nils-herrmann/clean_scirepeval huggingface dataset:
Imbalance of tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) and its specific inhibitor (PAI-1) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis associated with disease activity

The relationship between plasma fibrinogen, D-dimer (DD), t-PA and PAI-1 and their correlation with disease activity (DA) were studied in 45 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (group B) to further understand the implication of fibrinolysis in the pathophysiology of RA. The control group constituted 24 healthy subjects (group A). A Stoke index (SI) of DA was assigned to each patient. Patients were divided into two groups: C, minimal-mild DA (SI 1–7); D, moderate-severe DA (SI 8–17). Fibrinogen was elevated in RA correlating positively with SI and CRP. Hypercoagulability counteracted by reactive fibrinolysis was inferred from a 10-fold increase of DD in group B as compared to group A. The relatively lower levels of DD in group D compared to group C and their negative correlation with SI (rs=−0.45, −0.49, p=0.0006) indicate the tendency of fibrinolysis to decrease with the increase of DA. Significant elevation of t-PA and PAI-1 were found in group B compared to group A. While t-PA progressively decreased with the increase of DA (rs=−0.45, p=0.0019), a positive relation of PAI-1 to DA was observed (rs=0.42, p=0.0042). A 2-fold increase of PAI-1/t-PA molar ratio in group D compared to groups A and C as well as its positive correlation with SI (rs=0.63, p=0.0001) indicate the displacement of balance between t-PA and PAI-1 in favour of the inhibitor with the increase of DA in RA. The involvement of inflammatory mediators in PAI-1/t-PA imbalance was proposed from the relation of fibrinolytic abnormalities with the activity of systemic inflammatory process.
Age and sex differences of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) and cortisol (CRT) plasma levels in normal controls and Alzheimer's disease (AD)

In 50 healthy subjects (23 female, 27 male, aged 18–81) and 24 patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) (11 female, 13 male, aged 58–88) DHEAS and CRT plasma levels were studied. In normal subjects there was a clear negative correlation of DHEAS to age, while no significant age correlated decrease of CRT plasma levels was found. There was a significant decrease in the DHEAS/CRT ratio in elderly controls (aged>60) as compared to young individuals (aged<45). Overall there was a trend to lower DHEAS/CRT ratios in AD patients compared to age matched controls out of the total group of normals (P<0.1), there was a significant decrease of this ratio in female AD patients (P<0.05), compared to age matched female controls, but there was none in male Alzheimers; furthermore there was a significant difference in CRT plasma levels between female AD patients and age matched female controls (P<0.01) and between female and male AD patients (P<0.05). Considering the antiglucocorticoid effects of DHEAS, this ratio may account for its protective effect against hippocampal degeneration caused by glucocorticoids and possibly for the higher rate of AD in females.
The efficacy of pegylated interferon alpha 2a or 2b plus ribavirin in chronic hepatitis C patients.

We aimed to compare viral responses to pegylated interferon 2a plus ribavirin with pegylated interferon alpha 2b plus ribavirin.



Patients with the following characteristics were included: anti HCV(+); normal and/or elevated serum transaminase levels; positive HCV RNA by quantitative PCR; and at least stage 1 fibrosis according to Knodell Scoring System on liver biopsy. Patients were assigned into two groups. Group 1 consisted of 37 patients (24 female, 13 male) who received pegylated interferon alpha 2a 180 microg s.c. weekly plus ribavirin adjusted for patient's weight. All patients were genotype 1. Group 2 consisted of 37 patients (27 female, 10 male) who received pegylated interferon alpha 2b 1.5 microg/kg s.c. weekly plus ribavirin adjusted for patient's weight. At week 24, the treatment was discontinued in patients positive for HCV RNA by PCR, while patients negative for HCV RNA continued treatment up to 48 weeks. The end of treatment and sustained virologic responses of the patients were ascertained by assessing HCV RNA levels at the end of the treatment and after 24 weeks follow-up after the cessation of treatment.



At week 48, the proportion of patients with negative HCV RNA (end of treatment viral response) was 28/37 (75.7%) in Group 1 and 27/37 (73%) in Group 2. The group sustained virologic response rates were 48.6% and 35.1% for Group 1 and Group 2, respectively. No significant differences were noted between the two groups.



