Life Sciences Commons^™

Membranous Nephropathy In Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Responsive To Ibrutinib: A Case Report, Anna-Eve Turcotte, William F Glass, Jamie S Lin, Jan A Burger

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Membranous nephropathy (MN) is an uncommon renal presentation in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), and as such, there is no standard therapy for these patients. A few cases of MN in CLL have been described with varying success in MN treatment involving alkylating agents and fludarabine. Here we report the first case of MN in a patient with CLL treated with ibrutinib with complete renal response. This presentation underlines the importance of recognizing rare glomerular diseases that may occur with CLL and offers a new therapeutic avenue to the treatment of CLL-associated MN.

Clinical Parameters Affecting Survival Outcomes In Patients With Low-Grade Serous Ovarian Carcinoma: An International Multicentre Analysis, Taymaa May, Marcus Bernardini, Stephanie Lheureux, Katja K H Aben, Elisa V Bandera, Javier Benitez, Line Bjørge, Michael E Carney, Daniel W Cramer, Anna Defazio, Thilo Dörk, Diana M Eccles, Michael Friedlander, María Jose García, Ellen L Goode, Alexander Hein, Claus K Høgdall, Allan Jensen, Sharon Johnatty, Catherine J Kennedy, Lambertus A Kiemeney, Susanne K Kjær, Jolanta Kupryjańczyk, Keitaro Matsuo, Valerie Mcguire, Francesmary Modugno, Lisa E Paddock, Tanja Pejovic, Catherine M Phelan, Marjorie J Riggan, Cristina Rodriguez-Antona, Joseph H Rothstein, Weiva Sieh, Honglin Song, Kathryn L Terry, Anne M Van Altena, Adriaan Vanderstichele, Ignace Vergote, Liv Cecilie Vestrheim Thomsen, Penelope M Webb, Nicolas Wentzensen, Lynne R Wilkens, Argyrios Ziogas, Haiyan Jiang, Alicia Tone, Ovarian Cancer Association And The Australian Ovarian Cancer Study Group

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Women with low-grade ovarian serous carcinoma (LGSC) benefit from surgical treatment; however, the role of chemotherapy is controversial. We examined an international database through the Ovarian Cancer Association Consortium to identify factors that affect survival in LGSC.

METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort analysis of patients with LGSC who had had primary surgery and had overall survival data available. We performed univariate and multivariate analyses of progression-free survival and overall survival, and generated Kaplan-Meier survival curves.

RESULTS: Of the 707 patients with LGSC, 680 (96.2%) had available overall survival data. The patients' median age overall was 54 years. Of …

Contemporaneous Symptom Networks Of Multidimensional Symptom Experiences In Cancer Survivors: A Network Analysis, Zheng Zhu, Yanling Sun, Yi Kuang, Xiaoyi Yuan, Haiyan Gu, Weijie Xing

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Symptom networks can provide empirical evidence for the development of personalized and precise symptom management strategies. However, few studies have explored the symptom networks of multidimensional symptom experiences in cancer survivors. The objectives of this study were to generate symptom networks of multidimensional symptom experiences in cancer survivors and explore the centrality indices and density in these symptom networks METHODS: Data from 1065 cancer survivors were obtained from the Shanghai CANcer Survivor (SCANS) Report. The MD Anderson Symptom Inventory was used to assess the prevalence and severity of 13 cancer-related symptoms. We constructed contemporaneous networks with all 13 symptoms …

Combining Small Angle X-Ray Scattering (Saxs) With Protein Structure Predictions To Characterize Conformations In Solution, Naga Babu Chinnam, Aleem Syed, Greg L Hura, Michal Hammel, John A Tainer

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Accurate protein structure predictions, enabled by recent advances in machine learning algorithms, provide an entry point to probing structural mechanisms and to integrating and querying many types of biochemical and biophysical results. Limitations in such protein structure predictions can be reduced and addressed through comparison to experimental Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) data that provides protein structural information in solution. SAXS data can not only validate computational predictions, but can improve conformational and assembly prediction to produce atomic models that are consistent with solution data and biologically relevant states. Here, we describe how to obtain protein structure predictions, compare them …

