Computers and biomedical research, an international journal
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Comput. Biomed. Res. · Aug 1994
Medical informatics conference papers: a content analysis of research in a new discipline.
One of the hallmarks of a mature discipline is a varied and robust body of literature describing the research activities of the discipline. Medical informatics has rapidly become an accepted scientific discipline, having emerged from two long established disciplines (medical and computer science). ⋯ Findings confirm that conference papers report research, development, and application projects across a wide range of topics; identify a possible trend toward increased funding; and show widespread use of empirical and quantitative research and analytical techniques. Deficiencies in the conference papers are also discussed.
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Comput. Biomed. Res. · Aug 1993
A time-series approach to predict outcome from pediatric intensive care.
Daily assessment of the physiologic status of intensive care unit (ICU) patients by a validated score is used to predict their discharge as either alive or dead. Daily scores were decorrelated by time-series analysis techniques to establish a predictor of the next day's score. ⋯ Using the highest predicted score observed in any survivor from this data base as a threshold value, this predictor correctly identified 21.9% (sensitivity) of the nonsurvivors with no errors in predicting a fatal outcome (100% specificity). This performance is significantly (P < 0.001) better than that with a static predictor based on the first- or second-day scores only (6.6 or 7.4% sensitivity, respectively), or a known empirical dynamic model using the scores of the 2 most recent days (10.3% sensitivity, P < 0.002).
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Comput. Biomed. Res. · Oct 1992
Comparative StudyTolerating spelling errors during patient validation.
Misspellings, typographical errors, and variant name forms present a considerable problem for a Clinical Information System when validating patient data. Algorithms to correct these types of errors are being used, but they are based either on a study of frequent types of errors associated with general words in an English text rather than types of errors associated with the spelling of names, or on errors that are phonologically based. This paper investigates the types of errors that are specifically associated with the spelling of patient names, and proposes an algorithm that effectively handles such types of errors. This paper also studies the effectiveness of several relaxation techniques and compares them with the one that is being proposed.
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Comput. Biomed. Res. · Aug 1989
Interactive graphic editor for analysis and enhancement of medical images.
We have developed an interactive graphic editor to define subregions within a volume of medical images arranged in serial sections. The editing methods include tracing and automatic growing of connected components defined by the gray level range. ⋯ The editor transforms the volume of images by remapping their gray levels and by multiplanar cuts. The ability to suppress regions having the same signal intensity as the region of interest is important in generating an unobstructed view of the anatomical structures.
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A simulator of general anesthesia is described. It consists of an integrated set of physiologic computer models and a graphics display. The model predicts many of the physiologic and pharmacodynamic changes associated with general anesthesia. ⋯ Both intravenous and inhalation agents are included. Examples of its capabilities are presented, including pharmacokinetic changes associated with thiopental administration to a hypovolemic subject, administration of oxygen in several pulmonary pathologic conditions, and a simulation of an induction using fentanyl or thiopental. The model, combined with the graphics interface, becomes a real-time simulator useful for training students and residents.