nils-herrmann/clean_scirepeval huggingface dataset:
Epidemiological evidence of altered cardiac autonomic function in overweight but not underweight subjects

Little is known about the altered cardiac autonomic function (CAF) across different levels of body mass index (BMI), including underweight, normal weight, overweight and obesity. This study provides a thorough analysis to clarify the CAF change in subjects with underweight, overweight and obesity.According to the World Health Organization (WHO) Asia-Pacific BMI cutoffs, a total of 1437 participants were classified as underweight (n=74), normal weight (n=588), overweight (n=313), obesity I (n=390) and obesity II (n=72). CAF was determined by standard deviation of normal-to-normal (SDNN) intervals or RR intervals, power spectrum in low (LF) and high frequency (HF) (LF, 0.04–0.15 Hz; HF, 0.15–0.40 Hz), and LF/HF ratio at supine for 5 min, the ratio between the 30th and the 15th RR interval after standing from the supine position (30/15 ratio) and the average heart-rate change while taking six deep breaths in 1 min (There were significant differences in age, gender, socioeconomic status, blood pressure, HOMA insulin resistance index, fasting glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride and high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-C, and the prevalence of hypertension, ischemic/left bundle branch block (LBBB) electrocardiography (EKG) pattern, current smoking and alcohol use among subjects with underweight, normal weight, overweight, obesity I and II. Univariate analysis showed that SDNN, HRDB, HF power and the square root of the LF/HF ratio differed among these five groups. Multivariate analysis showed that obesity I and II were inverse correlates of HRDB and HF power. Overweight, obesity I and II were positively associated with the square root of the LF/HF ratio. No BMI status was related to SDNN, 30/15 ratio or LF power. Underweight was not the independent correlate of any CAF indices.The risk for altered CAF is significant in overweight and obese subjects, independent of cardiovascular risk factors. Underweight is not apparently associated with CAF change.
Elective versus Therapeutic Neck Dissection in Node-Negative Oral Cancer.

Whether patients with early-stage oral cancers should be treated with elective neck dissection at the time of the primary surgery or with therapeutic neck dissection after nodal relapse has been a matter of debate.



In this prospective, randomized, controlled trial, we evaluated the effect on survival of elective node dissection (ipsilateral neck dissection at the time of the primary surgery) versus therapeutic node dissection (watchful waiting followed by neck dissection for nodal relapse) in patients with lateralized stage T1 or T2 oral squamous-cell carcinomas. Primary and secondary end points were overall survival and disease-free survival, respectively.



Between 2004 and 2014, a total of 596 patients were enrolled. As prespecified by the data and safety monitoring committee, this report summarizes results for the first 500 patients (245 in the elective-surgery group and 255 in the therapeutic-surgery group), with a median follow-up of 39 months. There were 81 recurrences and 50 deaths in the elective-surgery group and 146 recurrences and 79 deaths in the therapeutic-surgery group. At 3 years, elective node dissection resulted in an improved rate of overall survival (80.0%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 74.1 to 85.8), as compared with therapeutic dissection (67.5%; 95% CI, 61.0 to 73.9), for a hazard ratio for death of 0.64 in the elective-surgery group (95% CI, 0.45 to 0.92; P=0.01 by the log-rank test). At that time, patients in the elective-surgery group also had a higher rate of disease-free survival than those in the therapeutic-surgery group (69.5% vs. 45.9%, P<0.001). Elective node dissection was superior in most subgroups without significant interactions. Rates of adverse events were 6.6% and 3.6% in the elective-surgery group and the therapeutic-surgery group, respectively.



Among patients with early-stage oral squamous-cell cancer, elective neck dissection resulted in higher rates of overall and disease-free survival than did therapeutic neck dissection.
Risk factors associated with ischemic optic neuropathy after spinal fusion surgery.

Perioperative visual loss, a rare but dreaded complication of spinal fusion surgery, is most commonly caused by ischemic optic neuropathy (ION). The authors sought to determine risk factors for ION in this setting.



