The problem of designing tablet geometry and its internal structure that results into a specified release profile of the drug during dissolution was considered. A solution method based on parametric programming, inspired by CAD (computer-aided design) approaches currently used in other fields of engineering, was proposed and demonstrated. The solution of the forward problem using a parametric series of structural motifs was first carried out in order to generate a library of drug release profiles associated with each structural motif. The inverse problem was then solved in three steps: first, the combination of basic structural motifs whose superposition provides the closest approximation of the required drug release profile was found by a linear combination of pre-calculated release profiles. In the next step, the final tablet design was constructed and its dissolution curve found computationally. Finally, the proposed design was 3D printed and its dissolution profile was confirmed experimentally. The computational method was based on the numerical solution of drug diffusion in a boundary layer surrounding the tablet, coupled with erosion of the tablet structure encoded by the phase volume function. The tablets were 3D printed by fused deposition modelling (FDM) from filaments produced by hot-melt extrusion. It was found that the drug release profile could be effectively controlled by modifying the tablet porosity. Custom release profiles were obtained by combining multiple porosity regions in the same tablet. The computational method yielded accurate predictions of the drug release rate for both single- and multi-porosity tablets.
Příspěvek se zabývá aplikačním programovým vybavením pro analýzu agonistického chování pokusných zvířat (myší). Program klasifikuje myši do tří kategorií podle jejich chování v kontrolním pozorování - agresivní, plaché, sociabilní a provádí kromě základních statistických výpočtů ještě Wilcoxonův párový test. Výsledky analýzy jsou v přehledné formě vytisknuty v tabulkách a ke každé tabulce je zkonstruován sloupcový graf. Aplikační programové vybavení bylo vyvinuto v tabulkovém procesoru Microsoft Excel s využitím maker Excel 4.0.
Pozadí: Pacienti s chronickým průběhem schizofrenie bývají kvůli silně vyjádřeným negativním příznakům onemocnění a dlouhodobé nezaměstnanosti stigmatizováni, trpí sociálním stažením, vymizením zájmů, zhoršenou kvalitou života. Cíle: Zmapovat, zda je možné zapojit nemocné s chronickým průběhem schizofrenie do placeného pracovně rehabilitačního programu a udržet je v něm po dobu 18 měsíců. Zobjektivizovat, zda dojde ke změně v psychopatologickém obrazu nemoci. Zjistit, zda dojde ke zlepšení kvality života. Pacienti a metodika: Do projektu bylo zařazeno 15 nemocných s chronickým průběhem schizofrenie. Na začátku a na konci projektu byl jejich psychopatologický obraz hodnocen škálou Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), kvalita života byla hodnocena škálou Subjective Quality of Life Analysis (SQUALA). Výsledky: 12 pacientů vydrželo v programu po dobu 18 měsíců. U účastníků došlo za těchto 18 měsíců k signifikantnímu zlepšení v celkovém PANSS a v obecné a negativní části škály PANSS (total PANSS p = 0,002, negative PANSS p = 0,002, global PANSS p = 0,002). U participantů nedošlo v žádném z parametrů ke zlepšení v subjektivním hodnocení kvality života. Závěr: Naše studie potvrdila, že i nemocné s chronickým průběhem schizofrenie je možné zaměstnat a udržet v pracovně rehabilitačním programu. Díky zapojení do pracovně rehabilitačního programu došlo u participantů ke zmírnění psychopatologických příznaků nemoci. U účastníků nedošlo ke zlepšení subjektivní kvality života.
