bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multimodal Time-variant Signal Analysis of Neonatal EEG Burst Patterns
Authors: Witte Herbert  , Putsche Peter  , Eiselt Michael  , Hoffmann Katrin  , Arnold Matthias  , Jäger Heinrich  , Leistritz Lutz
Published: February 2025

It can be shown that dominant rhythmic signal components of neonatal EEG burst patterns (discontinuous EEG in quiet sleep) are characterized by a quadratic phase coupling (bispectral analysis), i.e. a multiplicative interaction (connection) between the underlying electrophysiological processes can be assumed. By means of pattern recognition algorithms as well as time-variant spectral aridcoherence analysis, a so-called “initial wave” (narrow band rhythm within a frequency range of 3-12 Hz) can be demonstrated within the first part of the burst pattern. The detection of this signal component and of the quadratic phase coupling is more successful in the frontal region. By means of amplittide demodulation of the “initial wave” the phase coupling can be attributed to an amplitude modulation. The results were derived from 6 neonates (20 burst patterns for each neonate; 8-channel recordings). A 16-channel EEG-recording was analyzed for one neonate.
Nursing e-journals: are Current Models using the Web's Potential?
Authors: Murray Peter J.  , Anthony Denis M.
Published: February 2025

As the number of nursing and health-related electronic journals(e-journals) available on the World Wide Web increases, we are seeing an increasing diversity of models. A taxonomy of current nursing e-journal models is presented, together with brief discussion of some of the issues pertinent to the development of e-journals, and that currently appear to constrain the electronic publication of high quality content. We describe in detail the model and usage of one particular e-journal, Nursing Standard Online. We conclude by advocating the development of innovative and increasingly interactive nursing e-journals as the way forward, discussing one particular model which holds promise. We believe it likely that nursing e-journals using current models will need to be specialist rather than generalist if they are to attract a larger audience.
SGML-based Construction and Automatic Organization of Comprehensive Medical Textbook on the Internet
Authors: Miyo Kengo  , Ohe Kazuhiko
Published: February 2025

The amount of knowledge required in practical medicine is large and ever increasing. Medical staff must select and use appropriate pieces of the knowledge from this flood of medical information. Recent Internet technology may be solving these problems because it makes information open to the public immediately after it is created and enables many people to share it. Medical resources on the Internet are however currently not always well organized, because these are often voluntarily provided by the experts of a particular field. We therefore decided to create a comprehensive medical database on the Internet, which is well organized, and of a high quality for practical medical use.
Full Text Multilingual Automatic Morphosemantems for Stand-Alone or Internet Based Applications
Authors: Lovis Christian  , Baud Robert  , Michel Pierre-Andre  , Rassinoux Anne-Marie  , Rodrigues Jean-Marie  , Scherrer Jean-Raoul
Published: February 2025

The authors present an automatic tool able to provide realtime morphosemantic decomposition of natural language sentences in French, German and English. This tool demonstrates the feasibility of Natural Language Processing on standard PC computers and the technology involved has been successfully implemented in daily used applications in several European hospitals. It considerably alleviates the burden of coding with various international classification and enhances the quality of the final results. This tool, delivered on PC platforms, is highly convivial and provides a versatile interface to any existing applications based on the Microsoft Windows standards. Moreover, all high levels functions have been encapsulated in Object Oriented Components and can therefore be reused using the Common Object Model standards to develop stand-alone or Internet applications.
A Structured Model for Evaluation of Information Retrieval (IR)
Authors: Kagolovsky Yuri  , Möhr Jochen R.
Published: February 2025

The paper reviews methods of evaluation of information retrieval (IR), in particular relevance (recall and precision) based approaches and their limitations and proposes a new model of IR which emphasizes the difference between the IR process and the technical IR system supporting the process. The model is proposed as basis for the structured evaluation of the IR process, and the planning, analysis and comparison of results of experiments using different methodologies.
A Quantitative Perspective on the Virtual Patient Record (VPR) and its Realization
Authors: Möhr Jochen R.
Published: February 2025

The Virtual Patient Record (VPR), the union of all collections of health relevant data that accumidates over a person’s lifetime in any institution that person has contact with, is a technical possibility in the age of networked computers[1]. This paper investigates, under what conditions the VPR may be useful and manageable. Quantitative considerations of the VPR for a population of 10 M people form the basis. Dynamic aspects of updating and decay in value for treatment decisions are also taken into account. The role of centralized and distributed data stores are compared and the need for indexing is identified.
How can Sharing Clinical Information be Made to Work?
Authors: Neame Roderick  , Olson Michael
Published: February 2025

There is a recognised need to share clinical information in order to improve integrity, continuity, safety and speed of delivering patient care. This remains a serious weakness in the conceptualisation of existing health information management systems. The evolution of structured (e.g. HL7) messaging standards has been driven largely from an administrative information viewpoint, as have many of the initiatives driving the development of electronic patient record (EPR) systems. Neither appears to address crucial needs for clinical data exchanges often across wide areas to meet the needs of best quality, cost-effective and low risk patient care delivery.
Collaborative Workspace for Multimedia Medical Conferencing
Authors: Kim Han-joon  , Park Eun-Soo  , Lee Sang-goo  , Shin Yeong-Gil
Published: February 2025

