JP5053586B2 - Molecular diagnostic support apparatus and molecular diagnostic support program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention is a system for supporting diagnosis (molecular diagnosis) of a disease applying molecular imaging (molecular imaging) technology, and presents information necessary for quickly identifying the cause of the disease, It relates to systems that support the identification of causes.

  In recent years, with the rapid advancement of diagnostic imaging techniques, the expression of functional, physiological and morphological expressions in living bodies can be grasped at a much earlier stage than before. In addition to diagnostic imaging, identification of causative genes for genetic diseases is progressing with the completion of analysis of human gene information. As a result, many diseases induce functional, physiological, and morphological changes in vivo due to gene changes / expression, production of certain proteins, and abnormal production balance of substances in the body. It is becoming known to cause. Furthermore, recent advances in biotechnology have led to such diseases as gene expression and diseases caused by proteins and in vivo substances, such as the Northern blot method using labeled antisense, the Western blot method using antibody labeling, immunohistochemical staining, In-vitro molecular biological analysis techniques such as gene chips will gradually allow you to accurately identify the original cause of the disease and present the correct treatment, or predict high-risk disease It is being crushed.

  In this trend, molecular imaging technology using PET / SPECT, MRI, light, etc. is expected as a technical item that enables ultra-early diagnosis (for example, see Non-Patent Document 1). This technology is used for non-invasive in vivo observation of molecular dynamics in vivo by labeling mRNA, proteins and antibodies, and images molecular biological changes that were previously difficult to obtain only in vitro. Can be captured. In addition, in this technology, it is not necessary to take out a target tissue / cell with a biopsy or the like and perform a test, or to collect a blood or the like and perform a test. There is a merit that it can be grasped three-dimensionally, and it has the potential to completely change the diagnosis such as conventional histopathological examination and blood examination.

In addition, as a well-known document relevant to this application, there exist the following, for example.
Weissleder R, et al .: Molecular Imaging, Radiology, 219: pp316-333, 2001 JP 2004-267273 A

  As shown in FIG. 8, the expression of a certain functional / physiological / morphological expression is accompanied by gene expression as a time-series cause and production of protein as a result. Molecular imaging can capture the phenomenon before these expressions (ie, symptoms) occur. The expression of one expression does not correspond to one disease flow (causal relationship of disease dynamics) on a one-to-one basis, and usually a plurality of disease flows can be considered before reaching the symptom. In addition, one symptom may cause another symptom or flow, and these various factors are closely intertwined to form a disease expression. In order to analyze these disease dynamics, pathologists and molecular biologists have traditionally evaluated histopathological and molecular biology using optical techniques centered on microscopes, fluorescence optical labeling techniques, and spectroscopic techniques. Histopathological examination is performed. In addition to the current situation, it is expected that in vivo molecular imaging will become possible in the future. In addition, when molecular biological information can be obtained by image diagnosis as the technology becomes widespread, it is expected that radiologists will select labeling agents and diagnostic methods necessary for the diagnosis. The However, since new labeling drugs are being developed one after another, it is difficult for radiologists who do not specialize in molecular biology to grasp all of them and select the optimal diagnostic drugs and diagnostic methods. It can be said.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides molecular information that enables accurate and efficient molecular diagnosis by presenting information necessary for tracing the cause of a disease and predicting symptoms that may occur in the future. An object is to provide a support device and a molecular diagnosis support program.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention takes the following measures.

