Databases computerised

Bond et al. [791 ] studied strategies for trace metal determination in seawater by ASV using a computerised multi-time domain measurement method. A microcomputer-based system allowed the reliability of the determination of trace amounts of metals to be estimated. Peak height, width, and potential were measured as a function of time and concentration to construct the database. Measurements were made with a potentiostat polarographic analyser connected to the microcomputer and a hanging drop mercury electrode. The presence of surfactants, which presented a matrix problem, was detected via time domain dependent results and nonlinearity of the calibration. A decision to pretreat the samples could then be made. In the presence of surfactants, neither a direct calibration mode nor a linear standard addition method yielded precise data. Alternative ways to eliminate the interferences based either on theoretical considerations or destruction of the matrix needed to be considered. 

The advent of computerised databases that link the prescribed drug to diagnosis and record patient histories over extended periods provides another method by which the incidence of the more common ADEs may be estimated. 

In the United States, there are several computerised healthcare systems, sometimes referred to as multipurpose databases, which have been used for post-marketing surveillance purposes. The best-known include Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound, Kaiser-Permanente, Medicaid, Rhode Island and the Saskatchewan database in Canada. ... 

The second way in which the databases may be used is to identify all patients on a particular drug or with a particular clinical condition and then to follow them up over a defined period to determine what clinical events subsequently occur. For all practical purposes this method is a cohort study conducted through a computerised database, using screens and electronic data transmission rather than paper. 

Since the first edition of this book, developments have continued in this area, particularly with respect to computerised databases as a source of detailed and reliable data for use in the pharmacoeconomic assessment of new drugs. The creation of specialised databases, such as IT IV Insight, which contains the detailed clinical records of about 2500 patients who are either... 

Linnarsson R. Drug interactions in primary health care. A retrospective database study and its implications for the design of a computerised decision support system. Scand J Primary Health Care 1993 11 181-6. 

All major chemical companies, and most teaching establishments, now have a computerised stock-control system which enables information about on-site availability and cost of chemicals to be rapidly obtained. Many companies are now linked to a central database (e.g. Chemquest , Pergabase Inc.), which provides information (via text or graphics) on the world-wide commercial availability (from over fifty chemical catalogues) and on relative costs, etc., of fine chemicals. The hazards in use and disposal of all chemicals (see Section 2.3) may be readily checked from the catalogues of major chemical suppliers and other important sources. 

Edvardsen, 0., Kristiansen, K. Computerisation of mutant data The tinyGRAP mutant database. 7TMjournal, 1997, 6, 1-6. 

Implementing emd maintciining the Medsafe computerised databases and Internet web site. 

Hall GC, Luscombe DK, Walker SR. Postmarketing surveillance using a computerised general practice database. Pharm Med 1988 2 345-51. 

Interesting advances have been made in TLC such as an automated development chamber which improves reproducibility, a cutting technology which can be used with pre-coated plates, a densitometer for quantitative evaluation of plates, as well as new computerised application databases [36]. TLC plates are getting smaller in size (surface) which leads to an increase in elution speed and to a decrease in solvent consumption. 

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