nils-herrmann/clean_scirepeval huggingface dataset:
Reduced Stress-Sensitivity or Increased Reward Experience: The Psychological Mechanism of Response to Antidepressant Medication

Depression has often been associated with increased negative affect reactivity to stress (Stress-Sensitivity) and reduced capacity to experience pleasure or positive affect (Reward Experience). To date, no studies have prospectively examined changes in Stress-Sensitivity and Reward Experience following antidepressant treatment. The sample included 83 depressed patients and 22 healthy controls. A randomized controlled trial was carried out with patients receiving either imipramine or placebo for 6 weeks. At baseline and 6 weeks, patients and controls participated in an Experience Sampling procedure, prospectively measuring ecologically valid daily life appraisals of activities and mood states. The course of depression was assessed with the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS). Multilevel linear regression analyses showed that patients had higher negative and lower positive appraisals of activities than controls. In addition, patients showed increased Stress-Sensitivity (negative affect reactivity to negatively appraised activities). Treatment with imipramine decreased Stress-Sensitivity and increased Reward Experience (positive affect reactivity to positively appraised activities). Changes in Stress-Sensitivity and Reward Experience were in part reducible to changes in the process of activity appraisal itself. However, increase in Reward Experience, but not decrease in Stress-Sensitivity, discriminated between patients who responded and those who did not, independent of changes in the process of activity appraisal itself. Response to treatment in depression may be conditional on restoration of hedonic capacity, the cerebral substrate of which requires further study in relation to antidepressant response. A search for (synergistic) antidepressant therapies specifically targeting ability to experience reward may be warranted.
Intermittent claudication: an objective office-based assessment.

We sought to compare standard lower extremity vascular laboratory treadmill exercise with the office-based active pedal plantarflexion technique.



Intermittent claudication is relatively common in elderly patients and is an important predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Noninvasive testing using resting and posttreadmill exercise ankle:brachial systolic blood pressure indices is often required to confirm the diagnosis and objectively assess the severity of lower extremity arterial occlusive disease. This is traditionally performed in a formal vascular laboratory setting.



Fifty consecutive patients (100 lower extremities) with known or suspected intermittent claudication referred for lower extremity treadmill exercise testing were also tested with active pedal plantarflexion using a prospective, randomized crossover design. Supine ankle:brachial systolic blood pressure indices were measured immediately before and after each form of exercise.



There was an excellent correlation (r = 0.95, 95% confidence interval 0.93 to 0.97) between mean postexercise ankle:brachial systolic blood pressure indices for treadmill exercise and active pedal plantarflexion. There was no significant difference in outcome based on the order of testing or the severity of arterial occlusive disease. Symptoms of angina or dyspnea occurred in 11 patients (22%) with treadmill exercise versus zero patients with active pedal plantarflexion.



Active pedal plantarflexion is an office-based test that compares favorably with treadmill exercise for the noninvasive, safe, objective and economical assessment of lower extremity arterial occlusive disease.
Risk stratification for COPD diagnosis through an active search strategy in primary care

The aim of this study was to identify the percentage of undiagnosed patients with COPD through the implementation of an active search strategy in a selected subject population.



An observational, cross-sectional, multicenter study was conducted in a primary care setting in Spain. General practitioners gave their diagnostic impression of COPD (yes/no) on the basis of clinical criteria of subjects with respiratory symptoms and tobacco exposure. Subsequently, post-bronchodilator spirometry and quality-of-life tests were performed. Multivariate logistic regression techniques using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to identify the combination of variables that best discriminates COPD.



A total of 2,758 patients were screened at 368 primary care centers, of which 1,725 patients were included in the study. Seven hundred and ninety-three patients (46%) were diagnosed with COPD. Clinical judgment resulted in suspected COPD in 1,393 (81%) of the subjects. The best variables to discriminate COPD were a history of lower respiratory tract infections, cough, and dyspnea. This combination identified COPD with a ROCAUC of 0.61 denoting a poor discriminative ability.