The two pegylated interferon molecules were similar in terms of sustained virologic response rate.
Mortality of heart failure patients after cardiac resynchronization therapy: identification of predictors.

A direct comparison of survival benefits between cardiac resynchronization therapy-pacemaker (CRT-P) and defibrillator (CRT-D) was not yet performed, leaving clinicians to question whether CRT-P alone is enough to protect congestive heart failure (CHF) patients from sudden cardiac death and whether CRT-D should be implanted to all CHF patients indicated for biventricular pacing. This study attempts to make this type of comparison in a large CHF population and seeks to identify predictors of death in patients with different comorbidities.



Study population consisted of 542 consecutive patients who were implanted with either CRT-P (N = 147) or CRT-D (N = 395) between 1999 and 2005. Patients' clinical and follow-up data were entered in a prospective registry and retrieved for analysis. The primary endpoint of this study was all-cause mortality during follow-up. Total all-cause mortality was significantly lower among patients with CRT-D (18.5% vs. 38.8% of CRT-P, chi(2)= 25.11, P < 0.001). Patients with one of three comorbidities--chronic renal failure (OR = 4.885, P = 0.005), diabetes mellitus (OR = 4.130, P = 0.003), and history of atrial fibrillation (OR = 1.473, P = 0.036)--appeared to have higher risk of death, while treatment with beta-blocker (OR = 0.330, P = 0.002) or CRT-D device (OR = 0.334, P = 0.003) seemed to be associated with lower mortality.



Data from this nonrandomized study indicate that CRT-D has additional survival benefits over CRT-P. Given these findings, CRT-D should be recommended to most CHF patients with indications for biventricular pacing. After CRT implant, chronic renal failure, diabetes mellitus, and history of atrial fibrillation are strong independent predictors of death.
Common and distinct neural effects of risperidone and olanzapine during procedural learning in schizophrenia: a randomised longitudinal fMRI study

Most cognitive domains show only minimal improvement following typical or atypical antipsychotic treatments in schizophrenia, and some may even worsen. One domain that may worsen is procedural learning, an implicit memory function relying mainly on the integrity of the fronto-striatal system. We investigated whether switching to atypical antipsychotics would improve procedural learning and task-related neural activation in patients on typical antipsychotics. Furthermore, we explored the differential effects of the atypical antipsychotics risperidone and olanzapine. Thirty schizophrenia patients underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging during a 5-min procedural (sequence) learning task on two occasions: at baseline and 7–8 weeks later. Of 30 patients, 10 remained on typical antipsychotics, and 20 were switched randomly in equal numbers to receive either olanzapine (10–20 mg) or risperidone (4–8 mg) for 7–8 weeks. At baseline, patients (all on typical antipsychotics) showed no procedural learning. At follow-up, patients who remained on typical antipsychotics continued to show a lack of procedural learning, whereas those switched to atypical antipsychotics displayed significant procedural learning (p = 0.001) and increased activation in the superior-middle frontal gyrus, anterior cingulate and striatum (cluster-corrected p < 0.05). These neural effects were present as a linear increase over five successive 30-s blocks of sequenced trials. A switch to either risperidone or olanzapine resulted in comparable performance but with both overlapping and distinct task-related activations. Atypical antipsychotics restore procedural learning deficits and associated neural activity in schizophrenia. Furthermore, different atypical antipsychotics produce idiosyncratic task-related neural activations, and this specificity may contribute to their differential long-term clinical profiles.
Role of insulin resistance indices in predicting new-onset diabetes after kidney transplantation.

