nils-herrmann/clean_scirepeval huggingface dataset:
Relationship between short-term outcome and occurrence of cerebral artery stenosis in survivors of bacterial meningitis

To evaluate the influence of cerebral artery stenosis on the outcome of patients with bacterial meningitis we examined prospectively 47 consecutive patients [33 men, 14 women, mean (SD) age, 53 (17) years, range 18–81] with bacterial meningitis caused by various bacterial pathogens. The patients were examined with the use of the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) on days 1, 3, 5, 8, 14 and with the use of the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) on day 21 after admission. In addition, focal cerebral signs were recorded separately. At each clinical examination, the patients underwent transcranial Doppler sonography recordings of the mean blood velocity (MBV) and the pulsatility index in all of the main intracranial arteries and in the submandibular internal carotid artery (ICA) . A stenosis of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) was diagnosed by an MBV of ≥ 120 cm/s or by an MBV ratio > 3 between the MCA and the ICA. An anterior cerebral artery (ACA) stenosis was indicated by an MBV ≥ 100 cm/s, a posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stenosis by an MBV of ≥ 85 cm/s, and a basilar artery (BA) stenosis by an MBV of ≥ 95 cm/s. Twenty-five patients developed stenosis of the cerebral arteries (apart from 1, all within 8 days), 22 patients remained without stenosis. Of 29 focal cerebral signs, 27 occurred within 8 days. For outcome analysis, outcome was classified into two groups: not handicapped (GOS 5) versus handicapped (GOS 2–4) and dead (GOS 1). Based on the disease course up to day 8, risk factors for a handicapped/dead outcome after day 8 were advancing age (odds ratio per year, 1.06; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.01–1.11; P = 0.03) and the presence of arterial stenosis (odds ratio, 7.3; 95% CI, 1.1–45) using a multivariate logistic regression analysis model. GCS on day 1, cerebrospinal fluid total protein content and the presence of focal cerebral signs were not significantly related to outcome in this series. The patients with stenosis exhibited significantly more frequently a poorer GCS on days 1–5 (Mann-Whitney U test; P < 0.05). In conclusion, the early occurrence of stenosis of the cerebral arteries in bacterial meningitis predicted a worse clinical course of the disease and a poorer short-term outcome of the survivors.
Prospective Study of Police Officer Spouse/Partners: A New Pathway to Secondary Trauma and Relationship Violence?

It has been reported that posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with secondary spouse/partner (S/P) emotional distress and relationship violence.



To investigate the relationships between PTSD, S/P emotional distress and relationship violence among police recruits using a prospective design.



Two hypotheses were tested in 71 S/Ps: (1) Police officer reports of greater PTSD symptoms after 12 months of police service will be associated with greater secondary trauma symptoms among S/Ps; (2) Greater secondary trauma symptoms among S/Ps at 12 months will be associated with S/P reports of greater relationship violence.



71 police recruits and their S/Ps were assessed at baseline and 12 months after the start of police officer duty. Using linear and logistic regression, we analyzed explanatory variables for 12 month S/P secondary traumatic stress symptoms and couple violence, including baseline S/P variables and couple violence, as well as exposure and PTSD reports from both S/P and officer.



S/P perception of officer PTSD symptoms predicted S/P secondary traumatic stress. OS/P secondary trauma was significantly associated with both total couple violence (.34, p = .004) and S/P to officer violence (.35, p = .003).



Although results from this relatively small study of young police officers and their S/Ps must be confirmed by larger studies in general populations, findings suggest that S/P perception of PTSD symptoms may play a key role in the spread of traumatic stress symptoms across intimate partner relationships and intimate partner violence in the context of PTSD.
Telephone-delivered psychoeducational intervention for Hong Kong Chinese dementia caregivers: a single-blinded randomized controlled trial

Many family caregivers of persons with dementia (PWD) are unable to participate in community center-based caregiver support services because of logistical constraints. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a telephone-delivered psychoeducational intervention for family caregivers of PWD in alleviating caregiver burden and enhancing caregiving self-efficacy.



