Prediction and control of stroke by data mining

Today there are abounding collected data in cases of various diseases in medical sciences. Physicians can access new findings about diseases and procedures in dealing with them by probing these data. This study was performed to predict stroke incidence. This study was carried out in Esfahan Al-Zahra and Mashhad Ghaem hospitals during 2010-2011. Information on 807 healthy and sick subjects was collected using a standard checklist that contains 50 risk factors for stroke such as history of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, smoking and alcohol consumption. For analyzing data we used data mining techniques, K-nearest neighbor and C4.5 decision tree using WEKA. The accuracy of the C4.5 decision tree algorithm and K-nearest neighbor in predicting stroke was 95.42% and 94.18%, respectively. The two algorithms, C4.5 decision tree algorithm and K-nearest neighbor, can be used in order to predict stroke in high risk groups

Evaluation of intima media thickness of carotid arteries in 40-60 years old persons with type D personality and its comparison with normal ones

In some studies, the involvement of dangerous psychological and behavioral factors in etiology and physiotherapy of vascular disturbances have been shown. In other studies, the relationship between the personality type and increase in cardiovascular disease has been demonstrated. The type D personality is defined as having two characteristics of negative affect and social inhibition. It is thought that individuals with type D personality are at increased risk of carotid artery intima-media thickening which predisposes them to vascular disease that is one of the most important factors for the stroke. In this study, we try to determine whether type D personality is a contributing factor to an increase in the intima-media of the carotid artery. This study was done in 2012 in the teaching hospital of Alzahra in Isfahan Iran. This is a case/control study which is done at Alzahra hospital in Isfahan in 2011-12. The statistical population in this study is composed of individuals who do not have any risk factors for stroke and are randomly selected among the hospital staff or the patient's family members who accompanied the patient at the hospital. They filled out a questioner that would assist in detecting type D personality. A carotid Doppler ultrasound that measures the intima media thickness in the selected individuals was performed. The information obtained from the study was evaluated by Statistical Product and Service Solutions [SPSS] software and the intima-media thicknesses were compared in two groups of patients. The average thickness of intima media in two groups, consist of placebo and patients, was 0.739 +/- 0.12 and 0.759 +/- 0.14 millimeter, respectively. There was no meaningful difference between the two groups based on t-test values [P = 0.19]. It is important to note that based on the results, 22.9% of placebos and 48.6% of individuals with type D personality presented with abnormal thickness. The difference between the two groups were meaningful based on Chi-Squared test [P = 0.001]. We conclude that type D personality increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases specially the stroke and myocardial infarction due to the higher prevalence of hormonal imbalances leading to arterial vasospasm and atherosclerotic disease. As a result, it is necessary to evaluate and treat these patients due to increased risk of atherosclerotic diseases, stoke, and myocardial infarction

[Survey the average of cost in out patient and imaging in Alzahra hospital and comparing with service's tariff]

One of the basic problems of hospital management is lack of an effective fiscal system, which causes in loose cost control. Meanwhile, accounting techniques and economic analyses may help the managers to decide better in planning programs and investing fields. Then, it's time to have a better estimate of health care services costs in our competitive situation for the hospitals, in this case "The Isfahan Al-Zahra Hospital". This study based on the data in the first half of 2006. This was a descriptive retrospective study on different clinical and Para clinical departments of the Isfahan Al-Zahra Training and Medical Services. All direct and indirect costs gathered through fiscal system documents and via direct process observations. Health care costs estimated using cost accounting techniques after fragmenting all accumulated costs over relative cost centers. Data analyzed by Excel software. The mean value of expense were 14.2 $, 0.7 $ and 4.6 $ in general clinical, libratory and radiology departments, respectively the mean value of expense were 2.8, 10.5, 24.5, 9, 2.5, and 5.8 in sonogeraphy, CT scan, MRI, EEG, ECG and rehabilitation departments respectively. Mean of different with the governmental price were 8.2, 0.03, 1, 6.7, 8.7, 22.9, 12, 0.1, and 3.7 $ in clinics, laboratory, radiology, sonogeraphy, CT scan, MRI, EEG, ECG and rehabilitation departments respectively. According to the findings, except for some Para clinic services, others showed a noticeable imbalance between their costs [at the end] and their Tariffs. This- in turn- conducted to an economic imbalance in those departments in the survey period

Extracranial cerebral arterial atherosclerosis in Iranian patients suffering ischemic strokes

To determine the distribution and severity of extracranial carotid arterial atherosclerosis in Iranian patients with ischemic stroke. 328 patients with ischemic stroke were included in this study. Doppler ultrasound was used for evaluation of atherosclerosis in extracranial carotid arteries. The NASCET criteria were used to measure carotid stenosis. Ninety of 328 patients [27.4%] were found to have atherosclerotic plaques; 40 of these patients were women and 50 were men. Sixty-eight patients [20.7%] had artery stenosis <50%, 13 patients [3.95%] had 50-70% artery stenosis and 6 [1.8%] had >70% artery stenosis. Extracranial atherosclerosis is not rare in Iranian patients with ischemic stroke, but most carotid artery lesions were plaques with <50% stenosis