nils-herrmann/clean_scirepeval huggingface dataset:
Impact of atrial fibrillation on outcome of patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy: data from the Heart Muscle Disease Registry of Trieste.

There is a paucity and inconsistency of data regarding the natural history of patients affected by idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDCM) and atrial fibrillation (AF). We examined the prognostic implications of AF in a subset of patients with IDCM.



We analyzed the data of 539 patients with IDCM enrolled in the Heart Muscle Disease Registry of Trieste.



At baseline, 52 (9.6%) of 539 patients had AF. There was no difference in survival of patients with either AF or sinus rhythm at enrollment (P = .28). During long-term follow-up (90 ± 58 months), AF was detected on ECG/ECG-Holter monitoring in 28 (5.7%) of 487 patients in sinus rhythm at baseline. Predictors of new onset of AF at multivariate analysis were a more dilated left atrium (OR 1.35, 95% CI 1.06-1.72; P = .01) and a lower left ventricle ejection fraction (for 10% decrease, OR 2.41, 95% CI 1.24-4.69, P = .016). Patients developing AF had higher mortality/heart transplantation rate compared to patients who maintained sinus rhythm during follow-up (P < .001). At multivariate analysis, new onset AF (HR 3.67, 95% CI 2.07-6.5; P < .001) in the first three years after diagnosis, but not baseline AF, was found to be independently associated with a worse outcome.



Atrial fibrillation is relatively frequent in patients with IDCM. The early development of AF during follow-up, but not its presence at baseline, is associated with poor survival.
Comparative airway response to high- versus low-molecular weight agents in occupational asthma.

Airway responses to occupational agents in sensitised workers may vary clinically and physiologically. The patterns of change in airway responsiveness, type of response and fall in expiratory flows following laboratory exposure to high- or low-molecular weight agents (HMW and LMW agents, respectively) were compared in sensitised workers. Data on workers who underwent specific inhalation challenges with occupational sensitisers (117 exposed to HMW agents and 130 to LMW agents) were collected from their medical charts. Maximum falls in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV(1)) were of similar magnitude for both types of agents. Compared with HMW agents, LMW agents induced more frequently late or dual responses and higher increases in airway responsiveness. After exposure to HMW agents, there was a mean+/-sd reduction in doubling concentrations of methacholine of 0.5+/-1.7 for early responses, compared with 2.8+/-1.2 and 1.4+/-2.0 for late and dual responses, respectively. Isolated early responses were more frequently found in females, smokers, workers with a higher % predicted FEV(1) and higher provocation concentration causing a 20% fall in FEV(1), and in those with longer asthma duration. Workers' characteristics, as well as the type of agent they are sensitised to, may help to predict the type of response after specific inhalation challenge.
Distinguishing nested variants of urothelial carcinoma from benign mimickers by TERT promoter mutation.

Nested variant of urothelial carcinoma (NVUC) is an uncommon variant with minimally atypical cytology, which may overlap with benign urothelial lesions such as von Brunn nests, cystitis cystica, cystitis glandularis, and nephrogenic adenoma. Because of the tumor's deceptively bland appearance, these cancers can potentially be misdiagnosed as benign lesions, leading in some cases to a significant delay in correct diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Prior studies suggest that Ki67 and p53 are useful markers in distinguishing NVUC from benign lesions. However, the overlap in the rates of immunoreactivity has prevented pathologists from using these markers as reliable adjunct markers in differentiating NVUC from mimickers. In addition, large nested variant urothelial carcinoma (LNVUC), a relatively new entity, shares features of both the NVUC and papillary urothelial carcinomas with an inverted growth pattern. They also mimic benign lesions, such as proliferation of von Brunn nests and inverted urothelial papilloma. With the recent demonstration of a strong association of TERT promoter mutations and urothelial carcinoma, we hypothesized that TERT promoter mutations would be a useful marker to distinguish NVUC and LNVUC from other benign urothelial lesions. We have therefore sequenced the TERT promoter region of 20 cases of NVUC, 10 cases of LNVUC, 5 cases of von Brunn nests, 3 cases of cystitis cystica, 3 cases of cystitis glandularis, and 3 cases of nephrogenic adenoma. We found that 17 of 20 cases of NVUC and 8 of 10 cases of LNVUC had TERT promoter mutation: C228T; no mutation was found in any of the benign mimickers (0/14). This result strongly suggests that TERT promoter mutation is a useful adjunct biomarker to distinguish NVUC and LNVUC from benign mimickers.
Validation of a modern second‐check dosimetry system using a novel verification phantom

To evaluate the Mobius second-check dosimetry system by comparing it to ionization-chamber dose measurements collected in the recently released Mobius Verification Phantom™ (MVP). For reference, a comparison of these measurements to dose calculated in the primary treatment planning system (TPS), Varian Eclipse with the AcurosXB dose algorithm, is also provided. Finally, patient dose calculated in Mobius is compared directly to Eclipse to demonstrate typical expected results during clinical use of the Mobius system.



