nils-herrmann/clean_scirepeval huggingface dataset:
Substance-use outcomes at 18 months past baseline: the PROSPER Community-University Partnership Trial.

The study's objective was to examine the effects of "real-world," community-based implementation of universal preventive interventions selected from a menu, including effects specific to higher- and lower-risk subsamples.



School districts were selected based on size and location, and then randomly assigned to a control condition or to an experimental condition in a cohort sequential design.



The study included 28 public school districts in Iowa and Pennsylvania that were located in rural towns and small cities, ranging in size from 6975 to 44,510. Sixth and seventh graders in these school districts participated in the study.



Community teams were mobilized; each team implemented one of three evidence-based, family-focused interventions (5 to 12 sessions) and one of three evidence-based school interventions (11 to 15 sessions), for 6th and 7th graders, respectively. Observations showed that interventions were implemented with fidelity.



Outcomes included student reports of past month, past year, and lifetime use of alcohol, cigarettes, marijuana, methamphetamines, ecstasy, and inhalants, as well as indices of gateway and illicit substance initiation, at pretest and at a follow-up assessment 18 months later.



Intent-to-treat analyses demonstrated significant effects on substance initiation (marijuana, inhalants, methamphetamines, ecstasy, gateway index, illicit-use index), as well as past-year use of marijuana and inhalants, with positive trends for all substances measured. For three outcomes, intervention effects were stronger for higher-risk students than lower-risk students.



Community-based implementation of brief universal interventions designed for general populations has potential for public health impact by reducing substance use among adolescents.
Issues concerning the monitoring of statin therapy in hypercholesterolemic subjects with high plasma lipoprotein (a) levels

Most studies on the topic have shown that statin therapy decreases plasma LDL levels but not those of lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)]. This specificity of action, although previously noted, has not been systematically investigated. In the current study we approached this problem by monitoring LDL- and Lp(a) cholesterol in 80 hypercholesterolemic subjects with high Lp(a) levels, at entry and 8 mon after initiation of statin therapy. We found that commonly used direct and indirect LDL cholesterol assays gave an LDL cholesterol value that comprised both true LDL- and Lp(a) cholesterol. We estimated these two analytes from the values of Lp(a) protein determined by FLISA and from knowledge of the Lp(a) chemical composition, complemented by data from immunochemical and ultracentrifugal analyses. Statin therapy, while not affecting plasma Lp(a) protein levels (21.7±10.4, before, and 22.0±10.1 mg/dL, after), caused a decrease in the estimated or true LDL cholesterol (P<0.0001) to values in some cases as low as 10 mg/dL. This drop in true LDL was validated by the decrease in the LDL band in the ultracentrifugation profiles, and its magnitude was proportional to the degree of total cholesterol lowering and to the pretreatment true LDL/Lp(a) cholesterol weight ratio. We conclude that true LDL but not Lp(a) cholesterol is affected by statin therapy and that this specific response cannot be monitored by current LDL cholesterol assays and must, rather, rely on estimates of these two analytes.
Effect of thoracic epidural analgesia on pro-inflammatory cytokines in patients subjected to protective lung ventilation during Ivor Lewis esophagectomy.

Thoracic epidural analgesia (TEA) has a well-known effect on neurohormonal response. Attenuation of stress response by post-operative epidural analgesia has shown beneficial effects such as lower pain scores and less immunological alterations.



Investigation of the combined effects of TEA and protective lung ventilation on pro-inflammatory cytokines and patients' outcome after Ivor Lewis esophagectomy.



A randomized controlled study.



Academic medical center.



Thirty patients of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) I and II were randomly allocated into 2 groups: G1 (n = 15) patients received general anesthesia and were mechanically ventilated with 9 mL/kg during 2 lung ventilations, reduced to 5 mL/kg and 5cm H2O positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) during one lung ventilation (OLV) or GII) (n = 15) patients received TEA and the same general anesthesia and mechanical ventilation used in G1. Assessment parameters included hemodynamics, pain severity, total analgesic consumption, and measurement of interleukins (IL) (IL-6 and IL-8) at baseline time after anesthetic induction (TBaseline,); at the end of the abdominal stage of the operation (TAbdo,); 15 minutes after initiation and at the end of OLV (TOLV 15) and (TOLV End) respectively; one and 20 hours after the end of the surgical procedure (TPostop1 and TPostop20), respectively, and patient's outcome also recorded.



