Modeling Based on Ensemble Learning Methods for Detection of Diagnostic Biomarkers from LncRNA Data in Rats Treated with Cis-Platinum-Induced Hepatotoxicity

Long Noncoding RNA VLDLR-AS1 Levels in Serum Correlate with Combat-Related Chronic Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and Depression Symptoms in US Veterans

More than 75% of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are mild (mTBI) and military service members often experience repeated combat-related mTBI. The chronic comorbidities concomitant with repetitive mTBI (rmTBI) include depression, post-traumatic stress disorder or neurological dysfunction. This study sought to determine a long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) expression signature in serum samples that correlated with rmTBI years after the incidences. Serum samples were obtained from Long-Term Impact of Military-Relevant Brain-Injury Consortium Chronic Effects of Neurotrauma Consortium (LIMBIC CENC) repository, from participants unexposed to TBI or who had rmTBI. Four lncRNAs were identified as consistently present in all samples, as detected via droplet digital PCR and packaged in exosomes enriched for CNS origin. The results, using qPCR, demonstrated that the lncRNA VLDLR-AS1 levels were significantly lower among individuals with rmTBI compared to those with no lifetime TBI. ROC analysis determined an AUC of 0.74 (95% CI: 0.6124 to 0.8741; p = 0.0012). The optimal cutoff for VLDLR-AS1 was ≤153.8 ng. A secondary analysis of clinical data from LIMBIC CENC was conducted to evaluate the psychological symptom burden, and the results show that lncRNAs VLDLR-AS1 and MALAT1 are correlated with symptoms of depression. In conclusion, lncRNA VLDLR-AS1 may serve as a blood biomarker for identifying chronic rmTBI and depression in patients.

LIME-based ensemble machine for predicting performance status of patients with liver cancer

Objective

The Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS) is a widely recognized measure used to assess the functional abilities of cancer patients and predict their prognosis. It plays a crucial role in guiding treatment decisions made by physicians. This study aimed to build a stacking ensemble-based prognosis predictor model for predicting the ECOG PS of a liver cancer patient undergoing treatment.

Methods

We used Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LightGBM) as the meta-model, and five base models, including Random Forest (RF), Extra Trees (ET), AdaBoost (Ada), Gradient Boosting Machine (GBM), and Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost). After preprocessing the data and applying feature selection method, the stacking ensemble model was trained using 1622 liver cancer patients' data and 46 variables. We also integrated the stacking ensemble model with a LIME-based explainable model to obtain model prediction explainability.

Results

According to the research, the best combination of the stacking ensemble model is ET + XGBoost + RF + GBM + Ada + LightGBM and achieved a ROC AUC of 0.9826 on the training set and 0.9675 on the test set.

Conclusions

This explainable stacking ensemble model can become a helpful tool for objectively predicting ECOG PS in liver cancer patients and aiding healthcare practitioners to adapt their treatment approach more effectively.