We propose an approach for collaborative workspace management in medical conferencing. A collaborative workspace is a virtual data space shared between medical experts for working out solutions collaboratively while conferencing. Our approach provides medical users with an integrated view of various kinds of multimedia patient data and a unified control over the workspace. For data navigation and conferencing, a tree-like navigation tool, which we named the patient record tree, is provided. And we classify patient data, which is the object of medical collaborative works, into six basic types, and provide a view template for displaying each of these types.
Disseminating Multimedia Protocols over Internet for Emergency and Catastrophe Management
Authors: Maojo Victor  , Crespo Jose  , Villalonga Luis  , Cuadrado Raul  , Rodriguez Juan  , Sanandres Jose  , Guiote Manuel  , Martin Fernando  , Pazos Alejandro
Published: February 2025

Over the last years we have developed various computing methods to assist specialized personnel on various aspects of catastrophe and emergency management. New models can address tasks such as patient triage; stabilization, resource coordination and hospital alertness and techniques based on information technologies. In this paper we present various tools (written on Java and C++) that we created to store, represent, and disseminate practice guidelines and protocols over the World Wide Web. Guidelines and protocols are stored using a standard database program (e.g., ®Microsoft Access), and represented in a flowchart format linked to multimedia information such as text, pictures, sound, video or external sources of data. Using our JAVA tool, protocols can be disseminated over the Web and viewed with any browser with JAVA compliance. We have implemented 15 emergency protocols that we developed in collaboration with specialized military personnel from the Ministry of Defense, Spain. Users can access remotely those electronic protocols comparing their procedures and methods. Our goal is to enhance agreement and consensus among remote medical centers regarding emergency and catastrophe management', establishing discussions over the network Our tools have also a potential for training medical and paramedical personnel for emergency situations.
IMGT, the International ImMunoGeneTics Database: a New Design for Immunogenetics Data Access
Authors: Giudicelli Véronique  , Chaume Denys  , Mennessier Gérard  , Althaus Hans-Helmar  , Müller Werner  , Bodmer Julia  , Malik Ansar  , Lefranc Marie-Paule
Published: February 2025

IMGT, the international ImMunoGeneTics database [1,2] is an integrated database specializing in Immunoglobulins (Ig), Tcell receptors (TcR) and MHC molecules of all vertebrate species, created by Marie-Paule Lefranc, University of Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France (Nucleic Acids Research, Database issue, Vol 26, January 1998). IMGT includes three databases: LIGM-DB (for Ig and TcR), MHC/HLA-DB and IMGT/PRIMER-DB (an Ig, TcR and MHC-r elated primer database), the last two in development. IMGT comprises expertly annotated sequences and alignment tables. LIGM-DB contains more than 24.000 Immunoglobulin and T cell Receptor sequences from 81 different species. MHC/HLA-DB contains class I and class II Human Leucocyte Antigen alignment tables. An IMGT tool, DNAPLOT, developed for Ig, TcR and MHC sequence analysis, is also available. IMGT goals are to establish a common data access to all immunogenetics data, including nucleotide and protein sequences, oligonucleotide primers, gene maps and other genetic data of Ig, TcR and MHC molecules, from all species, and to provide a graphical user friendly data access. IMGT has important implications in medical research (repertoire in autoimmune diseases, AIDS, leukemias, lymphomas), therapeutical approaches (antibody engineering), genome diversity and genome evolution studies. In this paper, we describe our approach for the data modelisation, the automation of the annotation procedure and control of data quality in LIGM-DB database. IMGT is freely available on the CNUSC WWW server at Montpellier: http://imgt.cnusc.fr:8104 (contact: Denys.Chaume@cnusc.fr) and on the EBI servers: http://www.ebi.ac.uk/imgt (contact: malik@ebi.ac.uk) and ftp.ebi.ac.uk/pub/databases/imgt. LIGM-DB users are encouraged to report errors or suggestions to giudi@ligm.crbm.cnrsmop.fr.IMGT initiator and coordinator: Marie-Paule Lefranc, lefranc@ligm.crbm.cnrs-mop.fr. (fax: +33 (0)4 67 04 02 31)
A Data Dictionary Approach to Multilingual Documentation and Decision Support for the Diagnosis of Acute Abdominal Pain (COPERNICUS 555, An European Concerted Action)
Authors: Ohmann Christian  , Eich Hans-Peter  , Sippel Heiko
Published: February 2025