There was a significant reduction in mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) and pulse rate in GII during the intraoperative period, at Tabdo, TOLV15, and TOLV End (P < 0.05). The mean of systolic blood pressure (SBP) values were significantly lower in GII over all 3 post-operative days (P = 0.001), and the mean diastolic blood pressure (DBP) showed a significant reduction in GII for 16 hours post-operatively (P = 0.001). The mean of heart rate values showed a significant reduction in GII over all 3 post-operative days in comparison to GI (P = 0.001). The mean resting and dynamic VAS scores were significantly reduced in GII at all time periods studied in comparison to G1 (P = 0.001). The daily PCA morphine consumption was markedly decreased in GII compared to GI in the first 3 days post-operatively (P = 0.001). There were significant reductions in blood level of IL-6 and IL-8 in GII compared to G1 over the entire study period (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in post-operative adverse effects between the 2 groups (P > 0.05). The duration of stay in PACU was significantly decreased in GII (10 ± 2 days) compared to GI (15 ± 3 days) (P = 0.001).



This study is limited by its sample size.



Our study concluded that TEA reduced the systemic pro-inflammatory response and provided optimal post-operative pain relief. Although there were no significant differences in adverse events, there was a trend towards improved outcome. Further clinical studies with larger numbers of patients are required.
Domiciliary comparison of terbutaline treatment by metered dose inhaler with and without conical spacer in severe and moderately severe chronic asthma.

The bronchodilator response to cumulative doses of terbutaline administered by metered dose inhaler with and without a conical spacer device and by Acorn nebuliser has been compared in groups of patients with chronic severe and moderately severe asthma. After laboratory studies the patients undertook a randomised domiciliary crossover comparison of bronchodilator response to terbutaline given by metered dose inhaler with and without a spacer device, during which the severity of asthma was assessed by thrice daily recordings of peak expiratory flow (PEF) and symptom score. Improvement in FEV1 produced in the laboratory by the metered dose inhaler with spacer device was significantly greater than by metered dose inhaler alone (p less than 0.001) and similar to that from the nebuliser in both asthmatic groups throughout a range of terbutaline doses. In the domiciliary comparison mean midday and evening PEF rates were significantly higher with the use of the spacer device both in those with severe (p less than 0.01) and in those with moderately severe (p less than 0.05) asthma, and mean morning PEF was significantly higher in the severe group (p less than 0.05). The spacer device also produced a significant improvement in symptom score in both the severe and the moderately severe groups (p less than 0.05). Regular domiciliary use of the spacer device with the metered dose inhaler improves bronchodilator response, particularly in patients with chronic severe asthma, and may be a useful alternative to nebuliser treatment.
Intravenous Immune Globulin for the Prevention of Infections in Children with Symptomatic Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection

Infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) causes a progressive immunodeficiency, often manifested in adults by the development of infections with relatively rare, opportunistic organisms. However, in HIV-infected children, recurrent serious infections with common encapsulated bacteria, as well as recurrent minor bacterial and viral infections, may be early and frequent manifestations of HIV disease. The use of i.v. immune globulin (IVIG) has been shown to prevent infections in patients with primary immunodeficiency and in uncontrolled studies of HIV-infected children. This article reviews the problem of and immunologic predisposition for recurrent infections in pediatric HIV infection and reports on the use of IVIG for prophylaxis. Updated analysis from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development IVIG Clinical Trial, a multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of the safety and efficacy of IVIG for the prevention of infections in children with symptomatic HIV infection, is presented. Between March 1988 and January 1991, 376 children with clinical or immunologic evidence of HIV disease who were randomized to receive IVIG or albumin placebo were enrolled in this trial. In children with an entry CD4+ count of 200/mm3 or higher, IVIG significantly increased the time free from serious bacterial infections and significantly decreased the rates of minor bacterial infections and viral infections.
Current percutaneous coronary intervention and coronary artery bypass grafting practices for three-vessel and left main coronary artery disease. Insights from the SYNTAX run-in phase.

