Biomedical subjects

Jorge Cruz

Publications and source records attributed to Jorge Cruz.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Constraint reasoning in deep biomedical models.

OBJECTIVE: Deep biomedical models are often expressed by means of differential equations. Despite their expressive power, they are difficult to reason about and make decisions, given their non-linearity and the important effects that the uncertainty on data may cause. The objective of this work is to propose a constraint reasoning framework to support safe decisions based on deep biomedical models. METHOD: The methods used in our approach include the generic constraint propagation techniques for reducing the bounds of uncertainty of the numerical variables complemented with new constraint reasoning techniques that we developed to handle differential equations. RESULTS: The results of our approach are illustrated in biomedical models for the diagnosis of diabetes, tuning of drug design and epidemiology where it was a valuable decision-supporting tool notwithstanding the uncertainty on data. CONCLUSION: The main conclusion that follows from the results is that, in biomedical decision support, constraint reasoning may be a worthwhile alternative to traditional simulation methods, especially when safe decisions are required.

Artificial Intelligence↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Ehlers-Danlos syndrome - a rare cause of spontaneous pneumothorax].

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (cutis hyperelastica), is a group of connective tissue disorders characterized by abnormalities of the skin, ligaments and internal organs. It is a hereditary syndrome, usually with autossomal dominant inheritance; that primarily affects the collagen synthesis. The skin and blood vessels are extremely fragile and elastic. The skin is soft with rubber consistency and easily bruising. There are hypermobile joints with increased extensibility. We summarize the case of a sixteen year old boy with a history of joint hypermobility since childhood and splenic fracture that was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome after the occurrence of recidivant spontaneous pneumothorax. We present the most common pulmonary complications of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and discuss the importance of not forgetting the least commons etiologies of pneumothorax, in cases of spontaneous pneumothorax.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Emphysema and lung volume reduction surgery--a case report].

Lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) has been proposed as a palliative therapy in severe emphysema, with good results in lung function improvement, exercise capacity and quality of life. The authors present a case report of a 34 years old man with severe, heterogeneous lung emphysema submit to bilateral LVRS in 2000 January. Pre-surgical conditions, clinical and radiological evolution after surgery and for a 30 months follow up were analysed. Based on a literature revision, some technical aspects of LVRS, selection criteria and comparative study of medical and surgical therapy were discussed.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Surgery for volume reduction in chronic pulmonary obstructive disease].

Pulmonary emphysema is an insidious disease and severe symptoms may not develop for many years. Most patients die within two years after medical treatment has became ineffective. In 1993, J. Cooper successfully revitalized lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS), the most effective emphysema treatment after lung transplantation. Distinct from Brantigan's approach, Cooper performed a simultaneous bilateral procedure through a median sternotomy. In our experience, we perform a unilateral lung volume reduction through an anterior thoracotomy. The sustained beneficial effects for up to 24 months with unilateral LVRS and the preservation of the contralateral side for future interventions if required, renders unilateral LVRS an attractive concept in this difficult palliative situation. Although several large series reported significant improvement in the short and intermediate term, controversy remains regarding the long term clinical benefit, morbidity and mortality of this procedure. A long term randomized trial comparing LVRS with ongoing medical management, the National Emphysema Treatment Trial (NETT), was conceived. The NETT results, suggest that surgery increases the chance of improved exercise capacity, reduce the risk of death among patients with upper-lobe emphysema and low exercise capacity, increase the risk among patients with non-upperlobe emphysema and high exercise capacity, and have little effect on the risk of death in the other patients.

Humans↗