Comparison of artificial intelligence algorithms and their ranking for the prediction of genetic merit in sheep.

As the amount of data on farms grows, it is important to evaluate the potential of artificial intelligence for making farming predictions. Considering all this, this study was undertaken to evaluate various machine learning (ML) algorithms using 52-year data for sheep. Data preparation was done before analysis. Breeding values were estimated using Best Linear Unbiased Prediction. 12 ML algorithms were evaluated for their ability to predict the breeding values. The variance inflation factor for all features selected through principal component analysis (PCA) was 1. The correlation coefficients between true and predicted values for artificial neural networks, Bayesian ridge regression, classification and regression trees, gradient boosting algorithm, K nearest neighbours, multivariate adaptive regression splines (MARS) algorithm, polynomial regression, principal component regression (PCR), random forests, support vector machines, XGBoost algorithm were 0.852, 0.742, 0.869, 0.915, 0.781, 0.746, 0.742, 0.746, 0.917, 0.777, 0.915 respectively for breeding value prediction. Random forests had the highest correlation coefficients. Among the prediction equations generated using OLS, the highest coefficient of determination was 0.569. A total of 12 machine learning models were developed from the prediction of breeding values in sheep in the present study. It may be said that machine learning techniques can perform predictions with reasonable accuracies and can thus be viable alternatives to conventional strategies for breeding value prediction.

Improved efficacy of low-dose spironolactone and metformin combination than either drug alone in the management of women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): a six-month, open-label randomized study.

CONTEXT: To improve the treatment outcomes in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), various drugs like glitazones, oral contraceptive pills, or antiandrogens have been combined with metformin. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to compare the efficacy of the combination of low-dose spironolactone and metformin with either drug alone in the management of women with PCOS. DESIGN AND SETTING: The present study was an open-label, randomized study conducted at a tertiary care referral center. PATIENTS AND INTERVENTION: Of 204 women who met the 2006 Androgen Excess-PCOS criteria for PCOS, 198 were randomized into 3 equal groups to receive metformin (1000 mg/d), low-dose spironolactone (50 mg/d), or a combination of both drugs for a period of 6 months. A total of 169 subjects (n = 56 metformin, 51 spironolactone, 62 combination) completed the study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Menstrual cycle pattern, Ferriman-Gallwey score, body mass index (BMI), waist-hip ratio, blood pressure, LH, FSH, total T, glucose and insulin sensitivity indices were measured at baseline (0 mo) and 3 and 6 months after the intervention. Recording of adverse events and drug compliance was assessed at each of the visits. RESULTS: The 3 groups had comparable mean age and BMI at baseline. By 6 months, menstrual cycles/y increased, whereas Ferriman-Gallwey score, serum total T, and area under the curve-glucose and -insulin decreased significantly (P < .05) in the combination group as compared to either drug alone. There was no significant change in body weight, BMI, waist-hip ratio, and blood pressure in any of the 3 groups. The combination group had better compliance than either drug alone, and the adverse event rate was not higher. CONCLUSION: The combination of low-dose spironolactone with metformin seems superior to either drug alone in terms of clinical benefits and compliance in women with PCOS.

Universal salt iodization is successful in Kashmiri population as iodine deficiency no longer exists in pregnant mothers and their neonates: Data from a tertiary care hospital in North India.