Seventeen anonymized intensity-modulated clinical treatment plans were selected for analysis. Dose was recalculated on the MVP in both Eclipse and Mobius. These calculated doses were compared to doses measured using an A1SL ionization-chamber in the MVP. Dose was measured and analyzed at two different chamber positions for each treatment plan. Mobius calculated dose was then compared directly to Eclipse using the following metrics; target mean dose, target D95%, global 3D gamma pass rate, and target gamma pass rate. Finally, these same metrics were used to analyze the first 36 intensity modulated cases, following clinical implementation of the Mobius system.



The average difference between Mobius and measurement was 0.3 ± 1.3%. Differences ranged from -3.3 to + 2.2%. The average difference between Eclipse and measurement was -1.2 ± 0.7%. Eclipse vs. measurement differences ranged from -3.0 to -0.1%. For the 17 anonymized pre-clinical cases, the average target mean dose difference between Mobius and Eclipse was 1.0 ± 1.1%. Average target D95% difference was -0.9 ± 2.0%. Average global gamma pass rate, using a criteria of 3%, 2 mm, was 94.4 ± 3.3%, and average gamma pass rate for the target volume only was 80.2 ± 12.3%. Results of the first 36 intensity-modulated cases, post-clinical implementation of Mobius, were similar to those seen for the 17 pre-clinical test cases.



Mobius correctly calculated dose for each tested intensity modulated treatment plan, agreeing with measurement to within 3.5% for all cases analyzed. The dose calculation accuracy and independence of the Mobius system is sufficient to provide a rigorous second-check of a modern TPS.
A new method for the treatment of recurrent abdominal pain of prolonged negative stress origin.

To test the hypothesis that psychological treatment given in combination with somatic treatment can relieve recurrent abdominal pain (RAP) of psychosomatic origin in childhood.



Stomach Pain Clinic Group A, comprising 25 children receiving a combination of psychological treatment and physiotherapy given by two different persons and Stomach Pain Clinic Group B, comprising 23 children receiving physiotherapy only, were constituted in a randomized manner. Stomach Pain Clinic Group C, including 35 children receiving an integrated combination of psychological treatment and somatic treatment given by the same person was also constituted, as well as a reference group. Treatment outcome was measured by calculating a pain score and tender points (TP) score at inclusion and after 1 year.



The pain score after 1 year improved significantly in all four groups. Stomach Pain Clinic Groups A and B did not show any significant difference, but Stomach Pain Clinic C had a significantly better outcome than Stomach Pain Clinic Group B. Stomach Pain Clinic Groups A and C had a significant decrease in the TP score after 1 year. Pain scores and TP scores calculated for all Stomach Pain Clinic groups correlated significantly at follow-up after 1 year.



For children with psychosomatic RAP, a special method for integrated psychological and somatic treatment is probably effective. The results have to be confirmed in a randomized controlled study. These children have a special pattern of TPs related to their disorder, which diminishes with improvement in the disorder.
Physical loading and performance as predictors of back pain in healthy adults A 5-year prospective study

We investigated muscle strength, aerobic power, and occupational and leisure-time physical loading as predictors of back pain in a 5-year follow-up study. A cohort of 456 adults aged 25, 35, 45 and 55 years, free of back pain, participated in measurements of anthropometric characteristics, aerobic power and muscle strength characteristics at baseline. The subjects' levels and types of physical activity and occupational physical loading were also determined. At 5 years after the baseline examinations 356 of these subjects (78.1 %) were reached by mail, and 262 of them (73.6%) properly completed and returned a questionnaire including a detailed back pain history for the 5 years following the baseline measurements. Of this number 56 subjects (21 %) who reported back pain ( > 30 on a scale from 0 to 100) and functional impairment during the 5-year follow-up composed the marked back pain group. Other subjects (n = 71, 27%) noting lesser symptoms were included in the mild back pain group; 135 subjects (52%) reported having had no back pain. The subjects with marked back pain were on average taller than the subjects without back pain, while no such difference was found in body mass. Heavy occupational musculoskeletal loading (P = 0.005) and high general occupational physical demands (P = 0.036) predicted future back pain. Leisuretime physical activity, aerobic power or muscle strength characteristics were not predictive of future back pain.
The prevalence of factor VIII and IX inhibitors among Saudi patients with hemophilia

