Personalized modeling for prediction with decision-path models

Deriving predictive models in medicine typically relies on a population approach where a single model is developed from a dataset of individuals. In this paper we describe and evaluate a personalized approach in which we construct a new type of decision tree model called decision-path model that takes advantage of the particular features of a given person of interest. We introduce three personalized methods that derive personalized decision-path models. We compared the performance of these methods to that of Classification And Regression Tree (CART) that is a population decision tree to predict seven different outcomes in five medical datasets. Two of the three personalized methods performed statistically significantly better on area under the ROC curve (AUC) and Brier skill score compared to CART. The personalized approach of learning decision path models is a new approach for predictive modeling that can perform better than a population approach

Some results on a graph associated with a non-quasi-local atomic domain

Let R be an atomic domain which admits at least two maximal ideals. Let Irr(R) denote the set of all irreducible elements of R and let A(R) = {Rπ | π ∈ Irr(R)}. Let I(R) denote the subset of A(R) consisting of all Rπ ∈ A(R) such that π does not belong to the Jacobson radical of R. With R, we associate an undirected graph denoted by G(R) whose vertex set is I(R) and distinct vertices Rπ1 and Rπ2 are adjacent if and only if Rπ1 ∩ Rπ2 = Rπ1π2. The aim of this article is to discuss some results on the connectedness of G(R) and on the girth of G(R)

A Bayesian method for evaluating and discovering disease loci associations

Background: A genome-wide association study (GWAS) typically involves examining representative SNPs in individuals from some population. A GWAS data set can concern a million SNPs and may soon concern billions. Researchers investigate the association of each SNP individually with a disease, and it is becoming increasingly commonplace to also analyze multi-SNP associations. Techniques for handling so many hypotheses include the Bonferroni correction and recently developed Bayesian methods. These methods can encounter problems. Most importantly, they are not applicable to a complex multi-locus hypothesis which has several competing hypotheses rather than only a null hypothesis. A method that computes the posterior probability of complex hypotheses is a pressing need. Methodology/Findings: We introduce the Bayesian network posterior probability (BNPP) method which addresses the difficulties. The method represents the relationship between a disease and SNPs using a directed acyclic graph (DAG) model, and computes the likelihood of such models using a Bayesian network scoring criterion. The posterior probability of a hypothesis is computed based on the likelihoods of all competing hypotheses. The BNPP can not only be used to evaluate a hypothesis that has previously been discovered or suspected, but also to discover new disease loci associations. The results of experiments using simulated and real data sets are presented. Our results concerning simulated data sets indicate that the BNPP exhibits both better evaluation and discovery performance than does a p-value based method. For the real data sets, previous findings in the literature are confirmed and additional findings are found. Conclusions/Significance: We conclude that the BNPP resolves a pressing problem by providing a way to compute the posterior probability of complex multi-locus hypotheses. A researcher can use the BNPP to determine the expected utility of investigating a hypothesis further. Furthermore, we conclude that the BNPP is a promising method for discovering disease loci associations. © 2011 Jiang et al

Evaluation of a modified evisceration technique involving trans-scleral quadrisection and PMMA implantation in non-infected blind eyes

HISTORY: References to ocular surgical procedures predate 2000 BC (before the common era). Sumerian law limited what a practitioner could charge for successful eye operations; for those procedures deemed unsuccessful, the penalty was amputation of the surgeon’s hands. In the mid 16th century1, extirpation of the eye was described. The disfiguring procedure was more akin to a subtotal exenteration, including removal of portions of the conjunctiva, extraocular muscles, and orbital fascia. The patient could not be fitted with an ocular prosthesis2. In the mid 1800s, O’Ferral and Bonnet developed a more accepted technique, which involved transecting the extraocular muscles at their scleral insertions and preserving Tenon’s capsule. Their description is most consistent with enucleation as we know it today. The first description of an evisceration is credited to Beer in 1817. While he was performing a glaucoma procedure, the eye experienced an expulsive hemorrhage and Beer removed the ocular contents. In 1874, Noyes published his experience in removing the contents of severely infected eyes and it is he who is credited with first using evisceration as a routine procedure. AIM OF THE STUDY: To evaluate a modified evisceration technique employing transscleral quadrisection and implantation in non-infected blind eyes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 30 patients with non-infected blind eyes who came to RIOGOH between June 2009 and November 2010 DESIGN: A prospective interventional case study. INCLUSION CRITERIA: Painful blind eyes due to anterior staphyloma, end-stage glaucoma, phthisis bulbi. EXCLUSION CRITERIA: Endophthalmitis, panophthalmitis, intraocular malignancies, trauma. RESULTS: Out of 30 non-infectious cases, 20 (66.7%) had anterior staphyloma,8 (26.7%) had absolute glaucoma and 2 (6.6%) had phthisis bulbi with uveal prolapse. Post-operatively, 2 (6.67%) patients had infection by Staphylococcus aureus, 2 (6.67%) patients had poor motility of prosthesis and 1 (3.33%) had a poor cosmetic outcome. Rest of the patients had a good cosmetic appearance after placement of shell, with good motility and no enophthalmos.The success rate of this technique is high but no comparison can be made with other similar studies as no data is available. DISCUSSION: Eye removal surgery runs contrary to ophthalmologists’ interest in preservation of vision. When circumstances necessitate, the ophthalmic surgeon must be prepared to intervene and provide the best result possible. CONCLUSION: Trans-scleral quadrisection technique of evisceration is excellent in non-infected eyes, especially in terms of lower complication rate, good cosmesis and patient satisfaction. PMMA implant is ideal with respect to this study as it is very cheap, easily available and requires no special technique of placement in the socket

