bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Automatic Conceptual Indexing of French Pharmaceutical Theses
Authors: Mary Vincent  , Pouliquen Bruno  , Le Duff Franck  , Darmoni Stefan J.  , Segui Alain  , Le Beux Pierre
Published: February 2025

French pharmaceutical theses are rarely quoted. If the main obstacles originate from language or access barriers, proper indexation could also be blamed. Manually extracted key-words don't necessary come from a structured thesaurus. In the following work, this manual indexing method is compared to an automated one, “Nomindex”, based on UMLS. The automated method is improved by the addition of a relevance scoring system. The first indexing step consists of downloading, adapting and indexing theses in electronic format. Results will then be analyzed and sorted by relevance, through the comparison of classic statistical indices (noise, silence and relevance). It was assumed that the manually obtained key-words were always relevant. The silence of manual indexing is nevertheless high: seven new key-words are proposed by Nomindex, which results are mixed (10 % of silence, but 50 % of noise). These results are promising on the first experiment on pharmaceutical document without lexicon improvement. The indexing, if it is currently insufficient for a real life use, could easily be improved by specific updates of the lexicon.
Applying Temporal Abstraction and Case-based Reasoning to Predict Approaching Influenza Waves
Authors: Schmidt Rainer  , Gierl Lothar
Published: February 2025

The goal of the TeCoMed project is to send early warnings against forthcoming waves or even epidemics of infectious diseases, especially of influenza, to interested practitioners, pharmacists etc. in the German federal state Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The forecast of these waves is based on written confirmations of unfitness for work of the main German health insurance company. Since influenza waves are difficult to predict because of their cyclic but not regular behaviour, statistical methods based on the computation of mean values are not helpful. Instead, we have developed a prognostic model that makes use of similar former courses. Our method combines Case-based Reasoning with Temporal Abstraction to decide whether early warning is appropriate.
Automatic Diagnosis Classification of Patient Discharge Letters
Authors: Karanikolas Nikitas N.  , Skourlas Christos
Published: February 2025

CAIRN (Computer Assisted $\underbar{M}$edical Information Resource Navigation) is a prototyping System that allows flexible medical data storage and retrieval supporting medical informatics research. In this paper methods that automate the selection of ICD-9 diagnosis (International Classification of Diseases and Diagnoses, 9th Revision) are investigated. We present the Text Data Mining module extension of CAIRN and its application in order to organize in a systematic way uncontrolled terms, to propose relationships between uncontrolled terms and finally aid the diagnosis classification.
Bioinformatical Results Based on Statistical Methods for Endectocide Products Against Fly-larvae
Authors: Börzsönyi L´szló  , Fodor János  , Farkas Róbert
Published: February 2025

The larvicide effects of three endecticide products were studied against house fly larvae. Repeated- measure design was used for the analysis of variance. The observed data followed different distributions. For this reason, instead of the repeated measure ANOVA, three fast statistical methods were applied simultaneously. First, the test for homogeneity was carried out for registered samples by using the Friedman test, and the Wilcoxon-Wilcox test was applied for pairwise comparisons. Secondly, an extended median test was applied for the same problem of test for homogeneity, and the Neményi test was used for pairwise comparisons. Thirdly, a 2×2 contingency table analysis was carried out, exploiting the specific feature of the database and informatical tools. The three simultaneous evaluations enabled us to come to sound, affirmative conclusions. In the course of veterinary-biological interpretation we demonstrated the statistically reliable temporal efficiency of the three products. We also presented the relative efficiency and recognizable features of the products. We highlighted the significantly prompt and long release larvicide effects of the drugs. We discussed and compared the information content of the applied statistical methods.
Why Continuity of Care needs Computing – Results of a Quantitative Document Analysis
Authors: Hübner Ursula  , Giehoff Carsten
Published: February 2025

With the increasing practice of early discharges from hospital continuity of care is attaining new attention. Although communication gaps including incomplete and delayed information are well known the vast majority of discharge summaries are still paperbased. The question of this study was whether The medium paperbased discharge form can be structured and complete enough to overcome the communication deficits. All 32 different types of nursing discharge forms analysed suffered from a compromise between structure, content and space. None of the forms allowed for a complete documentation of the nursing process. Only the minority of forms offered the complete set of activities of daily living to be checked. Most of the forms were designed only by one sector without any provisions for different terminologies and needs across the sectors. It is concluded that these shortcomings can only be overcome by a dynamic and flexible instrument, ideally by an electronic discharge summary.
Psychological Questionnaires Application and Processing for Detection of Psychosomatic States of an Operator
Authors: Zavadil Petr
Published: February 2025

This paper describes the method of detection of psychosomatic states of an operator. Understanding of these states can be used in closing of external human feedback. Detection uses psychological self-diagnostic questionnaires and is supported by experimentally gained data. The next approach of processing is designed by statistical methods and by methods of artificial intelligence.
Assessing Association Rules and Decision Trees on Analysis of Diabetes Data from the DiabCare Program in France
Authors: Quentin-Trautvetter Julie  , Devos Patrick  , Duhamel Alain  , Beuscart Régis
Published: February 2025

