Enhanced multivariate analysis by correlation scaling and fusion of LC/MS and 1H NMR data

A method to enhance the multivariate data interpretation of, for instance, metabolic profiles is presented. This was done by correlation scaling of 1H NMR data by the time pattern of drug metabolite peaks identified by LC/MS, followed by parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC). The variables responsible for the discrimination between the dosed and control rats in this model were then eliminated in both data sets. Next, an additional PARAFAC analysis was performed with both LC/MS and 1H NMR data, fused by outer product analysis (OPA), to obtain sufficient class separation. The loadings from this second PARAFAC analysis showed new peaks discriminating between the classes. The time trajectories of these peaks did not agree with the drug metabolites and were detected as possible candidates for markers. These data analyses were also compared with the PARAFAC analysis of raw data, which showed very much the same loading peaks as for the correlation-scaled data, although the intensities differed. Elimination of the variables correlated with the drug metabolites was therefore necessary to be able to select the peaks which were not drug metabolites and which discriminated between the classes. 1