nils-herrmann/clean_scirepeval huggingface dataset:
Long-term results of high-dose imatinib in children and adolescents with chronic myeloid leukaemia in chronic phase: the Italian experience.

Imatinib mesylate (IM) is used for the management of childhood chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML). The most effective dosage of IM and its long-term efficacy in children are not well defined. The purpose of this multicentre study is to report on the long-term results of high-dose IM (340 mg/m2 /d) in CML patients in chronic phase (CP-CML) aged <18 years at diagnosis. A total of 47 CP-CML patients with a median age at diagnosis of 11 years 9 months were enrolled in nine Italian centres. Complete cytogenetic response was achieved in 91.5% of the evaluable patients at a median time of 6 months. BCR-ABL1 International Scale ≤ 0.1% (major molecular response; MMR) and ≤0.01% (molecular response; MR) at 12 months were 66.6% and 33%, respectively. During follow-up, MMR and MR were achieved in 78.6% and 61% of children, respectively. IM was safely discontinued in 3 long-term treated children with a durable MR. Twelve patients (eight cytogenetic/molecular responders) underwent stem cell transplantation. The progression-free survival probabilities at 96 months for responding patients who continued IM and for those transplanted were 60% and 50%, respectively. After a median follow-up of 52 months (range 3-146), all patients are alive. High-dose IM is a long-term effective therapy in children and adolescents with CP-CML.
Sun protection at elementary schools: a cluster randomized trial.

Elementary schools represent both a source of childhood sun exposure and a setting for educational interventions.



Sun Protection of Florida's Children was a cluster randomized trial promoting hat use at (primary outcome) and outside of schools among fourth-grade students during August 8, 2006, through May 22, 2007. Twenty-two schools were randomly assigned to the intervention (1115 students) or control group (1376 students). Intervention schools received classroom sessions targeting sun protection attitudes and social norms. Each student attending an intervention school received two free wide-brimmed hats. Hat use at school was measured by direct observation and hat use outside of school was measured by self-report. A subgroup of 378 students (178 in the intervention group and 200 in the control group) underwent serial measurements of skin pigmentation to explore potential physiological effects of the intervention. Generalized linear mixed models were used to evaluate the intervention effect by accounting for the cluster randomized trial design. All P values were two-sided and were claimed as statistically significant at a level of .05.



The percentage of students observed wearing hats at control schools remained essentially unchanged during the school year (baseline = 2%, fall = 0%, and spring = 1%) but increased statistically significantly at intervention schools (baseline = 2%, fall = 30%, and spring = 41%) (P < .001 for intervention effect comparing the change in rate of hat use over time at intervention vs control schools). Self-reported use of hats outside of school did not change statistically significantly during the study (control: baseline = 14%, fall = 14%, and spring = 11%; intervention: baseline = 24%, fall = 24%, and spring = 23%) nor did measures of skin pigmentation.



The intervention increased use of hats among fourth-grade students at school but had no effect on self-reported wide-brimmed hat use outside of school or on measures of skin pigmentation.
The characteristics of osteoporotic patients in Graves' disease patients newly diagnosed after menopause: a prospective observational study.

Overt hyperthyroidism is associated with reduced bone density. The extent of restoration of reduced bone density caused by hyperthyroidism in postmenopausal Graves' disease (GD) patients has not fully been investigated. We examined 85 newly diagnosed postmenopausal GD patients, and we measured their serum thyroid hormone levels as well as their bone turnover marker levels and the bone mineral density (BMD) of their lumbar spine (LS), both femoral necks (FN), and left distal radius (DR). We prospectively observed the patients for changes in BMD and bone turnover marker levels during a 24-month period after euthyroidism had been established by ATD treatment. The median age of the subjects was 57 years old (range: 50 to 79). 46 (54.1%) patients had osteoporosis. 42 of the 46 osteoporosis patients had low BMD in the DR. The patients with osteoporosis were significantly older, had a significantly lower BMI, and had significantly higher bone turnover marker levels compared to the normal BMD patients. The best predictor of the BMD in the DR was BMD in the FN (β = 0.40, p < 0.0001). A total of 42 patients were followed up for 24 months after attainment of euthyroidism, and 19 of them were osteoporosis at the first visit. The BMD of the 19 osteoporotic patients had increased by 4.9% in the LS, 11.9% in the FN, and 9.3% in the DR at 24 months. After maintaining a euthyroid state for 24 months by means of ATD treatment, 26% of the osteoporotic patients had recovered from osteoporosis.
Visual sensory processing deficits in Schizophrenia and their relationship to disease state