Recent advances in information technology have made it possible to solve increasingly complex problems, and also to collect and store huge amounts of information. These vast quantities of data further have to be transformed into relevant value-added and “decision-quality” knowledge. It is against this background that the KDD (Knowledge Discovery in Databases), a multidisciplinary field using computer learning, artificial intelligence, statistics, database technology, expert systems, and data visualization, appeared in the early 90's. In order to assess these technologies in the medical field, we have tested some of these techniques on a large database at our disposal, named DiabCare stemming from the WHO – DiabCare program for the application of the Saint-Vincent Declaration. It contains evaluation data on the health care of patients with diabetes, and in particular, its complications. So far, data analysis has been done using classical statistical methods, and we now intend to make use of such data-mining tools as Associations Rules and Decision and Classification Trees for further exploration of this database. The results presented here show that data mining techniques can be used successfully to extract knowledge from medical databases. The results obtained using Association Rules and especially Decision Trees are very promising.
MedView: A Declarative Approach to Evidence-Based Medicine
Authors: Falkman Göran  , Torgersson Olof
Published: February 2025

MedView is a project that meets the challenges of evidence-based oral medicine by providing a formalisation of clinical examination data and clinical procedures. Tools are provided for knowledge acquisition, knowledge generation, visualisation and analysis of data, and knowledge sharing. The formal declarative model constitutes the main governing principle in MedView, not only in the formalisation of clinical terms and concepts, but in visualisation models and in the design and implementation of individual tools and the system as a whole as well.
A Web-based Randomisation Service for Clinical Studies
Authors: Müller Thomas H.  , Adelhard Klaus
Published: February 2025

The Competence Network for Acute and Chronic Leukemias is one of several networks of competence, each directed at a specific disease. Within this context, a web-based randomisation service was designed and implemented as a service to participating study groups. It provides centralised randomisation for several study centres that is independent of each of the centres. In order to minimise difficulties in using this service arising from the fact that it is only needed fairly infrequently, the user interface was kept as simple as possible. The major advantages of a web-based service lie in its “unpredictability” and its continuous availability at all times without the need for around-the-clock personnel. The experience gained with this service in the context of the Competence Network with a relatively small number of actual users may provide the basis for a more widespread application.
CSCW - a paradigm for an efficient management of the healthcare organizations
Authors: Jitaru Elena  , Moisil loana  , Alexandru Adriana  , Mirescu Mircea  , Pertache loana
Published: February 2025

This paper reports the first results of the implementation of the research project CSCW- a paradigm for an efficient management of the healthcare organizations. The main objective of the project is to define a standard framework for the design of integrated systems for computer supported cooperative work applications in health management. The project is funded by the Romanian government and is carried on by an interdisciplinary team (researchers, educators, health professionals)
Intelligent Healthcare Information Assistant: Towards Agent-Based Healthcare Knowledge Management
Authors: Hashmi Zafar Iqbal  , Abidi Syed Sibte Raza  , Cheah Yu-N
Published: February 2025

Initiatives in healthcare knowledge management have provided some interesting solutions for the implementation of large-scale information repositories vis-a-vis the implementation of Healthcare Enterprise Memories (HEM). In this paper, we present an agent-based Intelligent Healthcare Information Assistant (IHIA) for dynamic information gathering, filtering and adaptation from a HEM comprising an amalgamation of (i) databases storing empirical knowledge, (ii) case-bases storing experiential knowledge, (iii) scenario-bases storing tacit knowledge and (iv) document-bases storing explicit knowledge. The featured work leverages intelligent agents and medical ontologies for autonomous HEM-wide navigation, approximate content matching, inter- and intra-repositories content correlation and information adaptation to meet the user's information request. We anticipate that the use of IHIA will empower healthcare stakeholders to actively communicate with an ‘information/knowledge-rich’ HEM and will be able to retrieve with ease ‘useful’ task-specific information via the presentation of cognitively intuitive queries.
A process for specifying integration for multi-tier applications in healthcare
Authors: Mykkänen Juha  , Porrasmaa Jari  , Korpela Mikko
Published: February 2025

Integrating heterogeneous application systems in healthcare is needed to support clinical work, patient-centric care, regional interoperability and utilization of both valuable legacy systems and new technologies. The integration process is quite complicated, and must be supported by flexible integration processes and methods. The integration methods should support evaluation and specification of different integration approaches and technologies on many different interoperability levels. We introduce a process for specifying many integration decisions for a given integration situation. The process is part of an integration method, which is validated in PlugIT project in Finland.
Health nets in Norway: National goals with regional actors
Authors: Heimly Vigdis  , Nytrø Øystein
Published: February 2025

