ABSTRACT
Health care systems in Austria and Slovenia are currently facing challenges due to scarce resources and demographic change which can be seen especially along the supply chains. The main objective of this paper is to present an option to improve the use of assistive technologies. An extensive literature research for the theoretic part as well as a qualitative survey for the empiric part focusing on short-term care were carried out. Results show that there is a lack of information and training on assistive technologies. As a consequence, their full potential cannot be exploited. Therefore a guideline for nursing consultations was developed. To conclude, both the literature research and the qualitative survey show that assistive technologies have high potentials to improve the supply chains in the health care and social services sector, but there is a lot of information and training on them needed.
Subject(s)
Delivery of Health Care/organization & administration , Health Care Sector/organization & administration , Models, Organizational , Self-Help Devices , Social Work/organization & administration , Transitional Care/organization & administration , Austria , SloveniaABSTRACT
Due to demographic changes, the number of elderly people who are in need of care is increasing. Assistive technologies make it possible for many elderly people to remain home despite their health conditions, which many prefer. Quality is an essential element of nursing care, and the elderly are becoming increasingly aware of this and are beginning to make high demands. The aims of this paper, which is based on a master's thesis, were to identify quality criteria in the field of assistive technologies and to present indicators for measuring quality. An extensive literature research was conducted for the theoretical part, and the empirical part employed a qualitative survey. The results show that the elderly's contentment and quality of life are the decisive factors for quality. A catalogue of quality indicators was developed by merging the results from literature with those from the expert consultation. To conclude, further research in this context, based on the results of this paper, is needed, in order to support the increasing use of assistive technologies.
Subject(s)
Assisted Living Facilities/standards , Practice Guidelines as Topic , Quality Assurance, Health Care/standards , Quality Indicators, Health Care/standards , Self-Help Devices/standards , Telemedicine/standards , AustriaABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To look at the epithelial nature of Salzmann nodular degeneration (SND) and its possible relation with the aetiology of the subepithelial collagen deposition. METHODS: Histological slides of 28 patients with SND were analysed for limbal and central corneal epithelial markers. Expression pattern of these markers in the basal layer of the epithelium was analysed and compared to the expression pattern in central corneal and limbal epithelium. Statistical analysis was performed by means of analysis of variance. RESULTS: Expression of the epithelial stem cell marker ABCG2 and p63 was low in SND. Expression of CK12, a marker for terminally differentiated epithelium, was low, as well. But, CK19 and Enolase-alpha expressions were significantly increased and resembled the expression pattern of transient amplifying cells (TAC) of the limbus. CONCLUSION: The epithelium in SND shows similar characteristics as TAC of the limbus and seems to be metabolically more active than the differentiated central corneal epithelium. This could be related to the deposition of subepithelial collagen fibrils seen in SND and points out a possible involvement of the corneal epithelium in the aetiology of Salzmann nodular degeneration.
Subject(s)
Biomarkers/metabolism , Corneal Dystrophies, Hereditary/metabolism , Epithelium, Corneal/metabolism , Limbus Corneae/metabolism , ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 2 , ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters/metabolism , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Biomarkers, Tumor/metabolism , Child , Child, Preschool , Corneal Dystrophies, Hereditary/etiology , DNA-Binding Proteins/metabolism , Female , Humans , Immunoenzyme Techniques , Keratins/metabolism , Male , Membrane Proteins/metabolism , Middle Aged , Neoplasm Proteins/metabolism , Phosphopyruvate Hydratase/metabolism , Tumor Suppressor Proteins/metabolism , Young AdultSubject(s)
Anorexia Nervosa/epidemiology , Anorexia Nervosa/psychology , Bulimia Nervosa/epidemiology , Bulimia Nervosa/psychology , Diet , Feeding Behavior/psychology , Food, Organic , Health Personnel/psychology , Obsessive Behavior/epidemiology , Obsessive Behavior/psychology , Adult , Aged , Anorexia Nervosa/diagnosis , Bulimia Nervosa/diagnosis , Diagnosis, Differential , Female , Humans , Middle Aged , Phobic Disorders/epidemiology , Phobic Disorders/psychology , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Irinotecan (CPT-11) in combination with 5-fluorouracil/folinic acid is used successfully for first-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer. Capecitabine (CCB) represents a very convenient alternative to 5-fluorouracil, either as single agent or in a combination of regimens acting synergistically and with the potential to further improve efficacy. Both CPT-11 and CCB need to be activated by human carboxyl esterases, therefore a probable pharmacokinetic drug interaction was checked. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ten patients suffering from advanced colorectal cancer were enrolled in this trial. CPT-11 was administered as a 30-min i.v.-infusion (70 mg/m2) weekly. CCB was given p.o. twice daily for two weeks (2,000 mg/m2 daily) starting the day after the first CPT-11 infusion. Plasma samples were analysed during/after the first (MONO) and third (CAPIRI) CPT-11 infusion. RESULTS: CCB did not alter CPT-11 plasma disposition, and no significant changes in c(max), AUC(last), Vdss and Cl(tot) during CAPIRI treatment could be observed. However, co-administration of CCB appeared to decrease SN-38 (the cytotoxic CPT-11 metabolite) plasma concentrations during the first three hours after initiation of CPT-11 infusion, with strongly time-dependent plasma percentage differences between control and CAPIRI treatment (p < 0.005, R = 0.981). Co-administration of CCB also had a similar impact on the initial plasma disposition of SN-38gluc, but not on that of the APC metabolite. CONCLUSION: Overall, our findings indicate that, while the administration of CCB resulted in reversible lower formation rates of SN-38 and SN-38gluc, it did not have a significant impact on CPT-11 pharmacokinetics.
