Cable modem access to picture archiving and communication system images using a web browser over the Internet.
(1/12)
This presentation describes our experiences using a web-based viewing software and a browser to view our picture archiving and communication system (PACS) images at a remote site with cable modem-internet communications. Our testing shows that using a cable modem to access our radiology webserver produces acceptable transmission speeds to remote sites. The average time-to-display (TTD) for 16 computed tomography (CT) images on the web-based intranet system in our hospital was 7 to 8 seconds. Using a cable modem and comparable equipment at a remote site, the average TTD is 16 seconds over the internet. The TTD does not significantly change during various hours of the day. Security for our hospital-based PACS is provided by a firewall. Access through the firewall is accomplished using virtual private network (VPN) software, a secure ID, and encryption. We have found that this is a viable method for after-hours subspecialty radiology consultation. (+info)
Secure remote access to a clinical data repository using a wireless personal digital assistant (PDA).
(2/12)
TCP/IP and World-Wide-Web (WWW) technology have become the universal standards for networking and delivery of information. Personal digital assistants (PDAs), cellular telephones, and alphanumeric pagers are rapidly converging on a single pocket device that will leverage wireless TCP/IP networks and WWW protocols and can be used to deliver clinical information and alerts anytime, anywhere. We describe a wireless interface to clinical information for physicians based on Palm Corp.'s Palm VII pocket computer, a wireless digital network, encrypted data transmission, secure web servers, and a clinical data repository (CDR). (+info)
The palm as a real-time wide-area data-access device.
(3/12)
Handheld wireless technologies offer great promise in helping to improve healthcare. However, it is not clear whether off-the-shelf wireless networking will work as well within medical centers as this technology works outside of the medical center. Therefore, we evaluated the coverage of wide-area wireless technology within two representative academic medical centers. The study determined the rate of connectivity by testing both the Palm VII and the Minstrel V modem in a set of locations typically frequented by house staff in their daily activities. Within one hospital, connectivity was 59% for OmniSky service, and 78% for Palm.net. The second hospital's connectivity was over 93% with both devices. Differences in connectivity were likely due to the number of rooms visited with externally exposed walls, the suburban versus urban location of the academic medical center, and the relative location of service transponders. When examined by the Johns Hopkins Clinical Devices Laboratory, both devices were found to operate without interfering with other hospital equipment. (+info)
Why are complementary DNA strands symmetric?
(4/12)
MOTIVATION: Over sufficiently long windows, complementary strands of DNA tend to have the same base composition. A few reports have indicated that this first-order parity rule extends at higher orders to oligonucleotide composition, at least in some organisms or taxa. However, the scientific literature falls short of providing a comprehensive study of reverse-complement symmetry at multiple orders and across the kingdom of life. It also lacks a characterization of this symmetry and a convincing explanation or clarification of its origin. RESULTS: We develop methods to measure and characterize symmetry at multiple orders, and analyze a wide set of genomes, encompassing single- and double-stranded RNA and DNA viruses, bacteria, archae, mitochondria, and eukaryota. We quantify symmetry at orders 1 to 9 for contiguous sequences and pools of coding and non-coding upstream regions, compare the observed symmetry levels to those predicted by simple statistical models, and factor out the effect of lower-order distributions. We establish the universality and variability range of first-order strand symmetry, as well as of its higher-order extensions, and demonstrate the existence of genuine high-order symmetric constraints. We show that ubiquitous reverse-complement symmetry does not result from a single cause, such as point mutation or recombination, but rather emerges from the combined effects of a wide spectrum of mechanisms operating at multiple orders and length scales. (+info)
A telemedicine instrument for home monitoring of patients with chronic respiratory diseases.
(5/12)
We developed a telemedicine instrument for home monitoring of subjects with respiratory diseases. The instrument directly measures blood oxygen saturation and pulse rate, but the most relevant aspect is that it also acts as digital recorder of parameters coming from several external instruments (spirometer, capnometer, NIBP device, etc.). It also connects to all pulmonary ventilators. The instrument main board includes five slots, which are used to insert the measuring boards (saturation and ventilation boards) and the interface boards (connecting the external instruments). Depending on patient's needs, only the proper measuring/interface boards are mounted, thus allowing maximum flexibility and cost saving. The instrument has several I/O units, and especially an internal modem for direct connection to the Internet through TCP/IP protocol. The instrument was extensively tested, and preliminary trials were performed over fifteen patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. (+info)
Daily remote peritoneal dialysis monitoring: an adjunct to enhance patient care.
(6/12)
Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is the preferred dialysis modality in children, but it relies on the patient or caregiver to perform dialysis daily at home. We describe the utilization of a modem transmission system in 2 pediatric PD patients to improve communication with the dialysis team, monitor compliance via frequent remote data collection, and decrease dialysis-related complications. A home dialysis modem was provided for each patient and connected to the home telephone line by the dialysis nurse. PD treatment data were transmitted daily to the dialysis unit, records entered into the patient's electronic medical record, and reviewed by the patient's PD nurse and/or pediatric nephrologist and adjustments made accordingly. This resulted in improved medical outcomes specifically related to fluid balance and cardiovascular health, ultimately facilitating renal transplantation in each case. In summary, the use of the ProCard (Baxter Healthcare, Deerfield, Illinois, USA) has improved the ability to monitor home PD patients effectively. However, the additional use of the modem to transmit data on a more frequent basis can further enhance the care of chronic continuous cycling PD patients and should be considered in more challenging medical situations. (+info)
Telematics: a new tool for epidemiological surveillance of diarrhoeal diseases in the Aquitaine sentinel network.
(7/12)
A sentinel health information system using telematics and a network of general practitioners was set up in Aquitaine in south western France in 1986. Among the health problems under surveillance was acute diarrhoea. Data for each patient who fulfilled the usual case definition for acute diarrhoea were reported by general practitioners using home terminals (Minitels) connected to a central computer by telephone. Over one year 2234 cases of diarrhoea were reported, the incidence varying from 0.8 to 1.5 cases per doctor per week. Seasonal variations in incidence were observed, with peaks in the winter and in the summer. Only 379 (17%) episodes of diarrhoea were classified as severe, and these patients consulted their general practitioners earlier than patients whose diarrhoea was less severe. Foreign travel was rarely found in the patients' histories, but clusters of cases were found in communities (4.6%) and in families (22.3%). The advantages of this system were easy reporting and immediate feedback, but it was difficult to extrapolate the data, and the system was inadequate for intervening in outbreaks of diarrhoeal disease. Our knowledge of diarrhoeal diseases in south west France improved. (+info)
Encoding scratch and scrape features for wear modeling of total joint replacements.
(8/12)