GRASS: a server for the graphical representation and analysis of structures.
(9/12469)
GRASS (Graphical Representation and Analysis of Structures Server), a new web-based server, is described. GRASS exploits many of the features of the GRASP program and is designed to provide interactive molecular graphics and quantitative analysis tools with a simple interface over the World-Wide Web. Using GRASS, it is now possible to view many surface features of biological macromolecules on either standard workstations used in macromolecular analysis or personal computers. The result is a World-Wide Web-based, platform-independent, easily used tool for macromolecular visualization and structure analysis. (+info)
Information exchange in an epilepsy forum on the World Wide Web.
(10/12469)
The Partners Healthcare Epilepsy Service hosts an epilepsy 'Webforum'. In this paper, we describe our observations regarding who uses it, what kind of information is exchanged, how much misinformation is present and how we can better serve our patients. We examined a sample of 155 posts to the forum and 342 responses to those posts. The individual making the post and the type of questions were categorized. We also determined whether any information was objectively inaccurate. The principal users were care-givers (49%) and patients (34%). Eighty percent of the primary posts were questions. Answers were given largely by patients (38%) and care-givers (34%). The most commonly asked questions were about treatment options (31%) and the natural history of the illness (28%). In 20% of the questions, the user incidentally remarked that a health-care provider had not met their information needs. Six percent of the information was objectively inaccurate. The Web can serve as an effective means for the exchange of information between individuals with a common medical condition. We found that a small amount of misinformation is exchanged and that health-care providers are sometimes perceived as unable or unwilling to supply important health-related information. (+info)
A model for enhancing Internet medical document retrieval with "medical core metadata".
(11/12469)
OBJECTIVE: Finding documents on the World Wide Web relevant to a specific medical information need can be difficult. The goal of this work is to define a set of document content description tags, or metadata encodings, that can be used to promote disciplined search access to Internet medical documents. DESIGN: The authors based their approach on a proposed metadata standard, the Dublin Core Metadata Element Set, which has recently been submitted to the Internet Engineering Task Force. Their model also incorporates the National Library of Medicine's Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) vocabulary and MEDLINE-type content descriptions. RESULTS: The model defines a medical core metadata set that can be used to describe the metadata for a wide variety of Internet documents. CONCLUSIONS: The authors propose that their medical core metadata set be used to assign metadata to medical documents to facilitate document retrieval by Internet search engines. (+info)
Successful implementation of a comprehensive computer-based patient record system in Kaiser Permanente Northwest: strategy and experience.
(12/12469)
Kaiser Permanente Northwest (KPNW) has implemented a computer-based patient record (CPR) system for outpatients. Clinicians at KPNW use this comprehensive CPR to electronically document patient encounters; code diagnoses and procedures; maintain problem lists; order laboratory tests, radiology tests, and prescriptions; and send patient-specific messages and referrals to other medical providers. More than 700 clinicians, representing more than 20 medical and surgical specialties, and 2600 support staff in 31 geographically separate sites use this system as the information foundation of delivery and documentation of health care for KPNW's membership of 430,000. As of May 1998, more than four million visits and two million telephone calls had been processed and documented into the system. More than 5000 outpatient visits are processed and documented each weekday. From an integrated clinical workstation, clinicians also access e-mail, an extensive results-reporting system, and sites on both the internet and KPNW's intranet. This article describes a strategy for and experience with the implementation of a large-scale, comprehensive CPR in an integrated HMO. This information may be useful for persons attempting to implement CPRs in their own institutions. (+info)
Structure prediction: The state of the art.
(13/12469)
A recent meeting to evaluate the state of the art of protein structure prediction saw progress on all fronts; for prediction methods based on comparative modeling or fold recognition, the progress was incremental, but in the case of ab initio structure prediction, some surprising successes were reported. (+info)
Tracing the evolution of critical evaluation skills in students' use of the Internet.
(14/12469)
This paper documents the evolving uses of the Internet made by public health graduate students and traces the development of their search methods and critical evaluative criteria. Early in the first semester and again six months later, twenty-four graduate students in a problem-based learning curriculum, which emphasizes evidence-based critical thinking skills, were required to describe their most helpful resources and to evaluate these resources critically. The answers were coded for the types of resources the students used, how frequently they were used, and why they were used. Student perception of the usefulness of resources, especially the Internet, and ability to evaluate these resources critically changed greatly. Initially, 96% of the students stated that the Internet was their most helpful resource. Six months later, these students continued to use the Internet; however, it was not their most useful source. At the later point, students had very specific uses for the Internet. Their most frequently used evaluation criterion was the reliability and objectivity of the source of the information. By the end of the first year of study, the majority of the students demonstrated an understanding of the principles of evidence-based practice and applied them to their research and analysis of information resources. (+info)
Update on Parkinson's disease.
(15/12469)
Parkinson's disease is a progressive degenerative disorder of the central nervous system. The hallmark physical signs are tremor, rigidity and bradykinesia. Idiopathic Parkinson's disease is caused by the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra and nigrostriatal pathway of the midbrain. Secondary parkinsonism may be caused by certain drugs (e.g., metoclopramide and haloperidol) or by cerebrovascular disease (e.g., multiple lacunar strokes). The disease can usually be diagnosed based on the history and physical findings. Dopamine replacement is still considered the most efficacious treatment for Parkinson's disease, but dopamine agonists, formerly prescribed only as adjunctive therapy, are emerging as useful initial therapy. Other pharmacologic treatments include drugs that inhibit dopamine-metabolizing enzymes (monoamine oxidase-B and catechol O-methyltransferase). Injections of botulinum toxin can be helpful in patients with associated dystonia or blepharospasm. Surgery may be indicated for certain patients or when symptoms do not respond to medical therapy. Additional adjunctive therapies include physical therapy, nutritional counseling and techniques to help patients manage emotional and cognitive changes related to the disease. (+info)
The next influenza pandemic: lessons from Hong Kong, 1997.
(16/12469)
The 1997 Hong Kong outbreak of an avian influenzalike virus, with 18 proven human cases, many severe or fatal, highlighted the challenges of novel influenza viruses. Lessons from this episode can improve international and national planning for influenza pandemics in seven areas: expanded international commitment to first responses to pandemic threats; surveillance for influenza in key densely populated areas with large live-animal markets; new, economical diagnostic tests not based on eggs; contingency procedures for diagnostic work with highly pathogenic viruses where biocontainment laboratories do not exist; ability of health facilities in developing nations to communicate electronically, nationally and internationally; licenses for new vaccine production methods; and improved equity in supply of pharmaceutical products, as well as availability of basic health services, during a global influenza crisis. The Hong Kong epidemic also underscores the need for national committees and country-specific pandemic plans. (+info)