nils-herrmann/clean_scirepeval huggingface dataset:
Comparison of lancing devices for self-monitoring of blood glucose regarding lancing pain.

Self-monitoring of blood glucose empowers diabetes patients to effectively control their blood glucose (BG) levels. A potential barrier to frequent BG controls is lancing pain, intrinsically linked to pricking the finger several times a day. In this study, we compared different state-of-the-art lancing devices from leading manufacturers regarding lancing pain, and we intended to identify lancing devices that are less painful.



First, 165 subjects compared 6 different BG monitoring systems-consisting of a lancing device and a BG meter-at home for 36 days and at least 3 BG tests per day. Second, the subjects directly compared 6 different lancing devices-independent from a BG meter-in a laboratory setting. The test results were collected in questionnaires, and lancing pain was rated on a numerical rating scale.



One hundred fifty-seven subjects were included in the analysis. Accu-Chek BG monitoring systems were significantly (p < or = .006) preferred to competitor BG monitoring systems and were rated by >50% of the subjects as "less painful" than competitor BG monitoring systems. Accu-Chek lancing devices were significantly (p < .001) preferred to competitor lancing devices and were rated by >60% of the subjects as "less painful" than competitor lancing devices.



We found significant differences in lancing pain between lancing devices. Diabetes patients clearly preferred lancing devices that cause less lancing pain. In order to improve patient compliance with respect to an adequate glycemic control, the medical staff should preferentially prescribe lancing devices that cause less lancing pain.
Algorithmic and Complexity Results for Decompositions of Biological Networks into Monotone Subsystems

A useful approach to the mathematical analysis of large-scale biological networks is based upon their decompositions into monotone dynamical systems. This paper deals with two computational problems associated to finding decompositions which are optimal in an appropriate sense. In graph-theoretic language, the problems can be recast in terms of maximal sign-consistent subgraphs. The theoretical results include polynomial-time approximation algorithms as well as constant-ratio inapproximability results. One of the algorithms, which has a worst-case guarantee of 87.9% from optimality, is based on the semidefinite programming relaxation approach of Goemans-Williamson [Goemans, M., Williamson, D., 1995. Improved approximation algorithms for maximum cut and satisfiability problems using semidefinite programming. ]. The algorithm was implemented and tested on a Drosophila segmentation network and an Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor pathway model, and it was found to perform close to optimally.
Age-Specific Values and Cutoff Levels for the Diagnosis of Osteoporosis in Quantitative Ultrasound Measurements at the Calcaneus with SAHARA in Healthy Japanese Women: Japanese Population-Based Osteoporosis (JPOS) Study

To establish the reference values of the quantitative ultrasound (QUS) indices in healthy Japanese women and to propose a diagnostic criterion for osteoporosis by means of the QUS indices, 659 healthy women aged 20-79 years recruited from a larger cohort study (JPOS study), were examined for bone mass measurements by QUS at the calcaneus (SAHARA, Hologic Inc., USA) and by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry at the spine, hip, and distal forearm. We presented 10-year age-specific mean values and T-scores of the QUS indices. The pattern of decrease in the T-score appeared to be linear in the QUS indices and total hip BMD but not in BMD at the spine. The T-score of the QUS of indices of the subjects in their 70s were significantly higher than that of BMD at the spine. The prevalence rates of osteoporosis in the subjects aged 50 and older diagnosed by QUS (8.7% for SOS, 10.7% for BUA) were similar to that diagnosed by total hip BMD (11.5%) and significantly lower than that by the spine BMD (36.1%) when the WHO criteria were applied. We performed receiver-operating characteristic analysis to set a cutoff level of the QUS indices for the diagnosis of osteoporosis to accurately identify the subjects diagnosed by either the spine or total hip BMD. The highest likelihood ratios for SOS and BUA were obtained at the cutoff levels of 1,517.7 m/sec (T-score: -1.58) with the sensitivity of 0.65 and the specificity of 0.65 and 59.5 dB/MHz (T-score: -1.52) with 0.66 and 0.69, respectively. The diagnostic accuracy of QUS indices for osteoporosis was not superior to that of age. However, the QUS indices showed a significant contribution to forming the diagnosis of osteoporosis independently of age and body size in multivariate diagnostic models developed by the logistic regression analysis. Therefore, the cutoff values presented in this study may be used as a tentative criterion until the cutoff levels for the QUS indices are set according to the fracture risk.
Adding omalizumab to the therapy of adolescents with persistent uncontrolled moderate--severe allergic asthma.

