[Accuracy of artificial intelligence compared to trained medical technologists in diabetic retinopathy screening]. / Exactitud de tamizaje de retinopatía diabética: inteligencia artificial versus tecnólogos médicos entrenados.

BACKGROUND: The early detection of retinopathy among diabetics is of utmost importance. AIM: To estimate the diagnostic accuracy of two diabetic retinopathy (DR) screening strategies currently used in the Chilean public health system. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cross-sectional observational study of 371 diabetic patients aged 61 ± 14 years (61% women) who underwent DR screening at a public Hospital between July 1 and August 31, 2019. The mydriatic retinal photographs of all participants were classified using artificial intelligence software (DART) and trained medical technologists, independently. The precision of both strategies was compared with the reference standard, namely the evaluation of the fundus by an ophthalmologist with a slit lamp. Participants with severe non-proliferative DR or worse were considered as positive cases. The ophthalmologist was blind to the results of the screening tests. RESULTS: Twenty four percent of participants had DR, including 34 (9.2%) who had sight threatening DR in at least one eye. The sensitivity and specificity of DART were 100% (95% confidence intervals (CI): 90-100%) and 55,4% (95% CI: 50-61%), respectively. Medical technologists had a sensitivity of 97,1% (95% CI: 85-100%) and a specificity of 91,7% (95% CI: 88-94%). The only case missed by medical technologists was a patient with unilateral panphotocoagulated DR. CONCLUSIONS: Both strategies had a similar sensitivity to detect cases of sight-threatening DR. However, the specificity of DART was significantly lower compared to medical technologists, which would greatly increase the burden on the health system, a very important aspect to consider in a screening strategy.

Secukinumab for plaque psoriasis. / Secukinumab para psoriasis en placa.

INTRODUCTION: Biological treatments have appeared as the main alternative for the management of patients with plaque psoriasis that do not respond to conventional treatment. So, evaluating its actual efficacy and safety is needed. METHODS: We searched in Epistemonikos, the largest database of systematic reviews in health, which is maintained by screening multiple information sources, including MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane, among others. We extracted data from the systematic reviews, reanalyzed data of primary studies, conducted a meta-analysis and generated a summary of findings table using the GRADE approach. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: We identified 21 systematic reviews including ten studies overall, of which all were randomized trials. We concluded secukinumab achieves clinical improvement in patients with plaque psoriasis, although it is probably associated with serious adverse effects.

INTRODUCCIÓN: Los tratamientos biológicos han aparecido como principal alternativa para el manejo de los pacientes con psoriasis en placa que no responden a tratamiento convencional, resultando necesario evaluar su real efectividad y seguridad. MÉTODOS: Realizamos una búsqueda en Epistemonikos, la mayor base de datos de revisiones sistemáticas en salud, la cual es mantenida mediante el cribado de múltiples fuentes de información, incluyendo MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane, entre otras. Extrajimos los datos desde las revisiones identificadas, analizamos los datos de los estudios primarios, realizamos un metanálisis y preparamos una tabla de resumen de los resultados utilizando el método GRADE. RESULTADOS Y CONCLUSIONES: Identificamos 21 revisiones sistemáticas que en conjunto incluyeron diez estudios primarios, todos correspondientes a ensayos aleatorizados. Concluimos que secukinumab logra mejoría clínica en pacientes con psoriasis en placa, aunque probablemente se asocia a efectos adversos graves.

Aqueous shunt versus trabeculectomy for treatment of glaucoma. / Derivación acuosa versus trabeculectomía para el manejo del glaucoma.

INTRODUCTION: Aqueous shunt has emerged as an alternative technique to trabeculectomy, which is considered the standard treatment for glaucoma surgery. Currently, it is mainly indicated after failure of trabeculectomy or in some types of glaucoma with high risk of failure. However, there is still controversy regarding its effectiveness compared to trabeculectomy. METHODS: We searched in Epistemonikos, the largest database of systematic reviews in health, which is maintained by screening multiple information sources, including MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane, among others. We extracted data from the systematic reviews, reanalyzed data of primary studies, conducted a meta-analysis and generated a summary of findings table using the GRADE approach. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: We identified five systematic reviews including nine studies overall, of which four were randomized trials. We concluded that aqueous shunt might increase the qualified success compared to trabeculectomy, but it is not clear whether it has any effect on the rest of the critical outcomes for decision-making because the certainty of the evidence is very low.

