nils-herrmann/clean_scirepeval huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of narrow-band imaging as a complementary method for the detection of bladder cancer.

We evaluated the use of narrow-band imaging (NBI) cystoscopy for the detection of bladder cancer and analyzed its diagnostic efficacy in cases of carcinoma in situ (CIS) and in cases with known urine cytology results.



A prospective controlled study of NBI was conducted in 104 consecutive patients with definite or suspected bladder cancer. Transurethral targeted biopsies were performed after white light imaging (WLI) and NBI cystoscopy, and the histologic outcomes were compared.



A total of 313 biopsies were taken, including 161 from sites identified as potentially abnormal by NBI and/or WLI cystoscopy, and 152 from apparently normal sites. The percentage of malignancies in the sites identified only by NBI was 55.7% (39/70 places). In 26.9% of patients (28/104), bladder tumors were detected only by NBI. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and likelihood ratio of a negative test (NLR) for the detection of bladder tumors using NBI in all patients were 92.7%, 70.9%, 63.4%, 94.7%, and 0.10, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and NLR for the detection of CIS using NBI were 89.7%, 74.5%, 78.8%, 87.2%, and 0.14, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and NLR for the detection of bladder tumors using NBI in patients with positive vs negative urine cytology were 85.4% vs 98.4%, 75.7% vs 66.3%, 61.2% vs 64.5%, 92.0% vs 98.5%, and 0.19 vs 0.02, respectively.



NBI is a simple and effective method for identifying bladder tumors including CIS without the need for dyes because of its high sensitivity, high NPV, and low NLR.
Nucleotide sequence analysis of precore and proximal core regions in patients with chronic hepatitis B treated with interferon

The aim of the study was to estimate the prevalence of HBeAg defective mutants among patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) in the United States and to study the effect of interferon-α (IFN-α) on determining the occurrence of mutations in the HBV precore and proximal core regions. Twenty CHB patients who were treated with IFN-α were studied. Initially, all were HBV DNA positive by dot-blot hybridization; 17/20 were HBeAg positive, and 3/20 were anti-HBe positive. The precore (87 nt) and proximal core (81 nt) regions were sequenced after PCR amplification by the dideoxy chain termination method. In pretreatment sera, 15/20 patients harbored wild-type HBV only, while in 5/20 at least one nucleotide substitution was found. Mutations that prevent HBeAg synthesis were found in three patients, all of whom had G-to-A substitution at nt 1896 and two of them were anti-HBe positive. Follow-up sera were available in 18 patients. With respect to pretreatment specimen, 15/18 patients had no changes in the sequenced regions after therapy. Sequence changes were observed in the remaining three patients: In one an HBeAg defective strain was replaced by a wild-type strain; in the second a wild-type strain was replaced by an HBeAg defective strain; and in the third two mutations changing the deduced amino acid sequence of the core protein developed in the wild-type strain. In conclusion, most of our patients (85%) were initially infected by HBV strains having no mutations that prevented HBeAg synthesis. IFN-α therapy infrequently resulted in the appearance of mutations in the precore and proximal core regions.
Economic assessment of adjustable maintenance treatment with budesonide/formoterol in a single inhaler versus fixed treatment in asthma

To compare the costs and effectiveness of adjustable maintenance dosing with budesonide/formoterol in a single inhaler versus fixed dosing in adults with asthma.  In this prospective, randomised, open-label, parallel-group, multicentre trial conducted in Germany, patients with asthma received budesonide/formoterol 160µg/4.5µg in a single inhaler (Symbicort® Turbuhaler®) with two inhalations twice daily for a 4-week run-in period. Patients were then randomised to either adjustable maintenance dosing (one inhalation twice daily, stepping up to four inhalations twice daily for 1 week if asthma worsened; n = 1679) or fixed dosing (two inhalations twice daily; n = 1618) for 12 weeks. The primary efficacy variable was the change in health-related quality of life (HR-QOL), measured using the Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (standardised) during the randomised treatment period. Resource utilisation data were collected in parallel and combined with German unit costs to estimate direct and indirect costs (year 2001 values).  Both treatment regimens were equally effective in maintaining HR-QOL and asthma control during the randomised treatment period. However, overall, patients in the adjustable maintenance dosing group took fewer daily inhalations of budesonide/formoterol than those in the fixed-dosing group (mean: 2.63 vs 3.82 inhalations; p < 0.001). Adjustable maintenance dosing was associated with significantly lower asthma-related direct costs compared with fixed dosing (mean: €221 vs €292; p < 0.001). This pattern was maintained when patients were stratified into those with peak expiratory flow (PEF) of 60% to <80% predicted normal and those with PEF of ≥80% predicted normal and when total costs were considered.  Adjustable maintenance dosing with budesonide/formoterol in a single inhaler maintained HR-QOL in adult patients with asthma at a significantly lower cost than fixed dosing.
Failure of pretreatment with intravenous folic acid to alter the cumulative hematologic toxicity of lometrexol.

