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M Dugas

Publications and source records attributed to M Dugas.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

XML-based visualization of design and completeness in medical databases.

PURPOSE: mdplot (medical database plot) visualizes both structure and quality of data in medical databases by means of a summary representation of design and completeness in XML format. The goal is to identify attributes suitable for evaluation and to aid in creating open data models. METHODS: A three-stage visualization approach is applied. First, an overview of all classes in a database, second a detailed view of a specific class and third an analysis of individual attributes. Missing data is identified to enable specific efforts to improve data quality prior to analysis. For each class number of patients, attributes, and records per patient are provided. A condensed bar chart for each category of attributes (categorical, numerical, text and other) visualizes available content: The abscissa corresponds to the sequence of attributes; the ordinate represents completeness per attribute. By selection of a specific class, a detailed description is provided including mean completeness in each category as well as completeness per attribute. To analyse attributes that are collected at several time points per patient, a frequency distribution of records per patient can be generated. RESULTS: The new methodology was applied to two clinical research databases consisting of 292 attributes (955 patients) and 224 attributes (610 patients), respectively, and resulted in major restructuring of the systems. A public website is provided for generation of mdplots.

Data Collection↗
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Intranet-based multi-purpose medical records in orthopaedics.

Quality assurance in orthopaedics--as in any medical speciality--relies on precise medical records. Data quality is crucial for statistical evaluation; missing values cannot be avoided but must be minimized. The quality assurance system must be accessible from many locations within the clinic; given the complex and heterogeneous computing infrastructure this is a technological challenge. Intranet technology--the application of internet-tools in local networks--can help to solve the technical problems. A generic Intranet-based quality assurance system in orthopaedics was designed, implemented and evaluated. The basic concept is an intranet data entry form which is generated semi-automatically from the data definition. This form is adapted according to the individual needs of the doctors (intelligent data entry). By flexible data transformation the same data set is used for clinical reports as well as scientific evaluations. The first use was for ultrasound examinations of neonatal hips. A report form consisting of 56 items was designed. Within the first 9-month period 1303 cases have been documented.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Ischemic preconditioning attenuates portal venous plasma concentrations of purines following warm liver ischemia in man.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Degradation of adenine nucleotides to adenosine has been suggested to play a critical role in ischemic preconditioning (IPC). Thus, we questioned in patients undergoing partial hepatectomy whether (i) IPC will increase plasma purine catabolites and whether (ii) formation of purines in response to vascular clamping (Pringle maneuver) can be attenuated by prior IPC. METHODS: 75 patients were randomly assigned to three groups: group I underwent hepatectomy without vascular clamping; group II was subjected to the Pringle maneuver during resection, and group III was preconditioned (10 min ischemia and 10 min reperfusion) prior to the Pringle maneuver for resection. Central, portal venous and arterial plasma concentrations of adenosine, inosine, hypoxanthine and xanthine were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS: Duration of the Pringle maneuver did not differ between patients with or without IPC. Surgery without vascular clamping had only a minor effect on plasma purine concentrations. After IPC, plasma concentrations of purines transiently increased. After the Pringle maneuver alone, purine plasma concentrations were most increased. This strong rise in plasma purines caused by the Pringle maneuver, however, was significantly attenuated by IPC. When portal venous minus arterial concentration difference was calculated for inosine or hypoxanthine, the respective differences became positive in patients subjected to the Pringle maneuver and were completely prevented by preconditioning. CONCLUSION: These data demonstrate that (i) IPC increases formation of adenosine, and that (ii) the unwanted degradation of adenine nucleotides to purines caused by the Pringle maneuver can be attenuated by IPC. Because IPC also induces a decrease of portal venous minus arterial purine plasma concentration differences, IPC might possibly decrease disturbances in the energy metabolism in the intestine as well.

Adenosine↗