Machine learning algorithms on eye tracking trajectories to classify patients with spatial neglect

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Eye-movement trajectories are rich behavioral data, providing a window on how the brain processes information. We address the challenge of characterizing signs of visuo-spatial neglect from saccadic eye trajectories recorded in brain-damaged patients with spatial neglect as well as in healthy controls during a visual search task.

METHODS

We establish a standardized pre-processing pipeline adaptable to other task-based eye-tracker measurements. We use traditional machine learning algorithms together with deep convolutional networks (both 1D and 2D) to automatically analyze eye trajectories.

RESULTS

Our top-performing machine learning models classified neglect patients vs. healthy individuals with an Area Under the ROC curve (AUC) ranging from 0.83 to 0.86. Moreover, the 1D convolutional neural network scores correlated with the degree of severity of neglect behavior as estimated with standardized paper-and-pencil tests and with the integrity of white matter tracts measured from Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI). Interestingly, the latter showed a clear correlation with the third branch of the superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF), especially damaged in neglect.

CONCLUSIONS

The study introduces new methods for both the pre-processing and the classification of eye-movement trajectories in patients with neglect syndrome. The proposed methods can likely be applied to other types of neurological diseases opening the possibility of new computer-aided, precise, sensitive and non-invasive diagnostic tools.

The integration of clinical data in the assessment of multiple sclerosis - A review

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a neurological disease associated with various and heterogeneous clinical characteristics. Given its complex nature and its unpredictable evolution over time, there isn't an established and exhaustive clinical protocol (or tool) for its diagnosis nor for monitoring its progression. Instead, different clinical exams and physical/psychological evaluations need to be taken into account. The Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) is the most used clinical scale, but it suffers from several limitations. Developing computational solutions for the identification of bio-markers of disease progression that overcome the downsides of currently used scales is crucial and is gaining interest in current literature and research.

METHODS

This Review focuses on the importance of approaching MS diagnosis and monitoring by investigating correlations between cognitive impairment and clinical data that refer to different MS domains. We review papers that integrate heterogeneous data and analyse them with statistical methods to understand their applicability into more advanced computational tools. Particular attention is paid to the impact that computational approaches can have on personalized-medicine.

RESULTS

Personalized medicine for neuro-degenerative diseases is an unmet clinical need which can be addressed using computational approaches able to efficiently integrate heterogeneous clinical data extracted from both private and publicly available electronic health databases.

CONCLUSIONS

Reliable and explainable Artificial Intelligence are computational approaches required to understand the complex and demonstrated interactions between MS manifestations as well as to provide reliable predictions on the disease evolution, representing a promising research field.

A novel approach combining metabolomics and molecular pharmacology to study the effect of Gei Herba on mouse hematopoietic function

Gei Herba, Chinese named Lanbuzheng (LBZ), is a traditional Chinese medicine promotes hematopoiesis, yet the underlying mechanism for this effect remains largely unknown. In the present study, a novel approach combining LC-MS metabolomics and molecular pharmacology was developed to investigate the hematopoietic effect and mechanism of LBZ on hematopoietic dysfunction (HD) caused by cyclophosphamide (CTX) in treated mice. The results show that LBZ can reduce damage in the spleen, a result consistent with the peripheral hemogram. Fourteen potential biomarkers were identified in the spleen by metabolic profiles analysis, including 5-hydroxymethyluracil, ascorbalamic acid, adenosine 5'-monophosphate, menadiol disulfate, l-homocysteine sulfonic acid and l-carnitine. Change in biomarker levels suggest that LBZ mainly affects β-oxidation of very-long-chain fatty acids, oxidation of branched chain fatty acids and carnitine synthesis, and those metabolites produced along with related metabolic pathways are closely associated with anti-apoptosis. A molecular pharmacology approach was simultaneously developed to examine accompanying cellular signaling mechanisms. LBZ activates PI3K/Akt signaling pathways and granulocyte-colony-stimulating-factor (G-CSF)-mediated Janus kinase 2 (JAK2)/transcription 3 (STAT3), resulting in inhibiting the release of cytochrome c. Further, LBZ inhibits caspase-mediated mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis mediated by caspase-9 and caspase-3. LBZ can thus reduce CTX-induced HD via G-CSF-mediated JAK2/STAT3 signaling and PI3K/Akt mitochondrial-dependent apoptotic pathways. The present study combines metabolomic and molecular pharmacological methods to elucidate mechanisms for the protective effect of LBZ on mouse HD following CTX-induced damage. This approach may be useful for exploring mechanisms of action of other drugs.

