nils-herrmann/clean_scirepeval huggingface dataset:
A comparison of the original chronic respiratory questionnaire with a standardized version.

The chronic respiratory questionnaire (CRQ), a widely used measure of health-related quality of life (HRQL) in patients with chronic airflow limitation, includes an individualized dyspnea domain (patients identify five important activities, and report the degree of dyspnea on a 7-point scale). Because the individualized domain is unwieldy in multicenter clinical trials, we developed a standardized version and tested its discriminative and evaluative properties.



We enrolled 51 patients who completed the standardized and individualized CRQ before starting a respiratory rehabilitation program, and again 3 months later. We calculated both cross-sectional and longitudinal correlations between the two versions and a number of other HRQL instruments, and tested the relative ability of the individualized and standardized versions of the CRQ to detect improvement with rehabilitation.



The results of the individualized questions suggested greater dysfunction (lower scores) than did the standardized questions both at baseline (3.18 vs 3.92, p < 0.001) and follow-up (4.62 vs 4.84, p = 0.051). The standardized dyspnea domain showed superior discriminative validity. While both techniques detected important, statistically significant improvement with rehabilitation (individualized domain mean change, 1.44; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.11 to 1.77 [p < 0.001]; standardized domain mean change, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.61 to 1.24 [p < 0.01]), the difference in effect was substantial and statistically significant (mean difference, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.22 to 0.82; p = 0.001). The two versions showed comparable longitudinal validity.



A standardized version of the CRQ dyspnea domain improves the cross-sectional validity, maintains longitudinal validity, but reduces the responsiveness. By increasing sample size, investigators can use the more efficient standardized version of the CRQ without compromising validity.
Physical activity, smoking, and exercise-induced fatigue

This study determined whether persons with coronary risk factors have increased fatigue during or after exercise. Ratings of perceived exertion were first shown to be a valid measure of fatigue; i.e., ratings of perceived exertion correlated with heart rate both during and after exercise and at each of three exercise tests (all within-subjects r>0.88). Physical inactivity and smoking were associated with increased fatigue. Inactive men and smokers had higher levels of fatigue during both exercise and recovery conditions and at each of three exercise tests. The increased fatigue of men who were inactive and smoked was not entirely due to their lower level of fitness. The risk factors of age, Type A behavior pattern, blood pressure, serum cholesterol, serum high-density lipoprotein, and obesity were not associated with increased fatigue. The increased fatigue experienced by inactive persons and smokers may account for their decreased compliance to exercise programs.
The safety and clinical benefit of budesonide/formoterol pressurized metered-dose inhaler versus budesonide alone in children.

Few studies have evaluated inhaled corticosteroid (ICS)/long-acting beta(2)-adrenergic agonist combination therapy in asthmatic children. This study was designed to evaluate the safety (primary) and clinical benefits (secondary) of budesonide/formoterol pressurized metered-dose inhaler (pMDI) versus budesonide dry powder inhaler (DPI) in children with persistent asthma. This was a 26-week, multicenter, randomized, open-label U.S. study of 187 children 6-11 years of age previously receiving ICS. After 1 week of usual ICS therapy, subjects received twice-daily budesonide/formoterol pMDI 160/4.5 micrograms x 2 inhalations (320/9 micrograms; n = 124) or budesonide DPI 200 micrograms x 2 inhalations (400 micrograms [320 micrograms delivered ex-mouthpiece]; n = 63). Budesonide/formoterol and budesonide were well tolerated with a similar incidence of adverse events (AEs) (84.6% and 85.7%, respectively), most of mild or moderate intensity. Treatment-related AE incidence was low (5.4%) and similar across groups (budesonide/formoterol, 4.9%; budesonide, 6.3%). No clinically important treatment differences were observed for 12-lead electrocardiograms, hematology, serum glucose and potassium, and 24-hour urinary cortisol. Compared with budesonide, budesonide/formoterol decreased health care use (urgent care visits and interference with daily activities [child] or work [caregiver]; p < or = 0.012) and improved health-related quality of life (Pediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire [standardized] and Pediatric Asthma Caregiver Quality of Life Questionnaire overall scores; p < or = 0.006) and pulmonary function (predose forced expiratory volume in 1 second and forced expiratory flow during the middle half of exhalation; p < or = 0.007). In this 26-week study of asthmatic children (6-11 years), safety profiles were similar and clinical benefits were greater with budesonide/formoterol than with budesonide.
A comprehensive study of delivery strategies with chunk scheduling for mesh P2P live streaming

