nils-herrmann/clean_scirepeval huggingface dataset:
Evolutionary thinking

Evolution as an idea has a lengthy history, even though the idea of evolution is generally associated with Darwin today. Rebecca Stott provides an engaging and thoughtful overview of this history of evolutionary thinking in her 2013 book, Darwin's Ghosts: The Secret History of Evolution. Since Darwin, the debate over evolution-both how it takes place and, in a long war of words with religiously-oriented thinkers, whether it takes place-has been sustained and heated. A growing share of this debate is now devoted to examining how evolutionary thinking affects areas outside of biology. How do our lives change when we recognize that all is in flux? What can we learn about life more generally if we study change instead of stasis? Carter Phipps' book, Evolutionaries: Unlocking the Spiritual and Cultural Potential of Science's Greatest Idea, delves deep into this relatively new development. Phipps generally takes as a given the validity of the Modern Synthesis of evolutionary biology. His story takes us into, as the subtitle suggests, the spiritual and cultural implications of evolutionary thinking. Can religion and evolution be reconciled? Can evolutionary thinking lead to a new type of spirituality? Is our culture already being changed in ways that we don't realize by evolutionary thinking? These are all important questions and Phipps book is a great introduction to this discussion. Phipps is an author, journalist, and contributor to the emerging "integral" or "evolutionary" cultural movement that combines the insights of Integral Philosophy, evolutionary science, developmental psychology, and the social sciences. He has served as the Executive Editor of EnlightenNext magazine (no longer published) and more recently is the co-founder of the Institute for Cultural Evolution, a public policy think tank addressing the cultural roots of America's political challenges. What follows is an email interview with Phipps.
Prognostic impact of different regional referral practices for interventional investigation and coronary treatment after exercise testing: a population-based 5-year follow-up study.

To examine the association among different centres' referral practices for coronary angiography (CAG) after exercise testing, with 1- and 5-year outcomes.



Observational population-based cohort study.



All 10 hospitals and six private practising consultants in Aarhus and Ringkjoebing counties (900 000 inhabitants), Denmark.



All patients who in 1996 had an abnormal bicycle exercise test (n = 736).



Referral for CAG, coronary intervention, cardiovascular and all-cause mortality, and myocardial infarction (MI).



As an immediate consequence of the exercise test, 60.7% of subjects were referred for CAG. Based on the centres' fraction of patients referred for CAG, three categories of centres were defined: low (<33%), intermediate (33-66%) and high (>66%). A low compared with a high referral fraction was associated with a similar 5-year mortality and MI ratio [all-cause/cardiovascular mortality rate ratio (RR) = 1.33, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.45-3.92/RR = 0.62, 95% CI: 0.25-1.57; and MI RR = 0.92, 95% CI: 0.45-1.86]. The same was found for an intermediate compared with a high fraction (all-cause/cardiovascular mortality RR = 0.92, 95% CI: 0.49-1.72/RR = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.42-1.33; and MI RR = 1.07, 95% CI: 0.68-1.70). Estimates were about the same after 1 year of follow-up with no major differences among centres in mortality or MI.



Centres' different referral practices for interventional investigation and treatment were not associated significantly with short-term or long-term mortality or MI among patients with an abnormal exercise test.
Immunotherapy of peritoneal carcinomatosis with the antibody catumaxomab in colon, gastric, or pancreatic cancer: an open-label, multicenter, phase I/II trial.

Peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) is common in gastrointestinal (GI) cancer and there is no effective standard treatment. We investigated the tolerability and maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of the trifunctional antibody catumaxomab in patients with PC.



In this open-label, phase I/II clinical trial, patients with epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM)-positive PC from GI cancer received 4 sequential intraperitoneal catumaxomab infusions: day 0: 10 μg; day 3: 10 or 20 μg; day 7: 30, 50, or 100 μg; and day 10: 50, 100, or 200 μg. Dose escalation was guided by dose-limiting toxicities.