Employing an active search strategy leads to a new COPD diagnosis in almost half of the subjects. Screening of COPD with post-bronchodilator spirometry should be considered mandatory for any high-risk subject visiting the general practitioner clinic for any reason.
[Quality of life and impact of incontinence in male patients with prostate carcinoma after radical retropubic prostatectomy].

To explore the effect of an interdisciplinary training programme on quality of life and impact of incontinence in male patients with urinary incontinence after radical retropubic prostatectomy for cancer of the prostate.



We conducted a controlled trial with two intervention groups. Both groups received an interdisciplinary training programme, with the first group (n=87) receiving the standard version, and the second group (n=72) receiving an additional tool 'BBS-trainer' to improve the perception of the pelvic floor muscles. Primary outcomes were quality of life (EORTC questionnaires) and impact of incontinence (modified questionnaire) evaluated up to six months after the treatment. The relationship between certain parameters such as incontinence was investigated.



Mean age was 64 years; most of the participants were married and pensioned. Both groups improved significantly and to a relevant extent in most of the quality of life and incontinence variables during the three weeks of treatment, after six months they further improved significantly. Quality of life improved first, continence and impact on daily life followed. Some differences found between both groups refer to the time course.



There is strong interaction between quality of life, incontinence and impact of incontinence. The interdisciplinary training programme shows quickly strong effects on quality of life and impact factors. It therefore is advisable that men with incontinence symptoms after prostatectomy should be offered such a treatment in a specialized rehabilitation clinic.
A clinical comparison of pneumatic compression devices: the basis for selection.

The five pneumatic compression devices (PCDs) that are marketed provide mechanical protection from deep venous thrombosis (DVT). They differ with respect to patterns of compression and the length of the sleeve. Evidence linking differences to clinical outcomes is lacking. Our purpose was twofold: to evaluate each of the marketed PCDs with respect to effectiveness, compliance, and patient and nursing satisfaction and to determine whether there is a clinical basis for the selection of one device over another.



Each of the marketed devices was used exclusively for a 4-week period. Patients participated in an evaluation including venous duplex ultrasound scan, DVT risk assessment, and device evaluation. Vascular laboratory records were used to document DVT. Compliance was measured by meters installed on all pumps. A ranking matrix was stratified by compression pattern: rapid graduated sequential compression, graduated compression, and intermittent compression, and each device was rated by patients and nurses.



The PCDs were used in 1350 cases with a DVT rate of 3.5% ranging from 2% to 9.8% depending on the method of compression. Patients with DVT were older (58 vs 54 years), had better compliance (67% vs 50%), and had more compression days (11 vs 7.2). When thigh-length sleeves were used, a greater proportion of DVT occurred in the proximal segments (71%) as compared with the number of proximal DVT when the calf-length devices were used (52%; P =.21). Devices W, X, and Y had comparable rates of DVT, which were lower than those for V and Z. Compression device W, [correction] with calf and thigh sleeves, achieved the best overall ranking largely because of high scores for patient and nurse satisfaction.



Our data appear at odds with commonly held beliefs. We were unable to show a difference in DVT incidence based on the length of the device or the method of compression. Randomized studies are needed to confirm our findings and evaluate hypotheses derived from this study.
A phase I, open-label, randomized crossover study to assess the effect of dosing of the MEK 1/2 inhibitor Selumetinib (AZD6244; ARRY-142866) in the presence and absence of food in patients with advanced solid tumors

This Phase I study assessed whether food influences the rate and extent of selumetinib absorption in patients with advanced solid malignancies and determined the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetic (PK) profile of selumetinib and its active metabolite N-desmethyl-selumetinib in fed and fasted states. A single dose of 75 mg selumetinib was to be taken with food on Day 1 followed by a single dose of 75 mg after fasting for at least 10 h on Day 8, or vice versa, followed by twice daily dosing of 75 mg selumetinib from Day 10. Plasma concentrations and PK parameters were determined on Days 1 and 8. Patients could continue to receive selumetinib for as long as they benefitted from treatment. In total, 31 patients were randomized to receive selumetinib; 15 to fed/fasted sequence and 16 to fasted/fed sequence. Comprehensive PK sampling was performed on 11 and 10 patients, respectively. The geometric least-squares means of Cmax and AUC for selumetinib were reduced by 62% (ratio 0.38 90% CI 0.29, 0.50) and 19% (ratio 0.81 90% CI 0.74, 0.88), respectively, under fed compared with fasting conditions. The rate of absorption (tmax) of selumetinib (fed) was delayed by approximately 2.5 h (median). The food effect was also observed for the active metabolite N-desmethyl-selumetinib. Selumetinib was well tolerated. The presence of food decreased the extent of absorption of selumetinib. It is recommended that for further clinical studies, selumetinib be taken on an empty stomach. Selumetinib demonstrated an acceptable safety profile in the advanced cancer population.
Role of cranial computed tomography in predicting clinical outcome in patients with minor head injury.

