Machine learning applications in drug development.

Due to the huge amount of biological and medical data available today, along with well-established machine learning algorithms, the design of largely automated drug development pipelines can now be envisioned. These pipelines may guide, or speed up, drug discovery; provide a better understanding of diseases and associated biological phenomena; help planning preclinical wet-lab experiments, and even future clinical trials. This automation of the drug development process might be key to the current issue of low productivity rate that pharmaceutical companies currently face. In this survey, we will particularly focus on two classes of methods: sequential learning and recommender systems, which are active biomedical fields of research.

Single-center experience with the combination of Cardioplexol™ cardioplegia and MiECC for isolated coronary artery bypass graft procedures.

BACKGROUND: Cardioplexol™ with its low volume (100 mL) was originally conceived as cardioplegic solution for MiECC procedures. Introduced in its current form in 2008 in our clinic, it has immediately demonstrated attractive advantages including the easy and rapid administration by the surgeon him/herself, the almost immediate cardiac arrest and a prolonged delay before a second dose is necessary. We report here the results of our initial experience with this simple solution. METHODS: Single centre, retrospective observational analysis of prospectively collected data of isolated coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) procedures performed with a MiECC. RESULTS: Of 7,447 adult cardiac surgical operations performed during a 76 months period, 2,416 were isolated CABG-MiECC procedures. Patients were 81.3% males, 66.2±9.7 years old and had a median logistic EuroSCORE of 3.2. In average 3.2±0.8 vessels were bypassed. Median cross-clamp time was 45 minutes and more than 75% of the patients received only one 100 mL dose of Cardioplexol™. At reperfusion more than 90% of the hearts spontaneously recovered a rhythmic activity. Maximal value of troponin T during the first hours following myocardial reperfusion was 0.9±4.5 ng/mL (median =0.4 ng/mL). Mortality at 30 days was 0.9%. CONCLUSIONS: Cardioplexol™ seems very promising. It appears especially efficient and safe when used for CABG procedures performed with a MiECC.