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At least 307 records · Page 17Linked to original sources

Computerisation of primary care in Wales.

OBJECTIVE: To obtain information about the computerisation of general practice in Wales, and to enable more effective planning of educational provision for doctors and other primary health care workers. DESIGN: Postal questionnaire sent to all general practices in Wales. SUBJECTS: 553 general practices, of which 401 (73% replied). RESULTS: The level of computerisation varied from 11 (85%) of practices in Powys Family Health Services Authority to 22 (40%) in Mid Glamorgan. Less than half of practices had a computer in only two authorities. The commonest uses of the computer were for patient registration (208 practices), repeat prescribing (180), call and recall of patients (165), and partial clinical records (122). The main suppliers were VAMP (78 practices), AAH Meditel (46), and AMC (23). 102 of 226 practices with a computer had a terminal on each doctor's desk. Just 33 practices had full patient notes on computer and 51 had modems for electronic communication. CONCLUSION: Mechanisms to encourage greater and more sophisticated use of computers and information technology need to be explored.

Ambulatory Care Information Systems↗

Collecting morbidity data in general practice: the Somerset morbidity project.

OBJECTIVE: To collect a valid, complete, continuous, and representative database of morbidity presenting to primary care and to use the data to help commission services on the basis of local need and effectiveness. SETTING: Computerised general practices in Somerset. METHODS: Participating general practices were selected to be representative of the district health authority population for general practice and population characteristics. All conditions presented at face to face consultations were assigned a Read code and episode type and the data were regularly validated. Data were sent by modem from the practices via a third party to the health authority each week. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Proportion of consultations coded and accuracy of coding. RESULTS: 11 practices agreed to participate. Validations for completeness during April 1994 to March 1995 revealed that 96.4% of the records were coded; 94% of the 1090 records validated had appropriate episode types and 87% appropriate Read codes. The results have been used to help formulate the health authority's purchasing plans and have enabled a change in the local contracts for surgery for glue ear. CONCLUSIONS: The project has shown the feasibility of establishing a network of practices recording and reporting the morbidity seen in primary care. Early indications are that the data can be useful in evidence based purchasing.

Adolescent↗

MEDLINE: the options for health professionals.

The bibliographic database MEDLINE, produced by the National Library of Medicine (NLM), is a computerized index to the world's biomedical literature. The database can be searched back to 1966 and contains 6.8 million records. The various means of access are divided, for the purposes of this article, into three categories: logging onto a remote host computer by telephone and modem or by the Internet; subscribing to part or all of the database on compact disc (CD-ROM); and leasing the data on a transport medium such as magnetic tape or CDs for loading on a local host computer. Decisions about which method is preferable in a given situation depend on cost, availability of hardware and software, local expertise, and the size of the intended user population. Trends include increased access to the Internet by health professionals, increased network speed, links from MEDLINE records to full-text databases or online journals, and integration of MEDLINE into wider health information systems.

CD-ROM↗

The clinical bioinformatics ontology: a curated semantic network utilizing RefSeq information.

Existing medical vocabularies lack rich terms to describe findings that are generated by modem molecular diagnostic procedures. Most bioinformatics resources were designed primarily to support the needs of the research community. We describe the development of a curated resource, the Clinical Bioinformatics Ontology (CBO), a semantic network appropriate for describing clinically significant genomics concepts. The CBO includes concepts appropriate for both molecular diagnostics and cytogenetics. A standardized methodology based on consistent application of RefSeq information is applied to the curation of the CBO in order to provide a reproducible and reliable tool. Challenges related to this curation process are discussed in this paper. At the time of submission the CBO included 4,069 concepts, associated by 8,463 relationships.

Computational Biology↗

Human Phenome based on traditional Chinese medicine--a solution to congenital syndromology.

