Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Libraries, Digital”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 307 records · Page 17Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

A reappraisal of the use of infrared thermal image analysis in medicine.

Infrared thermal imaging of the skin has been used for several decades to monitor the temperature distribution of human skin. Abnormalities such as malignancies, inflammation, and infection cause localized increases in temperature which show as hot spots or as asymmetrical patterns in an infrared thermogram. Even though it is nonspecific, infrared thermology is a powerful detector of problems that affect a patient's physiology. While the use of infrared imaging is increasing in many industrial and security applications, it has declined in medicine probably because of the continued reliance on first generation cameras. The transfer of military technology for medical use has prompted this reappraisal of infrared thermology in medicine. Digital infrared cameras have much improved spatial and thermal resolutions, and libraries of image processing routines are available to analyze images captured both statically and dynamically. If thermographs are captured under controlled conditions, they may be interpreted readily to diagnose certain conditions and to monitor the reaction of a patient's physiology to thermal and other stresses. Some of the major areas where infrared thermography is being used successfully are neurology, vascular disorders, rheumatic diseases, tissue viability, oncology (especially breast cancer), dermatological disorders, neonatal, ophthalmology, and surgery.

Biophysical Phenomena↗
PubMed2003

Comparative analyses of the dynamic properties of the rectum studied by cryo-sections of human cadavers and pelvic CT scans of patients.

Optimization of radiotherapy treatment plans based on dose-volume histograms relies on accurate organ delineation. Hollow organs, such as the rectum, are difficult and time-consuming to delineate owing to unclear visualization of the border between wall tissue and filling. Automated hollow organ delineation would be a valuable tool, but its development depends upon improved understanding of the dynamics of the rectum in response to filling. Two reasonable assumptions proposed in the literature are that (1) the rectal wall tissue along a constant length of the rectal cylinder is preserved over time and (2) the rectal wall tissue is distributed homogeneously along the cylinder. Therefore, variations in wall thickness can be explained by variable rectal filling. To investigate these assumptions, transversal cross-sectional areas enclosed by the outer contour (A(out)) and inner contour (A(in)) of the rectum were recorded from digital photographs of cadaver cryo-sections from the U.S. National Library of Medicine's Visible Human Project. In addition, A(out) and A(in) were recorded from 19 CT scans of 5 of our own patients. The transversal cross-sectional area of the wall of the rectum, A(wall)=A(out)-A(in), was calculated. The data derived both from cryo-sections and repetitive CT scans of patients, revealed that there was a significant correlation between A(wall) and A(out), in contradiction to assumption (1) stated above (male cryo-sections: p<0.001, female cryo-sections: p=0.03, repetitive CT scans p<0.001). Moreover, the mean A(wall) calculated from one CT scan differed significantly from the mean A(wall) from other CT scans and was correlated with the mean A(out), i.e. rectal filling (p<0.001). This finding was confirmed by careful analysis of another study (p=0.001) and opposes assumption (2). Hence, the amount of wall tissue within a constant length of rectum is not preserved over time, but increases with increased filling. This implies that the longitudinal length of the rectum decreases in response to distension of the organ.

Cadaver↗
PubMed1991

An initial assessment of the cost and utilization of the Integrated Academic Information System (IAIMS) at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center.

The concept of "one stop information shopping" is becoming a reality at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center (CPMC). The goal of our effort is to provide access to university and hospital administrative systems as well as clinical and library applications from a single workstation, which also provides utility functions such as word processing and mail. Since June 1987, CPMC has invested the equivalent of $23 million dollars to install a digital communications network that encompasses 18 buildings at seven geographically separate sites and to develop clinical and library applications that are integrated with the existing hospital and university administrative and research computing facilities. During June 1991, 2425 different individuals used the clinical information system, 425 different individuals used the library applications, and 900 different individuals used the hospital administrative applications via network access. If we were to freeze the system in its current state, amortize the development and network installation costs, and add projected maintenance costs for the clinical and library applications, our integrated information system would cost $2.8 million on an annual basis. This cost is 0.3% of the medical center's annual budget. These expenditures could be justified by very small improvements in time savings for personnel and/or decreased length of hospital stay and/or more efficient use of resources. In addition to the direct benefits which we detail, a major benefit is the ease with which additional computer-based applications can be added incrementally at an extremely modest cost.

Academic Medical Centers↗
PubMed2002

[Information provision for the biomedical sciences in the Netherlands remains safe guarded].

