Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “big data”

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 1,117 records · Page 62Linked to original sources
PubMed2003

Taking the next step to privacy compliance for hospitals: implementing the OHA guidelines.

The recently released "Guidelines for Managing Privacy, Data Protection and Security for Ontario Hospitals," prepared by the Ontario Hospital eHealth Council Privacy and Security Working Group (the "Guidelines") are useful in that they provide a comprehensive overview of the types of issues raised for hospitals by existing and pending privacy legislation, and a very high-level framework for addressing same. However, the Guidelines are, as stated high-level guidelines only,--leaving hospital management to grapple with the next big step towards privacy compliance: how to operationalize the Guidelines within their particular hospital.

Computer Security↗
PubMed1993

Regional isolated perfusion with melphalan for patients with subungual melanoma.

From 1978 to 1990, 24 patients with subungual melanoma (MD Anderson Stage I, 17, Stage III, 7 patients) were treated with amputation of a digit and regional isolated perfusion with melphalan. The lesions were located on the big toe in 14 (58%) patients. Median delay in definitive treatment was 21 months, while 14 patients (58%) had been subjected to some form of inadequate treatment before correct diagnosis was made. Median follow-up for the living patients was 48 months. Overall 5-year survival was 54% (Stage I, 68%, Stage III, 19% (log-rank P = 0.003)). Sex and site of the lesion did not influence survival. Compared to literature data of patients treated by amputation alone, no improvement in survival could be demonstrated despite perfusion treatment. Moreover, two limb and 7 regional node recurrences were seen. The benefit of adjuvant perfusion in the treatment of Stage I subungual melanoma has not been demonstrated in this study. The results of prospective randomized trials in primary high-risk extremity melanoma have to be awaited.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

Personality in cyberspace: personal Web sites as media for personality expressions and impressions.

This research examined the personality of owners of personal Web sites based on self-reports, visitors' ratings, and the content of the Web sites. The authors compared a large sample of Web site owners with population-wide samples on the Big Five dimensions of personality. Controlling for demographic differences, the average Web site owner reported being slightly less extraverted and more open to experience. Compared with various other samples, Web site owners did not generally differ on narcissism, self-monitoring, or self-esteem, but gender differences on these traits were often smaller in Web site owners. Self-other agreement was highest with Openness to Experience, but valid judgments of all Big Five dimensions were derived from Web sites providing rich information. Visitors made use of quantifiable features of the Web site to infer personality, and the cues they utilized partly corresponded to self-reported traits.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Age distribution of human gene families shows significant roles of both large- and small-scale duplications in vertebrate evolution.

The classical (two-round) hypothesis of vertebrate genome duplication proposes two successive whole-genome duplication(s) (polyploidizations) predating the origin of fishes, a view now being seriously challenged. As the debate largely concerns the relative merits of the 'big-bang mode' theory (large-scale duplication) and the 'continuous mode' theory (constant creation by small-scale duplications), we tested whether a significant proportion of paralogous genes in the contemporary human genome was indeed generated in the early stage of vertebrate evolution. After an extensive search of major databases, we dated 1,739 gene duplication events from the phylogenetic analysis of 749 vertebrate gene families. We found a pattern characterized by two waves (I, II) and an ancient component. Wave I represents a recent gene family expansion by tandem or segmental duplications, whereas wave II, a rapid paralogous gene increase in the early stage of vertebrate evolution, supports the idea of genome duplication(s) (the big-bang mode). Further analysis indicated that large- and small-scale gene duplications both make a significant contribution during the early stage of vertebrate evolution to build the current hierarchy of the human proteome.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Big endothelin-1 structure important for specific processing by endothelin-converting enzyme of bovine endothelial cells.