This paper describes the design and development of a multilingual documentation and decision support system for the diagnosis of acute abdominal pain. The work was performed within a multi-national COPERNICUS European concerted action dealing with information technology for quality assurance in acute abdominal pain in Europe (EURO-AAP, 555). The software engineering was based on object-oriented analysis design and programming. The program covers three modules: a data dictionary, a documentation program and a knowledge based system. National versions of the software were provided and introduced into 16 centers from Central and Eastern Europe. A prospective data collection was performed in which 4020 patients were recruited. The software design has been proven to be very efficient and useful for the development of multilingual software.
Modelling Health Care processes with SHARE
Authors: Boëlle Pierre-Yves  , Vibert Jean-François  , Garnerin Philippe  , Valleron Alain Jacques
Published: February 2025

This paper describes the “SHARE” workframe, designed to provide a comprehensive environment for modeling and simulating health care processes. The objects defined within SHARE are Actors, subdivided in Clients and Resources, and Elementary Operations. Graphical tools allow to build processes from these objects, and to specify their relationships. Various strategies based on either clinical or managerial changes may be investigated. Summary information on the utilization of all actors, on waiting times and goodness of execution may be displayed after a simulation. Better description of processes, and their study a priori will improve reliability, quality of care and satisfaction of patients.
Focusing on Resistance Development in a Case Based Teleconsultation System for Antibiotics Therapy Advice
Authors: Gierl Lothar  , Pollwein Bernhard  , Wolter Martina  , Schmidt Rainer
Published: February 2025

In this paper, we describe an approach to support physicians when they select a calculated anibiotic therapy for intensive care patients who have developed an infection as an additional complication. As advice is needed quickly and the pathogen is not yet known, we use an expected pathogen spectrum based on medical background knowledge and known resistances, which both will be adapted to the results of the laboratory. CaseBased Reasoning retrieval methods provide the advice for similar previous patients. Their solutions are adapted to be applicable to the new medical situation of the current patient. Furthermore, we present the recent resistance developments of the antibiotics to the physician.
A Distributed Medical Record on a Holter-ECG Archiving and Analysis System
Authors: Pentcheva-Spiridonov V.  , Horsch A.  , Hadamitzky M.  , Kreuzberg H.  , Schmidt G.  , Schneider R.
Published: February 2025

At the Department of Cardiology of the Technical University of Munich and the Deutsches Herzzentrum München cardiac disease patients are treated in close co-operation. In order to support the collaborative treatment as well as cardiological studies a distributed medical record (DMR) has been implemented on the basis of a Holter-ECG archiving and analysis system. Architecture, experiences and major benefits of the solution are reported in the paper. Between January 1995 and December 1997 6500 Holter-ECGs have been archived and analysed. The DMR is in routine operation since January 1996 for all heart catheter patients.
From French vocabulary to the Unified Medical Language System: A preliminary study
Authors: Bodenreider Olivier  , McCray Alexa T.
Published: February 2025

The Unified Medical Language System (UMLS) is an extensive source of biomedical knowledge developed and maintained by the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM). The UMLS began to include biomedical terms in other languages a few years ago. However, providing foreign terms for existing concepts is only the first step for the UMLS to become international. The current limits of the use of the UMLS in French are analyzed (partial translation, unique source of the translated concepts, improper character set, and absence of lexical resources for lexical matching tools). Some suggestions are given for French to be better integrated into the UMLS, especially for adapting the lexical resources to French. Once completed, our present work is expected to give the UMLS the capability to be effectively queried in French.
WEB-MO – A Computer Aided Learning on WWW
Authors: Bernad Elena Silvia  , Frantescu Adrian  , Bernad Sandor  , Vernic Corina
Published: February 2025

The paper presents an electronic textbook on World Wide Web (WWW), which present theoretical notions about the eyes' movements. It also contains clinical cases as example for the described notions. The application is being tested at the County Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery, Timisoara, Romania. The reaction of the educators and learners is quite positive. We think there will be a great learning tool for the future.
Assessing the use of low cost PC-based ISDN videoconferencing in hospital training
Authors: Crudele Michele
Published: February 2025

A course on Italian safety rules and regulations has been delivered to the personnel of a University clinic using videocorferencing, based on an ISDN-2 connection through a multimedia PC. The goal was to evaluate the efficacy of this technology for the training of hospital personnel. To assess it, the trainees were divided into two groups, one at the trainer's site and the other in the University. Comparing the evaluating questionnaires that both groups were asked to complete at the end of each session (based on the comprehension of the subject taught), significant differences were found only when the quality of images was very poor (for technical reasons) or the level of interaction was low. The price/performance ratio was considered good, but there are some technical and psychological problems that must be taken in account before using videoconferencing for training.
Upgrading Clinical Decision Support with Published Evidence: What Can Make the Biggest Difference?
Authors: Balas E. Andrew  , Su Kui Chun  , Solem Jan Frederik  , Li Zong Rong  , Brown Gordon
Published: February 2025

Background To enhance clinical decision support, presented messages are increasingly supplemented with information from the medical literature. The goal of this study was to identify types of evidence that can lead to the biggest difference.
Heuristic Walkthrough Evaluation of a Prototype Computer Network Service for Occupational Therapists
Authors: Hallberg Niklas  , Timpka Toomas  , Vimarlund Vivian
Published: February 2025