Editorial: Big Data Analytics To Advance Stroke And Cerebrovascular Disease: A Tool To Bridge Translational And Clinical Research, Alexis Nétis Simpkins, Hari Kishan Reddy Indupuru, Sean Isaac Savitz

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Pilot Study Of A Spanish Language Measure Of Financial Toxicity In Underserved Hispanic Cancer Patients With Low English Proficiency, Julia J Shi, Gwendolyn J Mcginnis, Susan K Peterson, Nicolette Taku, Ying-Shiuan Chen, Chi-Fang Wu, Sanjay S Shete, Hilary Ma, Robert J Volk, Sharon H Giordano, Ya-Chen T Shih, Diem-Khanh Nguyen, Kelsey W Kaiser, Grace L Smith

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Financial toxicity (FT) reflects multi-dimensional personal economic hardships borne by cancer patients. It is unknown whether measures of FT-to date derived largely from English-speakers-adequately capture economic experiences and financial hardships of medically underserved low English proficiency US Hispanic cancer patients. We piloted a Spanish language FT instrument in this population.

METHODS: We piloted a Spanish version of the Economic Strain and Resilience in Cancer (ENRICh) FT measure using qualitative cognitive interviews and surveys in un-/under-insured or medically underserved, low English proficiency, Spanish-speaking Hispanics (UN-Spanish,

RESULTS: UN-Spanish Hispanic participants reported high acceptability of the instrument (only 0% responded that the …

Frontostriatal And Limbic Contributions To Cognitive Decline In Parkinson’S Disease, Gregory Brown, Jonathan Hakun, Mechelle M Lewis, Sol De Jesus, Guangwei Du, Lan Kong

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The circuitry underlying heterogenous cognitive profiles in Parkinson's disease (PD) remains unclear. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether structural changes in frontostriatal and limbic pathways contribute to different cognitive trajectories in PD.

METHODS: We obtained clinical and multimodal MRI data from 120 control and 122 PD subjects without dementia or severe motor disability. T1/T2-weighted images estimated volume, and diffusion imaging evaluated fractional anisotropy (FA) of frontostriatal (striatum and frontostriatal white matter [FSWM]) and limbic (hippocampus and fornix) structures. Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) gauged total and domain-specific (attention/executive and memory) cognitive function. Linear mixed-effects models …

Comparison Of Pharmacological Inhibitors Of Lysine-Specific Demethylase 1 In Glioblastoma Stem Cells Reveals Inhibitor-Specific Efficacy Profiles, Lea M Stitzlein, Achintyan Gangadharan, Leslie M Walsh, Deokhwa Nam, Alexsandra B Espejo, Kareena H Patel, Xiaoping Su, Ravesanker Ezhilarasan, Joy Gumin, Sanjay Singh, Erik Sulman, Frederick F Lang, Joya Chandra

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

INTRODUCTION: Improved therapies for glioblastoma (GBM) are desperately needed and require preclinical evaluation in models that capture tumor heterogeneity and intrinsic resistance seen in patients. Epigenetic alterations have been well documented in GBM and lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1/KDM1A) is amongst the chromatin modifiers implicated in stem cell maintenance, growth and differentiation. Pharmacological inhibition of LSD1 is clinically relevant, with numerous compounds in various phases of preclinical and clinical development, but an evaluation and comparison of LSD1 inhibitors in patient-derived GBM models is lacking.

METHODS: To assess concordance between knockdown of LSD1 and inhibition of LSD1 using a prototype inhibitor in …

The Kynurenine Pathway Presents Multi-Faceted Metabolic Vulnerabilities In Cancer, Ricardo A León-Letelier, Rongzhang Dou, Jody Vykoukal, Ali Hussein Abdel Sater, Edwin Ostrin, Johannes F Fahrmann

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The kynurenine pathway (KP) and associated catabolites play key roles in promoting tumor progression and modulating the host anti-tumor immune response. To date, considerable focus has been on the role of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) and its catabolite, kynurenine (Kyn). However, increasing evidence has demonstrated that downstream KP enzymes and their associated metabolite products can also elicit tumor-microenvironment immune suppression. These advancements in our understanding of the tumor promotive role of the KP have led to the conception of novel therapeutic strategies to target the KP pathway for anti-cancer effects and reversal of immune escape. This review aims to 1) …

