scholarly journals The Quest for System-Theoretical Medicine in the COVID-19 Era

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felix Tretter ◽  
Olaf Wolkenhauer ◽  
Michael Meyer-Hermann ◽  
Johannes W. Dietrich ◽  
Sara Green ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vaccine Development ◽  
General System ◽  
Medical Problem ◽  
Economic Modeling ◽  
Molecular Techniques ◽  
Systems Science ◽  
Systems Medicine ◽  
Theoretical Medicine ◽  
Systems Pathology ◽  
Multi Level

Precision medicine and molecular systems medicine (MSM) are highly utilized and successful approaches to improve understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of many diseases from bench-to-bedside. Especially in the COVID-19 pandemic, molecular techniques and biotechnological innovation have proven to be of utmost importance for rapid developments in disease diagnostics and treatment, including DNA and RNA sequencing technology, treatment with drugs and natural products and vaccine development. The COVID-19 crisis, however, has also demonstrated the need for systemic thinking and transdisciplinarity and the limits of MSM: the neglect of the bio-psycho-social systemic nature of humans and their context as the object of individual therapeutic and population-oriented interventions. COVID-19 illustrates how a medical problem requires a transdisciplinary approach in epidemiology, pathology, internal medicine, public health, environmental medicine, and socio-economic modeling. Regarding the need for conceptual integration of these different kinds of knowledge we suggest the application of general system theory (GST). This approach endorses an organism-centered view on health and disease, which according to Ludwig von Bertalanffy who was the founder of GST, we call Organismal Systems Medicine (OSM). We argue that systems science offers wider applications in the field of pathology and can contribute to an integrative systems medicine by (i) integration of evidence across functional and structural differentially scaled subsystems, (ii) conceptualization of complex multilevel systems, and (iii) suggesting mechanisms and non-linear relationships underlying the observed phenomena. We underline these points with a proposal on multi-level systems pathology including neurophysiology, endocrinology, immune system, genetics, and general metabolism. An integration of these areas is necessary to understand excess mortality rates and polypharmacological treatments. In the pandemic era this multi-level systems pathology is most important to assess potential vaccines, their effectiveness, short-, and long-time adverse effects. We further argue that these conceptual frameworks are not only valid in the COVID-19 era but also important to be integrated in a medicinal curriculum.

scholarly journals Molecular Epidemiology of Tuberculosis: Current Insights

2006 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 658-685 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barun Mathema ◽  
Natalia E. Kurepina ◽  
Pablo J. Bifani ◽  
Barry N. Kreiswirth
Keyword(s):  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Epidemiologic Studies ◽  
Molecular Techniques ◽  
Tb Control ◽  
Molecular Approaches ◽  
Accuracy And Precision ◽  
Outbreak Investigations ◽  
Short And Long Term ◽  
Exogenous Reinfection

SUMMARY Molecular epidemiologic studies of tuberculosis (TB) have focused largely on utilizing molecular techniques to address short- and long-term epidemiologic questions, such as in outbreak investigations and in assessing the global dissemination of strains, respectively. This is done primarily by examining the extent of genetic diversity of clinical strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. When molecular methods are used in conjunction with classical epidemiology, their utility for TB control has been realized. For instance, molecular epidemiologic studies have added much-needed accuracy and precision in describing transmission dynamics, and they have facilitated investigation of previously unresolved issues, such as estimates of recent-versus-reactive disease and the extent of exogenous reinfection. In addition, there is mounting evidence to suggest that specific strains of M. tuberculosis belonging to discrete phylogenetic clusters (lineages) may differ in virulence, pathogenesis, and epidemiologic characteristics, all of which may significantly impact TB control and vaccine development strategies. Here, we review the current methods, concepts, and applications of molecular approaches used to better understand the epidemiology of TB.

scholarly journals Philosophical and Ethical Foundations of Systems Thinking

1970 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 20-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Debora Hammond
Keyword(s):  
Systems Thinking ◽  
Systems Approach ◽  
General System ◽  
Practical Experience ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Systems Science ◽  
Social Feedback ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Foundational Work ◽  
Systems View