The Norwegian national health net programme was established in 2001. Five regional health nets are the main building blocks in this net. The national health net provides an infrastructure and a set of basic services, and makes health information available for healthcare workers in primary care, hospitals and other health organisations. The national net does actually consist of five regional nets that is self-governed, and responsible for development and focus according to regional needs and priorities. The idea is to let local initiatives grow, and adopt the most successful initiatives nationally. This paper explains the approach, current status, near future and visions from a mid-Norwegian perspective.
Neural Networks in Recognition of Electrical Signals Recorded from Two Facial Muscle Sites
Authors: Laakso Jouni  , Juhola Martti  , Surakka Veikko
Published: February 2025

The present aim was to develop signal analysis methods to recognize muscle action potentials recorded with electromyography (EMG) from two facial muscle sites, corrugator supercilii (the muscle activated in frowning) and zygomaticus major (the muscle activated in smiling). Fourteen subjects produced volitional activations on both muscle sites, first, on a single muscle site activation basis and finally combinatory activations of both muscle sites. Wavelets and neural networks were used to analyse these voluntarily produced bursts of electric signals. Our results showed well over 90% recognition rates for all signal types. It is possible to utilize these communicative signals, for example, for multimodal human- computer interaction.
Extraction of Intrinsic Timing Features of Cardiac Activation from Body Surface Potential Maps
Authors: Kozmann György  , Haraszti Kristóf  , Szakolczai Krisztina
Published: February 2025

According to previous modeling studies - propagation of depolarizing wave fronts - consists of subintervals, each characterized by a smooth progression of waves through the myocardium. At the onset and end of these intervals, abrupt changes occur in the 3D pattern of activation waves (e.g. at the time of the collision of activation waves with other waves, obstacles or unexcitable myocardium and epicardial breakthrough), which manifest themselves in the surface ECG as “jumps” (high frequency notches and slurs). The timing of jumps provides diagnostic information on bioelectrical tissue properties of the heart. Findings of this study validated previous simulation results. Furthermore, essential signal processing requirements were formulated for a high-resolution body surface potential mapping technology.
New Approach to Objective Diagnostics of Polyfunctional Disorders of the Neuromuscular Regulation in Children with Various Forms of Spine Deformities
Authors: Dmitrieva G.P.  , Karganov M. Yu.  , Khlebnikova N.N.  , Kovaleva O.I.  , Kozhevnikova M.I.  , Landa S.B.  , Noskin L.A.
Published: February 2025

A combination of two methodical approaches (parallel evaluation of the psychomotor function and metabolic shifts) was used in examination of children with scoliosis. We evaluated adaptation of children at the certain stage of the disease for prediction of its further course and correction of the treatment.
Study of Patient Positioning on a Dynamic Frame for Scoliosis Surgery
Authors: Duke K.  , Dansereau J.  , Labelle H.  , Koller A.  , Joncas J.  , Aubin C-É.
Published: February 2025

The goal of this clinical trial was to measure patient geometry on a dynamic positioning frame in various prone positions.
Motion segment stiffness measured without physiological levels of axial compressive preload underestimates the in vivo values in all six degrees of freedom
Authors: Gardner - Morse Mark G.  , Stokes Ian A.  , Churchill David  , Badger Gary
Published: February 2025

2= 0.82, 0.97 and 0.98 at 0, 200 and 400 N axial compression respectively). Motion segment and disc load-displacement behaviors were stiffer, more linear and had greater hysteresis with axial compressive preloads.
Local Energy as a Measure of Back Symmetry in Scoliosis
Authors: Durdle N. G.  , Soonawalla T.  , Raso V. J.  , Hill D. L.
Published: February 2025

The Cobb angle has been the most commonly used method in measuring the severity of scoliosis and its progression. However, in recent years a number of researchers have chosen to monitor scoliosis by examining the severity of the surface deformity resulting from the scoliosis. Each of these approaches has been limited by errors introduced in manual location of landmarks. Scoliosis results in an asymmetry of the back. It would be very desirable to have a computer-based method of measuring this asymmetry. This paper investigates the use of wavelets and the concept of local energy to measure asymmetry associated with scoliosis. The local energy model uses wavelet theory to obtain information about shading and boundaries of objects in an image. Edges and sharp discontinuities are areas of high local energy in an image. Features such as scapular prominence, shoulder edges, waist creases and other anomalies that contribute to the scoliotic back asymmetry have high local energy. A preliminary study was completed to determine if this approach was applicable to measurement of back asymmetry. Two-dimensional local energy images were created from photographs of the backs of patients with scoliosis. The local energy was integrated across each image and a left-to right line of symmetry was calculated. This line of symmetry was then correlated with the scoliotic score developed by our group. This technique shows promise of providing an automatic method of measuring scoliosis progression.
Study of the rib cage deformity in children with 10°-20° of Cobb angle Late Onset Idiopathic Scoliosis, using Rib-Vertebra Angles
Authors: Grivas Theodoros B  , Samelis Panagiotis  , Chadziargiropoulos Theodoros  , Polyzois Basilios
Published: February 2025

