Development and internal validation of diagnostic prediction models using machine-learning algorithms in dogs with hypothyroidism.

Introduction: Hypothyroidism can be easily misdiagnosed in dogs, and prediction models can support clinical decision-making, avoiding unnecessary testing and treatment. The aim of this study is to develop and internally validate diagnostic prediction models for hypothyroidism in dogs by applying machine-learning algorithms.

Methods: A single-institutional cross-sectional study was designed searching the electronic database of a Veterinary Teaching Hospital for dogs tested for hypothyroidism.

Web Health Monitoring Survey: A New Approach to Enhance the Effectiveness of Telemedicine Systems.

Background: Aging of the European population and interest in a healthy population in western countries have contributed to an increase in the number of health surveys, where the role of survey design, data collection, and data analysis methodology is clear and recognized by the whole scientific community. Survey methodology has had to couple with the challenges deriving from data collection through information and communications technology (ICT). Telemedicine systems have not used patients as a source of information, often limiting them to collecting only biometric data.

Is the digital divide an obstacle to e-health? An analysis of the situation in Europe and in Italy.

Introduction: The digital divide affecting elderly patients may compromise the diffusion of telemedicine systems for this age segment. It might be that the difficulties in the passage from trials to the effective distribution of telemedicine systems are also due to the awareness of a personal digital divide in the target population.

Materials And Methods: The analysis aims to estimate the number of people over the age of 50 years with potential cardiovascular problems able to access the Web.

The informative contribution of the "virtual medical visit" in a new heart failure telemedicine integrated system.

Introduction: Telemedicine systems consist of collection, transmission, and analysis of biometric data essentially based on instrumental measures. Our goal was to evaluate if information collected from patients has an incremental informative value in automatically rating the patient's health status.

Materials And Methods: We present preliminary results of a new telemedicine system (ASCOLTA) obtained by observation of 12 heart failure patients (New York Heart Association Class IIb-III).