INTRODUCCIÓN: La derivación acuosa ha surgido como una técnica alternativa a la trabeculectomía, la cual se considera el tratamiento estándar para cirugía de glaucoma. Actualmente, su principal indicación es en el glaucoma con trabeculectomía fallida o en algunos tipos de glaucoma con alto riesgo de fracaso. Sin embargo, aún existe controversia con respecto a su efectividad en comparación con la trabeculectomía. MÉTODOS: Realizamos una búsqueda en Epistemonikos, la mayor base de datos de revisiones sistemáticas en salud, la cual es mantenida mediante el cribado de múltiples fuentes de información, incluyendo MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane, entre otras. Extrajimos los datos desde las revisiones identificadas, analizamos los datos de los estudios primarios, realizamos un metanálisis y preparamos una tabla de resumen de los resultados utilizando el método GRADE. RESULTADOS Y CONCLUSIONES: Identificamos cinco revisiones sistemáticas que en conjunto incluyeron nueve estudios primarios, de los cuales, cuatro corresponden a ensayos aleatorizados. Concluimos que la derivación acuosa podría aumentar el éxito calificado en comparación con la trabeculectomía, pero que no está claro si tiene algún efecto sobre el resto de los desenlaces críticos para la toma de decisión, porque la certeza de la evidencia es muy baja.

Natamycin versus voriconazole for fungal keratitis. / Natamicina versus voriconazol para queratitis fúngica.

INTRODUCTION: Infectious keratitis of fungal origin mainly affects people in tropical and subtropical countries, and is an important cause of preventable blindness. Topical antifungals, particularly natamycin and voriconazole, are considered effective, but it is not clear which one is the best treatment alternative. METHODS: We searched in Epistemonikos, the largest database of systematic reviews in health, which is maintained by screening multiple information sources, including MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane, among others. We extracted data from the systematic reviews, reanalyzed data of primary studies, conducted a meta-analysis and generated a summary of findings table using the GRADE approach. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: We identified three systematic reviews including three studies overall,all of which were randomized trials. We concluded natamycin probably is associated with better visual acuity after infection, and it prevents corneal perforation and/or need to perform therapeutic keratoplasty compared to voriconazole in fungal keratitis.

INTRODUCCIÓN: La queratitis infecciosa de origen fúngico afecta principalmente a personas de países tropicales y subtropicales, y constituye una importante causa de ceguera prevenible. Los antifúngicos tópicos, en particular la natamicina y el voriconazol, se consideran efectivos, pero no está claro cuál de ellos constituye la mejor alternativa de tratamiento. MÉTODOS: Realizamos una búsqueda en Epistemonikos, la mayor base de datos de revisiones sistemáticas en salud, la cual es mantenida mediante el cribado de múltiples fuentes de información, incluyendo MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane, entre otras. Extrajimos los datos desde las revisiones identificadas, analizamos los datos de los estudios primarios, realizamos un metanálisis y preparamos una tabla de resumen de los resultados utilizando el método GRADE. RESULTADOS Y CONCLUSIONES: Identificamos tres revisiones sistemáticas que en conjunto incluyeron tres estudios primarios, todos correspondientes a ensayos aleatorizados. Concluimos que natamicina probablemente se asocia a mejor agudeza visual tras la infección, y que previene la perforación corneal y/o la necesidad de realizar queratoplastia terapéutica en comparación a voriconazol en queratitis fúngica.

Exactitud de tamizaje de retinopatía diabética: inteligencia artificial versus tecnólogos médicos entrenados / Accuracy of artificial intelligence compared to trained medical technologists in diabetic retinopathy screening

Background: The early detection of retinopathy among diabetics is of utmost importance. Aim: To estimate the diagnostic accuracy of two diabetic retinopathy (DR) screening strategies currently used in the Chilean public health system. Material and Methods: Cross-sectional observational study of 371 diabetic patients aged 61 ± 14 years (61% women) who underwent DR screening at a public Hospital between July 1 and August 31, 2019. The mydriatic retinal photographs of all participants were classified using artificial intelligence software (DART) and trained medical technologists, independently. The precision of both strategies was compared with the reference standard, namely the evaluation of the fundus by an ophthalmologist with a slit lamp. Participants with severe non-proliferative DR or worse were considered as positive cases. The ophthalmologist was blind to the results of the screening tests. Results: Twenty four percent of participants had DR, including 34 (9.2%) who had sight threatening DR in at least one eye. The sensitivity and specificity of DART were 100% (95% confidence intervals (CI): 90-100%) and 55,4% (95% CI: 50-61%), respectively. Medical technologists had a sensitivity of 97,1% (95% CI: 85-100%) and a specificity of 91,7% (95% CI: 88-94%). The only case missed by medical technologists was a patient with unilateral panphotocoagulated DR. Conclusions: Both strategies had a similar sensitivity to detect cases of sight-threatening DR. However, the specificity of DART was significantly lower compared to medical technologists, which would greatly increase the burden on the health system, a very important aspect to consider in a screening strategy.