Subject(s)
Bernard-Soulier Syndrome/congenital , Bernard-Soulier Syndrome/genetics , Inclusion Bodies/ultrastructure , Thrombocytopenia/congenital , Thrombocytopenia/genetics , Bernard-Soulier Syndrome/blood , Diagnosis, Differential , Fetal Blood , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Platelet Count , Thrombocytopenia/bloodABSTRACT
UNLABELLED: In neonatology, the early prediction of length-of-stay (LOS) may help in decision making. We retrospectively studied the accuracy of two LOS prediction models, namely a multiple linear regression model (MR) and an artificial neural network (ANN). Preterm neonates (n = 2144) were randomly assigned to a training-and-test (75%), or validation patient set (25%). A total of 40 first-day-of-life items (input data) and the date of discharge (output data) were routinely available. Training-and-test set data were used to identify input items with impact on LOS (input variables) using MR analysis to establish a MR prediction model and to train and test an ANN on those selected variables. Fed with validation set data, predicted LOS obtained from MR and ANN was compared individually with actual LOS. Predicted and actual LOS were highly correlated (for MR, r = 0.85 to 0.90; for ANN, r = 0.87 to 0.92). CONCLUSION: Even first-day-of-life data may contain substantial information with which to predict individual length-of-stay.
Subject(s)
Infant, Premature , Length of Stay , Neural Networks, Computer , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Infant, Premature, Diseases , Linear Models , Prognosis , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
In 34 patients the diameter of Wirsung's duct was measured by real-time sonography before and after intravenous application of secretin. 25 of these patients, meeting special criteria, were chosen as normal controls; 9 patients had chronic pancreatitis. Normal subjects with an average duct diameter of 1.8 mm showed an average dilatation by about 89% to a mean value of 3.4 mm, mostly within five minutes. No dilatation was seen in patients with chronic pancreatitis (average duct diameter 2.9 mm), with the exception of one patient. The authors discuss the possibility of assessing pancreatic function and of detecting the presence of a rigid duct in a fibrotic pancreas by sonography. This confirms the usefulness of the sonographic secretin test as a reliable aid in the diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis.
