nils-herrmann/clean_scirepeval huggingface dataset:
Comparison of essential fatty acid intakes and serum levels of inflammatory factors between asthmatic and healthy adults: a case- control study.

Dietary fatty acids play a critical role in modulation of airway inflammation in asthma. This study was conducted to compare dietary intakes of essential fatty acids and serum levels of inflammatory factors in asthmatic and healthy adults, and to examine the potential relationship between inflammatory markers and dietary fatty acids. In this case-control study, 47 asthmatic patients (26 males and 21 females) were compared with 47 controls (24 males and 23 females). Blood samples were taken from case and control groups and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), leptin and adiponectin were determined. Dietary intakes were assessed by semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Dietary intakes of omega-3 fatty acids were significantly lower in asthmatic patients compared to controls (p<0.05). Serum concentrations of TNF-α, hs-CRP and leptin were significantly higher in asthmatic patients. There was a significant negative relationship between adiponectin levels and saturated fatty acid intakes in both groups, but the relationship between adiponectin and mono-unsaturated fatty acid intakes was positive and significant only in asthmatic group. No significant correlation between other inflammatory factors and dietary intakes was found in this study. Higher intake of omega-3 and lower levels of inflammatory factors in the healthy control group compared to asthmatic group may explain the protective role of essential fatty acids in asthma. Further studies with larger sample size are needed in this regard.
Comparison of ThermoCool® Surround Flow catheter versus ThermoCool® catheter in achieving persistent electrical isolation of pulmonary veins: a pilot study.

Aim of this study was to compare efficacy and safety of the new ThermoCool Surround Flow® catheter (SFc) versus the ThermoCool® (TCc) in achieving persistent circumferential electrical isolation of the pulmonary veins (PVs) in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF).



This multicenter, randomized, controlled study enrolled patients suffering from paroxysmal AF. Randomization was run in a one-to-one fashion between radiofrequency ablation by TCc or SFc. Aim of PVs ablation was documentation of electrical isolation with exit/entrance block recorded on a circular catheter. Among the 106 enrolled patients, 52 (49.0%) were randomized to TCc and 54 (51.0%) to SFc. Total volume of infused saline solution during the procedure was lower in the SFc than in TCc group (752.7 ± 268.6 mL vs 1,165.9 ± 436.2 mL, P < 0.0001). Number of identified and isolated PVs was similar in the 2 groups. Number of PVs remaining isolated 30 minutes after ablation was higher in the SFc than in TCc group (95.2% vs 90.5%, P < 0.03), mainly driven by acute ablation result in the left PVs (96.1% vs 89.7%, P < 0.04). Complications were seldom and observed only in the TCc group (0% vs 3.84%, P < 0.03). At 6-month follow-up SFc patients reported a trend toward less AF recurrences compared to those in the TCc group (22.9% vs 27.0%, P = 0.69).



PV isolation by SFc lowered the rate of left PV early reconnections and reduced the volume of infused saline solution while maintaining the safety profile of AF ablation.
Effect of mental stress on left ventricular ejection fraction and its relationship to the severity of coronary artery disease

