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At least 289 records · Page 16Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

Designing an international industrial hygiene database of exposures among workers in the asphalt industry.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this project was to construct a database of exposure measurements which would be used to retrospectively assess the intensity of various exposures in an epidemiological study of cancer risk among asphalt workers. METHODS: The database was developed as a stand-alone Microsoft Access 2.0 application, which could work in each of the national centres. Exposure data included in the database comprised measurements of exposure levels, plus supplementary information on production characteristics which was analogous to that used to describe companies enrolled in the study. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The database has been successfully implemented in eight countries, demonstrating the flexibility and data security features adequate to the task. The database allowed retrieval and consistent coding of 38 data sets of which 34 have never been described in peer-reviewed scientific literature. We were able to collect most of the data intended. As of February 1999 the database consisted of 2007 sets of measurements from persons or locations. The measurements appeared to be free from any obvious bias. CONCLUSIONS: The methodology embodied in the creation of the database can be usefully employed to develop exposure assessment tools in epidemiological studies.

Data Collection↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Surveillance of communicable diseases using a computer database of reported cases].

Epidemiology services during the surveillance of communicable diseases collects of different sorts of data, which are used for an analysis of epidemiologic situation. Those data are the starting point for timeline control and preventive activities. Data processing of notified communicable diseases cases provides information on types of diseases, number of cases, time and place of their occurrence. Manual data processing, used till 1993, was slow, unreliable and considerably decreased the efficiency of epidemiology service activities. In this paper we have set the hypothesis that is possible to form a computerized database with the following aims: to form user friendly computerized database model for those without knowledge in using computers: to get output spread sheets with information needed for epidemiologic situation analyses at any time. Database was developed in 1993 and has been used as source of the information in epidemiologic diagnosis process. The significant accuracy, reliability, timelines, and shortening of the time of data processing was achieved. The database can also serve as the initial component for designing an epidemiologic services information network in Belgrade county. In designing such a network it is necessary to form the additional databases of isolated infectious agents and their drug resistance, database of health status of persons under surveillance and database of environmental and sanitary condition in children and youth facilities.

Communicable Disease Control↗
PubMed2001

The Southern Alberta Renal Program database: a prototype for patient management and research initiatives.

The Southern Alberta Renal Program (SARP) database was developed to respond to an urgent need for local information on clinical outcomes, laboratory information, and health care costs, and to enable our local renal program to monitor the implementation of established clinical practice guidelines. The database captures detailed demographic, clinical, and laboratory information and is unique by also capturing comorbidity, health-related quality of life and costing information for patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in southern Alberta, storing the information in one common database. By collecting information on patient comorbidity, health outcomes and costs, the SARP database has enabled many quality assurance initiatives as well as research opportunities for projects involving patients with ESRD. Due to the availability of links with other available local clinical and administrative databases, information is collected with a minimal need for manual data entry. This type of database is a method by which health programs could improve the quality of patient care. Programs caring for patients with chronic medical conditions such as ESRD should examine how computer databases could assist in clinical care and improve the efficiency with which that care is delivered to their patients.

Acute Kidney Injury↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Data, knowledge and method bases in chemical sciences. Part IV. Current status in databases.

Computer readable databases have become an integral part of chemical research right from planning data acquisition to interpretation of the information generated. The databases available today are numerical, spectral and bibliographic. Data representation by different schemes--relational, hierarchical and objects--is demonstrated. Quality index (QI) throws light on the quality of data. The objective, prospects and impact of database activity on expert systems are discussed. The number and size of corporate databases available on international networks crossed manageable number leading to databases about their contents. Subsets of corporate or small databases have been developed by groups of chemists. The features and role of knowledge-based or intelligent databases are described.

Artificial Intelligence↗
PubMed1991

[A new database system for radiological reports].

We have designed and developed a new database system to facilitate automatic feedback of the content of radiology reports to radiologists. The prototype of this database system has been implemented in the RGSS-IDJ, a developmental computer system that applies artificial intelligence methods to a reporting system. This prototype system was constructed to test the feasibility of overcoming the limitations of conventional database systems. The new database system is based on our semantic model for radiology reports and is able to treat data with unnormalized relations. Operations specific to our database system include the ability to acquire information about a set of reports that contains any semantic expression included in the lexicon and the ability to obtain the expressions that belong to a set of several semantic expressions in the reports. Thus, our new database system will offer a more powerful tool for analyzing the content of reports than conventional database systems.