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of omalizumab among adolescents with moderate-severe allergic asthma inadequately controlled with inhaled corticosteroids.



Data from patients 12 to 17 years of age were pooled from 5 placebo-controlled registration trials of omalizumab. Impact on asthma control was assessed by need for rescue bursts of oral corticosteroids, lung function, symptom scores, and unscheduled office visits.



In adolescents (n = 146), addition of omalizumab decreased mean number of rescue bursts (0.3 vs 0.9) versus placebo; relative risk 0.47 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.22-0.99; P = .047). At study conclusion, mean forced expiratory volume in 1 second increased 268 mL (13.8%) in omalizumab-treated subjects versus 98 mL (5.5%) for placebo (least squares mean treatment difference 146 mL [95% CI, 19.4-272.6; P = .024]). Omalizumab significantly improved asthma symptom scores and reduced unscheduled office visits.



Omalizumab added to baseline therapy improves measures of asthma control in adolescents with persistent moderate-severe allergic asthma.
A randomized trial evaluating tobacco possession-use-purchase laws in the USA.

Tobacco Purchase-Use-Possession laws (PUP) are being implemented throughout the US, but it is still unclear whether they are effective in reducing smoking prevalence among the youth targeted by these public health policies. In the present study, 24 towns in Northern Illinois were randomly assigned to one of two conditions. One condition involved reducing commercial sources of youth access to tobacco (Control), whereas the second involved both reducing commercial sources of youth access to tobacco as well as fining minors for possessing or using tobacco (Experimental). Students in 24 towns in Northern Illinois in the United States completed a 74 item self-report survey in 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005. At the start of the study, students were in grades 7-10. During each time period, students were classified as current smokers or nonsmokers (i.e., completely abstinent for the 30 consecutive days prior to assessment). The analyses included 25,404 different students and 50,725 assessments over the four time periods. A hierarchical linear modeling analytical approach was selected due to the multilevel data (i.e., town-level variables and individual-level variables), and nested design of sampling of youth within towns. Findings indicated that the rates of current smoking were not significantly different between the two conditions at baseline, but over time, rates increased significantly less quickly for adolescents in Experimental than those in Control towns. The implications of these findings are discussed.
Characterisation and prognosis of undiagnosed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients at their first hospitalisation

Under-diagnosis of COPD is an important unmet medical need. We investigated the characteristics and prognosis of hospitalised patients with undiagnosed COPD.



The PAC-COPD cohort included 342 COPD patients hospitalised for the first time for an exacerbation of COPD (2004-2006). Patients were extensively characterised using sociodemographic, clinical and functional variables, and the cohort was followed-up through 2008. We defined "undiagnosed COPD" by the absence of any self-reported respiratory disease and regular use of any pharmacological respiratory treatment.



Undiagnosed COPD was present in 34% of patients. They were younger (mean age 66 vs. 68 years, p = 0.03), reported fewer symptoms (mMRC dyspnoea score, 2.1 vs. 2.6, p < 0.01), and had a better health status (SGRQ total score, 29 vs. 40, p < 0.01), milder airflow limitation (FEV1% ref., 59% vs. 49%, p < 0.01), and fewer comorbidities (two or more, 40% vs. 56%, p < 0.01) when compared with patients with an established COPD diagnosis. Three months after hospital discharge, 16% of the undiagnosed COPD patients had stopped smoking (vs. 5%, p = 0.019). During follow-up, annual hospitalisation rates were lower in undiagnosed COPD patients (0.14 vs. 0.25, p < 0.01); however, this difference disappeared after adjustment for severity. Mortality was similar in both groups.