Percutaneous coronary intervention with drug-eluting stents is challenging coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) as the gold standard for treatment of three-vessel and left main coronary disease. We evaluated the current practice pattern in hospitals throughout Europe and USA.



To qualify for participation in the SYNTAX (Synergy between PCI with TAXUS drug-eluting stent and Cardiac Surgery) study, a randomized trial comparing percutaneous coronary intervention with drug-eluting stent versus coronary artery bypass grafting for three-vessel and left main disease, 104 centers were asked to provide their case volume in 3 months in 2004. Anonymous procedural data were collected.



A total of 12,072 patients were recorded. Coronary artery bypass grafting was the most frequently performed procedure (N=8895, 74%). Three-vessel disease (3VD) predominated in this population (N=8532, 71%) versus left main (N=3540, 29%). In the 3-month period, per center a mean of 8.3 patients with left main and 22.3 patients with three-vessel disease were treated by percutaneous coronary intervention, while 26.0 patients with left main and 60.3 patients with three-vessel disease were treated by coronary artery bypass grafting. In USA, percutaneous coronary intervention for left main and/or three-vessel disease was performed in 18% of the cases while this was performed in 29% of the cases in Europe. Of all CABG procedures, only 12% were done with total arterial grafting while 7% were treated with only venous grafts.



In patients with multivessel or left main disease, still coronary artery bypass grafting remains the dominant revascularization strategy. Percutaneous coronary intervention is performed frequently without supporting data from the literature. Percutaneous coronary intervention for this indication is performed more often in Europe than in USA. Only a minority of the patients receives total arterial grafting in case of coronary artery bypass grafting. The SYNTAX trial with randomized and registry cohorts should provide guidance for selecting the preferred form of treatment.
Magnesium supplementation affects metabolic status and pregnancy outcomes in gestational diabetes: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

To our knowledge, prior research has not examined the effects of magnesium supplementation on metabolic status and pregnancy outcomes in maternal-child dyads affected by gestational diabetes (GDM).



This study was designed to assess the effects of magnesium supplementation on metabolic status and pregnancy outcomes in magnesium-deficient pregnant women with GDM.



A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was performed in 70 women with GDM. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either 250 mg magnesium oxide (n = 35) or a placebo (n = 35) for 6 wk. Fasting blood samples were taken at baseline and after a 6-wk intervention.



The change in serum magnesium concentration was greater in women consuming magnesium than in the placebo group (+0.06 ± 0.3 vs. -0.1 ± 0.3 mg/dL, P = 0.02). However, after controlling for baseline magnesium concentrations, the changes in serum magnesium concentrations were not significantly different between the groups. Changes in fasting plasma glucose (-9.7 ± 10.1 vs. +1.8 ± 8.1 mg/dL, P < 0.001), serum insulin concentration (-2.1 ± 6.5 vs. +5.7 ± 10.7 μIU/mL, P = 0.001), homeostasis model of assessment-estimated insulin resistance (-0.5 ± 1.3 vs. +1.4 ± 2.3, P < 0.001), homeostasis model of assessment-estimated β-cell function (-4.0 ± 28.7 vs. +22.0 ± 43.8, P = 0.006), and the quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (+0.004 ± 0.021 vs. -0.012 ± 0.015, P = 0.005) in supplemented women were significantly different from those in women in the placebo group. Changes in serum triglycerides (+2.1 ± 63.0 vs. +38.9 ± 37.5 mg/dL, P = 0.005), high sensitivity C-reactive protein (-432.8 ± 2521.0 vs. +783.2 ± 2470.1 ng/mL, P = 0.03), and plasma malondialdehyde concentrations (-0.5 ± 1.6 vs. +0.3 ± 1.2 μmol/L, P = 0.01) were significantly different between the supplemented women and placebo group. Magnesium supplementation resulted in a lower incidence of newborn hyperbilirubinemia (8.8% vs. 29.4%, P = 0.03) and newborn hospitalization (5.9% vs. 26.5%, P = 0.02).