Drawing on more than a decade of research on the social implications of systems thinking, as well as practical experience in integrative, community-based approaches to education, this paper is an inquiry into philosophical and ethical considerations growing out of recent developments in systems thinking. In his foundational work on general system theory, Ludwig von Bertalanffy distinguishes between three general developments in the systems field: systems technology, systems science, and systems philosophy. These three dimensions of systems thinking each nurture distinct and often widely divergent theoretical and practical orientations. In his abstract for this session, Gary Metcalf asks whether the systems approach really has anything to offer. Science is a form of social feedback; it has created an enormous body of knowledge about the world and shaped humanity’s understanding of the nature of our collective reality. Knowledge then informs action. Assumptions built into scientific frameworks condition certain kinds of actions, as Bertalanffy has noted. Systems thinking as science nurtures a way of thinking that engenders a different kind of practice; systems as philosophy cultivates an ethic of integration and collaboration that has the potential to transform the nature of social organization. Although humanity still has a lot to learn about living more harmoniously and sustainably, systems thinking has made significant contributions in this direction in many fields, both theoretical and practical. The challenge is to integrate what we have learned, to communicate these insights to a larger audience, and to nurture institutional practices that honor the ethical principles inherent in the systems view.

scholarly journals Systems Medicine 2.0: Potential Benefits of Combining Electronic Health Care Records With Systems Science Models

2015 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. e64 ◽  
Author(s):  
Taavi Tillmann ◽  
Alexander R Gibson ◽  
Gregory Scott ◽  
Oliver Harrison ◽  
Anna Dominiczak ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Systems Science ◽  
Systems Medicine ◽  
Science Models ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
Electronic Health ◽  
Medicine 2.0 ◽  
Health Care Records

scholarly journals Molecular Epidemiology of Group A Rotaviruses in Water Sources and Selected Raw Vegetables in Southern Africa

2006 ◽  
Vol 72 (7) ◽  
pp. 4554-4560 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. B. van Zyl ◽  
N. A. Page ◽  
W. O. K. Grabow ◽  
A. D. Steele ◽  
M. B. Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Southern Africa ◽  
Irrigation Water ◽  
Water Samples ◽  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Molecular Techniques ◽  
Viral Gastroenteritis ◽  
Group A Rotaviruses ◽  
Group A ◽  
Treated Drinking Water

ABSTRACT Group A rotaviruses (RVs) are the most important cause of acute viral gastroenteritis in infants and young children. In this study raw and treated drinking water supplies at plants in two geographic areas, as well as selected irrigation water and corresponding raw vegetables in three regions of southern Africa, were screened for the presence of RVs using molecular techniques. Group A RVs were detected in 11.8% of partially treated and 1.7% of finally treated drinking water samples and in 14% of irrigation water samples and 1.7% of corresponding raw vegetable samples. Type-specific reverse transcriptase-PCR and sequence analysis revealed the presence of multiple types (G1, G2, G8, and G9) in irrigation water and single types (G1 or G3) in raw and treated drinking water. Group A RVs detected in all samples consisted of mixed P types (P[4], P[6], P[8], and P[9]), with P[6] predominating. The detection of types G8, G9, and P[6] reflects the emergence of these types in clinical infections. The similarity of environmental types to those in patients with clinical RV infections confirms the value of wastewater screening as a tool for assessing RVs circulating in communities, with the benefit of detecting types that cause both clinical and subclinical infections. The results provide new information on RV types in water and related environments and identify the potential risk of waterborne transmission. In addition, the presence of RVs in drinking water underlines shortcomings in quality specifications. These data provide valuable information regarding the prevalence of RVs in environmental sources, with important implications for vaccine development.

scholarly journals Philosophical and Ethical Foundations of Systems Thinking

1970 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 20-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Debora Hammond
Keyword(s):  
Systems Thinking ◽  
Systems Approach ◽  
General System ◽  
Practical Experience ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Systems Science ◽  
Social Feedback ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Foundational Work ◽  
Systems View

Drawing on more than a decade of research on the social implications of systems thinking, as well as practical experience in integrative, community-based approaches to education, this paper is an inquiry into philosophical and ethical considerations growing out of recent developments in systems thinking. In his foundational work on general system theory, Ludwig von Bertalanffy distinguishes between three general developments in the systems field: systems technology, systems science, and systems philosophy. These three dimensions of systems thinking each nurture distinct and often widely divergent theoretical and practical orientations. In his abstract for this session, Gary Metcalf asks whether the systems approach really has anything to offer. Science is a form of social feedback; it has created an enormous body of knowledge about the world and shaped humanity’s understanding of the nature of our collective reality. Knowledge then informs action. Assumptions built into scientific frameworks condition certain kinds of actions, as Bertalanffy has noted. Systems thinking as science nurtures a way of thinking that engenders a different kind of practice; systems as philosophy cultivates an ethic of integration and collaboration that has the potential to transform the nature of social organization. Although humanity still has a lot to learn about living more harmoniously and sustainably, systems thinking has made significant contributions in this direction in many fields, both theoretical and practical. The challenge is to integrate what we have learned, to communicate these insights to a larger audience, and to nurture institutional practices that honor the ethical principles inherent in the systems view.

