nils-herrmann/clean_scirepeval huggingface dataset:
Intensive cholesterol reduction lowers blood pressure and large artery stiffness in isolated systolic hypertension.

We sought to investigate the effects of intensive cholesterol reduction on large artery stiffness and blood pressure in normolipidemic patients with isolated systolic hypertension (ISH).



Isolated systolic hypertension is associated with elevated cardiovascular morbidity and mortality and is primarily due to large artery stiffening, which has been independently related to cardiovascular mortality. Cholesterol-lowering therapy has been efficacious in reducing arterial stiffness in patients with hypercholesterolemia, and thus may be beneficial in ISH.



In a randomized, double-blinded, cross-over study design, 22 patients with stage I ISH received three months of atorvastatin therapy (80 mg/day) and three months of placebo treatment. Systemic arterial compliance was measured noninvasively using carotid applanation tonometry and Doppler velocimetry of the ascending aorta.



Atorvastatin treatment reduced total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride levels by 36 +/- 2% (p < 0.001), 48 +/- 3% (p < 0.001) and 23 +/- 5% (p = 0.003), respectively, and increased high density lipoprotein cholesterol by 7 +/- 3% (p = 0.03). Systemic arterial compliance was higher after treatment (placebo vs. atorvastatin: 0.36 +/- 0.03 vs. 0.43 +/- 0.05 ml/mm Hg, p = 0.03). Brachial systolic blood pressure was lower after atorvastatin treatment (154 +/- 3 vs. 148 +/- 2 mm Hg, p = 0.03), as were mean (111 +/- 2 vs. 107 +/- 2 mm Hg, p = 0.04) and diastolic blood pressures (83 +/- 1 vs. 81 +/- 2 mm Hg, p = 0.04). There was a trend toward a reduction in pulse pressure (71 +/- 3 vs. 67 +/- 2 mm Hg, p = 0.08).



Intensive cholesterol reduction may be beneficial in the treatment of patients with ISH and normal lipid levels, through a reduction in large artery stiffness.
Object tracking in the presence of occlusions using multiple cameras: A sensor network approach

This article describes a sensor network approach to tracking a single object in the presence of static and moving occluders using a network of cameras. To conserve communication bandwidth and energy, we combine a task-driven approach with camera subset selection. In the task-driven approach, each camera first performs simple local processing to detect the horizontal position of the object in the image. This information is then sent to a cluster head to track the object. We assume the locations of the static occluders to be known, but only prior statistics on the positions of the moving occluders are available. A noisy perspective camera measurement model is introduced, where occlusions are captured through occlusion indicator functions. An auxiliary particle filter that incorporates the occluder information is used to track the object. The camera subset selection algorithm uses the minimum mean square error of the best linear estimate of the object position as a metric, and tracking is performed using only the selected subset of cameras.
 Using simulations and preselected subsets of cameras, we investigate (i) the dependency of the tracker performance on the accuracy of the moving occluder priors, (ii) the trade-off between the number of cameras and the occluder prior accuracy required to achieve a prescribed tracker performance, and (iii) the importance of having occluder priors to the tracker performance as the number of occluders increases. We find that computing moving occluder priors may not be worthwhile, unless it can be obtained cheaply and to high accuracy. We also investigate the effect of dynamically selecting the subset of camera nodes used in tracking on the tracking performance. We show through simulations that a greedy selection algorithm performs close to the brute-force method and outperforms other heuristics, and the performance achieved by greedily selecting a small fraction of the cameras is close to that of using all the cameras.
Association of reduced relative dose intensity and survival in lymphoma patients receiving CHOP-21 chemotherapy