Using a multicenter case-control design, the authors compared 80 adult patients with ION from the American Society of Anesthesiologists Postoperative Visual Loss Registry with 315 adult control subjects without ION after spinal fusion surgery, randomly selected from 17 institutions, and matched by year of surgery. Preexisting medical conditions and perioperative factors were compared between patients and control subjects using stepwise multivariate analysis to assess factors that might predict ION.



After multivariate analysis, risk factors for ION after spinal fusion surgery included male sex (odds ratio [OR] 2.53, 95% CI 1.35-4.91, P = 0.005), obesity (OR 2.83, 95% CI 1.52-5.39, P = 0.001), Wilson frame use (OR 4.30, 95% CI 2.13-8.75, P < 0.001), anesthesia duration (OR per 1 h = 1.39, 95% CI 1.22-1.58, P < 0.001), estimated blood loss (OR per 1 l = 1.34, 95% CI 1.13-1.61, P = 0.001), and colloid as percent of nonblood replacement (OR per 5% = 0.67, 95% CI 0.52-0.82, P < 0.001). After cross-validation, area under the curve = 0.85, sensitivity = 0.79, and specificity = 0.82.



This is the first study to assess ION risk factors in a large, multicenter case-control fashion with detailed perioperative data. Obesity, male sex, Wilson frame use, longer anesthetic duration, greater estimated blood loss, and decreased percent colloid administration were significantly and independently associated with ION after spinal fusion surgery.
Oral and intravenous dosage forms of pantoprazole are equivalent in their ability to suppress gastric acid secretion in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease

The aim of this study was to assess the ability of pantoprazole to maintain gastric acid suppression in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease who are switched from an oral (p.o.) to an intravenous (i.v.) dosage form.A total of 65 patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease were administered either 40 or 20 mg of p.o. pantoprazole daily for 10 days, then were switched to either a matching dose of i.v. pantoprazole or to placebo for 7 days. Acid output (basal and maximal) was measured at the end of the p.o. treatment period and on the first and last days of i.v. therapy. In the primary efficacy analysis, the acid output values at the end of the p.o. pantoprazole treatment were compared with those at the end of the i.v. treatment. Safety was monitored by periodic vital sign measurements, clinical laboratory evaluations, ophthalmic examinations, electrocardiograms, and reports of adverse events. The data were tested by an analysis of covariance and by Wilcoxon signed rank and t tests.Maximal acid output (mean ± SD) in the 40 mg and 20 mg pantoprazole group after p.o. treatment was 6.5 ± 5.6 mEq/h and 14.5 ± 15.5 mEq/h, respectively; whereas, at the end of the i.v. treatment period, the values were 6.6 ± 6.3 mEq/h and 11.1 ± 10.2 mEq/h, respectively. In patients given i.v. placebo, acid output was significantly (p < 0.05) increased to 29.2 ± 13.0 mEq/h by day 7. Both p.o. and i.v. pantoprazole dosage forms had similar favorable safety and tolerability profiles.The p.o. and i.v. formulations of pantoprazole (40 and 20 mg) are equivalent in their ability to suppress gastric acid output. The i.v. form of pantoprazole offers an alternative for gastroesophageal reflux disease patients who are unable to take the p.o. formulation.
Effect of remote ischemic preconditioning on kidney injury among high-risk patients undergoing cardiac surgery: a randomized clinical trial.

No interventions have yet been identified to reduce the risk of acute kidney injury in the setting of cardiac surgery.



To determine whether remote ischemic preconditioning reduces the rate and severity of acute kidney injury in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.



In this multicenter trial, we enrolled 240 patients at high risk for acute kidney injury, as identified by a Cleveland Clinic Foundation score of 6 or higher, between August 2013 and June 2014 at 4 hospitals in Germany. We randomized them to receive remote ischemic preconditioning or sham remote ischemic preconditioning (control). All patients completed follow-up 30 days after surgery and were analyzed according to the intention-to-treat principle.



Patients received either remote ischemic preconditioning (3 cycles of 5-minute ischemia and 5-minute reperfusion in one upper arm after induction of anesthesia) or sham remote ischemic preconditioning (control), both via blood pressure cuff inflation.