Fanconi Anemia Caused By Biallelic Inactivation Of Brca2 Can Present With An Atypical Cancer Phenotype In Adulthood, Kara N Maxwell, Vishal Patel, Kevin T Nead, Shana Merrill, Dana Clark, Bradley Wubbenhorst, Roger B Cohen, Susan M Domchek, Jennifer J D Morrissette, Roger A Greenberg, Daria V Babushok, Katherine L Nathanson

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Inherited biallelic pathogenic variants (PVs) in BRCA2 cause Fanconi Anemia complementation group D1 (FA-D1), a severe pediatric bone marrow failure and high-risk cancer syndrome. We identified biallelic BRCA2 PVs in a young adult with multiple basal cell carcinomas, adult-onset colorectal cancer and small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma, without bone marrow failure. No PVs were identified in any other known cancer susceptibility gene, and there was no evidence of reversion mosaicism. The proband's deceased sister had a classic FA-D1 presentation and was shown to carry the same biallelic BRCA2 PVs. A lymphoblastoid cell line derived from the proband demonstrated hypersensitivity to DNA …

Editorial: Interplay Between Epigenetic Modifiers And Transcription Factors In Driving Cancer Progression, Yongyong Yang, Annalisa Di Ruscio, Satoshi Inoue, Guocan Wang, Shuai Gao

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Tuning The Thermodynamic, Optical, And Rheological Properties Of Thermoresponsive Polymer Solutions Via Silica Nanoparticle Shape And Concentration, Christopher A P Neal, Valeria León, Michelle C Quan, Nondumiso O Chibambo, Michelle A Calabrese

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

HYPOTHESIS: The shape and quantity of hydrophilic silica nanoparticles (NPs) can be used to tune the microstructure, rheology, and stability of phase-separating polymer solutions. In thermoresponsive polymer systems, silica nanospheres are well-studied whereas anisotropic NPs have little literature precedent. Here, we hypothesize that NP shape and concentration lower the onset of rheological and turbidimetric transitions of aqueous poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) (PNIPAM) solutions.

EXPERIMENTS: Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), turbidimetry, and oscillatory rheology are utilized to examine interactions between NPs, PNIPAM, and water and to track changes in phase separation and rheological properties due to NP concentration and shape. …

Characteristics Of Pediatric Covid-19 Infections And The Impact Of Influenza And Covid-19 Vaccinations During The First Two Years Of The Pandemic, Mahmoud Ali, Lynette Phillips, David C Kaelber, Hulya Bukulmez

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The data regarding the demographics of SARS-CoV-2 in the pediatric population has been published based on several single-center experiences or on metanalyses over short time frames. This article reports data on the demographics of pediatric patients with COVID-19 on a global scale using the TriNetX COVID-19 Research Network. In addition, we examined the risk of COVID-19 infection in relation to the body mass index (BMI) category and the protective value of influenza and COVID-19 immunization against COVID-19 infection. The incidence of COVID-19 infection was higher in the younger age group (≤6 years old), but no gender differences. The incidence of …

How Influential Are Medical School Curriculum And Other Medical School Characteristics In Students' Selecting Pathology As A Specialty?, Cindy B Mccloskey, Mark Brissette, John Michael Childs, Amanda Lofgreen, Kristen Johnson, Ashley M Holloman, Mary P Berg, Lisa Ross Dixon, Julie Katz Karp, Barbara E C Knollmann-Ritschel, Victor Gerardo Prieto, Charles F Timmons, Robert D Hoffman

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

There has been a significant decline in the number of United States allopathic medical students matching to pathology residency programs. Data acquired from the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC) show sustained variation in the medical school production of students who go on to pathology residency. When divided into groups based on the medical school's historical volume of graduates entering pathology, the schools in groups labeled Group 1 and Group 2 produced significantly higher and lower proportions of pathology residents, respectively. This study aimed to identify what medical school curriculum elements and other medical school characteristics might explain the differences …

