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At least 235 records · Page 13Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

[Efficiency improvement of dispensing of drugs for injection by a total automatic injection dispenser system including infusion fluids and its evaluation].

For the appropriate use of drugs for injection, injection dispensing by pharmacists has been initiated at various institutions. With this movement, automatic injection dispensers have actively been developed. In our hospital, an injection order system was connected with an automatic injection dispenser in November, 1997, and this integrated system has been operating in all wards. However, the efficiency of dispensing work was not satisfactory because there were limitations in the types and volume of drugs placed in the automatic injection dispenser. Therefore, we constructed an automatic injection dispenser system that allows us to use more than 100 ml infusion fluids and also to use drugs stored in a cool place, which could not be used in the conventional system. In the new system, two trays coming from an ampoulevial line and an infusion fluid line are automatically coordinated using a discharge lifter for each patient and transported into an injection cart. After the introduction of this system, the automatic dispenser utilization rate in terms of the number of used injections increased from 52.6% to 73.3%. In addition, since the dispensing time for infusion fluids and drugs stored in a cool place, which had been collected by man power, was reduced, it became possible to pay more attention to checking for prescription.

Drug Prescriptions↗
PubMed1989

Evaluation of automatic analysis of SCSB, airflow and oxygen saturation signals in patients with sleep related apneas.

We have developed a computerized analysis of respiratory and body movements (static charge sensitive bed [SCSB]), oxygen saturation (pulse oximeter), and airflow (thermistor) for the evaluation of sleep related apneas. The cumulative distribution of oxygen saturation, the number and distribution of desaturation events, and the duration and type of apneas are assessed. Analysis is performed separately during the total recording time and during the time when the patient sleeps on his back. We have compared the automatic analysis with the results obtained on simultaneous daytime polysomnograph naps in 55 subjects (snorers or obstructive sleep apnea syndrome [OSAS] patients). The compressed graphs obtained automatically demonstrated a periodic breathing pattern in all 22 patients who presented sleep-related apneas at polygraphic recording. The cumulative distribution of oxygen saturation was not as steep in the apnea patients as in patients not showing apneas; in 19 of the 22 OSAS patients, the value was outside our normal limits (80 percent of the recording time inside 3.6 percent SaO2 variation band). The apnea index (AI) was 26.4 in manual and 23.3 in automatic analysis. Using the automatic method there were three false negative cases in the analysis of desaturations; in these patients periodic breathing was present in output graphs indicating need for further polygraphic assessment. The duration of apneas in the automatic analysis was shorter than in manual analysis, but the agreement was sufficient for screening purposes (mean error less than 3 s, mean duration of apneas 20.1 s). The automatic method is presently used in clinical routine for screening purposes, for assessment of the severity of the disorder and the type of treatment that a subject may need, in epidemiologic investigation and follow-up of the treatment.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Automatic classification algorithms of the EEG monitor Narcotrend for routinely recorded EEG data from general anaesthesia: a validation study.

Impacts of hypnotic drugs on brain function are reflected in the EEG. The EEG monitor Narcotrend performs an automatic classification of the EEG using a scale which was proposed by Kugler for visual evaluation of the EEG. In this article the results of a validation study of the automatic classification algorithms implemented in the EEG monitor Narcotrend are presented. Visual and automatic classification of EEG data recorded in routine clinical practice were compared. The correlation between visual and automatic assessment was high (Spearman rank correlation r = 0.90, prediction probability Pk = 0.90) and a sufficient agreement between visual and automatic assessment was achieved for 92% of the analysed EEG epochs. The results of the study suggest that the automatic classification algorithms implemented in the EEG monitor Narcotrend yield a reliable assessment of the depth of hypnosis.

Algorithms↗
PubMed2002

Milk quality on Danish farms with automatic milking systems.

The bulk-milk quality of 98 Danish farms with automatic milking systems was analyzed from 1 yr before introduction of automatic milking until 1 yr after. Bulk-milk total bacterial count, spores of anaerobes, somatic cell count (SCC), and freezing point increased when automatic milking was introduced and the frequency of milk-quality failures almost doubled. Milk-quality failures were most frequent in the first 3 mo after the start of automatic milking. The increase in spores of anaerobes indicated that the increase in total bacterial count originated partly from contamination of milk from the teat surface and partly from lack of cleaning of the milking equipment or cooling of the milk. The increase in bulk-milk SCC indicated that milk from clinically infected cows and cows with high cell counts was not diverted to the same degree, milking automatically rather than milking conventionally. A self-monitoring program including survey of the bulk-milk quality was established to help farmers in the transition period going from conventional to automatic milking. The program was introduced on 84 farms. Farms on the self-monitoring program reduced bulk-milk cell count. Application of the program did not reduce the frequency of high total bacterial counts and freezing points of the bulk milk to the level of conventional milking. However, the program reduced the overall frequency of milk-quality failures.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The impact of automatic prescriptions on reducing low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels.