In view of the rapid development of electronic journals covering the biomedical sciences, the Netherlands Institute for Scientific Information Services has decided to review its document delivery services. The Institute will cancel all of its journal subscriptions at the end of 2002. This will not affect services provided to users of the library. Requests for documents from the collection will continue to be honoured. Cooperation with other European libraries, in particular with the German Central Library of Medicine in Cologne, will ensure continued access to a broad collection of journals. However, users will need to ensure that they prepare themselves for the world of digital journals. Document delivery is seen as a substitute for fully-fledged digital access.

Computers↗
PubMed2001

Health InfoNet of Jefferson County: collaboration in consumer health information service.

Health InfoNet of Jefferson County is a new collaborative consumer health information service of the Jefferson County public libraries and the UAB Lister Hill Library of the Health Sciences. Working with the input and cooperation of local voluntary health agencies, health care professionals and other health information providers, the intent is to improve the efficiency with which consumers might access such information while avoiding duplication of effort on the part of the information providers. Various considerations in InfoNet's mission include providing service not only to established library and Internet users, but also those on the other side of the "digital divide" as well as those with low literacy skills or English as a second language. The role of health care professionals in guiding their patients to the best consumer health information resources is emphasized.

Alabama↗
PubMed2000

Digital and Computer-Aided Mammography.

Digital mammography uses an electronic system to record an image of the breast that can be stored on a computer instead of on hardcopy films. There are a number of digital mammography technologies under evaluation. The potential advantages of digital mammography include improvements in image contrast, manipulation of the image after it is performed (avoiding repeats for technical problems), elimination of lost films, reduction in film library maintenance costs, and the ability to transmit the images over long distances (telemammography). Challenges and potential problems for digital mammography include a need to prove equivalence in detection and diagnosis with conventional mammography, the high cost of digital mammography equipment, and lagging workstation technology. Computer-aided detection and diagnosis (CAD) uses analysis by a computer program to assist the interpreting physician in identifying abnormal findings on mammograms and in making a benign versus malignant diagnosis of calcifications and masses. Several studies suggest that this technology can reduce the incidence of missed cancers and improve the positive predictive value for biopsies. CAD can be performed after digitization of hardcopy films but is best suited to digitally acquired soft copy images.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2005

Radiological digital teaching file development: an overview.

Radiologists are collectors of interesting films for teaching purposes or for use in presentations and publications. Traditionally, hard copies of films have been stored in an organized fashion, usually in a filing cabinet or film library. This system has inherent limitations, such as the physical space required. Many of the shortcomings can be circumvented by development of an electronic teaching file. Whereas the implementation of an institutional radiological digital image database can require significant developmental effort and programming expertise, there are a number of web-based solutions which are freely available and can be relatively easily employed to establish a contemporary electronic image library. This article will review the various options and discuss the process of developing a digital image database.

Computer-Assisted Instruction↗
PubMed2006

Automated vs manual triage for bioterrorist disaster: a blinded crossover feasibility study comparing personal digital assistant to paper-based triage.

INTRODUCTION: This article reports results of a National Institutes of Health/National Library of Medicine Small Business Innovation Research-funded research grant comparing paper-based and automated Palm handheld computer disaster triage documentation. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to test the feasibility of automated handheld computer triage and compare it to handwritten triage. METHODS: A paired t test was used in an intraindividual, blinded, crossover study to compare the 2 methods of disaster triage by 2 objective measures--time and accuracy. A total of 57 experienced, licensed first responders participated. Results are from analysis of 8 disaster scenarios with a total of 400 patients triaged using the 2 methods of documentation, crossed over, blinded, and paired per participant. RESULTS: The study demonstrated the feasibility of using TriageDoc, a Palm personal digital assistant (PDA ) program, as a viable alternative to current manual disaster triage. Furthermore, the PDA program gave advantage to bioterrorist agent identification. CONCLUSIONS: The feasibility of an automated Palm (Palm, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA) PDA triage program was demonstrated in this study. Study limitations, by the number of participants and the fact it is feasibility research, are acknowledged. Nevertheless, the research demonstrated TriageDoc was as accurate or more accurate as the manual method of triage with a tendency to require less time. Also there was no statistically significant difference between research sites with respect to accuracy or time to completion when the TriageDoc system was used. The program provided consistency and had flexibility in adapting to the various differences in triage methods at different locations. Hence, PDA programs such as TriageDoc may have potential advantages over handwritten documentation for disaster triage.

Bioterrorism↗
PubMed2002

Multicolor chromosome banding (MCB) with YAC/BAC-based probes and region-specific microdissection DNA libraries.

