title: Cross-domain probabilistic inference in a clinical decision support system: examples for dermatology and rheumatology.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Maintaining a large diagnostic knowledge base (KB) is a demanding task for any person or organization. Future clinical decision support system (CDSS) may rely on multiple, smaller and more focused KBs developed and maintained at different locations that work together seamlessly. A cross-domain inference tool has great clinical import and utility.
  
  
  METHODS
  We developed a modified multi-membership Bayes formulation to facilitate the cross-domain probabilistic inferencing among KBs with overlapping diseases. Two KBs developed for evaluation were non-infectious generalized blistering diseases (GBD) and autoimmune diseases (AID). After the KBs were finalized, they were evaluated separately for validity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ten cases from medical journal case reports were used to evaluate this "cross-domain" inference across the two KBs. The resultant non-error rate (NER) was 90%, and the average of probabilities assigned to the correct diagnosis (AVP) was 64.8% for cross-domain consultations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A novel formulation is now available to deal with problems occurring in a clinical diagnostic decision support system with multi-domain KBs. The utilization of this formulation will help in the development of more integrated KBs with greater focused knowledge domains.
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Medical Science, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan. drdeung@ms7.hinet.net
authors.forename: Ying-Jui
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Min-Li
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Yeh
authors.forename: Chyou-Shen
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Chien-Yeh
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Yu-Chuan Jack
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Wen-Ta
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Chiu
mesh_terms: D020000:Decision Support Systems, Clinical; D003880:Dermatology; D006801:Humans; D011336:Probability; D012219:Rheumatology