CONTEXT: Compliance with the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) guidelines for secondary prevention of atherosclerotic disease has been poor. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether an automatic prescription would improve compliance with NCEP guidelines on low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol for secondary prevention of atherosclerotic disease. DESIGN: Observational study in which physicians chose whether to use an automatic prescription system. PATIENTS: 126 patients with established coronary or cerebrovascular disease whose LDL cholesterol level was greater than 100 mg/dL. INTERVENTION: By signing the automatic prescription, physicians allowed the study team (medical director and pharmacist) to change lipid-lowering medications. One member of the team then contacted the patient, advising him or her of any changes to medications and treatment. The patient was told that his or her doctor was recommending this change on the basis of recent laboratory tests. OUTCOME MEASURES: The proportion of patients reaching the LDL cholesterol goal of 100 mg/dL or less. RESULTS: Physicians used the automatic prescription for 25 patients. Eighteen of the 25 patients in the intervention group (72.0%) achieved the LDL cholesterol goal compared with only 43 of the 101 controls (42.6%) (P = 0.004). After adjustment for differences in age, sex, triglyceride levels, total cholesterol levels, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, and preintervention LDL cholesterol levels, the likelihood of achieving the LDL cholesterol goal was 1.74 times higher in the automatic prescription group than in the control group (P = 0.025). CONCLUSION: An automatic prescription can help physicians comply with the NCEP guidelines.

Anticholesteremic Agents↗
PubMed2001

Clinical evaluation of an automatic flossing device vs. manual flossing.

The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of an automatic flossing device to manual flossing. A total of seventy adult subjects (20 males and 50 females) were stratified into two groups balanced for age, sex, modified gingival index (MGI), plaque index (PI) and bleeding sites (Eastman Bleeding Index) using screening data. One group was randomly assigned the automatic power flosser and the other group was assigned manual dental floss. The subjects were instructed to brush their teeth twice a day (in the morning and before bedtime) for 30 seconds using the provided manual toothbrush and toothpaste. They were also to use their assigned dental floss or automatic power flosser once in the morning following toothbrushing. There was no significant difference between manual flossing and automatic flossing with respect to the MGI and the BI. There was, however, a significant difference at day 15 in the PI; however, this difference was only 0.73%. There was no significant difference in the PI at day 30 between the two techniques. The statistically significant difference noted in the interproximal PI at both day 15 and day 30 was less than 2%. Since the differences in plaque scores between the groups were so small, there was no apparent impact on gingival health since both flossers resulted in similar health benefits. Since there was a marked preference for the automatic flosser, patient compliance with the automatic flossing device may be better than with manual floss. Therefore, overall gingival health may benefit from this device.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

[Freely programmable automatic radioimmunoanalysis on the STRATEC ST 300 analyzer].

We compared the free programmable automatic radioimmunoassay on analyser STRATEC SR 300 to the manual performance of RIA and IRMA. One-step and two-step methods were evaluated. Manual delivery proved to be faster than the automatic one. The speed of dispensing depends on the volume of the dose sample and of the reagent, on the adjustment of rinsing volumes of the needle, washing volumes among separate doses and also on the size of the sample set. The total efficiency of the manual and the automatic analysis is also affected by other operations, especially by washing test tubes and the administration of reports. For a set of 100 analyses, the manual process is from 20 to 90 minutes longer than the automatic one, depending on the analytical method used. Thus, the automatic analysis proved to be significantly faster. Nor the comparison of isotope and non-isotope immunoassays showed any relevant qualitative or quantitative differences in analytical response. At the same time the prices of radioimmunoassays are more favourable, and in addition to that, a big choice of analytical sets is available which are not dependent on the user's instrumentation. However, this does not concern very small series, or separate tests where size of calibration is important. Moreover, the turn-around-time of RIA and IRMA is in these cases longer than when automatic non-isotope methods are used.