EVALUATION OF ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF SEERAGA CHOORANAM IN- VITRO ASSAY (A SIDDHA POLYHERBAL PREPARATION)

Siddha Medicine (Tamil Citta- or Tami?-maruttuvam) is a system of traditional medicine originating in Tamil Nadu in South India. The drugs used by the Siddhars could be classified into three groups: Thaavaram, Thaathu and Jangamam seeraga chooranam is a drug under the category of Thaavaram. It is a poly herbal formulation which is mentioned in the text Pullipanivaithyam 500 which has been therapeutically used for Pithanoigal, Kirukirupu, Vaanthi, Mayakkam, Ajeeranam, Kaangai, Veppam.Siddha system emphasis mainly on healthy long life by preventing ageing and degenerative disease with medicines having antioxidant activity. Even though this drug has been used based on traditional knowledge no scientific work has been done to evaluate the antioxidant properties of Seeraga choornam based on various in vitro assays. The study result confirmed that the drug Seeraga choornam has promising therapeutic antioxidant activity when compared with the standard drug. This research work can help for medical practitioners to use this polyherbal compound for the treatment of cancer

Selection of smooth motion profile for a tube locator module of an inspection device

The Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor steam generators inspection system has seven modules. In this, tube locator module is a planar serial two-link robotic arm, which is used to place the eddy current probe above the steam generators tube hole in the tube sheet region. The trajectory planning of the two-link robotic arm is one of the important tasks, so the peak velocity, peak acceleration, peak jerk of various motion profiles for a given distance has to be selected properly for smooth motion and to avoid actuator saturation. The fifth-order polynomial gives lower acceleration and velocity than the jerk-limited S-curve. In this paper, the comparison of peak values of kinematic variables (velocity, acceleration, and jerk) for different motion profiles has been presented

A PILOT STUDY ON THE EFFICACY OF SIDDHA MEDICINE SEENTHIL SARKARAI IN THE MANAGEMENT OF MOOTHIRAKIRICHARAM (URINARY TRACT INFECTION)

Objective: The present pilot study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of Seenthil sarkarai, a Classical Siddha medicine in Moothirakiricharam (Urinary Tract Infection) patients.Method: This study was approved by IEC and registered in Clinical Trial Registry of India and was conducted at the National Institute of Siddha, Tambaram, Chennai, India. The investigator recruited 20 patients of both male and female with an inclusion and exclusion criteria. All the patients were treated with Seenthil Sarkarai at the dose level of 2 grams two times a day with warm water for 21 days. Dietary regimen was advised for the patients. Study outcome was studied with negative Urine culture and also based on the improvement in the reduction of Burning micturition, Frequency of micturition, Dysuria with fever, Foul smelling urine.Results: The symptoms such as burning micturition, persistent urge to urinate, foul smelling urine, and presence of bacteriuria reduced markedly within 21 days of duration. Out of 20 patients, 12 patients were completely relieved from the compliance of UTI with negative Urine culture. The symptoms of UTI were markedly reduced in remaining 8 patients. There were no adverse effect reported during the study and no recurrence of UTI was noticed in 12 patients who were completely cured.Conclusion: Results suggest that the trial drug Seenthil Sarkarai is effective and safe for the management of Moothirakiricharam (UTI) and in alleviating recurrences

Application of a spatially-weighted Relief algorithm for ranking genetic predictors of disease

Background: Identification of genetic variants that are associated with disease is an important goal in elucidating the genetic causes of diseases. The genetic patterns that are associated with common diseases are complex and may involve multiple interacting genetic variants. The Relief family of algorithms is a powerful tool for efficiently identifying genetic variants that are associated with disease, even if the variants have nonlinear interactions without significant main effects. Many variations of Relief have been developed over the past two decades and several of them have been applied to single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data. Results: We developed a new spatially weighted variation of Relief called Sigmoid Weighted ReliefF Star (SWRF*), and applied it to synthetic SNP data. When compared to ReliefF and SURF*, which are two algorithms that have been applied to SNP data for identifying interactions, SWRF* had significantly greater power. Furthermore, we developed a framework called the Modular Relief Framework (MoRF) that can be used to develop novel variations of the Relief algorithm, and we used MoRF to develop the SWRF* algorithm. Conclusions: MoRF allows easy development of new Relief algorithms by specifying different interchangeable functions for the component terms. Using MORF, we developed a new Relief algorithm called SWRF* that had greater ability to identify interacting genetic variants in synthetic data compared to existing Relief algorithms. © 2012 Stokes and Visweswaran.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd