Demonstration of Radiographic Bone Fill in Postextraction Sockets Using a Novel Implant-Site Development Technique: A Retrospective Comparative Case Series.

The objective of this study was to compare the novel extraction-site development (XSD) technique with spontaneous healing. Advanced alveolar defects (extraction defect sounding, classes 3 and 4) at 33 single-rooted teeth were treated by XSD (test), and 21 extraction sites of single-rooted teeth were left for spontaneous healing (control). In pre- and postoperative cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) data sets, orovestibular and vertical socket dimensions were assessed, as were socket areas. XSD resulted in complication-free healing with significantly higher radiographic bone fill compared to spontaneous healing. Application of the XSD approach may reduce the need for augmentative procedures during implant placement.

[In silico diabetology]. / In silico diabetológia.

INTRODUCTION: Simulation models can contribute substantially to our understanding and ability to control the dynamic processes underlying impaired glucose metabolism in diabetic patients. AIM: The aim of this paper is to outline a new comprehensive, physiologically-based dynamic model of glucose homeostasis incorporating up-to-date quantitative knowledge about glucose metabolism and its control by insulin and glucagon. METHOD: The model is composed of three submodels for glucose, insulin, and glucagon. RESULTS: The glucose submodel specifies the dynamics of glucose absorption following meals, hepatic glucose production and uptake, peripheral glucose uptake, kidney excretion, and insulin-independent uptake of glucose in the brain and red blood cells. The insulin submodel includes equations for insulin absorption, pancreatic insulin release and insulin clearance. The glucagon model specifies the hormone secretion and elimination kinetics. Algebraic equations are used to specify (i) how the hormones affect glucose production and utilisation in various compartments such as liver, muscle and fat tissues, and (ii) how glucose levels modify insulin and glucagon release from the pancreas. Setting the values of various model parameters is used to generate virtual individual patients. CONCLUSIONS: The model allows the simulation of 24-hour blood glucose profiles for both insulin-dependent non-insulin dependent diabetic patients.

[Objective assessment of transfusion-related knowledge of nurses using modern test theory]. / Modern tesztelméleti eszközök alkalmazása az ápolók transzfúziós ismereteinek objektív mérésében.

INTRODUCTION: Clinical practice requires knowledge of health professionals for the application of problem solving of different tasks in various clinical settings. Therefore, a set of reliable measurement tools is required to assess various components of the professional knowledge including factual knowledge, skills and competence as outcomes of nursing education and training. Traditional questionnaires and test methods do not allow the measurement of these characteristics properly, as these tools typically provide overall scores without relevant insight into areas in which nurses perform well, and those where their knowledge and/or skills should be improved substantially. AIM: The aim of this nationwide survey conducted among nurses between November 2014 and February 2015 was to determine how the teaching/training objectives have been achieved in the nurses' transfusion practice. The authors attempted to exceed the capabilities of classical test theory and acquire a detailed picture about what the nurses know about transfusion therapy and how they are involved and behave in routine clinical practice. METHOD: The knowledge and skills of 657 participants were assessed using a validated instrument consisting of a set of questions covering every aspects of transfusion therapy. The answers to these items were evaluated on a binary (good or bad) scale. Recorded answers of the participants were analysed using hierarchical cluster analysis and item response theory tools such as the one-parametric Rasch model suitable for dichotomous data. Data analysis was performed with the SPSS program and the ltm module of the R statistical program. RESULTS: The paper presents the distribution of correct and incorrect answers to various questions about transfusion therapy along with the corresponding logit values and odds ratios, respectively. The characteristic curves of each item were determined on the basis of the number of correct answers that have been recorded. These curves highlight which questions were answered easily and which items were found harder to answer by the nurses who participated in the survey. In addition to the separate analysis of individual questions, a set of response patterns is also presented which shows how frequently the nurses responded correctly to different combinations (sub-sets) of questions. On the whole, nurses exhibited medium level performance in terms of knowledge and skills required for efficient and safe transfusion practice. CONCLUSIONS: Objective and reliable measurement of the level of acquired knowledge is a key requirement in nursing education. This paper, which demonstrates the use of cluster analysis and item response theory for the assessment of transfusion-related knowledge of nurses, focuses on this issue for the first time in nursing research. The results of this survey have revealed substantial limitations and deficiencies both in knowledge and skills of nurses which need to be addressed by training in order to improve the efficiency and safety of transfusion therapy.

[Transfusiology knowledge and competence of nurses in light of a national survey]. / Ápolók transzfuziológiai ismeretei és kompetenciái egy országos felmérés tükrében.

INTRODUCTION: International literature data clearly show that the role of nurses in transfusion therapy, which needs professional knowledge and skills, continues to increase. AIM: The aim of the authors was to perform a national-level mapping of the practice of transfusion therapy including transfusion therapy-related knowledge of nurses and their knowledge about their competence. Further aim was to identify similarities and differences as referred to the requirements of the transfusion regulations (2008), which was valid at the time of the survey in Hungary. METHOD: The nationwide survey took place between November 19, 2014 and February 20, 2015. Data were collected using paper-form and web-based anonymous, self-administered questionnaire. 657 nurses who were involved in transfusion therapy with changing regularity in adult in-patient wards took part in the survey. Data were processed using descriptive statistical methods. RESULTS: It was found that the transfusion therapy related knowledge of nurses was very incomplete (50.72%), and only about half of the nurses (52.3%) systematized the nursing functions correctly. Significant differences were also found in the practice of transfusion therapy. The vast majority of the institutions had their own protocol, but responsible nurses assigned for transfusion care were present only in 23.9% of the wards. CONCLUSIONS: The authors conclude that the identified problems can be resolved by improving professional responsibility of nurses, increasing supervision by nursing leaders and appropriate transfusiology training and regular retrainings.

[Intelligent interpretation of home monitoring blood glucose data]. / Vércukor-önellenorzési adatok intelligens értelmezése.

Self monitoring of blood glucose is the cornerstone of diabetes management. However, the data obtained by self monitoring of blood glucose have rarely been used with the highest advantage. Few physicians routinely download data from memory-equipped glucose meters and analyse these data systematically at the time of patient visits. There is a need for improved methods for the display and analysis of blood glucose data along with a modular approach for identification of clinical problems. The authors present a systematic methodology for the analysis and interpretation of self monitoring blood glucose data in order to assist the management of patients with diabetes. This approach utilizes the followings 1) overall quality of glycemic control; 2) severity and timing of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia; 3) variability of blood glucose readings; 4) various temporal patterns extracted from recorded data and 5) adequacy of self monitoring blood glucose data. Based on reliable measures of the quality of glycaemic control and glucose variability, a prioritized problem list is derived along with the probable causes of the detected problems. Finally, problems and their interpretation are used to guide clinicians to choose therapeutic actions and/or recommend behaviour change in order to solve the problems that have been identified.

[Innovative education: simulation-based training at the Institute of Health Sciences, Semmelweis University, Hungary]. / A jövo útja: szimulátoros gyakorlati oktatás a Semmelweis Egyetem Egészségtudományi Karán.

In Hungary, the Institute of Health Sciences at Semmelweis University was the first institution to introduce patient simulation-based practical training of non-physician professionals. Before introducing this novel educational methodology, students could only practice particular examinations and interventions on demonstration tools. Using the simulator they can also follow and analyze the effects of the interventions that have been made. The high fidelity, adult Human Patients Emergency Care Simulator (HPS-ECS, Medical Education Technologies Incorporation, Sarasota, Florida, USA) is particularly suitable for acquiring skills related to the management of various emergency situations. The 180 cm and 34 kg mannequin which can operate in lying and sitting positions has both respiration and circulation which can be examined the same way as in a living person. It is capable to produce several physical and clinical signs such as respiration with chest movement, electric cardiac activity, palpable pulse, and measurable blood pressure. In addition, it can also exhibit blinking, swelling of the tongue and whole-body trembling while intestinal, cardiac and pulmonary sounds can equally be examined. The high fidelity simulator allows various interventions including monitoring, oxygen therapy, bladder catheterization, gastric tube insertion, injection, infusion and transfusion therapy to be practiced as part of complex patient management. Diagnostic instruments such as ECG recorder, sphygmomanometer, pulse-oxymeter can be attached to the simulator which can also respond to different medical interventions such as intubation, defibrillation, pacing, liquid supplementing, and blood transfusion. The mannequin's physiological response can be followed up and monitored over time to assess whether the selected intervention has been proven adequate to achieve the desired outcome. Authors provide a short overview of the possible applications of clinical simulation for education and training in health sciences, and present how patient simulator has been embedded in various practical courses as part of different curriculum designed for different health care specialties.

