapeutic effects compared to rituximab,which has previously demonstrated substantial therapeutic efficacy(P>0.05).Furthermore,inebilizumab exhibited higher safety levels than that of rituximab injections.CONCLUSION:The combination of inebilizumab and high-dose glucocorticoids proves to be effective.In comparison to rituximab injections,inebilizumab displays better tolerance and safety.Moreover,it demonstrates a partial effect in preventing optic nerve atrophy.Thus,it stands as an effective method to reduce the disability rates and improve the daily living ability of patients with NMOSD.

Blockchain-Based MCS Detection Framework of Abnormal Spectrum Usage for Satellite Spectrum Sharing Scenario

In this paper, the problem of abnormal spectrum usage between satellite spectrum sharing systems is investigated to support multi-satellite spectrum coexistence. Given the cost of monitoring, the mobility of low-orbit satellites, and the directional nature of their signals, traditional monitoring methods are no longer suitable, especially in the case of multiple power level. Mobile crowdsensing(MCS), as a new technology, can make full use of idle resources to complete a variety of perceptual tasks. However, traditional MCS heavily relies on a centralized server and is vulnerable to single point of failure attacks. Therefore, we replace the original centralized server with a blockchain-based distributed service provider to enable its security. Therefore, in this work, we propose a blockchain-based MCS framework, in which we explain in detail how this framework can achieve abnormal frequency behavior monitoring in an inter-satellite spectrum sharing system. Then, under certain false alarm probability, we propose an abnormal spectrum detection algorithm based on mixed hypothesis test to maximize detection probability in single power level and multiple power level scenarios, respectively. Finally, a Bad out of Good(BooG) detector is proposed to ease the computational pressure on the blockchain nodes. Simulation results show the effectiveness of the proposed framework.

Dietary L-proline supplementation ameliorates autism-like behaviors and modulates gut microbiota in the valproic acid-induced mouse model of autism spectrum disorder

The effective intervention strategy for autism spectrum disorder(ASD)are currently limited.Herein,we attempted to evaluate the potential of L-proline(Pro),a multifunctional amino acid,in ameliorating autismlike behaviors and clarify the molecular mechanisms involved by using the typical valproic acid(VPA)-induced mouse model of ASD.Pro significantly attenuates repetitive behaviors and social dysfunction in ASD mice.The correlation analysis revealed that the beneficial effects of Pro on autism-like behaviors are related to the modulation of gut microbiota structure and composition.The histological analysis revealed that Pro could reverse the decrease of Nissl-positive cells in the prefrontal cortex(PFC)induced by VPA exposure.RNA sequencing demonstrated that Pro can also alter the PFC transcriptomic profile distinguished by the regulation of genes involved in Parkinson disease,neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction,oxidative phosphorylation,and mitogen activated protein kinase signaling pathway.Overall,dietary Pro supplementation may be a promising intervention strategy for ASD.

Periodic signal extraction of GNSS height time series based on adaptive singular spectrum analysis

Singular spectrum analysis is widely used in geodetic time series analysis.However,when extracting time-varying periodic signals from a large number of Global Navigation Satellite System(GNSS)time series,the selection of appropriate embedding window size and principal components makes this method cumbersome and inefficient.To improve the efficiency and accuracy of singular spectrum analysis,this paper proposes an adaptive singular spectrum analysis method by combining spectrum analysis with a new trace matrix.The running time and correlation analysis indicate that the proposed method can adaptively set the embedding window size to extract the time-varying periodic signals from GNSS time series,and the extraction efficiency of a single time series is six times that of singular spectrum analysis.The method is also accurate and more suitable for time-varying periodic signal analysis of global GNSS sites.

Aquaporin-4-IgG-seropositive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders:progress of experimental models based on disease pathogenesis

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders are neuroinflammatory demyelinating disorders that lead to permanent visual loss and motor dysfunction.To date,no effective treatment exists as the exact causative mechanism remains unknown.Therefore,experimental models of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders are essential for exploring its pathogenesis and in screening for therapeutic targets.Since most patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders are seropositive for IgG autoantibodies against aquaporin-4,which is highly expressed on the membrane of astrocyte endfeet,most current experimental models are based on aquaporin-4-IgG that initially targets astrocytes.These experimental models have successfully simulated many pathological features of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders,such as aquaporin-4 loss,astrocytopathy,granulocyte and macrophage infiltration,complement activation,demyelination,and neuronal loss;however,they do not fully capture the pathological process of human neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders.In this review,we summarize the currently known pathogenic mechanisms and the development of associated experimental models in vitro,ex vivo,and in vivo for neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders,suggest potential pathogenic mechanisms for further investigation,and provide guidance on experimental model choices.In addition,this review summarizes the latest information on pathologies and therapies for neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders based on experimental models of aquaporin-4-IgG-seropositive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders,offering further therapeutic targets and a theoretical basis for clinical trials.

Is a Mini-Screen for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Feasible?

Background: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs) are a global public health concern with lifelong consequences for affected individuals. Recent prevalence studies suggest FASD prevalence rates range from 1-5% among school age children. Most people with FASD are not correctly diagnosed and inadequate screening to identify patients with increased risk may contribute to under-diagnosis. This study developed a 10-item screening tool for FASD and examined its feasibility. Methods: The sample consisted of 355 children who had been evaluated at an FASD clinic. Data from the 33-item Alcohol Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder Behavioral Checklist was used to develop a brief FASD screen by comparing the changes in Cronbach’s alpha for different combinations of items. The validity of the brief scale was then further examined using receiving operating characteristic analyses. Results: The 10-item screen demonstrated acceptable sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy to identify children at high risk for FASD. The percentage correctly classified was 91.3 and the area under the receiving operating characteristic curve was 0.971. Conclusions: This feasibility study demonstrated that a screen for FASD consisting of 10 items with yes or no responses can be completed in 3 - 4 minutes. The tool is brief, with a low administration burden and has acceptable epidemiologic performance characteristics including accuracy. Future research should examine the performance of this tool when used in larger, community-based populations where screening for FASD would be appropriate.