Potential Chemoprotective Effects Of Active Ingredients In Salvia Miltiorrhiza On Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity: A Systematic Review Of In Vitro And In Vivo Studies, Qingqing Wang, Jiaxian Li, Xuelei Chu, Xiaochen Jiang, Chuanlong Zhang, Xiyuan Zhang, Qian Shen, Bo Pang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Recently, attention has been paid to the protective properties of active ingredients in

METHODS: According to the PRISMA guideline, the current systematic review was conducted in the Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library to collect all relevant

RESULTS: Twenty-two eligible articles were included in this systematic review. Eleven types of active ingredients in

CONCLUSION: This systematic review demonstrated that AISM have chemoprotective effects on DIC

Spatial Modelling Of The Tumor Microenvironment From Multiplex Immunofluorescence Images: Methods And Applications, Gayatri Kumar, Renganayaki Krishna Pandurengan, Edwin Roger Parra, Kasthuri Kannan, Cara Haymaker

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Spatial modelling methods have gained prominence with developments in high throughput imaging platforms. Multiplex immunofluorescence (mIF) provides the scope to examine interactions between tumor and immune compartment at single cell resolution using a panel of antibodies that can be chosen based on the cancer type or the clinical interest of the study. The markers can be used to identify the phenotypes and to examine cellular interactions at global and local scales. Several translational studies rely on key understanding of the tumor microenvironment (TME) to identify drivers of immune response in immunotherapy based clinical trials. To improve the success of ongoing …

Children Then, Adults Now: Long-Term Outcomes-Performance At 15, 20, And 25 Years Of Cochlear Implant Use, João Elói Moura, Jorge Humberto Martins, Marisa Alves, Graça Oliveira, Daniela Ramos, Ricardo Caiado, Luís Filipe Silva, Jorge Migueis

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

MOTIVATION: Severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss interferes with a child's development at the cognitive, linguistic, academic, and social levels. Since the beginning of the pediatric auditory rehabilitation program through cochlear implantation in the Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) Service of the Coimbra Hospital and University Center (CHUC), Portugal, its mentors defended the early diagnosis of hearing loss followed by timely intervention, and this was considered the starting point to optimize (re)habilitation through this method. Three decades or so later, recently we conducted this study to evaluate the performance of patients implanted in the initial phase of the cochlear implantation …

Pre-Epithelialized Cryopreserved Tracheal Allograft For Neo-Trachea Flap Engineering, Ning Zeng, Youbai Chen, Yewen Wu, Mengqing Zang, Rene D Largo, Mark V Schaverien, Qixu Zhang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Tracheal reconstruction presents a challenge because of the difficulty in maintaining the rigidity of the trachea to ensure an open lumen and in achieving an intact luminal lining that secretes mucus to protect against infection.

Methods: On the basis of the finding that tracheal cartilage has immune privilege, researchers recently started subjecting tracheal allografts to "partial decellularization" (in which only the epithelium and its antigenicity are removed), rather than complete decellularization, to maintain the tracheal cartilage as an ideal scaffold for tracheal tissue engineering and reconstruction. In the present study, we combined a bioengineering approach and a cryopreservation technique …

Understanding Fertility Behavior Of The Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals In Bangladesh: A Qualitative Study, Md Anwer Hossain, Mohammad Bellal Hossain

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

INTRODUCTION: Rohingya- the Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals (FDMN)- are largely characterized by a high total fertility rate (TFR) and a low contraceptive prevalence rate. This study aimed to explore the reasons behind their high fertility behavior by utilizing the Theory of Planned Behavior.

DATA AND METHOD: We adopted a cross-sectional qualitative research approach. Fifteen semi-structured, face-to-face in-depth interviews were conducted with the Rohingya husbands, wives, and community leaders (Majhi and Imam/Khatib) living in Camps 1 and 2 of Ukhiya Refugee Camp, Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. We analyzed the qualitative data using the thematic analysis approach.

RESULTS: The Muslim-majority FDMN predominantly constructed …

Regional Disparities In Major Cancer Incidence In Korea, 1999–2018, Eun Hye Park, Mee Joo Kang, Kyu-Won Jung, Eun Hye Park, E Hwa Yun, Hyun-Joo Kong, Jeong-Soo Im, Hong Gwan Seo

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated regional disparities in the incidence of 8 major cancers at the municipal level in Korea during 1999-2018 and evaluated the presence or absence of hot spots of cancer clusters during 2014-2018.