In a single-blinded randomized controlled trial, 38 family caregivers of PWD were randomly allocated into an intervention group or a control group. The intervention group received psychoeducation from a registered social worker over the phone for 12 sessions. Caregivers in the control group were given a DVD containing educational information about dementia caregiving. Outcomes of the intervention were measured by the Chinese versions of the Zarit Burden Interview and the Revised Scale for Caregiving Self-efficacy. Mann-Whitney U tests were used to compare the differences between the intervention and control groups.



The level of burden of caregivers in the intervention group reduced significantly compared with caregivers in the control group. Caregivers in the intervention group also reported significantly more gain in self-efficacy in obtaining respite than the control group.



A structured telephone intervention can benefit dementia caregivers in terms of self-efficacy and caregiving burden. The limitations of the research and recommendations for intervention are discussed.
Early Access to the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory for Patients Resuscitated From Cardiac Arrest Due to a Shockable Rhythm: The Minnesota Resuscitation Consortium Twin Cities Unified Protocol

In 2013 the Minnesota Resuscitation Consortium developed an organized approach for the management of patients resuscitated from shockable rhythms to gain early access to the cardiac catheterization laboratory (CCL) in the metro area of Minneapolis-St. Paul.



Eleven hospitals with 24/7 percutaneous coronary intervention capabilities agreed to provide early (within 6 hours of arrival at the Emergency Department) access to the CCL with the intention to perform coronary revascularization for outpatients who were successfully resuscitated from ventricular fibrillation/ventricular tachycardia arrest. Other inclusion criteria were age >18 and <76 and presumed cardiac etiology. Patients with other rhythms, known do not resuscitate/do not intubate, noncardiac etiology, significant bleeding, and terminal disease were excluded. The primary outcome was survival to hospital discharge with favorable neurological outcome. Patients (315 out of 331) who were resuscitated from VT/VF and transferred alive to the Emergency Department had complete medical records. Of those, 231 (73.3%) were taken to the CCL per the Minnesota Resuscitation Consortium protocol while 84 (26.6%) were not taken to the CCL (protocol deviations). Overall, 197 (63%) patients survived to hospital discharge with good neurological outcome (cerebral performance category of 1 or 2). Of the patients who followed the Minnesota Resuscitation Consortium protocol, 121 (52%) underwent percutaneous coronary intervention, and 15 (7%) underwent coronary artery bypass graft. In this group, 151 (65%) survived with good neurological outcome, whereas in the group that did not follow the Minnesota Resuscitation Consortium protocol, 46 (55%) survived with good neurological outcome (adjusted odds ratio: 1.99; [1.07-3.72], P=0.03).



Early access to the CCL after cardiac arrest due to a shockable rhythm in a selected group of patients is feasible in a large metropolitan area in the United States and is associated with a 65% survival rate to hospital discharge with a good neurological outcome.
The serotonin transporter gene polymorphism 5-HTTLPR moderates the effects of stress on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

The role of the serotonin transporter gene polymorphism 5-HTTLPR in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is unclear. Heterogeneity of findings may be explained by gene-environment interactions (GxE), as it has been suggested that S-allele carriers are more reactive to psychosocial stress than L-allele homozygotes. This study aimed to investigate whether 5-HTTLPR genotype moderates the effects of stress on ADHD in a multisite prospective ADHD cohort study.



5-HTTLPR genotype, as well as the number of stressful life events in the past 5 years and ongoing long-term difficulties, was determined in 671 adolescents and young adults with ADHD, their siblings, and healthy controls (57.4% male, average age 17.3 years). Linear mixed models, accounting for family relatedness, were applied to investigate the effects of genotype, experienced stress, and their interaction on ADHD severity at time point T2, while controlling for ADHD severity at T1 (mean follow-up time 5.9 years) and for comorbid internalizing problems at T2.



The interaction between genotype and stress significantly predicted ADHD severity at T2 (p = .006), which was driven by the effect on hyperactivity-impulsivity (p = .004). Probing of the interaction effect made clear that S-allele carriers had a significantly more positive correlation between stress and ADHD severity than L-allele homozygotes.



