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Automated qualitative and quantitative metabolic profiling analysis of urinary steroids by a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-data system.

A computer system (MSSMET), using methylene unit retention indices for an off-line reverse library search analysis of selected ion chromatograms from gas chromatography-mass spectrometry data, has been applied to the qualitative and quantitative determination of urinary steroids. Several published methods for the isolation and derivatization of urinary steroids were evaluated for reproducibility using fused silica capillary column gas chromatography. Using a procedure that gave the greatest reproducibility, MSSMET analyses of urinary steroids were evaluated with packed (3-m 3% OV-101) and capillary (50-m OV-101 WCOT fused silica) columns. Most urinary steroids could be accurately quantitated using the packed column. However, urinary steroids with similar mass spectra and retention behavior on a packed column (i.e., androsterone and etiocholanolone, or 3 alpha, 11 beta, 17 alpha, 21-tetrahydroxy-5 beta-pregnane-20-one and 3 alpha, 11 beta, 17 alpha, 21-tetrahydroxy-5 alpha-pregnane-20-one) were completely separated using the capillary column and could be reproducibly quantitated with a 2-sec scan cycle time (10-15 data points across a peak) but not with a longer scan cycle time. Overloading was the major problem encountered with the fused silica capillary column.

Female↗

Computed tomographic anatomy of the canine cervical vertebral venous system.

Computed tomographic (CT) venography of the cervical vertebral canal was performed in six, clinically normal, adult mixed-breed dogs from 14 to 23 kg. After dogs were euthanized and saline perfused, a gelatin and iothalamate mixture was injected into the right external jugular vein. Contiguous, 4-mm-thick CT images were obtained with dogs in sternal recumbency. Dogs were kept in the same position as for the CT scan and frozen to approximately -8 degrees C. All post-contrast CT images were analyzed using similar bone window and level settings. Additional multiplanar reformatted dorsal images were obtained in all dogs. The frozen cadavers were sectioned through the cervical region extending from the occiput to T1 at approximately 8-mm intervals. The frozen sections were then compared with the CT images. The CT appearance of the normal cervical vertebral venous system was described and illustrated. Components such as the internal vertebral venous plexus, interarcuate veins, intervertebral veins, and vertebral veins were clearly identified on the CT images.

Animals↗

Promoting independent task performance by persons with severe developmental disabilities through a new computer-aided system.

This study involved two experiments. In Experiment 1, a computer-aided system for promoting task performance by 6 persons with severe developmental disabilities was compared with a card system. The computer-aided system was portable and presented pictorial task instructions (one instruction per step) and prompts. In Experiment 2, the same system was used, but the number of instruction occasions was reduced. In one condition, the system presented all the instructions used in Experiment 1 but mostly in clusters rather than individually. In another, the system presented part of the Experiment 1 instructions. Three Experiment 1 participants also served in Experiment 2. Experiment 1 results indicated all 6 participants had higher percentages of correct steps with the computer system and preferred it to the card system. Experiment 2 results indicated that the condition in which the instructions were clustered was more effective for maintaining correct task performance. Implications of the findings were discussed.

Activities of Daily Living↗

WASP--a generic web-based, interactive, patient simulation system.

Computer based patient case simulation systems have during the recent years been introduced in medical education to allow students to "meet" more cases that are educationally optimized and adapted to the actual learning situation. However, three major problems exist with most computer based case simulation systems today: They are expensive to develop, experienced multimedia developers are needed for the development and teachers/clinicians can not develop and adjust cases to fit their own specific educational needs. The WASP project (Web-Activated Simulation of Patients) tries to solve these three problems, and still allow very realistic and highly-interactive simulations of clinical cases, delivered and edited via the Web. WASP is based on experience from a number of national and international visualization and simulation projects. Most important case simulation features are available, including: interactive history taking, complete physical examination (inspection, auscultation, palpation, percussion, vitals, neurological exams etc.), complete lab section including chemical labs, X-ray, MRI, ultrasound, CT, phys lab, pharmacology lab, pathology lab etc.), diagnosis and differentials, therapy, interactive session feedback and integrated references and online database sources.

Education, Medical, Undergraduate↗

[Computer supporting system of neurological topodiagnosis].

Neurological topodiagnosis has some considerable difficulties because of the complex anatomy involved. One answer to this problem is making a computer system able to map the pathways responsible for the patients' symptoms and also able to pinpoint the causative lesions. We introduced a new computer system for such purpose. Human memory has its limits so it is in a way inevitable that computers will be used in neurological diagnosis.