Efficiency↗
PubMed2002

[Development of a computerized automatic identification system for use in cephalometry].

OBJECTIVE: To establish the automatic X-ray cephalometric analysis system to simplify cephalometric steps and to provide a convenient and reliable method for cephalometric analysis. METHODS: The system which was programmed by visual-c language, and graphics and image processing techniques and artificial intelligence were used. The techniques related to computer digital image processing and pattern recognition such as Median filtering, Histogram equalization, Laplacian and Canny edge detection were introduced. It could automatically outline the contour lines of the hard and soft tissues by establishing the templates of the variable anatomical structures. RESULTS: The following functions were established: (1) automatically outlining the contour lines of the soft tissues. (2) automatically recognizing, measuring and analysing the landmarks of soft tissues. (3) automatically recognizing porion, sella and the landmarks of the mandible. (4) automatically building the contour lines of the hard tissues. In brief, the system used the more advanced methods, calculated more precisely and saved more time and energy than other systems. CONCLUSION: The system is a more convenient and precise tool in cephalometry.

Cephalometry↗
PubMed2005

Improvement in automatic postural coordination following alexander technique lessons in a person with low back pain.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The relationship between abnormal postural coordination and back pain is unclear. The Alexander Technique (AT) aims to improve postural coordination by using conscious processes to alter automatic postural coordination and ongoing muscular activity, and it has been reported to reduce low back pain. This case report describes the use of the AT with a client with low back pain and the observed changes in automatic postural responses and back pain. CASE DESCRIPTION: The client was a 49-year-old woman with a 25-year history of left-sided, idiopathic, lumbrosacral back pain. Automatic postural coordination was measured using a force plate during horizontal platform translations and one-legged standing. OUTCOMES: The client was tested monthly for 4 months before AT lessons and for 3 months after lessons. Before lessons, she consistently had laterally asymmetric automatic postural responses to translations. After AT lessons, the magnitude and asymmetry of her responses and balance improved and her low back pain decreased. DISCUSSION: Further research is warranted to study whether AT lessons improve low back pain-associated abnormalities in automatic postural coordination and whether improving automatic postural coordination helps to reduce low back pain.

Biofeedback, Psychology↗
PubMed1989

Automatic-effortful processing and cognitive inertia in persons with mental retardation.

A modified Stroop Color-Word Interference Test (Stroop, 1935) was used to assess automatic-effortful processing in persons with mental retardation and college students in three experiments. In Experiment 1, retarded persons experienced greater Stroop interference than did college students. This was attributed to a failure of control (effortful) processing needed to suppress the automatic reading responses of retarded subjects. In Experiments 2 and 3, all subjects practiced the Stroop color-naming task over three or four daily sessions. Changes in Stroop interference over practice were viewed as reflecting automatization of the suppression of the reading response. Both groups automatized the suppression response at about the same rate, but the automatized responses had far greater and more durable suppression effects for retarded subjects. This persistence of automatized responses, which were no longer adaptive, was described as cognitive inertia, a phenomenon similar to cognitive rigidity as defined by Kounin (1948).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

[Automatic and semiautomatic contour finding of the left ventricle in the 2 dimensional echocardiogram. In vitro studies in formalin-fixed swine hearts].

In order to test semiautomatic and automatic contour finding procedures in 2-dimensional echocardiograms we determined endocardial borders in 42 short-axis slices of post-mortem animal hearts after interactive image enhancement such as scaling, normalisation and linearisation of grey levels semiautomatically and automatically by a complex contour finding algorithm. The areas calculated on the basis of these semiautomatic and automatic procedures were compared with "true" anatomic areas derived from planimetry. The complex computer algorithm is based on the detection and analysis of grey level gradients. The algorithm first creates a raw contour which still contains intra- and extracavitary artefacts as well as interrupted endocardial strings. Using a statistical iterative classification procedure and a least-square polynomial approximation the endocardial strings were structured, completed and smoothed and the artefacts eliminated. We were able to determine endocardial contours by semiautomatic methods in 33 (79%) and by automatic procedures in 30 (73%) of the echocardiograms. The correlation between semiautomatic and "true" contours was r = 0.97; y = 1.01x-0.46; standard error of the estimate (SEE) 0.51 cm2, between automatic and "true" contours r = 0.98; y = 0.99x - 0.31; SEE 0.43 cm2; the correlation parameters between the anatomic "true" areas and the areas calculated on the basis of manually derived borders were r = 0.98; y = 0.97x - 0.05; SEE 0.45 cm2. From our studies we conclude that left ventricular endocardium in short axis slices of postmortem animal hearts could reliably and reproducibly be detected by semiautomatic as well as by automatic procedures using a contour finding algorithm.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

[Are automatic devices suitable for blood pressure determinations?].