Aim: - to identify utility and design criteria for a computer network service for occupational therapists.
Toward Clinical End-user Computing: Programmable Order Protocols for Efficient Human Computer Interaction
Authors: Cho Hune  , Kwak Yun Sik  , Noh Yong Sun  , Yang Myung Ok  , Kim Dong Jin
Published: February 2025

We have developed and implemented an efficient method of managing routine patient care information as a programmable group order protocol. The purpose of protocol is to minimize a labor-intensive manual computer interaction by grouping clinically related routine orders as a single entity, thus to greatly speed up the time taken for manual entry such as keyboard stroke and/or mouse clicking. User programmability is added to facilitate insertion, deletion and update of order items to be a locally independent operation. A sequence of menu screen is also programmable when a change of standard operation is needed Department specific order protocols are classified into four categories to improve user convenience. The degree of efficiency is measured by a number of key strokes and entry time. In most cases the time to enter order protocol with correction is found to take less than one minute with less than five key strokes. The method of order protocol entry clearly demonstrates end-user computing capability so that department specific requirements are resolved without resorting to computer department personnel. Flexibility of managing individual physician specific protocols is also beneficial enough to enhance the morale toward a hospital information system currently in use.
On the way to a Web Based Hospital Information System: Concepts for the Use of a Medical Data Dictionary to Present Context Sensitive Information in an Intranet Environment
Authors: Michel A  , Dudeck J
Published: February 2025

Many authors have promoted the www-paradigm to build modern hospital information systems. However currently web-based applications are better suited to information “browsing” than to build complex data entry features.
A Practical Object-Oriented Approach to A Development of A Next Generation Hospital Information System
Authors: Sakamoto Norihiro
Published: February 2025

KIND (stands for Kyushu university hospital Information Network Database) is a five years project, which aims to provide integrated services for patients, physicians, researchers and other hospital staffs. The final product of KIND is a next generation hospital information system.
An Object-Modeling Method for Hospital Information Systems
Authors: Seto Kumiko  , Kamiyama Takuya  , Matsuo Hitoshi
Published: February 2025

Our goal is to increase the software productivity of hospital information systems (HISs) by applying object-oriented technologies. We propose a new object-modeling method for HISs that combines three general methods - an object modeling technique (OMT), class responsibilities collaboration (CRC) cards, and a use-case approach – to extract objects effectively. Our method also takes HIS functionality characteristics such as history and patient-staff linking into consideration to increase the reusability of objects. To test this method, we applied it to several HISs such as a drug-history system, a nursing-support system and an electronic patient record (EPR). We found that the software productivity of the drug-history system was more than doubled by using the combined method. Also, more than 40% of the logic classes could be reused in the nursing-support system and EPR. These findings confirmed that the proposed method can significantly increase the software productivity of HISs.
Chapter 7: Distant Training, Teleworking and Teleteaching
Authors: Kastania Anastasia N.
Published: February 2025

The continous education and diagnostic support is extremely important in public and private medicine. In this chapter, distant teaching and learning new technology developments are discussed. The challenges brought by recent telecommunications, computer hardware and software are examined and the new questions raised on distance education and training in Telemedicine are put forward. Some answers are proposed for future progress.
Implementation of a Hospital Information System in a Greek University Hospital
Authors: Skalkidis Yannis
Published: February 2025

Application of an integrated Hospital Information System in Areteion University Hospital was launched 3 years ago. As it was the very first time that a fully fledged Hospital Information System was applied in complex university hospital environment, numerous problems and issues were brought up during this first period. The most critical issues are described in this paper, giving simply the essence of the problem and the general strategic line which was followed. Issues of hospital’s strategic goals, behavioural aspects of the users, technical problems of the software application, as well as issues of maturity of key players and tools per se and in their interaction, were faced by the management team of Hospital Information System.
The AEDMI Project, an Example of Prototype Development for a Clinical Decision Helping System
Authors: Ferrer-Salvans P.  , Peyra-Julia R.  , Saura-Campos T.  , Sola-Herrera R.
Published: February 2025

The AEDMI project, carried out in the Bellvitge University Hospital, near Barcelona, is proposed as an example of clinical decision system prototype development. Several difficulties have been encountered to develop this project. One of them was to find the adequate understanding for the project and proper funding for personnel resources. The support by FIS grants and from the hospital structures was essential to the survival of the project; however the resources always have been below the real needs for development. The difficulties with clinical coding systems, the excessive expectancies upon prototypes, and the lack of culture in information methods were other relevant hinders. The complexity of clinical realm, the uncertainty of medical decisions, and the current trends to substitute the clinical information by data obtained from electronic devices, or analytical monitoring of patients, are additional problems for clinical information managing.
Working in Regional Health Network
Authors: Jensen Hans Jakob
Published: February 2025

