Assessing database and network threats in traditional and cloud computing

Cloud Computing is currently one of the most widely-spoken terms in IT. While it offers a range of technological and financial benefits, its wide acceptance by organizations is not yet wide spread. Security concerns are a main reason for this and this paper studies the data and network threats posed in both traditional and cloud paradigms in an effort to assert in which areas cloud computing addresses security issues and where it does introduce new ones. This evaluation is based on Microsoft’s STRIDE threat model and discusses the stakeholders, the impact and recommendations for tackling each threat

Clinical Phenotypes of Cardiovascular and Heart Failure Diseases Can Be Reversed? The Holistic Principle of Systems Biology in Multifaceted Heart Diseases

Recent advances in cardiology and biological sciences have improved quality of life in patients with complex cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) or heart failure (HF). Regardless of medical progress, complex cardiac diseases continue to have a prolonged clinical course with high morbidity and mortality. Interventional coronary techniques together with drug therapy improve quality and future prospects of life, but do not reverse the course of the atherosclerotic process that remains relentlessly progressive. The probability of CVDs and HF phenotypes to reverse can be supported by the advances made on the medical holistic principle of systems biology (SB) and on artificial intelligence (AI). Studies on clinical phenotypes reversal should be based on the research performed in large populations of patients following gathering and analyzing large amounts of relative data that embrace the concept of complexity. To decipher the complexity conundrum, a multiomics approach is needed with network analysis of the biological data. Only by understanding the complexity of chronic heart diseases and explaining the interrelationship between different interconnected biological networks can the probability for clinical phenotypes reversal be increased

Progressive nature of heart failure and systems biology

The progressive nature of heart failure (HF) is the predominant cause for the clinical course that the HF syndrome is taking. Systems biology methodology is of the utmost importance to explain and comprehend the built-in mechanisms of adverse clinical progression. Various heart diseases produce myocardial damage with subsequent left ventricular remodeling which is the principal underlying pathophysiological mechanism for the clinical progression of HF. The self-organized positive feedback stabilization mechanisms of left ventricular remodeling, adrenergic stimulation and activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and natriuretic peptide systems, are hierarchical adaptive processes. These adaptive processes are responsible for further left ventricular remodeling with subsequent clinical deterioration and for the emergence of clinical phenotypes. These mechanisms are counteracted with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers and β-blockers in an attempt to improve the adverse clinical phenomena of HF progression in a new but clinically worse stabilization level. In this review our intention is to underline the progressive nature of the HF syndrome and to demonstrate the significance of ventricular remodeling and the role of self-organized positive feedback adaptive processes

Conceptual Foundations of Systems Biology Explaining Complex Cardiac Diseases

Systems biology is an important concept that connects molecular biology and genomics with computing science, mathematics and engineering. An endeavor is made in this paper to associate basic conceptual ideas of systems biology with clinical medicine. Complex cardiac diseases are clinical phenotypes generated by integration of genetic, molecular and environmental factors. Basic concepts of systems biology like network construction, modular thinking, biological constraints (downward biological direction) and emergence (upward biological direction) could be applied to clinical medicine. Especially, in the field of cardiology, these concepts can be used to explain complex clinical cardiac phenotypes like chronic heart failure and coronary artery disease. Cardiac diseases are biological complex entities which like other biological phenomena can be explained by a systems biology approach. The above powerful biological tools of systems biology can explain robustness growth and stability during disease process from modulation to phenotype. The purpose of the present review paper is to implement systems biology strategy and incorporate some conceptual issues raised by this approach into the clinical field of complex cardiac diseases. Cardiac disease process and progression can be addressed by the holistic realistic approach of systems biology in order to define in better terms earlier diagnosis and more effective therapy

Clinical Phenotypes of Cardiovascular and Heart Failure Diseases Can Be Reversed? The Holistic Principle of Systems Biology in Multifaceted Heart Diseases

Recent advances in cardiology and biological sciences have improved quality of life in patients with complex cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) or heart failure (HF). Regardless of medical progress, complex cardiac diseases continue to have a prolonged clinical course with high morbidity and mortality. Interventional coronary techniques together with drug therapy improve quality and future prospects of life, but do not reverse the course of the atherosclerotic process that remains relentlessly progressive. The probability of CVDs and HF phenotypes to reverse can be supported by the advances made on the medical holistic principle of systems biology (SB) and on artificial intelligence (AI). Studies on clinical phenotypes reversal should be based on the research performed in large populations of patients following gathering and analyzing large amounts of relative data that embrace the concept of complexity. To decipher the complexity conundrum, a multiomics approach is needed with network analysis of the biological data. Only by understanding the complexity of chronic heart diseases and explaining the interrelationship between different interconnected biological networks can the probability for clinical phenotypes reversal be increased

Heart Failure in Patients with Preserved Ejection Fraction: Questions Concerning Clinical Progression

Over the last two decades, important advances have been made in explaining some pathophysiological aspects of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) with repercussions for the successful clinical management of the syndrome. Despite these gains, our knowledge for the natural history of clinical progression from the pre-clinical diastolic dysfunction (PDD) until the final clinical stages is significantly limited. The subclinical progression of PDD to the clinical phenotype of HFpEF and the further clinical progression to some more complex clinical models with multi-organ involvement, similar to heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), continue to be poorly understood. Prospective studies are needed to elucidate the natural history of clinical progression in patients with HFpEF and to identify the exact left ventricular remodeling mechanism that underlies this progression

Constraints in Clinical Cardiology and Personalized Medicine: Interrelated Concepts in Clinical Cardiology

Systems biology is established as an integrative computational analysis methodology with practical and theoretical applications in clinical cardiology. The integration of genetic and molecular components of a disease produces interacting networks, modules and phenotypes with clinical applications in complex cardiovascular entities. With the holistic principle of systems biology, some of the features of complexity and natural progression of cardiac diseases are approached and explained. Two important interrelated holistic concepts of systems biology are described; the emerging field of personalized medicine and the constraint-based thinking with downward causation. Constraints in cardiovascular diseases embrace three scientific fields related to clinical cardiology: biological and medical constraints; constraints due to limitations of current technology; and constraints of general resources for better medical coverage. Systems healthcare and personalized medicine are connected to the related scientific fields of: ethics and legal status; data integration; taxonomic revisions; policy decisions; and organization of human genomic data

Developing a strategic understanding of telehealth service adoption for COPD care management:a causal loop analysis of healthcare professionals

Abstract Background: Telehealth services can improve the quality of health services for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) management, but the clinical benefits for patients yet not clear. It is crucial to develop a strategy that supports the engagement of healthcare professionals to promote the sustainable adoption of telehealth services further. The aim of the study was to show how variables related to the perception of telehealth services for COPD by different healthcare professionals interact to influence its adoption and to generate advice for future telehealth service implementation. Methods: Data was thematically synthesized from published qualitative studies to create causal loop diagrams, further validated by expert interviews. These diagrams visualize dependencies and their polarity between different variables. Results: Adoption of telehealth services from the nurse’s perspective is directly affected by change management and autonomous decision making. From the physician’s perspective, perceived value is the most important variable. Physical activity management and positive user experience are considered affecting perceived value for physiotherapists. There is no consensus where self-management services should be positioned in the COPD care pathway. Conclusion: Our results indicate how complex interactions between multiple variables influence the adoption of telehealth services. Consequently, there is a need for multidimensional interventions to achieve adoption. Moreover, key variables were identified that require attention to ensure success of telehealth services. Furthermore, it is necessary to explore where self-management services are best positioned in the care pathway of COPD patients