Applications of New Technologies and New Methods in ZHENG Differentiation

With the hope to provide an effective approach for personalized diagnosis and treatment clinically, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is being paid increasing attention as a complementary and alternative medicine. It performs treatment based on ZHENG (TCM syndrome) differentiation, which could be identified as clinical special phenotypes by symptoms and signs of patients. However, it caused skepticism and criticism because ZHENG classification only depends on observation, knowledge, and clinical experience of TCM practitioners, which is lack of objectivity and repeatability. Scientists have done fruitful researches for its objectivity and standardization. Compared with traditional four diagnostic methods (looking, listening and smelling, asking, and touching), in this paper, the applications of new technologies and new methods on the ZHENG differentiation were systemically reviewed, including acquisition, analysis, and integration of clinical data or information. Furthermore, the characteristics and application range of these technologies and methods were summarized. It will provide reference for further researches

Advances in Patient Classification for Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Machine Learning Perspective

As a complementary and alternative medicine in medical field, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has drawn great attention in the domestic field and overseas. In practice, TCM provides a quite distinct methodology to patient diagnosis and treatment compared to western medicine (WM). Syndrome (ZHENG or pattern) is differentiated by a set of symptoms and signs examined from an individual by four main diagnostic methods: inspection, auscultation and olfaction, interrogation, and palpation which reflects the pathological and physiological changes of disease occurrence and development. Patient classification is to divide patients into several classes based on different criteria. In this paper, from the machine learning perspective, a survey on patient classification issue will be summarized on three major aspects of TCM: sign classification, syndrome differentiation, and disease classification. With the consideration of different diagnostic data analyzed by different computational methods, we present the overview for four subfields of TCM diagnosis, respectively. For each subfield, we design a rectangular reference list with applications in the horizontal direction and machine learning algorithms in the longitudinal direction. According to the current development of objective TCM diagnosis for patient classification, a discussion of the research issues around machine learning techniques with applications to TCM diagnosis is given to facilitate the further research for TCM patient classification

Environmental factors in the development of Alzheimer’s disease

This article delves into the profound significance of the early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the leading cause of dementia worldwide. With no current cure for AD, early detection stands as a cornerstone in managing the disease. Early diagnosis not only enables symptomatic treatment to enhance the quality of life but also facilitates proactive planning, addressing health care and living arrangements for the future. Additionally, early diagnosis can promote participation in clinical trials, granting patients access to emerging treatments. An essential component to this early detection is a robust understanding of the disease\u27s causes. The paper examines the pathological indicators, such as beta-amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, while highlighting the multifaceted origins of AD encompassing genetics, environmental factors, inflammation, and potential links with other diseases. An in-depth discussion on the influence of the environment further illustrates the complex interplay between genetics and external factors. Toxic chemicals, lifestyle choices in western societies, and other environmental determinants are scrutinized for their potential role in AD onset. In summary, the piece underscores the importance of a holistic understanding of Alzheimer\u27s etiology, emphasizing that only through comprehensive knowledge can we aspire to identify, manage, and ultimately find a cure for this debilitating condition

Exploring the relationship between age and health conditions using electronic health records: from single diseases to multimorbidities

Background Two enormous challenges facing healthcare systems are ageing and multimorbidity. Clinicians, policymakers, healthcare providers and researchers need to know “who gets which diseases when” in order to effectively prevent, detect and manage multiple conditions. Identification of ageing-related diseases (ARDs) is a starting point for research into common biological pathways in ageing. Examining multimorbidity clusters can facilitate a shift from the single-disease paradigm that pervades medical research and practice to models which reflect the reality of the patient population. Aim To examine how age influences an individual’s likelihood of developing single and multiple health conditions over the lifecourse. Methods and Outputs I used primary care and hospital admission electronic health records (EHRs) of 3,872,451 individuals from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) linked to the Hospital Episode Statistics admitted patient care (HES-APC) dataset in England from 1 April 2010 to 31 March 2015. In collaboration with Professor Aroon Hingorani, Dr Osman Bhatti, Dr Shanaz Husain, Dr Shailen Sutaria, Professor Dorothea Nitsch, Mrs Melanie Hingorani, Dr Constantinos Parisinos, Dr Tom Lumbers and Dr Reecha Sofat, I derived the case definitions for 308 clinically important health conditions, by harmonising Read, ICD-10 and OPCS-4 codes across primary and secondary care records in England. I calculated the age-specific incidence rate, period prevalence and median age at first recorded diagnosis for these conditions and described the 50 most common diseases in each decade of life. I developed a protocol for identifying ARDs using machine-learning and actuarial techniques. Finally, I identified highly correlated multimorbidity clusters and created a tool to visualise comorbidity clusters using a network approach. Conclusions I have developed case definitions (with a panel of clinicians) and calculated disease frequency estimates for 308 clinically important health conditions in the NHS in England. I have described patterns of ageing and multimorbidity using these case definitions, and produced an online app for interrogating comorbidities for an index condition. This work facilitates future research into ageing pathways and multimorbidity

