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At least 613 records · Page 34Linked to original sources

Investigation of the effects of platelet-activating factor (PAF) on ion transport and prostaglandin synthesis in human colonic mucosa in vitro.

1 We have investigated the effects of platelet-activating factor (PAF), an endogenous mediator of inflammation, on ion transport and prostaglandin synthesis in the human isolated colon. 2 Application of PAF to the serosal surface of human colonic mucosa induced a marked, concentration-dependent increase in ion transport. Mucosal application was without effect. 3 The secretory response to PAF was significantly inhibited by prior application of a specific PAF receptor antagonist WEB 2170, indicating that the response is dependent on PAF receptor activation. 4 The response to PAF was attenuated by prior application of indomethacin or piroxicam, implicating products of the cyclo-oxygenase pathway in the response. 5 The response to PAF was attenuated by the loop diuretic bumetanide, indicating an involvement of chloride ion secretion in the response. 6 Addition of PAF to the serosal surface induced a significant increase in serosal prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), but not 6-oxo-PGF1alpha release. There was no effect on mucosal application of PAF. 7 In summary, we have shown that PAF is a potent secretagogue in isolated preparations of human colon and that the response is dependent on a specific PAF receptor, cyclo-oxygenase products and bumetanide-sensitive chloride ion transport.

Azepines↗

Web portal to an image database for high-resolution three-dimensional reconstruction.

The exponential increase of image data in high-resolution reconstructions by electron cryomicroscopy (cryoEM) has posed a need for efficient data management solutions in addition to powerful data processing procedures. Although relational databases and web portals are commonly used to manage sequences and structures in biological research, their application in cryoEM has been limited due to the complexity in accomplishing the dual tasks of interacting with proprietary software and simultaneously providing data access to users without database knowledge. Here, we report our results in developing web portal to SQL image databases used by the Image Management and Icosahedral Reconstruction System (IMIRS) to manage cryoEM images for subnanometer-resolution reconstructions. Fundamental issues related to the design and deployment of web portals to image databases are described. A web browser-based user interface was designed to accomplish data reporting and other database-related services, including user authentication, data entry, graph-based data mining, and various query and reporting tasks with interactive image manipulation capabilities. With an integrated web portal, IMIRS represents the first cryoEM application that incorporates both web-based data reporting tools and a complete set of data processing modules. Our examples should thus provide general guidelines applicable to other cryoEM technology development efforts.

Cryoelectron Microscopy↗

A web service-based Grid portal for Edgebreaker compression.

BACKGROUND: In health applications, and elsewhere, 3D data sets are increasingly accessed through the Internet. To reduce the transfer time while maintaining an unaltered 3D model, adequate compression and decompression techniques are needed. Recently, Grid technologies have been integrated with Web Services technologies to provide a framework for interoperable application-to-application interaction. OBJECTIVES: The paper describes an implementation of the Edgebreaker compression technique exploiting web services technology and presents a novel approach for using such services in a Grid Portal. The Grid portal, developed at the CACT/ISUFI of the University of Lecce, allows the processing and delivery of biomedical images (CT--computerized tomography--and MRI--magnetic resonance images) in a distributed environment, using the power and security of computational Grids. METHODS: The Edgebreaker Compression Web Service has been deployed on a Grid portal and allows compressing and decompressing 3D data sets using the Globus toolkit GSI (Globus Security Infrastructure) protocol. Moreover, the classical algorithm has been modified extending the compression to files containing more than one object. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: An implementation of the Edgebreaker compression technique and related experimental results are presented. A novel approach for using the compression web service in a Grid portal allowing storing and preprocessing of huge 3D data sets, and subsequent efficient transmission of results for remote visualization is also described.

Algorithms↗

Web services in the life sciences.

Web services provide a standard way of publishing applications and data sources over the internet, enabling mass dissemination of knowledge. In the life sciences, the web-service approach is seen as being a road to standardizing the multitude of tools available from different providers. In this article, we present an overview of the technology (focusing on life-science applications), we list the currently available service providers and we discuss advanced issues raised by the concept.

Biological Science Disciplines↗

Employee Internet management: current business practices and outcomes.