Multimode light microscopy and fluorescence-based reagents as tools for the study of chemical and molecular dynamics of living cells and tissues

1992 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 418-419
Author(s):  
D. L. Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Living Cells ◽  
Cellular Level ◽  
Molecular Techniques ◽  
Cellular Functions ◽  
Macromolecular Assemblies ◽  
Cell Functions ◽  
Molecular Events ◽  
Yield Information ◽  
Full Knowledge ◽  
Structural Methods

Cells function through the complex temporal and spatial interplay of ions, metabolites, macromolecules and macromolecular assemblies. Biochemical approaches allow the investigator to define the components and the solution chemical reactions that might be involved in cellular functions. Static structural methods can yield information concerning the 2- and 3-D organization of known and unknown cellular constituents. Genetic and molecular techniques are powerful approaches that can alter specific functions through the manipulation of gene products and thus identify necessary components and sequences of molecular events. However, full knowledge of the mechanism of particular cell functions will require direct measurement of the interplay of cellular constituents. Therefore, there has been a need to develop methods that can yield chemical and molecular information in time and space in living cells, while allowing the integration of information from biochemical, molecular and genetic approaches at the cellular level.

Melanoma as a medical problem

1967 ◽  
Vol 119 (5) ◽  
pp. 479-492 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Nathanson
Keyword(s):  
Medical Problem

Verlaufsanalyse wöchentlicher Selbst- und Fremdeinschätzungen in der Langzeittherapie suchtkranker Jugendlicher

2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 126-137
Author(s):  
Ferdinand Keller ◽  
Tatjana Stadnitski ◽  
Jakob Nützel ◽  
Renate Schepker
Keyword(s):  
Allen Vier ◽  
Multi Level

Zusammenfassung. Fragestellung: Über Veränderungen in der emotionalen Befindlichkeit von Jugendlichen während einer Suchttherapie ist wenig bekannt. Methode: Die Jugendlichen füllten wöchentlich einen entsprechenden Fragebogen aus, analog ihre Bezugsbetreuer eine parallelisierte Kurzfassung. Von 42 Jugendlichen liegen insgesamt 853 Bogen und von den Bezugsbetreuern 708 Bogen vor. Die Fragebogen wurden zunächst faktorenanalytisch hinsichtlich ihrer Dimensionalität ausgewertet, anschließend wurden gruppenbezogene Verlaufsanalysen (Multi-Level-Modelle) und Abhängigkeitsanalysen auf Einzelfallebene (Zeitreihenanalysen) durchgeführt. Ergebnisse: Im Jugendlichenfragebogen ergaben sich vier Faktoren: negative Befindlichkeit, Wertschätzung von Therapie/Betreuung, Motivation und Suchtdynamik. Die Übereinstimmung zwischen den Jugendlichen- und der (einfaktoriellen) Betreuereinschätzung fiel insgesamt niedrig bis mäßig aus, brachte aber auf Einzelfallebene differenziertere Ergebnisse. Im Verlauf nahmen die Werte auf allen vier Jugendlichenskalen ab. Einzig der Verlauf der Wertschätzung in der Eingewöhnungsphase war prädiktiv für den späteren Abbruch der Maßnahme: Bei den Abbrechern nahm die Wertschätzung ab, während sie bei den Beendern initial stieg. Schlussfolgerungen: Der bedeutsamste Faktor in Bezug auf die Therapiebeendigung suchtkranker Jugendlicher scheint die Wertschätzung von Therapie/Betreuung zu sein, während die Motivation jugendtypische Schwankungen aufweist. Der Suchtdynamik kam eine deutlich weniger bedeutende Rolle zu als allgemein angenommen. Programme in der Langzeittherapie sollten die Wertschätzung von Therapie/Betreuung künftig mehr fokussieren als die Suchtdynamik.

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