De-identifying Spanish medical texts - named entity recognition applied to radiology reports.

BACKGROUND: Medical texts such as radiology reports or electronic health records are a powerful source of data for researchers. Anonymization methods must be developed to de-identify documents containing personal information from both patients and medical staff. Although currently there are several anonymization strategies for the English language, they are also language-dependent. Here, we introduce a named entity recognition strategy for Spanish medical texts, translatable to other languages. RESULTS: We tested 4 neural networks on our radiology reports dataset, achieving a recall of 97.18% of the identifying entities. Alongside, we developed a randomization algorithm to substitute the detected entities with new ones from the same category, making it virtually impossible to differentiate real data from synthetic data. The three best architectures were tested with the MEDDOCAN challenge dataset of electronic health records as an external test, achieving a recall of 69.18%. CONCLUSIONS: The strategy proposed, combining named entity recognition tasks with randomization of entities, is suitable for Spanish radiology reports. It does not require a big training corpus, thus it could be easily extended to other languages and medical texts, such as electronic health records.

Differences in the clinical management of women and men after detection of a solitary pulmonary nodule in clinical practice.

OBJECTIVES: To explore differences in the clinical management of men and women in the 5 years after detecting a solitary pulmonary nodule (SPN) by chest radiograph or CT in routine clinical practice. METHODS: We followed up 545 men and 347 women with an SPN detected by chest radiograph or CT in a retrospective cohort of 25,422 individuals undergoing routine thoracic imaging in 2010-2011. We compared the frequency of each management strategy (no further test, immediate intervention or follow up) according to sex by means of chi-squared. We estimated the relative risk of women versus men of having been followed up instead of an immediate intervention using multivariate logistic regression. We compared by sex the time between detection of the nodule and lung cancer diagnosis, the time between diagnosis and death by means of Mann-Whitney U test and the cumulative effective dose of radiation in each management strategy by means of t test. RESULTS: Women were more likely than men to have follow-up rather than immediate intervention (aRR = 1.8, CI 1.3-2.7, p = 0.002), particularly in those who underwent CT (aRR = 4.2, CI 1.9-9.3, p < 0.001). The median time between SPN detection and lung cancer diagnosis was higher in women (4.2 months, interquartile range (IQR) 5.1) than in men (1.5 months, IQR 16.2). The mean cumulative effective dose was 21.3 mSv, 19.4 mSv in men and 23.9mv in women (p = 0.023). CONCLUSIONS: Our results could reflect decisions based on a greater suspicion of lung cancer in men. The incidental detection of SPNs is increasing, and it is necessary to establish clear strategies aimed to reduce variability in their management according to patient's sex. KEY POINTS: • After incidental finding of SPN, women were less likely to receive an immediate intervention. • Accumulative radiation was higher in women than in men. • Our results could reflect decisions based on a greater suspicion of lung cancer in men.

The determinants of lung cancer after detecting a solitary pulmonary nodule are different in men and women, for both chest radiograph and CT.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the factors associated with lung cancer diagnosis and mortality after detecting a solitary pulmonary nodule (SPN) in routine clinical practice, in men and in women for both chest radiograph and CT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 5-year follow-up of a retrospective cohort of of 25,422 (12,594 men, 12,827 women) patients aged ≥35 years referred for chest radiograph or CT in two hospitals in Spain (2010-2011). SPN were detected in 893 (546 men, 347 women) patients. We estimated the cumulative incidence of lung cancer at 5-years, the association of patient and nodule characteristics with SPN malignancy using Poisson logistic regression, stratifying by sex and type of imaging test. We calculated lung cancer specific mortality rate by sex and SPN detection and hazard rates by cox regression. RESULTS: 133 (14.9%) out of 893 patients with an SPN and 505 (2.06%) of the 24,529 patients without SPN were diagnosed with lung cancer. Median diameter of SPN in women who developed cancer was larger than in men. Men who had a chest radiograph were more likely to develop a lung cancer if the nodule was in the upper-lobes, which was not the case for women. In patients with an SPN, smoking increased the risk of lung cancer among men (chest radiograph: RR = 11.3, 95%CI 1.5-83.3; CT: RR = 7.5, 95%CI 2.2, 26.0) but smoking was not significantly associated with lung cancer diagnosis or mortality among women with an SPN. The relative risk of lung cancer diagnosis in women with SPN versus those without was much higher compared to men (13.7; 95%CI 9.2, 20.4 versus 6.2; 95%CI 4.9,7.9). CONCLUSION: The factors associated with SPN malignancy and 5-year lung cancer mortality were different among men and women, especially regarding smoking history and SPN characteristics, where we observed a relatively high rate of lung cancer diagnosis among female non-smokers.

