TOPIC:

New study out. I think it was published December of 2018.
"Expression Differences Distinguish Pediatric Acute and Chronic ITP Using RNA Sequencing"

To this observer, this looks pretty profound. If you look at Figure one, there is no overlap. All the colors are in specific outlines. No areas of mixed colors. It looks to me like perfect prediction of acute ITP and chronic ITP. Oh my. That has got to be good news for parents.

If you want to understand a bit about 'T-SNE' and AI pattern recognition techniques, here is an article on Wiki. But the important take away is this stuff:
"
.. Fc-Gamma Receptor IIIb, CXCL8, BMP7, DEFA1, DEFA1B, HLA-DRB4, and HLA-DRB5 ...
"
It appears this list of immune system surface glycoproteins is a complete list of 'attributes' needed for prediction. Only a fully complete list can make accurate predictions. This sort of technique is much the same way I use IVIG and steroid response attributes as predictors of ITP clinical outcomes in my ITP treatments table. In the study's graph. If the attribute list was incomplete, then one would have areas of mixed colors. If the list was overly complete, or too many attributes, that is ok. Extra attributes become noise and noise has an average value of zero. The mathematics allows identifying and excluding unnecessary variables.

The RNA aspect, as opposed to DNA aspect, is new to me. Can anyone explain? LOL, give a dog a bone?

This study is a great start for more. It would be reasonable to expect another group to try to do the same research, but this time, on adults. See if the idea can be repeated with adults. One day SOON, a simple blood test could indicate the best course of ITP treatments to take.

Cheers to better ITP treatments.

Wow! Weren't we daydreaming about something like this just a few months ago on a thread? Nice find!

Yes, that's it. Thought this was important enough to start a separate thread. On RNA, looks like I'll have to get a Google degree in RNA Studies to understand it, LOL. I wonder if 'epigenetics' plays a part too. Viruses switching genes on and off.

That list of contributing factors / attributes they found is quite the alphabet soup. In my study of Danazol I do recognize 'Fc-Gamma Receptor' in the list. Supposedly that is what Danazol has a major affect on. Danazol reduces their number. In this study they note a 2.7 times increase in receptors on ITP relapse.
www.researchgate.net/publication/19353930_Effect_of_Danazol_in_Immune_Thrombocytopenic_Purpura

I think IVIG works on these receptors too. Maybe you know something about that? That IVIG makes phagocytes (who have these receptors on their surface) ineffective by plugging useless things (contents of IVIG) into their receptors. Something like that? That would make Danazol a kind of super IVIG but where its effects don't fade away. That one can get this effect for months and months at a time from a pill with little cost. Give the immune system time to make the correct self versus non self decision - without overwhelming feedback of platelet/TPO/megakaryocyte destruction.

Thanks Hal.

The way I think about it is, DNA (double strand) is the blueprint that holds and passes on genetic info. RNA (single strand) is like the team of engineers and construction workers reading and following the blueprint. DNA feels static and RNA active. RNA being a messenger, like an enzyme for chemical reactions and a multitude of cell processes and interactions.
Does that help? Is that what you were asking?

b2h, that's a good start. The study talks about 'expression differences'. Any ideas on what that is? The DNA is being expressed differently via the RNA of some folks maybe? Do you suppose they are measuring enzyme levels, related to RNA, to see differences from person to person?
If I can get the right 'key words' I can get useful and relevant detail pages from Google searches on those words.

Hi Hal, Sorry for the very late reply. I'm sure you have gathered more information regarding this already...
Anyway, the way I see it is that DNA is what shows risk or tendencies. RNA shows what is actually going on in the cells. It shows how those risks and tendencies are or aren't manifesting. So the RNA expression is the activity showing how the DNA blueprint is being carried out. It is the actual activity as opposed to the possibility that X may or may not occur.
Not sure if that helps you or not. I don't think there is a specific keyword you can put into your search bar and get a simple answer. Perhaps (if you haven't already) searching 'RNA sequencing' may be of help.

Ok, thanks for that. 'RNA sequencing' on wiki is pretty good. Lots of terminology, like 'transcriptome'.
This was also good on explaining what RNA is:
answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071105195454AA40hMG