Publications by authors named "Maggie Fu"
Saliva is a widely used sample in epigenetic research with children due to its non-invasive nature. Since DNA methylation (DNAm) profile is cell type (CT) specific, salivary DNAm associations with exposures may be influenced by CT compositions, which is highly variable in saliva as it contains immune and buccal epithelial cells (BEC). Reference-based CT deconvolution and statistically adjusting estimated CT in DNAm analyses have become an increasingly common practice.
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- STAT6 is a key transcription factor involved in allergic inflammation, and researchers identified 16 patients from 10 families across three continents with severe allergic conditions related to its dysfunction.
- These patients exhibited various symptoms like early-onset immune issues, treatment-resistant skin conditions, asthma, and food allergies, all linked to rare mutations in the STAT6 gene that lead to a gain-of-function phenotype.
- The study suggests that these mutations cause a novel autosomal dominant allergic disorder and highlights the successful use of the anti-IL-4Rα antibody, dupilumab, as a precision treatment for managing symptoms and improving immune responses.
Rare diseases (RDs), more than 80% of which have a genetic origin, collectively affect approximately 350 million people worldwide. Progress in next-generation sequencing technology has both greatly accelerated the pace of discovery of novel RDs and provided more accurate means for their diagnosis. RDs that are driven by altered epigenetic regulation with an underlying genetic basis are referred to as rare diseases of epigenetic origin (RDEOs).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe effects of supply chain diversification during the COVID-19 crisis: Evidence from Chinese manufacturers.
Transp Res E Logist Transp Rev
November 2021
Resilience amidst a crisis is vital to survival in the turbulent contemporary business environment. Diversifying the supply chain has been proposed as an important means to build this capability. However, there is insufficient empirical evidence demonstrating the merits of supply chain diversification during a crisis.
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- This study identifies the first human case of complete deficiency in NFAT1, a protein crucial for immune cell activation, linked to a specific genetic mutation in the NFATC2 gene.* -
- The patient exhibited severe health issues including joint contractures, bone growths, and recurrent B-cell lymphoma, suggesting NFAT1's role in both immune response and cancer development.* -
- The findings also reveal how the lack of NFAT1 affects immune cell distribution and function, indicating the need for better diagnosis and caution regarding the long-term use of calcineurin inhibitors.*
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- Worsening heart failure (WHF) is characterized by worsening symptoms requiring increased treatment, and diuretic failure (DF) is a simplified version where higher loop diuretic doses are needed after 48 hours.
- A study of 1389 patients found that 6.4% experienced DF, which was linked to higher 60-day mortality and rehospitalization rates.
- DF serves as a valuable prognostic indicator for identifying high-risk heart failure patients during and after hospitalization.
Attachment is a motivational system promoting felt security to a caregiver resulting in a persistent internal working model of interpersonal behavior. Attachment styles are developed in early social environments and predict future health and development outcomes with potential biological signatures, such as epigenetic modifications like DNA methylation (DNAm). Thus, we hypothesized infant DNAm would associate with toddler attachment styles.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: With the rising numbers of elderly populations and those with chronic diseases, the Home Healthcare field has inevitable expanded within the United States. Patients, more specifically home-bound patients, are becoming increasingly dependent on medical technology to help sustain and improve their quality if life. Often times, home care patients, or care recipients, depend on a properly functioning medical device for recovery.
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