The primary end point was the rate of acute kidney injury defined by Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes criteria within the first 72 hours after cardiac surgery. Secondary end points included use of renal replacement therapy, duration of intensive care unit stay, occurrence of myocardial infarction and stroke, in-hospital and 30-day mortality, and change in acute kidney injury biomarkers.



Acute kidney injury was significantly reduced with remote ischemic preconditioning (45 of 120 patients [37.5%]) compared with control (63 of 120 patients [52.5%]; absolute risk reduction, 15%; 95% CI, 2.56%-27.44%; P = .02). Fewer patients receiving remote ischemic preconditioning received renal replacement therapy (7 [5.8%] vs 19 [15.8%]; absolute risk reduction, 10%; 95% CI, 2.25%-17.75%; P = .01), and remote ischemic preconditioning reduced intensive care unit stay (3 days [interquartile range, 2-5]) vs 4 days (interquartile range, 2-7) (P = .04). There was no significant effect of remote ischemic preconditioning on myocardial infarction, stroke, or mortality. Remote ischemic preconditioning significantly attenuated the release of urinary insulinlike growth factor-binding protein 7 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 2 after surgery (remote ischemic preconditioning, 0.36 vs control, 0.97 ng/mL2/1000; difference, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.27-0.86; P < .001). No adverse events were reported with remote ischemic preconditioning.



Among high-risk patients undergoing cardiac surgery, remote ischemic preconditioning compared with no ischemic preconditioning significantly reduced the rate of acute kidney injury and use of renal replacement therapy. The observed reduction in the rate of acute kidney injury and the need for renal replacement warrants further investigation.
Arthroscopic capsulolabral reconstruction for posterior instability of the shoulder: a prospective study of 200 shoulders.

There are few reports in the literature detailing the arthroscopic treatment of unidirectional posterior shoulder instability.



Arthroscopic capsulolabral reconstruction is effective in restoring stability and function and alleviating pain in athletes with symptomatic unidirectional posterior instability.



Cohort study; 
One hundred eighty-three athletes (200 shoulders) with unidirectional recurrent posterior shoulder instability were treated with arthroscopic posterior capsulolabral reconstruction and underwent an evaluation at a mean of 36 months postoperatively. A subset of 117 shoulders of contact athletes was compared with the entire group of 200 shoulders. Patients were evaluated prospectively with the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) scoring system. Stability, strength, and range of motion were evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively with standardized subjective scales. Methods of intraoperative soft tissue fixation as well as anchorless (n = 44) and anchored (n = 156) plications were recorded for each patient.



At a mean of 36 months postoperatively, the mean ASES score improved from 45.9 to 85.1 (P < .001). There were also significant improvements in stability, pain, and function based on previously used scales (P < .001). The contact athletes did not demonstrate any significant differences when compared with the entire cohort for any outcome measure. With regard to the method of internal fixation, patients who underwent capsulolabral plications with suture-anchors showed significantly greater improvement in ASES scores (P < .001) and a higher rate of return to play (P < .05) when compared with patients with anchorless capsulolabral plications.



Arthroscopic capsulolabral reconstruction is an effective, reliable treatment for symptomatic, unidirectional recurrent posterior glenohumeral instability in an athletic population. Overall, 90% of patients were able to return to sport, with 64% of patients able to return to the same level postoperatively. With the incorporation of bone suture-anchors in capsulolabral reconstruction, patients had greater improvements in ASES scores and a higher rate of return to play.
Lower serum uric acid level predicts mortality in dialysis patients