(/) Neiman RS, Barcos M, Berard C, Bonner H, Mann R, Rydell RE, et al. Granulocytic sarcoma: a clinicopathologic study of 61 biopsied cases. Cancer 1981;48:1426-37. (2) Moore DM, Kalvakolanu DV, Lippman SM, Kavanagh JJ, Hong WK, Borden EC, et al. Retinoic acid and interferon in human cancer: mechanistic and clinical studies. Semin Hematoll994;31:31-7. (3) Adamson PC, Bailey J, Pluda J, Poplack DG, Bauza S, Murphy RF, et al. Pharmacokinetics of all-trans-retinoic acid administered on an intermittent schedule.  Oncol 1995; 13: 1238-41. (4) Bailey J, Pluda JM, Foli A, Saville MW, Bauza S, Adamson PC, et al. Phase I/II study of intermittent all-trans-retinoic acid, alone and in combination with interferon alfa-2a, in patients with epidemic Kaposi's sarcoma.  (5) Lazzanno M, Corso A, Regazzi MB, Iacona I, Bernasconi C. Modulation of a\\-trans retinoic acid pharmacokinetics in acute promyelocytic leukemia by prolonged interferon-a therapy. BrJHaematol 1995;90:928-30. (6) Toma S, Iacona 1, Palumbo R, Moresco L, Raffo P, Regazzi MB. Modulation of alltrans-retinoic acid administered on intermittent schedule by alpha-interferon 2a in a patient with AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma. AIDS1995;10:1049-50.
Early weaning increases diarrhea morbidity and mortality among uninfected children born to HIV-infected mothers in Zambia.

Early weaning may reduce human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission but may have deleterious consequences for uninfected children. Here we evaluate effects of early weaning on diarrhea morbidity and mortality of uninfected children born to HIV-infected mothers.



HIV-infected women in Lusaka, Zambia, were randomly assigned to breastfeeding for 4 months only or to continue breastfeeding until the mother decided to stop. Replacement and complementary foods were provided and all women were counseled around feeding and hygiene. Diarrhea morbidity and mortality were assessed in 618 HIV-uninfected singletons alive and still breastfeeding at 4 months. Intent-to-treat analyses and comparisons based on actual feeding practices were conducted using regression methods.



Between 4 and 6 months, diarrheal episodes were 1.8-fold (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.3-2.4) higher in the short compared with long breastfeeding group. Associations were stronger based on actual feeding practices and persisted after adjustment for confounding. At older ages, only more severe outcomes, including diarrhea-related hospitalization or death (relative hazard [RH], 3.2, 95% CI, 2.1-5.1 increase 4-24 months), were increased among weaned children.



Continued breastfeeding is associated with reduced risk of diarrhea-related morbidity and mortality among uninfected children born to HIV-infected mothers in this low-resource setting despite provision of replacement and complementary food and counseling.
Quantification of 4-aminopyridine in plasma by capillary electrophoresis with electrokinetic injection.

A rapid and sensitive CE method for the determination of 4-aminopyridine in human plasma using 3,4-diaminopyridine as an internal standard was developed and validated. The analytes were extracted from 0.5-mL aliquots of human plasma by liquid-liquid extraction, using 8 mL of ethyl ether, and injected electrokinetically into capillary electrophoresis equipment. The instrumental conditions were obtained and optimized by Design of Experiments (DOE--factorial and response surface model), having as factors: separation voltage, ionic strength (buffer concentration), pH and temperature. The response variables were migration time, resolution, tailing factor and drug peak area. After obtaining mathematically predicted values for the response variables with best factors combinations, these were reproduced experimentally in good agreement with predicted values. In addition to optimal separation conditions obtained by Design of Experiments, sensitivity was improved using electrokinetic injection at 10 kV for 10 s, and a capillary with 50 cm effective length and 100 microm I.D. The final instrumental conditions were voltage at 19 kV, capillary temperature at 15 degrees C, wavelength at 254 nm, and phosphate buffer 100 mM, pH 2.5 as the background electrolyte. This assay was linear over a concentration range of 2.5-80 ng/mL with a lower limit of quantification of 2.5 ng/mL. The relative standard deviation for the assay precision was <7% and the accuracy was >95%. This method was successfully applied to the quantification of 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) in plasma samples from patients with spinal cord injury.
Network coordination following discharge from psychiatric inpatient treatment: a study protocol

Inadequate discharge planning following inpatient stays is a major issue in the provision of a high standard of care for patients who receive psychiatric treatment. Studies have shown that half of patients who had no pre-discharge contact with outpatient services do not keep their first outpatient appointment. Additionally, discharged patients who are not well linked to their outpatient care networks are at twice the risk of re-hospitalization. The aim of this study is to investigate if the Post-Discharge Network Coordination Program at ipw has a demonstrably significant impact on the frequency and duration of patient re-hospitalization. Subjects are randomly assigned to either the treatment group or to the control group. The treatment group participates in the Post-Discharge Network Coordination Program. The control group receives treatment as usual with no additional social support. Further outcome variables include: social support, change in psychiatric symptoms, quality of life, and independence in daily functioning.