New-onset diabetes mellitus (NODAT) is a serious complication following renal transplantation. In this cohort study, we studied 118 nondiabetic renal transplant recipients to examine whether indices of insulin resistance and secretion calculated before transplantation and at 3 months post-transplantation are associated with the development of NODAT within 1 year. We also analysed the long-term impact of early diagnosed NODAT. Insulin indices were calculated using homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) and McAuley's Index. NODAT was diagnosed using fasting plasma glucose. Median follow-up was 11 years. The cumulative incidence of NODAT at 1 year was 37%. By logistic regression, recipient age (per year) was the only significant pretransplant predictor of NODAT (OR 1.04, CI 1.009-1.072), while age (OR 1.04, CI 1.005-1.084) and impaired fasting glucose (OR 2.97, CI 1.009-8.733) were significant predictors at 3 months. Pretransplant and 3-month insulin resistance and secretion indices did not predict NODAT. All-cause mortality was significantly higher in recipients developing NODAT within 1 year compared with those remaining nondiabetic (44% vs. 22%, log-rank P = 0.008). By Cox's regression analysis, age (HR 1.075, CI 1.042-1.110), 1-year creatinine (HR 1.007, CI 1.004-1.010) and NODAT within 3 months (HR 2.4, CI 1.2-4.9) were independent predictors of death. In conclusion, NODAT developing early after renal transplantation was associated with poor long-term patient survival. Insulin indices calculated pretransplantation using HOMA and McAuley's Index did not predict NODAT.
Replacement of implantable cardioverter defibrillators and cardiac resynchronization therapy devices: results of the European Heart Rhythm Association survey.

The aim of this EP Wire was to assess the management, indications, and techniques for implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) and cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) device replacement in Europe. A total of 24 centres in 14 European countries completed the questionnaire. All centres were members of the European Heart Rhythm Association Electrophysiology Research Network. Replacement procedures were performed by electrophysiologists in 52% of the centres, by cardiologists in 33%, and both in the remaining centres. In the majority of centres, the procedures were performed during a short hospitalization (<2 days; 61.2%), or on an outpatient basis (28%). The overwhelming majority of centres reported that they replaced ICDs at the end of battery life. Only in a small subset (<10%) of patients with ICD for primary prevention and without ventricular tachycardia (VT) since implantation, ICD was not replaced. In inherited primary arrhythmia syndromes, 80% of the centres always replaced the ICD at the end of battery life. After VT ablation, only few centres (9%) explanted or downgraded the device that was previously implanted for secondary prevention, but only in those patients without new VT episodes. Patient's life expectancy <1 year was the most commonly reported reason (61%) to downgrade from a CRT-D to a CRT-P device. While warfarin therapy was continued in 47% of the centres, non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants were discontinued without bridging 24 h prior to replacement procedures in 60%. Finally, in 65% of the centres, VT induction and shock testing during ICD and CRT-D replacement were performed only in the case of leads with a warning or with borderline measurements. This survey provides a snapshot of the perioperative management, indications, and techniques of ICD and CRT device replacement in Europe. It demonstrates some variations between participating centres, probably related to local policies and to the heterogeneity of the ICD population.
Cerebral blood flow predicts lesion growth in acute stroke patients.

We sought to study the role of MRI-derived cerebral blood flow (CBF) measurements for the prediction of lesion development in acute stroke patients.



Thirty-two patients were treated with tissue plasminogen activator. Diffusion-weighted (DWI) and perfusion-weighted MRI, T2-weighted imaging, and MR angiography were performed before treatment (2.8+/-0.9 hours after symptom onset) and on follow-up (days 1 and 7). CBF thresholds (12 and 22 mL/100 g per minute) were applied to bolus tracking MRI maps to determine predictive cutoff levels.



In 21 patients (group A), the terminal lesion volume (T2-weighted imaging) was larger than the initial DWI lesion volume (89+/-93 versus 21+/-38 mL). In 11 patients (group B), the terminal lesion volume was smaller than the initial DWI lesion volume (7+/-27 versus 15+/-29 mL). The initial DWI lesion volume did not differ between both groups. The presence of a tissue volume > or =50 mL with a CBF value < or =12 mL/100 g per minute was predictive for lesion enlargement to day 7 in T2-weighted imaging (positive predictive value, 0.80).