Dear Editor, Reductions in average relative chemotherapy dose intensity (ARDI; i.e. administered compared with planned) compromise patient outcomes , and a recent Belgian study showed that survival for non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) patients receiving CHOP-21 was reduced when ARDI fell below 90% . We support these findings with similar data from the UK Audit of Lymphoma Patients (n=78 patients who received CHOP-21 chemotherapy in 1999–2000) and from the combined Belgian and UK data (n=289) . Patient, disease and treatment characteristics were similar between the two studies, except that the UK patients were younger (mean age ± SD was 55±15 years versus 63± 14 years) and fewer UK patients received colony stimulating factor (CSF). First cycle CSF use was 4% in the UK study compared to 25% in the Belgian study. During an average time to death or censoring of 72 months, 35% of patients in the UK study died. In the Belgian study, the average observation time was 30 months, during which 31% of patients died. After adjusting for the higher mean age of the Belgian patients, Kaplan–Meier survival functions were similar between the two populations (log-rank test stratified by 10-year age groups, p=0.38). Kaplan–Meier plots for patients with >90% ARDI versus ≤90% ARDI showed reduced survival for the patients with ≤90% ARDI . A trend towards reduced survival was apparent in the UK dataset alone . For the combined dataset, the effect was statistically significant (p<0.001; ), as for the Belgian data alone . Potential predictors of reduced survival were assessed using an extended Cox proportional hazards regression model with robust standard errors allowing for clustering by centre. Using the UK dataset, reduced survival was significantly associated with a higher Ann Arbor disease stage (hazard ratio (HR) at treatment initiation 2.59 per stage increase by 1, 95% CI 1.45–4.66, p=0.001) and showed a trend towards association with age (HR 1.02 per year of age, CI 1.00–1.04, p=0.058) and RDI≤90% (HR 1.42, CI 0.88–2.28, p=0.146). Using the combined dataset, reduced survival was associated with more advanced disease stage (HR 2.00, CI 1.44–2.77, p<0.001), age (HR 1.03, 95% CI 1.01–1.05, p=0.002) and RDI≤90% (HR 1.77, CI 1.12–2.79, p=0.014). In both models, the strength of the association with disease stage decreased over time. Approximately 23% and 30% of UK and Belgian patients, respectively, received ARDI≤90% and were, therefore, at risk of reduced survival. There are many factors that result in a decision to reduce or delay chemotherapy, including local institutional practice. Particularly relevant is the higher proportion of elderly patients in the Belgian dataset; elderly patients are at high FN risk  and often receive lower doses of chemotherapy . Despite this common practice, dose-dense CHOP-14 chemotherapy Ann Hematol (2008) 87:429–430 DOI 10.1007/s00277-008-0447-2
The effect of DASH diet on pregnancy outcomes in gestational diabetes: a randomized controlled clinical trial

The current study was performed to investigate the effects of the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) eating plan on pregnancy outcomes in pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus (This randomized controlled clinical trial was performed among 52 women diagnosed with GDM. Participants were randomly assigned to consume either the control (n=26) or the DASH diet (n=26) for 4 weeks. The control diet was designed to contain 45–55% carbohydrates, 15–20% protein and 25–30% total fat. The DASH diet was rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy products, and contained lower amounts of saturated fats, cholesterol and refined grains with a total of 2400 mg/day sodium. The numbers of women who commenced insulin therapy after dietary intervention, the mode of delivery and prevalence of polyhydramnios were assessed. The length, weight and head circumference of infants were measured during the first 24 h after birth.Whereas 46.2% of women in the DASH diet needed to have a cesarean section, this percentage for the control group was 80.8% (P=0.01). The percentage of those who needed to commence insulin therapy after intervention was also significantly different between the two groups (23% for DASH vs 73% for control group, P<0.0001). Infants born to mothers on the DASH diet had significantly lower weight (3222.7 vs 3818.8 g, P<0.0001), head circumference (34.2 vs 35.1 cm, P=0.01) and ponderal index (2.50 vs 2.87 kg/m3, P<0.0001) compared with those born to mothers on the control diet.In conclusion, consumption of DASH diet for 4 weeks among pregnant women with GDM resulted in improved pregnancy outcomes.
Efficacy and safety of a novel delayed-release risedronate 35 mg once-a-week tablet

