Prediction of Heart Disease Using Machine Learning Algorithms

The successful experiment of data mining in highly visible fields like marketing, e-business, and retail has led to its application in other sectors and industries. Healthcare is being discovered among these areas. There is an opulence of data available within the healthcare systems. However, there is a scarcity of useful analysis tool to find hidden relationships in data. This research intends to provide a detailed description of Naïve Bayes and decision tree classifier that are applied in our research particularly in the prediction of Heart Disease. Some experiment has been conducted to compare the execution of predictive data mining technique on the same dataset, and the consequence reveals that Decision Tree outperforms over Bayesian classification

A mixed methods inquiry into the validity of data

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Surgical management and outcome following adrenalectomy : a retrospective case study in 16 dogs, 2008-2018

Dissertação de Mestrado Integrado em Medicina VeterináriaPrimary neoplasms of the adrenal gland might represent more than 1-2% of all canine tumours and can originate various worrisome clinical presentations; hence why adrenalectomy is generally the treatment of choice. Identification of prognostic factors with occasional uncertainty or contradictions among different authors renders further investigations welcomed. A retrospective study was conducted in 16 dogs undergoing adrenalectomy with the aim to describe the clinical features, surgical management and outcome. Review of clinical records and interviews with owners and veterinarians involved were performed to register clinical variables, such as, signalment, relevant history, clinical signs, laboratory, imaging and surgical findings, histopathology results, and outcome. The median survival time was calculated through Kaplan-Meier estimate. Intra- (92%) and postoperative (67%) complications, and perioperative mortality (31%) rates were comparable to recent studies; as was the median survival time (419 days), with 64% of long-term survivors living for more than 1 year, up to 3 years, approximately. This case series emphasizes that if dogs survive the immediate perioperative period, long-term outcome is generally good with possibility of prolonged survival times, as local or distant tumour recurrence appears to be low. This study also promotes awareness of adrenal incidentalomas (25%) and emergency clinical presentations (19%). Outcome predictors such as age of patients with phaeochromocytomas, size of tumour, surgeon’s experience in dealing with caval invasion, presence of metastasis at surgery, acute adrenal haemorrhage, major intraoperative haemorrhage, and postoperative disseminated intravascular coagulopathy must be considered in the approach to these cases.RESUMO - MANEIO CIRÚRGICO E RESULTADO APÓS ADRENALECTOMIA: UM ESTUDO RETROSPETIVO DE CASOS EM 16 CÃES (2008-2018). - Neoplasias primárias das glândulas adrenais poderão representar mais do que 1-2% de todos os tumores caninos e podem originar vários quadros clínicos preocupantes; e por isso é que a adrenalectomia é geralmente o tratamento de escolha. A identificação de fatores de prognóstico com incerteza ou contradições ocasionais entre diversos autores ditam que investigações adicionais sejam bem-vindas. Um estudo retrospetivo foi conduzido em 16 cães submetidos a adrenalectomia, para descrever o quadro clínico, maneio e resultado cirúrgico. Foi feita a revisão de historiais clínicos e entrevistas a donos e veterinários envolvidos de forma a registar variáveis clínicas como identificação do animal, historial relevante, sinais clínicos, achados laboratoriais, imagiológicos e cirúrgicos, resultados de histopatologia, e resultado. A mediana dos tempos de sobrevivência foi calculada através da estimativa de Kaplan-Meier. As taxas de complicações intra- (92%) e pós-cirúrgicas (67%), e de mortalidade (31%) foram comparáveis a estudos recentes; assim como o tempo mediano de sobrevivência (419 dias), com 64% dos sobreviventes a longo prazo a viveram por mais de 1 ano, até 3 anos, aproximadamente. Esta série de casos enfatiza que se os cães sobreviverem o período peri-cirúrgico imediato, o resultado a longo prazo é geralmente bom com possibilidade de tempos de sobrevivência prolongados, uma vez também que a taxa de recorrência local ou distante aparenta ser baixa. Este estudo promove também a consciencialização de incidentalomas das adrenais (25%) e de quadros clínicos de emergência (19%). Fatores de prognóstico tais como idade dos pacientes com feocromocitomas, tamanho do tumor, experiência do cirurgião em lidar com invasão da veia cava, presença de metástases na altura da cirurgia, hemorragia aguda adrenal, hemorragia intra-cirúrgica de maior importância, e coagulopatia intravascular disseminada pós-cirúrgica, devem ser considerados na abordagem a estes casos.N/

Recurrent Thyroid Carcinoma in a Dog - Diagnosis by 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography

