Research Objectives Heart failure (HF) is a common condition in persons older than 65 years. Existing literature indicated that hospital readmission rates after discharge for heart failure patients are immensely high. However, previous studies showed that almost half of the early hospital readmissions could be prevented. Moreover, Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor and Angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) are the commonly used medications for heart failure patients to control blood pressure. Nevertheless, studies indicated that these two medications could also cause the risk of hospital readmission. Little studies examined the associations of medication use and hospital readmission of heart failure patients in Taiwan. This study aims to investigate the influence factors of hospital readmissions among heart failure patients in Taiwan. Study Design We collected the data from National Health Insurance (NHI) database during the period from year 2000 to 2006. Based on the rule of Bureau of National Health Insurance in Taiwan, the 14-day readmission is considered as a poor quality indicator. We categorized readmissions into 4 groups (14-day, 30-day, 180-day and over 180-day) and evaluated each group¡¦s demographic, hospital characteristics, medical resource utilization, Charlson Comorbidity Index and medication utilizations of ACE inhibitor and ARB. We conducted descriptive analyses by using chi-square and t tests and applied multivariate logistic regression analyses to estimate the probabilities of hospital readmissions of heart failure patients. Population Studied Patients aged 50 or older with heart failure were identified based on the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM). Principle Findings Among 1920 heart failure patients, 19.9% of them were readmitted within 14 days, 7.6% were readmitted within 30 days and 26% were readmitted within 180 days. The medical resource utilizations such as average inpatients cost per patient, average outpatients cost per patient, total medical cost, average of inpatients times per patient and average of outpatients times per patient were significantly higher in patients with readmissions than those without readmission. Age, Charlson Comorbidity Index, patients who had been treated with ACE inhibitors and patients who had been treated with ARB were significantly affected the probabilities of readmissions. Conclusion The heart failure patients with readmissions had significantly higher medical resource utilizations than those without readmission. The medication uses of ACE inhibitors or ARB were significantly affected the probabilities of hospital readmissions. By understanding more about the influence factors of readmissions among heart failure patients, we may provide continue improvements of quality of care and reduce unnecessary medical costs. This study results provide useful reference for policy-makers to establish effective disease management program and appropriate health care financing arrangement in the future.

Für die Entwicklung eines praxistauglichen Vorhersagemodells für die Strahlreinigung wird ein Ansatz motiviert, welcher auf der Zerlegung in abhängig vom Anwendungsfall parametrierbare Teilprozesse beruht. Als Ausgangspunkt der Modellierung dient eine reduzierte Konfiguration: der senkrecht auf eine glatte Verschmutzung auftreffende, kohärente isotherme Wasserstrahl. Für diesen Testfall wird die zweidimensionale numerische Berechnung der mittleren Strömung erprobt. Die Validierung erfolgt anhand eigener Messwerte, experimentell und numerisch ermittelter Daten aus der Literatur sowie analytischer Korrelationen für Reynoldszahlen bis Re = U D D/v = 37000.

published_or_final_version / Medical Sciences / Master / Master of Medical Sciences

Not available / text

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most prevalent disorder and the leading cause of death worldwide. There are a number of CAD medications, which are effective and safe in most patients, but have been associated with adverse reactions such as angioedema induced by angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitors (AE-ACEi). In this study, we identified aminopeptidase P (APP) activity as an endophenotype for AE-ACEi, which is a heritable quantitative trait (heritability =0.336 +/- 0.251 SD) and is significantly reduced in a majority of our cases. Although initial mutation screening did not reveal any coding variants in XPNPEP2, which encodes membrane-bound APP, subsequent linkage analysis of APP activity in eight families provided a maximum LOD score (3.75) for this locus. Sequencing of additional cases identified a splice variant (314_431del) and a non-coding polymorphism (rs3788853) in this locus, which cosegregate with low plasma APP activity. The latter accounts for the linkage signal and is associated with AE-ACEi (P = 0.036). In addition, we identified other potential loci for APP activity and demonstrated that certain ACEi (Captopril and Enalapril) non-specifically inhibit APP activity. Furthermore, we detected polymorphisms associated with reduced APP and ACE activities among females with estrogen-dependent inherited angioedema. / We also conducted a genetic investigation of depression among CAD patients to identify common susceptibility loci which might explain the correlation between these diseases. Our candidate gene association study identified a polymorphism (rs216873) in the von Willebrand factor gene that was significantly associated (P = 7.4 x 10-5) with elevated depressive symptoms in our CAD cohort. These results suggest that risk factors for atherosclerosis also underlie susceptibility to depression among CAD patients. / This dissertation contributes to the field of genetics and pharmacogenomics of CAD. A better understanding of the toxic effects of CAD drugs will assist in the development of safer and more effective treatments. In addition, our results may facilitate clinical assays to identify individuals who are susceptible to angioedema prior to ACEi or estrogen therapy. Finally, our genetic investigation of depression in CAD patients reveals a novel drug target (VWF) for treatment of depression in cardiac cases.