[Diagnostic and therapeutic management in a series of 1156 patients with the diagnosis of prostate cancer in Castilla y Leon during 2014.] / Manejo diagnóstico y actitud terapeútica de 1156 pacientes diagnosticados de cáncer de próstata en la comunidad de Castilla y León durante el año 2014.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the current clinical practice for patients with Prostate Cancer (CP) in the Health Areas of Castilla y León (CyL) in 2014. METHODS: A retrospective multicenter study was designed to provide data on the diagnosis and treatment of PC in CyL: 87.8% of patients were screened. Descriptive statistics on variables related to characteristics of the patient, the tumor and the treatment modality of the first line to which it was submitted are provided. RESULTS: A total of 1156 new cases of PC were analyzed with a mean age of 68.2 years and a mean PSA of 8.40 ng/ml. The Gleason score (GS) showed 538 (46.2%), 418 (35.9 %) and 200 (17.1%) patients for GS ≤ 6, 7 and  ≥ 8 respectively. 91% of patients (1053 patients) are diagnosed at a localized stage. 56 (4.8%) patients received treatment with active surveillance/ watchful waiting, 423 (36.6%) radical prostatectomy (PR), 348 (30.1%) radiotherapy (RT), 98 (8.4%) brachytherapy (BT) and 170 (14.7%) hormone therapy (HT) respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Differed strategies still accounted for a small percentage of treatments. PR and RT/BT were of choice in patients with localized stages of the disease and younger than 70 years. More advanced stages and older patients were treated with HT mainly. Age is postulated as the main factor involved in therapeutic decision making.

OBJETIVO: Conocer la práctica clínica real en pacientes con Cáncer de Próstata (CP) en las Áreas Sanitarias de Castilla y León (CyL) en el año 2014. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Se diseña un estudio multicéntrico con carácter retrospectivo para disponer de datos sobre el diagnóstico y tratamiento del CP en CyL: se logra una cobertura del 87,8% de los pacientes comunitarios. Se aporta estadística descriptiva sobre las variables referentes a características del paciente, del tumor y de la modalidad de tratamiento de primera línea a la que fue sometido. RESULTADOS: Se analizan 1.156 nuevos casos de CP con una edad media de 68,2 años y una mediana de PSA de 8,4 ng/ml. La puntuación de Gleason (PG) muestra 538 (46,2%), 418 (35,9%) y 200 (17,1%) pacientes para PG ≤  6, 7 y  ≥ 8 respectivamente. El 91,0% de los pacientes (1.053 pacientes) son diagnosticados en estadio localizado. 56 pacientes (4,8%) son tratados con estrategias diferidas (EDs), vigilancia activa/ observación, 423 (36,6%) con prostatectomia radical (PR), 348 (30,1%) con radioterapia, 98 (8,4%) con braquiterapia (BT) y 170 (14,7%) con hormonoterapia (HT). CONCLUSIONES: Las EDs aún supusieron un porcentaje pequeño de los tratamientos. PR y RT/BT fueron de elección en pacientes con estadios localizados de la enfermedad y menores de 70 años. Estadios más avanzados y pacientes mayores fueron tratados con HT principalmente. La edad se postula como el principal factor implicado en la toma de decisiones terapéuticas.

Manejo diagnóstico y actitud terapeútica de 1156 pacientes diagnosticados de cáncer de próstata en la comunidad de Castilla y León durante el año 2014 / Diagnostic and therapeutic management in a series of 1156 patients with the diagnosis of prostate cancer in Castilla y Leon during 2014

