Computer programs in biomedicine最新文献

A statistical package for the Apple II family of computers is described. An example of its use is given.

The new generation of microcomputers has brought computing power previously restricted to mainframe and supermini computers within the reach of individual scientific laboratories. Microcomputers can now provide computing speeds rivaling mainframes and computational accuracies exceeding those available in most computer centers. Inexpensive memory makes possible the transfer to microcomputers of software packages developed for mainframes and tested by years of experience. Combinations of high level languages and assembler subroutines permit the efficient design of specialized applications programs. Microprocessor architecture is approaching that of superminis, with coprocessors providing major contributions to computing power. The combined result of these developments is a major and perhaps revolutionary increase in the computing power now available to scientists.

The two programs described here are designed to be used on the System III Image Analyser which partially automate the counting process of autoradiography and present the data in histogram form. The system has the advantages of low cost, accuracy and reproducibility. Although the programs are developed for grain counting, they can be easily adapted to perform other particle counting processes using the same system.

In the study of electrophysiological phenomena, the signals to be investigated are often reduced to sampled time series or point processes. Nowadays, the measuring equipment frequently includes one or more micro- and/or minicomputers which perform the data acquisition (including, e.g., A-D conversion and interval measurements) and the subsequent data processing and analysis. This paper describes the structured organization of data measurement and analysis of electrophysiological data performed by a modular software program implemented on a laboratory minicomputer. The program is used in our clinical laboratory by a number of research teams with different experimental objectives. The input data structure for the program has a standardized format, comprising multiplexed data channels preceded by a 256 entry parameter block containing general processing information and specific information concerning the analyses performed. The tasks carried out by the program are the calculation of distributions and correlations, digital filtering and estimation of spectra. The program can easily be extended by writing new software modules.

A microcomputer program for the analysis of complex action spectra is described. This program can take data gathered in a series of spectral ranges and fit them to a model consisting of multiple pigments, varying pigment concentrations, and absorption before the photosensitive pigment. Chi square and correlation analysis are performed on the final fit.

A calculator program package is given for the computation of the parameters of two different pharmacokinetic models: the ‘one compartment open model’ with first order absorption, and the ‘two compartment open model’ with rapid intravenous injection, using the peeling method. If parameters are known, simulation of these systems can be done for single and repetitive doses. The package includes an area under curve (AUC) program for the evaluation of clearance. The algorithms were applied for TI 58,59 and HP 97 calculators and they can be widely used in clinical practice.

A program using a simplified method to compute estimates of binding parameters in a system with two independent classes of binding sites is presented. An iterative method is used to approximate step-by-step the two lines describing the binding activities separately, starting from a curvilinear Scatchard or Hofstee plot. This method is designed for use on microcomputers with graphic facilities and on programmable hand-held calculators.

A program is described which performs automatic dosimetry. The measured data is stored in such a way that it can be used immediately by a treatment planning system.