Magnesium supplementation among women with GDM had beneficial effects on metabolic status and pregnancy outcomes.
Internet-based treatment of major depression for patients on a waiting list for inpatient psychotherapy: protocol for a multi-centre randomised controlled trial

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a prevalent and severe disorder. Although effective treatments for MDD are available, many patients remain untreated, mainly because of insufficient treatment capacities in the health care system. Resulting waiting periods are often associated with prolonged suffering and impairment as well as a higher risk of chronification. Web-based interventions may help to alleviate these problems. Numerous studies provided evidence for the efficacy of web-based interventions for depression. The aim of this study is to evaluate a new web-based guided self-help intervention (GET.ON-Mood Enhancer-WL) specifically developed for patients waiting to commence inpatient therapy for MDD.



In a two-armed randomised controlled trial (n = 200), the web-based guided intervention GET.ON-Mood Enhancer-WL in addition to treatment as usual (TAU) will be compared with TAU alone. The intervention contains six modules (psycho education, behavioural activation I & II, problem solving I & II, and preparation for subsequent inpatient depression therapy). The participants will be supported by an e-coach, who will provide written feedback after each module. Inclusion criteria include a diagnosis of MDD assessed with a structured clinical interview [SCID] and a waiting period of at least three weeks before start of inpatient treatment. The primary outcome is observer-rated depressive symptom severity (HRSD24). Further (explorative) questions include whether remission will be achieved earlier and by more patients during inpatient therapy because of the web-based preparatory intervention.



If GET.ON-Mood Enhancer-WL is proven to be effective, patients may start inpatient therapy with reduced depressive symptom severity, ideally leading to higher remission rates, shortened inpatient therapy, reduced costs, and decreased waiting times.
Impact of Fenestrated Endovascular Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair on Renal Function.

To investigate the impact of fenestrated endovascular aneurysm repair (fEVAR) on renal function perioperatively and at midterm.



A case-controlled study was performed involving 58 patients (mean age 75±7 years; 51 men) who underwent elective fEVAR for a juxtarenal or short-necked abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) matched on age, sex, smoking, diabetes, and baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) with a contemporaneous group undergoing open aneurysm repair (OAR) for the same indications. Perioperative incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) and levels of eGFR at 30 days and 1 year were compared. A systematic literature review was performed to identify studies that had used eGFR as renal outcome after fEVAR; the pooled data were meta-analyzed using an eGFR drop >30% at 1 month and the latest follow-up as endpoints. Results are reported as the pooled proportion and 95% confidence interval (CI).



The incidence of AKI after fEVAR was 28% compared to 10% after OAR (p=0.03). Following fEVAR, the mean eGFR dropped from 78±8 to 74±9 mL/min/1.73 m(2) at 30 days compared to a change from 79±8 to 80±16 mL/min/1.73 m(2) after OAR (p<0.01). However, the absolute drop in eGFR between fEVAR and OAR at 1 year was similar (7 mL/min/1.73 m(2); p=0.53); 7% of the fEVAR patients had an eGFR drop >30% at that point compared with none for OAR (p=0.12). The systematic literature review identified eGFR outcomes for 193 fEVAR patients. Combining these patients with the 58 from our cohort study, the pooled proportions of eGFR drop >30% were 20% (95% CI 9% to 39%) at 30 days and 8% (95% CI 0.5% to 13%) at the end of follow-up.



fEVAR has a significant perioperative impact on renal function, but 1-year results are similar to OAR. fEVAR patients may benefit from targeted AKI prevention strategies that need to be assessed in relevant studies.
Effects of azilsartan medoxomil compared with olmesartan and valsartan on ambulatory and clinic blood pressure in patients with type 2 diabetes and prediabetes

Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) are preferred antihypertensive therapies in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Azilsartan medoxomil (AZL-M) is a potent ARB for the treatment of stages 1-2 hypertension. We compared the efficacy, safety, and metabolic effects of AZL-M to both valsartan (VAL) and olmesartan (OLM), separately in patients with impaired fasting glucose (prediabetes mellitus) and T2DM.