The MTD was 10, 20, 50, and 200 μg on days 0, 3, 7, and 10, respectively. Catumaxomab had an acceptable safety profile: Most common treatment-related adverse events (at the MTD) were fever, vomiting, and abdominal pain. At final examination, 11/17 evaluable patients (65%) were progression free: 1 patient had a complete and 3 a partial response. Median overall survival from the time of diagnosis of PC was 502 days.



Intraperitoneal catumaxomab is a promising option for the treatment of PC from GI cancer.
Affective patterns in triadic family interactions: Associations with adolescent depression.

Affective family processes are associated with the development of depression during adolescence. However, empirical description of these processes is generally based on examining affect at the individual or dyadic level. The purpose of this study was to examine triadic patterns of affect during parent-adolescent interactions in families with or without a depressed adolescent. We used state space grid analysis to characterize the state of all three actors simultaneously. Compared to healthy controls, triads with depressed adolescents displayed a wider range of affect, demonstrated less predictability of triadic affective sequences, spent more time in and returned more quickly to discrepant affective states, and spent less time in and returned more slowly to matched affective states, particularly while engaged in a problem-solving interaction. Furthermore, we identified seven unique triadic states in which triads with depressed adolescents spent significantly more time than triads with healthy controls. The present study enhances understanding of family affective processes related to depression by taking a more systemic approach and revealing triadic patterns that go beyond individual and dyadic analyses.
A phase I factorial design study of dose-dense temozolomide alone and in combination with thalidomide, isotretinoin, and/or celecoxib as postchemoradiation adjuvant therapy for newly diagnosed glioblastoma

External beam radiation therapy (XRT) with concomitant temozolomide and 6 cycles of adjuvant temozolomide (5/28-day schedule) improves survival in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma compared with XRT alone. Studies suggest that dose-dense temozolomide schedules and addition of cytostatic agents may further improve efficacy. This factorial design phase I/II protocol tested dose-dense temozolomide alone and combined with cytostatic agents. Patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma received fractionated XRT to 60 Gy concomitant with temozolomide (75 mg/m²)/day for 42 days). In the phase I portion, patients with stable disease or radiologic response 1 month after chemoradiation were randomized to adjuvant temozolomide alone (150 mg/m²/day, 7/14-day schedule) or with doublet combinations of thalidomide (400 mg/day), isotretinoin (100 mg/m²/day), and/or celecoxib (400 mg twice daily), or all 3 agents. Toxicity was assessed after 4 weeks. Among 54 patients enrolled (median age, 52 years; median Karnofsky performance status, 90), adjuvant treatment was not administered to 12 (22%), primarily because of disease progression (n = 10). All combinations were well tolerated. Grade 3/4 lymphopenia developed in 63% of patients, but no related infections occurred. One patient treated with temozolomide plus isotretinoin plus thalidomide had dose-limiting grade 3 fatigue and rash, and 1 patient receiving all 4 agents had dose-limiting grade 4 neutropenia. Venous thrombosis occurred in 7 patients, 4 of whom received thalidomide. From study entry, median survival was 20 months and the 2-year survival rate was 40%. Multiple cytostatic agents can be safely combined with dose-dense temozolomide. The factorial-based phase II portion of this study is currently ongoing.
Psychological effects of the intensified follow-up of the CEAwatch trial after treatment for colorectal cancer

The aim of the study was to evaluate psychological effects of the state-of-art intensified follow-up protocol for colorectal cancer patients in the CEAwatch trial.



At two time points during the CEAwatch trial questionnaires regarding patients' attitude towards follow-up, patients' psychological functioning and patients' experiences and expectations were sent to participants by post. Linear mixed models were fitted to assess the influences and secular trends of the intensified follow-up on patients' attitude towards follow-up and psychological functioning. As secondary outcome, odds ratios were calculated using ordinal logistic mixed model to compare patients' experiences to their expectations, as well as their experiences at two different time points.



No statistical significant effects of the intensified follow-up were found on patients' attitude towards the follow-up and psychological functioning variables. Patients had high expectations of the intensified follow-up and their experiences at the second time point were more positive compared to the scores at the first time point.



