Systematic Mapping Study of AI/Machine Learning in Healthcare and Future Directions.

This study attempts to categorise research conducted in the area of: use of machine learning in healthcare, using a systematic mapping study methodology. In our attempt, we reviewed literature from top journals, articles, and conference papers by using the keywords use of machine learning in healthcare. We queried Google Scholar, resulted in 1400 papers, and then categorised the results on the basis of the objective of the study, the methodology adopted, type of problem attempted and disease studied. As a result we were able to categorize study in five different categories namely, interpretable ML, evaluation of medical images, processing of EHR, security/privacy framework, and transfer learning. In the study we also found that most of the authors have studied cancer, and one of the least studied disease was epilepsy, evaluation of medical images is the most researched and a new field of research, Interpretable ML/Explainable AI, is gaining momentum. Our basic intent is to provide a fair idea to future researchers about the field and future directions.

Ageratina adenophora and Lantana camara in Kailash Sacred Landscape, India: Current distribution and future climatic scenarios through modeling.

The Himalayan region is one of the global biodiversity hotspots. However, its biodiversity and ecosystems are threatened due to abiotic and biotic drivers. One of the major biotic threats to biodiversity in this region is the rapid spread of Invasive Alien Species (IAS). Natural forests and grasslands are increasingly getting infested by IAS affecting regeneration of native species and decline in availability of bio-resources. Assessing the current status of IAS and prediction of their future spread would be vital for evolving specific species management interventions. Keeping this in view, we conducted an in-depth study on two IASs, viz., Ageratina adenophora and Lantana camara in the Indian part of Kailash Sacred Landscape (KSL), Western Himalaya. Intensive field surveys were conducted to collect the presence of A. adenophora (n = 567) and L. camara (n = 120) along an altitudinal gradient between 300 and 3000 m a.s.l. We performed Principal Component Analysis to nullify the multi-colinearity effects of the environmental predictors following MaxEnt species distribution model in the current and future climatic scenarios for both the species. All current and future model precision (i.e., Area Under the Curve; AUC) for both species was higher than 0.81. It is predicted that under the current rate of climate change and higher emission (i.e., RCP 8.5 pathway), A. adenophora will spread 45.3% more than its current distribution and is likely to reach up to 3029 m a.s.l., whereas, L. camara will spread 29.8% more than its current distribution range and likely to reach up to 3018 m a.s.l. Our results will help in future conservation planning and participatory management of forests and grasslands in the Kailash Sacred Landscape-India.

Methanolic extract of Potentilla fulgens root and its ethyl-acetate fraction delays the process of carcinogenesis in mice.

People of north-eastern states of India consume raw areca-nut (RAN) and lime which could lead to oral, esophageal and gastric cancers. However, the incidence of these cancers are significantly lesser in those who consume pieces of Potentilla fulgens root along with RAN. Since evaluation of anticancer role, if any, of P. fulgens on RAN-mediated genetic alterations in human is difficult because of other compounding factors, this study was undertaken in mice to focus on gastric carcinogenesis since ad libitum administration of RAN extract with lime in drinking water induced stomach cancer due to greater exposure of its lining. A total of 160 mice were used at different time points and either methanol extract of P. fulgens roots (PRE) or mixture of four compounds of ethyl-acetate fraction (EA-mixture) was mixed with mice feed. Histological studies revealed that RAN + lime induced cancer in all the mice and interestingly only 20% developed cancer when PRE/EA-mixture was provided along with RAN + lime. Higher frequency of precocious anaphase and over expression of p53 and Securin genes were significantly reduced by PRE/EA-mixture. Thus PRE/EA-mixture mitigates the RAN-induced tumor-initiating process in stomach by maintaining expression of tumor suppressor and check-point genes under control.

Imaging findings in hepatic Langerhans' cell histiocytosis.

We describe ultrasonographic and computed tomographic features of hepatic lesions in two cases of disseminated Langerhans' cell histiocytosis affecting children. In the first case, hyperechoic band like periportal lesions were observed at ultrasonography, which on computed tomography was found to be hypodense admixed with fatty attenuation (HU@23 to - 57) at places. In addition, the caudate lobe was very prominent. In the second case, the hepatic parenchyma showed predominantly hyperechoic diffusely heterogeneous echogenicity. There were features of cirrhosis of liver with portal hypertension in the form of atrophy of right lobe with hypertrophy of left lobe of liver with lobulated outline, prominent main portal vein and splenoportal axis, splenomegaly and gastroesophageal varices. Both the patients were put on chemotherapy as per schedule (Protocol: DAL HX - 83) and are on follow up.