The aim of the study is to compare the rib-vertebra angles (RVAs) between children with 10° - 20° of Cobb angle late onset idiopathic scoliosis (LOIS) and non-scoliotic children.
A new X-ray calibration / reconstruction system for 3D clinical assessment of spinal deformities
Authors: Cheriet F.  , Remaki L.  , Bellefleur C.  , Koller A.  , Labelle H.  , Dansereau J.
Published: February 2025

The main objective of this study was to develop a 3D X-ray reconstruction system of the spine and rib cage for an accurate clinical assessment of spinal deformities. The proposed system uses an explicit calibration technique and a new calibration object composed of: (1) a set of radiopaque markers embedded in a jacket worn by the patient during the X-ray exposures; (2) six control markers to define a reference vertical plane. Computer simulations were performed to evaluate the accuracy of the 3D reconstruction procedure when different kind of displacements were applied on a reference model. Clinical indices computed from the 3D X-ray reconstruction of the spine for 24 scoliotic subjects were compared to those obtained with the DLT method. The results of the evaluation study showed that the new system allows the patient to adopt a normal attitude without any constraint, compensating for its displacement between exposures.
Semi-automation of the 3D reconstruction of the spine using wavelets and splines
Authors: Deschênes Sylvain  , Godbout Benoit  , Skalli Wafa  , de Guise Jacques
Published: February 2025

We propose a wavelet multi-resolution analysis to localize specific features in both lateral and frontal radiographs. This analysis allows an elegant spectral investigation that leads simultaneously to image de-noising and edge extraction. It is combined with an a priori knowledge of the spine's morphology and a 3D spline curve characterization of its global shape. Actual work deals with identifying the contours of the vertebral bodies and the localization of vertebrae’s endplates. However, this information could also lead to the selection of a 3D statistical model of the spine suited for the studied deformation. Working with retro-projections of the model, we aim at creating edge models for each vertebra that will be used to geometrically match the wavelet's edges. The manual feature identification could then be replaced in the reconstruction of the 3D representation of the spine.
A Wearable Networked Embedded System for the Treatment of Scoliosis
Authors: Bazzarelli Michael  , Durdle Nelson  , Lou Edmond  , Raso James  , Hill Doug
Published: February 2025

In order to study a physiotherapeutic approach to idiopathic scoliosis treatment a posture monitoring system is being built. The system is a small, lightweight, fully portable system capable of monitoring and providing feedback to a patient regarding their posture. Using the combination of accelerometer and electromagnetic technology, distance and angle measurements can be obtained for receivers placed strategically on the patient's back. This data is recorded for further analysis of the patient's progress and to provide immediate feedback to the patient on the status of their posture. Preliminary testing has shown that angular changes of one degree can be detected by the system and that the speed of the electromagnetic field detection has been increased ten times greater than the previous architecture.
Biomechanics of the conservative treatment in idiopathic scoliotic curves in surgical "Grey-Area"
Authors: Aulisa L.  , Lupparelli S.  , Pola E.  , Aulisa A.G.  , Mastantuoni G.  , Pitta L.
Published: February 2025

The biomechanical behaviour of the spine significantly varies in relation to the age of the spine. Particularly, the elastic behaviour of the intervertebral discs has been proved to change during the spine growth, which changes the disc reaction to externally imparted forces.
Evolution of 3D Deformities in Adolescents with Progressive Idiopathic Scoliosis
Authors: Villemure I.  , Aubin C.-É  , Grimard G.  , Dansereau J.  , Labelle H.
Published: February 2025

The objective of this study was to conduct an intrasubject longitudinal study quantifying the evolution of two- and three-dimensional geometrical scoliotic descriptors. The evolution of regional and local scoliotic descriptors was analyzed between two scoliotic visits on a cohort of 28 adolescents with progressive idiopathic scoliosis. Mean age at the first visit was 12.7±1.7 years old and averaged time interval between two assessments reached 22.8±10.8 months. Scoliotic descriptors were obtained from three-dimensionally reconstructed spines. The initial thoracic Cobb angle was on average 35.3°± 8.4° (range, 14°-54°). The evolution of spinal curvatures and vertebral deformities was assessed statistically in terms of descriptor absolute variations, and of descriptor variations normalized with respect to time and to the increase in Cobb angle. At the thoracic level, vertebral wedging increased with curve severity in a relatively consistent pattern for most scoliotic patients and axial rotation mainly increased towards curve convexity with scoliosis severity. No consistent evolution was associated with the angular orientation of the maximum wedging. Thoracic kyphosis changes (increase and decrease) were observed in important proportions. Results of this study challenge the existence of a typical scoliotic evolution pattern and suggest that the scoliotic evolution is quite variable and patient-specific.
Mechanical Modulation of Vertebral and Tibial Growth: Diurnal versus Full-time Loading
Authors: Stokes Ian A.  , Gwadera Jodie  , Dimock Abigail  , Aronsson David D.
Published: February 2025