To evaluate the relationship between the mental stress-induced decrease in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and the severity of exercise-induced ischaemia, 20 patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) underwent radionuclide ventriculography during mental stress testing and stress myocardial perfusion single-photon emission tomography (SPET). We also examined whether changes in haemodynamic and neurohormonal parameters are related to changes in LVEF during mental stress. The LVEF decreased from 54.8%±17.7% to 49.8%±16.2% with mental stress (P<0.0005). Ten of the 20 patients (50.0%) had a ≥5% decrease in LVEF. The remaining ten patients had no or a <5% decrease in LVEF. There was a significant correlation between the change in LVEF during mental stress and the size of the reversible defect on stress myocardial perfusion SPET (r=–0.80, P<0.0005), with close regional correspondence (75% identical). This correlation was less strong in the 12 patients with a total defect score at rest of <10 (r=–0.69, P=0.014) than in the eight patients with a total defect score at rest of ≥10 (r=–0.94, P=0.001). The changes in blood pressure and heart rate were not significantly correlated with the change in LVEF, but the percent change in adrenaline concentration correlated with the change in LVEF. It is suggested that mental stress impairs systolic function by inducing transient myocardial ischaemia. The effect of neurohormonal responses during mental stress on LV systolic function may also be important in patients with CAD.
A Randomized Controlled Trial of Metformin versus Vitamin E or Prescriptive Diet in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Metformin proved useful in the treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), but its superiority over nutritional treatment and antioxidants has never been demonstrated. We aimed to compare the usefulness of metformin versus prescriptive diet or vitamin E.METHODS:In an open label, randomized trial, nondiabetic NAFLD patients were given metformin (2 g/day; n = 55) for 12 months. The control cases were given either vitamin E (800 IU/day; n = 28) or were treated by a prescriptive, weight-reducing diet (n = 27). Outcome measures were liver enzymes, insulin resistance (homeostasis model assessment), parameters of the metabolic syndrome, and histology.Aminotransferase levels improved in all groups, in association with weight loss. The effects in the metformin arm were larger (p < 0.0001), and alanine aminotransferase normalized in 56% of cases (odds ratio (OR) versus. controls, 3.11; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.56–6.20; p = 0.0013). In multivariate analysis, metformin treatment was associated with higher rates of aminotransferase normalization, after correction for age, gender, basal aminotransferases, and change in body mass index (OR, 5.98; 95% CI, 2.05–17.45). Differences were maintained when the two control groups were separately analyzed. The distribution of positive criteria for the metabolic syndrome was reduced only in the metformin arm (p = 0.001, signed rank test). A control biopsy in 17 metformin-treated cases (14 nonresponders) showed a significant decrease in liver fat (p = 0.0004), necroinflammation, and fibrosis (p = 0.012 for both). No side effects were observed during metformin treatment.Metformin treatment is better than a prescriptive diet or vitamin E in the therapy of NAFLD patients receiving nutritional counseling. Limited histological data support an association between improved aminotransferases and biopsy findings, which require confirmation in a double-blind trial with appropriate statistical power based on liver histology.
Effects of ethyl loflazepate on refractory epilepsy in children.

We evaluated the safety and efficacy of ethyl loflazepate in children with epilepsy. The study group comprised 21 outpatients (4 by generalized, 17 by localization-related) aged between 9 months and 17 years. Ethyl loflazepate was administered at a dose of 0.015 mg/kg/day twice daily. The final mean dose was 1.35 mg/day. The mean number of prior antiepileptic drugs was 5.7. The entire treatment period was more than 24 months after ethyl loflazepate administration. Six children (28.6%) became seizure-free for the entire study 6 months after administration, 11 (52.4%) had a seizure reduction of more than 50% for over entire 24 months. The mean number of co-medications was 2.4. Adverse events occurred in only 1 patient. Responders, defined as reduction of ≥50% in seizure frequency, included 2/2 of patients with West syndrome and 15/17 (88.2%) with localization-related epilepsy. Ethyl loflazepate represents an important addition to the treatments available for refractory epilepsies in children.
[Effects of greater-than-5% weight reduction on hemodynamic, metabolic and neuroendocrine profiles of grade I obese subjects].

To evaluate the effects of a greater-than-5% weight reduction in hemodynamic, metabolic, and neuroendocrine profiles of grade I obese subjects.



Observational study with 47 grade I obese subjects, with mean age of 33 years who received monthly orientation regarding diet, physical exercises, and eating behavior for four months. Blood pressure using the auscultatory method and pulse rate were assessed monthly, whereas the following variables (and respective methods) were measured at the beginning and at the end of the study: total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol (enzymatic method), LDL-cholesterol (Friedewald formula), blood glucose (hexokinase method), leptin, adiponectin, renin, aldosterone, insulin (radioimmunoassay) and insulin-resistance index (HOMA).



