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PubMed1987

Software for health care analysts: a modular approach.

The many concerns about the cost and quality of health care suggest the need to facilitate planners' using existing data bases for utilization review, program evaluation, and technology assessment. Despite both the availability of relevant data and widespread improvements in computing power, integrated computer software to permit analyses by nonspecialists has not previously been developed. This paper discusses the features of a health policy information system which aids working with hospital discharge abstracts, medical claims, cancer registries, and vital statistics files. Analyses of small area utilization, length of stay, in-hospital mortality, and readmissions are facilitated by this package. This information system, named the Health Applications System, includes an analysis module, three information management modules, and a set of record linkage modules. The modules were developed using the macroprocessor in the fourth-generation SAS system. Features of the software and their implications for data analysis are discussed.

Data Interpretation, Statistical↗

PubMed1989

A generalized laboratory software package--a prototype approach.

A prototyped model of a generalized table-driven software package for laboratory testing and results registration is presented. The need to computerize dozens of laboratories performing hundreds of tests, called for a radical approach which would enable the quick addition of new laboratories to the system, as well as ease of maintenance. The generalized laboratory software package (GLAB) relies on a set of data tables, maintained by users, and a menu controlled environment interfacing GLAB with the rest of the hospital's systems.

Clinical Laboratory Information Systems↗

PubMed1990

Inpatient admission system model using SIMAN software.

In this paper a simulation model is developed as a tool to describe the behavior of the inpatient admission system in a hospital. Due to difficulties involved in the self-development or vendor approach to model such a complex system, the author uses SIMAN software to develop a simulation model for the inpatient admission system. To most hospitals, advantages are gained in terms of reduced purchasing and maintenance cost, and ease of use, as this software can run on any personal computer.

Admitting Department, Hospital↗

PubMed1993

Exploratory data analysis of hyperlipidemia on the Macintosh: software tools for analysis of biochemical, clinical, and genetic variables in 1677 consecutive lipid clinic patients.

Exploratory data analysis (EDA) software facilitates unstructured, iterative open exploration of complex datasets with the aid of multiple linked graphical displays. We are investigating relationships between plasma lipoproteins and coronary artery disease by retrospective analysis of 1677 consecutive UCSF Lipid Clinic patients. Our preliminary experience is with Data Deck 3.0 although several additional software programs (JMP 2.0, Systat 5.1, Minitab 8.0, StatView 4.0) are mentioned. Lipid diagnosis (751 women and 925 men) was 22% primary hypercholesterolemia, 19% combined hyperlipidemia, 3% dysbetalipoproteinemia, 15% endogenous lipemia, 4% mixed lipemia, 5% elevated Lp(a) and 32% with no major lipid abnormality. We found the Macintosh platform (68030) to be flexible and powerful for analysis of moderate size (less than 1 Mb) clinical datasets. High resolution color monitors (1024 x 768 pixels), fast hard disks (< 18 msec) and moderate amounts of system memory (8 + Mb) facilitate exploratory analysis.

Artificial Intelligence↗

PubMed1991

Advantages and limitations of two software calipers in quantitative coronary arteriography.