The aim of this study was to determine whether the amount of growth response to mechanical compression and the underlying mechanism differed with night-time or day-time loading, relative to full time loading. Mechanical compression (nominally 0.1 MPa stress) was applied across tibial and tail vertebral growth plates of growing Sprague-Dawley rats. Four groups of animals were tested: 24/24 hour (full-time loading); 12/24 hour (day-loading); 12/24 hour (night-loading); and 0/24 hour (sham instrumented), 4 or 5 animals . per group. After 8 days animals were euthanized and the growth plates were processed for quantitative histology of loaded and within-animal control growth plates to measure 24-hour growth, total and BrdU-positive proliferative zone chondrocyte counts, and hypertrophic chondrocyte enlargement in the growth direction. Results: Growth as a percentage of within-animal control averaged 82% (full-time); 93% (day-loading); 90% (night-loading); 100% (sham) for vertebrae. For proximal tibiae it averaged 70% (full-time); 84% (day-loading); 86% (night-loading); 89% (sham). Reduced amount of hypertrophic chondrocytic enlargement explained about half of this effect in full-time compressed growth plates, but was not significantly altered in half-time loaded growth plates. The remaining variation in growth was apparently explained by reduced total numbers of proliferative zone chondrocytes. The BrdU labeling index demonstrated an opposite trend, which was not statistically significant. In half-time loaded growth plates the proliferative zone cell count change predominated.
Demonstrating the Practical Value of New Health Technologies
Authors: Nerlich Michael  , Schall Thomas
Published: February 2025

The applications of telemedicine are extremely diverse. They can be categorised as follows: teleconsulting, telemonitoring, centralised networked training as well as continuing and further education, and information systems. At the heart of telemedicine is, of course, the improvement of patient care, including care in decentralized parts of the health system. Expertise and therefore quality should be brought into the medical care system across the board by medical centers using technical aids. Particularly in rural areas, this increases a patient’s chances of being able to be treated at home, even in the presence of complications or relatively rare medical conditions. Modern information and communication technologies also allow medical establishments or groups of establishments to manage their resources more efficiently. In this paper are presented many ongoing telemedicine projects at the University of Regensburg that demonstrate that beneficial aspects of telemedicine result not only in verifiable improvements in quality of care but also in substantial savings.
Choosing the Commercially Correct Idea for Research and Development
Authors: Zeevi Benjamin
Published: February 2025

Healthcare delivery is undergoing major changes in order to reduce spiraling costs without sacrificing the quality of care. Patients and consumers are at the center of these changes. Telemedicine is growing rapidly. It offers many advantages to different healthcare players, yet still faces many entry barriers. Medical technology companies developing telemedicine products have to consider the market needs, the customer, the product development aspect, the business model, and the long process of market penetration, in order to choose the commercially correct idea and successfully bring it to the market.
Developing a Shared Agenda for Health Care Systems Safety and Quality
Authors: Greenes Robert A.
Published: February 2025

High quality, computer-interpretable, patient-specific knowledge at the point of need is essential, as we seek to incorporate decision support and other approaches in clinical information systems to achieve safety and increased quality of health care. This gives rise to the need for shared, standards-based approaches to representing the knowledge and tools for management of it.
Experiences with Extracting Structured Patient Data for Use in Clinical Research
Authors: Los R.K.  , Van Ginneken A.M.
Published: February 2025

Routinely collected patient data are often recorded as unstructured and ambiguous free text by physicians. These data are, however, also of interest to clinical researchers, for whom they must be clearly defined and preferably coded. We have developed an application to support physicians in recording patient data in a structured, yet expressive manner. The flexible domain-independent data representation and storage approach underlying the application made data extraction for research purposes very complex. The changes that we made to the representation and storage approach to facilitate extraction, without reducing expressiveness for data entry, are presented in this paper, together with the underlying principles of the data extraction tool that we created to enable data extraction for clinical research.
The PRIDEH Project: Taking up Privacy Protection Services in e-Health
Authors: De Meyer F.  , Claerhout B.  , De Moor G.J.E
Published: February 2025

PRIDEH (Privacy Enhancement in Data Management in e-Health) is a project that runs for two years and is partly funded by the European Commission. The focus of PRIDEH is on the Stimulation of the take-up of privacy enhancing technologies within the health domain. Privacy enhancing technologies build upon available cryptographic and communication technologies. The concept of privacy enhancing services delivery through the use of intermediary trusted third parties has already been described in literature but rarely tumed into practice. A number of limited PET (Privacy Enhancing Technologies) applications exist in closed domains. The very few existing solutions are not based on an independent TTP (Trusted Third Party) concept which renders their trustworthiness questionable. PRIDEH wants to enhance the take-up of PET delivery based on sound TTP principles in the domain of healthcare.
Training Brain Retraction in a Virtual Reality Environment
Authors: Larsen OleV.  , Haase Jens  , Hansen Kim V.  , Brix Lars  , Pedersen Christian F.
Published: February 2025