Incorporating a generic model of subcutaneous insulin absorption into the AIDA v4 diabetes simulator. 3. Early plasma insulin determinations.

INTRODUCTION: AIDA is an interactive educational diabetes simulator that has been available without charge via the Internet for over 12 years. Recent articles have described the incorporation of a novel generic model of insulin absorption into AIDA as a way of enhancing its capabilities. The basic model components to be integrated have been overviewed, with the aim being to provide simulations of regimens utilizing insulin analogues, as well as insulin doses greater than 40 IU (the current upper limit within the latest release of AIDA [v4.3a]). Some preliminary calculated insulin absorption results have also recently been described. METHODS: This article presents the first simulated plasma insulin profiles from the integration of the generic subcutaneous insulin absorption model, and the currently implemented model in AIDA for insulin disposition. Insulin absorption has been described by the physiologically based model of Tarín and colleagues. A single compartment modeling approach has been used to specify how absorbed insulin is distributed in, and eliminated from, the human body. To enable a numerical solution of the absorption model, a spherical subcutaneous depot for the injected insulin dose has been assumed and spatially discretized into shell compartments with homogeneous concentrations, having as its center the injection site. The number of these compartments will depend on the dose and type of insulin. Insulin inflow arises as the sum of contributions to the different shells. For this report the first bench testing of plasma insulin determinations has been done. RESULTS: Simulated plasma insulin profiles are provided for currently available insulin preparations, including a rapidly acting insulin analogue (e.g., lispro/Humalog or aspart/Novolog), a short-acting (regular) insulin preparation (e.g., Actrapid), intermediate-acting insulins (both Semilente and neutral protamine Hagedorn types), and a very long-acting insulin analogue (e.g., glargine/Lantus), as well as for insulin doses up to 50 IU. DISCUSSION: The methodology to be adopted for implementing the generic absorption model within AIDA has been overviewed, and the first plasma insulin profiles based on this approach have been demonstrated. Ideas for future work and development are discussed. It is expected that an updated release of AIDA (v4.5), based on this collaborative approach, will become available for free--in due course--via the www.2aida.org Web site. Readers who wish to be informed when the new software is launched can join the very low volume AIDA announcement list by sending a blank email note to subscribe@2aida.org.

Incorporating a generic model of subcutaneous insulin absorption into the AIDA v4 diabetes simulator: 1. a prospective collaborative development plan.

INTRODUCTION: AIDA v4 is an interactive educational diabetes simulator that has been made available, for over a decade, without charge via the Internet. The software is currently freely accessible at http://www.2aida.org. This report sets out a collaborative development plan to enhance the program with a new model of subcutaneous insulin absorption, which permits the simulation of rapidly acting and very long-acting insulin analogues, as well as insulin injection doses larger than 40 units. METHODS: A novel, generic, physiological subcutaneous insulin absorption model is overviewed and a methodology is proposed by which this can be substituted in place of the previously adopted insulin absorption model utilized within AIDA v4.3a. Apart from this substitution it is proposed to retain the existing model of the glucoregulatory system currently used in AIDA v4.3a. RESULTS: Initial simulation results based on bench testing of this approach using MATLAB are presented for the exogenous insulin flow profile (I(ex)) following subcutaneous injections of a rapidly acting insulin analogue, a short-acting (regular) insulin preparation, intermediate-acting insulins (both Semilente and neutral protamine Hagedorn types), and a very long-acting insulin analogue. DISCUSSION: It is proposed to implement this collaborative development plan-first by bench testing the approach in MATLAB and then by integrating the generic subcutaneous insulin absorption I(ex) model into the AIDA simulator in Pascal. The aim is to provide enhanced functionality and educational simulations of regimens utilizing novel insulin analogues, as well as injections larger than 40 units of insulin.