Computers↗

[Development and experience in clinical use of computer monitoring systems in the cardiology intensive care unit].

To develop national monitor computer systems (MCS) for intensive cardiological care units, which should be reliable, easy-to-use, and cheaper than their foreign analogues is a pressing scientific and practical problem for Russian medical instrument making. The paper presents the results of development of and clinical experience with MCS at the intensive cardiological care unit of the Republican Clinical Cardiology Dispensary in the Republic of Udmurtia (Izhevsk).

Cardiology↗

Implementing a computer software system.

A great deal of time and energy goes into deciding what software computer system to purchase for the nursing department. Too often following purchase, we think our work is over, when in reality, the most critical phase is starting--installing the system. This article discusses critical responsibilities of both nurse administrators and installers during implementation of the system.

Administrative Personnel↗

Computed dental radiography: evaluation of a new charge-coupled device-based intraoral radiographic system.

Computed dental radiography is a filmless system of dental x-ray imaging. It features multiple sensors with receptive areas and image quality that approach the size and resolution of film. The system is able to match the utility of film on levels such as multiple-sized images and printing output. It approaches film in quality of image and diagnostic capacity. In features such as speed of image acquisition, reduction in radiation dose, retrieval of data, and organization and storage of images, the computed dental radiography system surpasses traditional x-ray film.

Evaluation Studies as Topic↗

Using computer-based systems for biomaterial evaluation.

Computer-based image analysis techniques can be combined with immunohistochemistry to harness the full potential of computer technology. They can be used to quantitatively and reproducibly analyse cellular responses to materials and can play a significant role in medical device development and material selection. The benefits and pitfalls of the techniques are examined.

Biocompatible Materials↗

A functional computer recording system for a veterinary diagnostic laboratory.

The establishment of a computer system to process the diagnostic records of the veterinary laboratories of the Queensland Department of Primary Industries is described. A batch system is being used with an optical type input to an International Computers Limited computer. The reports are generated and then reduced photographically to standard size paper. The experience gained and the features and potential of the system are discussed including the particular advantages of the optical input system.

Animals↗

Adapting to new technology in the operating room.

The effects of new technology on human performance in domains such as anesthesiology, commercial aviation, and nuclear power operations remain controversial. To study the impact of new technology on skilled practitioner performance, we observed the introduction of a new, highly integrated, microprocessor-based physiological monitoring system for use in cardiac anesthesia. The new computer system differed from its predecessors in method of display, human interface, level of integration, and automation of functions. A process-tracing technique was used to examine physician-computer interaction in the context of 22 anesthesia procedures for cardiothoracic surgery, most of which involved cardiopulmonary bypass. Practitioners experienced a series of problems with the new computer system. Computer system characteristics relative to the specific context of cardiac surgery created new cognitive and physical burdens that tended to congregate at times of high demand, the characteristic feature of clumsy automation. Practitioners as individuals and as a group tried to overcome these problems by adapting the computer system (system tailoring) and their behavior (task tailoring) as they learned about the interaction between characteristics of the new system and characteristics of their field of practice.

Anesthesiology↗

Principals of design and evaluation of an information system for a department of respiratory medicine.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate a departmental computer system. DESIGN: a. Direct comparison of the time taken to use a manual system with the time taken to use a computer system for lung function evaluation, loan of equipment and production of correspondence. b. Analysis of the accuracy of data capture before and after the introduction of the computer system. c. Analysis of the comparative running costs of the manual and computer systems. SETTING: Within a department of respiratory medicine serving a hospital of 1323 beds. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: a. Time taken to perform functions with the assistance of computerised methods, in comparison to the manual method used alone. b. Accuracy of data capture. c. Relative running costs. RESULTS: a. The computer system (CS) was significantly faster than the manual system (MS) for lung function evaluation (CS = 7.63 min/test, MS = 12.25 min/test), loan of equipment (CS = 0.40 min/loan, MS = 2.07 min/loan), and checking for overdue equipment (CS = 0.49 s/record, MS = 9 s/record). The production of correspondence was slightly slower with the computer (CS = 9.30 min/letter, MS = 8.54 min/letter). b. All outpatient episodes, but only 43 of 65 (66%) of in-patient episodes, were captured. Lung function and managerial report data were accurate using both manual and computerised methods. The manual system for equipment loans was inefficient, and use of the computer resulted in the recovery of 221 nebulisers. c. Development costs for 1988-1990 were high (72,178 pounds). Only 1200 pounds to 1845 pounds per year was recovered directly from staff time saved by the computer but larger savings resulted from changes in work practice (4049-4765 pounds). After 10 years the projected deficit is 10,000 pounds per annum in running costs. CONCLUSIONS: In comparison with the manual methods, the computer system has shown significant advantages which provide accurate information, with significant favourable effects on working practices. In evaluating computer systems used in clinical practice it is essential to ensure that the projected work practice benefits are achieved without unacceptable costs in staff time, inaccurate data and high financial outlay.