This paper describes the conditions for, and actually use of telematics in a regional Health Network in a Danish county. This paper gives an introductory view over the organisation of the Danish health care system, and the general practitioners place in it. The advantages experienced and the actual use of telematics in general practice today is described. Finally, the expectations for the near future is mentioned.
A Prototype design of Cardiological Computerized Nursing Care Plans for an Electronic Patient Care Record
Authors: Tsirintani Maria  , Mantas John
Published: February 2025

The purpose of this paper is to describe the design and the process of Cardiological Nursing Care Plans proposed to be used within an electronic patient record that can fulfill both nursing science and experience. The project is focused on the development of a clinical database capable of analysis to link control of nursing process with clinical outcome.
Switzerland: New Medical Informatics Curriculum
Authors: Weber Patrick
Published: February 2025

Swiss Society for Medical Informatics (SSMI) started to build a postgraduate curriculum in medical informatics a year ago. The aim is to build a curriculum with different modules allowing the healthcare professionals to follow individual path in order to fulfill their objectives. The professionals who could benefit from the curriculum are physicians, nurses, medical assistants, computer specialists in the healthcare domain. Different levels of certificates or diplomas will be given depending on the number of modules taken and the professional background. Modules can be taken in different ways: universities, hospitals, distance learning$\ldots$
3D Reconstructions of the External and Internal Geometries of the Trunk Using Laser and Stereo-Radiographic Imaging Techniques
Authors: Poncet Philippe  , Delorme Sébastien  , Dudley Richard  , Ronsky Janet L.  , Dansereau Jean  , Harder James  , Dewar Richard D.  , Labelle Hubert  , GU Pei-Hua  , Zernicke Ronald F.
Published: February 2025

Currently, assessments of scoliosis are done by means of clinical examination and full spinal x-rays. Multiple exposure to ionizing radiation, however, can be hazardous to the child and costly. Here we explain the use of a noninvasive imaging technique for quantifying the three-dimensional (3D) trunk surface topography that can be used to estimate parameters of 3D deformity of the spine. A laser optical scanning system produces a topographical mapping of the entire torso. In conjunction an accurate 3D reconstruction of the spine and rib cage can be developed from the digitized x-ray images of the scoliotic patient. Data from the surface laser scans and bone geometry from x-rays have been collected for 26 scoliotic patients. The technique provides the foundation for future work using neural networks to assess relations between internal bone geometry and external surface geometry of the torso.
Reliability of Rasterstereography of Thoracic Kyphosis
Authors: Singer K. P.  , Goh S.  , Leedman P.  , Price R. I.
Published: February 2025

The reliability of repeated measurements of thoracic kyphosis from rasterstereographic back shape imaging was examined in 10 volunteers across different age cohorts and in a static back phantom. Coefficients of variation (CV) for five repeated measurements of the 10 subjects ranged from 2.4% to 3.0% for the kyphosis parameters ‘Maximum’, ‘Vertebra prominens to thoracolumbar inflexion point’, and ‘Vertebra prominens to T12’. Mean standard error of measurement values (SEM) as a percentage of mean kyphotic angles were 5.3%, 4.4% and 4.8% for the same three kyphosis parameters, ‘Maximum’, ‘Vertebra prominens to thoracolumbar inflexion point’, and ‘Vertebra prominens to T12’ respectively. The inter-trial CV for repeated imaging of the back phantom ranged from 0.4% to 1.3%. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) ranged from 0.98 to 0.99 for all measurements. Consistent results were demonstrated across the varying age cohorts. The reliability of rasterstereographic evaluation of thoracic kyphosis is largely influenced by postural variations, while minimal errors are attributed to internal system inaccuracies. These results suggest the clinical utility of rasterstereographic imaging in the detection of relatively small curve changes and hence in monitoring of kyphosis progression.
Axial Rotation in Idiopathic Scoliosis: A Comparison of the Perdriolle, Scoliometer, and the Quantec Spinal Image System
Authors: Thometz J.  , Liu XC.  , Lyon R.
Published: February 2025

Three methods to assess axial rotation in 149 patients have been applied. The level of maximal axial surface rotation as measured by die Quantec Spinal Image system (QSIS) was 0.5 vertebra lower than that identified by the Perdriolle in AP X-ray. The QSIS is 3.1° lower in axial thoracic rotation and 3.6° higher in axial lumbar rotation as compared to the radiographic methods. There was no significant difference when comparing the scoliometer with the Perdriolle.
Clinical Assessment of AIS
Authors: Hill D.L.  , Moreau M.J.  , Mahood J.K.  , Raso V.J.
Published: February 2025

The assessment of scoliosis requires a multitude of information from a variety of sources to be used together. The data currently comes from measurements from radiographs, trunk surface images, and anthropometric features. A computerized dynamic data sheet has been developed to assist in collating the data and to perform the calculations required to turn the data into clinically useful information. This data sheet taps into various software packages to display personalized patient information in a clear, concise manner. Morphing, a means of mathematically interpolating between static images, has been added to give die patients a visual impression of how their scoliosis has evolved. The database has been used since November 1997. It has improved die flow of information and helped attain a more holistic view of die deformities associated with scoliosis.
Clinical Trial Of CPT (Complex Phase Tracing) Profilometry In Scoliosis
Authors: Merolli Antonio  , Guidi Pierluigi  , Kozlowski Janus  , Serra Giovanni  , Aulisa Lorenza  , Tranquilli leali Paolo
Published: February 2025

