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Biomedical subjects

D R Masys

Publications and source records attributed to D R Masys.

28 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

The Physician Data Query (PDQ) cancer information system.

PDQ is an online database that provides information about the prognosis and treatment of all major types of cancer. It represents a major effort by the NCI to communicate advances in cancer treatment using computer technology, and serves as a major component of the Institute's program to reduce cancer mortality nationwide. PDQ utilizes a modern large-scale computer to provide processing speed, a general purpose database management system to provide retrieval and display functions, and commercial telecommunication networks to provide online access to up-to-date information on cancer treatment. A series of user-friendly menus allow searching, browsing, and displaying without having to learn a specialized search language. PDQ is accessible through the National Library of Medicine's computer system via a computer terminal or personal computer and is available to the medical community at over 2000 medical libraries and centers and through individual access codes. PDQ is also available as an online database under a special license agreement with NCI through two medical information systems produced by commercial database vendors: BRS/Saunders' COLLEAGUE and Mead Data Central's MEDIS.

Drugs, Investigational↗
PubMed1982

Activation of human factor VII by activated factors IX and X.

Factor VII clotting activity increases about five-fold when blood is clotted in glass. Prior studies suggested that this results from activation induced by activated factor IX (IXa). However, in purified systems containing phospholipid and calcium, activated factor X (Xa) is known to activate factor VII rapidly. Therefore, we studied activation of factor VII by IXa and X, in systems using purified human factors. Concentrations of IXa and Xa were calculated from total activated protein concentrations rather than from active site concentrations. In the presence of phospolipid and calcium, both IXa and Xa activated factor VII 25-fold; however, Xa was roughly 800 times more efficient than IXa. Without added phospholipid, activation of factor VII by both Xa and IXa was markedly slowed, and Xa was roughly 20 times more efficient than IXa. When both phospholipid and calcium were omitted, activation of factor VII by either enzyme was negligible. Adding normal prothrombin, but not decarboxylated prothrombin, substantially slowed activation of factor VII by both Xa and IXa. Adding thrombin-activated factor VIII and antithrombin-III did not change rates of factor VII activation by either enzyme. These results from purified systems do not provide an explanation for the prior data from plasma systems.

Blood Coagulation Tests↗
PubMed1980

Typhlitis: a treatable complication of acute leukemia therapy.

Heretofore, pseudomembranous enterocolitis, or more specifically typhlitis, occurring as a complication of the cytotoxic chemotherapy of acute leukemia has nearly always resulted in a fatal outcome. Recent surgical literature states that if cecitis is found as a consequence of therapy for leukemia, the surgeon should refrain from operating because standard procedures, including hemicolectomy, have not improved survival. This paper reports two patients with acute typhlitis resulting from induction therapy of acute leukemia with cytosine arabinoside and hydroxydaunorubicin. Both patients underwent subtotal colectomy, while their marrows were aplastic from therapy, and survived their surgery. Both are living and well in maintained remission, 1 year from surgery. We review the pathogenesis of this disorder and discuss its clinical, x-ray, and laboratory features. Close oncologic/surgical teamwork is stressed as the patient is followed closely into the time frame when the decision is made whether to operate. Factors contributing to this decision are discussed. Preoperative recommendations are made in order to bring the patient into a state of physiologic stability. The operative procedure is described along with the postoperative complications encountered. We strongly recommend that laparotomy be considered in selected patients with typhlitis occurring as a complication of treated leukemia.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The federal role in the health information infrastructure: a debate of the pros and cons of government intervention.

Some observers feel that the federal government should play a more active leadership role in educating the medical community and in coordinating and encouraging a more rapid and effective implementation of clinically relevant applications of wide-area networking. Other people argue that the private sector is recognizing the importance of these issues and will, when the market demands it, adopt and enhance the telecommunications systems that are needed to produce effective uses of the National Information Infrastructure (NII) by the healthcare community. This debate identifies five areas for possible government involvement: convening groups for the development of standards; providing funding for research and development; ensuring the equitable distribution of resources, particularly to places and people considered by private enterprise to provide low opportunities for profit; protecting rights of privacy, intellectual property, and security; and overcoming the jurisdictional barriers to cooperation, particularly when states offer conflicting regulations. Arguments against government involvement include the likely emergence of an adequate infrastructure under free market forces, the often stifling effect of regulation, and the need to avoid a common-and-control mentality in an infrastructure that is best promoted collaboratively.

Delivery of Health Care↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Are medical informatics and nursing informatics distinct disciplines? The 1999 ACMI debate.

The 1999 debate of the American College of Medical Informatics focused on the proposition that medical informatics and nursing informatics are distinctive disciplines that require their own core curricula, training programs, and professional identities. Proponents of this position emphasized that informatics training, technology applications, and professional identities are closely tied to the activities of the health professionals they serve and that, as nursing and medicine differ, so do the corresponding efforts in information science and technology. Opponents of the proposition asserted that informatics is built on a re-usable and widely applicable set of methods that are common to all health science disciplines, and that "medical informatics" continues to be a useful name for a composite core discipline that should be studied by all students, regardless of their health profession orientation.

Medical Informatics↗