Data-driven approach for creating synthetic electronic medical records

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>New algorithms for disease outbreak detection are being developed to take advantage of full electronic medical records (EMRs) that contain a wealth of patient information. However, due to privacy concerns, even anonymized EMRs cannot be shared among researchers, resulting in great difficulty in comparing the effectiveness of these algorithms. To bridge the gap between novel bio-surveillance algorithms operating on full EMRs and the lack of non-identifiable EMR data, a method for generating complete and synthetic EMRs was developed.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This paper describes a novel methodology for generating complete synthetic EMRs both for an outbreak illness of interest (tularemia) and for background records. The method developed has three major steps: 1) synthetic patient identity and basic information generation; 2) identification of care patterns that the synthetic patients would receive based on the information present in real EMR data for similar health problems; 3) adaptation of these care patterns to the synthetic patient population.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We generated EMRs, including visit records, clinical activity, laboratory orders/results and radiology orders/results for 203 synthetic tularemia outbreak patients. Validation of the records by a medical expert revealed problems in 19% of the records; these were subsequently corrected. We also generated background EMRs for over 3000 patients in the 4-11 yr age group. Validation of those records by a medical expert revealed problems in fewer than 3% of these background patient EMRs and the errors were subsequently rectified.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>A data-driven method was developed for generating fully synthetic EMRs. The method is general and can be applied to any data set that has similar data elements (such as laboratory and radiology orders and results, clinical activity, prescription orders). The pilot synthetic outbreak records were for tularemia but our approach may be adapted to other infectious diseases. The pilot synthetic background records were in the 4-11 year old age group. The adaptations that must be made to the algorithms to produce synthetic background EMRs for other age groups are indicated.</p

European candidaemia is characterised by notable differential epidemiology and susceptibility pattern: Results from the ECMM Candida III study.

The objectives of this study were to assess Candida spp. distribution and antifungal resistance of candidaemia across Europe. Isolates were collected as part of the third ECMM Candida European multicentre observational study, conducted from 01 to 07-07-2018 to 31-03-2022. Each centre (maximum number/country determined by population size) included ∼10 consecutive cases. Isolates were referred to central laboratories and identified by morphology and MALDI-TOF, supplemented by ITS-sequencing when needed. EUCAST MICs were determined for five antifungals. fks sequencing was performed for echinocandin resistant isolates. The 399 isolates from 41 centres in 17 countries included C. albicans (47.1%), C. glabrata (22.3%), C. parapsilosis (15.0%), C. tropicalis (6.3%), C. dubliniensis and C. krusei (2.3% each) and other species (4.8%). Austria had the highest C. albicans proportion (77%), Czech Republic, France and UK the highest C. glabrata proportions (25-33%) while Italy and Turkey had the highest C. parapsilosis proportions (24-26%). All isolates were amphotericin B susceptible. Fluconazole resistance was found in 4% C. tropicalis, 12% C. glabrata (from six countries across Europe), 17% C. parapsilosis (from Greece, Italy, and Turkey) and 20% other Candida spp. Four isolates were anidulafungin and micafungin resistant/non-wild-type and five resistant to micafungin only. Three/3 and 2/5 of these were sequenced and harboured fks-alterations including a novel L657W in C. parapsilosis. The epidemiology varied among centres and countries. Acquired echinocandin resistance was rare but included differential susceptibility to anidulafungin and micafungin, and resistant C. parapsilosis. Fluconazole and voriconazole cross-resistance was common in C. glabrata and C. parapsilosis but with different geographical prevalence

Effectiveness of manual therapies: the UK evidence report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The purpose of this report is to provide a succinct but comprehensive summary of the scientific evidence regarding the effectiveness of manual treatment for the management of a variety of musculoskeletal and non-musculoskeletal conditions.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The conclusions are based on the results of systematic reviews of randomized clinical trials (RCTs), widely accepted and primarily UK and United States evidence-based clinical guidelines, plus the results of all RCTs not yet included in the first three categories. The strength/quality of the evidence regarding effectiveness was based on an adapted version of the grading system developed by the US Preventive Services Task Force and a study risk of bias assessment tool for the recent RCTs.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>By September 2009, 26 categories of conditions were located containing RCT evidence for the use of manual therapy: 13 musculoskeletal conditions, four types of chronic headache and nine non-musculoskeletal conditions. We identified 49 recent relevant systematic reviews and 16 evidence-based clinical guidelines plus an additional 46 RCTs not yet included in systematic reviews and guidelines.</p> <p>Additionally, brief references are made to other effective non-pharmacological, non-invasive physical treatments.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Spinal manipulation/mobilization is effective in adults for: acute, subacute, and chronic low back pain; migraine and cervicogenic headache; cervicogenic dizziness; manipulation/mobilization is effective for several extremity joint conditions; and thoracic manipulation/mobilization is effective for acute/subacute neck pain. The evidence is inconclusive for cervical manipulation/mobilization alone for neck pain of any duration, and for manipulation/mobilization for mid back pain, sciatica, tension-type headache, coccydynia, temporomandibular joint disorders, fibromyalgia, premenstrual syndrome, and pneumonia in older adults. Spinal manipulation is not effective for asthma and dysmenorrhea when compared to sham manipulation, or for Stage 1 hypertension when added to an antihypertensive diet. In children, the evidence is inconclusive regarding the effectiveness for otitis media and enuresis, and it is not effective for infantile colic and asthma when compared to sham manipulation.</p> <p>Massage is effective in adults for chronic low back pain and chronic neck pain. The evidence is inconclusive for knee osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, myofascial pain syndrome, migraine headache, and premenstrual syndrome. In children, the evidence is inconclusive for asthma and infantile colic.</p