Incorporating a generic model of subcutaneous insulin absorption into the AIDA v4 diabetes simulator: 2. preliminary bench testing.

BACKGROUND: The AIDA interactive educational diabetes simulator has been available without charge for over a decade via the Internet (see www.2aida.org). Part 1 of this report [J Diabetes Sci Technol. 2007;1(3):423-35] described the model components to be integrated to enhance the utility of the software, with the aim being to provide enhanced functionality and educational simulations of regimens utilizing insulin analogues, as well as insulin doses greater than 40 units. This report provides some preliminary subcutaneous insulin absorption bench testing results for the updated modeling prototype. METHODS: An analysis has been done of the spatial distribution of insulin in the region of the injection site for different classes of insulin preparations and times after the administration of a set insulin injection. Demonstrations of the proportion of residual insulin in depot versus time after a subcutaneous bolus have also been simulated for different insulin injection volumes and concentrations, as well as to show the proportions of hexameric, dimeric, and bound insulin over time after an injection. RESULTS: Some early bench testing results are highlighted following subcutaneous injections of a rapidly acting insulin analogue (such as lispro/Humalog or aspart/NovoLog), a short-acting (regular) insulin preparation (e.g., Actrapid), intermediate-acting insulins (both Semilente and neutral protamine Hagedorn types), and a very long-acting insulin analogue (such as glargine/Lantus). The transformation, dissociation/association, and absorption processes by which insulin moves from the subcutaneous injection site to the plasma are also illustrated. DISCUSSION: This report demonstrates how enhanced capabilities may be added to AIDA once a new model of subcutaneous insulin absorption is incorporated. The revised approach, once fully implemented, should permit the simulation of plasma insulin profiles for rapidly acting and very long-acting insulin analogues, as well as insulin injections greater than 40 units.

Design, methods, and evaluation directions of a multi-access service for the management of diabetes mellitus patients.

Recent advances in information and communication technology allow the design and testing of new models of diabetes management, which are able to provide assistance to patients regardless of their distance from the health care providers. The M2DM project, funded by the European Commission, has the specific aim to investigate the potential of novel telemedicine services in diabetes management. A multi-access system based on the integration of Web access, telephone access through interactive voice response systems, and the use of palmtops and smart modems for data downloading has been implemented. The system is based on a technological platform that allows a tight integration between the access modalities through a middle layer called the multi-access organizer. Particular attention has been devoted to the design of the evaluation scheme for the system: A randomized controlled study has been defined, with clinical, organizational, economic, usability, and users' satisfaction outcomes. The evaluation of the system started in January 2002. The system is currently used by 67 patients and seven health care providers in five medical centers across Europe. After 6 months of usage of the system no major technical problems have been encountered, and the majority of patients are using the Web and data downloading modalities with a satisfactory frequency. From a clinical viewpoint, the hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) of both active patients and controls decreased, and the variance of HbA1c in active patients is significantly lower than the control ones. The M2DM system allows for the implementation of an easy-to-use, user-tailored telemedicine system for diabetes management. The first clinical results are encouraging and seem to substantiate the hypothesis of its clinical effectiveness.

An intelligent partner system for improving chronic illness care.

Chronic care consists of a sequence of actions to treat a specific clinical disorder over time as a function of the ways in which illness progresses and patients respond to management actions. Outcomes depend on physicians' skills to select the actions best suited for their patients and competent self-management. This paper presents the architecture of an intelligent partner system (IPS), which helps to provide doctors with relevant data and skills and empowers chronically ill patients with the information and confidence to manage their health wisely. The services of this intelligent system are presented as 'therapies' for the information-processing 'pathologies' associated with traditional chronic illness care.