Šio projekto tikslas yra sukurti vektorinių grafinių failų konvertavimo sistemą. Sistema remiasi vektorinio grafinio formato apdorjimu: grafinių objektų faile nuskaitymu, atvaizdavimu, parametrų išskyrimu o taip pat konvertavimu į kitą vektorinį formatą. Tyrimo metu nagrinėjamos šiuo metu rinkoje esančios konvertavimo sistemos. Tyrinėjama atviro vektorinio grafinio formato struktūra, aiškinamasi kokiu būdu grafinių objektų parametrus galima pervesti į suprantamą ir koraguojamą formą. Paruošta išsami vartotojo dokumentacija, kurios pagalba sistemos naudojimas tampa nesudėtingas. Kadangi literatūros šiam tyrimui atlikti praktiškai nėra, internetas yra pagrindinis informacijos paieškos šaltinis. / The goal of the paper is to create a vectorial graphic files converting system. The system is based on the processing of a vectorial graphic format: reading and rendering graphic objects in a file, singling out the parameters, as well as converting a vectorial graphic format into another one. The research analyses the converting systems which exist in the modern market. The structure of an easily approachable vectorial graphic format is analysed, suggesting the ways which can be used to transfer the parameters of vectorial objects to a clear and corrective form. Sound user manual is prepared for the created vectorial graphic files converting system which helps to use it easily. The internet material is the basic source of the theoretical part of the paper because of the lack of scientific and methodological literature.

Atlikta analizė ir pasiūlyti konvertavimo iš DXF į ABSF ir atgal metodai. Po pirmo konvertavimo į ABSF (Alternatyvus Brėžinių Saugojimo Formatas) formatą, vartotojas gali suprantamai peržiūrėti ar atlikti taisymus faile naudodamasis teksto redaktoriumi. DXF formato failas yra pernelyg sudėtingas, kad išsiaškiti jo struktūra su grupių kodais ir atlikinėti norimas korekcijas. Po atlikto konvertavimo į DXF formatą vartotojas gali dirbti su tokiomis programomis kaip AutoCAD ar 3DsMax. ABSF formato faile, žinant formato struktūros specifikacijas, galima atlikti norimas korekcijas. Naudojami tokie objektai (esybės): LINIJOS, TEKSTAS, APSKRITIMAI, LANKAI, TASKAI ir kt. Į kiekvieną lauką privaloma rašyti tai kas reikalaujama. Svarbu: ABSF formato failą galima sukurti pačiam nenaudojant jokių specialių priemonių. / This is analysis and offered way to convert from DXF format to ABSF, and of course converting in other way. This means that after first converting, user can see everything in one file understandable. Because DXF file is too complexed for view it simple, It‘s not easy to understand all group codes that DXF has. After converting into DXF file you can work with file with such programs as AutoCAD or 3Dstudio. In ABSF format files you can edit, but simple thing you must know, is structure of the file. It has some objects: LINIJOS, TEKSTAS, APSKRITIMAI, LANKAI, TASKAI etc. After this, you must write into each field exactly for that value, that is required. Important: it is possible to create ABSF file from the scratch and convert to DXF.

Pea protein hydrolysate (PPH) has antihypertensive effects and prostanoids have been implicated in renal diseases. To investigate the role of PPH and prostanoids on renal and cardiovascular effects in cardio-renal disease, normal and diseased Han:SPRD-cy rats were given diets containing either 0, 0.5% or 1% PPH for 8 weeks. At termination, diseased rat kidneys displayed increased renal cyst growth, fibrosis, plasma creatinine and lower monocyte chemoattractant protein-1. Diseased rats also exhibited left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy, elevated systolic and diastolic blood pressures and LV end diastolic and systolic pressures. Four of five prostanoids were elevated in diseased rat kidneys. PPH attenuated systolic blood pressure, but not other components of the cardio-renal syndrome. PPH also increased select prostanoids in normal and diseased rats. Thus, dietary PPH attenuates hypertension in the Han:SPRD-cy rat, but does not ameliorate other components of disease, possibly due to increased prostanoid effects or an insufficient treatment length.

Wissenschaft trifft Praxis - das Motto der Tagung steht für einen Dialog, der in diesen Tagen besonders von folgenden Spannungsfeldern lebt: Komplexe Prozesse vs. einfache Maschinenbedienung, Adaptivität vs. Robistheit, Flexibilität vs. effizienz, technischer Vorsprung vs. technischer Aufwand. Zwischen diesen und anderen Themenfeldern gibt es Schnittmengen aber auch spannende Antagonismen. In 34 Vorträgen + 5 Plenarbeiträgen werden neue Gedanken und Lösungsansätze vorgestellt, die Wissen vermitteln und Anregungen bieten.

Getrieben durch einen rapid wachsenden Verbrauchermarkt für Lebensmittel und Getränke, insbesondere in Schwellenländern wie China, Brasilien und Indien, werden an den Verpackungssektor hohe Anforderungen hinsichtlich der Verpackungsqualität und -formen und nicht zuletzt der Stückzahl gestellt. Bei der Entwicklung von Verpackungssystemen stellt die Leistungssteigerung das vorrangige Ziel für die Verpackungsmaschinen- und Packstoffhersteller stellt dar. Die SIG Combibloc Systems GmbH, einer der weltweit führenden Systemanbieter von Packstoff und entsprechenden Füllmaschinen für Getränke und Lebensmittel, hat sich als Ziel gesetzt, die Leistung eines ihrer Verpackungssysteme um 50 % zu steigern.