Neural-network models for the blood glucose metabolism of a diabetic.

We study the application of neural networks to modeling the blood glucose metabolism of a diabetic. In particular we consider recurrent neural networks and time series convolution neural networks which we compare to linear models and to nonlinear compartment models. We include a linear error model to take into account the uncertainty in the system and for handling missing blood glucose observations. Our results indicate that best performance can be achieved by the combination of the recurrent neural network and the linear error model.

[The results of a long-term follow-up of patients with a percutaneous cholecystostomy]. / Ergebnisse einer Langzeitkontrolle von Patienten mit perkutaner Cholezystostomie.

19 out of 37 patients with percutaneous cholecystostomy were followed up for assessment of gallbladder function after percutaneous drainage. 17 out of 19 of the patients remained free from symptoms of gallbladder disease during a mean follow-up period of 25.8 months. Contractility of the gallbladder calculated by measurement of the sonographic diameter of the gallbladder with provocation tests was 62%. One patient was operated upon for choledocholithiasis three years after percutaneous cholecystostomy. Histology showed signs of chronic cholecystitis. It can be concluded that cholecystectomy is not routinely necessary after percutaneous cholecystostomy provided biliary excretion is normal.