bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of Techniques for the Presentation of Laboratory Data. I: Time Needed for Interpretation
Authors: Hoeke J. O. O. , Bonke B. , van Strik R. , Gelsema E. S. , Verheij R. 
Published: March 2018

Abstract:Four tabular and two graphical techniques for the presentation of laboratory test results were evaluated in a reaction-time experiment with 25 volunteers. Artificial variables and values were used to represent sets of 12 laboratory tests to eliminate the possible effects of clinical experience. Analyses focused on reaction times for correctly classified sets of data. For comparable data sets, Presentation Techniques (PT) that use color, always allow faster interpretation than PTs that do not use color, or use only a simple marker. Color-coded tables yielded an improvement in median reaction time of approximately six times or better, as compared to the reference PT (a tabular PT without any hints). For the color-coded graphs, the improvement rate was approximately 2.5 or better.
Algorithms for Bayesian Belief-Network Precomputation
Authors: Herskovits E. H. , Cooper G. F. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractBayesian belief networks provide an intuitive and concise means of representing probabilistic relationships among the variables in expert systems. A major drawback to this methodology is its computational complexity. We present an introduction to belief networks, and describe methods for precomputing, or caching, part of a belief network based on metrics of probability and expected utility. These algorithms are examples of a general method for decreasing expected running time for probabilistic inference.We first present the necessary background, and then present algorithms for producing caches based on metrics of expected probability and expected utility. We show how these algorithms can be applied to a moderately complex belief network, and present directions for future research.
Maximum Likelihood Estimation and Testing of a Poisson Regression Model
Authors: Wan J. Y. , Galecki A. T. 
Published: March 2018

Abstract:A Poisson regression model is proposed for the analysis of incidence rates presented in a two-way table classified by two categorical variables. It is shown that the likelihood function is the same as that using Glasser’s exponential covariate model. An algorithm is given to solve the maximum likelihood estimates of the regression parameters. The model is evaluated via deviance and the method is illustrated with an example. Some extensions of the model are discussed.
Criteria for Screening Diabetes Mellitus Using Serum Fructosamine Level and Fasting Plasma Glucose Level
Authors: Kiyose H. , Ito K. , Iwatsuka T. , Kawai H. , Goto Y. , Kondo K. , Sasamori N. , Suzuki K. , Suzuki T. , Tanaka G. , Tamai M. , Yamazaki S. , Yoda T. , Kasezawa N. 
Published: March 2018

Abstract:A screening method using serum fructosamine level and the fasting plasma glucose level was used for screening patients with diabetes mellitus. The criteria for positive tests recommended by the Japanese Society of Multiphasic Health Testing and Services were evaluated. It was found that levels for the serum fructosamine of 290 µmol/l or higher (or, for the fasting plasma glucose of 110 mg/dl or higher) agreed with the standard oral glucose tolerance test in identifying patients with diabetes mellitus in 96.7% of cases, and the serum fructosamine test was simpler and less expensive.
Economic Evaluation of a Ninngen-Dokku (Medical Checkup)
Authors: Shimizu T. , Suzuki T. 
Published: March 2018

Abstract:An economic evaluation of a medical checkup center (Ninngendokku, “human dry dock”) was conducted from two perspectives: the cost for cancer checkup, and the cost for medical treatment after a diagnosis was obtained. We studied the cost of diagnosing cancer, compared with the cost required when cancer of an individual organ was detected through mass health testing, and studied the economics of a Ninngendokku according to Kawai’s method of medical judgment. Assuming that the cost of death is more than the cost of saving the lives of persons who undergo the Ninngen-dokku, the Ninngen-dokku will be affordable. In the group undergoing the Ninngen-dokku compared with the group which did not, the estimated cost of medical treatment was reduced. The Ninngendokku carries advantages that cannot be quantified in financial terms; therefore, a multi-layered economic analysis of the Ninngen-dokku was required.
Physiological Age-Related Changes: Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Studies
Authors: Lengyel É , Regius O. , Beregi E. 
Published: March 2018

