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Biomedical subjects

S M Weiss

Publications and source records attributed to S M Weiss.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Home total parenteral nutrition in cancer patients.

Home parenteral nutrition has been used in a carefully selected group of patients with recurrent, incurable cancer. The goal of this treatment was to allow the patients to live their final months at home, instead of confined to hospital. Experiments with this program have shown that a rigidly defined group of patients can lead a comfortable existence with an acceptably low complication rate before eventually succumbing to their cancer. Additionally, a significant cost savings is realized, compared to the alternative of prolonged hospitalization.

Adult↗

An experimental transformation of a large expert knowledge base.

An experiment is described in which a significant part of the INTERNIST knowledge base for diagnosis in internal medicine is translated into an EXPERT model. INTERNIST employs the largest and broadest knowledge base of all the medical consultation systems that have been developed in recent years. EXPERT is a general system for designing consultation models. The translated model shows reasonable competence in the final diagnostic classification of 431 test cases. There are differences in the internal representation and reasoning relatively uniform manner, this experiment demonstrates the feasibility of transfer of knowledge between large-scale expert systems.

Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted↗

Behavioral medicine approaches to hypertension: an integrative analysis of theory and research.

This article compares behavioral and biological approaches to hypertension, highlights some of the practical, semantic, and theoretical issues involved, and attempts a constructive, behavioral medicine integration of these approaches. The major behavioral approaches to hypertension are described, with a focus on their conceptual limitations as stimulants to research into psychobiological mechanisms. A biobehavioral systems analysis of hypertension is outlined, emphasizing the role of the central nervous system as a common pathway relating environmental and behavioral factors to cardiovascular regulatory dynamics and disease. Schwartz's concept of blood pressure disregulation is discussed, by which behavioral "feedback loops" may be included in the pathogenesis of homeostatic disorders. A detailed discussion of concepts underlying the clinical pharmacological approach to hypertension is provided; parallels are drawn between the conceptual framework and the theoretical and practical questions facing behavioral researchers concerned with hypertension. Synergistic interactive effects of drug and behavioral treatments are proposed. A biobehavioral overview, which links pressor and depressor stimulus patterns to both pathogenesis and therapy, can serve to integrate the previous biobehavioral systems analysis, the conceptual framework of clinical pharmacology, and the notion of biobehavioral disregulation of blood pressure. Implications for future behavioral medicine research in hypertension are provided.

Antihypertensive Agents↗

Associative learning, habit, and health behavior.

Habit is defined as a firmly established behavior pattern marked by increasing automaticity, decreasing awareness, and partial independence from reinforcement. Reinforcement is viewed as of primary importance in the acquisition of behavior, whereas principles of associative learning enter to complement reinforcement in the maintenance of behavior. Habit is seen as a mechanism for short-circuiting the reinforcement process to avoid its overload and for providing the organism with speed and stability of response instead of the variability offered by reinforcement. The implications of this definition of habit for acquisition and alteration of health behavior are discussed; examples include smoking, obesity, alcoholism, and coronary-prone (type A) behavior.

Alcoholism↗

Yale Conference on Behavioral Medicine: a proposed definition and statement of goals.

The Yale Conference on Behavioral Medicine brought a diverse group of behavioral and biomedical scientists together for the purpose of arriving at an interdisciplinary yet consensual definition, statement of goals, and set of recommendations regarding the emerging field of behavioral medicine. It was proposed that behavioral medicine be defined as "the field concerned with the development of behavioral science knowledge and techniques relevant to the understanding of physical health and illness and the application of this knowledge and techniques to prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation. psychosis, neurosis, and substance abuse are included only insofar as they contribute to physical disorders as an end point." The rational behind this definition and proposals for future developments in the field are discussed.

Congresses as Topic↗