A computer based virtual reality system is presented allowing the user to train skills related to brain retraction. The system is designed and the core training system implemented and tested. The initial test shows promising results.
Stereo Visualization of 3D Trabecular Bone Structures Produced by Bone Remodelling Simulation
Authors: Phillips R  , Grunchec J-A  , Ward JW  , Fagan MJ  , Dobson CA  , Langton CM  , Sisias G
Published: February 2025

Adult human bone is constantly being renewed by a process known as remodelling. For cancellous bone this renewal process occurs at the interface between bone and marrow where bone is depleted by osteoclasts and rebuilt by osteoblasts. This remodelling process allows bone to repair itself. Software simulators for bone remodelling provide insight into the bone remodelling process; they allow investigation into bone form and structural properties, and they also allow the emulation of bone diseases and possible treatments for these diseases over long periods of time. BONESIM is a software that simulates bone remodelling in terms of Basic Multi-cellular Units (BMUs). 3D visualization of trabecular bone and its attributes is an essential tool in understanding this remodelling process for cancellous bone. It enables the bone researcher to quickly understand the dynamic behaviour of remodelling, the resulting geometry of the bone structure and it allows alternative remodelling scenarios to be compared. This paper presents the volume visualization technique that has been developed to provide this visualization tool.
In-Vivo and In-Situ Compressive Properties of Porcine Abdominal Soft Tissues
Authors: Brown Jeffrey D.  , Rosen Jacob  , Kim Yoon Sang  , Chang Lily  , Sinanan Mika N.  , Hannaford Blake
Published: February 2025

Accurate biomechanical characteristics of tissues are essential for developing realistic virtual reality surgical simulators utilizing haptic feedback. Surgical simulation technology has progressed rapidly but lacks a comprehensive database of soft tissue mechanical properties with which to incorporate. Simulators are often designed purely based on what “feels right;” quantitative empirical data are lacking. A motorized endoscopic grasper was used to test abdominal porcine tissues in-vivo and in-situ with cyclic and static compressive loadings. An exponential constitutive equation was fit to the resulting stress-strain curves, and the coefficients were compared for various conditions. Stress relaxation for liver and small bowel were also examined. Differences between successive squeezes and between in-vivo and in-situ conditions were found.
Force-Torque Input Enhances Medical VR Applications
Authors: Riener Robert  , Burgkart Rainer  , Frey Martin  , Sae-Kee Bundit  , Pröll Thomas
Published: February 2025

Force-torque measuring input devices can significantly enhance the performance of classical simulation environments that are, for example, based on pure passive phantoms. Such devices allow not only the determination of force/torque amplitude and direction but also the contact point, where a torque-free force is applied to the phantom. The force/torque information can be displayed visually or acoustically, drive a realistic graphical animation environment or it can be saved and compared with a haptic library comprising the force/torque history of any medical specialist.
Development of Dynamic Spatial Video Camera (DSVC) for 4D observation, analysis and modeling of human body locomotion
Authors: Suzuki Naoki  , Hattori Asaki  , Hayashibe Mitsuhiro  , Suzuki Shigeyuki  , Otake Yoshito
Published: February 2025

We have developed an imaging system for free and quantitative observation of human locomotion in a time-spatial domain by way of real time imaging. The system is equipped with 60 computer controlled video cameras to film human locomotion from all angles simultaneously. Images are installed into the main graphic workstation and translated into a 2D image matrix. Observation of the subject from optional directions is able to be performed by selecting the view point from the optimum image sequence in this image matrix. This system also possesses a function to reconstruct 4D models of the subject's moving human body by using 60 images taken from all directions at one particular time. And this system also has the capability to visualize inner structures such as the skeletal or muscular systems of the subject by compositing computer graphics reconstructed from the MRI data set. We are planning to apply this imaging system to clinical observation in the area of orthopedics, rehabilitation and sports science.
Development of an endoscopic robotic system with two hands for various gastric tube surgeries
Authors: Suzuki Naoki  , Sumiyama Kazuki  , Hattori Asaki  , Ikeda Keiichi  , Ay Murakami Edwardo  , Suzuki Shigeyuki  , Hayashibe Mitsuhiro  , Otake Yoshito  , Tajiri Hisao
Published: February 2025

This paper presents the first report on an endoscopic robot with two manipulators which performed surgical work to resect the mucosal layer of the stomach of pigs without penetrating the body surface. We designed and developed an endoscopic surgical robot system which possesses two arm shaped manipulators for various kinds of surgery in the gastric tubes. The distal part of the manipulator functions as forceps and they are able to hold and handle soft tissues through the cooperative efforts of the right and left arms. And it is also able to incise the gastric wall by holding an electronic scalpel (brought in from the instrument channel) with the manipulator on the right side while opening the sectioning plane on the left side which was take out. With this system we succeeded in the mucosal resection of a large portion of the stomach wall of a pig during experimental surgery. It can be said that this is a new approach robotic surgery in the gastric tube with this kind of surgical robot.
Medical biomodelling in surgical applications: results of a multicentric European validation of 466 cases
Authors: Wulf J.  , Vitt K.D.  , Erben C.M.  , Bill J.S.  , Busch L.C.
Published: February 2025