Objetivo: Conocer la práctica clínica real en pacientes con Cáncer de Próstata (CP) en las Áreas Sanitarias de Castilla y León (CyL) en el año 2014. Material y métodos: Se diseña un estudio multicéntrico con carácter retrospectivo para disponer de datos sobre el diagnóstico y tratamiento del CP en CyL: se logra una cobertura del 87,8% de los pacientes comunitarios. Se aporta estadística descriptiva sobre las variables referentes a características del paciente, del tumor y de la modalidad de tratamiento de primera línea a la que fue sometido. Resultados: Se analizan 1.156 nuevos casos de CP con una edad media de 68,2 años y una mediana de PSA de 8,4 ng/ml. La puntuación de Gleason (PG) muestra 538 (46,2%), 418 (35,9%) y 200 (17,1%) pacientes para PG ≤ 6, 7 y ≥ 8 respectivamente. El 91,0% de los pacientes (1.053 pacientes) son diagnosticados en estadio localizado. 56 pacientes (4,8%) son tratados con estrategias diferidas (EDs), vigilancia activa/ observación, 423 (36,6%) con prostatectomia radical (PR), 348 (30,1%) con radioterapia, 98 (8,4%) con braquiterapia (BT) y 170 (14,7%) con hormonoterapia (HT). Conclusiones: Las EDs aún supusieron un porcentaje pequeño de los tratamientos. PR y RT/BT fueron de elección en pacientes con estadios localizados de la enfermedad y menores de 70 años. Estadios más avanzados y pacientes mayores fueron tratados con HT principalmente. La edad se postula como el principal factor implicado en la toma de decisiones terapéuticas

Objectives: To evaluate the current clinical practice for patients with Prostate Cancer (CP) in the Health Areas of Castilla y León (CyL) in 2014. Methods: A retrospective multicenter study was designed to provide data on the diagnosis and treatment of PC in CyL: 87.8% of patients were screened. Descriptive statistics on variables related to characteristics of the patient, the tumor and the treatment modality of the first line to which it was submitted are provided. Results: A total of 1156 new cases of PC were analyzed with a mean age of 68.2 years and a mean PSA of 8.40 ng/ml. The Gleason score (GS) showed 538 (46.2%), 418 (35.9 %) and 200 (17.1%) patients for GS ≤6, 7 and ≥8 respectively. 91% of patients (1053 patients) are diagnosed at a localized stage. 56 (4.8%) patients received treatment with active surveillance/ watchful waiting, 423 (36.6%) radical prostatectomy (PR), 348 (30.1%) radiotherapy (RT), 98 (8.4%) brachytherapy (BT) and 170 (14.7%) hormone therapy (HT) respectively. Conclusions: Differed strategies still accounted for a small percentage of treatments. PR and RT/BT were of choice in patients with localized stages of the disease and younger than 70 years. More advanced stages and older patients were treated with HT mainly. Age is postulated as the main factor involved in therapeutic decision making

Neurofisiología de la diabetes mellitus: estudio de los potenciales evocados visuales y auditivos en una muestra de niños entre 6 y 16 años / Neurophysiology of diabetes mellitus. Study of visual and auditory evoked potentials in a sample of children between 6 and 16 years

Introducción. La diabetes mellitus (DM) es una enfermedad cuyas complicaciones a corto plazo (hiperglucemia e hipoglucemia) pueden afectar al normal funcionamiento neurofisiológico, especialmente cuando el control metabólico de la enfermedad no es el adecuado. Objetivos. Estudiar el rendimiento neurofisiológico de un grupo de niños diagnosticados de DM. Material y métodos. La muestra está formada por un grupo de 42 niños diabéticos (GD) y otro grupo control formado por 43 niños no diabéticos (GND). El GD se dividió en dos subgrupos: diabéticos precoces y diabéticos tardíos, dependiendo de la edad de diagnóstico de la enfermedad, antes o después de los 5 años. Pruebas. Se registraron potenciales evocados visuales (PEV) y potenciales evocados auditivos (PEA). Resultados. Se han obtenido diferencias en los registros de las latencias y amplitudes de los PEV entre el GD y el GND, cuando se estimulaba el ojo derecho en la derivación O1. También se han encontrado diferencias entre el GD y el GND en la amplitud de los PEV en la derivación O1 cuando era estimulado el ojo izquierdo. No se han encontrado diferencias en los PEA. Conclusiones. La DM puede producir ligeras alteraciones en la actividad bioeléctrica infantil, a pesar de que la enfermedad lleve poco tiempo de evolución(AU)