The molecular diagnostic support apparatus according to an embodiment includes an acquisition unit that acquires search information, a first database that stores a plurality of disease flows indicating a causal relationship of disease dynamics, and a plurality of molecules for specifying a disease flow A second database for storing information relating to a diagnostic method; and searching the first database, extracting a plurality of disease flows related to the search information, searching the second database, and extracting the second database Search means for extracting information on the molecular diagnostic method for identifying a disease flow of a predetermined patient from a plurality of disease flows, information on the extracted plurality of disease flows and the extracted molecular diagnostic method based on the bets, an information processing control means for generating a molecular diagnosis support information for use in molecular imaging, presenting hand for presenting the molecular diagnosis support information When, those having a.
The molecular diagnostic support program according to an embodiment is a program for causing a computer to generate and present molecular diagnostic support information, and has a causal relationship between an acquisition function for causing the computer control means to acquire search information and disease dynamics A first database that stores a plurality of disease flows indicating a plurality of disease flows that are related to the search information and that stores information related to a plurality of molecular diagnostic methods for identifying the disease flows. A search function for searching the database of 2 and extracting information on the molecular diagnostic method for identifying a disease flow of a predetermined patient from the extracted disease flows, and the extracted disease flows And molecular diagnostic support information for use in molecular imaging based on the extracted information on the molecular diagnostic method. And an information processing control function to generate,
A presentation function for presenting the molecular diagnosis support information is realized.

  As described above, according to the present invention, a molecular diagnosis support apparatus and a molecular diagnosis support program that enable accurate and efficient molecular diagnosis by presenting information necessary for tracing the cause of a disease and predicting symptoms that may occur in the future. Can be realized.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, components having substantially the same function and configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be given only when necessary.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a molecular diagnosis support system according to this embodiment. As shown in the figure, this molecular diagnosis support system includes a molecular diagnosis support device 1, an electronic medical record server 50, a RIS / PACS (Radiology Information System) / Picture Archiving and Communication System (medical image storage communication). System)) server 51, PIS / LIS (Pathology Information System / Laboratory Information System) server 52, and external database 53.

  The electronic medical record server 50 stores an electronic medical record generated by a medical report creation device or the like. The stored electronic medical chart can be searched based on the patient ID, examination items, and time information.

  The RIS / PACS server 51 includes an X-ray CT (Computed Tomography) apparatus (shown as “CT” in FIG. 1), an MRI (Magnetic Resonance imaging) apparatus (shown as “MRI” in FIG. 1), and an X-ray diagnostic apparatus. (Indicated as “XR” (X-Ray imaging) in FIG. 1), a mammography apparatus (indicated as “MG” (Mammography) in FIG. 1), a digital radiography apparatus (“DR” (Digital Radiography in FIG. 1) ), And image information and diagnostic information from an inspection device such as a computed radiography device (shown as “CR” (Computed Radiography) in FIG. 1) via a LAN, and a predetermined storage area ( (Not shown). Further, the RIS / PACS server 51 transmits image information, diagnostic information, and the like via a LAN in response to requests from various devices such as the molecular diagnostic support device 1. Further, the RIS / PACS server 51 may store not only image data but also examination-related information, order information, report information, and the like, and is configured by a single server or a plurality of servers in cooperation.

  The PIS / LIS server 52 accumulates and stores incidental diagnosis information in a predetermined storage area (not shown). Here, incidental diagnosis information is used as incidental information of diagnosis information, and includes personal history information, family history information, histopathological examination information, electron microscope diagnosis information, fluorescence / near infrared spectroscopy information, blood This information includes at least one of various types of test information such as test information, DNA test information, antibody / protein reaction test information, and marker test information. This incidental diagnosis information can be searched based on any patient ID, diagnosis information, and the like, and may be included in the electronic medical record server 50, the RIS / PACS server 51, and the external database 53 in some cases. The PIS / LIS server 52 is configured by a single server or a combination of a plurality of servers.

  The external database 53 is a database existing in the network outside the hospital, and stores various information such as image data.

  The molecular diagnosis support apparatus 1 generates information for supporting molecular diagnosis (molecular diagnosis support information) and displays it in a predetermined form. The generation of this molecular diagnosis support information will be described in detail later.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the molecular diagnosis support apparatus 1. As shown in the figure, the information processing control unit 10, operation unit 12, report creation unit 13, order creation unit 14, display unit 15, communication I / F 20, search information acquisition unit 21, evaluation processing unit 22, search control unit 30, a search unit 31, and a database unit 32.

  The information processing control unit 10 performs overall control of each component of the molecular diagnosis support apparatus 1 statically and dynamically. In particular, the information processing control unit 10 generates molecular diagnosis support information using information received from the search control unit 30 in a molecular diagnosis support process described later.

  The operation unit 12 includes various switches, buttons, a trackball, a mouse, a keyboard, and the like for incorporating various instructions, condition settings, various search information, and the like from the operator into the molecular diagnosis support apparatus 1.

  The report creation unit 13 creates a diagnosis report according to an input from the operation unit 12 based on, for example, a result of molecular diagnosis.

  The order creation unit 14 creates an order related to a predetermined reagent or the like included in the molecular diagnosis support information or an image inspection order as necessary. The created order is transmitted to the dedicated trader server or the RIS / PACS server 51 via the communication I / F 20 automatically or in accordance with an instruction from the user.

  The display unit 15 displays various information input screens, various images, electronic medical records, molecular diagnosis support information described later, and the like in a predetermined form.

  The communication I / F 20 transmits / receives various information from the electronic medical chart 50, RIS / PACS 51, PIS / LIS 52, external database 53, etc. according to the instruction input by the operator from the input device 11 or the keyboard 12, etc. Provide to the acquisition unit 21.

  The search information acquisition unit 21 acquires search information from the electronic medical record server 50, the RIS / PACS server 51, the PIS / LIS server 52, the external database 53, and the like via the communication I / F 20 and sends it to the search control unit 30. Here, the search information is information used for searching the database unit 32. Specific examples include patient information, diagnostic information, incidental diagnostic information, disease name, disease flow, labeling reagent name, treatment method name, therapeutic drug name, and the like.

  The evaluation processing unit 22 evaluates content constituting the molecular diagnosis support information by calculating a correlation value between the function / physiology / morphological expression and the searched disease flow. This evaluation is executed according to the weighting factor table stored in the table DB 32d.

  The search control unit 30 controls the search unit 31 in accordance with an instruction from the information processing control unit 10. Further, the search control unit 30 sends various information extracted by searching the database unit 32 to the information processing control unit 11.

  The database unit 32 includes a disease flow DB 32a, a diagnosis DB 32b, a treatment DB 32c, and a table DB 32d. The disease flow DB 32a represents various disease flows, the diagnosis DB 32b represents various diagnostic methods, examination / labeling drugs, the treatment DB 32c represents various treatment methods and therapeutic drugs, and the table DB 32d represents an evaluation process executed by the evaluation processing unit 22. The weighting factor tables (tables defining weighting factors for each relationship (for each combination) between disease flow and expression and incidental diagnosis information) are stored. In each DB, based on arbitrary search information, information related to the search information can be searched and extracted.

  The search unit 31 includes a disease search unit 31a, a diagnosis search unit 31b, and a treatment search unit 31c. Based on the search information, the database unit 32 is searched forward (cause direction search) or backward search (result direction search). To extract predetermined information. That is, the disease search unit 31a searches the disease flow DB 32a and extracts disease flows related to the search information. The diagnosis search unit 31b searches the diagnosis DB 32b and extracts a diagnosis method and the like related to the search information. The treatment search unit 31c searches the treatment DB 32b and extracts a treatment method and the like related to the search information. The extracted disease flow and the like are transmitted to the information processing control unit 11 and used for generating molecular diagnosis support information.

(Molecular diagnosis support function)
First, the concept which is the premise of the molecular diagnosis support function of the molecular diagnosis support apparatus will be described. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a disease flow before and after relating to a symptom-function / physiology / morphological expression 41 of a certain disease. As shown in the figure, in a certain function / physiology / morphological expression 41, the expression = transcription to mRNA as a result of the expression of gene DNA (mRNA transcription 42) as a process leading to the symptom, A protein is synthesized through translation (protein synthesis 43). The translated protein acquires the desired physiological activity through post-translational modifications such as activation and interaction (acquisition of target physiological activity 44). This acquisition of physiological activity is usually a physiological activity that matches the purpose of gene expression, and finally converges to a function / physiology / morphological expression 41 that matches the purpose. In this series of flows, for example, abnormal functions, physiology, and morphological expressions are generally manifested due to unexpected gene DNA expression, abnormal protein production, post-translational activation, abnormal modification of interaction, etc. It is considered a disease.

  However, the flow leading to a certain function / physiology / morphological expression 41 is not limited to one of the disease flows α, but is caused by another flow such as the disease flow β and the disease flow γ, or a plurality of them is organically. As a result, there is a case where the same function / physiology / morphological expression 41 is converged as a result, which makes it very difficult to analyze the cause of the disease.

  In a normal living body, various expressions are expressed in accordance with the same flow due to various factors, and a mechanism for maintaining the homeostasis of the whole living body is working. For example, when an excessive function / physiology / morphological expression 41 appears, another suppression flow that suppresses the function of the protein produced by the flow works to suppress the expression of the excessive expression. Diseases are similarly manifested by abnormalities in this suppression mechanism. Furthermore, a certain function / physiology / morphological expression 41 may cause one or a plurality of other expressions / flows A. This other representation / flow may be a suppression mechanism, or it may be a flow that causes another disease.

  Thus, the maintenance of homeostasis and the development of disease in a living body are very complicated with various factors overlapping. Accurate and prompt elucidation of this factor leads to the elucidation of the correct cause of the disease, which in turn leads to the presentation of the correct treatment.

  Therefore, in this molecular diagnostic support function, molecular diagnostic support information is generated based on diagnostic information, incidental diagnostic information, etc., and provided to the user in order to provide effective support in molecular diagnostics.

  Here, the molecular diagnosis support information includes at least one of information for supporting the identification of the cause of the disease and information for supporting the treatment for suppressing the progression of the disease. Information to support the identification of the cause of the disease includes the disease flow that is expected as the cause of the disease, and the disease / function / physiology / morphological expression that is expected to occur in the next stage as a result of the predicted disease flow (one Molecular labeling agents and contrast agents for labeling specific molecules such as mRNA and protein that cause the function, physiology, and morphological expression generated in the predicted disease flow, It includes at least one of standard molecular imaging diagnostic methods and the like using these labeling drugs (that is, for detecting specific molecules). By presenting information for supporting the cause identification of the disease to the user, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, disease flows α, β, and γ that are considered to be causes of almost the same function / physiology / morphological expression = symptoms Among the specific molecules generated in the pathway, it is possible to determine which disease flow is caused by specifying which molecule is present, and the presence of a labeling drug necessary for the identification. It is possible to give the examiner a suggestion such as (presence / absence) and optimal molecular imaging diagnostic method. Information for supporting the cause determination of the disease is extracted by searching the database unit 32 forward.

  On the other hand, the information for supporting treatment for disease progression suppression means that when the disease flow is determined by molecular imaging diagnostic method, the treatment method / therapeutic agent (or prevention / prevention agent) related to the disease flow, It includes at least one of a disease flow, a disease follow-up plan, a notice of caution, etc. that are expected to occur following the already expressed function / physiology / morphological expression. By presenting information for supporting the cause of the disease to the user, it is possible to support the suppression of the progression of the disease, so that it is possible to manage Disease Management at a more upstream stage. Information for supporting treatment for disease progression suppression is extracted by searching the database unit 32 backward.