After adjustment for other variables, significant reductions of 6 mmHg in diastolic blood pressure, 7 pg/ml in renin, 13 mg/dl in total cholesterol and 12 mg/dl in LDL-cholesterol were observed in the greater-than-5% weight reduction group. Also, a tendency to a higher increase in adiponectin levels by the end of the study, as well as a three-fold higher reduction in blood glucose, insulin, and HOMA levels, and a six-fold higher reduction in leptin levels were observed in this group.



Non-pharmacological measures that promote a greater-than-5% weight reduction produce hemodynamic, metabolic, and neuroendocrine effects that improve the cardiovascular risk of obese subjects.
Serum ferritin levels are associated with a distinct phenotype of chronic hepatitis C poorly responding to pegylated interferon-alpha and ribavirin therapy.

Elevated serum ferritin levels may reflect a systemic inflammatory state as well as increased iron storage, both of which may contribute to an unfavorable outcome of chronic hepatitis C (CHC). We therefore performed a comprehensive analysis of the role of serum ferritin and its genetic determinants in the pathogenesis and treatment of CHC. To this end, serum ferritin levels at baseline of therapy with pegylated interferon-alpha and ribavirin or before biopsy were correlated with clinical and histological features of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, including necroinflammatory activity (N = 970), fibrosis (N = 980), steatosis (N = 886), and response to treatment (N = 876). The association between high serum ferritin levels (> median) and the endpoints was assessed by logistic regression. Moreover, a candidate gene as well as a genome-wide association study of serum ferritin were performed. We found that serum ferritin ≥ the sex-specific median was one of the strongest pretreatment predictors of treatment failure (univariate P < 0.0001, odds ratio [OR] = 0.45, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.34-0.60). This association remained highly significant in a multivariate analysis (P = 0.0002, OR = 0.35, 95% CI = 0.20-0.61), with an OR comparable to that of interleukin (IL)28B genotype. When patients with the unfavorable IL28B genotypes were stratified according to high versus low ferritin levels, SVR rates differed by > 30% in both HCV genotype 1- and genotype 3-infected patients (P < 0.001). Serum ferritin levels were also independently associated with severe liver fibrosis (P < 0.0001, OR = 2.67, 95% CI = 1.68-4.25) and steatosis (P = 0.002, OR = 2.29, 95% CI = 1.35-3.91), but not with necroinflammatory activity (P = 0.3). Genetic variations had only a limited impact on serum ferritin levels.



In patients with CHC, elevated serum ferritin levels are independently associated with advanced liver fibrosis, hepatic steatosis, and poor response to interferon-alpha-based therapy.
Control Architecture and Experiment of a Situated Robot System for Interactive Assembly

We present the development of and experiment with a robot system showing cognitive capabilities of children of three to four years. We focus on two topics: assembly by two hands and understanding human instructions in natural language as a precondition for assembly systems being perceived by humans as “intelligent”. A typical application of such a system is interactive assembly. A human communicator sharing a view of the assembly scenario with the robot instructs the latter by speaking to it in the same way that he would communicate with a child. His instructions can be under-specified, incomplete and/or context-dependent. After introducing the general purpose of our project, we present the hardware and software components of our robots necessary for interactive assembly tasks. The control architecture of the robot system with two stationary robot arms is discussed. We then describe the functionalities of the instruction understanding, planning and execution levels. The implementations of a layered-learning methodology, memories and monitoring functions are briefly introduced. Finally, we outline a list of future research topics for extending our system.
Time trends in cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in the 'old' and 'new' European Union countries.

There are large differences in all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality between eastern and western countries in Europe. We reviewed the development of these mortality trends in countries of the European Union (EU) over the past 40 years and evaluated available data regarding possible determinants of these differences.