Abstract:Physiological age-related changes were investigated by cross-sectional and longitudinal studies. The data of the study were derived from volunteers admitted to the Gerontology Center in Budapest. In the follow-up study 864 subjects took part, and in the cross-sectional study 2,281 individuals. The 20-year longitudinal study and the cross-sectional examination showed that from a clinical standpoint the most important observation is that several biochemical data do not change with age. No changes were found in the values in erythrocyte sedimentation, hemoglobin, hematocrit, serum total protein, albumin, liver function, glucose, creatinine, triglyceride, and HDL-cholesterol levels. Changes were observed in the levels of HDL-cholesterol, immunoglobulins, rheumatoid factors, antinuclear factors, morphology of lymphocytes, serum TSH and T3 concentration, and systolic blood pressures.
A New Method to Study Blood Pressure, Heart Rate and EEG as a Function of Reaction Time
Authors: Värri A. O. , Grote L. , Penzel T. , Cassel W. , Peter J. H. , Hasan J. 
Published: March 2018

Abstract:A new method is presented to study the relationship between reaction time and blood pressure, heart rate and EEG. The method consists of a simultaneous recording of continuous invasive or non-invasive arterial blood pressure, ECG, EEG, EMG and EOG in a sound-isolated chamber while a monotonous visual reaction time test is running for about 90 minutes. The signals are A/D-converted and analyzed digitally after recording. One second average amplitudes are computed. Systolic, mean and diastolic blood pressure values are calculated, and the EEG is divided into the delta, theta, alpha, sigma and beta frequency bands. The signal amplitudes are averaged in three different reaction time categories, i. e., when the reaction is normal, delayed or missing. Preliminary tests suggest that interesting differences can be observed in the studied variables in different reaction time classes. This method can also be applied to the investigation of autonomic control and to treatment studies.
DC-level Detection of Burst-Suppression EEG
Authors: Lipping T. , Loula P. , Jäntti V. , Yli-Hankala A 
Published: March 2018

Abstract:The EEG signal is usually recorded with low time constant analog prefilters to avoid low frequency artefacts. During this kind of recording the frequency components below the cutoff frequency of the analog prefilter (usually below about 1 to 3 Hz) are lost. By visual examination of some experimental recordings taken with a higher time constant, it was noticed that during burst-suppression EEG the DC-level of the signal rises sharply when the burst begins and falls when the burst ends. Thus, a burst actually consists of a mixed frequency discharge on a pulse-like DC-shift. We developed a filter algorithm to estimate the change in the DC-level during bursts as accurately as possible.
Detection of EEG Patterns Related to Nocturnal Hypoglycemia
Authors: Gade J. , Rosenfalck A. , Bendtson I. 
Published: March 2018

Abstract:The aim of the project was to detect specific EEG patterns related to hypoglycemia. EEG analysis was performed using a probabilistic classifier and unsupervised learning for the construction of learning sets for the classifier. Unsupervised learning and additional tools were used in the search for EEG patterns occurring when the blood-glucose level was below the hypoglycemic threshold. The rate of these specific EEG patterns was below 5% in normal nights. In patients who were known to have no or a reduced glucagon response to hypoglycemia, the rate increased to 20-80%.
How to Correct for Chance Agreement in the Estimation of Sensitivity and Specificity of Diagnostic Tests
Authors: Brenner H. , Gefeller O. 
Published: March 2018

Abstract:The traditional concept of describing the validity of a diagnostic test neglects the presence of chance agreement between test result and true (disease) status. Sensitivity and specificity, as the fundamental measures of validity, can thus only be considered in conjunction with each other to provide an appropriate basis for the evaluation of the capacity of the test to discriminate truly diseased from truly undiseased subjects. In this paper, chance-corrected analogues of sensitivity and specificity are presented as supplemental measures of validity, which pay attention to the problem of chance agreement and offer the opportunity to be interpreted separately. While recent proposals of chance-correction techniques, suggested by several authors in this context, lead to measures which are dependent on disease prevalence, our method does not share this major disadvantage. We discuss the extension of the conventional ROC-curve approach to chance-corrected measures of sensitivity and specificity. Furthermore, point and asymptotic interval estimates of the parameters of interest are derived under different sampling frameworks for validation studies. The small sample behavior of the estimates is investigated in a simulation study, leading to a logarithmic modification of the interval estimate in order to hold the nominal confidence level for small samples.
An International Health/Medical Informatics Programs Database
Authors: Protti D. J. , Douglas J. V. , Ball M. J. 
Published: March 2018