  Each of these pieces of information is presented to the user as molecular diagnosis support information in a predetermined display format. Typical display formats include a comparison table format and a flow map format. Here, the comparison table format is a table that presents information for supporting the identification of the cause of the disease and information for supporting the treatment for suppressing the progression of the disease in the form of a comparison table arranged according to a predetermined standard. is there. In addition, the flow map format presents a disease flow estimated to be related to a function, physiology, and morphological expression of a certain disease, and a disease flow in the previous and subsequent stages in a form of a series of flow maps.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of molecular diagnosis support information as a comparison table format. In the figure, the molecular diagnostic support information (for example, disease flow, correlation value, molecular diagnostic method, therapeutic method / therapeutic drug, etc.) extracted based on the search information has a large correlation value calculated by the evaluation processing unit 22. It is displayed in a comparison table format arranged in order (priority order).

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of molecular diagnosis support information as a flow map format. In the same figure, a correlation value indicating the degree of mutual causal relationship is displayed on an arrow connecting a disease flow estimated to be related to the current disease and the disease flow in the preceding and subsequent stages. In addition, molecular diagnosis methods and treatment methods corresponding to each stage and each disease flow are displayed in a window by indicating each disease flow in the map flow with a pointer or the like.

  The user examines the molecular diagnosis support information presented in each table format, and generates a flow having a high correlation value with the disease (that is, a flow having a high probability of being predicted to be the cause of the disease) and the flow. A molecular diagnostic method, a therapeutic method and the like for confirming a specific molecule to be selected can be selected. 4 and 5 show examples of molecular diagnosis support information including a plurality of disease flows and the like. However, it is not limited to this. For example, when only a single disease flow is extracted as a result of the search or there is no corresponding disease flow, only the extracted single disease flow is displayed or applicable. You may make it display that a disease flow does not exist.

(Operation)
Next, the operation | movement in the molecular diagnosis support process of this molecular diagnosis support apparatus 1 is demonstrated.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing when generating molecular diagnosis support information including information for supporting the cause identification of a disease. As shown in the figure, first, the search information acquisition unit 21 is based on patient information or the like input from the operation unit 12, an electronic medical record server 50, a RIS / PACS server 51, a PIS / LIS server 52, and an external database 53. The search information is acquired via the communication I / F 20 (step S1). The acquired search information is automatically sent to the search control unit 30.

  Next, the search unit 31 searches the database unit 32 forward based on the search information received from the search control unit 30, and extracts information related to the search information (step S2). The extracted information is sent to the information processing control unit 30 via the search control unit 30.

  Next, the information processing control unit 30 determines whether or not the information obtained by the forward search includes a plurality of disease flows (step S3). As a result of the determination, if there is only one disease flow, the drug such as a disease flow included in the information obtained by the forward search, a drug for labeling a specific molecule generated in the disease flow, etc. Molecular diagnostic support information for presenting the molecular diagnostic method to be used in a predetermined form (for example, a comparison table format, a flow map format, etc.) is generated (step S4).

  On the other hand, as a result of the determination, when there are a plurality of disease flows included, the evaluation processing unit 21 calculates a correlation value between each flow and the function / physiology / morphological expression based on the weight coefficient table (step S5). ). The information processing control unit 10 arranges the information obtained by the forward search according to the calculated correlation value, for example, in order of priority, and generates molecular diagnosis support information including information for supporting the cause determination of the disease (step) S6).

  The display unit 15 displays the molecular diagnosis support information generated in step S4 or step S6 according to the control of the information processing control unit 10 (step S7). The user selects a disease flow with a high probability as the cause of the function, physiology, and morphological expression this time while referring to the displayed molecular diagnosis support information. The order creation unit 14 transmits an order of a labeling reagent or the like used in the molecular diagnosis corresponding to the selected disease flow to a dedicated trader's server. Further, the order creating unit 14 creates an order for a molecular diagnosis reservation corresponding to the selected disease flow (that is, for an image inspection reservation), and transmits it to the RIS / PACS server 51 (step S8).

  Next, the report creation unit 14 generates a report including the molecular diagnosis support information generated in step S6 and information such as which disease flow or molecular diagnosis method the user has selected from the molecular diagnosis support information. It is created and transmitted to the electronic medical record server 50 (step S9).

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing when generating molecular diagnosis support information including information for supporting treatment for disease progression inhibition. As shown in the figure, first, the search information acquisition unit 21 is based on patient information or the like input from the operation unit 12, an electronic medical record server 50, a RIS / PACS server 51, a PIS / LIS server 52, and an external database 53. The search information is obtained from the communication I / F 20 via the communication I / F 20 (step S11). The search unit 31 searches the database unit 32 backward based on the search information received from the search control unit 30, and extracts information related to the search information (step S12).

  The information processing control unit 30 determines whether or not the information obtained by the forward search includes a plurality of disease flows (step S13). As a result of the determination, if there is only one disease flow, it is predicted that it will occur following the current expression, such as the disease flow included in the information obtained by the backward search, the treatment method / therapeutic agent related to the flow, etc. Molecular diagnosis support information for presenting a disease flow or the like in a predetermined form (for example, a comparison table format, a flow map format, etc.) is generated (step S14).

  On the other hand, as a result of the determination, when there are a plurality of disease flows included, the evaluation processing unit 21 calculates a correlation value between each flow and the function / physiology / morphological expression based on the weight coefficient table (step S15). ). The information processing control unit 10 arranges information obtained by the forward search according to the calculated correlation value or the like, for example, in order of priority, and generates molecular diagnosis support information including information for supporting the cause identification of the disease ( Step S16).

  The display unit 15 displays the molecular diagnosis support information generated in step S14 or step S16 according to the control of the information processing control unit 10 (step S17). The user selects a desired disease flow from the displayed molecular diagnosis support information. The order creation unit 14 transmits an order for a therapeutic agent or the like used for treatment of the selected disease flow to the server of the dedicated trader (step S18).

  Next, the report creation unit 14 generates a report including the molecular diagnosis support information generated in step S6 and information such as which disease flow or molecular diagnosis method the user has selected from the molecular diagnosis support information. It is created and transmitted to the electronic medical record server 50 (step S19).

  The report generated in step S9 in FIG. 6, the report generated in step S19 in FIG. 7, the report created in molecular diagnosis, and the like are sequentially stored and managed in the electronic medical record server 50. Therefore, for example, when the molecular diagnosis support process is executed again after executing a series of molecular diagnosis support processes shown in FIG. 6 (or FIG. 7), the molecular diagnosis support information is obtained using information including various past reports. Will be generated.

  If the diagnosis support information is not obtained, the routines shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 are repeated with different search information. In this case, even if a certain disease flow is determined, for example, in a complex disease, other flows may have an influence. Therefore, in order to confirm all the flows, a method of performing the molecular diagnosis support processing a plurality of times from a plurality of search information is also conceivable.

(effect)
According to the configuration described above, the following effects can be obtained.

  This molecular diagnostic support device generates molecular diagnostic support information including at least one of information for supporting identification of the cause of a disease and information for supporting treatment for suppressing progression of the disease based on the search information. And can be presented. This molecular diagnosis support information includes the disease flow expected as the cause of the disease, molecular labeling agents that label specific molecules that cause the function, physiology, and morphological expression generated in the disease flow, and these labeling agents Standard molecular imaging diagnostic methods to be used, treatments and drugs related to disease flow, etc. are included. Therefore, the user can examine the presented information and select a molecular diagnostic method, a therapeutic method, and the like for confirming a flow having a high correlation value with the disease and a specific molecule generated in the flow. As a result, it is possible to support a medical examination by molecular imaging for analyzing the root cause of the disease. In addition, it is possible to effectively support the presentation of a treatment method or a therapeutic agent for blocking a disease flow identified mainly based on a molecular imaging diagnostic method, thereby realizing effective disease management.