The occurrence of many congenital syndromes has long been an enigma. Clinically, the phenotype of any given genetic defect usually varies to some extent, whilst, pathogenetically, features within each syndrome are probably interconnected, albeit by largely unknown mechanisms. Through its unique theories such as the Jing-Mai (variously translated as the Channels, Vessels or Meridians), Zang-Fu (the Yin and Yang internal organs) and Wu-Xing (translated as the Five-Phase Correspondence or Five-Element theory), traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) seems to have comprehensively summarized the makeup of the human phenotypes. By combining the above TCM theories with modem medical knowledge, the intrinsic mechanisms between various aspects of the phenotypic makeup of the human individual, i.e. the Human Phenome, may be deduced. Analysis of congenital syndromes in light of the Human Phenome seems to suggest that various genetic defects may cause diseases in a similar fashion; i.e. primarily with structural abnormalities distributed along the four Jing-Mai connected with the Kidneys (midline defects) as well as "Marrow" aberrations (anomalies of hematology/immunology, endocrine, central nervous system and the bones). The derived Human Phenome may thereby enable a better understanding of such conditions and provide a model for the study of multigenic traits. On the other hand, blind spots of clinical observation and unknown aspects of human nature, e.g. circuits formed by the JingMai, symmetries of the Jing-Mai and Zang-Fu, and correspondences between body physiques, spiritual factors and the external world may also be deduced. The TCM-based Human Phenome may thereby offer a fresh view for genotype-phenotype correlations, insights into genedevelopment mechanisms, as well as potential directions for the development of new treatments.

Congenital Abnormalities↗

A birdcage model for the Chinese Meridian System: part I. A channel as a transmission line.

The concept of Qi and the concept of channel are so closely related that they must be defined and comprehended simultaneously in a coordinated fashion. Once the nature of Qi is established in terms of physics, we may be able to explain the functional role that the channels play, as well as explain other Chinese medical terminology with a language of modem science. Based on the low electrical impedance characteristics of acupoints, we propose that the meridian channel is equivalent to an electromagnetic transmission line and the Qi is the electromagnetic (EM) standing wave riding on the line, with acupoints as its nodes. The standing wave within each segment of the channel separated by acupoints is in natural oscillation thus the segment may be analyzed as a lambda/4 open circuit that behaves like a series RLC resonator. Acupuncture until De Qi is effectively equivalent to charging the capacitor Ceq of the RLC resonator in the transmission line. The mechanism of bu and xie are charging or discharging the capacitor to bring the capacititive (or inductive) behavior of the segment back to that of the resonant state. Kirlian photograph may serve as a visual observation of the EM waves on channels.

Acupuncture↗

Stromatolites in Precambrian carbonates: evolutionary mileposts or environmental dipsticks?

Stromatolites are attached, lithified sedimentary growth structures, accretionary away from a point or limited surface of initiation. Though the accretion process is commonly regarded to result from the sediment trapping or precipitation-inducing activities of microbial mats, little evidence of this process is preserved in most Precambrian stromatolites. The successful study and interpretation of stromatolites requires a process-based approach, oriented toward deconvolving the replacement textures of ancient stromatolites. The effects of diagenetic recrystallization first must be accounted for, followed by analysis of lamination textures and deduction of possible accretion mechanisms. Accretion hypotheses can be tested using numerical simulations based on modem stromatolite growth processes. Application of this approach has shown that stromatolites were originally formed largely through in situ precipitation of laminae during Archean and older Proterozoic times, but that younger Proterozoic stromatolites grew largely through the accretion of carbonate sediments, most likely through the physical process of microbial trapping and binding. This trend most likely reflects long-term evolution of the earth's environment rather than microbial communities.

Biological Evolution↗

Mechanosensory properties in the human gastric antrum evaluated using B-mode ultrasonography during volume-controlled antral distension.