The results show that the interaction between 5-HTTLPR and stress is a mechanism involved particularly in the hyperactivity/impulsivity dimension of ADHD, and that this is independent of comorbid internalizing problems. Further research into the neurobiological mechanisms underlying this interaction effect is warranted.
Effect of N-acetylcysteine infusion on exercise-induced modulation of insulin sensitivity and signaling pathways in human skeletal muscle.

-Reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced in skeletal muscle may play a role in potentiating the beneficial responses to exercise; however, the effects of exercise-induced ROS on insulin action and protein signaling in humans has not been fully elucidated. Seven healthy, recreationally active participants volunteered for this double-blind, randomized, repeated-measures crossover study. Exercise was undertaken with infusion of saline (CON) or the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) to attenuate ROS. Participants performed two 1-h cycling exercise sessions 7-14 days apart, 55 min at 65% V̇o2peak plus 5 min at 85%V̇o2peak, followed 3 h later by a 2-h hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp (40 mIU·min(-1)·m(2)) to determine insulin sensitivity. Four muscle biopsies were taken on each trial day, at baseline before NAC infusion (BASE), after exercise (EX), after 3-h recovery (REC), and post-insulin clamp (PI). Exercise, ROS, and insulin action on protein phosphorylation were evaluated with immunoblotting. NAC tended to decrease postexercise markers of the ROS/protein carbonylation ratio by -13.5% (P = 0.08) and increase the GSH/GSSG ratio twofold vs. CON (P < 0.05). Insulin sensitivity was reduced (-5.9%, P < 0.05) by NAC compared with CON without decreased phosphorylation of Akt or AS160. Whereas p-mTOR was not significantly decreased by NAC after EX or REC, phosphorylation of the downstream protein synthesis target kinase p70S6K was blunted by 48% at PI with NAC compared with CON (P < 0.05). We conclude that NAC infusion attenuated muscle ROS and postexercise insulin sensitivity independent of Akt signaling. ROS also played a role in normal p70S6K phosphorylation in response to insulin stimulation in human skeletal muscle.
Psychoeducation and cognitive-behavioral therapy for patients with refractory bipolar disorder: a 5-year controlled clinical trial.

The aim of this research, which represents an additional and longer follow-up to a previous trial, was to evaluate a 5-year follow-up study of a combined treatment (pharmacological+psychoeducational and cognitive-behavioral therapy) as compared with a standard pharmacological treatment in patients with refractory bipolar disorder.



Forty patients were randomly assigned to either an Experimental group-under combined treatment - or a Control group - under pharmacological treatment. Data were analyzed by analysis of variance (ANOVA), with repeated measures at different evaluation time points.



Between-group differences were significant at all evaluation time points after treatment. Experimental group had less hospitalization events than Control group in the 12-month evaluation (P=0.015). The Experimental group showed lower depression and anxiety in the 6-month (P=0.006; P=0.019), 12-month (P=0.001; P<0.001) and 5-year (P<0.001, P<0.001) evaluation time points. Significant differences emerged in mania and misadjustment already in the post-treatment evaluation (P=0.009; P<0.001) and were sustained throughout the study (6-month: P=0.006, P<0.001; 12-month: P<0.001, P<0.001; 5-year: P=0.004, P<0.001). After 5-year follow-up, 88.9% of patients in the Control group and 20% of patients in the Experimental group showed persistent affective symptoms and/or difficulties in social-occupational functioning.



A combined therapy is long-term effective for patients with refractory bipolar disorder. Suggestions for future research are commented.
Acetazolamide and inhaled carbon dioxide reduce periodic breathing during exercise in patients with chronic heart failure.

Periodic breathing (PB) during sleep and exercise in heart failure (HF) is related to respiratory acid-base status, CO2 chemosensitivity, and temporal dynamics of CO2 and O2 sensing. We studied inhaled CO2 and acetazolamide to alter these factors and reduce PB.



