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Journal of magnetic resonance imaging : JMRI2022; 57(4); 1056-1068; doi: 10.1002/jmri.28353

Machine Learning Prediction of Collagen Fiber Orientation and Proteoglycan Content From Multiparametric Quantitative MRI in Articular Cartilage.

Abstract: Machine learning models trained with multiparametric quantitative MRIs (qMRIs) have the potential to provide valuable information about the structural composition of articular cartilage. To study the performance and feasibility of machine learning models combined with qMRIs for noninvasive assessment of collagen fiber orientation and proteoglycan content. Retrospective, animal model. An open-source single slice MRI dataset obtained from 20 samples of 10 Shetland ponies (seven with surgically induced cartilage lesions followed by treatment and three healthy controls) yielded to 1600 data points, including 10% for test and 90% for train validation. A 9.4 T MRI scanner/qMRI sequences: T , T , adiabatic T and T , continuous-wave T and relaxation along a fictitious field (T ) maps. Five machine learning regression models were developed: random forest (RF), support vector regression (SVR), gradient boosting (GB), multilayer perceptron (MLP), and Gaussian process regression (GPR). A nested cross-validation was used for performance evaluation. For reference, proteoglycan content and collagen fiber orientation were determined by quantitative histology from digital densitometry (DD) and polarized light microscopy (PLM), respectively. Normality was tested using Shapiro-Wilk test, and association between predicted and measured values was evaluated using Spearman's Rho test. A P-value of 0.05 was considered as the limit of statistical significance. Four out of the five models (RF, GB, MLP, and GPR) yielded high accuracy (R  = 0.68-0.75 for PLM and 0.62-0.66 for DD), and strong significant correlations between the reference measurements and predicted cartilage matrix properties (Spearman's Rho = 0.72-0.88 for PLM and 0.61-0.83 for DD). GPR algorithm had the highest accuracy (R  = 0.75 and 0.66) and lowest prediction-error (root mean squared [RMSE] = 1.34 and 2.55) for PLM and DD, respectively. Multiparametric qMRIs in combination with regression models can determine cartilage compositional and structural features, with higher accuracy for collagen fiber orientation than proteoglycan content. 2 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 2.
Publication Date: 2022-07-21 PubMed ID: 35861162DOI: 10.1002/jmri.28353Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
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  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

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Research Overview: This study investigates the efficacy of machine learning models combined with multiparametric quantitative MRIs (qMRIs) in predicting the structural composition of articular cartilage, focusing specifically on collagen fiber orientation and proteoglycan content. The results suggest these models can leverage qMRI data to infer cartilage features with high accuracy, particularly collagen fiber orientation.

Research Design and Methodology

  • The researchers employed a retrospective, animal model study approach, using a single slice MRI dataset from 20 samples of 10 Shetland ponies. Seven of these ponies had surgical-induced cartilage lesions followed by treatment, and three were healthy controls.
  • The dataset was split into 10% for testing and 90% for training and validation. The data was captured using a 9.4 T MRI scanner/qMRI sequences: T , T, adiabatic T and T, continuous-wave T, and relaxation along a fictitious field (T) maps.
  • Five machine learning regression models were deployed: random forest (RF), support vector regression (SVR), gradient boosting (GB), multilayer perceptron (MLP), and Gaussian process regression (GPR). These models’ performance was evaluated using nested cross-validation.
  • As a reference standard for the study, the proteoglycan content and collagen fiber orientation were determined by quantitative histology using digital densitometry (DD) and polarized light microscopy (PLM) respectively. Statistical testing included the Shapiro-Wilk test for normality and Spearman’s Rho test to assess the association between the predicted and measured values.

Main Findings

  • Four out of the five models (RF, GB, MLP, and GPR) showed high accuracy in predicting collagen fiber orientation (R=0.68-0.75) and proteoglycan content (R=0.62-0.66).
  • Strong and statistically significant correlations between the reference measurements and predicted cartilage matrix properties were observed. For example, Spearman’s Rho values stood at 0.72-0.88 for PLM and 0.61-0.83 for DD.
  • GPR algorithm demonstrated the highest accuracy (R=0.75 and 0.66) and lowest prediction-error for both PLM and DD.

Conclusion and Implications

  • The results suggest that the combination of multiparametric qMRIs and machine learning regression models can accurately predict cartilage compositional and structural features.
  • The accuracy was found to be higher for collagen fiber orientation than proteoglycan content. Further investigation may be needed to improve the predictive accuracy for proteoglycan content.
  • The study demonstrates the potential for noninvasive methods to predict complex characteristics within the composition of articular cartilage with considerable success. This could shape future efforts in understanding and managing diseases related to cartilage degradation, such as osteoarthritis.

Cite This Article

APA
Mirmojarabian SA, Kajabi AW, Ketola JHJ, Nykänen O, Liimatainen T, Nieminen MT, Nissi MJ, Casula V. (2022). Machine Learning Prediction of Collagen Fiber Orientation and Proteoglycan Content From Multiparametric Quantitative MRI in Articular Cartilage. J Magn Reson Imaging, 57(4), 1056-1068. https://doi.org/10.1002/jmri.28353

Publication

ISSN: 1522-2586
NlmUniqueID: 9105850
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 57
Issue: 4
Pages: 1056-1068

Researcher Affiliations

Mirmojarabian, Seyed Amir
  • Research Unit of Medical Imaging, Physics and Technology, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
Kajabi, Abdul Wahed
  • Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, US.
Ketola, Juuso H J
  • Research Unit of Medical Imaging, Physics and Technology, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
Nykänen, Olli
  • Department of Applied Physics, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
Liimatainen, Timo
  • Research Unit of Medical Imaging, Physics and Technology, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
  • Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland.
Nieminen, Miika T
  • Research Unit of Medical Imaging, Physics and Technology, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
  • Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland.
  • Medical Research Center, University of Oulu and Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland.
Nissi, Mikko J
  • Research Unit of Medical Imaging, Physics and Technology, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
  • Department of Applied Physics, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
Casula, Victor
  • Research Unit of Medical Imaging, Physics and Technology, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
  • Medical Research Center, University of Oulu and Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Horses
  • Cartilage, Articular / pathology
  • Proteoglycans
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Machine Learning
  • Collagen

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Zibetti MVW, Menon RG, de Moura HL, Zhang X, Kijowski R, Regatte RR. Updates on Compositional MRI Mapping of the Cartilage: Emerging Techniques and Applications.. J Magn Reson Imaging 2023 Jul;58(1):44-60.
    doi: 10.1002/jmri.28689pubmed: 37010113google scholar: lookup