We evaluated the impact of serum uric acid (SUA) on mortality in patients with chronic dialysis. A total of 4132 adult patients on dialysis were enrolled prospectively between August 2008 and September 2014. Among them, we included 1738 patients who maintained dialysis for at least 3 months and had available SUA in the database. We categorized the time averaged-SUA (TA-SUA) into 5 groups: <5.5, 5.5-6.4, 6.5-7.4, 7.5-8.4, and ≥8.5 mg/dL. Cox regression analysis was used to calculate the hazard ratio (HR) of all-cause mortality according to SUA group. The mean TA-SUA level was slightly higher in men than in women. Patients with lower TA-SUA level tended to have lower body mass index (BMI), phosphorus, serum albumin level, higher proportion of diabetes mellitus (DM), and higher proportion of malnourishment on the subjective global assessment (SGA). During a median follow-up of 43.9 months, 206 patients died. Patients with the highest SUA had a similar risk to the middle 3 TA-SUA groups, but the lowest TA-SUA group had a significantly elevated HR for mortality. The lowest TA-SUA group was significantly associated with increased all-cause mortality (adjusted HR, 1.720; 95% confidence interval, 1.007-2.937; P = 0.047) even after adjusting for demographic, comorbid, nutritional covariables, and medication use that could affect SUA levels. This association was prominent in patients with well nourishment on the SGA, a preserved serum albumin level, a higher BMI, and concomitant DM although these parameters had no significant interaction in the TA-SUA-mortality relationship except DM. In conclusion, a lower TA-SUA level <5.5 mg/dL predicted all-cause mortality in patients with chronic dialysis.
Monotherapy with infliximab versus combination therapy in the maintenance of clinical remission in children with moderate to severe Crohn disease.

The aim of the present study was to compare the efficacy and safety of 2 protocols of maintenance therapy with infliximab (IFX) and an immunomodulatory agent in pediatric patients with Crohn disease (CD): withdrawal of immunomodulators versus continuation of immunosuppressants.



The present multicenter randomized open-label trial included 99 patients with CD (ages 14.5 ± 2.6 years) who were administered IFX (5 mg/kg body weight) along with an immunomodulatory agent (azathioprine 1.5-3 mg/kg body weight per day, methotrexate 10-25 mg/week). After 10 weeks of the induction therapy, 84 responders were centrally randomized into 1 of the following groups: group I (n = 45) in which IFX and an immunomodulatory agent were continued up to week 54 and group II (n = 39) in which the immunomodulatory agent was discontinued after 26 weeks.



The induction therapy was reflected by a significant decrease in Pediatric Crohn's Disease Activity Index (PCDAI) and Simplified Endoscopic Activity Score for Crohn's Disease (SES-CD) values. After the maintenance phase, the analyzed groups did not differ significantly in terms of the clinical response loss rates and final PCDAI and SES-CD scores. Furthermore, no significant intragroup differences were documented between mean PCDAI scores determined at the end of induction and maintenance phases. Intensification/modification of the treatment was required in 13 of 45 (29%) and 11 of 39 (28%) patients of groups I and II, respectively. A total of 9 serious adverse events were documented; none of the patients died during the trial.



Twenty-six weeks likely represent the safe duration of combined IFX/immunomodulatory therapy in our sample of pediatric patients with CD.
Predicting Mortality in Patients with Diabetes Starting Dialysis

While some prediction models have been developed for diabetic populations, prediction rules for mortality in diabetic dialysis patients are still lacking. Therefore, the objective of this study was to identify predictors for 1-year mortality in diabetic dialysis patients and use these results to develop a prediction model.



Data were used from the Netherlands Cooperative Study on the Adequacy of Dialysis (NECOSAD), a multicenter, prospective cohort study in which incident patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD) were monitored until transplantation or death. For the present analysis, patients with DM at baseline were included. A prediction algorithm for 1-year all-cause mortality was developed through multivariate logistic regression. Candidate predictors were selected based on literature and clinical expertise. The final model was constructed through backward selection. The model's predictive performance, measured by calibration and discrimination, was assessed and internally validated through bootstrapping.



A total of 394 patients were available for statistical analysis; 82 (21%) patients died within one year after baseline (3 months after starting dialysis therapy). The final prediction model contained seven predictors; age, smoking, history of macrovascular complications, duration of diabetes mellitus, Karnofsky scale, serum albumin and hemoglobin level. Predictive performance was good, as shown by the c-statistic of 0.810. Internal validation showed a slightly lower, but still adequate performance. Sensitivity analyses showed stability of results.



