Usage of modelling and simulation in medicine and pharmacy

Izhodišča: Modeliranje in simulacija sta se kot metodologija pojasnjevanja, analiziranja in napovedovanja delovanja različnih sistemov že tako uveljavila, da ju srečujemo praktično pri vseh znanstvenih disciplinah, kjer tudi medicina in farmacija nista izjemi. Čeprav je narava problemov ze na omenjenih področjih lahko zelo raznolika, pa omogoča razvita metodologija uporabo podobnih in sistematično organiziranih tehnik načrtovanja, pri čemer je seveda sodelovanje problemskih strokovnjakov ključnega pomena. Zaključki: Prispevek podaja pregled nekaterih pomembnejših vidikov modeliranja in simulacije na področju medicine in farmacije. V uvodu je najprej pojasnjeno temeljno izrazoslovje področja, sledi pa opis razlogov za uporabo modeliranja in simulacije kot tehnike resevanja problemov. Nato je predstavljena metodologija, ki vključuje ciklični postopek značilnih dejavnosti, delitev uporabljanih oblik modelov in načinov njihove izgradnje. Opis metodologije je zaključen z opisom načinov eksperimentiranja z modelom, kjer smo osrednjo pozornost namenili zvezni simulaciji. Predstavljene dejavnosti so ilustrirane s preprostejsimi in razumljivimi primeri s področja medicine in farmacije. Na koncu prispevka je predstavljen tudi nekoliko kompleksnejsi problem, s katerim smo želeli ilustrirati prediktivne sposobnosti modeliranja na primeru studija vpliva čezmerne telesne mase na pet bolezni, pri katerih smo upostevali tudi obstojeèe krizne vplive. Rezultati modeliranja so nadalje omogočili tudi ekonomsko vrednotenje zdravljenja debelosti in napovedovanje bolniskega staleza ter hospitalizacije opazovanih bolnikov. Modeliranje in simulacija lahko v medicini in farmaciji pojasnita in osvetlita kompleksne klinične in terapevtske okolisčine, za katere ni mogoče dobiti podatkov v klinčènih in eksperimentalnih raziskavah.Background: Modelling and simulation have become established methodology in explanation, analysis and prediction of systems operation and can therefore be met practically in all scientific disciplines including medicine and pharmacy. In spite of the fact that even in these two areas the nature of problems can differ drastically, developed methodology enables the usage of similar and systematically organised design techniques, where the cooperation with problemexperts is of crucial importance. Conclusions: In the paper some aspects regarding modelling and simulation in medicine and pharmacyare described. First in the introduction the basic terminology and reasons for using modelling and simulation as problem - solving techniques are given. Further, the main methodologies, including cyclic modelling activities, approaches in model construction and model representations are presented. The section is ending with experimental part of model solving, where the main attention is devoted to the continuous simulation. Presented ideas are illustrated through several simple and comprehensible examples which can frequently be met in the field of medicine and pharmacy. At the end also one more complex problem is introduced where predictive capabilities of modelling were illustrated for thestudy of influence of obesity to five different diseases, where also existing cross-couplings were taken into account. Modelling results have enabled economic evaluation of obesity treatment and the prediction of needed hospitalization and expenses regarding the absence from the work. Modelling and simulation can also in medicine and pharmacy explain and throw light upon complex clinical and therapeutic circumstances which can not be obtained from the clinical and experimental research data