Open source integration engines for safer hospitals. A case study

In the speech it will be presented a case study of a software integration engine based on open-source tools running in the biggest hospital of Sardinia, one of Italian regions: the implemented application is focused on ADT, Radiology and Laboratory data exchange. The general objective of the project is to enforce patient security through the use of integrated software products, the availability of homogeneous clinical data ad an easier access to medical records for administrative and medical personnel involved in the entire care process. The main objective is to drastically reduce human errors in repetitive processes through the use of modern integration engines and international standards.2011-05-12Budapest, HungaryWorld of Health IT Conference 201

Sistema di diagnosi collaborativa per cardiologia pediatrica

In questo rapporto viene dimostrato come è possibile costruire, partendo da tecnologie COTS, un sistema di telemedicina in grado di permettere ad un gruppo di esperti localizzati centralmente di fornire a personale clinico remoto supporto e guida in tempo reale per procedure ecografiche complesse. La prima applicazione del sistema è nella ecocardiologia neonatale, in particolare per la valutazione della pericolosità di potenziali patologie cardiache in neonati immediatamente dopo il parto

FAIRifying Clinical Studies Metadata: A Registry for the Biomedical Research.

The data produced during a research project are too often collected for the sole purpose of the study, therefore hindering profitable reuse in similar contexts. The growing need to counteract this trend has recently led to the formalization of the FAIR principles that aim to make (meta)data Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable, for humans and machines. Since their introduction, efforts are ongoing to encourage FAIR principles adoption and to implement solutions based on them. This paper reports on the FAIR-compliant registry we developed to collect and serve metadata describing clinical trials. The design of the registry is based on the FAIR Data Point (FDP) specifications, the state-of-the-art reference for FAIRified metadata sharing. To map the metadata relevant to our use case, we have extended the DCAT-based semantic model of the FDP adopting well-established ontologies in the biomedical and clinical domain, like the Semanticscience Integrated Ontology (SIO). Current implementation is based on the Molgenis software and provides both a user interface and a REST API for metadata discovering. At present the registry is being loaded with the metadata of the 18 clinical studies included in the 'I FAIR Program', a project finalised to the dissemination of FAIR best practices among the clinical researchers in Sardinia (Italy). After a testing phase, the registry will be publicly available, while the new model and the source code will be released open source

Soluzioni Open Source per la linearizzazione del problema di integrazione di applicativi nei sistemi informativi ospedalieri

2008-04-17Sardegna Ricerche, Edificio 2, Località Piscinamanna 09010 Pula (CA) - ItaliaPAAL 2008 - Pubblica Amministrazione Aperta e Libera: dalle tecnologie aperte alla libera circolazione dei contenuti digital

High-performance and site-directed in utero electroporation by a triple-electrode probe

In utero electroporation is a powerful tool to transfect and manipulate neural-precursor cells of the rodent parietal cortex and their progeny in vivo. Although this technique can potentially target numerous brain areas, reliability of transfection in some brain regions is low or physical access is limited. Here we present a new in utero electroporation configuration based on the use of three electrodes, the relative position and polarities of which can be adjusted. The technique allows easy access and exceedingly reliable monolateral or bilateral transfection at brain locations that could only be sporadically targeted before. By improvement in the efficiency of the electrical field distribution, demonstrated here by a mathematical simulation, the multi-electrode configuration also extends the developmental timeframe for reliable in utero electroporation, allowing for the first time specific transfection of Purkinje cells in the rat cerebellum

Perforated peptic ulcer (PPU) treatment: an Italian nationwide propensity score-matched cohort study investigating laparoscopic vs open approach

BackgroundPerforated peptic ulcer (PPU) remain a surgical emergency accounting for 37% of all peptic ulcer-related deaths. Surgery remains the standard of care. The benefits of laparoscopic approach have been well-established even in the elderly. However, because of inconsistent results with specific regard to some technical aspects of such technique surgeons questioned the adoption of laparoscopic approach. This leads to choose the type of approach based on personal experience. The aim of our study was to critically appraise the use of the laparoscopic approach in PPU treatment comparing it with open procedure.MethodsA retrospective study with propensity score matching analysis of patients underwent surgical procedure for PPU was performed. Patients undergoing PPU repair were divided into: Laparoscopic approach (LapA) and Open approach (OpenA) groups and clinical-pathological features of patients in the both groups were compared.ResultsA total of 453 patients underwent PPU simple repair. Among these, a LapA was adopted in 49% (222/453 patients). After propensity score matching, 172 patients were included in each group (the LapA and the OpenA). Analysis demonstrated increased operative times in the OpenA [OpenA: 96.4 +/- 37.2 vs LapA 88.47 +/- 33 min, p = 0.035], with shorter overall length of stay in the LapA group [OpenA 13 +/- 12 vs LapA 10.3 +/- 11.4 days p = 0.038]. There was no statistically significant difference in mortality [OpenA 26 (15.1%) vs LapA 18 (10.5%), p = 0.258]. Focusing on morbidity, the overall rate of 30-day postoperative morbidity was significantly lower in the LapA group [OpenA 67 patients (39.0%) vs LapA 37 patients (21.5%) p = 0.002]. When stratified using the Clavien-Dindo classification, the severity of postoperative complications was statistically different only for C-D 1-2.ConclusionsBased on the present study, we can support that laparoscopic suturing of perforated peptic ulcers, apart from being a safe technique, could provide significant advantages in terms of postoperative complications and hospital stay

Extensive sensitivity analysis of Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators by an Automatic Sensing Test procedure

An Automatic Sensing Test methodology, in the following indicated as AST, is presented in this paper. The AST permits an extensive sensitivity analysis of implantable cardiac medical devices, among which Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD). The AST is designed to evaluate the thresholds of the ICD sensing, considering different heart rates. In this way, it is possible to take into account different patient’s states of health. Consequently, it is possible to obtain a comprehensive assessment of ICD sensing performance. The AST is fielded through an optimized automatic measurement system implemented by means of an accurate general-purpose hardware platform. The procedure is based on dedicated virtual instruments. The developed environment is LabVIEW, by the National Instruments. The characterization process is based on an extensive experimental validation and field testing, which have been carried out by employing different ICD sensitivity settings and in two different scenarios: a 3- meter-high semi anechoic Radio Frequency Chamber, which is suited for electromagnetic pre-compliance test due to proper shielding against external electromagnetic noise, and an unshielded environment, which is more common for ICD operation. Detailed results are shown and discussed. They prove the validity of the proposed AST in both environments, in terms of a more extensive ICD characterization than that achievable by the Sensitivity Test described in the international standards, which is the starting point of the proposed procedure

Business Process Analysis and Simulation: An Industrial Application

Analysis and automation of business processes are a relevant topic in Industry 4.0. This document describes a framework called BP-M* for the analysis, restructuring and implementation of business processes, starting with the creation of a process model and ending with the implementation of the process itself on a workflow management system. The BP-M* framework has been applied to a real case study, the production of fabrics for the collection that will be distributed worldwide by an Italian woolen mill. This process was analyzed and automated, providing the company with useful information to simplify processes and support human operators