The intensified follow-up protocol posed no adverse effects on patients' attitude towards follow-up and psychological functioning. In general, patients were more nervous and anxious at the start of the new follow-up protocol, had high expectations of the new follow-up protocol and were troubled by the nuisances of the blood sample testing. As they spent more time in the follow-up and became more adapted to it, the nervousness and anxiety decreased and the preference for the frequent blood test became high in replacement of conversations with the doctors.
Preliminary results of magnetic resonance imaging-aided high-dose-rate interstitial brachytherapy for recurrent uterine carcinoma after curative surgery.

This report presents initial experience with imaging-aided high-dose-rate interstitial brachytherapy (HDR-ISBT) for post-operative recurrence of uterine carcinoma. Fourteen patients presenting with post-operative recurrence of uterine carcinoma (nine cervix and five corpus) between July 2005 and October 2008 were enrolled in this study (median follow-up: 37 months, range: 6-59 months). We implanted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-compatible plastic applicators using our own ambulatory technique. HDR-ISBT treatment consisted of twice-a-day irradiation of 6 Gy each with at least a six-hour interval to provide the total prescribed dose. Treatment was based on treatment planning-computed tomography with MRI as a reference. Seven patients were treated with a combination of ISBT (median 30 Gy/5 fractions; range: 27-33 Gy) and external beam radiation therapy (EBRT), and the other seven with brachytherapy only (median 54 Gy/9 fractions; range: 48-54 Gy), one of whom had previously received pelvic EBRT. The three-year estimates of local control and overall survival rates were 77.9% (95% confidence interval (CI): 55.8-100%) and 77.1% (95% CI: 54.2-100%), respectively. Two patients, who had received combined treatment with EBRT showed untoward reactions, including a grade 3 subileus and grade 2 constipation. Another patient, who had been treated with ISBT alone, developed grade 2 urinary constriction. Our imaging-aided HDR-ISBT for post-operative recurrence of uterine carcinoma was found to be practical with promising preliminary results.
Cytological changes induced by intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guérin therapy for superficial bladder cancer.

To evaluate cytological changes of urothelial cells with intravesical instillation therapy of the bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), cytological specimens of voided urine from patients with superficial bladder cancer (pTa and pT1) treated with intravesical BCG therapy were examined. The following three groups of patients who had no evidence of recurrence more than 2 years after the treatment were studied: groups 1 and 2, patients who were treated with BCG (n = 22) and epirubicin, a derivative of doxorubicin (n = 22), respectively, for prophylaxis of intravesical recurrence after transurethral resection (TUR); and group 3, patients receiving no intravesical therapy after TUR (n = 12). Sixteen cytological characteristics were studied before and after the treatment in each group. In group 1 patients translucent nuclei and prominent nucleoli, vacuolization of cytoplasm, and eosinophilic cytoplasmic inclusions were frequently observed in urothelial cells as well as an increase in granulocytes, especially within 3 months after BCG instillation therapy. In group 2 patients an increased nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio, hyperchromatic nuclei and prominent nucleoli of urothelial cells were transiently found within 1-2 months after intravesical epirubicin therapy. In group 3, translucent nuclei and prominent nucleoli of urothelial cells were found within 1-2 months after TUR. In conclusion, cytological changes induced by BCG therapy are nonspecific and reactive in nature, different from those due to chemotherapeutic agents and distinguishable from malignant changes of urothelial cells.
Comparison of the hypoglycemic effect of sitagliptin versus the combination of mitiglinide and voglibose in drug-naïve Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes.

The postprandial glucose (PPG) level is reduced by α-GIs, glinides and DPP4Is through different pharmacological actions. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of sitagliptin (S) versus that of the combination of mitiglinide and voglibose (M+V) on markers of glycemic control.



A randomized cross-over trial was performed in 20 patients with drug-naïve type 2 diabetes. The patients were randomized to receive S (50 mg/day) or M+V (1 tablet 3 times daily). Treatment was continued for 8 weeks, after which they were switched to the other regimen and treated for another 8 weeks. At baseline, after the first regimen, and after the second regimen, a meal test was performed.



The markers of glycemic control were examined.



