Updates

GIDEON is updated every several days and each update includes a summary of what’s new. It consists of  3 sections: Index, What’s New and Maps.

• Index: Left side tree with the most current and prior updates sorted by date.
• What’s New: The list of items updated with links directly to the relevant content.
• Maps: A map that displays the Outbreak (red dot) and Country (blue dot) notes that have been updated. Clicking on the dots and the relevant disease links directly to the note.

Updates was formerly a link called “What’s New”. A summary automatically appears in blog posts and on twitter, so please subscribe for the latest updates.

Contents

Contents is a table of contents and statistical summary of all the GIDEON content, that is current with each update. It consists of  3 sections: Content Lists, Item content and Synonyms.

• Content lists: Content summary and GIDEON modules and sub-modules in a tree format
• Item content: For each item in the tree, displays content list. For example, Infectious Diseases – Diseases, displays a list of all the Infectious Diseases with links directly to those diseases.
• Synonyms: Shows lists of related synonyms for item if they exist. In the example above, all the Infectious Disease synonyms are listed, linked to the diseases in GIDEON. In the case of Drugs and Vaccines, the trade names are listed.

Contents and Updates will display in GIDEON’s application if you’re logged in, otherwise as part of the website.
Some screenshots below:

• New tabs
• Suggestions
• Dynamic identification
• Usability improvements

New tabs

The new tabs in Microbiology replace the older radio buttons and make it easier to reach each function. For each category: Bacteria, Mycobacteria and Yeasts there is easy access to Identify or Lists.

Suggestions

GIDEON’s Microbiology Compare function, until now, has ranked phenotypic tests which are most likely to impact the Identification list. Now, the top four tests which are most likely to focus and shorten the list of possible organisms are displayed and dynamically updated as each new test result is entered. Clickable boxes which allow the user to enter a “yes”, “no” or “unknown”, appear and enlarge each time the mouse passes near a test.

Dynamic identification

The Identify button has been eliminated! Now, the Identification list is automatically updated as test results are entered. This feature demonstrates the effects of each new test result as it is entered.

The familiar buttons: Compare, Why Not, Open case, Save case, Remove All, Print, Email are all in the Identification list area.

Usability improvements

Updated lists

The organism lists have been updated to extend the length of the screen. The organisms can be selected by clicking the check boxes to their left and then Compared. Clicking on expands the list of synonyms.

Collapsible windows

Windows in Identify, such as Suggestions and Phenotypic Tests can be minimized and hidden. For example to not see suggestions, click on the minimize button  to the left title.

Mouse overs
More mouse-overs have been added: Clickable boxes expand as you mouse over them, and display clear symbols to select “yes” or “no.”

Phenotype
You can now click on the tests  in the Phenotype window.

Quick sorting
Identification results can be sorted alphabetically or by probability easily by clicking the column title.

Window resizing
Changing vertical window size expands size of Phenotypic tests and Identification list sub-windows in Identify and Organism list. This is a great feature for larger monitors.

Previous version
Click “Original Microbiology” to use the older interface.

Update: See video demonstration

Wishing you all a happy 2010!

• Suggestions
• Dynamic diagnosis
• Usability improvements

Suggestions
Until now, GIDEON’s Diagnosis Compare function has ranked signs and symptoms which are most likely to impact the Differential Diagnosis list. Now, the top four clinical findings which are most likely to focus and shorten the list of possible diseases are displayed and dynamically updated as each new sign or symptom is entered. Clickable boxes which allow the user to enter a “yes”, “no” or “unknown”, appear and enlarge each time the mouse passes near a perspective finding.

Dynamic diagnosis

The Diagnose button has been eliminated! Now, the differential diagnosis list updates automatically as you enter signs and symptoms. This feature demonstrates the effects of each new sign or symptom as it is entered.
The First case scenario list still appears below the diagnosis list.
The familiar buttons: Compare, Why Not, Open case, Save case, Remove All, Print, Email are all in the Diagnosis Results area.

Usability improvements

Country and incubation period in symptom list
Country name and Incubation period have been appended to the Clinical Presentation list.  Now, whenever you indicate a country name, or dates of exposure, the Differential diagnosis list instantly re-adjusts accordingly.

Collapsible windows
Windows, such as Suggestions and Clinical Summary can be minimized and hidden. For example to not see suggestions, click on the minimize button to the left title.

Mouse overs
More mouse-overs have been added: Clickable boxes expand as you mouse over them, and display clear symbols to select “yes” or “no.”

Clinical Summary
You can now click on the signs and symptoms in the Clinical Summary. Clicking on Country will display “Worldwide”. Clicking again displays the country.

Quick sorting
Diagnosis results can be sorted alphabetically or by probability easily by clicking the column title.

Resize window
Changing vertical window size expands size of Clinical presentation and Diagnosis results sub-windows. This is a great feature for larger monitors.

Previous version
Click “Original diagnosis” to use the older interface.

For comparison of key clinical and epidemiological features of infectious diseases, in the Diseases tab, click on a disease (step 1 in the image below), and – while holding down the control button – click on other diseases of your choice. Now click on the Compare button (step 2).

Choosing diseases to compare

The following chart will appear:

Disease comparison

Note that an explanation of symbols and further descriptive information regarding each disease appear at the bottom of the chart, in addition for icons used to print or transmit the chart itself.