CPT (complex phase tracing) profilometry was selected as a method of choice for clinical use in back surface topography recording. Two mutually out-of-phase patterns are projected on the back surface of the patient, recorded and demodulated according to the CPT procedure. Ten subjects have been investigated, 3 subjects being healthy controls. The system was reliable in measuring back shape with millimetric definition (+/- 1 mm). It proved to be fast in acquiring topographical data, requiring less than 0.3 sec and, then, overcoming problems related to breathing of the patient. Data analysis was enough fast to provide a visual output within few minutes, allowing the examiner to perform a further acquisition, if needed, and the patient to appreciate the output of the analysis. Presence of asymmetry was easily detected and clearly highlighted; improvements related to treatment was evidenced in those subjects where a follow-up exam was performed.
A New Measure of Baroreflex Effectiveness in Modulating Heart Rate in Daily Life
Authors: Di Rienzo Marco  , Tordi Roberto  , Parati Gianfranco  , Mancia Giuseppe  , Pedotti Antonio  , Castiglioni Paolo
Published: February 2025

Spontaneous progressive changes in systolic blood pressure (SBP) are not invariably followed by baroreflex-driven changes in pulse interval (PI). In order to quantify this phenomenon we propose a new index, termed Baroreflex Effectiveness Index (BEI), defined as the ratio between the number of times that SBP progressive changes are followed by progressive changes in PI in the same direction and the total number of SBP changes occurring in a given time window.
A New Hybrid Renderer for Virtual Bronchoscopy
Authors: Englmeier K.-H.  , Haubner M.  , Krapichler C.  , Reiser M.
Published: February 2025

Purpose: To improve the diagnosis of pathologic modified airways, a new hybrid visualization system has been developed and tested based on digital image analysis and synthesis of spiral CT as well as the visual simulation of bronchoscopy.
THE USE OF AN INFORMATION SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE MODELING TOOL IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF DISEASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
Authors: Alessi Norman E.  , Huang Milton  , Quinlan Paul
Published: February 2025

A Disease Management System (DMS) refers to an integrated healthcare delivery system that provides patient centered care throughout the course of the disease independent of delivery site. A fundamental barrier for the development, implementation and monitoring of a DMS is lack of an appreciation by care providers of the complexity of these systems, and what is required for their maintenance. Foremost in the development of these systems is the presence of information systems that attempt to deal with the temporal, spatial and information needs of the DMS. Purpose: The Zachman Framework for Information Systems Architecture is used in many industries in the development of information systems. Its choice is based on the recognition of a need for a methodology in the conceptualization and modeling of complex information systems. This paper provides a brief overview of the Zachman Framework and its potential application in DMS development. In particular it will be the focus on the peed for “perspective” clarification as the first step in the development of such complex systems. Results: This paper reviews DMS and their potential information needs. The clarification of “perspectives” provides a method toward team building and unification of purpose by decreasing conflict and recognizing the unique contributions that each perspective holder makes.
Virtual 3D Cutting for Bone Segment Extraction in Maxillofacial Surgery Planning
Authors: Neumann Patrick  , Siebert Dirk  , Faulkner Gabriele  , Krauss Manfred  , Schulz Armin  , Tolxdorff Thomas
Published: February 2025

An important step toward our main goal of a completely computer-based maxillofacial surgical planning system is the availability of tools for the surgeon to define bone segments from skull and jaw bones. We have developed an easy-to-handle user interface that employs visual and force-feedback devices to define subvolumes of a patient’s volume dataset. This interface is a main component of our maxillofacial surgical planning tool MeVisTo-Jaw [1]. The defined subvolumes together with their spatial arrangements lead to an operation plan.
PROSTATE BIOPSY SCHEMES: 3-D VISUALIZATION-BASED EVALUATION
Authors: Zeng Jianchao  , Bauer John  , Zhang Wei  , Sesterhenn Isabell  , Moul Judd  , Mun Seong K.
Published: February 2025

We have developed a prostate needle biopsy visualization system for the evaluation and optimization of biopsy schemes. Three-dimensional (3-D) prostate surface models have been reconstructed from the digitized whole-mount radical prostetactomy specimens with localized cancers. We have conducted evaluation of five major biopsy schemes with a total of 201 3-D prostate models. These are sextant, 10-pattern, 12-pattern, 14-pattern, and the 5-region schemes. The 10- and 12-pattern biopsy schemes had a 99.0% detection rate, while the rate of traditional sextant biopsy scheme was only 72.6%. The 5-region biopsy scheme had a 90.5% detection rate and the 14-pattern, which includes all the biopsies used in the above schemes, added only one additional positive case (99.5%). Our results suggest that biopsy schemes that use laterally placed biopsies based on the five region anatomical model are superior to the routinely used sextant biopsy scheme. Significant correlation is found between the tumor volume and the positive needle core volume for each of these five schemes. The 10-pattern scheme is the best in cancer detection among these five biopsy schemes.
Health Care Professionals Protocol for Secure Online Transmission of Patient Data
Authors: F-J Goetz Christoph
Published: February 2025