Visual Evoked Potential (VEP) abnormalities have been a fairly consistent finding in patients with schizophrenia, and it has been suggested that electrophysiological markers of early sensory processing may be useful as trait markers for the illness, and for development as potential diagnostic measures. Clear amplitude reductions in the occipital P1 component of the VEP (~100 ms), have been repeatedly demonstrated in patients with schizophrenia. Here, we investigated whether the extent of this deficit was related to age, clinical symptoms, medication status and length of illness, in a large cohort of ethnically homogenous patients. VEP responses to simple isolated-check stimuli were examined in 52 DSM-IV diagnosed patients with schizophrenia, and compared with responses from 26 healthy age-matched control subjects. Using high-density electrical scalp recordings, we assessed the integrity of the visual P1 component across the two groups. This study was conducted at St.Vincent’s Psychiatric Hospital in Fairview, Dublin, Ireland. Substantially reduced P1 amplitude was demonstrated in the patient group compared to controls. The deficit was not linked to age, length of illness or medication status. A small positive correlation, accounting for about 11% of the variance, was found between P1 amplitude and clinical symptoms scales (BPRS and SANS). In addition, we found that a slightly later (~110 ms) fronto-central component was relatively increased in the patient group, and was inversely correlated with the occipital P1 amplitude in the patients, but not in the healthy control subjects. Our findings clearly demonstrate a deficit in early visual processing in patients with schizophrenia (with a large effect size; Cohen’s d = 0.7) that is unrelated to chronicity. The results are consistent with recent findings showing that the P1 deficit is endophenotypic of the disorder and related to genetic risk factors rather than the disease process itself.
Bendamustine combined with rituximab in patients with relapsed and/or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia: a multicenter phase II trial of the German Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Study Group.

The objective of this trial was to evaluate safety and efficacy of bendamustine combined with rituximab (BR) in patients with relapsed and/or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).



Seventy-eight patients, including 22 patients with fludarabine-refractory disease (28.2%) and 14 patients (17.9%) with deletion of 17p, received BR chemoimmunotherapy. Bendamustine was administered at a dose of 70 mg/m(2) on days 1 and 2 combined with rituximab 375 mg/m(2) on day 0 of the first course and 500 mg/m(2) on day 1 during subsequent courses for up to six courses.



On the basis of intent-to-treat analysis, the overall response rate was 59.0% (95% CI, 47.3% to 70.0%). Complete response, partial response, and nodular partial response were achieved in 9.0%, 47.4%, and 2.6% of patients, respectively. Overall response rate was 45.5% in fludarabine-refractory patients and 60.5% in fludarabine-sensitive patients. Among genetic subgroups, 92.3% of patients with del(11q), 100% with trisomy 12, 7.1% with del(17p), and 58.7% with unmutated IGHV status responded to treatment. After a median follow-up time of 24 months, the median event-free survival was 14.7 months. Severe infections occurred in 12.8% of patients. Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, and anemia were documented in 23.1%, 28.2%, and 16.6% of patients, respectively.



Chemoimmunotherapy with BR is effective and safe in patients with relapsed CLL and has notable activity in fludarabine-refractory disease. Major but tolerable toxicities were myelosuppression and infections. These promising results encouraged us to initiate a further phase II trial evaluating the BR regimen in patients with previously untreated CLL.
COPART Risk Score Predicts Long-term Mortality in Peripheral Arterial Occlusive Disease.