Reduction of glucose excursion was significantly greater with M+V than with S. HbA1c did not change with either regimen. However, 1,5-anhydroglucitol showed a significant increase from baseline with both regimens (7.9 ± 4.3 μg/ml at baseline vs. 10.6 ± 5.5 with S, p < 0.05 and 15.1 ± 6.2 with M+V, p < 0.01). Compared with baseline, glycoalbumin was significantly reduced by M+V, but not S (19.6 ± 2.9% at baseline vs. 17.3 ± 3.8% with M+V, p < 0.05).



M+V achieved better control of PPG excursion than S.
Health of the Nation Outcome Scales for Children and Adolescents (HoNOSCA)

Assessment of the effectiveness of clinical practice requires appropriate outcome measures.Health of the Nation Outcome Scales for Children and Adolescents (HoNOSCA) is a recently developed measure of outcome for use in child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS). The aims of the present study were to evaluate sensitivity to change, face validity and clinical feasibility of HoNOSCA in a Danish field trial. A prospective design in which HoNOSCA, Global Assessment of Psychosocial Disability (GAPD) and a clinician rated global outcome measure were completed at 15 field sites. 173 patients were rated both at initial assessment and at follow-up after three months. HoNOSCA demonstrated satisfactory face validity. There was a strong correlation between HoNOSCA scores and GAPD scores (r = 0.6, P < 0.001) and a highly significant association (ANOVA (F = 25.4, P < 0.001)) between change in HoNOSCA scores and global clinical ratings of change.Mean HoNOSCA scores varied between psychiatric diagnoses. HoNOSCA is a sensitive and valid measure of change for children and adolescents attending CAMHS.
Pharmacodynamic effects of cangrelor on platelet P2Y12 receptor-mediated signaling in prasugrel-treated patients.

The purpose of this study was to assess the in vitro P2Y12 receptor inhibitory effects of cangrelor on platelets from patients on maintenance prasugrel therapy treated with 2 reloading dose regimens.



Despite its more potent and rapid antiplatelet effects compared with clopidogrel, recent studies have shown variability in prasugrel-mediated P2Y12 receptor inhibition, particularly in high-risk settings. Cangrelor is a potent intravenous P2Y12 receptor inhibitor.



A total of 60 patients with coronary artery disease on maintenance prasugrel (10 mg/day) therapy were randomized to a 30- or 60-mg reload of prasugrel. The platelet reactivity index (PRI), as assessed by whole-blood vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein, was measured with and without in vitro incubation of cangrelor (500 nM) at baseline, and at 1 and 4 h after reload.



In the absence of cangrelor, prasugrel reloading reduced PRI (p < 0.001 for both doses), although a 60-mg reload had greater platelet inhibition compared with a 30-mg reload at 4 h (p = 0.001). Cangrelor was associated with a reduction in PRI values during the overall study time course in patients reloaded with 30 mg (p = 0.001) and 60 mg (p < 0.001) of prasugrel. In patients reloaded with 30 mg prasugrel, cangrelor decreased PRI at each time point (baseline, p < 0.001; 1 h, p = 0.013; 4 h, p = 0.001). In patients reloaded with 60 mg prasugrel, cangrelor decreased PRI at baseline (p < 0.001) and 1 h (p = 0.002); levels of platelet reactivity comparable to those achieved with cangrelor were observed only at 4 h (p = 0.325). The intergroup comparisons with cangrelor were not significant at any time point.



In patients on maintenance prasugrel therapy exposed to a reloading dose (30 or 60 mg) of prasugrel, in vitro cangrelor is associated with further platelet P2Y12 receptor inhibitory effects.
Age patterns of Kaposi's sarcoma incidence in a cohort of HIV-infected men