Abstract:The University of Maryland at Baltimore has established a database of health/medical informatics programs worldwide. Since 1991, IMIA’s Working Group on Education and Training in Medical Informatics has provided guidance on critical issues of policy and purpose. At the Heidel-berg/Heilbronn Working Conference in 1992 on Health/Medical Informatics education, representatives to WG1 and participants made suggestions regarding database intent, structure, and attributes.
Knowledge Acquisition for Expert Systems: Experience in Leukaemia Diagnosis
Authors: Fox J. , Myers C. D. , Greaves M. F. , Pegram Susan 
Published: March 2018

SummaryEMYCIN was used to develop an expert system for the interpretation of immunological data obtained in the cell surface phenotyping of leukaemia. Access to a recognised expert, and a large quantity of data on the leukaemias, has facilitated a systematic study of knowledge acquisition and knowledge base refinement based on tape recorded commentaries made by the expert. System performance was analysed at six stages in its development, and ways in which it differed from that of the human diagnostician were identified. Among the most suggestive observations were differences in the way that “undiagnosable” patients were treated and a failure of the elicitation technique to reveal structural aspects of the task. The tools and techniques of knowledge engineering are a significant advance, but a better methodology for developing high quality knowledge bases is needed.
A Curriculum for Documentalists in the Biosciences
Authors: Wolters E. 
Published: March 2018

SummaryAt the Hannover Polytechnic (Fachhochschule Hannover, Fachbereich BID) curricula for documentalists and librarians have been established in 1980. The main goal of the course “Bioscientific Documentation” has been the integration of traditional document handling techniques with modern information management in the biosciences, so creating a new type of profession.After graduation of the first classes of students, fine tuning of the curricula took place according to the experience gained.
Treatment of Uncertainty in an Oncology Protocol by Probabilistic and Artificial Intelligence Approaches
Authors: de Rosis Fiorella , Steve G. , Biagini C. , Maurizi-Enrici R. 
Published: March 2018

SummaryThe decision process for diagnosis and treatment of Hodgkin’s disease at the Institute of Radiology of Rome has been modelled integrating the guidelines of a protocol with uncertainty aspects. Two models have been built, using a PROSPECTOR-like Expert System shell for microcomputers: the first of them treats the uncertainty by the inferential engine of the shell, the second is a probabilistic model. The decisions suggested in a group of simulated and real cases by a section of the two models have been compared with an “objective” final diagnosis; this analysis showed that, in some cases, the two models give different suggestions and that “approximations” of the shell’s inferential engine may induce wrong conclusions. A sensitivity analysis of the probabilistic model showed that the outputs are greatly influenced by variations of parameters, whose subjective estimation appears to be especially difficult. This experience gives the opportunity to consider the risks of building clinical decision models based on Expert System shells, if the assumptions and approximations hidden in the shell have not been previously analyzed in a careful and critical way.
Measuring the Certainty of a Decision Rule with Applications in Electrocardiography
Authors: Lesaffre E. , Willems J. L. 
Published: March 2018

SummaryAs an extension of recent work, several types of uncertainty involved in a decision process are further clarified in this paper. The concept of allocation with ß-confidence and the ß-doubt matrix are illustrated by two electrocardiographic data sets. These data sets illustrate the importance and the novelty of the above concepts. We argue for augmenting the classical correct classification rate with an interval estimate. We think that interval estimates are essential in the area of prediction modelling to refrain the user from being too optimistic.
Practical Application of Computer-Assisted Decision-Making in an Antenatal Clinic — A Feasibility Study
Authors: Anderson G. , Llerena C. , Davidson D. , Taylor T. R. 
Published: March 2018