Databases, Bibliographic↗
PubMed1997

A virtual repository approach to clinical and utilization studies: application in mammography as alternative to a national database.

A national mammography database was proposed, based on a centralized architecture for collecting, monitoring, and auditing mammography data. We have developed an alternative architecture relying on Internet-based distributed queries to heterogeneous databases. This architecture creates a "virtual repository", or a federated database which is constructed dynamically, for each query and makes use of data available in legacy systems. It allows the construction of custom-tailored databases at individual sites that can serve the dual purposes of providing data (a) to researchers through a common mammography repository and (b) to clinicians and administrators at participating institutions. We implemented this architecture in a prototype system at the Brigham and Women's Hospital to show its feasibility. Common queries are translated dynamically into database-specific queries, and the results are aggregated for immediate display or download by the user. Data reside in two different databases and consist of structured mammography reports, coded per BIRADS Standardized Mammography Lexicon, as well as pathology results. We prospectively collected data on 213 patients, and showed that our system can perform distributed queries effectively. We also implemented graphical exploratory analysis tools to allow visualization of results. Our findings indicate that the architecture is not only feasible, but also flexible and scaleable, constituting a good alternative to a national mammography database.

Computer Communication Networks↗
PubMed1997

[The organization of the database and data flow in mass screening for cervical cancer].

Mass screening, because of very many potential patients, requires storing and processing a great deal of medical and population information. That is why it should be supported not only by human resources but by computer techniques as well. The example of a computer science application in medicine is Populations Database System (PDB) which was designed and implemented in the Department of Institute of Mother and Child in Białystok. The aim of this work is to evaluate PDB System's effectiveness in mass screening for cervical cancer. Population database contains several standard database files (DBF) and indexes. All the data is organized as a relational database. Every data relationship is at least in 1NF (first normal form). Functional dependency holds for the structures of database. Because of great variety of stored data it was essential to design how to enter information and how to combine database files to avoid redundancy. It has particular importance for the special functions of system, for example printing and sending individual invitation for an examination. In addition the system can realize all standard database functions and some statistical analysis. Special attention was paid to the problem of data security which is particularly important for medical information. Thanks to PDB system we could realize mass and active screening for cervical cancer in Białystok. Without computer techniques it would be impossible to store, process and interpret so much data.

Databases as Topic↗
PubMed1998

DBGET/LinkDB: an integrated database retrieval system.

The integrated database retrieval system DBGET/LinkDB is the backbone of the Japanese GenomeNet service. DBGET is used to search and extract entries from a wide range of molecular biology databases, while LinkDB is used to search and compute links between entries in different databases. DBGET/LinkDB is designed to be a network distributed database system with an open architecture, which is suitable for incorporating local databases or establishing a specialized server environment. It also has an advantage of simple architecture allowing rapid daily updates of all the major databases. The WWW version of DBGET/LinkDB at GenomeNet is integrated with other search tools, such as BLAST, FASTA and MOTIF, and with local helper applications, such as RasMol. In addition to factual links between database entries, LinkDB is being extended to included similarity links and biological links toward computerization of logical reasoning processes.

Databases, Factual↗
PubMed1998

Proclass protein family database: new version with motif alignments.

ProClass is a protein family database which organizes non-redundant sequence entries into families defined collectively by the ProSite patterns and PIR superfamilies. The database consists of about 100,000 entries, more than half of which are classified in about 3,000 families. The new version includes links to various protein family/domain and structural class databases and contains gapped motif alignments for all ProSite patterns. The motif sequences are retrieved from both SwissProt and PIR-international databases, including numerous new members detected by our GeneFIND family identification system. The motif collection represents a 50% increase from those catalogued in ProSite. The ProClass database can be used to maximize family information retrieval, help organize protein sequence databases, and support full-scale genomic annotation. The database and its query program are freely available for on-line record retrieval and direct file transfer from our WWW server at http:/(/)diana.uthct.edu/proclass.html+ ++.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1998

Large scale database scrubbing using object oriented software components.

Now that case managers, quality improvement teams, and researchers use medical databases extensively, the ability to share and disseminate such databases while maintaining patient confidentiality is paramount. A process called scrubbing addresses this problem by removing personally identifying information while keeping the integrity of the medical information intact. Scrubbing entire databases, containing multiple tables, requires that the implicit relationships between data elements in different tables of the database be maintained. To address this issue we developed DBScrub, a Java program that interfaces with any JDBC compliant database and scrubs the database while maintaining the implicit relationships within it. DBScrub uses a small number of highly configurable object-oriented software components to carry out the scrubbing. We describe the structure of these software components and how they maintain the implicit relationships within the database.