Dosing regimens of oral bisphosphonates are inconvenient and contribute to poor compliance. The bone mineral density response to a once weekly delayed-release formulation of risedronate given before or following breakfast was non-inferior to traditional immediate-release risedronate given daily before breakfast. Delayed-release risedronate is a convenient regimen for oral bisphosphonate therapy. We report the results of a randomized, controlled, clinical study assessing the efficacy and safety of a delayed-release (DR) 35 mg weekly oral formulation of risedronate that allows patients to take their weekly risedronate dose before or immediately after breakfast. Women with postmenopausal osteoporosis were randomly assigned to receive risedronate 5 mg immediate-release (IR) daily (n = 307) at least 30 min before breakfast, or risedronate 35 mg DR weekly, either at least 30 min before breakfast (BB, n = 308) or immediately following breakfast (FB, n = 307). Bone mineral density (BMD), bone turnover markers (BTMs), fractures, and adverse events were evaluated. The primary efficacy variable was percent change from baseline in lumbar spine BMD at Endpoint. Two hundred fifty-seven subjects (83.7%) in the IR daily group, 252 subjects (82.1%) in the DR FB weekly group, and 258 subjects (83.8%) in the DR BB weekly group completed 1 year. Both DR weekly groups were determined to be non-inferior to the IR daily regimen. Mean percent changes in hip BMD were similar across groups. The magnitude of BTM response was similar across groups; some statistical differences were seen that were small and deemed by investigators to have no major clinical importance. The incidence of adverse events leading to withdrawal and serious adverse events were similar across treatment groups. All three regimens were well tolerated. Risedronate 35 mg DR weekly is similar in efficacy and safety to risedronate 5 mg IR daily, and will allow patients to take their weekly risedronate dose immediately after breakfast.
Intervention with feedback using Outcome Questionnaire 45 (OQ-45) in a Swedish psychiatric outpatient population. A randomized controlled trial.

The objective of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of the Outcome Questionnaire 45 (OQ-45) with feedback in a Swedish psychiatric outpatient population using a randomized controlled design.



In all 1720 patients made at least one regular visit to the clinics in the period 12 February 2007 to 10 February 2008 and received information about the study. Of these, 374 patients (22%) agreed to participate. After written consent, 188 patients were randomized to the feedback group and 186 patients to the control group. Those constituted the intention-to-treat (ITT) group. Two hundred and sixty-two patients (70%) completed the OQ-45 questionnaire at least twice, and they were included in the per-protocol analysis. Those who improved less than expected and were at risk for treatment failure were called alerted patients.



There was a tendency that patients who received feedback improved more than the controls in OQ-45 total score. In the ITT analysis, the P-value was 0.061 and the effect size g = 0.21. In the per-protocol analysis the P-value was 0.076 and the effect size g = 0.24. In the intervention group, 27% of the patients were alerted because of risk of treatment failure vs. 28% in the control group (reaching level of alertness). The OQ-45 differences between the intervention and control groups did not significantly differ for patients who were alerted/reaching level of alertness and for non-alerted patients (g = 0.17 and g = 0.28, respectively).



The feedback group had a tendency to improve more than the control group, possibly indicating that the method is effective, and the result (basically) supports previous findings.
Gaps in the Continuum of HIV Care: Long Pretreatment Waiting Time between HIV Diagnosis and Antiretroviral Therapy Initiation Leads to Poor Treatment Adherence and Outcomes

Criteria for antiretroviral treatment (ART) were adjusted to enable early HIV treatment for people living HIV/AIDS (PLHIV) in China in recent years. This study aims to determine how pretreatment waiting time after HIV confirmation affects subsequent adherence and outcomes over the course of treatment.  A retrospective observational cohort study was conducted using treatment data from PLHIV in Yuxi, China, between January 2004 and December 2015.  Of 1,663 participants, 348 were delayed testers and mostly initiated treatment within 28 days. In comparison, 1,315 were nondelayed testers and the median pretreatment waiting time was 599 days, but it significantly declined over the study period. Pretreatment CD4 T-cell count drop (every 100 cells/mm3) contributed slowly in CD4 recovery after treatment initiation (8% less, P < 0.01) and increased the risk of poor treatment adherence by 15% (ARR = 1.15, 1.08-1.25). Every 100 days of extensive pretreatment waiting time increased rates of loss to follow-up by 20% (ARR = 1.20, 1.07-1.29) and mortality rate by 11% (ARR = 1.11, 1.06-1.21), based on multivariable Cox regression.  Long pretreatment waiting time in PLHIV can lead to higher risk of poor treatment adherence and HIV-related mortality. Current treatment guidelines should be updated to provide ART promptly.
Reappraisal of the clinical implications of adenosine triphosphate in terms of the prediction of reconnection sites in cases with electrical isolation of the pulmonary veins