Optimal management of patients with mild head injury in the emergency department is still under debate. The objective of this study was to determine the diagnostic efficacy of computed tomography in patients with minor head injury.



A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted in the Radiology department of PIMS, Islamabad in collaboration with neurosurgery department from 14 February to 13 August 2008. One hundred and sixty patients coming to accident and emergency department with minor head injury with GCS of 13-15 were included. The patients then underwent non contrast enhanced CT of brain within 6 hours and results of computed tomography were compared with clinical outcome determined at 24 hours.



Twenty-two patients were CT positive for intracranial injury. Out of these 18 patients had an adverse clinical outcome and were considered true positive, while 4 patients were false positive and had normal clinical course with observation only. Ninety-four patients were CT negative for intracranial injury. Out of these 93 were true negative while I was false negative, as confirmed subsequently by adverse clinical outcome. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values and diagnostic efficacy of CT for intracranial injury in patients of minor head injury was 94%, 96%, 81%, 99% and 95.7% respectively.



CT should be used as a primary screening investigation in all patients with minor head injury as patients with normal neurological examination and normal CT scan can be safely discharged without need for inpatient or patient observation, thereby making the hospital resources available for more serious patients.
Effect of Pet Insects on the Psychological Health of Community-Dwelling Elderly People: A Single-Blinded, Randomized, Controlled Trial.

There is evidence that animal-assisted therapy has positive effects on mental health, especially in elderly people. Caring for insects is easy, relatively inexpensive, and does not require much space.



The aim of this 8-week randomized, controlled, single-blinded study was to investigate the effect of pet insects on the psychological health of community-dwelling elderly people.



Elderly subjects (≥65 years old) attending a community center in Daegu, Korea, were enrolled in the study between April and May 2014 and randomized at a 1:1 ratio to receive insect therapy and health advice or only health advice. The insect group received 5 crickets in a cage with sufficient fodder and a detailed instruction manual. At baseline and at 8 weeks, all subjects underwent psychometric tests via a direct interview [Beck Anxiety Inventory, Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), 36-Item Short Form Health Survey, Insomnia Severity Index, Fatigue Severity Scale, and Brief Encounter Psychosocial Instrument] and laboratory analyses of inflammatory and oxidative stress markers (erythrocyte sedimentation rate, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, biological antioxidant potential, and derivatives of reactive oxygen metabolites).



The insect-caring (n = 46) and control (n = 48) groups did not differ in baseline characteristics. The insect-caring group had significantly lower GDS-15 scores at week 8 (3.20 vs. 4.90, p = 0.004) and, after adjustment for baseline values, a significantly greater change in GDS-15 scores relative to baseline (-1.12 vs. 0.20, p = 0.011). They also had a significantly greater change in MMSE scores relative to baseline (1.13 vs. 0.31, p = 0.045). The two groups did not differ in terms of other psychometric and laboratory tests. No serious risks or adverse events were reported.



