Biomedical subjects

N Kirkham

Publications and source records attributed to N Kirkham.

75 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

A menu-driven knowledge base browsing tool.

Conventional computer-assisted medical decision-making systems have had limited impact on routine clinical practice. This has stimulated an alternative approach to the utilization of medical knowledge bases. Centering on the storage and retrieval of medical information, it aims to provide clinicians with computerized medical reference systems. In this paper we describe the development of a prototype menu-driven browsing tool, which allows clinicians to browse through the contents of a knowledge base in a number of ways. Operations include interrogation via disease classes, names or attributes; hierarchical display of all or part of a disease profile; printing of a disease profile; construction of differential diagnosis lists and comparison of two diseases. We discuss how the use of a menu-driven interface can help to overcome some of the problems encountered with previous designs of medical reference systems.

Artificial Intelligence↗

PubMedDate not supplied

A cooperative approach to decision support in the differential diagnosis of breast disease.

The problem of differential diagnosis in breast histopathology is described and areas in need of decision support identified. It is argued that the conventional role played by decision support systems, i.e. that of the 'autonomous problem-solver', is unacceptable in this domain and that support must be given to the actual cognitive functions of potential system users. Decision-making processes of pathologists are examined with particular reference to Rector's category of 'broad experts'. Pathologists possess a rich set of general diagnostic concepts for their domain, but their knowledge of detailed aspects of differential diagnosis may contain gaps and errors. A cooperative model of decision support, which utilizes the strengths and complements the weaknesses of pathologists' problem-solving skills, is described and the operation of this model within a functioning system illustrated.

Artificial Intelligence↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The secretory immunoglobulin system in urothelial neoplasia.

The role of the secretory immunoglobulin system in urinary tract neoplasia has been investigated by staining formalin-fixed, paraffin-wax embedded sections of normal and abnormal urinary tract epithelium for secretory component (SC), IgA and J (joining) chain. Normal mucosa contains IgA with J chain and SC as a thin superficial layer on surface umbrella cells and in small amounts in the cytoplasm of intermediate cells. Inflamed mucosa is infiltrated by many IgA and J chain positive plasma cells in the lamina propria and there is IgA, SC and J chain in the cytoplasm of the second layer of the epithelium as much as in surface umbrella cells. Epithelium with moderate to severe dysplasia and invasive transitional cell carcinoma is almost always negative, containing only occasional cells with cytoplasmic IgA, J chain and SC, whilst surface staining is entirely absent.

Humans↗