KnowBaSICS-M: an ontology-based system for semantic management of medical problems and computerised algorithmic solutions

Comput Methods Programs Biomed. 2007 Oct;88(1):39-51. doi: 10.1016/j.cmpb.2007.06.005. Epub 2007 Aug 24.

Abstract

In this paper, an ontology-based system (KnowBaSICS-M) is presented for the semantic management of Medical Computational Problems (MCPs), i.e., medical problems and computerised algorithmic solutions. The system provides an open environment, which: (1) allows clinicians and researchers to retrieve potential algorithmic solutions pertinent to a medical problem and (2) enables incorporation of new MCPs into its underlying Knowledge Base (KB). KnowBaSICS-M is a modular system for MCP acquisition and discovery that relies on an innovative ontology-based model incorporating concepts from the Unified Medical Language System (UMLS). Information retrieval (IR) is based on an ontology-based Vector Space Model (VSM) that estimates the similarity among user-defined MCP search criteria and registered MCP solutions in the KB. The results of a preliminary evaluation and specific examples of use are presented to illustrate the benefits of the system. KnowBaSICS-M constitutes an approach towards the construction of an integrated and manageable MCP repository for the biomedical research community.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Access to Information*
  • Algorithms
  • Artificial Intelligence*
  • Biomedical Research / organization & administration*
  • Decision Support Systems, Clinical / instrumentation*
  • Greece
  • Humans
  • Information Storage and Retrieval
  • Knowledge Bases*
  • Semantics*
  • Software*