Modern Methods of Diagnostics and Treatment of Neurodegenerative Diseases and Depression.

This paper discusses the promising areas of research into machine learning applications for the prevention and correction of neurodegenerative and depressive disorders. These two groups of disorders are among the leading causes of decline in the quality of life in the world when estimated using disability-adjusted years. Despite decades of research, the development of new approaches for the assessment (especially pre-clinical) and correction of neurodegenerative diseases and depressive disorders remains among the priority areas of research in neurophysiology, psychology, genetics, and interdisciplinary medicine. Contemporary machine learning technologies and medical data infrastructure create new research opportunities. However, reaching a consensus on the application of new machine learning methods and their integration with the existing standards of care and assessment is still a challenge to overcome before the innovations could be widely introduced to clinics. The research on the development of clinical predictions and classification algorithms contributes towards creating a unified approach to the use of growing clinical data. This unified approach should integrate the requirements of medical professionals, researchers, and governmental regulators. In the current paper, the current state of research into neurodegenerative and depressive disorders is presented.

Differential Dynamics of the Levels of Low Molecular Weight DNA Fragments in the Plasma of Patients With Ischemic and Hemorrhagic Strokes.

INTRODUCTION: To evaluate Low-Molecular-weight (LMW) DNA as a possible prognostic biomarker in acute ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. METHODS: LMW DNA samples were isolated from plasma and cerebrospinal fluid by phenol deproteinization, analyzed by gradient polyacrylamide electrophoresis and quantified by spectrophotometry. RESULTS: Two common types of stroke, i.e. ischemic and hemorrhagic, differ by the temporal dynamics of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) accumulation. In hemorrhagic stroke, an initial increase in LMW DNA levels, most likely reflects an extent of the tissue damage, while in ischemic patients, the LMW DNA levels increase in parallel with the damage caused by hypoxia and subsequent compensatory reperfusion. CONCLUSION: These time-course data specify optimal assessment windows with maximum differentiating power for stroke outcomes: 24-48 hours post-event for ischemic stroke, and as close as possible to the moment of hospital admission for hemorrhagic stroke. These data also indicate the role of apoptosis in the formation of ischemic focus.