The study is conducted as a randomized controlled trial. Subjects are randomly assigned to either the control group or to the treatment group. Computer generated block randomization is used to assure both groups have the same number of subjects. Stratified block randomization is used for the psychiatric diagnosis of ICD-10, F1. Approximately 160 patients are recruited in two care units at Psychiatrie-Zentrum Hard Embrach and two care units at Klinik Schlosstal Winterthur.



The proposed post-discharge network coordination program intervenes during the critical post-discharge period. It focuses primarily on promoting the integration of the patients into their social networks, and additionally to coordinating outpatient care and addressing concerns of daily life.
BETAWIN-AHF study: effect of beta-blocker withdrawal during acute decompensation in patients with chronic heart failure

To evaluate the effects of discontinuing chronic beta-blocker (BB) treatment on short-term outcome in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) during acute decompensation. We selected all the patients previously diagnosed with CHF and currently on BB and attended for acute heart failure (AHF) in one of the 35 Spanish emergency departments participating in the EAHFE registry. Patients were classified according to BB maintenance or withdrawal (BBM or BBW, respectively) during the episode. In-hospital mortality was the primary endpoint; and 30-day mortality, 30-day combined endpoint, and prolonged hospitalization were secondary. We used logistic regression for adjustment of results according to the differences between the BBM and BBW groups, and stratified analysis by age, sex, left ventricular ejection fraction, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart rate (HR), and BB type (carvedilol/bisoprolol) was performed. Among 2058 patients receiving chronic BB treatment, 1990 were analyzed: BBM 530 (27 %), BBW 1460 (73 %). Compared to BBM, BBW had a higher in-hospital mortality (5.5 vs 3.0 %; p < 0.05), 30-day mortality (8.7 vs 4.5 %; p < 0.01), and 30-day combined endpoint (29.8 vs 23.4 %; p < 0.05). Multivariate adjustment confirmed an independent direct association between BBW and in-hospital mortality (OR 1.89; 95 % CI 1.09–3.26) and 30-day mortality (OR 2.01; 95 % CI 1.28–3.15). Stratified analysis indicated no interaction by all the subgroups analyzed, except for HR (p = 0.01 for interaction), which showed a greater negative impact of BBW in patients with HR >80 bpm (OR 2.74; 95 % CI 1.13–6.63). In the absence of clear contraindications, BB treatment should be maintained during AHF episodes in patients already receiving BB at home.
A genome-wide association study of alcohol-dependence symptom counts in extended pedigrees identifies C15orf53

Several studies have identified genes associated with alcohol-use disorders (AUDs), but the variation in each of these genes explains only a small portion of the genetic vulnerability. The goal of the present study was to perform a genome-wide association study (GWAS) in extended families from the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism to identify novel genes affecting risk for alcohol dependence (AD). To maximize the power of the extended family design, we used a quantitative endophenotype, measured in all individuals: number of alcohol-dependence symptoms endorsed (symptom count (SC)). Secondary analyses were performed to determine if the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with SC were also associated with the dichotomous phenotype, DSM-IV AD. This family-based GWAS identified SNPs in C15orf53 that are strongly associated with DSM-IV alcohol-dependence symptom counts (P=4.5 × 10−8, inflation-corrected P=9.4 × 10−7). Results with DSM-IV AD in the regions of interest support our findings with SC, although the associations were less significant. Attempted replications of the most promising association results were conducted in two independent samples: nonoverlapping subjects from the Study of Addiction: Genes and Environment (SAGE) and the Australian Twin Family Study of AUDs (OZALC). Nominal association of C15orf53 with SC was observed in SAGE. The variant that showed strongest association with SC, rs12912251 and its highly correlated variants (D′=1, r2⩾ 0.95), have previously been associated with risk for bipolar disorder.
Effects of silymarin on neuropathic pain and formalin-induced nociception in mice

Based on the previous reports, silymarin can suppress nitric oxide, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), leukotrienes, cytokines production, and neutrophils infiltration. Regarding the fact that inflammation plays an important role in neuropathic and formalin-induced pain, it was assumed that silymarin could reduce pain. The present study investigates the analgesic effects of silymarin in chemical nociception and a model of neuropathic pain.