Phosphoramidon-sensitive endothelin-converting enzyme of bovine endothelial cells showed substrate selectivity for big endothelin-1 (ET-1) when compared to big ET-1(1-38), big ET-2(1-37), big ET-2(1-38) and big ET-3(1-41). To investigate the big ET-1 structure important for specific conversion by the endothelin-converting enzyme, we synthesized a series of truncated analogues of big ET-1, measured the hydrolysis of their Trp21-Val22 bonds, and found that a 16-residue peptide, big ET-1(19-34), is the minimal peptide sequence. This suggests that an unusually long carboxy-terminal sequence is required for big ET-1 conversion. Alanine substitution for individual amino acids in the carboxy-terminal region of big ET-1(19-34) demonstrated that His27, Val29, Pro30, Tyr31, Gly32, Leu33 and Gly34 are more important than Asn23, Thr24, Pro25, Glu26 and Val28 for eliciting efficient hydrolysis of the Trp21-Val22 bond, even though the former residues are located at more distant positions from the cleavage sites than are the latter. These results, together with the fact that big ET-2 and big ET-3 show heterogeneity in the big ET-1 residues His27, Val28, Val29 and Gly34, suggest that the His27-Val-Val-Pro-Tyr-Gly-Leu-Gly34 sequence in the carboxy-terminal region of big ET-1 plays the most important role in selective conversion by endothelin converting enzyme.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Mapping care.

Managing clinical quality and assessing the efficacy of clinical operations are key objectives for all health care providers--but pressure is growing to do more with fewer resources. As a result, many innovators are turning to critical paths as a tool that can help them achieve those goals. Indeed, a new survey by Hospitals & Health Networks and Medicus Systems Corp. finds critical paths are taking hold in health care organizations in a big way. Of those hospital executives surveyed, 57 percent say they have a critical paths program. But the survey also uncovered a slew of names for the tools being used, and experts agree there are wide disparities in innovators' motivations, methods and achievements.

Clinical Protocols↗
PubMed2001

Musculoskeletal disease in the United States: who provides the care?

Musculoskeletal care is a big business in the United States. It is estimated that the cost of musculoskeletal care is in excess of $215 billion per year. Although orthopaedic surgeons are responsible for providing musculoskeletal care, a significant proportion of care is rendered by other healthcare providers including primary care physicians, neurosurgeons, physiatrists, podiatrists, physical therapists, and a cadre of alternative care providers including chiropractors, acupuncture specialists, and naturopaths. The purpose of the current study is to provide data regarding the provision of musculoskeletal care by those other than orthopaedic surgeons to determine what, if any, concerns exist among other providers regarding manpower issues, and to suggest alternatives for orthopaedic surgeons to maintain or perhaps increase their proportion of musculoskeletal care in the United States.

Chiropractic↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Health beliefs of Haitian elders related to influenza prevention.

OBJECTIVE: Each year, about 20% of the persons living in the United States gets influenza, and the majority of those who die as a consequence are over 65. Many of these deaths may be preventable. In this study, the health beliefs, attitudes, and cultural practices related to the prevention of influenza by Haitian elders are studied. DESIGN AND SAMPLE: Using a focused ethnographic approach, 10 adults above the age of 55 and born in Haiti were interviewed. METHODS: Data were collected using interviews and participant observation. Interviews were conducted in Creole by the primary author. Participant observation occurred for the length of a "flu season" in a neighborhood nurse-managed clinic during the provision of routine health care. RESULTS: Themes of competing paradigms, fear of sickness, taking care of oneself, and cautious willingness emerged. CONCLUSIONS: The participants described what is known in western medicine as influenza, as "a cold," or "a big cold." While they were uncertain of influenza immunizations, there was an overwhelming willingness to accept one if recommended by respected others and trusted health providers. The results of the study can serve as a springboard for future attempts to better understand this unique and at-risk population.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

Shape identification of underwater objects using backscattered frequency signals.

