Models of logistic regression analysis, support vector machine, and back-propagation neural network based on serum tumor markers in colorectal cancer diagnosis.

We evaluated the application of three machine learning algorithms, including logistic regression, support vector machine and back-propagation neural network, for diagnosing congenital heart disease and colorectal cancer. By inspecting related serum tumor marker levels in colorectal cancer patients and healthy subjects, early diagnosis models for colorectal cancer were built using three machine learning algorithms to assess their corresponding diagnostic values. Except for serum alpha-fetoprotein, the levels of 11 other serum markers of patients in the colorectal cancer group were higher than those in the benign colorectal cancer group (P < 0.05). The results of logistic regression analysis indicted that individual detection of serum carcinoembryonic antigens, CA199, CA242, CA125, and CA153 and their combined detection was effective for diagnosing colorectal cancer. Combined detection had a better diagnostic effect with a sensitivity of 94.2% and specificity of 97.7%; combining serum carcinoembryonic antigens, CA199, CA242, CA125, and CA153, with the support vector machine diagnosis model and back-propagation, a neural network diagnosis model was built with diagnostic accuracies of 82 and 75%, sensitivities of 85 and 80%, and specificities of 80 and 70%, respectively. Colorectal cancer diagnosis models based on the three machine learning algorithms showed high diagnostic value and can help obtain evidence for the early diagnosis of colorectal cancer.

Construction and characterization of a bacterial artificial chromosome library for the allotetraploid Gossypium tomentosum.

Gossypium tomentosum is a wild allotetraploid species with the (AD)5 genome. It is characterized by many useful traits including finer fiber fineness, drought tolerance, and Fusarium and Verticillium resistance. We constructed the first bacterial artificial chromosome library for Gossypium tomentosum. With high quality and broad coverage, this library includes 200,832 clones, with an average insert size of about 122 kb and fewer than 3% empty clones. Our library is approximately 10-fold the size of the (AD)5-genome (2400 Mb) and provides a 99.7% probability of isolating genes of interest or their sequences. Seven of eight simple sequence repeats markers that are located on five different chromosomes and linked with resistance to Verticillium wilt could amplify the 50 superpools and obtained one to five hits. This high capacity library will be an important genomic resource for classifying and analyzing the evolution of allotetraploid cotton species as well as for isolating disease-resistance and drought-tolerance genes.

Immunomodulatory and clinical effects of the "tiaomian III decoction" in patients with blood blocking antibody deficiency and recurrent spontaneous abortion.

We studied the immunomodulatory and clinical effects of the empirical formula "tiaomian III decoction" on maternal blood blocking antibody deficiency and recurrent spontaneous abortion. Sixty-one patients with blocking antibody deficiency were divided in the experimental group (N = 31), who took tiaomian III decoction, and the control group (N = 30), who received active immunotherapy with paternal lymphocytes; both treatments lasted 3 months. Blocking antibodies, anti-idiotypic antibodies, interleukin, T-lymphocyte subsets, and macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) were tested. After treatment, the positive conversion rate reached 87.1 and 86.7% in the experimental and control groups, respectively. After treatment, CD4 levels decreased while CD8 levels increased in both groups. The CD4/CD8 ratio was higher than normal and increased significantly from pre-treatment (P < 0.05). IL-10 and M-CSF levels increased significantly in both groups (P < 0.05). The 1-year conception rates of the experimental and control groups were 58.1 and 46.7%, respectively (P < 0.05). The results show the tiaomian III decoction can increase the positive conversion rate of maternal blocking antibodies and promote the production of IL-10 and M-CSF. Thus, it strengthens the maternal body's protection of the fetus and maintenance of conception. The higher conception rate of the experimental group demonstrates the positive clinic efficacy of the tiaomian III decoction on maternal blood blocking antibody deficiency and recurrent spontaneous abortion.