Multicolor chromosome banding (MCB) allows the delineation of chromosomal regions with a resolution of a few megabasepairs, i.e., slightly below the size of most visible chromosome bands. Based on the hybridization of overlapping region-specific probe libraries, chromosomal subregions are hybridized with probes that fluoresce in distinct wavelength intervals, so they can be assigned predefined pseudo-colors during the digital imaging and visualization process. The present study demonstrates how MCB patterns can be produced by region-specific microdissection derived (mcd) libraries as well as collections of yeast or bacterial artificial chromosomes (YACs and BACs, respectively). We compared the efficiency of an mcd library based approach with the hybridization of collections of locus-specific probes (LSP) for fluorescent banding of three rather differently sized human chromosomes, i.e., chromosomes 2, 13, and 22. The LSP sets were comprised of 107 probes specific for chromosome 2, 82 probes for chromosome 13, and 31 probes for chromosome 22. The results demonstrated a more homogeneous coverage of chromosomes and thus, more desirable banding patterns using the microdissection library-based MCB. This may be related to the observation that chromosomes are difficult to cover completely with YAC and/or BAC clones as single-color fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) experiments showed. Mcd libraries, on the other hand, provide high complexity probes that work well as region-specific paints, but do not readily allow positioning of breakpoints on genetic or physical maps as required for the positional cloning of genes. Thus, combinations of mcd libraries and locus-specific large insert DNA probes appear to be the most efficient tools for high-resolution cytogenetic analyses.

Chromosome Banding↗
PubMed2004

Digital anesthesia with epinephrine: an old myth revisited.

BACKGROUND: The prohibition against the use epinephrine with local anesthetics for digital blocks or infiltrative anesthesia is an established dogma in dermatologic surgery. Major textbooks reinforce this teaching suggesting that there is substantial risk of digital gangrene caused by local anesthesia containing epinephrine. OBJECTIVE: To provide a comprehensive literature review of the cases of digital necrosis associated with the use of local anesthesia containing epinephrine. METHODS: A PubMed search of the National Library of Medicine database using the terms "lidocaine" and "epinephrine" and "finger" with no specified limits was performed. RESULTS: A total of 16 papers were referenced and only 6 papers dealt with digital anesthesia. A total of 50 cases of digital gangrene were reported, mostly in the early part of the 20th century. In 21 cases digital gangrene was associated with anesthetic mixed with epinephrine. Actual concentration of epinephrine was known in only 4 cases. Careful analysis of all cases of necrosis did not support epinephrine itself as a cause. Other contributing factors including older compounds (cocaine, eukaine, and procaine), non-standardized inaccurate methods of mixing epinephrine with lidocaine, inappropriate use of a tourniquet, postoperative hot soaks, infection, or large anesthetic volume were also present. None of the reported cases were associated with the use of a commercial lidocaine-epinephrine mixture. CONCLUSION: A literature review failed to provide evidence to support the dogma that block or infiltrative anesthesia with lidocaine and epinephrine produces digital necrosis. Proper injection technique and adequate selection of patients (absence of thrombotic, vasospastic conditions, or uncontrolled hypertension) are mandatory to minimize complications. The addition of epinephrine, in fact, reduces the need for the use of tourniquets and large volumes of anesthetic and provides better and longer pain control during digital procedures.

Anesthesia, Local↗
PubMed1990

POLCA, a library running in a modern environment, implements a protocol for averaging randomly oriented images.

The library POLCA implements the averaging of biological structures whose images are recorded in digital form from electron micrographs. The averaging protocol is based upon a method developed about ten years ago, which allows one to operate on a sequence of objects oriented and displaced at random within their frame; the relative rotations and the displacements of the structures are detected with the use of correlation algorithms and modified to make all objects appear the same, apart from their noisy components. The average image is then obtained by a simple addition and the signal-to-noise ratio is improved by a factor equal to the square root of the number of objects used to calculate the average. With respect to the original implementation of the method, two novel features characterize the library: the first one deals with the functions that are cross-correlated to determine the relative rotations of the structures; the functions used here are the inverse transforms of the amplitude spectra (IAS functions), which give rise to sharp maxima when they are cross-correlated. The second peculiarity is the systematic adoption, in the transformations of coordinates and in other circumstances, of an interpolation technique based upon the Fourier series kernel. POLCA is written in C and runs on a VME machine under the UNIX V/68 operating system. A programming style has been adopted to exploit fully the machine resources.

Algorithms↗
PubMed2006

Purchasing online journal access for a hospital medical library: how to identify value in commercially available products.