One of the results of the 49thBavarian Physician’s Conference was that in 1996 the Bavarian Statutory Health Care Administration (Kassenärztliche Vereinigung Bayerns, KVB) and the Bavarian Medical Association (Bayerische Landesärztekammer, BLÄK) jointly suggested a project for the development and verification of a security infrastructure for the online transmission of medical patient data. This Project, the so-called “Health Care Professionals Protocol” (HCP-Protokoll), was designed to establish the first consensus standard for a secure and provably open system to be used in the health care system operating under the constraints of the diverse and heterogeneous IT-infrastructure in Bavaria, with a view towards utilization in all of Germany.
2.4 Classification Methods
Authors: Mantas John
Published: February 2025

This chapter describes all the recent advances in statistical and syntactic pattern recognition, along with a number of the most important hybrid efforts in pattern recognition methodology, which together with structural pattern recognition, are the future trends in pattern recognition applications' schemes.
National Information System on Hospital Treatment
Authors: Raiˇ Gorazd
Published: February 2025

National information system on hospital treatment (HOSTREAT) supports health management system applied by the Ministry of Health and its professional services at the Public Health Institute of Slovenia. The main project objective was data quality, having in mind advanced analytical methods such as knowledge discovery in databases. The step was a huge one, as the related national statistics rests on every single hospital event, called an episode. By the project definition, an episode covers therapeutic treatment of one sick or injured person in one hospital within one health service specialty. So, many problems arose within the three years of project phases. Much research work was to be done on programming tools and the information system itself. This paper deals with five strategic problems and corresponding corrective actions.
Teleconsultation for Endoscopic Diagnosis of Gastrointestinal Diseases - Concepts and Architecture of the Service ENDOTEL
Authors: Balbach Thomas  , Sußmann Helmut  , Jansen Thorsten  , Allescher Hans-Dieter  , Horsch Alexander
Published: February 2025

This paper introduces ENDOTEL as a new project in telemedicine, aiming to reduce local disadvantages in medical health care in rural areas. The progressing specialization in medicine results in a concentration of experts in few medical centers and to deficits of expert knowledge in rural areas, which remain as a domain of unspecialized physicians. ENDOTEL expands the conventional synchronous telemedical communication, which usually means videoconference, by an asynchronous multimedia communication and its resulting advantages. ENDOTEL breaks up with the need that participants have to be present simultaneously.
A Secure Web-based Interface to Maternity Records with Decision Support
Authors: Williams M. Howard  , Liew Olive  , Boddy Ken  , Varias Athanasios  , Eydmann Mairin
Published: February 2025

The recent developments in Web technology now make it easy to create user-friendly interfaces to databases and link them to the Internet or to local Intranets. With the acceptance of this new approach one can take advantage of the opportunity to use this development to incorporate additional knowledge into the interface. Not only can this provide a more supportive interface, but it can also create the opportunity for sharing and comparing such knowledge in the future. This paper describes how this has been used to develop an interface to a database of maternity case records which incorporates a knowledge base of rules relating to care plan protocols and uses this to provide decision support to the carer. The issue of security is a serious problem and some aspects of the measures taken are discussed.
Personal Identifying Number as a Unique Patient Identifier in Database on Clinically Treated Patients in Belgrade: Its Use, Advantages and Drawbacks
Authors: Saulic Anka  , Marinkovic Jelena  , Simic Snezana  , Kocev Nikola  , Marjanovic Nenad
Published: February 2025

Database on clinically treated patients in Belgrade served as an example for analysis of possibilities for the use of Personal Identifying Number (PIN) as an Unique Patient Identifier. In the first part of the paper we analyzed filling up of the fields which contained data on PIN within complete databases in 1981, 1991 and 1996. Filling up of PIN was significantly changed in the three observed years: it was 18% in 1981; 68% in 1991, and 56% in 1996 respectively. Analysis of interactions among the chosen factors (type of hospital, demographic and social characteristics of patients, length of stay in hospital, manner of treatment, main diagnosis, treatment outcome) and measuring time, showed a different degree of statistical significance. In the second part of our paper we analyzed the unexpected decrease in filling up of PIN in 1996 (as compared to 1991) ussing the method of logistic regression, on 1% samples from the databases for the two respective years. On the basis of obtained models of filling up of UPI data, taken as dependent variable and the above factors (predictors) we analyzed the advantages and drawbacks of UPI application as an unique patient identifier.
Developing shared understanding through simulation
Authors: Hardiker Nicholas  , Kay Stephen
Published: February 2025