Mechanism of YLTZ on glycolipid metabolism based on UPLC/TOF/MS metabolomics

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a metabolic disease characterized by dysfunction of glycolipid metabolism. YLTZ is used to treat hyperlipidemia, yet its hypolipidemic and hypoglycemic mechanism on T2DM are unknown. Thus, UPLC/TOF/MS was applied in this study to identify the potential bio-markers, and deduce the possible metabolic pathways. According to bio-indexes, the increased blood lipid levels, including TC, TG, LDL and FA, and the decreased HDL, the elevated glucose, reduced insulin level and impaired OGTT were observed in diabetic rat model. While YLTZ can decrease the lipid levels and glucose content, as well as increased insulin standards and improve OGTT. After data from UPLC/TOF/MS processed, 17 metabolites were obtained, including phospholipids (LPCs, PCs and PGP (18:1)), beta-oxidation production (HAA, VAG and CNE) and precursors (THA), bile acid (CA, CDCA and IDCA), hydrolysate of TG (MG (22:4)), glycometabolism (G6P), cholesterol-driven synthetics (ADO) and production of arachidonate acid (THETA). As a result, YLTZ was able to reduce LPCs, PCs, PGP (18:1), HAA, VAG, CNE, CA, ADO and THETA, as well as enhance MG (22:4) and G6P. After analyzing results, several metabolic pathways were deduced, which containing, cholesterol synthesis and elimination, FA beta-oxidation, TG hydrolysis, phospholipids synthesis, glycolysis, gluconeogenesis and inflammation. Consequently, YLTZ performed to prohibit the FA beta-oxidation, synthesis of cholesterol and phospholipids, gluconeogenesis and inflammation level, as well as promote TG hydrolysis, glycolysis and blood circulation. Hence, applying metabonomics in TCM research can uncover its pharmacological edges, elucidating comprehensively that YLTZ has capacity of hypolipidemic, hypoglycemic and promoting blood circulation, matching the effect of removing blood stasis, eliminating phlegm and dampness.

Testicular Oxidative Stress and Cellular Deformities in Clarias gariepinus (Burchell) from River Yamuna in Delhi Region, India

River Yamuna is under constant menace due to pollution levels beyond limit, ensuing chronic poisoning of aquatic biota. Induction of oxidative stress and cellular deformities is a common effect in fish. The present study aimed in assessing impact of environmental pollutants on gonad (testis) of Clarias gariepinus from Wazirabad barrage (entry site) and Okhla barrage (exit site) of river Yamuna in Delhi segment. Antioxidant enzymes assays viz. Super oxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP); thiobarbituric acid reactive substance assay (TBARS) for determining level of lipid peroxidation and histology for analysis of degenerative changes were employed as biomarkers. The results depicted signs of environmental contamination, hallmarked by significant increase (p < 0.001) in TBARs level (µmol/g wet tissue); significant decrease (p < 0.001) in SOD, CAT (U/mg protein) and FRAP value (U/mg tissue) in response to greater pollution at Okhla barrage as compared to Wazirabad barrage. Degenerative changes viz. unorganized seminiferous tubules, extensive vacuolization in germ cells, inflammatory lesions, greater vacant spaces and condensation of tubular cells prevailed in 75%, 85%, 80%, 80%, and 65% specimens respectively from Okhla barrage. Hence, the selected biomarkers highlighted the existence of greater prooxidative compounds at the exit site resulting in stressful condition for fish in river basin.

Pollutants Induced Oxidative Stress, DNA Damage and Cellular Deformities in Clarias gariepinus (Burchell), from River Yamuna in Delhi Region, India

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the severity of pollution impact at two extreme sites of river Yamuna in Delhi region utilizing oxidative stress, genotoxic and histopathological biomarkers in gonad (ovary) of Clarias gariepinus. To evaluate oxidative stress, TBAR's and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay were employed while comet assay and classic histology were used to estimate genotoxicity and cellular damage respectively. The results indicated significant increase (p < 0.001) in TBARs level (µmol/g wet tissue); significant decrease (p < 0.001) in FRAP value (U/mg tissue), significant increase (p < 0.001) in DNA damage and extensive abnormal histoarchitecture in ovarian samples procured from Okhla as compared to Wazirabad barrage. Thus, exposure to the increasing toxicity downstream the river is altering the activity of cellular total antioxidant capacity persuading oxidative stress and cellular damage, eventually distressing the heath of fish fauna directly and humans indirectly.

The data obtained during the analysis of clinical blood samples for children acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients with severe side-effects

The present work contains data obtained during the analysis of blood samples obtained from patients (number: 102, age: 0–2 years old) with confirmed acute lymphoblastic leukemia diagnosis. Among these total number, 48 patients who received a chemotherapy including 9 patients with side-effects were chosen. Final data include a table of protein masses (biomarkers of pathological processes at the chemotherapy) obtained by the MALDI-TOF spectroscopy from blood of 9 chosen patients (0–2 years old).

Status of industrial fluoride pollution and its diverse adverse health effects in man and domestic animals in India

Hydrofluorosis in humans and domestic animals is a worldwide health problem and caused by a prolonged period of fluoride exposure through drinking of fluoride contaminated water. But in recent years, due to rapid industrialization in India, diverse serious health problems among industrial workers and residents and domestic animals living in the industrial areas due to fluoride pollution are on the rise. A number of coal-burning and industrial activities such as power-generating stations, welding operations and the manufacturing or production of steel, iron, aluminum, zinc, phosphorus, chemical fertilizers, bricks, glass, plastic, cement, and hydrofluoric acid are generally discharging fluoride in both gaseous and particulate/dust forms into surrounding environments which create a industrial fluoride pollution and are an important cause of occupational exposure to fluoride in several countries including India. An industrial emitted fluoride contaminates not only surrounding soil, air, and water but also vegetation, crops and many other biotic communities on which man and animals are generally dependants for food. Long- time of inhalation or ingestion of industrial fluoride also causes serious health problems in the forms of industrial and neighborhood fluorosis. In India, whatever research works conducted so far on the chronic industrial fluoride intoxication or poisoning (industrial and neighborhood fluorosis) in man and various species of domestic animals due to a prolonged period of industrial fluoride exposure or pollution (contamination) are critically reviewed in the present communication. Simultaneously, we are also focused the various bio-indicators and bio-markers for chronic industrial fluoride intoxication or pollution.