The presence of a tissue volume > or =50 mL with a CBF value < or =12 mL/100 g per minute predicts further lesion growth in hyperacute stroke patients. MRI-derived CBF values, with all their present limitations, are valuable in early estimation of prognosis of stroke patients.
Comparison of the clinical efficacy of twice-daily Ritalin® and once-daily Equasym™ XL with placebo in children with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

To compare the efficacy and safety of two methylphenidate (MPH) formulations—once-daily modified-release MPH (EqXL, Equasym™ XL) and twice-daily immediate-release methylphenidate (MPH-IR, Ritalin®)—and placebo in children with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Children aged 6–12 years on a stable dose of MPH were randomized into a double-blind, three-arm, parallel-group, multi-center study and received 3 weeks of EqXL (20, 40, or 60 mg qd), MPH-IR (10, 20, or 30 mg bid) or placebo. Non-inferiority of EqXL to MPH-IR was assessed by the difference in the inattention/overactivity component of the overall teacher’s IOWA Conners’ Rating Scale on the last week of treatment (per protocol population). Safety was monitored by adverse events, laboratory parameters, vital signs, physical exam, and a Side Effect Rating Scale. The lower 97.5% confidence interval bound of the difference between MPH groups fell above the non-inferiority margin (−1.5 points) not only during the last week of treatment but during all three treatment weeks. Both MPH-treatment groups experienced superior benefit when compared to placebo during all treatment weeks (P < 0.001). All treatments were well tolerated. EqXL given once-daily was non-inferior to MPH-IR given twice-daily. Both treatments were superior to placebo in reducing ADHD symptoms.
Prevalence of remission and recovery in schizophrenia in the Czech Republic.

The aim of the study was to map the point prevalence of remission and recovery in patients with schizophrenia in the Czech Republic.



The point-symptomatic remission criteria were based on the definition of remission in schizophrenia according to Andreasen, without the time criterion. The definition of complete remission contained, in addition to the point-symptomatic remission criteria, a time aspect which was determined by the absence of psychiatric hospitalisation or a change in antipsychotic medications due to inefficiency in the preceding six months. Functional remission was defined by a total score on the PSP scale in the range between 71 and 100 points. Recovery was defined by the simultaneous fulfilment of the criteria for complete and functional remission.



A total of 481 patients with schizophrenia were included in the study. The point-symptomatic remission criteria were fulfilled in a total of 258 patients (54%); complete remission occurred in a total of 214 patients (44%). Functional remission was reached by 124 patients (26%) in total. Recovery was proven in a total of 91 patients (19%).



The ascertained data are in accordance with the results of methodologically similar studies and confirm the known trajectories of the course of schizophrenia.
Effectiveness of a particular blue lens on photoparoxysmal response in photosensitive epileptic patients

The aim of our work was to test a particular type of lens for photosensitivity control in photosensitive epileptic patients. Previous papers considered color and shade of dark to test lens efficacy. We added a new variable, namely lens material, to these well-known variables. We performed electroencephalography (EEG) and simultaneous video recordings in 83 epileptic patients to evaluate the effectiveness of these experimental blue lenses on photoparoxysmal response (PPR). In addition, we compared the lenses with four other types of commercially available lenses. We found that the experimental lens type was very effective for photosensitivity inhibition in epileptic subjects. Indeed, PPR disappeared in 64 of 83 patients (77%) and diminished in 16 (19%). All the other commercial lenses were less effective. We think that this particular lens type could be useful in managing photosensitive epileptic patients.
Posterior cortical atrophy: variant of Alzheimer’s disease?

Nine patients with posterior cortical atrophy (PCA), a rare degenerative brain disease of unclear etiology and nosology, were followed over a mean time of 7.4 years. The mean age at onset was low (56.2 years). At onset, eight patients had visuo-spatial and eight had memory impairment. A minority showed early signs of occipital lobe involvement with visual agnosia or hemianopia. Eight patients developed dementia after a mean course of five years. 18F-FDG-PET data of six patients were analysed with statistical parametric mapping. They showed hypometabolism centred on the lateral and medial parietal associative cortex, with variable involvement of the adjacent temporal and occipital associative cortex. A minority showed involvement of the frontal lobes, possibly related to deafferenting of areas related to the control of eye movements. Atrophy and hypometabolism were markedly asymmetric in a subset of cases. Autopsy was performed in one patient. Presenile onset, location, and asymmetry of atrophy suggest that PCA represents a biologically separable variant of Alzheimer’s disease.
Antibiotic Treatment of Constipation-Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome

The antibiotic rifaximin is used to treat non-constipated irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Methane production is associated with constipation and its severity in constipation-predominant IBS (C-IBS). A previous retrospective study suggested that rifaximin and neomycin was superior to neomycin alone in improving symptoms in methane-positive subjects. To determine the effectiveness of neomycin alone or with rifaximin in improving symptoms in methane-positive C-IBS subjects. A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial was performed from 2010 to 2013 at three tertiary care centers. Subjects aged 18–65 with C-IBS (Rome II criteria) and breath methane (>3 ppm) meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria were recruited. Subjects completed a baseline symptom questionnaire rating the severity of abdominal and bowel symptoms on a visual analog scale and were randomized to receive neomycin and placebo or neomycin and rifaximin for 14 days. Symptom severity was assessed by weekly questionnaire for 2 weeks of therapy and 4 additional weeks of follow-up. Thirty-one subjects (16 neomycin and placebo, 15 neomycin and rifaximin) were included in the intention-to-treat analysis. Constipation severity was significantly lower in the neomycin and rifaximin group (28.6 ± 30.8) compared to neomycin alone (61.2 ± 24.1) (P = 0.0042), with greater improvement in constipation (P = 0.007), straining (P = 0.017) and bloating (P = 0.020), but not abdominal pain. In the neomycin and rifaximin group, subjects with methane <3 ppm after treatment reported significantly lower constipation severity (30.5 ± 21.8) than subjects with persistent methane (67.2 ± 32.1) (P = 0.020). Rifaximin plus neomycin is superior to neomycin alone in improving multiple C-IBS symptoms. This effect is predicted by a reduction in breath methane.
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the effects of pomegranate extract on rising PSA levels in men following primary therapy for prostate cancer

The primary objective of this study was to compare the effects of pomegranate juice on PSA doubling times (PSADT) in subjects with rising PSA levels after primary therapy for prostate cancer.Double-blind, placebo-controlled multi-institutional study, evaluated the effects of pomegranate liquid extract on serum PSA levels. The primary end point of this study was change in serum PSADT. Additional secondary and exploratory objectives were to evaluate the safety of pomegranate juice and to determine the interaction of manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) AA genotype and pomegranate treatment on PSADT.Results:One-hundred eighty-three eligible subjects were randomly assigned to the active and placebo groups with a ratio of 2:1 (extract N=102; placebo N=64; juice N=17). The majority of adverse events were of moderate or mild grade. Median PSADT increased from 11.1 months at baseline to 15.6 months in the placebo group (P<0.001) compared with an increase from 12.9 months at baseline to 14.5 months in the extract group (P=0.13) and an increase from 12.7 at baseline to 20.3 in the juice group (P=0.004). However, none of these changes were statistically significant between the three groups (P>0.05). Placebo AA patients experienced a 1.8 month change in median PSADT from 10.9 months at baseline to 12.7 months (P=0.22), while extract patients experienced a 12 month change in median PSADT from 13.6 at baseline to 25.6 months (Compared with placebo, pomegranate extract did not significantly prolong PSADT in prostate cancer patients with rising PSA after primary therapy. A significant prolongation in PSADT was observed in both the treatment and placebo arms. Men with the MnSOD AA genotype may represent a group that is more sensitive to the antiproliferative effects of pomegranate on PSADT; however, this finding requires prospective hypothesis testing and validation.
Modeling for everyone: Emphasizing the role of modeling in stem education

Modeling is a creative activity known and practiced by most in industry, government, and academia. A model is a construct of language coded using different technologies---from print and physical media to computer-generated synthetic environments. The activity of modeling is so central to human cognition, that we must ask ourselves whether modeling should be more clearly emphasized in education, especially within science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. Coding has recently been suggested as a skill that everyone needs to acquire for the 21st Century. Can modeling be situated along side coding? We explore the connections between modeling and coding, and stress the importance of model literacy for all.