  In addition, the molecular diagnosis support information presented includes, for example, priority order based on correlation values, a comparison table that facilitates content comparison between disease flows, disease flows related to current functions, physiology, and morphological expressions, and the preceding and following stages. The disease flow is displayed in a predetermined form such as a flow map showing a series of flows. Therefore, the user can recognize the degree of correlation between the current function / physiology / morphological expression and the disease flow, for example, quantitatively by the correlation value calculated for each disease flow or as the priority order to be presented. . Therefore, a user such as a doctor can quickly select an appropriate one from a plurality of disease flows, therapeutic drugs, and the like.

  In addition, the diagnosis support information provided by this device presents not only the disease flow but also information such as labeled drugs, labeled antibodies, and diagnostic methods necessary for examination / diagnosis for determining the disease flow to the examiner. It is also possible. The presentation of such information is intended to provide the examiner with information on molecular diagnosis that continues to increase as biotechnology progresses, and to ensure that information on the root cause of the disease and the expected progress of the disease is suggested. It is thought that it is very effective.

  In addition, the molecular diagnosis support apparatus sends an order for a labeling reagent used in the molecular diagnosis corresponding to the selected disease flow and an order for an image inspection reservation corresponding to the selected disease flow to a predetermined server. Send automatically. Accordingly, the user does not need to issue a separate order to a specialist or an imaging department, and as a result, the work load in molecular diagnosis can be reduced, and an ordering error or order omission of reagents can be prevented.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. Specific examples of modifications are as follows.

  (1) Each function according to the present embodiment can also be realized by installing a program for executing the processing in a computer such as a workstation and developing the program on a memory. At this time, a program capable of causing the computer to execute the technique is stored and distributed in a recording medium such as a magnetic disk (floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, etc.), an optical disk (CDROM, DVD, etc.), or a semiconductor memory. It is also possible.

  (2) In the above embodiment, the case where a cause is searched when a certain expression appears has been described as an example. On the other hand, the structure utilized for the preventive diagnosis for searching for a specific cause beforehand may be sufficient, not after a disease.

  (3) In the above embodiment, the diagnosis result is obtained from the electronic medical record 50, the RIS / PACS 51, and the PIS / LIS 52. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, a similar disease flow search or the like can be performed and displayed based on search information input by the user via the operation unit 12. Such usage is expected to be useful for education of disease factor analysis.

  (4) In the above embodiment, the search is performed using the disease flow DB 32, the diagnosis DB 34, and the treatment DB 36 in the system, but the external DB 53 is used via the communication I / F according to an instruction from the search control unit 30. It is also possible to perform a search. Alternatively, it is possible to periodically access the external DB 53 to refine the contents of the database unit 32 and use only the latest information.

  In addition, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of components disclosed in the embodiment. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, constituent elements over different embodiments may be appropriately combined.

  As described above, according to the present invention, a molecular diagnosis support apparatus and a molecular diagnosis support program that enable accurate and efficient molecular diagnosis by presenting information necessary for tracing the cause of a disease and predicting symptoms that may occur in the future. Can be realized.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a molecular diagnosis support system according to this embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the molecular diagnosis support apparatus 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a disease flow before and after relating to a symptom-function / physiology / morphological expression of a certain disease. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of molecular diagnosis support information as a comparison table format. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of molecular diagnosis support information as a flow map format. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing when generating molecular diagnosis support information including information for supporting the cause identification of a disease. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing when generating molecular diagnosis support information including information for supporting treatment for disease progression inhibition. FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the outline of molecular diagnosis.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Molecular diagnostic support apparatus, 10 ... Information processing control part, 12 ... Operation part, 13 ... Report preparation part, 14 ... Order preparation part, 15 ... Display part, 20 ... Communication I / F, 21 ... Diagnosis result acquisition part, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 22 ... Evaluation processing part, 30 ... Search control part, 31 ... Search part, 32 ... Database part, 50 ... Electronic medical record server, 51 ... RIS / PACS server, 52 ... PIS / LIS server, 53 ... External database

Claims (11)