Background: Due to serious negative symptoms of the disease and long-term unemployment, patients with chronic course of schizophrenia are stigmatized, suffer from social withdrawal, loss of interest, and reduced quality of life. Objectives: To find and map whether patients with chronic courses of schizophrenia are able engage in a paid working and rehabilitation program and to be kept in it for 18 months. To objectify whether there is a change in the psycho-pathological picture of the disease. To find out whether the patients´ quality of life is improved. Patients and methods: 15 patients with chronic courses of schizophrenia were included into the project. At the beginning and at the end of the project, the psychopathological picture was evaluated using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and quality of life was evaluated using the scale of Subjective Quality of Life Analysis (SQUALA). Results: 12 patients stayed in the program for 18 months. A significant improvement in the total PANSS, the global and the negative parts of the PANSS were observed for the patients after the 18 months (total PANSS p=0.002, negative PANSS p=0.002, global PANSS p=0.002). For the participants, no parameters of subjective evaluation of quality of life were improved. Conclusion: Our study has confirmed that even the patients with chronic schizophrenia are able to be employed and kept in a working and rehabilitation program. Thanks to their engagement in the working and rehabilitation program, the participants experienced relieved psycho-pathological symptoms of the disease. The participants' subjective quality of life was not improved.
- Keywords
- pracově rehabilitační program, finanční motivace,
- MeSH
- Chronic Disease psychology rehabilitation MeSH
- Adult MeSH
- Quality of Life * psychology MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Young Adult MeSH
- Motivation MeSH
- Salaries and Fringe Benefits MeSH
- Follow-Up Studies MeSH
- Statistics, Nonparametric MeSH
- Psychiatric Status Rating Scales MeSH
- Psychometrics MeSH
- Rehabilitation, Vocational * psychology MeSH
- Schizophrenic Psychology MeSH
- Schizophrenia * rehabilitation MeSH
- Treatment Outcome MeSH
- Employment, Supported psychology MeSH
- Employment psychology MeSH
- Check Tag
- Adult MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Young Adult MeSH
- Male MeSH
- Female MeSH
- MeSH
- Analysis of Variance MeSH
- Carotid Arteries MeSH
- Biomedical Technology methods trends MeSH
- Dominance, Cerebral physiology MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Cerebrospinal Fluid physiology MeSH
- Statistics, Nonparametric MeSH
- Normal Distribution MeSH
- Software trends MeSH
- Models, Statistical MeSH
- Thyroid Gland physiology MeSH
- Check Tag
- Humans MeSH
ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to ascertain changes in symptoms of patients with borderline personality disorder undergoing psychodynamic day treatment with a duration of 9 months and the factors that predict clinical outcome or dropouts from the program.In an observational study, demographic characteristics (age, number of psychiatric hospitalizations, number of suicide attempts, current involvement in work or study activities), day doses of antipsychotic and antidepressant medication, psychiatric symptoms, and social functioning (Health of the Nation Outcome Scales), and symptoms of dissociation (Dissociative Experiences Scale) were assessed in patients at the beginning of treatment (N = 105). Further, psychiatric symptoms and social functioning were assessed at 3 stages: beginning of the program, end of the program, and 1-year follow-up. To study the differences between baseline values and values at the end of the treatment and follow-up values, the Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used. To discover baseline factors related to the effect of the treatment, Spearman correlation coefficients were calculated. To evaluate the differences between patients who completed the program (N = 67) and patients who dropped out (N = 38), differences in baseline factors between both groups were compared, using the Mann-Whitney test for independent samples.Improvement in symptoms (Health of the Nation Outcome Scales - version for external evaluators) at the end of the therapy (N = 67, P < .001) and at the 1-year follow-up (N = 46, P < .001) was found. Experience of an intimate relationship was positively related to clinical improvement at follow-up examinations (P < .001). Predictors of dropout included a higher number of psychiatric hospitalizations (P = .004), suicide attempts (P = .004), more severe pretreatment symptoms (P = .002), and symptoms of dissociation (P = .046).The results indicate that a psychodynamic day treatment is feasible for the treatment of less clinically disturbed patients with a history of intimate relationships. Patients with a higher number of previous psychiatric hospitalizations, more suicide attempts in the past, more severe pretreatment symptoms, and symptoms of dissociation are more likely not to complete the program.