The COhorte de Patients ARTériopathes (COPART) Risk Score is a risk score assessing the 1 year outcome of patients who received inpatient treatment because of their peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD). The COPART Risk Score consists of six variables each of which is allocated a different number of points (age, history of myocardial infarction, C-reactive protein, ankle-brachial index, estimated glomerular filtration rate, medication with antiplatelet agents, statins and renin-angiotensin system inhibitors).



129 consecutive claudicants were included in a prospective trial with an average follow up of 8.8 (± 0.7) years. All patients were hospitalized for their first endovascular procedure to the pelvic and/or femoropopliteal arteries. The endpoints were all cause mortality and cardiovascular (CV) death. The COPART Risk Score was calculated for the three patient cohorts (low risk: 52 patients [40.3%]; medium risk: 41 patients [31.8%]; high risk: 36 patients [27.9%]).



During the follow up period 23.1% (n = 12) of patients in the low risk group, 34.1% (n = 14) of patients in the medium risk group, and 63.9% (n = 23) of patients in the high risk group died. CV death occurred in 11.5% in the low, 22.0% in the medium, and 41.7% in the high risk groups. The three groups differed significantly with regard to all cause and CV mortality (p < .0001 and p = .001).



The COPART Risk Score is a suitable instrument to predict long-term all cause and CV mortality in claudicants preceding their first peripheral intervention.
Role of manual therapy with exercise regime versus exercise regime alone in the management of non-specific chronic neck pain.

To evaluate the role of manual therapy with exercise regime versus exercise regime alone in the management of non-specific chronic neck pain. In this 62 subjects randomized controlled trial 31 subjects in group A received manual therapy (manipulation) with supervised exercise regime whilst 31 subjects in group B performed only supervised exercise regime for the period of 3 weeks. Both groups had a home exercise program consisted of strengthening exercises for neck/scapuluar stability, stretching and general range of motion exercises for neck with advice regarding posture awareness and correction for 3 months. The results suggested significant reduction in pain intensity level in both groups; over 3 weeks and 12 weeks' time period in relation to baseline on visual analog scale (p=0.001). Similarly, statistically significant improvements noticed in Neck Disability Index (NDI) (p=0.0001) in both groups while looking at baseline data with reference to 12 weeks' time period. On closer inspection, the manual therapy (manipulation) with exercise regime appeared as a favorable treatment preference compared with exercise regime alone.
Pretreatment plasma renin activity levels correlate with the blood pressure response to telmisartan in essential hypertension.

Although the therapeutic response to angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) is assumed impaired in patients with low-renin hypertension, data are scarce about the association between levels of plasma renin activity (PRA) before treatment and response of ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) to ARBs in essential hypertension.



We prospectively studied 11 untreated Japanese patients with essential hypertension (3 women and 8 men, mean age: 50 +/- 9 (mean +/- SD) years). After a 4-week drug-free period, telmisartan 20-40 mg was administered orally once daily for 8 weeks. PRA levels were measured before treatment. The first ABP measurement was performed at the end of the drug-free period and the second measurement at the end of the treatment period with telmisartan.



Telmisartan significantly decreased the 24-h ABP by 12 +/- 11 mm Hg systolic (P < 0.01) and 9 +/- 8 mm Hg diastolic (P < 0.01). Reductions in the 24-h systolic and diastolic ABPs were significantly greater in five patients with higher renin levels (> or =0.65 ng/ml/h) than in six patients with lower renin levels (<0.65 ng/ml/h) by 18 mm Hg systolic (P < 0.001) and 11 mm Hg diastolic (P < 0.05). Changes in the 24-h systolic and diastolic ABPs significantly correlated with log PRA before treatment.



The ABP lowering effects of telmisartan were dependent on PRA levels before treatment in patients with essential hypertension. Measurement of PRA levels before treatment is thought to be useful for prediction of the ABP lowering effects of telmisartan.
Racial differences in microbleed prevalence in primary intracerebral hemorrhage.