The aims of this study were to evaluate gastric antral mechanical behavior and distension-induced sensorimotor responses in the human gastric antrum using transabdominal ultrasound scanning. Ten healthy volunteers underwent volume-controlled ramp inflation of a bag located in the antrum with volumes up to 125 ml. The active and passive circumferential tensions and stresses were calculated from measurements of pressure, diameter, and wall thickness before and during the administration of the anticholinergic drug butylscopolamine. The bag distensions elicited contractions in the antrum and sensory responses below the pain threshold. Butylscopolamine abolished the contractions and significantly reduced the sensory response. The length-tension diagram known from in vitro studies of smooth muscle strips could be reproduced as tension-volume diagrams in the human gastric antrum. The number of induced contractions and the contraction pressure amplitude (afterload) showed a parabolic behavior as function of the distension volume (preload), with maximum approximately at 70 ml. At the sensation threshold, the luminal circumference showed the lowest variation coefficient (13-25%), whereas the variation coefficient was more than 100% for the pressure, tensions, and stresses. We conclude that the muscle length-tension diagram and typical preload-afterload curves ad modem the Frank-Starling cardiac law can be obtained in the human gastric antrum. The sensory responses were most closely associated with the luminal circumference, indicating that the sensation during antral distension depends on deformation rather than on tension.

Adult↗

How could static telepathology improve diagnosis in neuropathology?

The present paper reports our experience with, and our opinion of static telepathology as applied to neuropathology by means of the PHAROS acquisition system and conventional telephone data transmission (modem). The classical procedure of expert consultation based on surface mailing of histological slides is routinely performed, especially in highly specialized fields of pathology. Telepathology is an easy means of sharing scientific expertise at international level and could thus improve diagnosis particularly in neuropathology, where certain tumor types are very rare and complex to diagnose. Dynamic telepathology allows the referring pathologist to capture by himself images supporting their diagnosis. Using static telepathology the pathologist could be limited in diagnosis by problems in fields selection. We devoted a whole year to collecting all the technical parameters characterizing the use of digitized neuropathological data files in order to investigate the feasibility of telepathology and the extent to which its use could improve diagnoses. Our results on a series of 38 histological brain examinations illustrate how we successfully established an international connection between two departments of pathology in Belgium and the USA. The referring pathologists gave diagnoses in 35 cases and deferred only 3. Despite a time-consuming procedure for the telepathology session of a few cases, this tool provides easy access to expert diagnosis and real-time discussion, both of which are of considerable interest and offer significant improvements in neuropathology.

Adolescent↗

Discovery of ovarian cancer biomarkers in serum using NanoLC electrospray ionization TOF and FT-ICR mass spectrometry.

Treatment of cancer patients is greatly facilitated by detection of the cancer prior to metastasis. One of the obstacles to early cancer detection is the lack of availability of biomarkers with sufficient specificity. With modem differential proteomic techniques, the potential exists to identify high specificity cancer biomarkers. We have delineated a set of protocols for the isolation and identification of serum biomarkers for ovarian cancer that exist in the low molecular weight serum fraction. After isolation of the low molecular weight fraction by ultrafiltration, the potential biomarkers are separated by reversed phase nano liquid chromatography. Detection via TOF or FT-ICR yields a data set for each sample. We compared stage III/IV ovarian cancer serum with postmenopausal age-matched controls. Using bioinformatics tools developed at Mayo, we normalized each sample for intensity and chromatographic alignment. Normalized data sets are subsequently compared and potential biomarkers identified. Several candidate biomarkers were found. One of these contains the sequence of fibrinopeptide-A known to be elevated in many types of cancer including ovarian cancer. The protocols utilized will be examined and would be applicable to a wide variety of cancers or disease states.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

New methods of searching for medical literature: comparison of two systems, implementation and user reactions in a urologic department.

Knowledge Finder is the first Medline retrieval system based on CD-ROM technology that allows natural-language queries and accounts for deviations in spelling and terminology. Retrieved citations are ranked in accordance with their possible relevance (fuzzy logic algorithms), thus resulting in speedy orientation on a topic of interest. EasyOrder is an additional software module that enables the user to place an automatic electronic order at the library of choice, via modem, to receive a copy of a full-text article by mail or facsimile. We performed a study comparing search results and times when using a Boolean versus a fuzzy system. This article describes the underlying new concepts, implementation in a urologic department and user reactions to the new possibilities.

