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Biomedical subjects

J Halama

Publications and source records attributed to J Halama.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Evaluation of Web-based computer-aided instruction in a basic science course.

PURPOSE: To demonstrate the applicability of server statistics, in combination with user surveys, to evaluate utilization of Web-based computer-aided instruction (CAI) in the undergraduate medical curriculum. METHOD: Individual user surveys with students' names provided information about computer literacy prior to the course and use of CAI during the course. Utilization of specific web-based CAI developed for the course was recorded by server software and the daily logs correlated with course content. Regression analyses were used to measure correlation of server access logs of individual students versus information from user surveys and performances in the course based on in-course examinations. RESULTS: There was no correlation between computer literacy of students at matriculation and their subsequent levels of use of CAI in the curriculum. Utilization of CAI developed for specific course objectives coincided closely with course content, which is an indication of the effectiveness of the applications in achieving their curricular objectives. In contrast, student use of tutorials coincided most closely with in-course examinations. Students' responses to surveys were generally substantiated by server statistics, but discrepancies were sufficiently large (10% to 20%) to call into question the validity of these surveys. Significant differences in CAI utilization correlated with the performances of students in the course. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates an important advantage of web-based applications to collect and evaluate CAI utilization efficiently and objectively at both the level of the class and the level of the individual student.

Computer Literacy↗
PubMed1990

[Long-term results in the treatment of 100 metastatic hypernephroid carcinomas].

The success of renal cell carcinoma (RCC)-nephrectomy with radical lymph node dissection in stage I and II disease is undisputed. Through these measures 23% of metastases are controlled. The five-year survival time in stage III disease, however, stagnates at 35% +/- 14% despite radical surgery. Also, the additional tumor-vaccine-therapy of the Mainz-Joint-Study-Group was successful only in stage I and II disease, whereas stage III disease did not benefit from this therapy. As 50% of all radically operated patients developed metastases within three years after surgery, the call by radio-oncologists for supplementary radiotherapy beginning with stage III disease must be put foreward. The problems of therapy and chances of survival in generalized disease are demonstrated in 100 of our cases treated by surgery, radiotherapy and with MPA (medroxyprogesteroneacetate). Whereas Schmiedt et al. show a total survival time of 10,3 months after diagnosis of metastatic disease, the Offenbach patients achieved 16,5 months with a median survival time of 11,75 months. The necessity of therapeutic intervention is confirmed by the fact that the most favorable median survival time, 15,75 months, was achieved in metastatic disease involving three organs. We present here the special features of the individual organ manifestations and point out that not only the mean and median survival time, but also the very widely varying survival times in individual cases, make conscientious oncological post-treatment follow up and management a requirement.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMed1985

[Radiation oncologic considerations on the treatment of cerebral metastases and personal experiences with 140 cases].

Cerebral metastases appear frequently and necessitate therapeutic measures. The authors report the incidence and particularities as well as the different modes of formation of metastases in the central nervous system. Surgical procedure should be carried out in case of favorable solitary metastases, young patients, and unknown primary tumors. Radiotherapy, which has proved for 30 years to be a valuable treatment method, has to be applied in a modified form in every case. Furthermore, the possibilities of chemotherapy should be studied and applied in a more intensive manner than hitherto. The chance of a one-year survival time is 22 to 44% for those patients presenting with an easily operable tumor. For the total group of radiotherapy patients suffering from various tumor types and generalized metastases, this rate is between 12% and 16%. Despite the short survival times, one should not forget that radiotherapy can produce many successful long-term results in case of cerebral metastases. Therapeutic nihilism is not the right attitude towards this problem.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

[Hemangiosarcoma of the liver in workers of the PVC industry and other VC-induced diseases with angiologic-dermatologic, hepatologic, radiologic and neurologic symptoms].

Occupational diseases resulting from exposure to vinyl chloride (VC) include angiosarcoma of the liver and other neoplasms. Among workers exposed to VC we have found capillary abnormalities in the extremities, with scleroderma and Raynaud syndrome, acro-osteolysis, neurological and psychiatric diseases and chromosome abnormalities, as well as abnormal liver metabolism and haematological findings.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

[Problems of cervical cancer and presentation of a new ring applicator for the afterloading technic with the selectron].

During our radiooncologic experience, we have learned the problems caused by insufficient information on the patient and his tumor. Histologic data, stage and a drawing of the extension of the tumor are generally submitted to the radiotherapist. This study is intended to remind that some other factors are important for the radiooncologic decision about local and temporal dose distribution, such as tumor size, endometrial extension to the fundus, frequency of metastases and recurrences, different histology/grading, and performed surgical technique/radicality. The vital importance of these factors is explained. A new circular applicator is presented for routine afterloading irradiation with the selectron. The applicator has proved to be useful in practice. The problems of the afterloading technique as against the radium technique are indicated, especially with regard to the dose rate in point A.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1982

Right anterior oblique first-pass radionuclide ejection fractions: effects of temporal smoothing and various background corrections.

Thirty-seven patients undergoing contrast left ventriculography were studied by first-pass radionuclide angiography (FPRA) in the right anterior oblique view. Ejection fraction (LVEF) was calculated from FPRA using (a) a spatially and temporally varying background correction (BGC) based on a matrix of activity in lung and left atrium and (b) BGC with temporal fluctuation but with no allowance for spatial variations. The two methods were performed on both raw and temporally smoothed data. All four LVEFs correlated well with contrast LVEF (r = 0.90 - 0.94). Absolute values differed significantly from contrast values except for the method using the spatially and temporally varying BGC on smoothed data, which provided the closest overall agreement at all levels of LVEFs, despite occasional large individual variations. The same method on raw data overestimated low LVEFs and the method applying only temporal fluctuation in background underestimated high LVWFs. Allowance for spatial and temporal variations in background is therefore important when first-pass radionuclide angiography is performed in the RAO view.

Adult↗