Undiagnosed COPD patients have less severe disease and lower risk of re-hospitalisation when compared with hospitalised patients with known COPD.
[Assessment of the French surgical checklist: the experience of 17 French cancer centres].

The use of WHO checklist has been associated to a decrease of complication incidence and mortality. This control is mandatory since January the 1st 2010. Evaluation of the quality of documentation is important and includes filling rate, which is a reflexion of participant adhesion and analysis of the circumstances where the team answers "no" during the control.



This study concerned 17 among 20 French cancer centres. Percentage of documented checklist, exhaustivity of the answers in each checklist and "no" answers have been compared during two periods: January 2010 and October 2010.



Rate of filled document is satisfactory and stable during the two periods (95.5% versus 95.8%). Exhaustivity was slightly better during the second period (64 and 68%, P=0,039). Nevertheless, variability between centres was large; one centre improved and four centres worsened their scores. Rate of "no" answers was low and increased during the second period (1.5% in January 1.9% in October P<0.001). They mainly concerned antibiotic administration and at a lesser degree bleeding risk, the name of the procedure, equipment problem to be addressed and postoperative management.



There is a large discrepancy between centres and for a given centre in reporting quality. Significant progress should be expected using target improvement. This approach implies multiple critical analysis of checklist content in each hospital and in multicentre enquiries.
The NK₁ receptor antagonist aprepitant does not alter the pharmacokinetics of high-dose melphalan chemotherapy in patients with multiple myeloma.

The objective of this investigation was to assess the effect of aprepitant on the pharmacokinetics of high-dose melphalan used as conditioning therapy before blood stem cell transplantation in multiple myeloma.



Aprepitant (125 mg) or placebo was administered 1 h before melphalan therapy (1 h infusion of 100 mg m⁻²). Eleven plasma samples were obtained over 8 h and melphalan was quantified using an LC/MS/MS method. Standard pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated and nonparametric testing was applied to assess the differences between aprepitant and placebo treatment.



Twenty patients received placebo and 10 patients aprepitant treatment. There were no differences observed for C(max) at the end of melphalan infusion (placebo 3431 ± 608 ng ml⁻¹ vs. aprepitant 3269 ± 660 ng ml⁻¹). In addition, AUC and terminal elimination half-life were not changed by aprepitant. Total clearance of melphalan was 304 ± 58 ml min⁻¹ m⁻² (placebo) which was not influenced by aprepitant (288 ± 78 ml min⁻¹ m⁻²).



The administration of the NK₁ receptor antagonist aprepitant 1 h before a high-dose chemotherapy does not influence the exposure and the elimination of melphalan. Therefore, oral administration of 125 mg aprepitant 1 h before melphalan infusion does not alter the disposition of intravenously administered melphalan.
Head and neck cancer.

From 275 pts with sinonasal cancer, 31 were SNA. Patient median age was 70 yrs (49-108), 54.8% male. 38.7% had professional exposure to leather dust/wood/cork. Primary sites at diagnosis were: nasal cavity (48.4%), maxillary sinus (3.3%), ethmoid sinus (3.3%). Nasal obstruction (74.3%), epistaxis (45.2%) were the most common presenting symptoms. Most pts (54.8%) presented with stage III and stage IV disease at diagnosis and 45.2% with stage I/II. The Intestinal-Type SNA (ITAC) was the most common type of adenocarcinoma (61.3%) followed by tubulopapillary (22.6%). The median time between the first symptom and the definitive diagnosis was 5 months (0-39) and from the diagnosis to the initial treatment was 2 months (0-9). Surgery was the primary treatment in 77.4%. Adjuvant radiation was performed in 51.6% and chemotherapy in 3.3%. Recurrence was seen in 13 pts (41.9%): 28.7% recurred locally, 6.6% systemically, and 6.6% both. The median follow-up, overall survival (OS) and progression free-survival (PFS) were 3.5 yrs, 5.45 yrs and 3.41 yrs, respectively. Mucinous ITAC subtype had a dismal outcome (7/8 pts died), with a median OS and PFS of 4.76 yrs and 2.8 yrs, respectively.
Prognosis of Streptococcus pneumoniae-induced hemolytic uremic syndrome

