Prediction of Diagnosis-Related Groups for Appendectomy Patients Using C4.5 and Neural Network.

Due to the increasing cost of health insurance, for decades, many countries have endeavored to constrain the cost of insurance by utilizing a DRG payment system. In most cases, under the DRG payment system, hospitals cannot exactly know which DRG code inpatients are until they are discharged. This paper focuses on the prediction of what DRG code appendectomy patients will be classified with when they are admitted to hospital.

Hyperuricemia is an independent risk factor for new onset micro-albuminuria in a middle-aged and elderly population: a prospective cohort study in taiwan.

Background: Hyperuricemia is now regarded as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Micro-albuminuria is associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease. We hypothesized that elevated serum uric acid (UA) is associated with development of micro-albuminuria in the general population.

Hyperuricemia as an independent risk factor of chronic kidney disease in middle-aged and elderly population.

Introduction: Hyperuricemia in the general population remains controversial, in terms of it being considered a risk factor for chronic kidney disease (CKD). Within this context, we evaluated the effects of hyperuricemia on renal function in older Taiwanese adults.

Methods: From January 2002 to December 2006, we conducted a community-based medical screening program involving 31,331 subjects older than 40 years.

Hypertriglyceridemia: an independent risk factor of chronic kidney disease in Taiwanese adults.

Background: The prevalence and incidence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) are relatively high in Taiwanese patients than in patients of other countries, particularly in the older age groups. Dyslipidemia in patients with CKD has been recognized as a risk factor for disease progression but the role of triglycerides (TGs) remains controversial. With this regard, we evaluated the effects of hypertriglyceridemia on renal function in Taiwanese adults (aged >or=40 years).