The study started in September 1999 and ended in April 2002. It is based on a questionnaire [www.phidias.org] assessing case-related questions due to the application of stereolithographic models. Each questionnaire contains over 50 items. These variables take into account diagnosis, indications and benefits of stereolithographic models with view on different steps of the surgical procedures: preoperative planning, intraoperative application and overall outcome after surgical intervervention. These questionnaires were completed by the surgeons who performed operation. Over the time course of our multicentric study (30 months), we evaluated 466 cases. The study population consists of n=231 male and n= 235 female patients. 54 surgeons from 9 European countries were involved. There are main groups of diagnosis that related to the use of a model. Most models were used in maxillofacial surgery. The operative planning may help to determine the resection line of tumor and optimize reconstructive procedures. Correction of large calvarian defects can be simulated and implants can be produced preoperatively. Overall in 58 % of all cases a time- saving effect was reported. The study strongly suggests, that medical modeling has utility in surgical specialities, especially in the craniofacial and maxillofacial area, however increasingly in the orthopedic field. Due to our results, medical modeling optimizes the preoperative surgical planning. Surgeons are enabeled to perform realistic and interactive simulations. The fabrication of implants, its design and fit on the model, allow to reduce operation time and in consequence risk and cost of operation. In addition, the understanging of volumetric data is improved, especially if medical models are combined with standart imaging modalities. Finally, surgeons are able to improve communication between their patientents and colleagues.
Quantifying Expert vs. Novice Skill In Vivo for Development of a Laryngoscopy Simulator
Authors: Delson Nathan J.  , Koussa Nada  , Hastings Randolph H.  , Weinger Matthew B.
Published: February 2025

Many medical procedures require fine motor skills, and these skills are developed over years of practice and through performing hundreds to thousands of procedures. However medical training that is based upon gaining this expertise by performing procedures on patients results in unnecessary risk to the patient. In this project expert medical skill is quantified, so that advanced medical simulators can be created to provide a realistic training environment. This approach is applied to airway intubation with a rigid laryngoscope; a procedure that is performed prior to general anesthesia and during emergency situations. A laryngoscope has been instrumented with a 3 dimensional force/torque sensor, and magnetic position sensors have been placed on the laryngoscope and the patient. Measurements are made in the operating room of both experts and novices as they perform laryngoscopy on consenting patients undergoing general anesthesia. The skill of the laryngoscopist is represented by the motion and force trajectories applied to the laryngoscope during the procedure. Preliminary results show that novices often err in the placement of the tip of the laryngoscope blade. However, when two experts perform laryngoscopy on the same patient, both experts perform key elements of the task consistently. The measured consistency among experts indicates that it will be possible to apply algorithms developed for Human Skill Acquisition, and thereby define regions of expert motion relative to patient anatomy. This is the first step in developing advanced training simulators that will simulate the procedure accurately, provide guidance to the trainee, and can be used for assessment of medical skill.
An Open Internet Platform to Distributed Image Processing applied to Dermoscopy
Authors: Guillod Joël  , Schmid-Saugeon Philippe  , Décaillet Frédéric  , Panizzon Renato  , Kunt Murat  , Thiran Jean-Philippe
Published: February 2025

Proprietary systems for dermoscopy images analysis are available to improve the diagnosis and follow-up of the pigmented skin lesions. Their performance seems comparable with that of a human expert. Progress in computer-aided classification of melanocytic lesions depends notably on judicious choices of the algorithms dedicated to the extraction of signs from the dermoscopy images and of the method which combines these signs to classes the lesions.
Automated Spoken Dialog System for Home Care and Data Acquisition from Chronic Patients
Authors: Azzini Ivano  , Falavigna Daniele  , Giorgino Toni  , Gretter Roberto  , Quaglini Silvana  , Rognoni Carla  , Stefanelli Mario
Published: February 2025

Recent advances in automatic speech recognition and related technologies allow computers to carry on conversations by telephone. We developed an intelligent dialog system that interacts with hypertensive patients to collect data about their health status. Patients thus avoid the inconvenience of going for frequent visits that monitor some clinical variables they can easily measure at home; the physician is facilitated in acquiring and reviewing patient information and related risk indicators, which are evaluated from the data according to noted guidelines. The system described here is a prototype of future configurable and component-based dialog systems, which may allow a new modality for users and physicians to access electronic health records.
Improving computer security by health smart card
Authors: Nisand Gabriel  , Allaert François-André  , Brézillon Régine  , Isphording Wilhem  , Roeslin Norbert
Published: February 2025