Exploring Personal Growth in Individuals Living with Heart Failure

This exploratory study described levels of personal growth and examined relationships among personal growth, demographic, clinical, and cognitive factors in a convenience sample (N = 103) of community-residing adults with New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class II-IV heart failure (HF). The study was guided by Mishels reconceptualized uncertainty in illness theory and Tedeschi and Calhoun\u27s post-traumatic growth model. The following research questions were addressed: (1) Do adults living with NYHA class II-IV HF report personal growth following their diagnosis of HF? (2) To what extent are age, sex, ethnicity, disease severity, time since diagnosis, symptom status, and uncertainty levels associated with personal growth in individuals with HF? and (3) Which variables (age, sex, ethnicity, disease severity, time since diagnosis, symptom status, or uncertainty levels) make independent contributions to personal growth in individuals living with NYHA class II-IV HF? Participants completed a demographic and clinical survey, the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI), the Mishel Uncertainty in Illness Scale-Community Version, and the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale—Heart Failure. Participants reported moderate levels of personal growth (M = 48.6, SD = 28.6). There were no significant differences in personal growth by sex, ethnicity, or disease severity. Personal growth had a weak, negative correlation with age (r = —.20, p \u3c .05) and a weak, positive correlation with symptom burden (r = .20, p \u3c .05). Uncertainty was positively correlated with symptom burden (r = .49, p \u3c .01) and disease severity (r = .28, p \u3c .01), but was not significantly correlated with PTGI scores. A hierarchical regression model that included age, sex, ethnicity, NYHA classification, years since diagnosis, uncertainty, and symptom burden did not account for significant variance in PTGI scores. Findings provide foundational knowledge to guide future study of personal growth in HF and add to the overall literature on personal growth in relation to uncertainty and symptoms within chronic illness

UWOMJ Volume 66, No 1, Winter 1996-97

An interdisciplinary medical science publication, established in 1930.https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/uwomj/1028/thumbnail.jp

Current Trends in Atherogenesis

This book collects the state of the art of the antioxidants from the clinical and experimental approaches in order to bring a better understanding of the mechanisms and useful therapies for these diseases. We hope that it can indicate new "current trends" for identifying new aspects regarding this scientific problem involving not only anatomical and functional, but also clinical questions

Acute Coronary Syndromes

This book has been written with the intention of providing an up-to-the minute review of acute coronary syndromes. Atherosclerotic coronary disease is still a leading cause of death within developed countries and not surprisingly, is significantly rising in others. Over the past decade the treatment of these syndromes has changed dramatically. The introduction of novel therapies has impacted the outcomes and surviving rates in such a way that the medical community need to be up to date almost on a "daily bases". It is hoped that this book will provide a timely update on acute coronary syndromes and prove to be an invaluable resource for practitioners seeking new and innovative ways to deliver the best possible care to their patients

Coronary Angiography

In the intervening 10 years tremendous advances in the field of cardiac computed tomography have occurred. We now can legitimately claim that computed tomography angiography (CTA) of the coronary arteries is available. In the evaluation of patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD), many guidelines today consider CTA an alternative to stress testing. The use of CTA in primary prevention patients is more controversial in considering diagnostic test interpretation in populations with a low prevalence to disease. However the nuclear technique most frequently used by cardiologists is myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI). The combination of a nuclear camera with CTA allows for the attainment of coronary anatomic, cardiac function and MPI from one piece of equipment. PET/SPECT cameras can now assess perfusion, function, and metabolism. Assessing cardiac viability is now fairly routine with these enhancements to cardiac imaging. This issue is full of important information that every cardiologist needs to now

Ischemic Heart Disease in the Context of Different Comorbidities

Ischemic heart disease is a cardiovascular condition with very high prevalence worldwide and a major source of morbidity and mortality, especially in the geriatric population. The management of coronary artery disease is one that requires high-level expertise. The presence of comorbidities, usually multiple at advanced ages, makes the diagnosis and therapy very challenging. In this setting, the effort of a multidisciplinary team is urgently needed to achieve integrated management of these cases, being the only one capable of leading to the best results for the patient.The purpose of this reprint is to bring together the experience of specialists in treating ischemic heart disease in the presence of major related conditions that require particular modulations of diagnostic and therapeutic interventions. The chapters address difficult areas of interference between ischemic heart disease and frailty, cancer, liver diseases, inflammatory bowel disease and the new SARS-CoV-2 infection. Special consideration is granted to cardiac remodeling and progression to heart failure. Niche topics such as acute coronary syndromes triggered by carbon monoxide poisoning are present as well. The book also contains a particularly interesting chapter dedicated to the genetic substrate of ischemic heart disease, which once again emphasizes the need for a multidisciplinary team approach to this disease.We consider the reprint an excellent source of information for medical practitioners who have to solve complex cases of ischemic heart disease