Confidentiality↗
PubMed2001

Management of severe hypokalemia in hospitalized patients: a study of quality of care based on computerized databases.

BACKGROUND: While administrative databases are used to assess general indicators of quality of care, a detailed audit of the process of clinical care usually requires review of hospital medical records. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility of assessing the management of severe hypokalemia using computerized administrative and laboratory databases. METHODS: The study included all patients hospitalized in 1997 who experienced serum potassium levels of less than 3.0 mmol/L at Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel, a tertiary care center. Using the computerized databases, we measured the following: (1) whether a subsequent serum potassium test was performed, (2) time to the subsequent test and to normalization of the serum potassium level, (3) achievement of normokalemia, and (4) in-hospital mortality. In a random subsample of 100 patients, these measures were compared with the blinded assessment of the quality of medical management of hypokalemia, as determined from medical records, using predetermined criteria for adequate management. RESULTS: The computerized databases revealed that severe hypokalemia occurred in 866 patients (2.6% of the yearly hospitalizations): 55 patients (6.4%) had no subsequent serum potassium levels measured, and 260 (30.0%) were discharged from the hospital with a subnormal potassium level. The mean time to a subsequent test was 20 hours, and to normokalemia, 50 hours; both intervals varied by department. In-hospital mortality was 20.4%, or 10-fold that of the entire hospitalized population. A review of hospital medical records revealed inadequate clinical management of hypokalemia in 24%, which was associated with nonperformance of a subsequent test (likelihood ratio, 8.4), failure to normalize the serum potassium level (likelihood ratio, 4.2), discharge from the hospital with a subnormal potassium level (likelihood ratio, 2.1), and in-hospital death (likelihood ratio, 2.5), all of which could be determined by the computerized databases. CONCLUSIONS: The computerized laboratory database is useful in ascertaining the prevalence of severe hypokalemia and in assessing shortcomings in its management. Databases can be used to derive valid and efficient measures of the quality of the clinical management of electrolyte disorders.

Clinical Laboratory Information Systems↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Database prescan: a time-efficient alternative to brain MRI autoprescan.

The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility of database prescan as an alternative to conventional autoprescan in pediatric brain MRI. Autoprescan parameters [receiver levels and transmit gain (TG)] were analyzed prospectively in 236 pediatric brain MRI studies. Paired t test and linear regression analysis were performed to determine predictability of autoprescan parameters by database-generated parameters. Signal-to-noise ratio, image quality, and potential time efficiency of database-generated parameters were assessed. No statistical difference (P = .13) and a high correlation between the TG of the axial fast spin echo (FSE) proton density (PD) and axial FSE T2-weighted sequences (r = .92) was seen. Strong correlations were noted between the TG of the sagittal T1-weighted and the TG of the axial FSE PD (r = .79), axial FSE T2-weighted (r = .81), and contrast-enhanced T1-weighted (r = .78) sequences. The receiver levels did not change significantly between sequences. Quantitative and qualitative analyses revealed no differences in the signal-to-noise ratios of the autoprescan and the database-predicted prescan parameters. Implementation of database prescan could improve time efficiency by 28 to 33%. Autoprescan parameters can be predicted by using database-generated information while preserving the diagnostic image quality of the study. Incorporation of database prescan into commercial MRI systems could improve MRI time efficiency and patient throughput.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Assessing data adequacy for clinical research: reliability and validity of a surgical database.

As clinical databases are utilized more frequently for clinical research, it is essential that researchers assess the quality of databased information. While researchers have begun to report strategies to measure accuracy of databased information, knowledge remains limited. The purpose of this study was to assess the reliability and validity of databased information among selected study variables contained within a computerized coronary artery surgery clinical database using the written patient medical record as an external standard. Both reliability (N = 400) and validity (N = 100) samples were randomly selected from a databased sampling frame of 548 Medicare subjects who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting surgery in 1998. Reliability assessed by consistency rates were age (95%), race (94%), gender (99%), congestive heart failure (CHF) (60.5%), angina (91.5%), renal insufficiency (82%), hypertension (91.7%), diabetes mellitus (93.7%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (75.5%), clinical status (97%), American Society of Anesthesiologists classification (99%), prior peripheral vascular surgery (15.5%), prior CABGS (99%), and duration of mechanical ventilation (87.5%). These percentages reflected a large portion of missing data for CHF, COPD, and prior peripheral vascular surgery. Validity assessed by sensitivity and specificity analyses were all greater than 80%. The majority of computerized databased information among selected study variables was the same information recorded in the written patient medical record. Using the same external standard to assess both reliability and validity was a significant limitation of this study, which resulted in the same measure of data adequacy by utilizing differing statistical methods.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Pivot/Remote: a distributed database for remote data entry in multi-center clinical trials.