We measured expired and arterial gases and PB amplitude and duration in 20 HF patients during exercise before and after acetazolamide given acutely (500 mg intravenously) and prolonged (24 hours, 2 g orally), and we performed overnight polysomnography. We studied CO2 inhalation (1%-2%) during constant workload exercise. PB disappeared in 19/20 and 2/7 patients during 2% and 1% CO2. No changes in cardiorespiratory parameters were observed after acute acetazolamide. With prolonged acetazolamide at rest: ventilation +2.04 ± 4.0 L/min (P = .001), tidal volume +0.11 ± 1.13 L (P = .003), respiratory rate +1.24 ± 4.63 breaths/min (NS), end-tidal PO2 +4.62 ± 2.43 mm Hg (P = .001), and end-tidal PCO2 -2.59 ± 9.7 mm Hg (P < .001). At maximum exercise: Watts -10% (P < .02), VO2 -61 ± 109 mL/min (P = .04) and VCO2 101 ± 151 mL/min (P < .02). Among 20 patients, PB disappeared in 1 and 7 subjects after acute and prolonged acetazolamide, respectively. PB was present 80% ± 26, 65% ± 28, and 43% ± 39 of exercise time before and after acute and prolonged acetazolamide, respectively. Overnight apnea/hypopnea index decreased from 30.8 ± 83.8 to 21.1 ± 16.9 (P = .003).



In HF, inhaled CO2 and acetazolamide reduce exercise PB with additional benefits of acetazolamide on sleep PB.
L-carnitine supplementation and EPO requirement in children on chronic hemodialysis

L-carnitine supplementation has been the subject of heated discussion in the context of the treatment of pediatric hemodialysis patients. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of intravenous L-carnitine supplementation on the erythropoetin (EPO) requirement in six pediatric hemodialysis patients. All patients were on intravenous L-carnitine (2.5 g per session for patients >30 kg and 1 g for those <30 kg) for 9 months. The EPO dose was adapted monthly to maintain a target hemoglobin (Hb) level of 11–13 g/dl. Prior to the initiation of L-carnitine supplementation, the EPO requirement was 1.15 ± 0.22 (range 0.37–1.75) μg/kg darbepoetin alpha. Free carnitine (FC) levels were measured before (40.4 ± 4.9 μmol/l), immediately after the 9-month L-carnitine supplementation period (378.5 ± 77.3 μmol/l), and 4 months after withdrawal of L-carnitine (95.6 ± 4.0 μmol/l). After 9 months, the EPO dose was 0.47 ± 0.10 μg/kg (p < 0.002). The Hb levels increased from 12.2 ± 0.97 to 14.0 ± 0.54 g/dl (p < 0.05) within the first 2 months, and the EPO dose was then decreased in a stepwise manner. In conclusion, following intravenous carnitine supplementation, FC levels were higher and persisted longer than expected. This rise was associated with increased Hb levels and decreased EPO requirement. Since controls were missing for this study, prospective long-term multi-center studies on a large number of patients are required to provide solid answers to the controversial question of L-carnitine supplementation in hemodialyzed children.
A cross-cultural study of mobile music: retrieval, management and consumption

This paper reports a user study on retrieving, consuming and managing digital music content related to mobile music consumption. We study the personal relationship people have with music entertainment technology and content, and explore how music is enjoyed on the move. We also look at the typical actions related to personal music management, how they are accomplished, and where they take place. The study was carried out in New York City and Hong Kong, and the paper also reports the differences found in mobile music consumption between these cultural settings.
Validation of an oligonucleotide ligation assay for quantification of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 drug-resistant mutants by use of massively parallel sequencing.