The Internet video distribution becomes popular in recent years. Peer-to-peer (P2P) live streaming based on mesh structures exploits successfully peers' bandwidth to deliver video content. Due to three characteristics: time sensitive data, small and time-shifted buffer, and long last streaming traffic for P2P live streaming, we believe that the appropriate delivery strategies and chunk scheduling can improve the QoE (quality of experience). In this work, we perform a comprehensive study for various delivery strategies and make a simulated comparison. In addition, we also propose a novel delivery strategy that can be incorporated into the existing P2P streaming systems for enhancing their QoS (quality of service).
HIV/AIDS prevention in New York City: identifying sociocultural needs of the community.

New York City has always been and remains at the epicenter of the country's AIDS epidemic, with more than 100,000 people living with HIV/AIDS. More than Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Miami combined (CDC, 2007b). Each year there may be as many as 4,800 people in New York City who are newly diagnosed with HIV and 1,700 who die from the disease (NYC Commission on HIV/AIDS, 2005; NYC AIDS Institute, 2006g). Recent research indicates that these HIV infection rates are actually significantly higher (perhaps by as much as 40%), with the "virus spreading in NY at three times the national rate" making it evident that HIV education and prevention efforts are not effectively reaching New Yorkers (Altman, 2008, p. 1). This article reports on the findings of a quantitative study (n = 98) that sought to identify the unique sociocultural needs of NYC residents who seek HIV/AIDS care. Key questions were aimed at who gets HIV tested and why, what HIV education services were reported as most effective, and identifying the unique sociocultural obstacles to getting HIV tested. Some of the statistically significant findings include: (1) the most helpful HIV education was found to be support groups and the second most helpful was reading material offered in community based settings; (2) most residents choose to get tested under the direct advice of a physician; (3) Latinos tend to hold more HIV/AIDS Stigma than their African-American counterparts. Culturally competent implications are provided for policy, program development and direct care for those providing HIV education services in urban communities.
Competency in managing cardiac arrest: A scenario-based evaluation of dental students.

Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) in life-threatening situations is perceived as a basic skill for dental professionals. However, medical emergency training in dental schools is often not standardized. The dental students' knowledge transfer to an ACLS setting thus remains questionable. The aim of the study was to evaluate dental pre-doctorate students' practical competence in ACLS in a standardized manner to enable the curriculum to be adapted to meet their particular needs.



Thirty dental students (age 25.47 ± 1.81; 16 male/14 female) in their last year of dental studies were randomly assigned to 15 teams. Students' ability to successfully manage ACLS was assessed by a scenario-based approach (training module: Laerdal® ALS Skillmaster). Competence was assessed by means of (a) an observation chart, (b) video analysis and (c) training module analysis (Laerdal HeartSim®4000; . The evaluation was conducted by a trained anesthesiologist with regard to the 2010 guidelines of the European Resuscitation Council (ERC).



Only five teams (33.3%) checked for all three vital functions (response, breathing and circulation). All teams initiated cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Only 54.12% of the compressions performed during CPR were sufficient. Four teams stopped the CPR after initiation. In total, 93% of the teams used the equipment for bag-valve-mask ventilation and 53.3% used the AED (Automated external defibrillator).



ACLS training on a regular basis is necessary and, consistent with a close link between dentistry and medicine, should be a standardized part of the medical emergency curriculum for dental students with a specific focus on the deficiencies revealed in this study.
Long-term follow-up for mortality and cancer in a randomized placebo-controlled trial of vitamin D(3) and/or calcium (RECORD trial).