Caring for insects, which is cost-effective and safe, was associated with a small to medium positive effect on depression and cognitive function in community-dwelling elderly people.
Smoking correlates with flow-mediated brachial artery vasoactivity but not cold pressor vasoactivity in men with coronary artery disease

Impaired endothelial function is observed as altered vasomotion in both the peripheral and coronary circulation in the presence of cardiovascular risk factors and early atherogenesis. An improvement in endothelium-dependent vasoactivity has been reported with both cholesterol reduction and smoking cessation. This study was performed to determine whether smoking status in coronary artery disease (CAD) effects both flow-mediated and cold pressor vasoactivity. We studied 25 men (ages 30–59), 12 smokers and 13 nonsmokers with angiographically documented coronary artery disease and cardiac risk factors who were grouped as smokers and nonsmokers. Using 7.5MHz ultrasound, we measured brachial artery diameter and Doppler flow velocity at baseline, following 5 mins of ipsilateral blood pressure cuff occlusion and release (flow-mediated), during contralateral ice water hand immersion (cold pressor test) and after sublinqual nitroglycerin administration (an endothelium-independent vasodilator). Flow-mediated percent diameter change was significantly less in the smokers than nonsmokers (1.9 ± 5.7% vs 11.4 ± 7.2%, p <0.001). Both smokers and nonsmokers responded similarly to the cold pressor test (–3.9 ± 2.3 vs –1.2 ± 0.2%) and nitroglycerin (15.1 ± 7.6 vs 17.5 ± 8.3%). Cholesterol level did not appear to be an independent determinant of flow-mediated vasoactivity when smoking status whas taken into account. Flow-mediated vasoactivity is associated with smoking status in the presence of coronary artery disease but cold pressor induced vasoactivity is not.
LUGOL'S IODINE CHROMOENDOSCOPY VERSUS NARROW BAND IMAGE ENHANCED ENDOSCOPY FOR THE DETECTION OF ESOPHAGEAL CANCER IN PATIENTS WITH STENOSIS SECONDARY TO CAUSTIC/CORROSIVE AGENT INGESTION.

The diagnosis of corrosion cancer should be suspected in patients with corrosive ingestion if after a latent period of negligible symptoms there is development of dysphagia, or poor response to dilatation, or if respiratory symptoms develop in an otherwise stable patient of esophageal stenosis. Narrow Band Imaging detects superficial squamous cell carcinoma more frequently than white-light imaging, and has significantly higher sensitivity and accuracy compared with white-light.



To determinate the clinical applicability of Narrow Band Imaging versus Lugol´s solution chromendoscopy for detection of early esophageal cancer in patients with caustic/corrosive agent stenosis.



Thirty-eight patients, aged between 28-84 were enrolled and examined by both Narrow Band Imaging and Lugol´s solution chromendoscopy. A 4.9mm diameter endoscope was used facilitating examination of a stenotic area without dilation. Narrow Band Imaging was performed and any lesion detected was marked for later biopsy. Then, Lugol´s solution chromoendoscopy was performed and biopsies were taken at suspicious areas. Patients who had abnormal findings at the routine, Narrow Band Imaging or Lugol´s solution chromoscopy exam had their stenotic ring biopsied.



We detected nine suspicious lesions with Narrow Band Imaging and 14 with Lugol´s solution chromendoscopy. The sensitivity and specificity of the Narrow Band Imaging was 100% and 80.6%, and with Lugol´s chromoscopy 100% and 66.67%, respectively. Five (13%) suspicious lesions were detected both with Narrow Band Imaging and Lugol's chromoscopy, two (40%) of these lesions were confirmed carcinoma on histopathological examination.



Narrow Band Imaging is an applicable option to detect and evaluate cancer in patients with caustic /corrosive stenosis compared to the Lugol´s solution chromoscopy.
Abbreviated HIV counselling and testing and enhanced referral to care in Uganda: a factorial randomised controlled trial

HIV counselling and testing and linkage to care are crucial for successful HIV prevention and treatment. Abbreviated counselling could save time; however, its effect on HIV risk is uncertain and methods to improve linkage to care have not been studied.