A feasibility study is described involving the use of a computer program in an antenatal clinic whose decisions were based on the observed policies of the group of obstetricians running that clinic. In 200 test cases the programme successfully detected all »at risk« cases at the first visit. Abnormalities appearing at later visits were all detected and appropriate investigations ordered by the programme. The programme ordered rather more investigations than the obstetrician and this difference has been investigated, in some detail with reference to the full blood count, glucose tolerance test and the ultrasonogram.Since all of the basic data in the proposed clinic would be collected by the clerical staff or midwives, a comparison was made between two midwives and an obstetrician in estimating fundal height. The small number of discrepancies found was not regarded as serious from the viewpoint of the proposed clinic.This preliminary study suggests that the technique described might play a useful part in some areas of ante-natal care by relieving the obstetricians of much of the workload associated with routine cases and enabling the midwife to play a larger role in ante-natal care.
Systemanalyse in einem Universitätskrankenhaus als Vorbereitung für den Aufbau eines klinischen Informationssystems
Authors: Esser K. J. , Repges R. 
Published: March 2018

Im Rahmen der Umstellung einer Klinik auf elektronische Datenverarbeitung mit dem Ziel des Aufbaus eines klinischen Informationssystems wird über das Ergebnis einer Systemanalyse berichtet.Die Analyse der Daten führt zu der Aufstellung von Dringlichkeitslisten für die einzelnen Abteilungen. Aufgrund dieser Kriterien konnte ein Konzept für die geordnete Entwicklung aufgestellt werden.
Automation Techniques in Personality Assessment: A Frontier in Behavioral Science and Medicine
Authors: Pearson J. S. , Swenson W. M. 
Published: March 2018

A program is described for the development and implementation of a scoring and interpretation technique for the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory through the use of an electronic computer. Depending upon the configural pattern of the MMPI profile, the computer automatically draws from a statement library of over 70 descriptive statements a personality summary of the salient characteristics of the patient. This summary is used by the medical consultant in dealing with his patient.The technique has been used on over 20,000 patients at the Mayo Clinic and is currently a routine test in the medical sections. The program has undergone many modifications since its inception in 1961.The process is described whereby the current library of descriptive statements was developed and some of the difficulties involved. It summarizes the authors’ subjective feelings about this method of personality evaluation as well as the opportunities for future research and expansion in this area.
Der individuelle therapeutische Vergleich bei chronischen Formen der Lungentuberkulose
Authors: Tünnerhoff K. 
Published: March 2018

Die methodische klinische Prüfung tuberkulostatischer Substanzen vor Freigabe dieser Substanzen an die Praxis erweist sich als unbedingt notwendig. Eine bei chronischen Formen der Lungentuberkulose anwendbare Methode der Testung ist die des individuellen therapeutischen Vergleichs. Sie ermöglicht es zu entscheiden, ob 1. ein Medikament oder eine Medikamentenkombination röntgenologisch und klinisch wirksam oder unwirksam war, und 2. ob ein weiteres in der 2. Behandlungsphase angewandtes Mittel dem ersteren oder der zunächst angewandten Kombination über- oder unterlegen oder ebenfalls unwirksam geblieben war. Hierbei wird zugleich die dem ärztlichen Ethos entsprechende Forderung nach sofortiger Behandlung erfüllt wie auch die nach methodischer. Forschung, d. h. Objektivierung von Arzneimittelerfolgen.Voraussetzung ist allerdings, daß eine gewisse Konstanz im Erscheinungsbild der Lungentuberkulose nach klinischen, laboratoriumstechnischen und röntgenologischen Kriterien eingetreten ist. Daher führt das Verfahren bei vor der fibrösen Umwandlung stehenden miliaren Tuberkulosen, bei exsudativ-kavernösen und produktiv-cirrhotischen Erkrankungsformen zum Ziel, nicht jedoch bei akuten Miliartuberkulosen, Hilusperforationen und deren rasch ablaufenden Folgeerscheinungen und bei akut verlaufenden exsudativen Tuberkuloseformen. Ebenso wird es durch interkurrent auftretende Sekundärerkrankungen und bei ungenügender Vorbehandlung gegenstandslos.Der individuelle therapeutische Vergleich ist eine Prüfmethode, die im Rahmen der gezeigten Grenzen eine fundierte Aussage über die Wirksamkeit von Tuberkulostatika gestattet.
Versuch einer medizinischen Kybernetik
Authors: Schneider B. 
Published: March 2018

