Background: The electronic medical record (EMR) contains a rich source of information that could be harnessed for epidemic surveillance. We asked if structured EMR data could be coupled with computerized processing of free-text clinical entries to enhance detection of acute respiratory infections (ARI).
Methodology: A manual review of EMR records related to 15,377 outpatient visits uncovered 280 reference cases of ARI. We used logistic regression with backward elimination to determine which among candidate structured EMR parameters (diagnostic codes, vital signs and orders for tests, imaging and medications) contributed to the detection of those reference cases. We also developed a computerized free-text search to identify clinical notes documenting at least two non-negated ARI symptoms. We then used heuristics to build case-detection algorithms that best combined the retained structured EMR parameters with the results of the text analysis.
Principal Findings: An adjusted grouping of diagnostic codes identified reference ARI patients with a sensitivity of 79%, a specificity of 96% and a positive predictive value (PPV) of 32%. Of the 21 additional structured clinical parameters considered, two contributed significantly to ARI detection: new prescriptions for cough remedies and elevations in body temperature to at least 38°C. Together with the diagnostic codes, these parameters increased detection sensitivity to 87%, but specificity and PPV declined to 95% and 25%, respectively. Adding text analysis increased sensitivity to 99%, but PPV dropped further to 14%. Algorithms that required satisfying both a query of structured EMR parameters as well as text analysis disclosed PPVs of 52-68% and retained sensitivities of 69-73%.
Conclusion: Structured EMR parameters and free-text analyses can be combined into algorithms that can detect ARI cases with new levels of sensitivity or precision. These results highlight potential paths by which repurposed EMR information could facilitate the discovery of epidemics before they cause mass casualties.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2954790 | PMC |
| http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0013377 | PLOS |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Computational analysis of linear chain of holey nanographene and their molecular characterizations.
J Mol Model
January 2025
PG & Research Department of Mathematics, Sanatana Dharma College, Kerala University, Alappuzha, Kerala, 688003, India.
Holey nanographene, an allotrope of carbon arranged in two dimensions, has gained remarkable attention as a nanomaterial with several potential uses in numerous industries, such as electronics, energy storage, healthcare, and environmental cleanup, because of its high carrier mobility, flexibility, transparency, high surface area, conductivity, and chemical stability. The fundamental holey nanographene is assembled in a linear form to create the holey nanographene chain (HNC) that is being discussed. To fully utilize it in various applications, it is essential to comprehend the basic ideas guiding its behavior at the nanoscale; for that, we find various topological indices for this holey nanographene chain using the cut method.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEarly Strength Enhancement Mechanism of CaO-Modified Electrolytic Manganese Residue-Based Supersulfate Cement.
Materials (Basel)
January 2025
Guizhou Provincial Architectural Design & Research Institute Co., Ltd., Guiyang 550025, China.
Electrolytic manganese residue (EMR) is a solid waste generated during the production of electrolytic manganese metal through wet metallurgy, accumulating in large quantities and causing significant environment pollution. Due to its high sulfate content, EMR can be utilized to prepare supersulfate cement when combined with Ground Granulated Blast furnace Slag (GGBS). In this process, GGBS serves as the primary raw material, EMR acts as the sulfate activator, and CaO powder, along with trace amounts of cement, functions as the alkali activator.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSalt-Compact Albumin as a New Pure Protein-based Biomaterials: From Design to In Vivo Studies.
Adv Healthc Mater
January 2025
Inserm UMR_S 1121, CNRS EMR 7003, Université Strasbourg, Biomaterials and Bioengineering, Centre de Recherche en Biomédecine de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, F-67000, France.
Current biodegradable materials are facing many challenges when used for the design of implantable devices because of shortcomings such as toxicity of crosslinking agents and degradation derivatives, limited cell adhesion, and limited immunological compatibility. Here, a class of materials built entirely of stable protein is designed using a simple protocol based on salt-assisted compaction of albumin, breaking with current crosslinking strategies. Salt-assisted compaction is based on the assembly of albumin in the presence of high concentrations of specific salts such as sodium bromide.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDelta opioid receptors affect acoustic features of song during vocal learning in zebra finches.
BMC Neurosci
January 2025
National Brain Research Centre, Manesar, Gurugram, 122052, Haryana, India.
Delta-opioid receptors (δ-ORs) are known to be involved in associative learning and modulating motivational states. We wanted to study if they were also involved in naturally-occurring reinforcement learning behaviors such as vocal learning, using the zebra finch model system. Zebra finches learn to vocalize early in development and song learning in males is affected by factors such as the social environment and internal reward, both of which are modulated by endogenous opioids.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFQuantifying Magnetic Anisotropy of Series of Five-Coordinate Co Ions: Experimental and Theoretical Insights.
Adv Sci (Weinh)
January 2025
Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai, Maharashtra, 400076, India.
Stabilizing large easy-axis type magnetic anisotropy in molecular complexes is a challenging task, yet it is crucial for the development of information storage devices and applications in molecular spintronics. Achieving this requires a deep understanding of electronic structure and the relationships between structure and properties to develop magneto-structural correlations that are currently unexplored in the literature. Herein, a series of five-coordinate distorted square pyramidal Co complexes [Co(L)(X)].
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!