Streptococcus pneumoniae-induced hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is known to be a severe acute disease leading to death in one-third of cases, but data regarding the long-term follow-up are lacking. A new series of 11 patients with Streptococcus pneumoniae-induced HUS associated with meningitis and pneumonia constituted a multi-center review. Among 9 patients with a severe acute infectious disease, 3 died from meningitis and 1 from neurological sequelae after a partial recovery of renal function. The mean duration of dialysis was 32 days in patients with acute renal failure who survived the acute infectious period. Cortical necrosis was documented in five of six kidney specimens. Among the 7 surviving patients, 5 developed end-stage renal failure 4–17 years later.
Clinical Utility of a Bronchial Genomic Classifier in Patients With Suspected Lung Cancer.

Bronchoscopy is often the initial diagnostic procedure performed in patients with pulmonary lesions suggestive of lung cancer. A bronchial genomic classifier was previously validated to identify patients at low risk for lung cancer after an inconclusive bronchoscopy. In this study, we evaluated the potential of the classifier to reduce invasive procedure utilization in patients with suspected lung cancer.



In two multicenter trials of patients undergoing bronchoscopy for suspected lung cancer, the classifier was measured in normal-appearing bronchial epithelial cells from a mainstem bronchus. Among patients with low and intermediate pretest probability of cancer (n = 222), subsequent invasive procedures after an inconclusive bronchoscopy were identified. Estimates of the ability of the classifier to reduce unnecessary procedures were calculated.



Of the 222 patients, 188 (85%) had an inconclusive bronchoscopy and follow-up procedure data available for analysis. Seventy-seven (41%) patients underwent an additional 99 invasive procedures, which included surgical lung biopsy in 40 (52%) patients. Benign and malignant diseases were ultimately diagnosed in 62 (81%) and 15 (19%) patients, respectively. Among those undergoing surgical biopsy, 20 (50%) were performed in patients with benign disease. If the classifier had been used to guide decision making, procedures could have been avoided in 50% (21 of 42) of patients undergoing further invasive testing. Further, among 35 patients with an inconclusive index bronchoscopy who were diagnosed with lung cancer, the sensitivity of the classifier was 89%, with 4 (11%) patients having a false-negative classifier result.



Invasive procedures after an inconclusive bronchoscopy occur frequently, and most are performed in patients ultimately diagnosed with benign disease. Using the genomic classifier as an adjunct to bronchoscopy may reduce the frequency and associated morbidity of these invasive procedures.
Effects of Withania somnifera in patients of schizophrenia: A randomized, double blind, placebo controlled pilot trial study

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A phase I schedule dependency study of the aurora kinase inhibitor MSC1992371A in combination with gemcitabine in patients with solid tumors

Introduction MSC1992371A is an aurora kinase inhibitor with potential antitumor activity.  This trial established the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) of oral MSC1992371A given before or after gemcitabine (1,000 mg/m2) in a 21-day cycle in patients with advanced malignancies. In schedule 1 (n = 31), gemcitabine was administered on days 1 and 8 followed by escalating doses of MSC1992371A on days 2 and 9. In schedule 2 (n = 35), MSC1992371A was given on days 1 and 8 followed by gemcitabine on days 2 and 9. Patients had a range of solid tumors, the most frequent of which was colorectal (n = 19).  In both schedules, the 37 mg/m2 dose level was defined as the MTD. The main DLT was grade 4 neutropenia. Adverse events consisted of neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, asthenia, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, anorexia, and diarrhea. Administration of MSC1992371A prior to gemcitabine had no effect on the metabolism or elimination of gemcitabine. Time to reach maximum plasma concentration and area under the plasma concentration-time curve for MSC1992371A increased proportionally with dose. Exploration of drug-target-related and tumor biomarkers did not identify predictors of biologic activity or response. Two patients (1 with lung carcinoma and 1 with hepatocellular carcinoma) had durable partial responses in schedule 2, and 5 patients had stable disease (SD) lasting 6 − 14 months.  Oral MSC1992371A can be administered at a MTD of 37 mg/m2 in combination with the standard 1,000 mg/m2 dose of gemcitabine, but hematologic toxicity requires careful monitoring. Preliminary signs of efficacy were indicated by durable responses and SD.
Acute Renal Insufficiency and Renal Replacement Therapy After Pediatric Cardiopulmonary Bypass Surgery

