FibroTest attributes to generate decision trees in hepatitis CJune 15, 2009In recent years the use of non-invasive biomarkers to assess liver fibrosis has become widely accepted. Although the combination of surrogate markers, such as those employed by the FibroTest, have a high predictive value for the assessment of significant fibrosis, it is important to find tools that can improve its accuracy, particularly in intermediate stages and to reinforce its reliability by ensuring that the classification results are independent of contingent features of the classification technique. A research article to be published on June 7,2009 in the World Journal of Gastroenterology explored the automatic generation of decision trees to simplify a classification process and to provide additional information to support the classification rational. The research group, led by Dr. Kershenobich from México's National University (UNAM), used the C4.5 classification algorithm to construct decision trees with data from 261 patients with chronic hepatitis C without a liver biopsy. The FibroTest attributes (age, gender, bilirubin, apolipoprotein, haptoglobin, 2 macroglobulin, and -glutamyl transpeptidase) were used as predictors, and the FibroTest score as the target. The construction of decision trees using the FibroTest attributes provided explicit rules to relate the range of values of the biomarkers with fibrosis scores, and they might help in gaining a better grasp of the importance and significance of the test. Analysis, such as the one performed in the present work, could help to further classify preclinical subgroups and identify subclasses of rapid or slower fibrosers. This classification should enhance our ability to assess differences in fibrosis scores in clinical studies and improve our understanding of fibrosis progression. The present work is the result of a group effort between members of the Department of Experimental Medicine of the Faculty of Medicine and the Institute of Applied Mathematics at the Universidad Nacional Autonoma of Mexico (UNAM), which provided a grant to support the investigation. World Journal of Gastroenterology |
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| Related Hepatitis Current Events and Hepatitis News Articles Toward explaining why hepatitis B hits men harder than women Scientists in China are reporting discovery of unusual liver proteins, found only in males, that may help explain the long-standing mystery of why the hepatitis B virus (HBV) sexually discriminates -- hitting men harder than women. Largest-ever database for liver proteins may lead to treatments for hepatitis Scientists at a group of 11 research centers in China are reporting for the first time assembly of the largest-ever collection of data about the proteins produced by genes in a single human organ. Mount Sinai finds those with more difficult to treat forms of HCV are half as likely to get treated A new study by Mount Sinai researchers has for the first time found that patients with more difficult to treat forms of hepatitis C are half as likely to initiate treatment for the disease, when compared to patients with hepatitis C that is easier to treat. Extending treatment after liver transplant may benefit patients with hepatitis C recurrence Extending hepatitis C treatment for liver transplant patients beyond current practice results in high rates of clearance of the hepatitis C virus from the blood, as well as a low rate of relapse, according to a Henry Ford Hospital study. Hepatitis B does not increase risk for pancreatic cancer A Henry Ford Hospital study found that hepatitis B does not increase the risk for pancreatic cancer - and that only age is a contributing factor. Governor recognizes stem cell research at Einstein Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University hosted a roundtable discussion on stem cell research with New York Governor David A. Paterson today. Liver cells grown from patients' skin cells Scientists at The Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee have successfully produced liver cells from patients' skin cells opening the possibility of treating a wide range of diseases that affect liver function. Injury and hazards in home health care nursing are a growing concern Patients continue to enter home healthcare ''sicker and quicker," often with complex health problems that may require extensive nursing care. Medication effective for acute liver failure in early stages of disease The antidote for acute liver failure caused by acetaminophen poisoning also can treat acute liver failure due to most other causes if given before severe injury occurs, UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers and their colleagues at 21 other institutions have found. New aging studies improving vaccine efficacy for the elderly A new study from the Trudeau Institute in Saranac Lake, New York, demonstrates that immune system cells important for both pathogen resistance and vaccine efficacy live longer in older animals but because of this longevity acquire functional defects. More Hepatitis Current Events and Hepatitis News Articles |
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