Dormant conduction (DC) induced by intravenous adenosine triphosphate (ATP) after pulmonary vein (PV) isolation (PVI) could predict subsequent PV reconnection (RC) sites. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the DC and RC sites during the long-term follow-up. Ninety-one consecutive patients (62 males; mean age, 62 ± 11 years) with symptomatic persistent (n = 18) or paroxysmal (n = 73) atrial fibrillation (AF) who underwent PVI were included in this study. After a successful PVI, we administered ATP to reveal the DC sites. In total, DC sites were observed in 46 (51 %) patients, and all were left un-ablated after marking or tagging all of them using fluoroscopic images and a three-dimensional (3D) mapping system. After the follow-up period (14.8 ± 3.6 months), AF recurred in 29 (32 %) patients, all of whom had a DC in the initial ablation session, and underwent redo sessions. We divided the DC sites into three groups; in group A, the RC sites differed from the DC sites, in group B, the RC sites were identical to the DC sites, and in group C, the RC sites involved both DC and other sites. As a result, 20 (69 %), 3 (11.5 %), and 6 (19.5 %) patients belonged to groups A, B, and C, respectively. Statistical analyses comparing the agreement between DC and the RC sites yielded a weak relationship. DC sites implying RC sites had a weak agreement, and other options to predict RC sites will be required to improve the clinical benefit of CA of AF.
Cognitive Behavioural Analysis System of Psychotherapy (CBASP) for chronic depression: clinical characteristics and six month clinical outcomes in an open case series.

Evidence-based guidance on how best to treat chronic depression is limited. Cognitive Behavioural Analysis System of Psychotherapy (CBASP) has shown some promise with this 'difficult-to-treat' clinical group. This case series was designed to assess the acceptability and utility of this novel treatment in routine clinical practice within the U.K. National Health Service.



We offered an open trial of CBASP to a cohort of 115 referred patients within primary and secondary care. Diagnostic interview and standardised outcome measures were administered before and after 6 months of CBASP with a trained, accredited therapist.



Seventy-four patients entered therapy, with 46 completing. 30% met criteria for remission (≤ 8 HRSD-24 score) and a further 30% met criteria for clinically significant change (> 8 and ≤15 HRSD-24 plus 50% reduction in baseline score). Thirty-nine per cent made "No change". Group measures of quality of life, social functioning and interpersonal functioning also improved.



 with a moderate sample size and no control group. Ratings were not completed using a blinded procedure.



CBASP is an acceptable therapy for a large proportion of patients with chronic depression and was associated with clinically significant change in 60% of completers.
A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study of sapropterin to treat ADHD symptoms and executive function impairment in children and adults with sapropterin-responsive phenylketonuria.

Symptoms of attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), particularly inattention, and impairments in executive functioning have been reported in early and continuously treated children, adolescents, and adults with phenylketonuria (PKU). In addition, higher blood phenylalanine (Phe) levels have been correlated with the presence of ADHD symptoms and executive functioning impairment. The placebo-controlled PKU ASCEND study evaluated the effects of sapropterin therapy on PKU-associated symptoms of ADHD and executive and global functioning in individuals who had a therapeutic blood Phe response to sapropterin therapy. The presence of ADHD inattentive symptoms and executive functioning deficits was confirmed in this large cohort of 206 children and adults with PKU, of whom 118 responded to sapropterin therapy. In the 38 individuals with sapropterin-responsive PKU and ADHD symptoms at baseline, sapropterin therapy resulted in a significant improvement in ADHD inattentive symptoms in the first 4 weeks of treatment, and improvements were maintained throughout the 26 weeks of treatment. Sapropterin was well-tolerated with a favorable safety profile. The improvements in ADHD inattentive symptoms and aspects of executive functioning in response to sapropterin therapy noted in a large cohort of individuals with PKU indicate that these symptoms are potentially reversible when blood Phe levels are reduced.
Validation of the AVITA BPM15S wrist blood pressure monitor for home blood pressure monitoring according to the European Society of Hypertension International Protocol revision 2010.