Similar charts can be prepared by following identical steps in the Drugs and Microbiology modules:

Drug comparison

Drug comparison symbols

Pathogen comparison

Ex Libris continues to expand the MetaLib Knowledge Base with valuable GIDEON research resources

The world-leading GIDEON medical database can now be searched via MetaLib

Jerusalem, Israel, and Los Angeles, CA – July 26, 2007 — Ex Libris™ Group and GIDEON Informatics have today announced that following a successful beta-testing period carried out by MetaLib® customers and Ex Libris staff, the renowned GIDEON (Global Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology Online Network) database has been added to the MetaLib Central Knowledge Base (CKB). Researchers will now be able to use the MetaLib interface to search the GIDEON database for medical resources that aid in diagnosing and referencing a wide range of ailments. By making relevant information more accessible, MetaLib helps reduce information overload—thus increasing the efficiency with which medical problems can be managed and resolved.

Ex Libris remains focused on continually enhancing the MetaLib Central Knowledge Base. Earlier this year, TechXtra and PerX, two major engineering and technology resources, were added to the MetaLib CKB, greatly expanding the range of cross-searchable engineering, mathematics, and computing resources in the MetaLib gateway and metasearch system.

“We are very excited to partner with Ex Libris, an information market leader, and provide an integrated search solution for our mutual customers,” commented Uri Blackman, CEO of GIDEON Informatics, Inc.

Tal Ayalon, MetaLib Knowledge Base team leader, noted, “We are proud to add GIDEON to our rapidly growing MetaLib Central Knowledge Base. The inclusion of GIDEON, one of the most prominent health and medicine databases in the world, reflects the Ex Libris commitment to optimize the research process by making the finest possible resources available to researchers around the world.”

About GIDEON Informatics:

GIDEON Informatics develops and markets point-of-care medical-decision support applications that help reduce diagnostic errors. GIDEON, the company’s flagship product, is a comprehensive, easy-to-use, interactive Web-based infectious-disease knowledge management tool. It helps medical personnel at hundreds of institutions worldwide diagnose and treat infectious diseases and identify microorganisms, including bioterrorism agents. GIDEON Informatics is a privately held corporation headquartered in Los Angeles, California.

For additional information on GIDEON Informatics, see www.gideononline.com.

About MetaLib:

The Ex Libris MetaLib gateway and metasearch system enables users to access their institution’s e-collections, obtain relevant services, and work in a personalized environment. Using the easily customized MetaLib user interface or the user interface of another application tightly integrated with MetaLib, library patrons can conduct a metasearch across heterogeneous resources or link to the resources’ native interface.

The flexible MetaLib infrastructure accommodates both single institutions and consortia. Web-based administration tools enable librarians to quickly activate the full range of information resources that they offer their users. Integrated with the MetaLib system is the award-winning SFX® OpenURL-compliant link resolver, which provides users with context-sensitive linking to services that their institution has defined and customized on the basis of its e-collections and policies.

For additional information on MetaLib, see www.exlibrisgroup.com/metalib.htm.

About Ex Libris Group:

Ex Libris Group is a leading worldwide developer and provider of high-performance applications for libraries, information centers, and researchers, with installations around the globe. Ex Libris Group’s flagship ALEPH® 500 and Voyager® integrated library solutions are in use at over 3,000 sites worldwide. Other products from the Ex Libris suite, deployed at more than 1,300 sites, focus on the digital library and offer state-of-the-art, user-centric solutions for managing electronic resources and digital assets and providing informed access to them.

For additional information on Ex Libris Group, see www.exlibrisgroup.com.

Traditionally GIDEON has been used by Travel Medicine practitioners, who have loved the detailed country information for the various diseases affecting travelers. Their main suggestion was to add more pre-travel information that could be provided to travelers at consultations. We’re happy to announce that we listened and have now launched a new Travel tab in the Infectious Diseases module.

The left side of the Travel section includes the general Region of travel in the upper box, and specific countries in the lower box:

Selecting a specific country lists relevant information in the right-hand column of the Travel section.   The general pre-travel information is provided by region and is divided into Professional, Traveler, and Diseases sections:

The Professional tab is for health practitioners and is based on content from the CDC Yellow book. Links are provided directly to relevant disease information in GIDEON:

The Traveler tab is traveler friendly content from the CDC Traveler’s health destination guide. Links are provided to additional information from the CDC:

The Diseases tab displays the list of all the relevant diseases that have additional information for travelers to the selected country. The content is presented briefly as a “mouse over” and can be accessed more thoroughly by linking to actual country note for the specific disease:

As with all the information in GIDEON, you can print and email each section information. This will be very useful to serve your travelers that want a hard copy of the information or a soft copy via email.

“Traveling with GIDEON” (video) is a new case of the month that provides examples of how to use the Travel tab.

In the Diagnosis module, the mouse-over description for symptoms will display the code, if available. For example, to the left is the description for “Jaundice”.

The General tab of diseases in Epidemiology will display the ICD9 and ICD10 codes below the list of disease synonyms. Synonyms and codes for Babesiosis:

The codes have been integrated both into diagnosis and text search. So if you want to diagnose an infectious disease based on the ICD9 and/or ICD10 codes for symptoms, just enter them in diagnosis search and click the button.

Likewise if you’re searching for a disease based on the ICD9 or ICD10 code, enter the code in text search and click.