CD-ROM↗

Critical closing pressure in subarachnoid hemorrhage: effect of cerebral vasospasm and limitations of a transcranial Doppler-derived estimation.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Critical closing pressure (CCP) is thought to be jointly influenced by intracranial pressure and cerebrovascular tone. We examined how CCP is affected by cerebral vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). METHODS: In 15 patients with vasospasm of the middle cerebral artery, CCP was calculated using 2 methods previously reported (ad modem Aaslid and Michel, indexed CCP(Aaslid) and CCP(Michel), respectively) based on data of arterial blood pressure and flow velocity (FV) as assessed by transcranial Doppler. RESULTS: CCP decreased significantly (P<0.05) during vasospasm (CCP(Aaslid)=6.3+/-22.9 mm Hg, CCP(Michel)=14.9+/-16.5 mm Hg, mean+/-SD) as compared with baseline (CCP(Aaslid)=24.4+/-20.3 mm Hg, CCP(Michel)=27.8+/-19.4 mm Hg). This was not attributable to ICP, which remained unaffected by vasospasm. In addition, CCP was significantly lower on the side of vasospasm (CCP(Aaslid)=11.9+/-24.2 mm Hg, CCP(Michel)=18.4+/-19.6 mm Hg) as compared with the contralateral nonvasospastic side (CCP(Aaslid)=24.7+/-22.3 mm Hg, CCP(Michel)=28.2+/-18.0 mm Hg). CONCLUSIONS: Assuming that autoregulation-related distal vasodilatation outweighs proximal vasospasm, CCP should decrease. Alternatively, CCP might have increased during vasospasm as the tension of big vessels increase, but the turbulence occurring during vasospasm may have impaired the linear relationship between pressure and FV, thus leading to a marked underestimation of CCP. In conclusion, interpretation of CCP in vasospasm is difficult and may be overshadowed by nonlinear hemodynamic effects.

Adult↗

Systematic direct laryngoscopy: the Lindholm laryngoscopes.

The authors, each with 40 years of experience in laryngology, aim to lay out the general principles and details of a systematic method of direct laryngoscopy for adults, children, and infants. Advances in laryngoscope design and application, advantages of telescopes, use of the operating microscope, and principles of modem anesthesia are highlighted. Particular reference is made to classification of laryngoscopes, advantages of Lindholm laryngoscopes, suspension laryngoscopy, the principles of biopsy, and problems of laryngoscopy. The difficult airway and the obstructed airway are discussed in detail. With the recent renewed interest in investigation and treatment of laryngeal problems and a better understanding of laryngeal physiology and voice production, the future will, no doubt, see new procedures to treat and restore laryngeal function. The fundamentals in this report form a basis for direct laryngoscopy, endolaryngeal microsurgery, laser surgery, and phonosurgery.

Adult↗

Using telecommunication technology to manage children with diabetes: the Computer-Linked Outpatient Clinic (CLOC) Study.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of using a telecommunication system to assist in the outpatient management of pediatric patients with insulin-dependent diabetes. Metabolic control, patients' psychosocial status, family functioning, perceived quality of life, patterns of parental/child responsibility for daily diabetes maintenance, and nursing time-on-task were evaluated. One hundred six pediatric patients (mean age = 13.3 years) were randomly assigned to an experimental or control outpatient clinic for 1 year. Experimental subjects transmitted self-monitoring blood glucose data by modem to the hospital every 2 weeks. Transmitted data were reviewed by nurse practitioners who telephoned subjects to discuss regimen adjustments. Control subjects received standard care with regimen adjustments made by physicians. There were no significant between-group differences for metabolic control, rates of hospitalization or emergency-room visits, psychological status, general family functioning, quality of life, or parent-child responsibility. A significant decrease was noted in nursing time-on-task for experimental subjects.

Adolescent↗

Transtelephonic electrocardiographic monitoring of an outpatient cardiac rehabilitation programme.