A pooled analysis of 3821 patients from three separate randomized placebo-controlled trials comparing the effects of AZL-M (40 and 80 mg), OLM (40 mg), VAL (320 mg), and placebo on changes in ambulatory and clinic blood pressure (BP) among patients with hypertension and prediabetes mellitus or T2DM was performed. Two analysis pools were created to facilitate comparisons: Pool A included patients who received placebo, AZL-M or OLM and Pool B included those who received AZL-M or VAL. Within each pool, patients were stratified by glycemic subgroups (normoglycemic, prediabetes mellitus, or T2DM) based on hemoglobin A1c values. Changes from baseline in both 24-h and clinic SBP were the primary efficacy assessments.



Baseline 24-h mean SBPs were approximately 145 and 146 mmHg in the prediabetes mellitus and T2DM subgroups, respectively; corresponding clinic SBPs were approximately 158 and 159 mmHg. Baseline hemoglobin A1c values for each subgroup (both pools) were normoglycemic, 5.3%; prediabetes mellitus, 6.0%; and T2DM, 6.9%. Changes from baseline in 24-h or clinic SBP were significantly greater with AZL-M, 80 mg compared with either OLM 40 mg or VAL 320 mg in all subgroups in each pool. Safety and tolerability were similar among the active treatment and placebo subgroups.



These analyses indicate that AZL-M, 80 mg/day lowers SBP by a greater magnitude than OLM or VAL at maximally approved doses in patients with prediabetes mellitus and T2DM. These findings have important clinical implications for this high-risk patient group.
The influence of Islam on AIDS prevention among Senegalese university students.

Few studies have attempted to quantify Islam's contributions to HIV/AIDS prevention. Senegal has involved Muslim leaders in its prevention campaign for over a decade. Senegal also has the lowest HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in sub-Saharan Africa. This study examines how Islam influences AIDS prevention by testing whether Senegalese participants' religiosity scores explain their risky decisions associated with sex, condom use, and drug use. Participants with higher religiosity scores were more likely to abstain from sex. However, participants high in religiosity were not more likely to report that they did not use condoms when sexually active.
89 Zr-Bevacizumab PET Imaging in Primary Breast Cancer

1Department of Medical Oncology, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands; 2Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands; 3Department of Hospital and Clinical Pharmacy, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands; 4Department of Surgical Oncology, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands; 5Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands; and 6Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
Prediction of indolent prostate cancer: validation and updating of a prognostic nomogram.

Screening with serum prostate specific antigen testing leads to the detection of many prostate cancers early in their natural history. Statistical models have been proposed to predict indolent cancer. We validated and updated model predictions for a screening setting.



We selected 247 patients with clinical stage T1C or T2A from the European Randomized Study on Screening for Prostate Cancer who were treated with radical prostatectomy. We validated a nomogram that had previously been developed in a clinical setting. Predictive characteristics were serum prostate specific antigen, ultrasound prostate volume, clinical stage, prostate biopsy Gleason grade, and total length of cancer and noncancer tissue in biopsy cores. Indolent cancer was defined as pathologically organ confined cancer 0.5 cc or less in volume without poorly differentiated elements. Logistic regression was used to update the previous model and examine the contribution of other potential predictors.



Overall 121 of 247 patients (49%) had indolent cancer, while the average predicted probability was around 20% (p <0.001). Effects of individual variables were similar to those found before and discriminative ability was adequate (AUC 0.76). An updated model was constructed, which merely recalibrated the nomogram and did not apply additional predictors.



Prostate cancers identified in a screening setting have a substantially higher likelihood of being indolent than those predicted by a previously proposed nomogram. However, an updated model can support patients and clinicians when the various treatment options for prostate cancer are considered.