BACKGROUND: Medical practice today requires evaluating large amounts of information which should be available at all times. This information is found most easily in a digital form. Some information has already been evaluated for validity (evidence based medicine sources) and some is in unevaluated form (paper and online journals). In order to improve access to digital information, the School of Clinical Medicine and Research at the University of the West Indies and Queen Elizabeth Hospital decided to enhance the library by offering online full text medical articles and evidence based medicine sources. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the relative value of online journal commercial products available for a small hospital and medical school library. METHODS: Three reference standards were chosen to represent the ideal list of core periodicals for a broad range of medical care: 2 Brandon/Hill selected lists of journals for the small medical library (BH and BH core) and the academic medical library core journal collection chosen for the Florida State University College of Medicine Medical Library. Six commercially available collections were compared to the reference standards and to the current paper journal subscription list as regards to number of journals matched and cost per journal matched. Ease of use and presence of secondary sources were also considered. RESULTS: The cost per journal matched ranged from US $3194 to $81. Because of their low subscription prices, the Biomedical Reference Collection and Proquest products were the most cost beneficial. However, they provided low coverage of the ideal lists (12-17% and 21-32% respectively) and contained significant embargoes on current editions, were not user friendly and contained no secondary sources. The Ovid Brandon/Hill Plus Collection overcame these difficulties but had a much higher cost-benefit range while providing higher coverage of the ideal lists (14-47%). CONCLUSION: After considering costs, benefits, ease of use, embargoes, presence of secondary sources (ACP Journal Club, DARE), the Ovid Brandon/Hill Plus Collection was the best choice for our hospital considering our budget. However, the option to individually select our own journal list from Ovid and pay per journal has a certain appeal as well.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1995

A physical map of chromosome 20 established using fluorescence in situ hybridization and digital image analysis.

The physical locations of 46 cosmid clones and 21 P1 clones were determined along the chromosome 20 axis relative to the p terminus (FLpter) using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and digital image microscopy. The cosmid clones were selected from the chromosomally enriched library LA20NC01. Nine P1 clones were selected from a pooled DuPont genomic library using PCR with primer pairs selected to amplify genetically mapped sequence-tagged sites. This information was used to relate the physical map to the genetic map. Twelve P1 clones were selected from the same library using PCR primer pairs that amplified known genes. Two of these, E2F and BCLX, had not been mapped previously.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed2000

Visual and colorimetric lithium ion sensing based on digital color analysis.

A new optical analytical method, "Digital Color Analysis (DCA)", is proposed based on a digital color analyzer instead of the conventional optical methodology, "Spectrophotometry". The digital color analyzer is a hand-held-size instrument for measuring "colors", and it can transform the color information into numerical values, color library data, etc., that can be treated as analytical information. DCA gives us a more informative analytical method than spectrophotometry by treating colors as digital information. In addition, DCA can also simulate the optimum color variations for optimization of the visual sensor with computer assistance. By utilizing colors as digital information, colorimetric analysis that has been used for only semiquantitative analysis can serve as an accurate determination method. On the basis of DCA, we developed a plasticized PVC film optode and a paper optode for Li+ determination in saliva. After the optimization of color variation and the detection range for the Li+ measurements, the optode membrane gives colorless gray in the Li+ therapeutic range (at 10(-3) M) in saliva. Consequently, whether or not the optimum therapeutic Li+ concentration is maintained can be easily evaluated with these optodes. Especially, the sensing paper optode can be easily handled within a short measurement time (approximately 80 s) which is suitable for home use. Using the digital color analyzer with QxQy coordinates, a linear relation calibration curve can be obtained over the range from 10(-5) to 10(-1) M Li+, in which the analyzer can detect a concentration difference of approximately 0.1 mM Li+. For the near future, an accurate and simple analysis is needed for a health check at home that does not require going to a hospital. The optode based on DCA has great potential for this analytical purpose.

Analog-Digital Conversion↗
PubMed2005

Digital transcriptome analysis indicates adaptive mechanisms in the heart of a hibernating mammal.