The inverse problems in the area of the acoustic scattering often concern the determination of the size, shape, and orientation of an object using the scattered field data. This paper presents a method to retrieve the shape information of an underwater object using illuminated lengths, which can be obtained from the ramp response signatures of the object. An ellipsoidal object submerged in water is considered. Both the low and high backscattered frequency data have been employed to calculate the illuminated lengths. The calculated results show that the illuminated lengths will be more accurate, if only the high-frequency-range data are employed. For ellipsoidal objects, any three illuminated lengths that are not of a same plane can in theory fully determine the shape of the ellipsoid. As the calculated illuminated lengths contain numerical errors, the calculated results of the three semiaxes of the ellipsoid will deteriorate and become unreliable, especially when the three incident directions of the illuminated lengths become close. The reason is that the condition number of the coefficient matrix becomes big in such situations, which leads to an increase of the relative error upper limit in the calculated results. To avoid such errors in close incident wave cases, it is found that the use of more than three incident waves works very well in the shape identification of an underwater object.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

Evolutionary relationships among Europan newts (genus Triturus) as inferred from two mtDNA fragments.

European newts (genus Triturus) are widely studied, but their phylogeny is not yet unambiguously resolved. Fragments of mitochondrial DNA experiencing different rates of evolution (the ATPase and 12S rDNA genes) were sequenced in order to test a phylogenetic hypothesis derived from biochemical and behavioural data. Well supported branches of the existing phylogeny also gained support in our study. Within the subgenus Palaeotriton (the group of small-bodied newts) the monophyletic origin of the hypothesized T. boscai-T. italicus clade remained ambiguous, whereas strong support was gained for the sister-taxon relationship of T. vulgaris and T. montandoni. The position of T. vittatus within the subgenus Triturus as a sister taxon to the clade of big-bodied newts (T. marmoratus and T. cristatus superspecies) was also supported. However, the phylogenetic position of the medium-sized newt, T. alpestris could not be clarified.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗
PubMed2004

Telemedicine in trauma and disasters--from war to earthquake: are we ready?

Every year many disasters cause thousands of injuries, deaths, refugees. Earthquakes and war often cause severe injuries (burns; amputations; Crush-Syndrome; gunshots; landmines; nuclear, biological or chemical warfare / hazardous material; infectious diseases; pediatric specialties). Referring to big earthquakes in the last few years up to 20.000 thousand people were killed (India 2001). 310.000 deaths were caused by war in 2001. The Mass Casualty Incident is characterized by the disbalance between victims and the normal community emergency response. Because of this a lot of different institutions and organizations are involved in coping with the disaster. This produces an extensive demand of qualified Command, Control and Communication (C3). Furthermore a lot of data has to be collected during the treatment and the injuries need special medical treatment. The use of health telematics in disaster response helps to cope with the scenario. Modern technologies provide support for building up medical aid although the normal infrastructure is destroyed. To cope with disaster scenarios there are some telematic tools which can be used: computer based Command and Control System, telemedical support, and data-resources-network/Medical Intelligence. The International Center for Telemedicine at the University of Regensburg Medical Center provides support for Health Care Professionals as a competence center for telemedicine. For the eastern part of Bavaria it develops a telemedical network with many components: The mobile emergency care system NOAH (Notfall-Organisations- und Arbeits-Hilfe) supports the Emergency Medical Service. Local Health Networks and the Clinical Network of Eastern Bavaria connect physicians and hospitals with the Regensburg Medical Center. With an online-education tool participants from all over the country can take part in trainings and courses.

Computer Communication Networks↗
PubMed2000

px(2), the newly identified gene in Rhizobium leguminosarum, is characterized to enhance its adjacent nodF expression.

nodFEL operon is one of the NodD-dependent inducible nod operons that is clustered on the symbiosis plasmid of Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar viciae. A recent study on the upstream regulatory region of nodFEL operon had identified a new promoter, which was responsible for the transcription of a 0.72 Kb RNA molecule, called px(2), in the opposite direction to nodF. This new promoter was further characterized to overlap with that of nodF and its in vitro transcription was inhibited by another newly identified nod regulator, Px. In this paper we report that the sequence analysis of the px(2) transcript revealed only one open reading frame (ORF(66)), corresponding to a polypeptide of 66 amino acids. Moreover, the increase in px(2) copy numbers enhanced the in vivo inducible expression level of nodF, whereas the frame-shift mutation of ORF(66) eliminated such effect, providing evidence that px(2) is responsible for specifically upregulating nodF expression. This result also raises the big possibility that px(2) encodes this polypeptide. A model for coordinated expression of px(2) and nodF, transcribed divergently from each other, is proposed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Cardiovascular effects of intrathecally administered endothelins and big endothelin-1 in conscious rats: receptor characterization and mechanism of action.