Four automatic blood pressure recorders (Bosograph II, Bosch EBM 500, Elag BE 237R, and Physiometrics SR-2) were compared with the random zero sphygmomanometer. Since each of the automatic devices was calibrated for phase IV, diastolic blood pressure values were read off at phase IV and not phase V of Korotkow with the random zero sphygmomanometer. Blood pressure measurements were carried out in 80 patients with hypertension and in 20 normotensive healthy subjects. Readings with the automatic recorders and with the random zero sphygmomanometer correlated well in a wide range of systolic and diastolic blood pressure (r = 0.878--0.982, p less than 0.001). However, the automatic values were in most cases significantly lower than those obtained with the random zero device. For Physiometrics SR-2, where two diastolic readings were possible, only the first diastolic values correlated well with phase IV of Korotkow. The second values were significantly lower, with a difference of -11.1 mm Hg, and probably did not reflect the true diastolic blood pressure. These results show that each of the four automatic recorders is suitable for measuring blood pressure. However, with the Physiometrics SR-2, Only the higher diastolic reading should be used. The differences between the four automatic devices were minor and can therefore be ignored.

Automation↗
PubMed1994

Increase in blood pressure reproducibility by repeated semi-automatic blood pressure measurements in the clinic environment.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether increasing the number of blood pressure readings obtained in the clinic environment increases the blood pressure reproducibility. PATIENTS: Thirteen mild essential hypertensive patients studied in the outpatient clinics, following withdrawal of antihypertensive treatment for 4 weeks. METHODS: The systolic and diastolic blood pressures were measured three times, using a mercury sphygmomanometer, with the patient in the sitting position. Measurements were then performed with the patient in the lying position using an oscillometric device (SpaceLabs 90202 or 90207). The device was operated semi-automatically at 3-min intervals until 25 readings had been collected. The same procedure was repeated 4 weeks later. The systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and heart rate were averaged by considering a progressively greater number of readings, from 1 to 25. The reciprocal of the standard deviation (1/SD) of the mean difference after 4 weeks was taken as the measure of reproducibility. RESULTS: 1/SD increased progressively as the number of semi-automatic blood pressure readings from which the average was calculated increased. For a similar number of blood pressure readings the reproducibility was similar for semi-automatic readings to that for automatic readings obtained by 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. CONCLUSION: Multiple blood pressure readings obtained semi-automatically in the outpatient clinics increase blood pressure reproducibility and make the value similar to that obtained by ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. The advantage of an increase in reproducibility for studies on antihypertensive drugs thus depends on the number of readings, and can also be obtained by semi-automatic measurements in the clinic environment.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

[Bronchopleural fistula following the use of automatic stapling devices for lung cancer].

We compared automatic stapling with hand suturing in the rate of bronchopleural fistula. Twenty two hundred forty one patients of 25 hospitals, who were performed lobectomy or pneumonectomy for lung cancer from the year of 1990 to 1992, were investigated about the occurrence of bronchopleural fistula. The rate of bronchopleural fistula following lobectomy were 0.9% (11/1,227 cases) in automatic stapling, and 1.1% (8/753 cases) in hand suturing; there was no difference. However, there was a higher rate of the fistula with the use of automatic stapling devices in pneumonectomy. The rate was 11.2% (11/98 cases) in automatic stapling, and 1.2% (2/166 cases) in hand suturing. Automatic stapling may lead to bronchopleural fistula in pneumonectomy. Moreover, addition of hand suturing to automatic stapling was thought to prevent the fistula.

Bronchial Fistula↗
PubMed1998

The safety of automatic versus manual blood pressure cuffs for patients receiving thrombolytic therapy.