Hemophilia A and B are X-linked diseases that predominantly affect male patients. Patients can develop coagulation factor inhibitors, which exponentially increases the treatment cost. However, the prevalence of factor VIII and IX inhibitors in Saudi Arabia is unclear.This study aimed to determine the Saudi prevalence of factor VIII and IX inhibitors.This 4-year, 7-center, cross-sectional study evaluated the Saudi prevalences of hemophilia A and B. We collected the patients' clinical data, evaluated their disease, and tested for factor inhibitors.We included 202 patients with hemophilia (median age at diagnosis: 0.13 years, range: birth-34.8 years). The patients included 198 male patients (98%), 148 patients with hemophilia A (73.3%), and 54 patients with hemophilia B (26.7%). The patients exhibited severe factor VIII activity (<1%; 121 patients; 5.2%), moderate activity (1-5%; 7 patients; 4.9%), and mild activity (14 patients; 9.9%). Among the patients with care-related data, most patients were treated for episodic bleeding (76.8%) or received prophylaxis (22.6%); 1 patient received both treatments. Among the patients with source-related data, the factor replacements were derived from plasma (48.4%), recombinant concentrates (22.9%), both sources (14.6%), or fresh frozen plasma (14.1%). Factor VIII inhibitors were observed in 43 (29.3%) of the 147 patients, and only 1 of the 54 patients developed factor IX inhibitors. Most patients who developed inhibitors had severe hemophilia (40/44; 90.9%), and inhibitors were also common among patients who received recombinant products (14/43; 32.6%).The Saudi prevalence of factor inhibitors was similar to those among other ethnic populations.
Prospective Evaluation of Contrast-Enhanced Computed Tomography for the Detection of Colonic Diverticular Bleeding

To prospectively evaluate the role of contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CE-CT) in the detection of colonic diverticular bleeding (CDB). Consecutive patients who presented with hematochezia and were clinically suspected of CDB were prospectively enrolled. Those who could undergo both CE-CT and total colonoscopy, and who were finally diagnosed as CDB, were included in the analysis. Fifty-two cases were finally included in the analysis. The detection rate of CDB by CT was 15.4 % (8/52). Univariate analysis showed that the interval from the latest episode of hematochezia to the performance of CT and the presence of a past history of CDB were contributing factors for detection. The interval was 1.6 ± 4.6 h (mean ± SD) in patients detected by CT, and 3.4 ± 3.2 h in those without detection. The detection rate of CDB by total colonoscopy was 38.5 % (20/52). The overall detection rate was 46.2 % (24/52), which was superior to what CT or colonoscopy alone achieved. CE-CT may play a complementary role to colonoscopy in patients with suspected CDB, but is not recommended for all cases due to its low detection rate. Patients who can be examined within 2 h of last hematochezia would be candidates for urgent CT.
Association of two genetic variations of lipoprotein lipase, S447X and Hind III, with coronary artery disease and hypertriglyceridemia.

This study was performed to assess the effect of the S447X and Hind III lipoprotein lipase gene polymorphisms on development of coronary artery disease and hypertriglyceridemia. The study included 132 patients and 98 healthy control subjects of Croatian descent. The lipoprotein lipase S447X polymorphism was associated with coronary artery disease and hypertriglyceridemia, as indicated by the lower frequency of S447 allele in the patient group (p = 0.005) and odds ratio (O.R = 0.40, p = 0.006). The patient and control groups also showed a significant difference in the distribution of Hind III/S447X genotype combinations (p = 0.013). There were no significant associations with lipid parameters for any genotype or genotype combination in the patient group. Frequencies of the S447X polymorphism and S447X/Hind III combinations differed between the CAD/TG and control group, thus these polymorphisms may be associated with CAD and hypertriglyceridemia.
Building up linguistic context in schizophrenia: evidence from self-paced reading.

An impairment in the build-up and use of context has been proposed as a core feature of schizophrenia. The current study tested the hypothesis that schizophrenia patients show impairments in building up context within sentences because of abnormalities in combining semantic with syntactic information. Schizophrenia patients and healthy controls read and made acceptability judgments about sentences containing verbs that were semantically associated with individual preceding words but that violated either the meaning (animacy/semantic constraints) or the syntactic structure (morphosyntactic constraints) of their preceding contexts. To override these semantic associations and determine that such sentences are unacceptable, participants must integrate semantic with syntactic information. These sentences were compared with congruous and pragmatically/semantically violated sentences that imposed fewer semantic-syntactic integration demands. At sentence-final words and decisions, patients showed smaller reaction time differences than controls to animacy/semantically violated or morphosyntactically violated sentences relative to pragmatically/semantically violated or nonviolated sentences. The relative insensitivity to these violations in patients with schizophrenia may arise from impairments in combining semantic and syntactic information to build up sentence context.
Double Exponential Smoothing: An Alternative to Kalman Filter-Based Predictive Tracking

We present novel algorithms for predictive tracking of user position and orientation based on double exponential smoothing. These algorithms, when compared against Kalman and extended Kalman filter-based predictors with derivative free measurement models, run approximately 135 times faster with equivalent prediction performance and simpler implementations. This paper describes these algorithms in detail along with the Kalman and extended Kalman Filter predictors tested against. In addition, we describe the details of a predictor experiment and present empirical results supporting the validity of our claims that these predictors are faster, easier to implement, and perform equivalently to the Kalman and extended Kalman filtering predictors.
Cost-effectiveness of an activating intervention by social workers for patients with minor mental disorders on sick leave: a randomized controlled trial.

