Application of Medical Information System for Image-Based Second Opinion Consultations – Georgian Experience

Introduction/ Background Medical information system (MIS) is at the heart of information technology (IT) implementation policies in healthcare systems around the world. Different architecture and application models of MIS are developed. Despite of obvious advantages and benefits, application of MIS in everyday practice is slow. Aims On the background of analysis of the existing models of MIS in Georgia has been created a multi-user web-based approach. This presentation will present the architecture of the system and its application for image based second opinion consultations. Methods The MIS has been created with .Net technology and SQL database architecture. It realizes local (intranet) and remote (internet) access to the system and management of databases. The MIS is fully operational approach, which is successfully used for medical data registration and management as well as for creation, editing and maintenance of the electronic medical records (EMR). Five hundred Georgian language electronic medical records from the cervical screening activity illustrated by images were selected for second opinion consultations. Results The primary goal of the MIS is patient management. However, the system can be successfully applied for image based second opinion consultations. The ideal of healthcare in the information age must be to create a situation where healthcare professionals spend more time creating knowledge from medical information and less time managing medical information. The application of easily available and adaptable technology and improvement of the infrastructure conditions is the basis for eHealth applications. It can be concluded, that the MIS is perspective and actual technology solution. It can be successfully and effectively used for image based second opinion consultations

Co-expression of tumor suppressor p53 (TP53) and cancer testis antigens (CTAs) as the possible indicator of “cancer-free” status

Objective: Biomarkers are biological substances that can be measured and objectively evaluated as indicators of concrete processes at different levels. Advances in biomedicine facilitated the use and importance of biomarkers for healthcare purposes. Several biomarkers that are used in the field of oncology are already identified and used in clinical practice, although their sensitivity is not sufficient. To contribute to this issue, we aimed to determine the expression of total cancer-testis antigens (CTAs) in correlation with the expression levels of tumor suppressor proteins p53 (TP53) and p63 (TP63) as well as BRCA1 in a healthy cohort. Materials and Methods: We analyzed samples of 90 blood donors (28, 31.1% – females, 62, 68.9% – males) as they can be considered as an appropriate group for recruiting health cohorts. The age distribution of the subjects was between 20 and 60 years. The enzyme linked immunosorbent assay analysis was used for the determination of CTAs, TP53, TP63, and BRCA1 expression levels. Results: A strong correlation between CTAs and TP53 expression levels has been revealed. The expression variables of targeted biomarkers are not equally distributed. The data specific to CTAs, TP53, and TP63 expression levels are skewed to the left. In the case of BRCA1, the data may indicate the presence of 2 subgroups for study subjects. Conclusions: The co-expression of CTAs and TP53 may be considered as the indicator of “cancer-free” status. This parameter may be piloted for cancer screening and early diagnosis purposes. However, the role of CTAs for cellular process regulation and especially regulation of tumor suppressor gene p53 shall be investigated further

Telemedicine in Georgia

This presentation was given by Dr. Ekaterine Kldiashvili at the Med-e-tel 2005 Conference in Luxexpo, Luxembourg on April 7th, 2005eHealth and Developing Countries (1): The presentation describes Georgian non profit organization Georgian Telemedicine Union and its activities. By this presentation the potentials of telemedicine services in developing country will be described.Georgian Telemedicine Union, Georgi

GRID - New Perspectives of E-Health Applications for Georgia

This presentation was given by Dr. Ekaterine Kldiashvili at the Med-e-tel 2005 Conference in Luxembourg on April 7th, 2005.National Experiences in Telemedicine and eHealth: Grid is one of the currently and most actively developing concepts in the IT community. The present project aims implementation of e-Health applications through Grid technology. The main objectives are: 1) Distribution of computational resources (i.e. over a large community of medical users); 2) Ensuring of image processing algorithm?s accessibility; 3) Combination of image data with other medical data, facilitating data access; 4) Facilitation of tele-medicine development in Georgia; 5) Bringing of affordable solutions to actual problems that are intractable by commonly available resources in country. Main goal of the project is to create a unified, resilient and transparent infrastructure, available on demand in order to solve complex problems in health care.Georgian Telemedicine Union (Association), Georgi

The detection of IgG class antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein by application of nanoparticles

OBJECTIVE: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is a widely used biochemical analytical method for the detection of a biomarker, through a specific antigen-antibody reaction. A common with ELISA is the amount of concrete biomarkers falling below the detection limit. Thus, the approach that will contribute to enhanced sensitivity of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay is of great importance for medical practice. To address this issue, we used nanoparticles to improve the detection limit of traditional ELISA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 80 samples were used, for which the presence of IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein were already determined qualitatively.  We tested the samples using an in vitro ELISA kit [SARS-CoV-2 IgG ELISA, COVG0949 (NovaTec, Leinfelden-Echterdingen, Germany)]. Additionally, we tested the same sample with the same ELISA kit but with the addition of 50 nm diameter citrate-capped silver nanoparticles. The reaction was performed, and data were calculated according to manufacturer guidelines. To measure ELISA results absorbance (optical density - OD) at 450 nm was read. RESULTS: Greater absorbance values have been revealed in case of silver nanoparticles application (66 cases, 82.5%, p<0.05). ELISA with application of nanoparticles classified 19 equivocal cases as positive and 3 equivocal ones as negative, 1 negative case as equivocal. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that nanoparticles can be used to improve the sensitivity of ELISA method and increase the detection limit. Thus, it is logical and desirable to enhance the sensitivity of ELISA method by application of nanoparticles; the approach is low cost and with a positive impact on accuracy