Magnetic resonance imaging of cochlear modiolus: determination of mid-modiolar area and modiolar volume

WOS: 000223425200003PubMed: 15318954Modiolar deficiency has been reported as representing the mildest form of cochlear dysplasia. In this study the authors aimed to determine baseline values of the mid-modiolar area and modiolus volume in normal subjects. In this way they aimed to improve the detection of previously underdiagnosed subtle cochlear dysplasia in patients with sensorineural hearing loss

MR spectroscopy in a cervical abscess

WOS: 000185459500009PubMed: 12898078MR spectroscopy (MRS) has been used to analyse noninvasively tissues at a molecular level. Hydrogen and phosphorus MRS have been used for characterisation of intracranial solid and cystic masses, gynaecological tumours and lymph nodes. We report a cystic, tick-walled mass in the soft tissues of the neck. Single-voxel proton MRS revealed a prominent acetate peak at 1.92 ppm and a diagnosis of abscess was suggested. At operation a pyogenic neck abscess was confirmed, with culture of the pus

Anatomic variations of the sphenoid sinus on computed tomography

WOS: 000231432300007PubMed: 16008065Anatomic variations of the vital structures adjacent to the sphenoid sinus can be jeopardized during functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS). The knowledge of the size and extent of pneumatization of the sphenoid sinus (SS) is an important condition for adequate surgical treatment of its disease. The bony anatomic variations of SS as well as its relationship with adjacent vital structures were reviewed in this paper. The study was performed on 267 patients with a complaint of chronic or recurrent sinusitis. Computed tomographic (CT) scans were obtained upon completion of therapy. The evaluations of the sphenoid sinuses were regarded separately, so as 534 sides were examined. Especially bony anatomic variations as well as mucosal abnormalities of the sphenoid sinuses were examined. Pneumatization of the pterygoid process and anterior clinoid process were found in 39.7% and 17.2% of the patients respectively. Vidian canal protrusion was found in a total of 158 sides of which 60 were bilateral. These entities were encountered usually when pneumatization of the ptelygoid process occurred. Carotid canal and optic canal protrusions were found in 5.2% and 4.1% of the patients respectively. Mucosal thickening, and polyps or cysts of sphenoid sinuses were detected in 20.6% and 4.5% of the patients respectively. There was a statistically. significant correlation between pterygoid pneumatization and vidian canal protrusion (p < 0001), and vs. foramen rotundum protusion (p=0.004). While the optic canal protrusion was-found significantly associated with the anterior clinoid pneumatization (p < 0.001), there was no statistically significant correlation between a carotid canal protrusion and anterior clinoid pneumatization (p=0.250). Sphenoid sinus surgery is very risky, because of changing variations of the cavity. We are in the opinion that detailed data from CT scans of SS will enable the surgeon to interpret any anatomic variations and pathological conditions before initiation of the surgical therapy

Volume of components of labyrinth: Magnetic resonance imaging study

WOS: 000231412000040PubMed: 16015184Objective: To determine total inner ear fluid volume and cochlear and semicircular canal/vestibule volumes of a normal population to form a base for dimensional abnormalities of inner ear structures. Study Design: Cross-sectional. Setting: Academic otology and radiology practices. Patients: Twenty-nine healthy volunteers (13 male patients and 16 female patients with an average age of 31 yr) without any known history of intrauterine infection or any exposure to ototoxic agents and no abnormality at physical examination from the standpoint of hearing loss were included. Interventions: Twenty-nine volunteers underwent magnetic resonance imaging of the temporal region by means of thin-section T2-weighted sequences. The images were evaluated by the radiologist for the presence of any gross configurational abnormality. Fluid volume of each inner ear and components of labyrinth (cochlea, semicircular canals/vestibule) were calculated with the help of an online work station. Main Outcome Measure: To determine the volume of components of the labyrinth and total inner ear fluid, which may form a base for future studies about sensorineural hearing loss. Results: The volumes of total inner ear fluid, cochlea, and semicircular canals/vestibule were calculated. The mean and standard deviation of total inner ear fluid volume, cochlear volume, and semicircular canal/vestibule volume were obtained for each volunteer. Results were assessed with the help of statistical tests. Conclusion: There was no statistically significant difference between right and left inner ear fluid volumes of male and female subjects. There was also no statistical difference between right and left inner ear volumes when age and sex were not concerned. During evaluation of volumes according to sex, the difference between right and left inner ear fluid volumes was also assessed. Left semicircular canal/vestibule volume of female subjects were found to be higher than that of male subjects. The difference between right and left semicircular canal/vestibule volumes of female subjects was higher than the difference between right and left semicircular canal/vestibule volumes of male subjects

Tularemia presenting as tonsillopharyngitis and cervical lymphadenitis: a case report and review of the literature

WOS: 000184298000002PubMed: 12883950In this report, we describe a 57-year-old woman with oropharyngeal tularemia who presented with tonsillopharyngitis and cervical lymphadenitis. Clinical and radiological manifestations and histopathological characteristics of this disease are discussed with a review of the world literature. The oropharyngeal form of tularemia should be considered in the differential diagnosis of cases involving tonsillopharyngitis and cervical lymphadenitis, particularly in those not responding to penicillin treatment