Sickness absence often occurs in patients with emotional distress or minor mental disorders. In several European countries, these patients are over-represented among those receiving illness benefits, and interventions are needed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of an intervention conducted by social workers, designed to reduce sick leave duration in patients absent from work owing to emotional distress or minor mental disorders.



In this Randomized Controlled Trial, patients were recruited by GPs. The intervention group (N = 98) received an activating, structured treatment by social workers, the control group (N = 96) received routine GP care. Sick leave duration, clinical symptoms, and medical consumption (consumption of medical staffs' time as well as consumption of drugs) were measured at baseline and 3, 6, and 18 months later.



Neither for sick leave duration nor for clinical improvement over time were significant differences found between the groups. Also the associated costs were not significantly lower in the intervention group.



Compared with usual GP care, the activating social work intervention was not superior in reducing sick leave duration, improving clinical symptoms, and decreasing medical consumption. It was also not cost-effective compared with GP routine care in the treatment of minor mental disorders. Therefore, further implementation of the intervention is not justified. Potentially, programmes aimed at reducing sick leave duration in patients with minor mental disorders carried out closer to the workplace (e.g. by occupational physicians) are more successful than programmes in primary care.
Intensive exercise program after spinal cord injury (“Full-On”): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Rehabilitation after spinal cord injury (SCI) has traditionally involved teaching compensatory strategies for identified impairments and deficits in order to improve functional independence. There is some evidence that regular and intensive activity-based therapies, directed at activation of the paralyzed extremities, promotes neurological improvement. The aim of this study is to compare the effects of a 12-week intensive activity-based therapy program for the whole body with a program of upper body exercise.



A multicenter, parallel group, assessor-blinded randomized controlled trial will be conducted. One hundred eighty-eight participants with spinal cord injury, who have completed their primary rehabilitation at least 6 months prior, will be recruited from five SCI units in Australia and New Zealand. Participants will be randomized to an experimental or control group. Experimental participants will receive a 12-week program of intensive exercise for the whole body, including locomotor training, trunk exercises and functional electrical stimulation-assisted cycling. Control participants will receive a 12-week intensive upper body exercise program. The primary outcome is the American Spinal Injuries Association (ASIA) Motor Score. Secondary outcomes include measurements of sensation, function, pain, psychological measures, quality of life and cost effectiveness. All outcomes will be measured at baseline, 12 weeks, 6 months and 12 months by blinded assessors. Recruitment commenced in January 2011.



The results of this trial will determine the effectiveness of a 12-week program of intensive exercise for the whole body in improving neurological recovery after spinal cord injury.
Methadone Induction in Primary Care for Opioid Dependence: A Pragmatic Randomized Trial (ANRS Methaville)

Methadone coverage is poor in many countries due in part to methadone induction being possible only in specialized care (SC). This multicenter pragmatic trial compared the effectiveness of methadone treatment between two induction models: primary care (PC) and SC.



In this study, registered at ClinicalTrials.Gov (NCT00657397), opioid-dependent individuals not on methadone treatment for at least one month or receiving buprenorphine but needing to switch were randomly assigned to start methadone in PC (N = 155) or in SC (N = 66) in 10 sites in France. Visits were scheduled at months M0, M3, M6 and M12. The primary outcome was self-reported abstinence from street-opioids at 12 months (M12) (with an underlying 15% non-inferiority hypothesis for PC). Secondary outcomes were abstinence during follow-up, engagement in treatment (i.e. completing the induction period), retention and satisfaction with the explanations provided by the physician. Primary analysis used intention to treat (ITT). Mixed models and the log-rank test were used to assess the arm effect (PC vs. SC) on the course of abstinence and retention, respectively.



In the ITT analysis (n = 155 in PC, 66 in SC), which compared the proportions of street-opioid abstinent participants, 85/155 (55%) and 22/66 (33%) of the participants were classified as street-opioid abstinent at M12 in PC and SC, respectively. This ITT analysis showed the non-inferiority of PC (21.5 [7.7; 35.3]). Engagement in treatment and satisfaction with the explanations provided by the physician were significantly higher in PC than SC. Retention in methadone and abstinence during follow-up were comparable in both arms (p = 0.47, p = 0.39, respectively).



Under appropriate conditions, methadone induction in primary care is feasible and acceptable to both physicians and patients. It is as effective as induction in specialized care in reducing street-opioid use and ensuring engagement and retention in treatment for opioid dependence.