- MeSH
- Day Care, Medical methods MeSH
- Adult MeSH
- Borderline Personality Disorder therapy MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Statistics, Nonparametric MeSH
- Suicide, Attempted statistics & numerical data MeSH
- Psychiatric Status Rating Scales MeSH
- Psychotherapy, Psychodynamic methods MeSH
- Regression Analysis MeSH
- Risk Factors MeSH
- Feasibility Studies MeSH
- Patient Dropouts statistics & numerical data MeSH
- Treatment Outcome MeSH
- Check Tag
- Adult MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Male MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Observational Study MeSH
OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to investigate the effectiveness and feasibility of conducting a complementary 8-week comprehensive lifestyle modification program (CLMP) compared to standard care in patients with bronchial asthma over a 6-month period. METHODS: This was a randomized controlled pilot trial with two groups: intervention (N = 15) group and attention-placebo control (N = 14) group. The intervention group received an 8-week CLMP in addition to standard care. Quality of life, asthma control, lung function, reduction of rescue medication, perceived stress, and psychosocial and spiritual status were measured at the end of the intervention and at the 4-month follow-up. RESULTS: In the intervention group, there was a statistically significant difference in the improvements of quality of life, asthma control, lung function, and the reduction of rescue medication intake at both the end of the intervention and at the 4-month follow-up, with no change being observed in the control group. Significant stress reduction and greater psychosocial and spiritual well-being were observed during the 8-week CLMP in the intervention group. At the end of the intervention, the measures of stress and psychological and spiritual well-being reached statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: Preliminary findings suggest that adding a CLMP to standard care in patients with bronchial asthma offers greater clinical benefit than standard care alone and also suggest that conducting a large randomized clinical trial is feasible.
- MeSH
- Anti-Asthmatic Agents administration & dosage MeSH
- Behavior Therapy methods MeSH
- Asthma drug therapy physiopathology psychology therapy MeSH
- Quality of Life MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Statistics, Nonparametric MeSH
- Pilot Projects MeSH
- Respiratory Function Tests MeSH
- Life Style MeSH
- Check Tag
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Male MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
- Randomized Controlled Trial MeSH
- Comparative Study MeSH
This article deals with continuous-time Linear Time-Invariant (LTI) Single-Input Single-Output (SISO) systems affected by unstructured multiplicative uncertainty. More specifically, its aim is to present an approach to the construction of uncertain models based on the appropriate selection of a nominal system and a weight function and to apply the fundamentals of robust stability investigation for considered sort of systems. The initial theoretical parts are followed by three extensive illustrative examples in which the first order time-delay, second order and third order plants with parametric uncertainty are modeled as systems with unstructured multiplicative uncertainty and subsequently, the robust stability of selected feedback loops containing constructed models and chosen controllers is analyzed and obtained results are discussed.
- MeSH
- Uncertainty * MeSH
- Programming, Linear * MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
Magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) involves a huge number of spectra to be processed and analyzed. Several tools enabling MRSI data processing have been developed and widely used. However, the processing programs primarily focus on sophisticated spectra processing and offer limited support for the analysis of the calculated spectroscopic maps. In this paper the jSIPRO (java Spectroscopic Imaging PROcessing) program is presented, which is a java-based graphical interface enabling post-processing, viewing, analysis and result reporting of MRSI data. Interactive graphical processing as well as protocol controlled batch processing are available in jSIPRO. jSIPRO does not contain a built-in fitting program. Instead, it makes use of fitting programs from third parties and manages the data flows. Currently, automatic spectra processing using LCModel, TARQUIN and jMRUI programs are supported. Concentration and error values, fitted spectra, metabolite images and various parametric maps can be viewed for each calculated dataset. Metabolite images can be exported in the DICOM format either for archiving purposes or for the use in neurosurgery navigation systems.
- MeSH
- Electronic Data Processing statistics & numerical data MeSH
- Fourier Analysis MeSH
- Functional Neuroimaging statistics & numerical data MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging statistics & numerical data MeSH
- Brain metabolism pathology MeSH
- Programming Languages MeSH
- Software * MeSH
- Imaging, Three-Dimensional MeSH
- Check Tag
- Humans MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