In conscious rats, the intrathecal (i.t.) injection of endothelin-1 (ET-1; 65-650 pmol) and endothelin-3 (ET-3; 162-650 pmol) produced dose-dependent increases of mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) accompanied by either a tachycardia or a bradycardia. A number of animals died by a sudden respiratory arrest. ET-3 was less toxic and less potent than ET-1 on MAP and heart rate (HR) while BQ-3020, a selective ETB agonist, had no toxic effect and exhibited only a weak pressor effect on blood pressure. The prior i.t. injection of 65 nmol BQ-123, a selective ETA receptor antagonist, blocked both the cardiovascular and toxic effects of ET-1 but failed to modify the cardiovascular effect evoked by i.t. substance P (6.5 nmol) or to cause intrinsic cardiovascular and toxic effects. While the pressor response to ET-1 was significantly inhibited after i.v. injection of phentolamine, the bradycardia was blocked by pentolinium. The cardiovascular response to ET-1 was, however, unaffected in rats either sympathectomized with 6-hydroxydopamine or pretreated with capsaicin. Furthermore, big ET-1 (100 pmol) caused toxic effects and delayed cardiovascular changes which were prevented by the prior i.t. administration of either BQ-123 (65 nmol) or 100 nmol phosphoramidon, an endothelin-converting enzyme (ECE) inhibitor. These results suggest: (1) that the cardiovascular and toxic effects of i.t. endothelins are mediated by ETA receptors in the rat spinal cord; (2) that the pressor response and bradycardia are likely due to the activation of the sympatho-adrenal nervous system and to a vagal reflex mechanism, respectively; and (3) that a phosphoramidon-sensitive ECE converts big ET-1 to ET-1 in the rat spinal cord.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2003

A combined blockade of glycine and calcium-dependent potassium channels abolishes the respiratory rhythm.

In order to test whether glycinergic inhibition is essential for the in vivo respiratory rhythm, we analysed the discharge properties of neurones in the medullary respiratory network after blockade of glycine receptors in the in situ perfused brainstem preparation of mature wild type and oscillator mice with a deficient glycine receptor. In wild type mice, selective blockade of glycine receptors with low concentrations of strychnine (0.03-0.3 microM) provoked considerable changes in neuronal discharge characteristics: The cycle phase relationship of inspiratory, post-inspiratory and expiratory specific patterns of membrane potential changes was altered profoundly. Inspiratory, post-inspiratory and expiratory neurones developed a propensity for fast voltage oscillations that were accompanied by multiple burst discharges. These burst discharges were followed by "after-burst" hyperpolarisations that were capable of triggering secondary burst discharges. Blockade of glycine receptors and the "big" Ca2+-dependent K+-conductance by charybdotoxin (3.3 nM) resulted in loss of the respiratory rhythm, whilst only tonic discharge activity remained. In contrast, rhythmic activity was only weakened, but preserved after the "small" Ca2+-dependent activated K+ conductance was blocked with apamin (8 nM). Also low concentrations of pentobarbital sodium (6 mg/kg) abolished rhythmic respiratory activity after blockade of glycine receptors in the wild type mice and in glycine receptor deficient oscillator mice. The data imply that failure of glycine receptors provokes enhanced bursting behaviour of respiratory neurones, whilst the additional blockade of BKCa channels by charybdotoxin or with pentobarbital abolishes the respiratory rhythm.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Influence of aging on phosphorus sorption to alum floc in lake water.