Background: Thyroid tumor is a common endocrine tumor that accounts for up to 3.8% of all tumors in dogs. Most of them are malignant and usually nonfunctional in dogs. 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) is an imaging modality that detects intracellular accumulation of radioactive deoxyglucose administered in the body and is used in combination with computed tomography to provide functional information with exact anatomical localization. It is used in human medicine to detect residual or recurrent head and neck neoplasm after treatments, such as surgical resection. This report describes the first case of diagnosing recurrent thyroid carcinoma (TC) through FDG-PET in a dog. Case: A 9-year-old castrated male Maltese dog presented with a palpable mobile mass in the right ventral cervical region. Radiography and ultrasonography (US) showed a radiopaque mass adjacent to the trachea, and the right thyroid gland was enlarged on computed tomography. The surgically excised mass was encapsulated and measured to be 2.3 × 1.0 × 3.4 cm (width x length x height) in size. Histopathologically, the mass was diagnosed as differentiated follicular TC, and gross and vascular invasions were observed. To prevent recurrence, postoperative carboplatin chemotherapy was performed for 5 months. Two months after completion of chemotherapy, a nodule of approximately 7 mm in diameter was detected in the thyroidectomy bed by US. FDG-PET scanning was performed as an effective means of evaluating the malignancy, local recurrence, and metastasis of differentiated follicular TC. The nodule had the dimensions of 2.8 × 5.9 × 8.6 mm, a maximum standardized uptake value (SUV) of 8.49, and a mean SUV of 5.6. The results of FDG-PET suggested the recurrence of TC; therefore, the second chemotherapy protocol using toceranib was applied for 16 months. After initiation of the second chemotherapy, follow-up examinations were conducted approximately every 4 months. On the 134th day, although the nodule was not palpated, its size was observed to have increased to 5.0 × 3.8 × 13.6 mm on cervical US on the 232nd day, showing heterogeneous and hypoechoic parenchyma. On the 405th day, the tumor was enlarged to a size of 13.4 × 12.9 × 22 mm and identified as a lobular, amorphous shape, and its heterogeneity was increased. Moreover, two pulmonary nodules with well-defined margins were found on radiography in the left caudal lung lobe (9 × 10 mm and 12 × 12 mm [width × length]); thus, lung metastasis was suspected. On the 536th day, anorexia and lethargy occurred, and the dog was lost to follow-up. Discussion: In the present case, local recurrence of TC was suspected based on cervical US. Although US was useful as a screening tool, additional examinations were necessary for evaluating local invasiveness, malignancy, and nodal/distant metastasis. FDG-PET can detect recurrence at an early stage because it can sense increased tumor metabolism through physiologic absorption of FDG, even before the beginning of anatomic change in the lesion. Therefore, FDG-PET can assist in treatment planning and provide better prognosis. In humans, focal FDG uptake and a high maximum SUV in the thyroid gland on FDG-PET were associated with a higher risk of cancer. Because there was no evidence of neoplasia except the thyroid lesion during the FDG-PET examination, the tumor showed an increasingly malignant pattern of the thyroid gland on US during the follow-up period, and the metastatic pulmonary nodules were identified on the 650th day after the thyroidectomy. Therefore, the present case was diagnosed as recurrent TC. This report describes the use of FDG-PET for diagnosing local recurrence of TC, pointing to FDG-PET as a potential strategy to evaluate loco-regional recurrence and distant metastasis of TC. Keywords: canine, FDG-PET, follicular thyroid carcinoma, metastasis, tumor, cancer

Traumatic L7 articular processes fracture and spondylolisthesis following dorsal lumbosacral laminectomy in a cat

Case summary A 12-year-old neutered male domestic shorthair cat was presented to our referral hospital with a chronic history of tenesmus and lumbosacral pain. A diagnosis of degenerative lumbosacral stenosis (DLSS) was made and a standard dorsal L7–S1 laminectomy was performed uneventfully, with complete recovery within 1 month. The cat was brought back 4 months later for investigation of lumbosacral pain after having suffered a minor traumatic event. Neurological examination identified a low tail carriage, weakness, exercise intolerance, left pelvic limb lameness and diminished withdrawal reflexes in both pelvic limbs with severe sacrocaudal pain. A traumatic facet fracture of the L7 articular processes and subsequent spondylolisthesis was diagnosed. A second surgery was performed to stabilise the region. The cat was normal on neurological examination 1 month later and no further clinical signs were noted. Relevance and novel information This is the first description of a fracture and spondylolisthesis as a possible postoperative complication after L7–S1 dorsal laminectomy in a cat. The case highlights the importance of postoperative changes in the supportive structures of the lumbosacral spine in cats after surgical treatment of DLSS

Decision Support Based on Bio-PEPA Modeling and Decision Tree Induction: A New Approach, Applied to a Tuberculosis Case Study

The problem of selecting determinant features generating appropriate model structure is a challenge in epidemiological modelling. Disease spread is highly complex, and experts develop their understanding of its dynamic over years. There is an increasing variety and volume of epidemiological data which adds to the potential confusion. We propose here to make use of that data to better understand disease systems. Decision tree techniques have been extensively used to extract pertinent information and improve decision making. In this paper, we propose an innovative structured approach combining decision tree induction with Bio-PEPA computational modelling, and illustrate the approach through application to tuberculosis. By using decision tree induction, the enhanced Bio-PEPA model shows considerable improvement over the initial model with regard to the simulated results matching observed data. The key finding is that the developer expresses a realistic predictive model using relevant features, thus considering this approach as decision support, empowers the epidemiologist in his policy decision making