Software calipers allowing the measurement of the distances between pairs of manually defined picture elements in digitized images may be useful tools for a rapid assessment of the morphology of coronary vessels, e.g. for choosing the appropriate balloon or stent sizes before or during cardiac intervention procedures. In this paper we have studied extensively the advantages and limitations of two manual software calipers--one developed for a PC-based cinefilm analysis workstation, the other for the Philips DCI system. Based on analyses of a perspex vessel phantom with 17 sectors of known size filled with different concentrations (50 and 100%) of the contrast agent and acquired at two kV-levels (68 and 92 kV), it was found that the cinefilm approach is characterized by a very small overall (averaged over te data from three observers) systematic overestimation of 0.03 mm, and the DCI system by a systematic underestimation of 0.07 mm; the worst case accuracy value for an individual observer on frames with 100% contrast dye concentration was 0.20 mm for cinefilm, and -0.34 mm for the DCI, respectively. The overall variabilities in the measurements (precision) were almost identical for the two approaches (overall 0.07 and 0.08 mm for the cinefilm and digital approaches, respectively, and worst case for individual observers on the 100% contrast frames, 0.16 and 0.13 mm, respectively. Inverting the images (bright or dark contrast containing structures) of the phantom at 100% contrast concentration and acquired at 62 kV had no significant effect on the results obtained with the cinefilm analysis system (overall accurary -0.12 mm for both situations), whereas it had on the results from the DCI system (overall accuracies -0.29 (dark vessels on bright background) and -0.08 mm (bright vessels on dark background), respectively). Enhancing the digital images on the DCI with unsharp masking techniques did not significantly influence the measurement accuracy and precision. Finally, it was found that woven dacron, polyurethane and polyvinylchloride catheters filled with 100% contrast dye can be measured with an overall accuracy of better than 0.13 mm on the DCI system. On the PC-based system the woven dacron and polyvinylchloride catheters would result in an overall accuracy better than 0.17 mm, and the polyurethane catheter better than 0.30 mm. The evaluation study has made clear that the nylon catheter should not be applied in QCA-studies.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Cardiac Catheterization↗

PubMed1984

Using commercial application' software. Integrating clinic office practices.

Automation of clinic business office practices has often been accomplished by the use of the procedures obtained from the provider of automated services. With the availability of the microcomputer and the commercially available business application software, the desired automated procedures may be obtained by discretionary use of the products. By describing the integration and the operational use of business application software within a multiphysician specialty clinic, the author highlights both the problems encountered and the benefits achieved.

Ambulatory Care Facilities↗

PubMed1984

Software economy in a rapidly changing hardware environment.

The recent dramatic advances in microcomputer hardware capability have created a problem for software developers and users. In the past, software programs could be transported to newer machines only with great difficulty and at substantial cost in time and money. This paper describes the use of the p-System operating system environment to achieve universal transportability of microcomputer applications.

Computers↗

PubMed1996

A tool for software and hardware evaluation.

The proliferation of information technology has enormously eased the burden of computing for medical users. However, it has also created a confusing, difficult problem in evaluation and selection of appropriate software and hardware components. This paper presents an easy to use software tool based on Anderson's Ranking Methodology implemented in Excel 5 that enables one an objective evaluation and selection.

Computers↗

PubMed1995

Macintosh sequence analysis software. DNAStar's LaserGene.

The analysis of information in nucleotide and amino acid sequence data from an investigator's own laboratory, or from the ever-growing worldwide databases, is critically dependent on well planned and written software. Although the most powerful packages previously have been confined to workstations, there has been a dramatic increase over the last few years in the sophistication of the programs available for personal computers, as the speed and power of these have increased. A wide choice of software is available for the Macintosh, including the LaserGene suite of programs from DNAStar. This review assesses the strengths and weaknesses of LaserGene and concludes that it provides a useful and comprehensive range of sequence analysis tools.

Minicomputers↗

PubMed1985

The TUTOR, a software package for educational computing.

Computer Assisted Instruction (CAI) is an effective method of imparting factual knowledge relating to the practice of medicine. Unfortunately educational software remains scarse and expensive or lacks flexibility. This paper introduces a software package that permits continuing medical education and self assessment by Multiple Choice Question exercises. The questions are first written to a text file with an easy-to-use editor. The programs are written in BASIC and hardware prerequisite are a desk-top computer with 32K of CPU memory and a dual floppy disk drive.

Computer-Assisted Instruction↗

PubMed1985

Microcomputer database software for medical information management.

Commercial software intended primarily for business applications may be used for medical information management. An inexpensive database may be established quickly and independently by busy clinicians working with limited resources. Desirable software features are discussed. A summary of 14 commercial data handling program packages is given.

Computers↗

PubMed2004

An IMRT dose distribution study using commercial verification software.