1. INTRODUCTION. Data collection is a critical component of multi-center clinical trials. Clinical trials conducted in intensive care units (ICU) are even more difficult because the acute nature of illnesses in ICU settings requires that masses of data be collected in a short time. More than a thousand data points are routinely collected for each study patient. The majority of clinical trials are still "paper-based," even if a remote data entry (RDE) system is utilized. The typical RDE system consists of a computer housed in the CC office and connected by modem to a centralized data coordinating center (DCC). Study data must first be recorded on a paper case report form (CRF), transcribed into the RDE system, and transmitted to the DCC. This approach requires additional monitoring since both the paper CRF and study database must be verified. The paper-based RDE system cannot take full advantage of automatic data checking routines. Much of the effort (and expense) of a clinical trial is ensuring that study data matches the original patient data. 2. METHODS. We have developed an RDE system, Pivot/Remote, that eliminates the need for paper-based CRFs. It creates an innovative, distributed database. The database resides partially at the study clinical centers (CC) and at the DCC. Pivot/Remote is descended from technology introduced with Pivot [1]. Study data is collected at the bedside with laptop computers. A graphical user interface (GUI) allows the display of electronic CRFs that closely mimic the normal paper-based forms. Data entry time is the same as for paper CRFs. Pull-down menus, displaying the possible responses, simplify the process of entering data. Edit checks are performed on most data items. For example, entered dates must conform to some temporal logic imposed by the study. Data must conform to some acceptable range of values. Calculations, such as computing the subject's age or the APACHE II score, are automatically made as the data is entered. Data that is collected serially (BP, HR, etc.) can be displayed graphically in a trend form along with other related variables. An audit trail is created that automatically tracks all changes to the original data, making it possible to reconstruct the CRF to any point in time. On-line help provides information on the study protocol as well as assistance with the use of the system. Electronic security makes it possible to lock certain parts of the CRF once it has been monitored. Completed CRFs are transmitted to the DCC via electronic mail where it is reviewed and merged into the study database. Questions about subject data are transmitted back to the CC via electronic mail. This approach to maintaining the study database is unique in that the study data files are distributed among the CC and DCC. Until a subject's CRF is monitored (verified against the original patient data residing in the hospital record), it logically resides at the CC where it was collected. Copies are transmitted to the DCC and are only read there. Any pre-monitoring changes must be made to the data at the CC. Once the subject's CRF is monitored, it logically moves to the DCC, and any subsequent changes are made at the DCC with copies of the CRF flowing back to the CC. 3. DISCUSSION. Pivot/Remote eliminates the need for paper forms by utilizing portable computers that can be used at the patient bedside. A GUI makes it possible to quickly enter data. Because the user gets instant feedback on possible error conditions, time is saved because the original data is close at hand. The ability to display trended data or variables in the context of other data allows detection of erroneous conditions beyond simple range checks. The logical construction of the database minimizes the problem of managing dual databases (at the CC and DCC) and keeps CC personnel in the loop until all changes are made.

Computer Communication Networks↗
PubMed1996

A prototype Internet autopsy database. 1625 consecutive fetal and neonatal autopsy facesheets spanning 20 years.