A prediction model containing seven predictors has been identified in order to predict 1-year mortality for diabetic incident dialysis patients. Predictive performance of the model was good. Before implementing the model in clinical practice, for example for counseling patients regarding their prognosis, external validation is necessary.
Open resection of osteoid osteoma guided by a gamma-probe

Osteoid osteoma is the third most common type of bone tumour. Radiofrequency ablation and other percutaneous procedures are the treatment of choice. However, in some sites these methods are difficult or dangerous. Our objective of this study was to evaluate whether open resection and intraoperative nidus detection with a hand-held gamma probe is an efficient method for treating this type of tumour. Fifty-three patients with osteoid osteomas were submitted to surgical treatment. The first group (gamma group) consisted of 34 patients submitted to open nidus resection guided by a hand-held gamma probe. The control group consisted of 19 patients operated on by conventional technique. In the postoperative period, histopathology, imaging studies, and clinical outcome were evaluated. The gamma group patients were followed up for an average 26.2 months; the control group patients were followed up for an average 38 months. There was no difference with regard to pain relief and histopathology findings between the two groups. However, in the postoperative imaging studies, there was significantly less nidus present in the gamma group (p = 0.01).The gamma probe helped to locate the osteoid osteoma nidus more precisely, as demonstrated by the postoperative imaging studies. L’ostéome ostéoïde est la troisième tumeur osseuse par ordre de fréquence. L’ablation par radio fréquence et les autres procédés d’éxérèse percutanée, représentent le traitement de choix de ces tumeurs, cependant, pour quelques sites, ces méthodes sont difficiles voire dangereuses. Notre objectif est d’évaluer la possibilité d’une résection à foyer ouvert avec détection per-opératoire du nidus à l’aide d’une sonde à rayonnements gamma.  53 patients présentant une ostéome ostéoïde ont bénéficié de ce traitement chirurgical. Le premier groupe (gamma groupe) représentait 34 patients avec une résection à foyer ouvert guidé par sonde manuelle gamma. Le groupe contrôle, 19 patients étaient opérés selon la technique conventionnelle avec, dans la période post-opératoire, examen histopathologique et évaluation clinique. Le groupe par détection sonde gamma a été suivi, en moyenne, 26,2 mois et le groupe contrôle 38 mois. Résultats: il n’y a pas de différences concernant la récidive des douleurs et les constatations histopathologiques parmi les deux groupes. Cependant, il y a de façon significative moins de nidus présents dans le groupe gamma en post-opératoire.  la sonde avec rayonnement gamma permet de localiser le nidus de l’ostéome ostéoïde de façon plus précise comme l’a démontré notre évaluation post-opératoire.
Treatment of neonatal abstinence syndrome in preterm and term infants.

Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) is treated with a variety of drug preparations. With the optional treatment of NAS with chloral hydrate, phenobarbital or morphine the cumulative drug consumption of the mentioned drugs, the length of hospital stay and treatment duration was evaluated in preterm and term neonates.



Retrospective, uncontrolled study which evaluates different therapies of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) in preterm and term neonates.



During the past 16 years data were obtained from medical records of 51 neonates with NAS; 9 preterm and 35 term neonates were evaluated and 7 were excluded because of incomplete data sets. 31 (72.1%) received a pharmacological treatment (6 preterm and 25 term neonates). Treatment started at 4.3 [3.3-5.3] d. Mean duration of treatment was 11.7 [6.6-16.7] d. In our study chloral hydrate (ch) and phenobarbital (pb) were first line medication escalated by the morphine (mp) solution. Mean cumulative dosage of ch was 643.5 [260.3-1 026.7] mg, of pb 53.2 [19.7-86.8] mg and of mp 4.22 [0-8.99] mg.



Our study group showed similar treatment duration and length of hospital stay compared to other studies. The cumulative dose of mp was lower compared to most studies. This benefit resulted at the expense of a further medication with pb and ch. However, 6 of 9 preterm neonates needed significantly less pharmacological therapy compared to term neonates indicating less susceptibility of immature brain to abstinence of maternalo-pioids.