The University hospitals of Strasbourg have worked for several years on the computer security of the medical data and have of this fact be the first to use the Health Care Professional Smart Card (CPS). This new tool must provide security to the information processing systems and especially to the medical data exchanges between the partners who collaborate to the care of the Beyond the purely dataprocessing aspects of the functions of safety offered by the CPS, safety depends above all on the practices on the users, their knowledge concerning the legislation, the risks and the stakes, of their adhesion to the procedures and protections installations.
Application of PKI in Health Care — Needs, Ambitions, Prospects
Authors: Sušelj Marjan  , Marčun Tomaž  , Trček Denis  , Kandus Gorazd
Published: February 2025

Through continual development and considerable investment over the past years, Slovenia has established an information infrastructure providing efficient data links between all the health care actors. This includes furnishing all the citizens and health workers with microprocessor cards – health insurance card and health professional card. These tools have significantly simplified different procedures in the health care and brought services closer to insured persons. The know-how and experiences gathered to day have given rise to vivid discussions of further development steps: introduction of new contents on the infrastructure in place and technological upgrading, in particular progressive incorporation of the PKI concept and thereby integration of card and network solutions to provide an efficient and secure communication environment. This paper outlines key perspectives of the future developments in this segment. With the volume of health care data communications through internet growing steeply, and with the paramount importance of patient – doctor trust and confidence, security tools and solutions in the health care are a critical need.
The CORAS approach for model-based risk management applied to a telemedicine service
Authors: Stamatiou Yannis  , Skipenes Eva  , Henriksen Eva  , Stathiakis Nikos  , Sikianakis Adamantios  , Charalambous Eliana  , Antonakis Nikos  , Stølen Ketil  , den Braber Folker  , Lund Mass Soldal  , Papadaki Katerina  , Valvis George
Published: February 2025

The CORAS risk management process is based on the Australian standard for risk management and aims at improved methodology for precise, unambiguous, and efficient risk assessment of security critical systems. CORAS addresses security critical systems in general, but places particular emphasis on IT security. For CORAS, a system is not just technology, but also the humans interacting with the technology and all relevant aspects of the surrounding organisation and society. The use of graphical models in CORAS furthers communication between the different stakeholders of a risk assessment, and makes it easier for non-technicians to take part. Telemedicine services and electronic applications used in the health sector have a high demand for security. The medical developers, providers and users of such services and systems are important contributors in the risk assessment of these services and systems. CORAS has successfully been used to involve medical professionals in the model-based risk assessment of a telemedicine system called Tele-cardiology in Crete. This paper presents the use of the CORAS framework to assess this telemedicine system giving some conclusions on the experience gained.
DicoSE - A web-interface based on XML for visualizing and searching the topology of the data structure defined by the DICOM 3 standard
Authors: Prinz Michael  , Fischer Georg  , Schuster Ernst
Published: February 2025

To adequately visualize and interpret the data fields of DICOM 3 datasets the data structure defined in the DICOM 3 standard has to be applied. The DICOM 3 data structure is very extensive and therefore costly to implement. We are working on an open source system which provides the data structure via a Java programming interface. The data is held in a freely available XML-database. As a spin-off we are providing the web-based Dicom Search Engine (DicoSE) which will be available via internet soon. DicoSE allows for searching the DICOM standard data dictionary for defined data fields and visualizes the topology of the data which is present in DICOM datasets acquired by various types of modalities. Thus, the interpretation of the meaning of data fields is supported. For maintaining the data stored in the database a web-based administration interface is provided.
New terminology services based on tern comparison using semantic definitions and similarity computation
Authors: Bousquet Cédric  , Jaulent Marie-Christine  , Bozec Christel Le  , Degoulet Patrice
Published: February 2025

As medical information can be encoded within different terminological systems, terms comparison is an important issue to allow communication between applications. In description logics, terms are compared by the means of semantic definitions and subsumption relations. Similarity is also a convenient method for term comparison but is not supported by terminology servers which implement subsumption relations. We present new terminology services built on a semantic distance that could help for semantic mediation between medical applications ranging from semi-automatic encoders to data mining tools. These services are 1) comparison between terms 2) k-nearest-neighbors 3) support for concept coding 4) automatic generation of similarity tables 5) distance based queries 6) support for clustering.
A contextual coding system for transplantation and end stage diseases
Authors: Jacquelinet Christian  , Burgun Anita  , Djabbour Sami  , Delamarre Denis  , Clerc Patrick  , Boutin Bernard  , Le Beux Pierre
Published: February 2025

The Etablissement frangais des Greffes (EfG) is a state agency dealing with Public Health issues related to organ, tissue and cell transplantation in France. EfG maintains a national information system (EfG-IS) for the evaluation of organ transplantation activities. The EfG-IS is moving toward a new n-tier architecture comprising a terminological server. Because this terminological server is shared by various kind of transplant teams and dialysis centers to record patients data at different time point, contextualisation of terms appeared as a functional requirement. We report in this paper various contexts for medical terms and how they have been taken into account.