INTRODUCTION: Normal pregnancy results in a number of important physiological and hormonal changes that alter thyroid function. In pregnancy, the thyroid gland being subjected to physiological stress undergoes several adaptations to maintain sufficient output of thyroid hormones for both mother and fetus. Consequently, pregnant women have been found to be particularly vulnerable to iodine deficiency disorders (IDD), and compromised iodine status during pregnancy has been found to affect the thyroid function and cognition in the neonates. OBJECTIVES: Two decades after successful universal salt iodization (USI) in the country, there is scarce data on the iodine status of the pregnant women and their neonates. This is more relevant in areas like Kashmir valley part of sub-Himalayan belt, an endemic region for IDD in the past. The objective was to estimate Urinary Iodine status in pregnant women, the most vulnerable population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied thyroid function [free T3 (FT3), T3, free T4 (FT4), T4, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)] and urinary iodine excretion (UIE) in the 1(st), 2(nd), and 3(rd) trimesters and at early neonatal period in neonates in 81 mother-infant pairs (hypothyroid women on replacement) and compared them with 51 control mother-infant pairs (euthyroid). RESULTS: Mean age of cases (29.42 + 3.56 years) was comparable to that of controls (29.87 + 3.37 years). The thyroid function evaluation done at baseline revealed the following: FT3 2.92 ± 0.76 versus 3.71 ± 0.54 pg/ml, T3 1.38 ± 0.37 versus 1.70 ± 0.35 ng/dl, FT4 1.22 ± 0.33 versus 1.52 ± 0.21 ng/dl, T4 9.54 ± 2.34 versus 13.55 ± 2.16 µg/dl, and TSH 7.92 ± 2.88 versus 4.14 ± 1.06 µIU/ml in cases versus controls (P > 0.01), respectively. The 2(nd) to 6(th) day thyroid function of neonates born to case and control mothers revealed T3 of 1.46 ± 0.44 versus 1.48 ± 0.36 ng/dl, T4 of 12.92 ± 2.57 versus 11.76 ± 1.78 µg/dl, and TSH of 3.64 ± 1.92 versus 3.82 ± 1.45 µIU/ml, respectively. DISCUSSION: UIE was similar (139.12 ± 20.75 vs. 143.78 ± 17.65 µg/l; P = 0.8), but TSH values were higher in cases (7.92 ± 2.88) as compared to controls (4.14 ± 1.06). Although UIE gradually declined from 1(st) trimester to term, it remained in the sufficient range in both cases and controls. Thyroid function and UIE was similar in both case and control neonates. CONCLUSION: We conclude that pregnant Kashmiri women and their neonates are iodine sufficient, indicating successful salt iodization in the community. Large community-based studies on thyroid function, autoimmunity, malignancies, etc., are needed to see the long-term impact of iodization.

Thiamine responsive megaloblastic anemia syndrome associated with patent ductus arteriosus: First case report from Kashmir Valley of the Indian subcontinent.

Thiamine responsive megaloblastic anemia syndrome, an autosomal recessive inherited disorder characterized by a triad of anemia, diabetes mellitus and sensorineural deafness is caused by a deficiency of a thiamine transporter protein. The disorder is rare and has not been reported from our community which has high background of consanguinity. We report a six years old girl who presented with diabetes mellitus which remitted after thiamine replacement. The girl in addition had sensorineural deafness, reinopathy, atrial septal defect and megaloblastic anemia which responded to high doses of thymine. This is the first case reported from Kashmir valley and third from India. The presentation and management in such cases is discussed.

Prevalence of myopia in students of srinagar city of kashmir, India.

BACKGROUND: Myopia is a common ocular disorder. Prevalence data with regard to myopia is scarce in India and almost nonexistent in Kashmir. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of myopia in Srinagar City and to evaluate risk factors associated with the disease. METHODS: 38 schools in the Srinagar were selected randomly and students were examined by our optometrist team. Children with refractive error of -0.25 D to -5.9 D were considered myopic, while those with -6 D and above were considered high myopic. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: χ2 Tests were used as appropriate to test whether potential risk factors were significantly associated with myopia. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated for risk factors that were independently associated with myopia in this population. RESULTS: A total of 4,360 students of mean age 12.11 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 11.99 - 12.22: range, 7-18) participated in the study. Myopia was found in 4.74% students. Increasing age was associated with the increased risk of having myopia. Girl students were more likely to have myopia than boys (OR = 1.52). The prevalence of myopia among girls was more than that of boys. Students from low socioeconomic conditions were having higher prevalence of myopia than their counterparts from higher socioeconomic counterparts. CONCLUSION: Reduced vision because of myopia is an important health problem in students in Srinagar City. Most of these students do not have the necessary correction spectacles. Effective strategies are needed to eliminate the cause of a significant visual problem.