LAMPYRIS 101
A computer program
for the histopathological diagnosis of inflammatory skin diseases
What
is LAMPYRIS 101?
LAMPYRIS 101 is an "expert system" aimed at the histopathological
diagnosys of inflammatory skin diseases, based on a Diseases DataBase with
digital images, a Search Engine and a Diagnostic Algorithm.
LAMPYRIS 101 is an easy-to-use program for Windows PC platform, which includes:
•
Hundreds of diseases with thousands of digital images.
• A three level structure: Pattern, SubPattern,
Disease.
• Search engine capabilities using single terms as well as predefined
histological characters.
• A selective algorithm based on simple questions.
• Comparison of histological characters between two diseases.
• DataBase maintenance functions, allowing to change the contents of
the Diseases DataBase, receive DataBase updates,
and even to create customised ones!
...and more!!!
On a single CD-ROM you have the program, the database, and 4800 histopathological
digital images.
The program is based on the concept of histological reaction patterns, originally
conceived by Hermann Pinkus and later so masterly brought into full bloom
by Bernie Ackerman. The system uses a schematic algorithmic pattern approach,
which for a software tool it is a perfect way to file and retrieve all necessary
information about inflammatory skin disorders. In fact, LAMPYRIS 101 uses
a three-level data structure based on Patterns containing several SubPatterns
regrouping different diseases.
The
authors, in one year full of stimulating discussions and fruitful co-operation,
have developed a program which helps its users to store and retrieve the plethora
of details associated with dermatopathological concepts and entities, also
offering a new flexibility exceeding the possibilities of a static algorithmic
program.
In an evolutionary way the system would grow dynamically with its user's insights,
observations, and even modifications of defined histological entities: in
short, a customisable, highly flexible computer based diagnostic system.
What can I do using LAMPYRIS 101?
You can instantly find a disease, read all its data including the histopathological features of Differential Diagnosis, and have a look at the corresponding pictures.
You can split the screen window in two to compare the descriptions, the histopathological characters and the pictures of the diseases you have selected.
Its Diagnostic Engine allows the user to make any kind of search. By applying the search mode of the system, one may match eosinophils with plasma cells and spongiosis, and immediately access precise information, which otherwise would have taken hours to retrieve from indexes, long chapters, journal articles, personal files, and slide boxes.
Let's
make an example: we want to know which diseases are presenting "eosinophils
in papillary dermis"; just select the histopathological character from
the list of histopathological features.
Your screen will immediately show the list of diseases matching the histological
feature you have chosen. You may also see the Pattern / SubPattern pathway
the disease belongs to, and you can rule out diseases step by step, obtaining
a very short, selective list of items.
For
those who are not so skilled in histopathology of inflammatory skin dermatoses,
LAMPYRIS 101 offers a special function: the Diagnostic
Algorithm pattern analysis.
By answering to a sequence of very simple questions, the program helps you
to find the right Pattern and SubPattern pathway of the slide you are looking
at the microscope.
The system follows an algorithm tree and rules out the Patterns and SubPatterns that do not match your answers. At any time you can check the remaining diseases or activate the Diagnostic Engine that will search through the histopathological features of the diseases that you selected through the algorithm so far.
We also wanted to enable contributions from colleagues all over the world, such as a pathologist living in Bora Bora to file data and pictures of whatever new exotic dermatitis that was never been observed before, or a Russian dermatopathologist from St. Petersburg to create a new pattern such as "panniculitis with dense lichenoid inflammation", archiving their personal histopathological criteria for further use.
LAMPYRIS
101 allows you to make changes!
You
can:
•
Modify the features of all the filed diseases.
• Add or delete diseases.
• Add or delete histopathological Patterns and SubPatterns.
• Add new histological criteria and store new digital pictures into your
personal database.
• Change the algorithm structure.
• Change the position of a disease from a Pattern / SubPattern path to
another one.
Finally, if you wish, you may build your own diagnostic systems for any conceivable field of pathology, just by using the existing LAMPYRIS framework.
Even
for the computer neophyte LAMPYRIS 101 makes it feasible to start with
a blank sheet of paper and to build an expert system for neuropathology, hematopathology
and many others, in a short time and with minimum effort. It is an ideal tool
for Self-Assessment purposes.
LAMPYRIS
101 Team - Via Cimarosa n.26 - 20144 - Milan, Italy
Phone +39-02-43912293
or +39-335-6270393
Fax +39-02-43400355
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