Survival of near-freezing body temperatures and reduced blood flow during hibernation is likely the result of changes in the expression of specific genes. In this study, we described a comprehensive survey of mRNAs in the heart of the thirteen-lined ground squirrel (Spermophilus tridecemlineatus) before and during hibernation. The heart was chosen for this study because it is a contractile organ that must continue to work despite body temperatures of 5 degrees C and the lack of food for periods of 5-6 mo. We used a digital gene expression assay involving high-throughput sequencing of directional cDNA libraries from hearts of active and hibernating ground squirrels to determine the identity and frequency of 3,532 expressed sequence tags (ESTs). Statistical analysis of the active and hibernating heart expression profile indicated the differential regulation of 48 genes based on a P < or = 0.03 threshold. Several of the differentially expressed genes identified in this screen encode proteins that likely account for uninterrupted cardiac function during hibernation, including those involved in metabolism, contractility, Ca2+ handling, and low-temperature catalysis. A sampling of genes showing higher expression during hibernation includes phosphofructokinase, pancreatic triacylglycerol lipase, pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4 (PDK4), aldolase A, sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase 2a (SERCA2a), titin, and four-and-a-half LIM domains protein 2 (FHL2). Genes showing reduced levels of expression during hibernation include cyclin-dependent kinase 2-associated protein 1 (CDK2AP1), troponin C, phospholamban, Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII), calmodulin, and four subunits of cytochrome c oxidase.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed2006

Singapore National Medical Image Resource Centre (SN.MIRC): a world wide web resource for radiology education.

Radiology education is heavily dependent on visual images, and case-based teaching files comprising medical images can be an important tool for teaching diagnostic radiology. Currently, hardcopy film is being rapidly replaced by digital radiological images in teaching hospitals, and an electronic teaching file (ETF) library would be desirable. Furthermore, a repository of ETFs deployed on the World Wide Web has the potential for e-learning applications to benefit a larger community of learners. In this paper, we describe a Singapore National Medical Image Resource Centre (SN.MIRC) that can serve as a World Wide Web resource for teaching diagnostic radiology. On SN.MIRC, ETFs can be created using a variety of mechanisms including file upload and online form-filling, and users can search for cases using the Medical Image Resource Center (MIRC) query schema developed by the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). The system can be improved with future enhancements, including multimedia interactive teaching files and distance learning for continuing professional development. However, significant challenges exist when exploring the potential of using the World Wide Web for radiology education.

Computer-Assisted Instruction↗
PubMed2002

[The St. Gallen digital ophthalmological imaging system].

BACKGROUND: Digital photography has many advantages over the conventional method. At present commercially available digital ophthalmological imaging systems utilise only a fraction of the advantages of this technique and some of them have fundamental conceptional problems. METHODS: Images of a fundus camera, a slit lamp and a scanning laser ophthalmoscope were digitised using digital and video cameras and/or frame grabber cards. Digital images and movies were recorded via a personal computer. The image recording software was developed using an imaging library and open source software. The recorded images and video sequences were processed with three different commercially available programme packages. The images were archived in a around-the-clock accessible database. RESULT: Our digital imaging system is capable to record normal and high resolution slit lamp images, colour fundus images in normal resolution, Fluorescein angiography images in normal and high resolution, digital simultaneous ICG and Fluorescein videoangiograms (without compression) and high resolution macro images. Different functions, e.g., contrast enhancement are integrated in the image capture software. Most of the parameters of the image acquisition are individually adaptable. The digital image archive supports multiple image and video formats. CONCLUSIONS: Using standard software and hardware components an imaging system can be constructed featuring functions usually not available in commercial ones. Since the system is adaptable, recording of images with a wide variety of parameters, e.g., for measurements for scientific experiments, is possible.

Computer Systems↗
PubMed2002

A study of issues in administering library services to nursing studies students at Glasgow Caledonian University.

Glasgow Caledonian University has had a Scottish Office pre-registration nursing and midwifery contract since 1996. Nursing studies students seemed dissatisfied with the library service and there were frequent complaints. A major study was undertaken during 2000 consisting of: an initial lis-link enquiry, separate analysis of returns from nursing studies students of the Library's annual general satisfaction survey (conducted every February), separate analysis of returns from nursing studies students of the Library's opening hours planning survey, and four focus groups held in October 2000. These studies showed the concerns of nursing studies students to be similar to other students but more strongly felt. The four main issues were textbook availability, journal availability, opening hours and staff helpfulness. Working conditions, placement requirements, study requirements and domestic circumstances were all found to be important factors. IT skill levels tended to be low but there is a growing appreciation of the need for training in this area. Concluded that: Library's services to nursing studies students have become enmeshed with the problems of delivery and assessment of education for nurses. Greatly extended opening hours are essential including evening opening during vacations. The problem of access to textbooks is so severe that conventional solutions are not going to work. Programmes of core text digitization and the promotion of e-books are needed. Reciprocal access programmes with local hospital libraries is essential.

Consumer Behavior↗