We did this factorial randomised controlled study at Mulago Hospital, Uganda. Participants were randomly assigned to abbreviated or traditional HIV counselling and testing; HIV-infected patients were randomly assigned to enhanced linkage to care or standard linkage to care. All study personnel except counsellors and the data officer were masked to study group assignment. Participants had structured interviews, given once every 3 months. We compared sexual risk behaviour by counselling strategy with a 6·5% non-inferiority margin. We used Cox proportional hazards analyses to compare HIV outcomes by linkage to care over 1 year and tested for interaction by sex. 
We enrolled 3415 participants; 1707 assigned to abbreviated counselling versus 1708 assigned to traditional. Unprotected sex with an HIV discordant or status unknown partner was similar in each group (232/823 [27·9%] vs 251/890 [28·2%], difference -0·3%, one-sided 95% CI 3·2). Loss to follow-up was lower for traditional counselling than for abbreviated counselling (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 0·61, 95% CI 0·44-0·83). 1003 HIV-positive participants were assigned to enhanced linkage (n=504) or standard linkage to care (n=499). Linkage to care did not have a significant effect on mortality or receipt of co-trimoxazole. Time to treatment in men with CD4 cell counts of 250 cells per μL or fewer was lower for enhanced linkage versus standard linkage (adjusted HR 0·60, 95% CI 0·41-0·87) and time to HIV care was decreased among women (0·80, 0·66-0·96).



Abbreviated HIV counselling and testing did not adversely affect risk behaviour. Linkage to care interventions might decrease time to enrolment in HIV care and antiretroviral treatment and thus might affect secondary HIV transmission and improve treatment outcomes.



US National Institute of Mental Health.
Comparative trial of the use of antiplatelet and oral anticoagulant in
thrombosis prophylaxis in patients undergoing total cavopulmonary operation with
extracardiac conduit: echocardiographic, tomographic, scintigraphic, clinical and
laboratory analysis

To compare the efficacy of aspirin and warfarin for prophylaxis of thrombosis in patients undergoing total cavopulmonary anastomosis. Evaluate whether coagulation factors (VII, VIII and protein C), clinical data, fenestration or hemodynamic factors, interfere with postoperative thrombosis.



A prospective, randomized study of 30 patients, randomized into Group I (Warfarin) and Group II (AAS), underwent total cavopulmonary shunt with extracardiac conduit, between 2008 and 2011, with follow-up by clinical visits to evaluate side effects and adhesion. Performed transesophageal echocardiography in post operatory time, 3, 6,12 and 24 months; angiotomography at 6, 12 and 24 months to evaluate changes in the internal tube wall or thrombi and pulmonary scintigraphy to evaluate possible PTE.



Two deaths in group I; 33.3% of patients had thrombus (46.7% in Group II). The previous occurrence of thrombus and low levels of coagulation protein C were the only factors that influenced the time free of thrombus (P=0.035 and 0.047). Angiotomographic evaluation: 35.7% in group II presented material accumulation greater than 2 mm (P=0.082).  two patients had PTE in group II. Five patients had difficulty to comply with the treatment, 4 in group I with INR ranging from 1 to 6.4.



The previous occurrence of thrombus is a risk factor for thrombosis in the postoperative period. Patients using AAS tend to deposit material in the tube wall. The small sample size did not allow to conclude which is the most effective drug in the prevention of thrombosis in this population.
Bilateral or unilateral stimulation for baroreflex activation therapy.

Previous trials have shown that in patients with resistant hypertension device-based baroreflex activation therapy (BAT) can substantially reduce blood pressure. However, the fact that electrodes had to be implanted bilaterally may be a drawback for further development of the technique. In this study, we explored whether unilateral stimulation would produce comparable results as bilateral stimulation. In the Pivotal trial, treatment-resistant hypertensive patients were randomized to receive either immediate BAT or deferred BAT, that is, 6 months after implantation. We adjusted stimulation parameters individually so as to provide optimal baroreflex activation. Unilateral stimulation was applied unless bilateral stimulation resulted in a greater blood pressure reduction. When we pooled the 6-month data for the group with immediate BAT and the 12-month data for the group with deferred BAT, a total of 215 patients had been stimulated on one side only (127 at the right side and 88 at the left side), whereas 80 patients had been stimulated bilaterally. Although blood pressure and heart rate did not differ between the 2 groups at baseline, all these variables were significantly lower in the unilateral than in the bilateral group after the 6-month period. When we compared the effect of right-sided stimulation with those of either left-sided or bilateral stimulation, we found right-sided stimulation to be the most effective. We conclude that unilateral and in particular right-sided BAT has a more profound effect on blood pressure than bilateral or left-sided BAT.