This paper empirically examines emergent business practices that attempt to reduce and control employee Internet misuse and abuse. Over a 6-month period, 52 web-administered surveys were collected. Respondents ranged from human resource managers to company presidents. Data were stored in a database management system and analyzed utilizing statistical measures. Monitoring efforts and policy development issues are examined against critical incidents of employee Internet abuse. The analysis also includes a rank ordering of the types of Internet applications that were perceived as most problematic or abused. Types of applications abused include electronic mail, adult web sites, online gaming, chat rooms, stock trading, and so on. Moreover, company size and years online are examined. Overall, this research will assist organizations in implementing effective corporate initiatives to improve employee Internet management practices.

Decision Making, Organizational↗

Webifying a patient interview support application.

This paper reports on the software engineering challenges, and resultant benefits experienced, in porting an interactive, knowledge-based system from Microsoft Windows to the World Wide Web for evaluation purposes. The Patients Interview Support Application (PISA) is a program intended for operation by a non-expert clerk to interview an ambulatory primary care patient. The PISA code had to be re-written substantially to address the 'connectionless' nature of Web dialog and to work in terms of dynamically generated HTML forms; however, it was possible to avoid any revision of the central knowledge-base or inference engine. The resultant Web environment attracted thought-provoking and detailed feedback from users, indicating that significant attention can be obtained from the global community by mounting an interactive system on the Web. Specific enhancements to the PISA's artificial intelligence are suggested by user reaction. A future global health informatics 'marketplace' with a multidue of Web-based system components available for composition of health information systems is envisioned.

Artificial Intelligence↗

PACS and Web-based image distribution and display.

Picture archiving and communication system (PACS) delivers images to the display workstations mostly through digital image communication in medicine (DICOM) protocols in radiology departments, and there are lots of medical applications in healthcare community needing to access PACS images for different application purposes. In this paper, we first reviewed a hospital-integrated PACS image data flow and typical diagnostic display software architecture, and discussed some Web technologies and Web-based image application server architectures, as well as image accessing and viewing methods in these architectures. Then, we present one approach to develop component-based image display architecture and use image processing and display component to build a diagnostic display workstation, and also, give a method to integrate this component into Web-based image distribution server to enable users using Web browsers to access, view and manipulate PACS DICOM images as easy as with PACS display workstations. Finally, we test and evaluate the performance of image loading and displaying by using the diagnostic display workstation and the component-based Web display system, the experimental results show that the image distribution and display performance from the Web server to browser clients is similar with that of the image loading and displaying procedure of the diagnostic workstation as more browser clients accessing the Web server at same time. We also discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the Web-based image distribution and display in different medical applications.

Computer Terminals↗

TETRA: a web-service and a stand-alone program for the analysis and comparison of tetranucleotide usage patterns in DNA sequences.

BACKGROUND: In the emerging field of environmental genomics, direct cloning and sequencing of genomic fragments from complex microbial communities has proven to be a valuable source of new enzymes, expanding the knowledge of basic biological processes. The central problem of this so called metagenome-approach is that the cloned fragments often lack suitable phylogenetic marker genes, rendering the identification of clones that are likely to originate from the same genome difficult or impossible. In such cases, the analysis of intrinsic DNA-signatures like tetranucleotide frequencies can provide valuable hints on fragment affiliation. With this application in mind, the TETRA web-service and the TETRA stand-alone program have been developed, both of which automate the task of comparative tetranucleotide frequency analysis. AVAILABILITY: http://www.megx.net/tetra. RESULTS: TETRA provides a statistical analysis of tetranucleotide usage patterns in genomic fragments, either via a web-service or a stand-alone program. With respect to discriminatory power, such an analysis outperforms the assignment of genomic fragments based on the (G+C)-content, which is a widely-used sequence-based measure for assessing fragment relatedness. While the web-service is restricted to the calculation of correlation coefficients between tetranucleotide usage patterns of submitted DNA sequences, the stand-alone program generates a much more detailed output, comprising all raw data and graphical plots. The stand-alone program is controlled via a graphical user interface and can batch-process a multitude of sequences. Furthermore, it comes with pre-computed tetranucleotide usage patterns for 166 prokaryote chromosomes, providing a useful reference dataset and source for data-mining. CONCLUSIONS: Up to now, the analysis of skewed oligonucleotide distributions within DNA sequences is not a commonly used tool within metagenomics. With the TETRA web-service and stand-alone program, the method is now accessible in an easy to use manner for a broad audience. This will hopefully facilitate the interrelation of genomic fragments from metagenome libraries, ultimately leading to new insights into the genetic potentials of yet uncultured microorganisms.