Vitamin D or calcium supplementation may have effects on vascular disease and cancer.



Our objective was to investigate whether vitamin D or calcium supplementation affects mortality, vascular disease, and cancer in older people.



The study included long-term follow-up of participants in a two by two factorial, randomized controlled trial from 21 orthopedic centers in the United Kingdom.



Participants were 5292 people (85% women) aged at least 70 yr with previous low-trauma fracture.



Participants were randomly allocated to daily vitamin D(3) (800 IU), calcium (1000 mg), both, or placebo for 24-62 months, with a follow-up of 3 yr after intervention.



All-cause mortality, vascular disease mortality, cancer mortality, and cancer incidence were evaluated.



In intention-to-treat analyses, mortality [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.93; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.85-1.02], vascular disease mortality (HR = 0.91; 95% CI = 0.79-1.05), cancer mortality (HR = 0.85; 95% CI = 0.68-1.06), and cancer incidence (HR = 1.07; 95% CI = 0.92-1.25) did not differ significantly between participants allocated vitamin D and those not. All-cause mortality (HR = 1.03; 95% CI = 0.94-1.13), vascular disease mortality (HR = 1.07; 95% CI = 0.92-1.24), cancer mortality (HR = 1.13; 95% CI = 0.91-1.40), and cancer incidence (HR = 1.06; 95% CI = 0.91-1.23) also did not differ significantly between participants allocated calcium and those not. In a post hoc statistical analysis adjusting for compliance, thus with fewer participants, trends for reduced mortality with vitamin D and increased mortality with calcium were accentuated, although all results remain nonsignificant.



Daily vitamin D or calcium supplementation did not affect mortality, vascular disease, cancer mortality, or cancer incidence.
Short and long-acting oral nitrates for stable angina pectoris

Nitroglycerin (NTG) spray and sublingual tablets rapidly relieve an established attack of angina, and their infrequent use is not associated with the development of tolerance. Although, following a suitable nitrate-free interval, the first dose of oral, long-acting nitrates produces significant hemodynamic effects, increases angina free walking, and decreases exercise-induced ischemia, during continued long-term therapy tolerance limits their usefulness. Appropriate dosing regimens of controlled-release formulations of isosorbide dinitrate (ISDN) and controlled-release NTG during long-term therapy have not been established. Use of immediate-release formulation of 15–120 mg of ISDN in a qid regimen lead to a marked reduction in the size and duration of antianginal effects compared to the initial dose. Asymmetric tid therapy with 30 mg of ISDN (7 a.m., 1 p.m, and 6 p.m.) is also associated with the development of partial tolerance and appears to provide antianginal prophylaxis for only a period of 6 hours each day. Asymmetric bid therapy with ISDN at 7 a.m. and noon may give sustained effect but is supported by only a single, small study that did not examine effectiveness after the noon dose in long-term use. Isosor-bide-5-mononitrate (IS-5-MN) has been the subject of more recent studies than other nitrates because of attempts to bring a number of products into the U.S. market. IS-5-MN in qid, tid, and standard bid (8 a.m. and 8 p.m.) dosing regimens produce tolerance. Asymmetric regimens of immediate-release IS-5-MN (10 and 20 mg) given bid (once in the morning and again 7 hours later) decrease the development of tolerance compared to symmetric regimens and produce an increased exercise duration after each dose of the day; the 20 mg bid dosing is more effective. Similarly, once-daily 120 and 240 mg controlled-release IS-5-MN does not produce tolerance and gives a sustained increase in daytime exercise duration. Both asymmetric bid immediate-release and once-daily controlled-release IS-5-MN preparations do not produce deterioration in exercise performance prior to the administration of the medication in the morning (i.e., no zero-hour effect). Further studies are needed to establish useful dosing regimens for ISDN, for controlled-release ISDN, and for controlled-release nitroglycerin. None of the dosing regimens of any oral, long-acting nitrate (including IS-5-MN) provide 24 hour antianginal and antiischemic effects. Although it is intuitively attractive to add an agent (beta-blocker or calcium channel blocker) that exerts 24 hour antianginal and anti-ischemic effects, which appear to depend on mechanisms different from those of nitrates, there are no studies that allow an evaluation of the usefulness of adding beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers to nitrate therapy (or vice versa).
Local implantation of autologous mononuclear cells from bone marrow and peripheral blood for treatment of ischaemic digits in patients with connective tissue diseases.

