Description, validation, and performance characteristics of a new computer-automated sperm motility analysis system.

A computer-automated sperm motility assay (CASMA) system has been developed that provides a rapid and accurate analysis of multiple sperm movement parameters and a new measure of linearity, the linear deviation angle. CASMA provides objective, unbiased sampling and accurate quantitation of the movement characteristics of 200 sperm cells in 20 min. It consists of a microscope-mounted video camera, a high-resolution video disk recorder, a video digitizer/memory board mounted in an IBM 9000 microcomputer, and newly developed software. After manual recording, at 60 frames/s, of the video sequences (takes) of sperm suspensions, each take is automatically played back frame by frame, digitized, and stored in video memory. The software searches each frame, recognizes sperm cells, randomly selects a preset number for analysis, and traces each cell through the sequence to generate sperm "tracks" that are then stored in disk memory. This process is repeated for each take. Analysis of the stored tracks of each take yields the mean +/- SEM of the standard sperm motility parameters: percent motile (%M), curvilinear velocity (VC), net velocity (Vn), position-averaged velocity (Va), linear index (Vn/Va), progressiveness ration (Vn/Vc), and curvilinear progressiveness ratio (Va/Vc). Additionally, CASMA allows measurement of the linear deviation angle, a more direct measure of the linearity of sperm movement. For statistical comparisons, multiple takes can be considered either as replicates or separate experimental determinations. Finally, for more detailed analysis, each individually stored track, with its associated parameters, or histogram distributions of all sperm for each parameter can be displayed and printed. The performance of CASMA was evaluated by comparison of CASMA-determined movement parameters with manually determined values derived from the same sperm cells in the same video sequence and by comparison with published values determined using microcinematographic techniques. In each case, the CASMA values were essentially identical to those determined by manual measurements. Finally, CASMA accurately quantitates the linearity of sperm movement, a characteristic previously determined only by much more time-consuming methods. CASMA is a rapid and accurate system for measuring washed bull sperm motility and has reliably analyzed monkey and elephant sperm. The system has the potential to quantitate motility equally well with sperm from any species that have similar sperm head size.

Pay attention to the "minor" details of computer inventory.

This article discusses some of the problems one hospital encountered in going from an effective manual system of inventory control to a computerized system. Problems occurred because of a lack of attention to minor details. The hospital had difficulty standardizing abbreviations, selecting and assigning proper units of measure, assigning identification (catalog) numbers and selecting concise product descriptions to enter on the computers. Ridding the system of these frustrating, 'insignificant' items took a lot of work and about 18 months of corrective action. Although the system works fairly well now, working hours would have been more productive had more attention been paid to details. Anyone contemplating the move from a manual to a computerized system, or from one system to another, should read this article.

New developments at BIONET.

BIONET has made considerable progress in developing communication links among molecular biologists and biochemists worldwide. We describe these efforts and also note the many new enhancements to the BIONET system itself.

Research information systems are path to high-quality healthcare.

Research is the key to dealing with the major issues facing the healthcare industry. And an information system for organization and management research is a necessary component in healthcare organizations. Research information systems should support action, not theory. Their purpose is to educate information users about their system of services; provide data for planning, developing, directing, and evaluating both technical and management work; and provide a basis for "steering" the program. Four key subjects for a research information system are service activities, patient characteristics, costs and budget, and outcomes. The goal in developing a research information system is to integrate the various types of information into a format that provides the information for management use at a given time. Development of a research information system requires concentrating on the design and the process of developing and using the data for action research. Each design step requires an analysis of existing and future research requirements, of what clinical and managerial leaders would like to know. Identifying users is important, since they will ultimately judge the adequacy of the system. Each user has to make decisions based on the data. Such decisions include setting goals, forming policy, organizing activities, and budgeting.

Taking the next step: automation of incomplete record processing.

The following article presents a plan to guide practitioners through the conversion from a manual to an automated system to manage record completion in order to reduce the numbers of incomplete records, maintain physician support, and maximize departmental efficiency.