An acquisition means for acquiring search information;
A first database storing a plurality of disease flows indicating causal relationships of disease dynamics;
A second database for storing information relating to a plurality of molecular diagnostic methods for identifying disease flows;
The first database is searched to extract a plurality of disease flows related to the search information, and the second database is searched to extract a disease flow of a predetermined patient from the extracted plurality of disease flows. Search means for extracting information on the molecular diagnostic method for identifying
Information processing control means for generating molecular diagnosis support information for use in molecular imaging based on the extracted plurality of disease flows and the extracted information on the molecular diagnostic method ;
Presenting means for presenting the molecular diagnosis support information;
A molecular diagnostic support apparatus comprising: 2. The molecular diagnosis support apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the information processing control unit generates the molecular diagnosis support information in which the extracted plurality of disease flows are arranged according to a predetermined reference. A third database storing a table defining weighting factors for each combination of disease flow and search information;
When the search means extracts a plurality of disease flows, the information processing control means calculates an evaluation value for each disease flow based on the table, and the plurality of rankings ranked based on the evaluation values Generating molecular diagnostic support information including disease flow;
The molecular diagnostic support apparatus according to claim 2, wherein: A third database storing a table defining weighting factors for each combination of disease flow and search information;
The information processing control means calculates an evaluation value for each disease flow based on the table, and generates the molecular diagnosis support information including the evaluation value;
The molecular diagnostic support apparatus according to claim 1.   The information processing control means generates molecular diagnosis support information including a disease flow presumed to be associated with any one of functional expression, physiological expression, and morphological expression of a certain disease, and a disease flow in the preceding and subsequent stages. The molecular diagnosis support apparatus according to claim 4. Information on the molecular diagnostic method includes a labeling agent, a contrast agent, a test method, and a disease flow for labeling a specific molecule that causes any of functional expression, physiological expression, and morphological expression generated in the disease flow. The molecular diagnostic support apparatus according to claim 1, comprising any one of molecular imaging diagnostic methods for detecting a specific molecule that causes any one of functional expression, physiological expression, and morphological expression generated in the medium. . A fourth database storing information about treatments for preventing or inhibiting disease flow;
  The search means searches the fourth database, extracts information related to the treatment for preventing or suppressing the extracted at least one disease flow,
  The information processing control means generates the molecular diagnosis support information including information on the extracted treatment;
  The molecular diagnostic support apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein   Information related to the treatment includes treatments related to the disease flow, therapeutic drugs, disease expression that is expected to follow any of the already expressed functional expressions, physiological expressions, and morphological expressions, information on disease follow-up, The molecular diagnostic support apparatus according to claim 7, comprising at least one of them.   The search information includes patient information, diagnosis information, medical history information, patient family medical history information, histopathological examination information, electron microscope diagnostic information, fluorescence / near infrared spectroscopy information, blood test information, DNA test information, antibody / protein The molecular diagnosis according to any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising at least one of reaction test information, marker test information, disease name, disease flow, labeling reagent name, treatment method name, and therapeutic drug name. Support device.   The information processing control means issues an order related to a reservation for executing a molecular imaging diagnostic method included in the molecular diagnostic support information or an order related to a drug order included in the molecular diagnostic support information. The molecular diagnostic support apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8. A program for causing a computer to generate and present molecular diagnostic support information, the control means of the computer,
An acquisition function to acquire search information;
The present invention relates to a plurality of molecular diagnostic methods for searching a first database storing a plurality of disease flows indicating causal relationships of disease dynamics, extracting a plurality of disease flows related to the search information, and identifying the disease flows. A search function for searching a second database storing information and extracting information on the molecular diagnostic method for identifying a disease flow of a predetermined patient from the extracted disease flows ;
An information processing control function for generating molecular diagnosis support information for use in molecular imaging based on the extracted plurality of disease flows and the extracted information on the molecular diagnostic method ;
A presentation function for presenting the molecular diagnosis support information;
A molecular diagnostic support program characterized by realizing

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