CD34-positive bone marrow mononuclear cells (MNCs) have been successfully used for regeneration of small arteries in Buerger's disease. The objective of this study is to examine the angiogenetic potential of autologous MNCs from bone marrow and peripheral blood implanted into the ischaemic digits from patients with connective tissue diseases.



Three patients with systemic sclerosis, two with mixed connective tissue disease, and one with CREST syndrome were enrolled who had painful ischaemic digits with necrosis refractory to several vasodilators including intravenous prostaglandins. MNCs obtained from 7 ml/kg bone marrow blood and 400 ml peripheral blood were implanted into 20 different sites in palms and/or soles. The study was performed open-labelled.



Pain in the numeric rating scale improved remarkably up to 1 month after implantation of bone marrow or peripheral MNCs to the same extent, although no significant differences were found in transcutaneous oxygen pressure and thermogram before and after the implantation. Bone marrow MNCs increased blood flow of the hand determined by intra-arterial digital subtraction angiography, while peripheral MNCs did not.



Implantation of autologous MNCs from peripheral and bone marrow into the ischaemic digits was so effective in pain-relief and more clinical trials would be warranted to see whether this could be a new treatment modality for angiogenesis in connective tissue diseases as in Buerger's disease.
[A patient who for one year shared his apartment with his dead lady-friend's corpse].

A 58-year old unemployed painter had for one year shared his apartment with his lady-friend's corpse and not talked to anyone about her death. When admitted to our hospital, loss of drive, initiative, interest, psychomotor activity and emotional response as well as poverty of speech were the main clinical features. Not having been able to care for his own vital needs such as food, shelter and protection against cold temperature, he was neglected and suffered from frost-bites. We diagnosed a schizophrenia simplex and initiated neuroleptic treatment using olanzapine. During the course of treatment there was some improvement regarding affect and psychomotor activity, his loss of drive and initiative and indifference regarding his own situation in life did hardly improve.
Neural correlates of individual differences in pain-related fear and anxiety

Although individual differences in fear and anxiety modulate the pain response and may even cause more suffering than the initiating physical stimulus, little is known about the neural systems mediating this relationship. The present study provided the first examination of the neural correlates of individual differences in the tendency to (1) feel anxious about the potentially negative implications of physical sensations, as measured by the anxiety sensitivity index (ASI), and (2) fear various types of physical pain, as indexed by the fear of pain questionnaire (FPQ). In separate sessions, participants completed these questionnaires and experienced alternating blocks of noxious thermal stimulation (45-50 degrees C) and neutral thermal stimulation (38 degrees C) during the collection of whole-brain fMRI data. Regression analyses demonstrated that during the experience of pain, ASI scores predicted activation of a medial prefrontal region associated with self-focused attention, whereas FPQ scores predicted activation of a ventral lateral frontal region associated with response regulation and anterior and posterior cingulate regions associated with monitoring and evaluation of affective responses. These functional relationships cannot be wholly explained by generalized anxiety (indexed by STAI-T scores), which did not significantly correlate with activation of any regions. The present findings may help clarify both the impact of individual differences in emotion on the neural correlates of pain, and the roles in anxiety, fear, and pain processing played by medial and orbitofrontal systems.
The Alteration of Aspart Insulin Pharmacodynamics When Mixed With Detemir Insulin

Mixing rapid acting insulin analogs with detemir insulin to minimize daily injections has been adopted as a common regimen, especially for some children with type 1 diabetes, despite the manufacturing company's caution against mixing these analogs in the same syringe. The effect of this practice on the pharmacodynamics (PD) of rapid-acting insulin has not been widely studied. This crossover, randomized study was undertaken to determine whether mixing aspart with detemir insulin has an adverse effect on the early glucodynamic action of rapid-acting insulin analog in humans.