We summarized all-cause mortality and specific cardiovascular mortality for two country groups - 10 countries that joined the European Union (EU) after 2004 (East), and 15 countries that joined before 2004 (West). Standardized mortality rates were retrieved from the World Health Organization "European Health for All" database for each country between 1970 and 2007. Currently (in the 2000s), mortality due to circulatory system disease, ischemic heart disease (IHD), cerebrovascular disease (CBVD), and all-causes in the 'new' EU countries (East) is approximately twice that in the 'old' EU countries (West). These differences were much smaller in the 1970s. The increasing gap in mortality between West and East is primarily the result of a continuous and rapid improvement in the West.



Differences in lifestyle (i.e. diet, alcohol consumption, physical activity, and smoking) provide insufficient explanation for the observed mortality gap in these two groups of EU countries. Higher expenditures on health, better access to invasive and acute cardiac care, and better pharmacological control of hypertension and hypercholesterolemia in the West are well documented. Socioeconomic and psychosocial factors may also contribute to the changes in mortality trends.
Vascular Effects of Ultrafine Particles in Persons with Type 2 Diabetes

Diabetes confers an increased risk for cardiovascular effects of airborne particles.



We hypothesized that inhalation of elemental carbon ultrafine particles (UFP) would activate blood platelets and vascular endothelium in people with type 2 diabetes.



In a randomized, double-blind, crossover trial, 19 subjects with type 2 diabetes inhaled filtered air or 50 µg/m³ elemental carbon UFP (count median diameter, 32 nm) by mouthpiece for 2 hr at rest. We repeatedly measured markers of vascular activation, coagulation, and systemic inflammation before and after exposure.



Compared with air, particle exposure increased platelet expression of CD40 ligand (CD40L) and the number of platelet-leukocyte conjugates 3.5 hr after exposure. Soluble CD40L decreased with UFP exposure. Plasma von Willebrand factor increased immediately after exposure. There were no effects of particles on plasma tissue factor, coagulation factors VII or IX, or D-dimer.



Inhalation of elemental carbon UFP for 2-hr transiently activated platelets, and possibly the vascular endothelium, in people with type 2 diabetes.
Socioeconomic status is associated with urinary diversion utilization after radical cystectomy for bladder cancer

To assess socioeconomic disparities in urinary diversion utilization in a contemporary American cohort. In the National Cancer Database, we identified 4538 patients who underwent cystectomy with urinary diversion for clinical T1-2N0M0 bladder cancer from 2010 to 2013. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify predictors of urinary diversion type: ileal conduit (IC), continent cutaneous reservoir (CCR), or orthotopic neobladder (ON). Covariates included age, gender, race, income, Charlson score, clinical T stage, hospital cystectomy volume, teaching status, and surgical approach. Subgroup analysis by hospital volume (low, intermediate, or high) and teaching status (academic or non-academic) was performed to ascertain the impact of regionalization on urinary diversion use. The final cohort included 4066 (89.6 %) patients with IC, 292 (6.4 %) with CCR, and 180 (4.0 %) with ON. On multivariable analysis, younger age (p < .01), higher income (p < .01), and high cystectomy volume predicted increased use of CCR and ON. Female gender predicted increased use of CCR versus IC (p < .01), and academic hospital status predicted increased use of ON versus IC (p = .04). On subgroup analysis, after further adjustment for hospital volume and teaching status, higher income remained an independent predictor of ON use. Despite regionalization of care, higher income patients are more likely to receive complex urinary diversions after radical cystectomy. Other related socioeconomic factors, especially patient education, may influence this practice pattern.
Pilot study of chronic maternal hyperoxygenation and effect on aortic and mitral valve annular dimensions in fetuses with left heart hypoplasia.

Acute maternal hyperoxygenation (AMH) results in increased fetal left heart blood flow. Our aim was to perform a pilot study to determine the safety, feasibility and direction and magnitude of effect of chronic maternal hyperoxygenation (CMH) on mitral and aortic valve annular dimensions in fetuses with left heart hypoplasia (LHH) after CMH.