METHODS: The Korea National Cancer Incidence Database was used. Age-standardized incidence rates were calculated by gender and region at the municipal level for 4 periods of 5 years and 8 cancer types. Regional disparities were calculated as both absolute and relative measures. The possibility of clusters was examined using global Moran's I with a spatial weight matrix based on adjacency or distance.

RESULTS: Regional disparities …

Targeted Exome-Based Predictors Of Patterns Of Progression Of Colorectal Liver Metastasis After Percutaneous Thermal Ablation, Iwan Paolucci, Yuan-Mao Lin, Yoshikuni Kawaguchi, Harufumi Maki, A Kyle Jones, Scott Kopetz, Kristy K Brock, Jean-Nicolas Vauthey, Bruno C Odisio

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous thermal ablation is a curative-intent locoregional therapy (LRT) for selected patients with unresectable colorectal liver metastasis (CLM). Several factors have been identified that contribute to local tumour control after ablation. However, factors contributing to disease progression outside the ablation zone after ablation are poorly understood.

METHODS: In this retrospective study, using next-generation sequencing, we identified genetic biomarkers associated with different patterns of progression following thermal ablation of CLM.

RESULTS: A total of 191 ablation naïve patients between January 2011 and March 2020 were included in the analysis, and 101 had genomic profiling available. Alterations in the TGFβ pathway …

The History Of Oral Decitabine/Cedazuridine And Its Potential Role In Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Robert Briski, Guillermo Garcia-Manero, Hagop Kantarjian, Farhad Ravandi

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Decitabine, a member of the 5-azanucleosides, has a dose-dependent mechanism of action in vitro: termination of DNA replication at high doses, and inhibition of DNA methyltransferase at low doses. The alteration of DNA methylation patterns by low-dose decitabine is hypothesized to upregulate genes, which promote myeloblast differentiation. In a phase III clinical trial, low-dose decitabine achieved a superior overall response rate (ORR) when compared with 'treatment choice' [consisting of low-dose cytarabine (80%) and supportive care (20%)] as a frontline treatment for elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Despite an improved ORR, the median overall survival (OS) for elderly …

Sociodemographic Differences In Menthol Cigarette Use In The United States, Rajesh Talluri, Sanjay Shete

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Menthol cigarette use is associated with higher smoking initiation and reduced smoking cessation. We investigated sociodemographic differences in menthol and nonmenthol cigarette use in the United States.

Methods: We used the most recent available data from the May 2019 wave of the nationally-representative Tobacco Use Supplement to the Current Population Survey. The survey weights were used to estimate the national prevalence of individuals who currently smoke among individuals who use menthol and nonmenthol cigarettes. Survey-weighted logistic regression methods were used to estimate the association of menthol cigarette use with formerly smoking cigarettes and attempting to quit within the past …

Segmentation Stability Of Human Head And Neck Cancer Medical Images For Radiotherapy Applications Under De-Identification Conditions: Benchmarking Data Sharing And Artificial Intelligence Use-Cases, Jaakko Sahlsten, Kareem A Wahid, Enrico Glerean, Joel Jaskari, Mohamed A Naser, Benjamin H Kann, Clifton D Fuller, Kimmo Kaski

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Demand for head and neck cancer (HNC) radiotherapy data in algorithmic development has prompted increased image dataset sharing. Medical images must comply with data protection requirements so that re-use is enabled without disclosing patient identifiers. Defacing, i.e., the removal of facial features from images, is often considered a reasonable compromise between data protection and re-usability for neuroimaging data. While defacing tools have been developed by the neuroimaging community, their acceptability for radiotherapy applications have not been explored. Therefore, this study systematically investigated the impact of available defacing algorithms on HNC organs at risk (OARs).

METHODS: A publicly available dataset …

Less Is More? First Impressions From Cosmic-313, Pavlos Msaouel

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The COSMIC-313 phase 3 randomized controlled trial tested the triplet combination of cabozantinib with nivolumab and ipilimumab in comparison with nivolumab plus ipilimumab control as fist-line systemic therapy in metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma. The first results presented at the 2022 European Society of Medical Oncology Congress are a milestone for the renal cell carcinoma field because they signal the advent of triplet combinations as potential treatment options for our patients. The present commentary highlights some considerations and potential next steps based on these first impressions.