Die Grundbegriffe, Aufgaben und Ziele der Kybernetik werden erklärt. Es wird (nach Fhank) zwischen einer technischen, materialen und formalen Kybernetik unterschieden. Alle drei Bereiche sind für die Medizin von Bedeutung.Die Probleme der materialen medizinischen Kybernetik werden am Beispiel der Blutdruckregelung erläutert. Charakteristisch für medizinische Regelprozesse ist die Komplexität der Systeme und ihre Vermaschung mit anderen Systemen.Die verschiedenen Möglichkeiten und Verfahren der formalen Kybernetik werden vorgestellt. Ausgehend von den einfachen Differentialgleichungen zur Beschreibung der Bevölkerungsentwicklung (aucb bei konkurrierenden Populationen) werden die wichtigsten mathematischen Methoden zur Beschreibung von biologischen kybernetischen Systemen erörtert. Die Methode der Fourier-Analyse wird am Beispiel der Blutdruckregelung demonstriert.Abschließend wird die Bedeutung und Realisationsmöglichkeit der kybernetischen Methoden für die Klinik behandelt. Es wird gezeigt, daß diese Methoden in der Medizin analoge Aufgaben wie die chemischen und ‘physikalischen Analysemethoden übernehmen können, nämlich die Erfassung und Analyse des Informationsflusses im menschlichen Körper und in Wechselwirkung zur Umwelt. Aufgabe der kybernetischen Methoden ist es, den Arzt bei der »Informationsverarbeitung« zu unterstützen. Hierzu können technische Hilfsmittsl, wie Datenerfassungsgeräte und Computer, nützliche und unentbehrliche Hilfsfunktionen übernehmen.
Computers and Iatrocomplexities
Authors: Faer L. E. 
Published: March 2018

Developments of disease hypotheses and conceptions of disease as philosophic entities have shown bursts of great advance. One just concluded includes emergence of bacteriology and virology culminating in Koch’s Postulates, which in the twentieth century were primary bases for disease study and colored all approaches to medicine.With recent extraordinary advances in technology, medicine faces great new obligations demanding fresh approaches and untrammeled thinking for solution of problems posed. It is clear that any approach to diseases and disabilities induced by exposures to environmental pollutants must take multiple etiology into account. For example, contributing to causation of lung malignancies one must list usual dusts, radioactivity, smog, auto exhausts, cigarette smoke and genetic composition. Consideration of plural factors in genesis of environmentally associated disease leads to the hypothesis of the incremental insult, a complex and difficult conception in which must be included provision for multiple causative agents, each contributing but a fraction toward total etiology^ Computers developed to their present refinement provide necessary tools for whatever complexity required to spawn and fructify hypotheses of inter-relating associations of incremental insults leading to pathology.
Evaluation of the Symptoms of Treated Hypertensive Patients
Authors: Bulpitt C. J. , Dollery C. T. 
Published: March 2018

A descriptive method has been presented to identify the symptoms of patients treated for hypertension and to determine the features producing these symptoms, including the treatment given, psychological features, the level of blood pressure, renal function, the plasma concentration of potassium, and obesity.The study used a self-administered questionnaire, and as an illustration five symptoms have been fully analysed for 859 treated patients and the effects of obesity, impaired renal function and a low plasma potassium evaluated in a further 21 symptoms. Statistical methods included the comparison of a stepwise multiple regression approach and a maximum likelihood solution using a logistic transformation. Having selected >significant< variables from a stepwise multiple regression program, the two methods gave very similar measures of treatment and other effects.Obesity was associated with vertigo, nocturia and palpitations. The complaints of dry mouth and a slow walking pace were more common in patients with a raised plasma urea, but no symptom could be associated with a low plasma potassium.