Computerisation of data in a sickle cell clinic - abstract

A computer system has been set up at the Medical Research Council Laboratories, Kingston, Jamaica, to assist in patient management and statistical analysis of data collected from over 4000 patients with sickle-cell disease. The records are stored in a patient data-base which includes personal data, relative cross-referencing information, haematological and clinical observations and a directory of stored sera samples. The information is processed in three main stages: the collection and editing; storage and maintenace; and retrieval and usage. Computer programmes have also been written to show the attendance pattern of children in the "cohort" clinic, which assists in maintaining regular follow-up. The computer system has become an integral part of the work of the Unit and offers a flexible approach to research (AU)

The use of the computer in abstracting surgical literature for small-group discussions at the postgraduate level - abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the potential value of a personal computer as an aid to discussion in postgraduate seminars, small group teaching, and patient management. Articles from the journals to which the author personally subscribes -Ann. Roy. Col. Surg., Surg. Gyn. & Obstet., Surgery, The Lancet and the West Ind. Med. J. - have been personally abstracted from 1980 to 1986. The data were recorded on diskettes on an IBM Personal Computer at home. The information can be used on any compatible terminal, by the Author, or any general surgeon, resident, house officer, or undergraduate student. Additional material can be added in a department by any member of staff who could recall it at any time, if suitable equipment is available, The information is entirely personalised and contains only that which the author considers pertinent at the time of input. The use of audio-visual aids in the dissemination of medical information is becoming increasingly important. Management of information using the computer is becoming a requirement in teaching and learning at all levels. The plans for the Faculty of Medical Sciences at Mount Hope entail a liberal use of audio-visual aids. The tecniques that will be displayed in this poster will clearly demonstrate its great advantage (AU)

Albumin metabolism: effect of the nutritional state and the dietary protein intake

Nine malnourished and nine children who had recovered from malnutrition were given a single injection of albumin-131I and were studied during consecutive periods in which the dietary protein was changed. Malnourished children had significantly lower catabolic rates of albumin than had recovered children on the same protein intake. Both nutritional groups, however, showed a progressive fall in catabolic rate after 3-5 days on a low protein diet (0.7-1.0g/kg per day), and the maximum effect was seen in the 2nd wk of low protein feeding. The catabolic rate could return to normal within 3wk in a malnourished child fed 4g of protein/kg per day. The albumin synthetic rate was measured by a computer technique suitable for nonsteady-state conditions. The synthyetic rate in the malnourished groups (101mg/kg per day) fed on a low protein diet was significantly lower than the rate in the recovered groups (148mg/kg per day). The synthetic rate responded rapidly to a change in diet; when the rate fell, the intavascular albumin mass was maintained by two compensating mechanisms: (1) a net transfer of extravascular albumin into the intravascular pool; and (2) by a delayed fall in the catabolic rate. The net transfer of albumin into the intravascular compartment diminished as the catabolic rate fell. Adaptation to a low protein diet was associated with: (a) low synthetic and catabolic rates of albumin; (b) a reduced extravascular albumin mass; and (c) a capacity for a rapid return to normal in the synthetic rate when the dietary protein was increased (AU)