Base Composition↗

Personal health information management system and its application in referral management.

We developed a web-based personal health record (PHR) that can be used by patients to collect and manage their health information (e.g., medical history, past surgeries, medications, and allergies), to request self-referrals, and to store a record of their consultations. The PHR also includes a messaging system that can be structured into the workflow of referral management as well as allowing more general communications. A preliminary study was conducted with 61 patients. Thirty-two patients completed a survey in which 85% of respondents were satisfied with the usability and 94% were satisfied with the overall online referral process. The consulting physicians were satisfied with the content of subjects' personal health information and referral problem descriptions and found the information detailed enough to triage all requested referrals. Patients, physicians, and patient care coordinators reported that their communications were enhanced by the system and found the messaging component convenient to use.

Adult↗

Providing longitudinal health care information with the new German Health Card--a pilot system to track patient pathways.

The paper describes an application system that employs the new German Health Card to provide a technical solution for tracking patient pathways. The aim is to improve the flow and availability of health care information. We used standard software components and technologies in order to facilitate interoperability with multiple system platforms and allow for customizing as the specification process for the German Health Card is not yet completed. Every health care provider contact is recorded on the card and associated medical documents are stored in a central database and can be retrieved via Web Services running on a central application server. The patient pathway can thus be chronologically tracked by the clinician and relevant longitudinal information is made accessible quickly. Our system for tracking patient pathways with the new German Health Card can be regarded as a first example of its great future potential.

Computer Communication Networks↗

A web-based library consult service for evidence-based medicine: Technical development.

BACKGROUND: Incorporating evidence based medicine (EBM) into clinical practice requires clinicians to learn to efficiently gain access to clinical evidence and effectively appraise its validity. Even using current electronic systems, selecting literature-based data to solve a single patient-related problem can require more time than practicing physicians or residents can spare. Clinical librarians, as informationists, are uniquely suited to assist physicians in this endeavor. RESULTS: To improve support for evidence-based practice, we have developed a web-based EBM library consult service application (LCS). Librarians use the LCS system to provide full text evidence-based literature with critical appraisal in response to a clinical question asked by a remote physician. LCS uses an entirely Free/Open Source Software platform and will be released under a Free Software license. In the first year of the LCS project, the software was successfully developed and a reference implementation put into active use. Two years of evaluation of the clinical, educational, and attitudinal impact on physician-users and librarian staff are underway, and expected to lead to refinement and wide dissemination of the system. CONCLUSION: A web-based EBM library consult model may provide a useful way for informationists to assist clinicians, and is feasible to implement.

Chicago↗

Organising access to Evidence-Based Medicine resources on the Web.

The continuing education is a challenge for health care professionals, considering the growing amount and variable quality of information in this field. In this context, we developed a method allowing clinicians to have a centralised access to the best current medical evidence supporting medical decision-making. Relevant data has been gathered according to the rules stated for Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM) and organised in a free-of-charge Web site, created by using common software applications. The general aim of our study was to encourage individual practice of EBM by providing tutorials as well as a selection of free access tools for searching medical information on the Web. In addition to the education part, we provided clinicians, through a Web interface, with up-to-date, accurate and quality data obtained from heterogeneous sources and presented in a full text format when available. The developed methodology has been applied to human prostate cancer. URL address: http://www.ebm.lib.ulg.ac.be/prostate/index.htm.

Artificial Intelligence↗

An integrated knowledge management system for the clinical laboratories: an initial application of an architectural model.

eLABook is a web-distributed knowledge management system designed to support the needs of clinicians and laboratory staff in the selection and interpretation of investigations in laboratory medicine. Access can be by hyperlinks at any point through the request-report cycle, by browsing down a hierarchy, and by various search approaches. The information describes service issues, which are predominantly locally determined, and clinical implications, which may be local, national, governmental and international. The application has been implemented across the Oxford Clinical Intranet to support secondary care in the four hospital sites of the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals and by general practitioners in Oxfordshire. The knowledge base is capable of rapid changes in response to input from both developers and users. It supports authoring, editing and a full audit trail of changes. The selected architecture allows very large scale hierarchical structures and is designed to accommodate future needs for an object-distributed processing deployment.