Alum is often added to eutrophic lakes to limit the release of phosphorus from sediments. This study quantified the effect of age and extent of crystallization on the phosphate (PO4-P) sorption capacity of alum floc. Aluminum hydroxide flocs were formed from alum addition at a dose of 25 mg/L of Al3+ to Big Bear Lake waters returned to the laboratory; flocs were then aged for 4, 20, 50, 120, and 180 days in the treated lake waters. The physical and mineralogical properties of the alum floc were characterized using surface area and thermal analyses. Phosphate sorption to the floc was evaluated using filtered lake water and NaCl/NaHCO3 solutions spiked with PO4-P concentrations ranging from 0 to 100 mg/L. The Langmuir model provided reasonable fits to data (r2 = 0.97-1.00), from which sorption constants and sorption maxima were determined. Phosphate sorption decreased with increased floc age and crystallinity and decreased surface area. Phosphate sorption maximum of the alum floc aged for 6 months was about 50% lower than freshly precipitated floc, while the binding constant, Kads, decreased approximately 65% over this same time period.

Adsorption↗
PubMed1994

Calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis, a free or fixed particle disease.

The chances of stone formation occurring through a free particle mechanism were calculated using the approach of Finlayson and Reid [1]. For these calculations we used new data on nephron dimensions, supersaturation and crystal growth rates in urine, and also incorporated the size increasing effect of crystal agglomeration. The calculations were performed assuming different levels of oxalate excretion, simulating the diurnal variation and acute hyperoxaluria following a dietary load. In addition urinary flow conditions were varied according to changes in daily urinary volume. It is shown that during the normal transit time of urine through the nephron, particles can obtain a size big enough to be retained in the nephron. This is mainly due to the size-increasing effect of the agglomeration process. The precipitable amount of oxalate present is not limiting for the maximum attainable particle size. However, acute increases in oxalate excretion do pose a risk because supersaturation is reached earlier in the nephron and consequently the crystal particles are allowed more time to increase in size. In conclusion, the present calculations demonstrate that during the normal transit time through the kidney, crystalline particles can be formed which are large enough to be retained because of their size and thus form the nidus of a stone. The highest risk is encountered at the end of those collecting ducts where crystals formed in nephrons with a long loop of Henle meet and agglomerate.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Oral healthcare in transition in Eastern Europe.

Big changes have occurred in the oral healthcare delivery systems of most Eastern European countries since the fall of the Berlin wall in 1989 and the demise of communism in the former USSR in 1991. In the new situation it was necessary to reform the political and social systems including healthcare. Reforms were started to improve the economy and, in comparison with Western Europe, the generally lower living standards. It is difficult to obtain comprehensive data on oral healthcare in Eastern European countries but this paper reports data from nine countries and provides a 'macro' view of the current situation in these countries. Many countries seem to have adopted a Bismarckian model for the provision of oral healthcare based on a sickness insurance system.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

Ostrich MSEL-neurophysin belongs to the class of two-domain "big" neurophysin as indicated by complete amino acid sequence of the neurophysin/copeptin.

Mammalian neurohypophyseal hormones, oxytocin and vasopressin, are known to be synthesized as part of two larger precursors containing, respectively, a VLDV-neurophysin and a MSEL-neurophysin together with its associated glycopeptide. Starting from ostrich neurohypophyses, a "big" neurophysin was isolated and chemically characterized. Following sequence determination of the CNBr-derived fragments and of peptides obtained from trypsin and V8-protease digestion of the oxidized protein, this "big" neurophysin was found to contain an MSEL-neurophysin moiety (94 residues) still covalently associated with the COOH-terminal glycopeptide (38 residues, copeptin). This study demonstrates that the ostrich MSEL-neurophysin sequence closely resembles all known MSEL-neurophysin sequences and that, furthermore, it does not contain the single amino acid insertion shown previously in the ostrich VLDV-neurophysin. It is also shown that the stretch of amino acids, linking the MSEL-neurophysin and the copeptin, is clearly different from its mammalian homologues and lacks the Arg residue normally recognized by the cleaving enzyme. This study also demonstrates that the ostrich copeptin is more closely related to the amphibian copeptin sequence than to its mammalian homologue, leading to the hypothesis that two families of copeptin molecules might exist. Thus, the ostrich MSEL-neurophysin-copeptin molecule is the first "big" neurophysin reported in birds and, together with the guinea pig and amphibian homologues, represents the third example of partial or no neurophysin-copeptin cleavage.

Amino Acid Sequence↗