The introduction of IMRT requires users to confirm that the isodose distributions and relative doses calculated by their planning system match the doses delivered by their linear accelerators. To this end the commercially available software, VeriSoft (PTW-Freiburg, Germany) was trialled to determine if the tools and functions it offered would be of benefit to this process. The CMS XiO (Computerized Medical System, St. Louis, MO) treatment planning system was used to generate IMRT plans that were delivered with an upgraded Elekta SL15 linac. Kodak EDR2 film sandwiched in RW3 solid water (PTW-Freiburg, Germany) was used to measure the IMRT fields delivered with 6 MV photons. The isodose and profiles measured with the film generally agreed to within +/- 3% or +/- 3 mm with the planned doses, in some regions (outside the field) the match fell to within +/- 5%. The isodose distributions of the planning system and the film could be compared on screen, allowing for electronic records of the comparison to be kept if desired. The features of this software would be of benefit to an IMRT QA program.

Benchmarking↗

PubMed2001

Beyond the electronic textbook model: software techniques to make on-line educational content dynamic.

OBJECTIVE: We describe a working software technology that enables educators to incorporate their expertise and teaching style into highly interactive and Socratic educational material for distribution on the world wide web. MATERIALS/METHODS: A graphically oriented interactive authoring system was developed to enable the computer novice to create and store within a database his or her domain expertise in the form of electronic knowledge. The authoring system supports and facilitates the input and integration of several types of content, including free-form, stylized text, miniature and full-sized images, audio, and interactive questions with immediate feedback. The system enables the choreography and sequencing of these entities for display within a web page as well as the sequencing of entire web pages within a case-based or thematic presentation. Images or segments of text can be hyperlinked with point-and-click to other entities such as adjunctive web pages, audio, or other images, cases, or electronic chapters. Miniature (thumbnail) images are automatically linked to their full-sized counterparts. The authoring system contains a graphically oriented word processor, an image editor, and capabilities to automatically invoke and use external image-editing software such as Photoshop. The system works in both local area network (LAN) and internet-centric environments. An internal metalanguage (invisible to the author but stored with the content) was invented to represent the choreographic directives that specify the interactive delivery of the content on the world wide web. A database schema was developed to objectify and store both this electronic knowledge and its associated choreographic metalanguage. A database engine was combined with page-rendering algorithms in order to retrieve content from the database and deliver it on the web in a Socratic style, assess the recipient's current fund of knowledge, and provide immediate feedback, thus stimulating in-person interaction with a human expert. RESULTS: This technology enables the educator to choreograph a stylized, interactive delivery of his or her message using multimedia components assembled in virtually any order, spanning any number of web pages for a given case or theme. An educator can thus exercise precise influence on specific learning objectives, embody his or her personal teaching style within the content, and ultimately enhance its educational impact. CONCLUSION: The described technology amplifies the efforts of the educator and provides a more dynamic and enriching learning environment for web-based education.

Computer-Assisted Instruction↗

PubMed2006

Insertion of virtual pulmonary nodules in CT data of the chest: development of a software tool.

The purpose of this study was to develop a software tool for the insertion of virtual lung nodules into CT data. Forty software-generated nodules were inserted at random locations and sizes on 20 multi-detector row CT studies of the chest (4 x 1-2.5-mm slice collimation). On each scan, two virtual nodules were inserted. The size, shape, margin and attenuation could arbitrarily vary and were individually adjusted to match real lesions of each patient (real nodules: 6.5+/-3.1 mm; virtual nodules: 6.1+/-3.2 mm). Additionally, noise and a random pattern simulating local density variations were added to virtual nodules. Three blinded readers evaluated 40 real and 40 simulated nodules according to a 5-point confidence scale ranging from 1 (definitely simulated) to 5 (definitely real). A multivariate analysis of covariance was performed for statistical assessment (SPSS 11.5, Chicago, IL). Real and simulated lesions were indistinguishable for all three readers (Pillai's trace statistic: P=0.881). However, nodule size was a statistically significant covariable regarding the differentiation of virtual compared to real nodules. Larger simulated nodules were easier to detect than smaller ones (Pillai's trace statistic: P<0.05). The developed algorithm allowed for the synthetic generation of lung nodules that were indistinguishable from real nodules.