Artificial Intelligence↗

Mémoire: A framework for semantic interoperability of case-based reasoning systems in biology and medicine.

OBJECTIVE: Mémoire is a framework for sharing and distributing case bases and case-based reasoning (CBR) systems in biology and medicine. METHODS AND MATERIAL: This paper first introduces the semantic Web approach to build a better Web where search engines, knowledge sources and servers, applications and services can live, work, and learn in cooperation. This semantic approach is particularly well suited for biomedical domains because significant ontologies have been developed there and constitute a sound basis for the standardization effort required for the semantic Web. Case-based reasoning systems in biomedicine have also benefited from these biomedical ontologies and models. RESULTS: This article demonstrates for three such systems how a semantics infused approach in CBR gives better, more accurate results in CBR. From this previous work on a semantic approach in CBR in biomedicine, the Mémoire framework has evolved. CONCLUSION: Mémoire proposes a unified OWL-based representation language for cases and case-based ontologies in biomedicine, where a Web Ontology Language (OWL) is a language to represent ontologies on the Web. Mémoire provides a set of tools for building case-based reasoning systems compliant with its language. Mémoire is extensible and can be adapted to different types of biomedical application domains, tasks, and environments. Mémoire will permit bridging the gap within the multiple case-based reasoning systems dedicated to a single domain, and make available to agents and Web services the case-based competency of the CBR systems adopting its interchange language. The approach could be extended to other application domains of CBR.

Artificial Intelligence↗

Web presence of an integrated delivery system at year one: lessons learned.

The log analysis of a web site can be used to guide performance improvement. Log analysis identifies which resources on a website are often accessed and those that are not. A log analysis can provide cost justification for a corporate web presence. We describe the log analysis of a large integrated delivery system in New York City from its launch May 1, 2001, through April 30, 2002. During this first year there were 428753 sessions with 1322153 page views. An analysis of page views, exclusive of the default home page, revealed that the pages most frequently visited were related to job opportunities (22.4%, 120086 of 428753), general information ('About') (8.5%, 45355), St. Vincent's Hospital Manhattan (8.3%, 44630), graduate medical education and allied health (8.1%, 43317), facilities (7.2%, 38677), web site search (6.4%, 34322), and physician finder (4.3%, 22910). The web site facilitated 1,980 online job applications. Health information received 15356 page views from 1793 visits. The re-design of the site for year 2 promoted the more frequently selected links, flattened the navigational architecture, and enabled access to all web pages within two to three mouse clicks of the home page. Lessons learned in the process of developing and maintaing a health care organization web site are shared in the case study.

Community Participation↗

How Japanese students characterize information from web-sites.

How 352 Japanese university students regard web-site information was investigated by two kinds of survey. Application of correspondence analysis and cluster analysis to the questionnaire responses to the web-site advertisement showed students regarded a web-site as a new alien medium which is different from current media. Students regarded web-sites as simply complicated, intellectual, and impermanent, or not memorable. Students got precise information from web-sites but they did not use it in making decisions to purchase goods.

Adolescent↗

A site of communication among enterprises for supporting occupational health and safety management system.

The occupational health and safety management constitutes a field of increasing interest. Institutions in cooperation with enterprises make synchronized efforts to initiate quality management systems to this field. Computer networks can offer such services via TCP/IP which is a reliable protocol for workflow management between enterprises and institutions. A design of such network is based on several factors in order to achieve defined criteria and connectivity with other networks. The network will be consisted of certain nodes responsible to inform executive persons on Occupational Health and Safety. A web database has been planned for inserting and searching documents, for answering and processing questionnaires. The submission of files to a server and the answers to questionnaires through the web help the experts to make corrections and improvements on their activities. Based on the requirements of enterprises we have constructed a web file server. We submit files in purpose users could retrieve the files which need. The access is limited to authorized users and digital watermarks authenticate and protect digital objects. The Health and Safety Management System follows ISO 18001. The implementation of it, through the web site is an aim. The all application is developed and implemented on a pilot basis for the health services sector. It is all ready installed within a hospital, supporting health and safety management among different departments of the hospital and allowing communication through WEB with other hospitals.

Communication↗