The aim of the study was to investigate renal function and renal replacement therapy after cardiopulmonary bypass surgery in children. Patient characteristics (sex, age, diagnosis), operation type, and death were listed. The study was performed retrospectively using serum creatinine level before, and peak values after, cardiopulmonary bypass surgery for assessment of renal function. Of the children on renal replacement therapy, indication, efficacy, and complications were recorded. In a 5-year period, 1075 children had cardiopulmonary bypass surgery at the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Leiden University Medical Center and Academic Medical Center of Amsterdam. One-hundred eighty (17%) patients developed acute renal insufficiency. Twenty-five (2.3%) patients required renal replacement therapy. Peritoneal dialysis is a safe and effective treatment for children after cardiopulmonary bypass surgery. However, 15 (60%) of 25 children on renal replacement therapy died of nonrenal causes. In 9 out of 10 surviving children, renal function was normal at time of discharge from hospital. Acute renal insufficiency is a frequent complication after open-heart surgery, although renal replacement therapy was infrequently necessary. Peritoneal dialysis is a safe and effective therapeutic measure for children after cardiac bypass surgery.
Mining software code repositories and bug databases using survival analysis models

Code repositories and bug databases contain valuable information about the process of software development. Typical studies correlate code properties with the number of faults in a software module to find error-prone modules. However, many studies do not regard the occurrence of faults over time, although the time information can be retrieved from bug databases. In order to overcome this problem, we suggest the application of survival analysis models, which are used in biostatistics and can handle time-dependent data. Because a large amount of raw data has to be evaluated statistically, we further discuss the automated retrieval and pre-processing of raw data from code repositories and bug databases.
Tardive dyskinesia during and following treatment with haloperidol, haloperidol + biperiden, thioridazine, and clozapine

In a cross-over trial 16 elderly psychiatric patients with tardive dyskinesia were treated with thioridazine (median dose, 267.5 mg/day) for three months, followed by haloperidol (5.25 mg/day), haloperidol (5.25 mg/day) + biperiden (6 mg/day), thioridazine (267.5 mg/day), and clozapine (62.5 mg/day, only 7 patients), all for periods of 4 weeks with 4-week drug-free intervals. The tardive dyskinesia syndrome and the parkinsonism were evaluated blind according to a self-constructed rating scale and a modified Webster scale from weekly video-tape recordings. At the end of the treatment periods the hyperkinesia score was lower during haloperidol than during either thioridazine for 3 months (total score, 2.2 vs. 3.2, P<0.05), thioridazine for 4 weeks (total score, 2.2 vs. 4.8, P<0.02), or haloperidol + biperiden (score, 2.2 vs. 6.2, P<0.01). Clozapine had no significant antihyperkinetic effect, but in one patient it exerted a clear antiparkinsonian effect. After withdrawal of the initial thioridazine treatment, the hyperkinesia score was lower than after the subsequent haloperidol treatment (6.5 vs. 9.0, P<0.01), but after the second thioridazine period the hyperkinesia was of the same magnitude as after the preceding haloperidol periods. Biperiden increased the tardive dyskinesia syndrome during treatment, but did not significantly influence the syndrome after withdrawal of the treatment. It is concluded that (1) haloperidol (a strong antidopaminergic neuroleptic) has a more pronounced antihyperkinetic effect than thioridazine and clozapine (weaker antidopaminergic neuroleptics); (2) haloperidol might have a greater tendency to induce tardive dyskinesia than thioridazine; (3) administration of anticholinergics concomitant with neuroleptic drugs antagonizes the antihyperkinetic effect of haloperidol, but may not influence the intensity of tardive dyskinesia after withdrawal of the treatment.