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Data Retrieval (data + retrieval)
Selected AbstractsDevelopment, implementation and benefits of a rheumatology-specific electronic medical record application with automated display of outcome measuresINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RHEUMATIC DISEASES, Issue 4 2010Anand N. MALAVIYA Abstract Objectives:, To make a rheumatology-specific electronic medical record (EMR) application for easy clinical data entry, automated display of outcome measures in real-time that generates well laid-out print-outs; and provides an easily retrievable database for clinical analysis and research. Methods:, Highly labour-intensive ,MS-WORD®' template used earlier provided the basic framework for developing rheumatology-EMR applications. The authors, a rheumatologist and a soft tissue surgeon with expertise in developing medical software, successfully created a rheumatology-EMR application over a period of 2˝ years using the same basic flow of work as used in the old ,MS-WORD®' template. Results:, The resulting EMR application form has a standard medical record documenting demographic data, complete diagnosis, appropriate dates, visit number, disease status, history, physical examination, investigations, follow-up and prescription page (with automatic updates wherever applicable). Mathematical calculations required for outcome measures (DAS, DAS28, CDAI, SDAI, AS-DAS, BASDAI, BASFI, BASMI, SLE-DAI and others) are embedded in the software, with automated updating as the examination of the musculoskeletal system proceeds in real time. Following implementation of this EMR application, more patients are being seen, patient waiting lists have been reduced; more time is available for academic and teaching work, without compromising the quality of notes, and print-outs for patients. Data retrieval has simplified clinical research with increased numbers of abstracts being presented and research papers being published. Conclusion:, Healthcare workers with understanding of the basic principles of computers and softwares should interact with software engineers who are either themselves medical doctors or are familiar with the workflow and clinical evaluation processes to create an efficient speciality-specific EMR application. [source] Parallel four-dimensional Haralick texture analysis for disk-resident image datasetsCONCURRENCY AND COMPUTATION: PRACTICE & EXPERIENCE, Issue 1 2007Brent Woods Abstract Texture analysis is one possible method of detecting features in biomedical images. During texture analysis, texture-related information is found by examining local variations in image brightness. Four-dimensional (4D) Haralick texture analysis is a method that extracts local variations along space and time dimensions and represents them as a collection of 14 statistical parameters. However, application of the 4D Haralick method on large time-dependent image datasets is hindered by data retrieval, computation, and memory requirements. This paper describes a parallel implementation using a distributed component-based framework of 4D Haralick texture analysis on PC clusters. The experimental performance results show that good performance can be achieved for this application via combined use of task- and data-parallelism. In addition, we show that our 4D texture analysis implementation can be used to classify imaged tissues. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] A systematic review of structured group interventions with mentally disordered offendersCRIMINAL BEHAVIOUR AND MENTAL HEALTH, Issue 4 2006Edward A.S. Duncan Background,Over the last 15 years, rehabilitation of offenders has been rigorously researched, resulting in new knowledge and understanding about factors decreasing recidivism amongst them. Typically, such interventions have been based on cognitive behavioural therapy. However, until recently, little research had been carried out on the rehabilitation of offenders with mental disorder. The authors present the first systematic review of the efficacy of structured group interventions with mentally disordered offenders. Aim,To evaluate structured group interventions with mentally disordered offenders through systematic review of the evidence for their efficacy and effectiveness. Methods,A standardized search strategy, with complementary methods of data retrieval to ensure a high degree of recall, was employed. Meta-analysis was not undertaken due to sample heterogeneity and lack of comparable data. Instead, effect sizes were calculated on all papers with sufficient data. Pooled effect sizes were calculated for groups of interventions with a similar focus. Results,Twenty studies were retrieved that fitted the inclusion criteria. It was possible to categorize these, predominantly British, studies into four main themes: problem-solving; anger/aggression management; self-harm; and other. The mean pooled effect sizes for the first two groups were suggestive of a moderate to high effect, but methodological variation means that these findings should still be treated as preliminary. Discussion and conclusions,Calculated effect sizes give optimism for the efficacy of structured group interventions with mentally disordered offenders. It is important now that more rigorous and consistent research methods be applied, even in secure hospital environments. Some suggestions towards achieving this are offered, drawing from the work to date, inclusive of the need for agreement on common outcome measures and development of networks to improve sample sizes. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Systematic review and meta-analysis in anatomic pathologyHISTOPATHOLOGY, Issue 6 2000M K Heatley Systematic reviews and meta-analyses are techniques of data retrieval and analysis which complement traditional narrative reviews. They are widely used in clinical medicine and are finding an increasing role in anatomical pathology. Performing high quality systematic review and meta-analysis requires the accumulation of large numbers of cases from well planned and executed studies and is facilitated if data is presented in a standardized manner. Techniques which allow data from individual patients included in a variety of different studies are now being developed indicating that in future research papers may require a more detailed description of results than in the past. This need may be met by posting anonymised data on the Internet. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses are never complete since data are continually contributed and analyses constantly updated. As with any research paper, the results of these techniques require careful evaluation and the role of the expert reviewer is enlarged by these methodologies. [source] Implant Experience with an Implantable Hemodynamic Monitor for the Management of Symptomatic Heart FailurePACING AND CLINICAL ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY, Issue 8 2005DAVID STEINHAUS Introduction: Management of congestive heart failure is a serious public health problem. The use of implantable hemodynamic monitors (IHMs) may assist in this management by providing continuous ambulatory filling pressure status for optimal volume management. Methods and Results: The Chronicle® system includes an implanted monitor, a pressure sensor lead with passive fixation, an external pressure reference (EPR), and data retrieval and viewing components. The tip of the lead is placed near the right ventricular outflow tract to minimize risk of sensor tissue encapsulation. Implant technique and lead placement is similar to that of a permanent pacemaker. After the system had been successfully implanted in 148 patients, the type and frequency of implant-related adverse events were similar to a single-chamber pacemaker implant. R-wave amplitude was 15.2 ± 6.7 mV and the pressure waveform signal was acceptable in all but two patients in whom presence of artifacts required lead repositioning. Implant procedure time was not influenced by experience, remaining constant throughout the study. Conclusion: Based on this evaluation, permanent placement of an IHM in symptomatic heart failure patients is technically feasible. Further investigation is warranted to evaluate the use of the continuous hemodynamic data in management of heart failure patients. [source] | ||||||||||