Chemical nociception was produced by injection of 20 µl of formalin (0.5% formaldehyde in saline) into the plantar region of the right hind paw. A sciatic-nerve ligated mouse was applied as the model of neuropathic pain and the antinociceptive response of silymarin was examined 14 days after unilateral nerve-ligation using the hot plate test.



The intraperitoneal administration of silymarin (25, 50, and, 100 mg/kg) 2 hr prior to the intraplantar formalin injection suppressed the nociceptive response during the late phase of the formalin test significantly, but it was not in a dose-dependent manner. Different doses of silymarin 14 days after unilateral sciatic nerve ligation in hot plate test did not induce obvious antinociception.



Results of the present study indicated that repeated administration of silymarin prevents the formalin-induced nociceptive behavior. However, it is not effective in the treatment of sciatic neuropathic pain.
Functional neuroanatomy of visual masking deficits in schizophrenia.

Visual masking procedures assess the earliest stages of visual processing. Patients with schizophrenia reliably show deficits on visual masking, and these procedures have been used to explore vulnerability to schizophrenia, probe underlying neural circuits, and help explain functional outcome.



To identify and compare regional brain activity associated with one form of visual masking (ie, backward masking) in schizophrenic patients and healthy controls.



Subjects received functional magnetic resonance imaging scans. While in the scanner, subjects performed a backward masking task and were given 3 functional localizer activation scans to identify early visual processing regions of interest (ROIs).



University of California, Los Angeles, and the Department of Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System.



Nineteen patients with schizophrenia and 19 healthy control subjects.  The magnitude of the functional magnetic resonance imaging signal during backward masking.



Two ROIs (lateral occipital complex [LO] and the human motion selective cortex [hMT+]) showed sensitivity to the effects of masking, meaning that signal in these areas increased as the target became more visible. Patients had lower activation than controls in LO across all levels of visibility but did not differ in other visual processing ROIs. Using whole-brain analyses, we also identified areas outside the ROIs that were sensitive to masking effects (including bilateral inferior parietal lobe and thalamus), but groups did not differ in signal magnitude in these areas.



The study results support a key role in LO for visual masking, consistent with previous studies in healthy controls. The current results indicate that patients fail to activate LO to the same extent as controls during visual processing regardless of stimulus visibility, suggesting a neural basis for the visual masking deficit, and possibly other visual integration deficits, in schizophrenia.
Should we stop saying “epileptic”? A comparison of the effect of the terms “epileptic” and “person with epilepsy”

The advantages and disadvantages of using "epileptic" as a noun to describe someone with epilepsy have long been debated. Recent high-profile recommendations have stated that the term should not be used, including in English, as it perpetuates stigma. This decision was largely informed by a Brazilian Global Campaign Against Epilepsy study that reported experimental evidence indicating that, with students, the label evokes more negative attitudes than "person with epilepsy". The generalizability of this effect to different countries/cultures, and thus the justification for the recommendations, has never been tested.



We replicated the Brazilian study in the UK, in English, while also addressing methodological limitations. It was powered to detect the effects reported by the Brazilian study, with 234 students completing a survey regarding epilepsy attitudes. Half were randomized to Group 1 and half to Group 2. In Group 1, patients were referred to as "people/person with epilepsy" within the attitudinal measures, while in Group 2 they were referred to as "epileptic/s". Measures included translations of the questions used in the Brazilian study and the Attitudes and Beliefs about Living with Epilepsy scale. Participants' epilepsy familiarity and knowledge were also assessed.



The two groups were comparable in characteristics. A comparison of their responses to the attitude measures revealed no statistically significant or meaningful differences.



In this English replication, the word "epileptic" did not provoke more negative attitudes. This suggests that the effect reported by the Brazilian study might be culturally dependent. Methodological limitations to that study might also be relevant. Our results have implications for the global debate about how negative attitudes towards epilepsy might be addressed. Simply not saying "epileptic" may not promote the positive attitudes towards epilepsy that had been expected. To know how to best refer to those with epilepsy, evidence on the preferences of those actually living with epilepsy is needed.
Leveraging user comments for aesthetic aware image search reranking

The increasing number of images available online has created a growing need for efficient ways to search for relevant content. Text-based query search is the most common approach to retrieve images from the Web. In this approach, the similarity between the input query and the metadata of images is used to find relevant information. However, as the amount of available images grows, the number of relevant images also increases, all of them sharing very similar metadata but differing in other visual characteristics. This paper studies the influence of visual aesthetic quality in search results as a complementary attribute to relevance. By considering aesthetics, a new ranking parameter is introduced aimed at improving the quality at the top ranks when large amounts of relevant results exist. Two strategies for aesthetic rating inference are proposed: one based on visual content, another based on the analysis of user comments to detect opinions about the quality of images. The results of a user study with $58$ participants show that the comment-based aesthetic predictor outperforms the visual content-based strategy, and reveals that aesthetic-aware rankings are preferred by users searching for photographs on the Web.