OBJECTIVE: To address whether transtelephonic electrocardiographic monitoring (TEM) of patients with chronic cardiac diseases, being exercised in public gyms, is safe and efficacious. DESIGN: Data were obtained from 91 patients (72 men and 19 women; with a mean (SD) age of 56 (6) years and over a total of 11 820 exercise hours) with coronary heart disease and/or chronic heart failure (< or = stage III NYHA (New York Heart Association)), who were referred for cardiac exercise rehabilitation (phase III). METHOD: Twelve-lead electrocardiograms of indicated patients were transmitted from the qualified trainers in real time by standard telephone lines and were evaluated by the medical staff at the base. The TEM kits contain a telemedicine 12-lead electrocardiographic unit, a telephone modem, a computer receiver with special operating software and a laser printer. As soon as the ECG was monitored and diagnosed, the cardiologist contacted the exercise trainer and provided all the necessary instructions for intervention. RESULTS: In total, 280 cases were monitored. Successful TEM was reported in 99.3% of the cases. The mean (SD) time from ECG recordings to final interventions was estimated at 294 (13) s. The patients were referred for TEM during or soon after exercise sessions, because of chest pain (36% of the TEM cases), palpitations (33%), dizziness (12%), unexpected fatigue (9%), hypertensive crises (7%) and other disorders (3%). Ischaemic ECG changes were recorded in 14 cases with thoracic pain and arrhythmias in nine patients with palpitations. In only one case was a medical emergency reported and an ambulance response required. CONCLUSION: These data demonstrate that TEM provides a workable facility in cardiac rehabilitation for monitoring patients who are exercising in gyms.

Chronic Disease↗

History of North American donor milk banking: one hundred years of progress.

Over the past 100 years, North American milk banking has evolved from an idea to a sophisticated process. The early history of establishment of North American banks, including screening processes undertaken, provides the basis for current procedures in modern banks. Increased research and technological improvements have also dramatically changed modern screening procedures. Human milk banks have waxed and waned through the years due to concerns of safety, lack of information, and assertive marketing of infant formula. With increasing awareness of the benefits of human milk and the safety of the optimal product provided through modem milk banks, demand is increasing, leading to greater interest in establishing additional banks.

Canada↗

Functional outcome of the foot and ankle after free fibular graft.

BACKGROUND: The vascularized fibular bone graft (VFBG) is one of most common grafts used for free flap transfer. There have been no reports in the literature evaluating the functional outcome of the foot and ankle after a VFBG using validated functional outcome measures. In addition, most of the patients in published studies have had contralateral or ipsilateral lower limb pathology. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the functional outcome of the foot and ankle after a VFBG using validated functional outcome measures in patients with no preexisting lower limb pathology. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of our health center database and identified 28 patients who underwent free flap transfer for maxillofacial reconstruction. Patients were contacted by phone and mailed functional questionnaire packages. Functional outcome assessments were obtained through the use of the following validated functional outcome instruments: the Short Form-36 (SF-36), the Functional Foot Index (FFI), and the lower limb component of the Musculoskeletal Outcomes Data Evaluation and Management System (MODEMS). A matched student t-test was used to compare the experimental limb to the appropriate control group. RESULTS: The response rate was 77%. The incidence of wound complications was 23% (five of 22). Two of the five were caused by wound dehiscence, and three were caused by infection. There was an 18% incidence of clawing of the great toe. The SF-36 scores were not significantly different between the VFBG cohort and the control group. There was a statistically significant difference in FFI scores for all three categories: pain (p = 0.01), disability (p = 0.03), and activity limitation (p = 0.01). Nine patients (41%) were dissatisfied with their foot and ankle function at 3.1 years. CONCLUSIONS: The VFBG is an ideal source for a free flap. The impact of the procedure on overall patient health is relatively minimal. However, there is a significant deleterious effect on foot and ankle function.

Adult↗

The development of a new model for community telemedicine services.

Two trials of a telemedicine monitoring system were conducted in the UK. The SAFE21 system records the patient's physiological data, which are transmitted via a modem to the health service provider. The first trial was conducted on nine muscular dystrophy patients under 18 years of age. Eight of the patients felt that the monitoring system was reliable and were happy with it, as it avoided the need to go to hospital for monitoring. The second trial was carried out on 14 patients suffering from respiratory illness. Thirteen of these patients felt that the service was useful and 12 reported satisfaction with the system. The SAFE21 telemedicine monitoring system appears to be an acceptable means of delivering care.

Adolescent↗