Global HIV treatment programs need sensitive and affordable tests to monitor HIV drug resistance. We compared mutant detection by the oligonucleotide ligation assay (OLA), an economical and simple test, to massively parallel sequencing. Nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (K103N, V106M, Y181C, and G190A) and lamivudine (M184V) resistance mutations were quantified in blood-derived plasma RNA and cell DNA specimens by OLA and 454 pyrosequencing. A median of 1,000 HIV DNA or RNA templates (range, 163 to 1,874 templates) from blood specimens collected in Mozambique (n = 60) and Kenya (n = 51) were analyzed at 4 codons in each sample (n = 441 codons assessed). Mutations were detected at 75 (17%) codons by OLA sensitive to 2.0%, at 71 codons (16%; P = 0.78) by pyrosequencing using a cutoff value of ≥ 2.0%, and at 125 codons (28%; P < 0.0001) by pyrosequencing sensitive to 0.1%. Discrepancies between the assays included 15 codons with mutant concentrations of ∼2%, one at 8.8% by pyrosequencing and not detected by OLA, and one at 69% by OLA and not detected by pyrosequencing. The latter two cases were associated with genetic polymorphisms in the regions critical for ligation of the OLA probes and pyrosequencing primers, respectively. Overall, mutant concentrations quantified by the two methods correlated well across the codons tested (R(2) > 0.8). Repeat pyrosequencing of 13 specimens showed reproducible detection of 5/24 mutations at <2% and 6/6 at ≥ 2%. In conclusion, the OLA and pyrosequencing performed similarly in the quantification of nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor and lamivudine mutations present at >2% of the viral population in clinical specimens. While pyrosequencing was more sensitive, detection of mutants below 2% was not reproducible.
Condom Negotiations among Female Sex Workers in the Philippines: Environmental Influences

Social and structural influences of condom negotiation among female sex workers (FSWs) remain understudied. This study assesses environmental and individual factors associated with condom negotiation among FSWs at high risk for acquiring HIV in a large urban setting of Metro Manila, 
Female bar/spa workers (N = 498), aged 18 and over, underwent interview-led surveys examining their sexual health practices in the context of their risk environments. Data were collected from April 2009-January 2010 from 54 venues. Multiple logistic regressions were conducted to assess socio-behavioral factors (e.g., age, education, length of time employed as an entertainer, and alcohol/drug use) and socio-structural factors (e.g., venue-level peer/manager support, condom rule/availability, and sex trafficking) associated with condom negotiation, adjusting for individuals nested within venues.



Of 142 FSWs who traded sex in the previous 6 months (included in the analysis), 24% did not typically negotiate condom use with venue patrons. Factors in the physical environment--trafficked/coerced into work (AOR = 12.92, 95% CI = 3.34-49.90), economic environment--sex without a condom to make more money (AOR = 1.52, 95% CI 1.01-2.30), policy environment--sex without a condom because none was available (AOR = 2.58, 95% CI = 1.49-4.48), and individual risk--substance use (AOR = 2.36, 95% CI = 1.28-4.35) were independently associated with FSWs' lack of condom negotiation with venue patrons.



Factors in the physical, economic, and policy environments, over individual (excepting substance use) and social level factors, were significantly associated with these FSWs' condom negotiations in the Philippines. Drawing upon Rhodes' risk environment framework, these results highlight the need for policies that support safer sex negotiations among sex workers in the context of their risk environments. Interventions should reduce barriers to condom negotiation for FSWs trafficked/coerced into their work, substance using, and impacted by economic conditions and policies that do not support condom availability.
Effects of acupuncture-like transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on children with asthma.

To evaluate the effects of acupuncture-like transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (AL-TENS) on children with asthma.



After an 8-week run-in period, the experimental group were assigned to treatment with AL-TENS, whereas the control group did not receive AL-TENS. A total of 43 children with asthma were recruited from a hospital and an elementary school. All the cases had been diagnosed as having asthma by physicians. The outcome measures included pulmonary function tests (PFTs), heart rate turbulence (HRT), heart rate variability (HRV), and pediatric asthma quality-of-life questionnaire (PAQLQ).



After 8 weeks of AL-TENS, there were no significant differences on forced vital capacity (FVC), FEV₁/FVC, and peak expiratory flows (PEFs) between the two groups. The HRT is the physiological, biphasic response of the sinus node to premature ventricular contractions. In the experimental group, the mean HRT was statistically significant between pretest and posttest. The HRV and the PAQLQ showed no difference, but in the experimental group, the subscale of the PAQLQ (particularly activity) improved significantly more than the pretest scores. Furthermore, there were no differences in PFTs and HRV after 8 weeks of AL-TENS between the two groups.



The PAQLQ activities of the experimental group improved significantly more than those of the control group.  the asthma cases were stable and the cases were on stable status and 2) the degree of airway remodeling was less. It is suggested that in the future, treatment frequency and the long-term follow-up for evaluating the effects of AL-TENS on children with asthma should also be considered.