Application of correlation analysis in cytology: Opportunities to study specific activity of follicular thyrocytes

Abstract

The task of biomedical diagnostics is to determine the dependence of the conclusion/diagnosis on the sets of parameters that characterize the state of the biosystem/patient. The performed analytical review of modern scientific literature permitted us to determine that Bayesian, regression and correlation analyzes and logical programming are most often used for biomedical diagnostics purposes. At the same time, their informativeness can only be realized for the solution of those diagnostic tasks in which quantitative parameters are analyzed. Qualitative and binary information provides an opportunity to find out more about features of the biosystem’s state. However, its use is limited, since the results obtained are presented in words (that is, in a linguistic form) that cannot be processed by means of traditional (digital) mathematical analysis. The objective of this work was determining the capabilities of the mathematical apparatus to deepen the study of hormonopoiesis in the thyroid gland. The object of the study was electron micrographs of ultrathin tissue sections, its subject was the features of correlations between ultrastructural cell elements which carry out the processes of synthesis and secretion in follicular thyrocytes. In the context of studying the features of synthetic and secretory activity of follicular thyrocytes of the thyroid glands in white male rats, it was shown that the objectification of non-numerical information about the state of cells allows us to use linguistic information about changes in their morphofunctional state. Implementation of correlation analysis for studying the relationships and interdependencies between organelles which implement synthesis and secretion of the hormonal product in the main structural unit of the thyroid gland – follicular thyrocyte – allows us to determine, study, analyze and generalize peculiarities of both changes in individual ultrastructures and their functional complexes (clusters) in response to the actions of various factors and to trace the interdependencies and mutual interactions existing between them, as well as to deepen the idea of the intimate mechanism features of the specific directions of follicular thyrocyte activity, which substantially expands the research platform in cytophysiology and cytomorphology.

Multidisciplinary Studies of the Thyroid Gland’s Synthetic Activity under Conditions of Iodine Deficiency Using Correlation Analysis

“…At the same time, moderate positive correlations between the expanded structures of the rough ER with moderate (normal) numbers of fixed and free ribosomes (r = 0.408), as well as marked negative correlations between the moderate (normal) of structures' width of the Golgi body and moderate (normal) numbers of fixed and free ribosomes (r = −0.667) may be signs of functional stress preservation [69]. Dissociations (inconsistencies) in the morpho-functional states of protein-synthesizing organelles, between which the following correlations were traced, can be considered signs of this: marked positive (r = 0.408) between the expanded structures of the rough ER and a moderate (normal) number of fixed ribosomes; marked positive (r = 0.408) between the expanded Golgi body structures and a moderate (normal) number of free ribosomes; marked negative (r = −0.408) between the moderate (normal) of structures' width of the rough ER and moderate (normal) of structures' width of the Golgi body [70]. However, these connections may also be a sign of adaptation of follicular cells to activity in conditions of enhanced protein synthesis against the background of residual functional stress.…”

COVID-19 Pandemic Encourages to Deepen the Study of the Thyroid Gland: Correlation Portraits as a Means of Research in Different Directions of Follicular Thyrocytes Activities

“…The following mathematical methods are the most common in solving medical diagnostics: Bayesian analysis, regression analysis, logical programming (Prolog), programming on the basis of fuzzy set theory (Fuzzy logic), phase interval method, etc. [30]. However, they are poorly adapted or not adapted at all to work with qualitative (non-numerical) and binary databasesthe inability to take them into account significantly complicates the diagnostic process.…”

Conceptual Approaches to the Study of the Thyroid Gland at Different Levels of Its Integration into the Body

“…Then, using the principle of the phase interval, the condition/number of constituent elements in any activity field of the hormone-producing cell, we compare them to their condition/number in two controls, which are the norm and the pathology (untreated) (2,11). This approach permits to represent qualitative and binary (non-numerical) cell data in their numerical equivalents, and to expose the obtained numerical information to various mathematical transformations.…”

“…The results obtained interpretation was based on the classical concept on the interdependence of structure and function. To study the interactions in the cluster of ultrastructures performing the same function (thyroid hormone synthesis or their secretion), we used the correlation analysis (3,4,(8)(9)(10)(11). The visual representation of the obtained results is carried out using graphical images -"intrasystemic correlation portraits" of different follicular thyrocyte activity fields (profiles) (9).…”