The present study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of the automated oscillometric wrist blood pressure monitor AVITA BPM15S for home blood pressure monitoring according to the International Protocol revision 2010 of the European Society of Hypertension.



Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were sequentially measured in 33 Chinese adults (15 women, mean age 51 years) using a mercury sphygmomanometer (two observers) and the AVITA BPM15S device (one supervisor). Ninety-nine pairs of comparisons were obtained from 33 participants for judgments in two parts with three grading phases.



The AVITA BPM15S device achieved the targets in part 1 of the validation study. The number of absolute differences between the device and observers within 5, 10, and 15 mmHg were 85/99, 94/99, and 98/99, respectively, for systolic blood pressure, and 82/99, 96/99, and 98/99, respectively, for diastolic blood pressure. The device also achieved the criteria in part 2 of the validation study. Thirty-two and 28 participants for systolic and diastolic blood pressure, respectively, had at least two of the three device-observer differences within 5 mmHg (required ≥ 24). No participant had all of the three device-observer comparisons greater than 5 mmHg for systolic or diastolic blood pressure.



The AVITA wrist blood pressure monitor BPM15S fulfilled the requirements of the International Protocol revision 2010 and hence can be recommended for home use in an adult population.
Notes for Students: Pathological Anatomy: A Guide in the Post-Mortem Room

we can see as likely to ensue in the mind of the unfortunate aspirant is total confusion. What could be made out of the following, for instance ??" Emphysema is caused by vesicles full of air." " Pneumonia or inflammation of the lungs begins with hyperemia or congestion, causing more or less redness ; is followed by red or gray hepatization : the first is exudation of lymph cells ; the second of pus cells into the air vesicles." " Tubercle is a pathological change in the tissue of the lung, that is, in the walls of the air vesicles, from which a permanent destruction of the tissue results." " The most common disease of the muscular tissue is the
Journey of patients with cancer: a systematic evaluation at tertiary care center in India.

In cancer patients early institution of therapy placed a very important role and delay in the diagnosis and treatment can cause catastrophe. Affirm step to cut shot this delay requires detailed information about each step of patient referral journey and for fulfillment of above aim, we interviewed 101 patients, to calculate the elapsed time at each step. Result revealed that onset of symptoms to median time of presentation to general practitioner is 20 (9 - 28) days, time consumed in state based hospital is 100 (15- 167) days while in Delhi based hospital is 56 (18 - 100) days. Higher cure rate (38.2%) in patients presented within 3 months of development of cancer symptoms than those presented late. Study concluded that primary physician and all the referral hospital attributed important role in early diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
A 12 Week, Open Label, Phase I/IIa Study Using Apatone® for the Treatment of Prostate Cancer Patients Who Have Failed Standard Therapy

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of oral Apatone (Vitamin C and Vitamin K3) administration in the treatment of prostate cancer in patients who failed standard therapy.



Seventeen patients with 2 successive rises in PSA after failure of standard local therapy were treated with (5,000 mg of VC and 50 mg of VK3 each day) for a period of 12 weeks. Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) levels, PSA velocity (PSAV) and PSA doubling times (PSADT) were calculated before and during treatment at 6 week intervals. Following the initial 12 week trial, 15 of 17 patients opted to continue treatment for an additional period ranging from 6 to 24 months. PSA values were followed for these patients.



At the conclusion of the 12 week treatment period, PSAV decreased and PSADT increased in 13 of 17 patients (p < or = 0.05). There were no dose-limiting adverse effects. Of the 15 patients who continued on Apatone after 12 weeks, only 1 death occurred after 14 months of treatment.



Apatone showed promise in delaying biochemical progression in this group of end stage prostate cancer patients.
Description of the national situation of cervical cancer screening in the member states of the European Union.

This report up-dates information on the national situation of cervical cancer screening in the member states of the European Union. There is yet high diversity in the status of cervical screening, and rapid changes expected to occur in the situation in many countries. It is important to underline differences in the health care and other components in order to allow a proper interpretation of the summary results published elsewhere in this Special Issue. The brief national descriptions along with up-dated information on the recent references are available from all but one member states.