Gravidae with fetal LHH were eligible for inclusion in a prospective evaluation of CMH. LHH was defined as: sum of aortic and mitral valve annuli Z-scores < -4.5, arch flow reversal and left-to-right or bidirectional atrial level shunting without hypoplastic left heart syndrome or severe aortic stenosis. Gravidae with an affected fetus and with ≥ 10% increase in aortic/combined cardiac output flow after 10 min of AMH at 8 L/min 100% fraction of inspired oxygen were offered enrollment. Nine gravidae were enrolled from February 2014 to January 2015. The goal therapy was ≥ 8 h daily CMH from enrollment until delivery. Gravidae who were cared for from July 2012 to October 2014 with fetal LHH and no CMH were identified as historical controls (n = 9). Rates of growth in aortic and mitral annuli over the final trimester were compared between groups using longitudinal regression.



There were no significant maternal or fetal complications in the CMH cohort. Mean gestational age at study initiation was 29.6 ± 3.2 weeks for the intervention group and 28.4 ± 1.8 weeks for controls (P = 0.35). Mean relative increase in aortic/combined cardiac output after AMH was 35.3% (range, 18.1-47.9%). Median number of hours per day on CMH therapy was 9.3 (range, 6.5-14.6) and median duration of CMH was 48 (range, 33-84) days. Mean mitral annular growth was 0.19 ± 0.05 mm/week compared with 0.14 ± 0.05 mm/week in CMH vs controls (mean difference 0.05 ± 0.05 mm/week, P = 0.33). Mean aortic annular growth was 0.14 ± 0.03 mm/week compared with 0.13 ± 0.03 mm/week in CMH vs controls (mean difference 0.01 ± 0.03 mm/week, P = 0.75). More than 9 h CMH daily (n = 6) was associated with better growth of the aortic annulus in intervention fetuses (0.16 ± 0.03 vs 0.08 ± 0.02 mm/week, P = 0.014).



CMH is both safe and feasible for continued research. In this pilot study, the effect estimates of annular growth, using the studied method of delivery and dose of oxygen, were small.
Clinical efficacy of controlled-release oxycodone 20 mg administered on a 12-h dosing schedule on the management of postoperative pain after breast surgery for cancer.

To assess clinical efficacy of controlled-release oxycodone (CRO) 20 mg on a 12-h dosing schedule in this prospective, randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blinded study of 40 ASA physical status I-III women undergoing breast surgery for cancer.



General anaesthesia using remifentanil and propofol was performed for surgery. Both groups received premedication with oral midazolam 7.5 mg 1 h before surgery. In the controlled-release oxycodone group, one tablet of 20 mg CRO was administered with the premedication, and 12 h after the premedication another 20 mg CRO. In the placebo (PL) group, a placebo tablet was administered with the premedication, and 12 h later another placebo tablet. All patients had access to opioid rescue medication via an IV patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) device.



Area under the curve (AUC), based on IV opioid rescue consumption over 24 h postoperatively.



The AUC for IV PCA opioid consumption was significantly lower in the CRO group than in the PL group (p = 0.01). The CRO group required less IV opioid loading dose (p < 0.001), and consumed less opioid rescue medication 4 h (p = 0.036), 16 h (p = 0.01), and 24 h (p = 0.005) postoperatively. AUC for VAS scores at rest was significantly lower in the CRO group than in the PL group (p = 0.05). VAS scores at rest were lower in the CRO group 16 h (p = 0.04) and 24 h (p = 0.03) postoperatively. There was no difference in AUC for pain scores on movement (p = 0.103) and for quality of analgesia (p = 0.139). There was no difference in nausea between groups (p = 0.34). Pruritus, arterial hypotension or hypertension, bradycardia, and tachycardia were not observed in either treatment group. None of the patients showed signs of confusion, agitation, or respiratory depression.



The administration of CRO 20 mg on a 12-h dosing schedule halves postoperative IV PCA opioid consumption. CRO 20mg is effective in preventing pain after breast surgery for cancer with only mild side-effects.