Computer Systems↗

Computed tomography of the lumbar spine. Experience with an Expert System in computer aided diagnosis.

The authors report their experience in the formulation of an Expert System for computer aided diagnosis in the examination of the lumbar spine with computed tomography. A large number of steps are identified in the process of diagnostic evaluation of CT examinations; about 80 decisional rules are considered and arranged in five 'areas'. The Expert System under study is a first proposal, intended for use by radiologists with some basic training.

Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted↗

A computer programme system for stereotactic neurosurgery.

A computer programme system is reported which allows a simulation of a stereotactic operation. It incorporates the determination of intracerebral structures and the electrode tract by means of boney reference points as well as the calculation of the parameters for the stereotactic apparatus. It contains further a library of brain sections, by which the electrode tract within the target structures can be shown on a computer display.

Computers↗

Testing of a medical linear accelerator's computer-control system.

In August of 1987, the Radiation Oncology Center at the Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology became the first academic-medical-center user of Varian's computer-controlled therapy accelerator, a prototype version of the 2100C. Installation was accomplished by the retrofit of a computer system to our two-year-old Clinac 1800. Being well aware of the malfunctions that occurred in other computer-controlled accelerators, we took extraordinary measures to assure proper operation of the new, computerized, system. Our acceptance procedure included tests of (i) mechanical systems (isocentricity, digital readouts, etc.); (ii) radiation parameters (flatness, symmetry, output, etc.); (iii) manual safety systems (emergency off switches, etc.); (iv) the computer console systems (communications integrity, state integrity, etc.); and (v) the interlock systems (some 50 electrical, mechanical, and/or computer-controlled interlocks). As items (i), (ii), and (iii) do not differ significantly from the tests for a non-computer-controlled machine, they will not be discussed here. Rather, this report will concentrate on the methods that were devised to test the computer-control and interlock systems.

Computer Systems↗

Construction of a computed tomographic phantom for a Japanese male adult and dose calculation system.

Computational human phantoms have been widely used to estimate organ doses and other dosimetric quantities related to the human body where direct measurements are difficult to perform. In recent years, voxel phantoms (voxel = volume element) based on computed tomographic (CT) data of real persons have been constructed which provide a realistic description of the human anatomy. A CT phantom of a Japanese male adult with an average body size was developed as the first Asian voxel phantom. The segmented phantom consists of more than 100 regions enabling the calculation of doses for various parts of the body. The bone marrow distribution was precisely modelled according to the CT values. The EGS4 Monte Carlo transport code was combined with the phantom to calculate organ doses for external exposure due to photons and electrons up to 1 TeV. The calculated organ doses were compared with respective data using MIRD-type mathematical phantoms. In some cases, significant discrepancies in doses were observed, demonstrating the necessity of sophisticated models for accurate dose calculations.

Adult↗

Achieving reuse of computable guideline systems.

We describe an architecture for reusing computable guidelines and the programs used to interpret them across varied legacy clinical systems. Developed for the PRODIGY 3 project, our architecture aims to support interactive, point of care use of guidelines in primary care. Legacy medical record systems in UK primary care are diverse, using different terminologies, different data models, and varying user-interface philosophies. However, our goal is to provide common guideline knowledge bases and system components, while achieving full integration with the host medical record system, and a user interface tailored to that system. In conjunction with system suppliers, we identified areas of standardization required to achieve this goal. Firstly, standardized interfaces were created for mediation with the legacy system medical record and for act management. Secondly, a standard interface was developed for communication with the User Interface for guideline interaction. Thirdly, a terminology mapping knowledge base and system component was provided. Lastly, we developed a numeric unit conversion knowledge base and system component. The standardization of this architecture was achieved by close collaboration with existing vendors of Primary Care computing systems in the UK. The work has been verified by two suppliers successfully building and deploying systems with User Interfaces which mirror their normal look and feel, communicating fully with existing medical records, while using identical Guideline Interpreter components and knowledge bases. Encouragingly further experiments in other areas of clinical decision support have not required extension of our interfaces.

Artificial Intelligence↗