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate that cause-of-death statements can be generated by a computer algorithm from an autopsy database composed of diagnostic terms. DATA SOURCES: Over 49 000 autopsy facesheets contributed by over a dozen institutions were collected from a publicly accessible Internet autopsy database. This database is available at the following web site: http:@www.med.jhu.edu/pathology/iad.html STUDY SELECTION: To test the feasibility of creating and using a publicly available autopsy database, and to identify the technical and medicolegal problems that may arise with such a novel resource, a prototype study was designed by selecting autopsy facesheets from fetal and neonatal deaths. An algorithm was developed to determine the cause of death from the listing of anatomic diagnoses. DATA EXTRACTION: One thousand six hundred twenty-five fetal and neonatal autopsy facesheets were selected encompassing fetal and neonatal deaths occurring up to 28 days after birth. DATA SYNTHESIS: The algorithm determined causes of death from autopsy facesheet data in all cases. On review by an experienced pediatric pathologist, these automatically generated cause-of-death statements required no modification or only slight modification in over 90% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: A large multi-institutional autopsy database composed of demographic and diagnostic information has been deposited on the Internet. This information can be freely downloaded and used by any researcher without violating patient confidentiality. As a demonstration of one possible application of the database, fetal and neonatal autopsies generated cause-of-death statements using a computer algorithm. One can anticipate that the wealth of information contained in autopsy facesheets can be assembled into a database that will serve the public interest.

Algorithms↗
PubMed1997

A regional perinatal database in southern Sweden--a basis for quality assurance in obstetrics and neonatology.

BACKGROUND: In order to ensure as few avoidable adverse outcomes of pregnancy as possible, it is necessary to continuously evaluate the quality of both obstetric and neonatal care. The eleven southernmost hospitals in Sweden have joined together in a project of developing a regional database, with special emphasis on rapid output of information in order to identify changing trends. METHODS: A regional computerized database has been developed, collecting variables and quality indicators agreed upon by all participants. Specific protocols have been designed for obstetric care, neonatal care and autopsy findings. All participating units transfer information on paper forms or via local computerized information systems. The regional database thus receives data on about 20,000 deliveries annually. RESULTS: Data collection started on September 1, 1994. The first results are due in March 1996, and thereafter on a regular basis every 3 months. Special methods for rapid analysis of raw data have been developed with the help of commercially available data analysis tools. CONCLUSIONS: It is possible to construct an information system with different computer platforms and different database tools at each participating facility, as long as the database systems are locally controllable. That a software is commercially available is no guarantee that data transfer to a central database is possible. Experience from participating sites also indicates that a specialized database is needed for registering obstetric data, as general computerized record-keeping systems are unable to cope with an event concerning more than one subject at a time.

Female↗
PubMed1994

Prototype implementation of the integrated genomic database.

We aim to develop an open software system to handle human genome data. The system, called Integrated Genomic Database (IGD), will integrate information from many genomic databases and experimental resources into a comprehensive target-end database (IGD TED). Users will access front-end client systems (IGD FRED) to download data of interest to their computers and merge them with their own local data. FREDs will provide persistent storage of, and instant access to, retrieved data; a friendly graphical interface; tools for querying, browsing, analyzing, and editing local data; interface to external analysis; and tools for communicating with the outside world. The TED will be accessible over the network (online and offline) as a read-only resource for multiple clients. It collects data from major databases for nucleotide and protein sequences and structures, genome maps, experimental reagents, phenotypes, and bibliographic data, and sets of raw data produced at genome centers and laboratories. Beside character-based access via Gopher, WAIS, FTP, and several query language interfaces to the TED, we will develop a specialized front-end client, IGD FRED, with its own database manager, based on the ACEDB program. The FRED will support graphical display methods for sequence feature maps, chromosomal genetic and physical maps, and experimental objects like clone grids, etc. FRED will also provide an interface to important analysis software packages and tools for submitting data to external databases in their own format.

Computer Communication Networks↗
PubMed2026

Up-to-date, and taxonomy-curated mcrA reference databases for methanogen community profiling.

The methyl-coenzyme M reductase subunit alpha gene (mcrA) is an important phylogenetic marker for high throughput ecological profiling of methanogenic archaea, central to industrial biological methane production and greenhouse gas emissions. Yet, dedicated reference databases predate current relevant NCBI sequence accumulation and archaeal taxonomic revision. We present three updated mcrA reference databases: (i) one derived from NCBI-catalogued methanogen genomes (1572 sequences); (ii) a database built by expansion of a previously published reference dataset, leveraging the NCBI nucleotide collection (27,942 sequences); (iii) a curated-taxonomy version of the latter. The updated amplicon databases provide a ∼ 3.5-fold sequence richness expansion, extend genus-level richness from 31 to 83 taxa, more than 4-fold species-level richness, and incorporate novel lineages compared with the previous reference dataset (e.g. Thermoplasmatota-encompassed). All databases were formatted to support analysis with relevant contemporary software pipelines and packages. Overall, the generated databases facilitate a highly improved characterization of methanogen diversity and ecology.

Archaea↗