Eight adolescents with type 1 diabetes (age 17.3 ± 0.6 years and A1C 7.3 ± 0.3%) had two euglycemic glucose clamps during which 0.2 units/kg aspart and 0.4 units/kg detemir insulin were injected either as a separate or single mixed injection in random order.



Mixing the two insulins diminished the peak and overall early aspart insulin action with significantly lower maximum glucose infusion rate (GIR(max) separate 6.1 ± 0.7 mg/kg/min vs. mix 4.5 ± 0.5 mg/kg/min; P = 0.03) values and the area under curve for GIR during the first 3 h of the insulin action study (separate 757 ± 105 mg/kg vs. mix 491 ± 66 mg/kg; P = 0.04).



These data demonstrate that mixing aspart with detemir insulin markedly lowers the early PD action of aspart and prolongs its time-action profile as compared with the separate injection of these analogs. These changes in insulin PD should be weighed against the added convenience of mixing when considering such unlicensed use of these insulins in youth with type 1 diabetes.
Phase I study of AG2034, a targeted GARFT inhibitor, administered once every 3 weeks

To identify a recommended phase II dose for the second generation glycinamide ribonucleotide transformylase (GARFT) inhibitor, AG2034, administered by intravenous bolus every 3 weeks without folate supplementation and to describe AG2034 pharmacokinetics.  Adults with advanced malignancies were enrolled in cohorts of three per dose level with expansion to six upon observation of dose-limiting toxicity (DLT). The maximum tolerated dose (MTD) was defined as the dose at which two of up to six patients experienced DLT. Upon identification of an MTD and evidence of cumulative toxicity, a lower intermediate dose was explored as a candidate phase II dose. AG2034 plasma concentrations were measured using an ELISA assay.  The recommended phase II dose is 5.0 mg/m2. DLTs were anemia, thrombocytopenia, mucositis, diarrhea, hyperbilirubinemia, fatigue, and insomnia. Toxicities were modestly cumulative over three courses. Pharmacokinetic analysis showed a dose-AUC0–24 relationship and a progressive increase in AG2034 AUC0–24 over three courses. Both pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic factors may contribute to the modest cumulative toxicity observed with AG2034.
Chemokine Levels in the Penile Coronal Sulcus Correlate with HIV-1 Acquisition and Are Reduced by Male Circumcision in Rakai, Uganda

Individual susceptibility to HIV is heterogeneous, but the biological mechanisms explaining differences are incompletely understood. We hypothesized that penile inflammation may increase HIV susceptibility in men by recruiting permissive CD4 T cells, and that male circumcision may decrease HIV susceptibility in part by reducing genital inflammation. We used multi-array technology to measure levels of seven cytokines in coronal sulcus (penile) swabs collected longitudinally from initially uncircumcised men enrolled in a randomized trial of circumcision in Rakai, Uganda. Coronal sulcus cytokine levels were compared between men who acquired HIV and controls who remained seronegative. Cytokines were also compared within men before and after circumcision, and correlated with CD4 T cells subsets in foreskin tissue. HIV acquisition was associated with detectable coronal sulcus Interleukin-8 (IL-8 aOR 2.26, 95%CI 1.04-6.40) and Monokine Induced by γ-interferon (MIG aOR 2.72, 95%CI 1.15-8.06) at the visit prior to seroconversion, and the odds of seroconversion increased with detection of multiple cytokines. Coronal sulcus chemokine levels were not correlated with those in the vagina of a man's female sex partner. The detection of IL-8 in swabs was significantly reduced 6 months after circumcision (PRR 0.59, 95%CI 0.44-0.87), and continued to decline for at least two years (PRR 0.29, 95%CI 0.16-0.54). Finally, prepuce IL-8 correlated with increased HIV target cell density in foreskin tissues, including highly susceptible CD4 T cells subsets, as well as with tissue neutrophil density. Together, these data suggest that penile inflammation increases HIV susceptibility and is reduced by circumcision.