The life expectancy for HIV-positive individuals has improved over time due to increasing access to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Yet, as the HIV-positive population ages, their risk of developing cancers also increases. Studies of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) among elderly HIV-infected persons are quite limited. We examined the age patterns of KS incidence and an association between age and KS risk in a US cohort of 3458 HIV-infected men, the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS). Poisson distribution was used to calculate incidence rates and respective 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). Cox proportional hazards regression was performed to examine the association between age and KS risk. There were 534 incident KS cases with a total follow-up time of 25,134 person-years. The overall KS incidence rate was 2.13 per 100 person-years (95% CI: 1.95-2.32) (Non-HAART users-ever: 5.57 per 100 person-years [95% CI: 5.09-6.10]; HAART users-ever: 0.39 per 100 person-years [95% CI: 0.31-0.51]). Overall, KS frequency and incidence declined with age, even in the oldest age group (p(trend) < 0.0001). However, among non-HAART users-ever, the oldest age group had the highest incidence rate ratio compared to younger individuals [15.01, 95% CI: 6.12-44.22]). While the incidence of KS decreased with age, older HIV-infected persons who do not receive HAART are still at increased risk of KS. As KS remains an important malignancy among HIV-infected persons, earlier HIV diagnoses and HAART initiation, particularly in older HIV-infected persons is warranted.
Acupuncture in patients suffering from allergic asthma: is it worth additional costs?

Acupuncture is increasingly used in patients with allergic asthma, but there is a lack of evidence on the cost-benefit relationship of this treatment. The aim of this study was to assess economic aspects of additional acupuncture treatment in patients with allergic bronchial asthma compared to patients receiving routine care alone.  SUBJECTS, INTERVENTION,  In a randomized controlled trial, patients with allergic bronchial asthma were either allocated to a group receiving acupuncture immediately or a waiting-list control group. Both groups were free to use routine care treatment. The resource consumption, costs, and health-related quality of life were evaluated at baseline, and after 3 and 6 months by using statutory health insurance information and standardized questionnaires. Main economic outcome parameters were direct and indirect cost differences during the study period and the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of acupuncture treatment.



Three hundred and six (306) patients (159 acupuncture; 147 controls) were included (mean age 46.5±13.11 years, female 57.2%) and were comparable at baseline. Acupuncture treatment was associated with significantly higher costs compared to control patients (overall costs: €860.76 [95% confidence interval (CI) 705.04-1016.47] versus €518.80 [95% CI 356.66-680.93]; p=0.003; asthma-related costs: €517.52 [95% CI 485.63-549.40] versus €144.87 [95% CI 111.70-178.05]; p<0.001). These additional costs seem essentially driven by acupuncture costs themselves (€378.40 [95% CI 367.10-389.69]). However, acupuncture was associated with superior effectiveness in terms of quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). Resulting ICER lay between €23,231 (overall) and €25,315 (diagnosis-specific) per additional QALY. When using German acupuncture prices of year 2012, the ICER would improve to €12.810 (overall) versus €14,911 (diagnosis-specific) per QALY gained.



Treating patients who have allergic bronchial asthma with acupuncture in addition to routine care resulted in additional costs and better effects in terms of patients' quality of life. Acupuncture therefore seems to be a useful and cost-effective add-on treatment.
Testing the Predictive Value of Peripheral Gene Expression for Nonremission Following Citalopram Treatment for Major Depression

Major depressive disorder (MDD) in general, and anxious-depression in particular, are characterized by poor rates of remission with first-line treatments, contributing to the chronic illness burden suffered by many patients. Prospective research is needed to identify the biomarkers predicting nonremission prior to treatment initiation. We collected blood samples from a discovery cohort of 34 adult MDD patients with co-occurring anxiety and 33 matched, nondepressed controls at baseline and after 12 weeks (of citalopram plus psychotherapy treatment for the depressed cohort). Samples were processed on gene arrays and group differences in gene expression were investigated. Exploratory analyses suggest that at pretreatment baseline, nonremitting patients differ from controls with gene function and transcription factor analyses potentially related to elevated inflammation and immune activation. In a second phase, we applied an unbiased machine learning prediction model and corrected for model-selection bias. Results show that baseline gene expression predicted nonremission with 79.4% corrected accuracy with a 13-gene model. The same gene-only model predicted nonremission after 8 weeks of citalopram treatment with 76% corrected accuracy in an independent validation cohort of 63 MDD patients treated with citalopram at another institution. Together, these results demonstrate the potential, but also the limitations, of baseline peripheral blood-based gene expression to predict nonremission after citalopram treatment. These results not only support their use in future prediction tools but also suggest that increased accuracy may be obtained with the inclusion of additional predictors (eg, genetics and clinical scales).