In this article relevant key findings of a review of selected published work are used to provide a foundation for a new approach to developing a shared understanding of aspects of health care delivery. The new approach makes use of simulation models. It is hoped that this approach will provide support for improved decision-making and for the development of more appropriate enabling tools.
Data integration to assist gastric emptying data analysis
Authors: Giacomini M.  , Ruggiero C.  , Borro P.  , Mansi C.
Published: February 2025

The diagnosis of dyspepsia is very difficult because the symptoms are clinically aspecific and the gastric emptying time tests are of complex interpretation. An integrated and automated analysis of clinical and instrumental data may improve the diagnostic process. We present a system to collect data on dyspeptic patient from different sources which has been set up to assist the clinician in the diagnosis of dyspepsia. The data base integrates a wide set of symptoms with data coming from laboratory tests. Moreover, we assess the feasibility of classifying gastric emptying profiles using both octanoid acid excretion data and electrogastrography.
A new way for the analysis of the exocytosis
Authors: Sánchez J.L.  , Brioso M.A.  , Segura F.  , Borges R.
Published: February 2025

Exocytosis is the most common way for cells to secrete substances. This is a wide distributed phenomenon that involves all cell types and all animal species from yeast to human. Catecholamine (CA) release from adrenal chromaffin cells occurs by the exocytosis of secretory vesicles also called chromaffin granules. Individual secretory events can be easily monitored by the use of carbon fibers encased in glass microelectrodes. Catecholamines oxidized at the electrode tip produce a transient electrical current wave called secretory spike. The typical secretory spike consists in a sharp elevation of current followed by a rapid exponential decrease to the basal level. A 35-50% of the spikes showed a pre-spike wave called “foot” which represents the CA release through the fusion pore. The time course of secretory spikes observed is altered by extracellular phenomena’s like diffusion. It has been suggested that amperometric spikes can be described by the convolution of a Gaussian with a decreasing exponential. The exponential function is partially governed by the diffusion of the secreted substances towards the electrode. In this article a method to deconvolve both functions is proposed. This mathematical approach allows the observation of the original secretory profile -the Gaussian-without the distortion caused by the diffusional broadening of catecholamines.
WWW as a Teaching Resource for Introductory Medical Informatics in Primary Care
Authors: Young Ir  , McCullagh PJ  , Kernohan WG
Published: February 2025

This pro and contra report assesses the current state of the WWW as a teaching aid for Medical Informatics, using the experience gained from the delivery of a module to a heterogeneous group of health workers enrolled in an MSc/PgDip in Primary Care. The students were expected to act as both information consumers in a directed bibliographic retrieval task and information providers for Primary Care. The students’ perceptions as to the usefulness and local relevance of current resources on the world wide web (WWW) are discussed.
Communication between the Higher Education and Industry
Authors: Dimitriu Rodica  , Bazavan Mariana  , Sima Radu  , Lungeanu Diana  , Mihalas Gh.
Published: February 2025

The paper presents the starting premise and the general frame of the Tempus Project CME-02555-96, entitled “Know How Transfer form University to Industry”. It is intended to be -a study for establishing a frame and methods for communication between academic, scientific and research bodies and industry. This project continues the efforts made in the RENEHEMA Tempus project aiming to support the improvement of communication between higher education and industry. Following the conclusions of the RENEHEMA conference the strategy adopted by the management board focused on the Internet technology and free market mechanisms to fulfill the project objectives.
WWW search engine for Slovenian and English medical documents
Authors: Dimec Jure  , Džeroski Sašo  , Todorovski Ljupčo  , Hristovski Dimitar
Published: February 2025

The information tool for the organization and searching of Slovenian and English medical documents is presented. The tool, partly still in development phases, performs automatic subject description of documents, searching with natural language queries and ranking of search hits according to their relevance. The search engine allows the searcher to use relevance feedback in order to perform incremental improvement of search results.
Multimedia Stimulation for Psychophysiological Investigation
Authors: McCullagh P.J.  , Gent G.P.  , McAllister H.G.
Published: February 2025

This paper describes a multimedia approach to sensory stimulation in psychophysiological studies. High resolution colour images are presented to a subject by a Delphi stimulus program, controlled by a data acquisition system which concurrently records cognitive Event Related Potentials from the subject. The acquisition PC is linked to the stimulus PC using serial communications and requests slide material using a character based protocol. The sound card in the data acquisition system can present concurrent complex auditory stimuli for multimedia experiments.
Modelling Oculomotor Data with Decision Tree Induction
Authors: Viikki Kati  , Isotalo Elina  , Juhola Martti  , Pyykkö Ilmari
Published: February 2025

We studied relationships between oculomotor test results and the site of lesion in the data set containing patient cases with operated cerebello-pontine angle tumour, operated hemangioblastoma, infarction of cerebello-brainstem or Meniere's disease and control subjects. Several classification models were generated by decision tree induction to find parameter combinations which are efficient in classification. The studied data were characterised by missing values and scarcity of example cases. This study suggested that decision tree induction can be a useful method even in problematic real world classification tasks. Models generated by decision tree induction and evaluated by an expert physician may give information that is beneficial for research.