Primary intracerebral hemorrhage is two to three times more common in many racial populations, including black patients. Previous studies have shown that microbleeds, identified on gradient echo MRI (GRE), are present in 50-80% of patients with primary ICH. The objective of this study was to compare, by race, the rates, risk factors, and topography of microbleeds in patients hospitalized for primary ICH.



Patients diagnosed with primary ICH at two metropolitan stroke centers were included. Clinical and neuroimaging data were recorded for each patient. Analyses were performed to compare baseline characteristics as well as imaging findings by race.



A total of 87 patients met inclusion criteria (42 black subjects, 45 white subjects). The black cohort was younger (p < 0.001), and had a greater rate of hypertension (p = 0.001), but not other vascular risk factors. Microbleeds were more prevalent in the black population, with 74% of blacks having one or more microbleeds compared to 42% of whites (p = 0.005). The black population also tended to have a greater frequency of microbleeds in multiple territories than the white population (38% vs 22%, p = 0.106). When adjusting for age, hypertension, and alcohol use, race was an independent predictor of microbleeds (OR 3.308, 95% CI 1.144-9.571, p = 0.027).



These pilot data suggest that significant racial differences exist in the frequency and topography of microbleeds in patients with primary ICH. Microbleeds may be an important emerging imaging biomarker with the potential to provide insights into ICH pathophysiology, prognosis, and disease progression, as well as possible therapeutic strategies, particularly in medically underserved populations.
The effects of 60 minutes of brisk walking per week, accumulated in two different patterns, on cardiovascular risk.

Current ACSM guidelines recommend that adults should exercise for 20-60 min on 3-5 days.week(-1) (M.L. Pollock, et al., The recommended quantity and quality of exercise for developing and maintaining cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness, and flexibility in healthy adults. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 30 (6) (1998) 975-991.). For individuals constrained by a busy lifestyle, an exercise prescription that delivers benefits with the minimum investment of time is attractive. The purpose of the present study, therefore, was to examine the effect of instructing sedentary individuals to undertake 20 min of brisk walking, in two different patterns, 3 days per week, on fitness and other cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors.



Forty-eight subjects (31 women) mean (+/-SD) age 45.7 +/- 9.4 year were randomly assigned to either one 20-min walk (single bout), two 10-min walks (accumulated bouts) 3 days week(-1) for 12-week, or no training (control). Oxygen consumption (VO2), heart rate (HR), and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) were measured during a 4-stage treadmill test at pre- and post-intervention. Body composition, resting blood pressure and fasting lipoproteins were also assessed. Thirty-two subjects completed the study.



There was a significant difference between single-bout and accumulated-bout walkers in the reduction of HR at stages 2 and 3 of the treadmill test from pre- to post-intervention (P < 0.05). There were no differences between groups for changes in VO2 or RPE from pre- to post-intervention. There were also no changes in body mass, adiposity, blood pressure, waist and hip circumferences, or lipid/lipoproteins.



Brisk walking for 20 min on 3 days of the week fails to alter cardiovascular disease risk factors in previously sedentary adults.
Smoking cessation via the internet: a randomized clinical trial of an internet intervention as adjuvant treatment in a smoking cessation intervention.

Internet interventions for smoking cessation are ubiquitous. Yet, to date, there are few randomized clinical trials that gauge their efficacy. This study is a randomized clinical trial (N= 284, n= 140 in the treatment group, n= 144 in the control group) of an Internet smoking cessation intervention. Smokers were randomly assigned to receive either bupropion plus counseling alone, or bupropion and counseling in addition to 12 weeks of access to the Comprehensive Health Enhancement Support System for Smoking Cessation and Relapse Prevention (CHESS SCRP; a Web site which provided information on smoking cessation as well as support). We found that access to CHESS SCRP was not significantly related to abstinence at the end of the treatment period (OR= 1.13, 95% CI 0.66-2.62) or at 6 months postquit (OR= 1.48, 95% CI 0.66-2.62). However, the number of times participants used CHESS SCRP per week was related to abstinence at both end of treatment (OR= 1.79, 95% CI 1.25-2.56) and at the 6-month follow-up (OR= 1.59, 95% CI 1.06-2.38). Participants with access to CHESS SCRP logged in an average of 33.64 times (SD=30.76) over the 90-day period of access. Rates of CHESS SCRP use did not differ by ethnicity, level of education or gender (all p>.05). In sum, results suggest that participants used CHESS SCRP frequently, CHESS SCRP use was related to success, but the effects in general did not yield intergroup effects.
Colon cancer screening, lifestyle, and risk of colon cancer

