Uncovering Interconnected Osteoarthritic Features: Using Directed Acyclic Graphs (DAGs) to Explore Relationships between Gait, Bone Shape and Joint Structure

Yu-Mei Chang (primary)
Research Office
Royal Veterinary College
Andrew Pitsillides (secondary)
Comparative Biomedical Sciences
Royal Veterinary College

Abstract

Simultaneous and recursive relationships exist in many biology system. For example, animal movement is dictated by joint and bone structure, and the way animals move can also affect how the bone and joint mature and/or degenerate with ageing. Cross-sectional and longitudinally gait, bone shape and joint structure measurements and images will be used to inform their interconnected relationships. Directed acyclic graphs (DAGs) can model different causal structures among these phenotypical measurements and images. Understanding these highly connected causal networks may allow earlier diagnosis of major joint diseases, such as osteoarthritis and can potentially mitigate or alter their progression.


References

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BBSRC Area
Genes, development and STEM* approaches to biology
Area of Biology
Ageing
Techniques & Approaches
Image ProcessingMathematics / StatisticsSimulation / Modelling