Introduction. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a disease in which short-term complications (hyperglycaemia and hypoglycaemia) can affect normal neuropsychological functioning, especially when the metabolic control of the disease is not adequate. Objectives. Neurophysiological study of the performance of a group of children diagnosed with DM. Material and methods. The sample consisted of a group of 42 children with diabetes (GD) and a control group of 43 children without diabetes (GND). The GD was divided into two groups: early diabetes and late diabetic, depending on the age at diagnosis of the disease, before or after 5 years old. Measurements. We recorded latencies and amplitudes of visual and auditory evoked potentials (VEP and AEP) Results. Differences were found in the records of the latencies and amplitudes of the VEP between GD and GND, when the right eye was stimulated in the derivation O1. Also were found Differences were also found between the GD and GND in the amplitude of the VEP in the derivation O1 when the left eye was stimulated. No differences were found in the AEP. Conclusions. Diabetes mellitus can cause slight alterations in bioelectric activity of children, despite the disease being of short term evolution(AU)

Síndrome de hipersensibilidad a anticomiciales: una entidad para recordar / Anticonvulsant hypersensitivity syndrome: An entity to be remembered

El síndrome de hipersensibilidad a anticomiciales es una reacción adversa grave e impredecible, inicialmente descrita con antiepilépticos aromáticos, como la carbamacepina, la fenitoína y el fenobarbital. Suele caracterizarse por presencia de fiebre, eosinofilia, erupción cutánea y afectación de uno o más órganos internos. No existen criterios diagnósticos ni normas de tratamiento claramente establecidos. Es necesario un alto índice de sospecha para identificar esta entidad como un verdadero síndrome, suspender precozmente el fármaco implicado y evitar nuevas exposiciones. A continuación comunicamos un ilustrativo caso clínico y revisamos la literatura médica publicada (AU)

Anticonvulsant hypersensitivity syndrome is an unpredictable, potentially fatal drug reaction to aromatic anticonvulsants such as carbamazepine, phenytoin and phenobarbital. The hallmark features include fever, eosinophilia, rash and involvement of one or more internal organs. Clearly established diagnostic criteria and treatment guidelines are lacking. A high index of suspicion is required to identify this syndrome, allowing early withdrawal of the drug and avoiding re-exposure. We report an illustrative case of anticonvulsant hypersensitivity syndrome and review the published literature (AU)

High clonal diversity in erythromycin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae invasive isolates in Madrid, Spain (2000-07).

OBJECTIVES: Erythromycin resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae is still increasing worldwide. All 78 erythromycin-resistant S. pneumoniae isolates collected from blood cultures in our hospital (2000-07) were studied and the population structure was analysed by using different mathematical diversity indexes. METHODS: Erythromycin resistance determinants were screened by PCR. The population structure, including multilocus sequence typing, was analysed by using quantitative clonal diversity (diversity ratio, Simpson, Selander-Levin and Shannon mathematical indexes). RESULTS: The leading resistance gene was erm(B) (74.3% of the isolates), followed by the erm(B) plus mef(A) combination (17.9%) and mef(A) alone (7.7%). The most frequent serotypes were 14 (18%), 19A (15.4%) and 6B (11.5%). A polyclonal structure was detected in resistant strains, including the Spain(9V)-3, Spain(6B)-2 and Denmark(14)-32 international clones. Both genetic diversity and genetic distribution were high, particularly among clones containing erm(B) and erm(B) plus mef(A) determinants. CONCLUSIONS: The resistance determinants erm(B) and the combination of erm(B) plus mef(A) were observed within multiple S. pneumoniae bacteraemic clones. The preservation of a polyclonal structure might provide a suitable background for further evolution of antibiotic resistance.

[Anticonvulsant hypersensitivity syndrome: an entity to be remembered]. / Síndrome de hipersensibilidad a anticomiciales: una entidad para recordar.

Anticonvulsant hypersensitivity syndrome is an unpredictable, potentially fatal drug reaction to aromatic anticonvulsants such as carbamazepine, phenytoin and phenobarbital. The hallmark features include fever, eosinophilia, rash and involvement of one or more internal organs. Clearly established diagnostic criteria and treatment guidelines are lacking. A high index of suspicion is required to identify this syndrome, allowing early withdrawal of the drug and avoiding re-exposure. We report an illustrative case of anticonvulsant hypersensitivity syndrome and review the published literature.