Sigmoidoscopy screening and fecal occult blood (FOB) tests have been demonstrated as effective ways to reduce mortality from colorectal cancer. However, most studies of colorectal cancer screening and cancer mortality have not taken into consideration lifestyle factors that could account for the observed associations. The purpose of this study was to determine the association between screening and incidence of colon cancer, taking into consideration important lifestyle factors.  We estimated the association between screening and colon cancer after taking into consideration health and lifestyle factors using data obtained as part of population-based case–control study of incident colon cancers.  Sigmoidoscopy screening, especially as part of a checkup, was protective against incident colon cancer in both men (OR 0.56, 95% CI 0.44–0.77) and women (OR 0.53, 95% CI 0.33–0.77) after adjusting for other risk factors for colon cancer. For men, associations were stronger for distal tumors (OR 0.48, 95% CI 0.31–0.71) than for proximal tumors (OR 0.67, 95% CI 0.45–1.11). We did not observe significant associations between FOB test and colon cancer. Differences in characteristics between those who were screened and not screened were also observed. Men were more likely to report having a sigmoidoscopy as part of a checkup than were women, as were people with higher levels of education. People who reported having a sigmoidoscopy as part of a checkup also reported eating diets lower in fat and higher in fiber, folate, and vegetables. Men were more likely to report higher levels of physical activity, and women were more likely to report taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT) if they also reported a sigmoidoscopy. Both men and women who reported a sigmoidoscopy for screening purposes were more likely to have a family history of colorectal cancer.  These data provide additional support for the benefits of having a screening sigmoidoscopy. The associations between screening sigmoidoscopy and colon cancer do not appear to be the result of lifestyle factors.
Associations of Metabolic Syndrome and its Components With Mortality in the Elderly

Available evidence shows that metabolic syndrome (Mets) has clear adverse effects for middle-aged and pre-elderly adults; however, the effect of Mets on mortality among elderly adults remains unclear. In addition, the comparative utility of Mets and its component for predicting mortality among the elderly has not been clearly established. Using data from a large Taiwanese cohort, we evaluated the effect of Mets and its components on subsequent all-cause and cause-specific mortality overtime among the elderly. A total of 73,547 elders (age ≥65 years) participated in the Taipei Elderly Health Examination Program from 2007 to 2010. Mets was diagnosed using the adult treatment panel III criteria, and mortality was ascertained by using national death records. Time-dependent analysis was used to evaluate associations of Mets and its components with all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality, and expanded CVD mortality. This retrospective cohort study found that 42.6% of elders had Mets. During 194,057 person-years of follow-up, 2944 deaths were observed. After adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics and comorbidities, Mets was associated with increased risk of expanded CVD mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 1.27; 95% CI, 1.10-1.46) but not all-cause or CVD mortality. Among Mets components, decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C, HR 1.25, 95% CI 1.13-1.37) and hyperglycemia (HR 1.21, 95% CI 1.12-1.31) were associated with a significant increase in all-cause mortality. Hypertension and low HDL-C were predictors of CVD mortality and expanded CVD mortality, and, as compared with Mets, were associated with a higher risk of expanded CVD mortality. The present findings indicate that, in elderly adults, individual components of Mets are better predictors of all-cause and cause-specific mortality than is Mets as a whole. Our results suggest that future efforts should focus on preventing and managing individual risk factors (particularly hypertension, low HDL-C, and hyperglycemia) rather than on "diagnosing" Mets in elders.