BACKGROUND: Patients receiving thrombolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarction require frequent monitoring of blood pressure. Historically, many nurses have been reluctant to use automatic blood pressure cuffs during thrombolytic therapy because of concern that the automatic cuffs might increase risk of bleeding. This concern is not based on research findings but on case reports, anecdotal observations, and possible myths in clinical practice. OBJECTIVE: To determine the safety of using automatic blood pressure cuffs during thrombolytic therapy in patients with acute myocardial infarction. METHODS: Ninety-six patients with acute myocardial infarction who received thrombolytic therapy (streptokinase or tissue plasminogen activator) were randomized to have blood pressure measurements obtained with either automatic or manual blood pressure cuffs. Patients were checked at least every 2 hours for purpuric lesions (petechiae, ecchymoses, or hematomas). The study ended after 24 hours of measurements or when a purpuric lesion was noted. RESULTS: We found no significant difference in frequency of purpuric lesions between patients who had blood pressure measured with a manual cuff and patients who had blood pressure measured with an automatic cuff. The most common purpuric lesions noted were ecchymoses. A significant difference was noted in the frequency of purpuric lesions depending on which thrombolytic agent was used, regardless of cuff type. CONCLUSIONS: Automatic blood pressure cuffs are as safe as manual blood pressure cuffs in patients with acute myocardial infarction who are receiving thrombolytic therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Association of ipsilateral motor automatisms and contralateral dystonic posturing: a clinical feature differentiating medial from neocortical temporal lobe epilepsy.

BACKGROUND: Clinical features that may help to differentiate medial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) from neocortical temporal lobe epilepsy (NTLE) are lacking. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the localizing and lateralizing value of the association of ipsilateral motor automatisms and contralateral dystonic posturing in patients with medically refractory temporal lobe epilepsy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Videotapes of 60 patients with well-defined MTLE, NTLE, or both were reviewed to assess the presence and the localizing value of unilateral dystonic posturing associated with motor automatisms. RESULTS: Twenty-eight of the 60 patients exhibited unilateral dystonic posturing. This sign was observed in patients with MTLE and NTLE. It was mostly contralateral to the seizure focus in patients with MTLE and exclusively ipsilateral in patients with NTLE. Unilateral motor automatisms occurred in 26 of the 60 patients with MTLE or NTLE. It was predominantly ipsilateral to the seizure focus in patients with MTLE and exclusively contralateral in patients with NTLE. The association of ipsilateral motor automatisms and contralateral dystonic posturing was found in 14 patients with MTLE but in none of the patients with NTLE. Two patients who had medial and neocortical seizure onset also exhibited this clinical feature. This association was not significantly correlated with the postoperative outcome in patients with MTLE. CONCLUSIONS: The association of ipsilateral motor automatisms and contralateral dystonic posturing may help to differentiate MTLE from NTLE with a reliable lateralizing value. This clinical association may reflect a specific pattern in the spread of the ictal discharge.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Dissociating automatic and controlled processes in a memory-search task: beyond implicit memory.

Our goal in this paper was to examine the processes that give rise to action slips. Procedures used to examine implicit memory and automatic processes were found to be unsatisfactory. However, the process-dissociation procedure proved useful for examining the contribution of the automatic and controlled processes underlying performance. The procedure was used in conjunction with a Sternberg memory-search task to examine the effects of set size, response speed, and stimulus-response mapping on controlled and automatic processes. The formulation allowed us to predict accurately how subjects would perform in a varied mapping condition. Moreover, set size and response speed were found to influence the controlled search process, but to leave the automatic influences unaffected. Stimulus-response mapping, on the other hand, was found to lead to probability matching in the automatic processes; this pattern was found to remain constant across changes in set size and response speed.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Exploring automaticity in text processing: syntactic ambiguity as a test case.

A prevalent assumption in text comprehension research is that many aspects of text processing are automatic, with automaticity typically defined in terms of properties (e.g., speed and effort). The present research advocates conceptualization of automaticity in terms of underlying mechanisms and evaluates two such accounts, a computational-efficiency account (underlying computational processes become more efficient with practice) and a memory-based processing account (the underlying basis of processing shifts with practice, from computing interpretations to retrieving prior interpretations). In five experiments, short texts containing either an ambiguous or unambiguous syntactic structure were presented for multiple study trials. In both conditions, reading times in target regions decreased across trials, indicating automatization. Several findings supported the memory-based processing account (e.g., practice effects were largely item-specific, reading times were longer for ambiguous versus unambiguous sentences on early trials but converged on later trials) Some evidence was also found for a contribution of gains in computational efficiency (i.e., some item-general practice effects were observed). Implications for research on automaticity and text processing are discussed.

Attention↗