On the neural network classification of medical data and an endeavour to balance non-uniform data sets with artificial data extension.

We studied the efficiency of multilayer perceptron networks to classify eight different medical data sets with typical problems connected to their strongly non-uniform distributions between output classes and relatively small sizes of training sets. We studied especially the possibility mentioned in the literature of balancing a class distribution by artificially extending small classes of a data set. The results obtained supported our hypothesis that principally this does somewhat improve the classification accuracy of small classes, but is also inclined to impair the classification accuracy of majority classes.

Measuring quality of care for essential hypertension.

Published guidelines set the standard of care for essential hypertension. The authors offer an audit tool based on national standards to evaluate how actual treatment measures up to the published standard of care. The measure of quality of care is based on three assumptions: Recording essential observations is an integral part of optimal health care What is recorded took place and what is not recorded did not take place If documentation of essential events agrees with audit criteria, the outcome of care will most likely be optimal

The four S's of wound management: staples, sutures, Steri-Strips, and sticky stuff.

Wound management is a daily occurrence in many practices. A short summary of current research in wound management is documented. Wound assessment guidelines are discussed.