Algorithms↗

PubMed2006

Quantification of bronchial dimensions at MDCT using dedicated software.

This study aimed to assess the feasibility of quantification of bronchial dimensions at MDCT using dedicated software (BronCare). We evaluated the reliability of the software to segment the airways and defined criteria ensuring accurate measurements. BronCare was applied on two successive examinations in 10 mild asthmatic patients. Acquisitions were performed at pneumotachographically controlled lung volume (65% TLC), with reconstructions focused on the right lung base. Five validation criteria were imposed: (1) bronchus type: segmental and subsegmental; (2) lumen area (LA)>4 mm2; (3) bronchus length (Lg) > 7 mm; (4) confidence index - giving the percentage of the bronchus not abutted by a vessel - (CI) >55% for validation of wall area (WA) and (5) a minimum of 10 contiguous cross-sectional images fulfilling the criteria. A complete segmentation procedure on both acquisitions made possible an evaluation of LA and WA in 174/223 (78%) and 171/174 (98%) of bronchi, respectively. The validation criteria were met for 56/69 (81%) and for 16/69 (23%) of segmental bronchi and for 73/102 (72%) and 58/102 (57%) of subsegmental bronchi, for LA and WA, respectively. In conclusion, BronCare is reliable to segment the airways in clinical practice. The proposed criteria seem appropriate to select bronchi candidates for measurement.

Asthma↗

PubMed2001

Map Manager QTX, cross-platform software for genetic mapping.

Map Manager QTX (QTX) is software for analysis of genetic mapping experiments in experimental plants and animals. It includes functions for mapping both Mendelian and quantitative trait loci. QTX is an enhanced version of Map Manager QT, rewritten with the aid of cross-platform libraries (XVT, Boulder Software Foundry, Inc.), which allow it to be compiled for multiple computer platforms. It currently is distributed for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS and is available at http://mapmgr.roswellpark.org/mmQTX.html.

Animal Population Groups↗

PubMed2003

Evaluating forensic DNA mixtures with contributors of different structured ethnic origins: a computer software.

The effect of a structured population on the likelihood ratio of a DNA mixture has been studied by the current authors and others. In practice, contributors of a DNA mixture may belong to different ethnic/racial origins, a situation especially common in multi-racial countries such as the USA and Singapore. We have developed a computer software which is available on the web for evaluating DNA mixtures in multi-structured populations. The software can deal with various DNA mixture problems that cannot be handled by the methods given in a recent article of Fung and Hu.

Alleles↗

PubMed2007

Measurements of membrane patch capacitance using a software-based lock-in system.

On-cell patch-clamp capacitance measurements can resolve the fusion of individual vesicles to a membrane patch and the accompanying dilation of the fusion pore. So far, these measurements have used a patch-clamp amplifier in combination with a hardware lock-in amplifier. Usually, solely the capacitance and conductance outputs of hardware lock-in amplifiers were recorded, which needed to be filtered rather heavily to suppress spectral components at the stimulus frequency. Therefore, the temporal resolution was limited, and information carried in the patch current was not utilized. In this paper, we describe an alternative and more versatile approach for measuring patch capacitance and conductance, using a digitally controlled patch-clamp amplifier. The software lock-in system showed better bandwidth and identical signal-to-noise performance needing less instrumentation. High temporal resolution measurements on patches of chromaffin cells showed that vesicle fission can be completed in only tens of microseconds. Capacitance calculation based on the patch current allows for straightforward offline phase correction. Moreover, the close inspection of direct current for the first time revealed small current changes accompanying the fusion and fission of large secretory vesicles, promising new insights into the vesicles' membrane properties. A practical guide to high-resolution on-cell patch-clamp capacitance measurements using the software lock-in is provided.

Algorithms↗