Feasibility Of Quantitative Diffusion-Weighted Imaging During Intra-Procedural Mri-Guided Brachytherapy Of Locally Advanced Cervical And Vaginal Cancers, Megan C Jacobsen, Bastien Rigaud, Samantha J Simiele, Gaiane M Rauch, Matthew S Ning, Ann H Klopp, Kristy K Brock, Aradhana M Venkatesan

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose: To determine the feasibility of quantitative apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) acquisition during magnetic resonance imaging-guided brachytherapy (MRgBT) using reduced field-of-view (rFOV) diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI).

Methods and materials: T2-weighted (T2w) MR and full-FOV single-shot echo planar (ssEPI) DWI were acquired in 7 patients with cervical or vaginal malignancy at baseline and prior to brachytherapy, while rFOV-DWI was acquired during MRgBT following brachytherapy applicator placement. The gross target volume (GTV) was contoured on the T2w images and registered to the ADC map. Voxels at the GTV's maximum Maurer distance comprised a central sub-volume (GTVcenter). Contour ADC mean and standard deviation were …

Global Research Trends And Prospects Related To Tumor Microenvironment Within Triple Negative Breast Cancer: A Bibliometric Analysis, Peiting Li, Jun Li, Xiaofei Tong, Zhenyang Xiao, Wuliang Diao, Jianda Zhou

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background and aims: The tumor microenvironment (TME) has pivotal parts within multiple tumor models of onset/progression, such as triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). This bibliometric analysis was developed to explore trends and research niches revolving around TME in TNBC.

Methods: Web of Science Core Collection was queried for identifying studies linked with TME in TNBC, after which the VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and R software programs were used to conduct bibliometric analyses and to generate corresponding visualizations.

Results: In total, this study included 1,604 studies published from 2005-2023. The USA and China exhibited the highest numbers of citations, and the research institutions with …

Targeting Mcl-1 Protein To Treat Cancer: Opportunities And Challenges, Shady I Tantawy, Natalia Timofeeva, Aloke Sarkar, Varsha Gandhi

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Evading apoptosis has been linked to tumor development and chemoresistance. One mechanism for this evasion is the overexpression of prosurvival B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2) family proteins, which gives cancer cells a survival advantage. Mcl-1, a member of the BCL-2 family, is among the most frequently amplified genes in cancer. Targeting myeloid cell leukemia-1 (MCL-1) protein is a successful strategy to induce apoptosis and overcome tumor resistance to chemotherapy and targeted therapy. Various strategies to inhibit the antiapoptotic activity of MCL-1 protein, including transcription, translation, and the degradation of MCL-1 protein, have been tested. Neutralizing MCL-1's function by targeting its interactions …

Accurate Prediction Of Functional Effect Of Single Amino Acid Variants With Deep Learning

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The assessment of functional effect of amino acid variants is a critical biological problem in proteomics for clinical medicine and protein engineering. Although natively occurring variants offer insights into deleterious variants, high-throughput deep mutational experiments enable comprehensive investigation of amino acid variants for a given protein. However, these mutational experiments are too expensive to dissect millions of variants on thousands of proteins. Thus, computational approaches have been proposed, but they heavily rely on hand-crafted evolutionary conservation, limiting their accuracy. Recent advancement in transformers provides a promising solution to precisely estimate the functional effects of protein variants on high-throughput experimental data. …

Chronic Kidney Disease Prediction Using Boosting Techniques Based On Clinical Parameters

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has become a major global health crisis, causing millions of yearly deaths. Predicting the possibility of a person being affected by the disease will allow timely diagnosis and precautionary measures leading to preventive strategies for health. Machine learning techniques have been popularly applied in various disease diagnoses and predictions. Ensemble learning approaches have become useful for predicting many complex diseases. In this paper, we utilise the boosting method, one of the popular ensemble learnings, to achieve a higher prediction accuracy for CKD. Five boosting algorithms are employed: XGBoost, CatBoost, LightGBM, AdaBoost, and gradient boosting. We experimented …