nils-herrmann/clean_scirepeval huggingface dataset:
Iron stores and coagulation parameters in patients with hypoxemic polycythemia secondary to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: the effect of phlebotomies.

This study was designed to determine the effects of phlebotomy on iron body contents and coagulation tests of COPD patients with polycythemia secondary to hypoxemia. Seventeen patients with COPD and hematocrits higher than 54 percent (mean Hct: 57 +/- 0.49 percent), who had not received anti-inflammatory or antiplatelet aggregation agents recently. Their mean forced expiratory volume at 1 second (FEV1) was 0.92 +/- 0.11 L.



Blood work was collected to evaluate the following: serum iron and ferritin levels, total iron binding capacity, transferrin saturation index, fibrinogen plasma levels, activated partial thromboplastin time, platelet count, platelet aggregation measurements, and thromboelastography coagulation parameters. The blood samples were obtained before and about 7 days after the hematocrit correction by 300-400 ml phlebotomies done every other day. The mean number of phlebotomies done for each patient was 4.4. Postphlebotomy iron serum levels decreased from 90.1 +/- 14.8 to 59.7 +/- 9.9 mg/dl and the ferritin serum levels from 133.8 +/- 37.9 to 70.8 +/- 32.7 ng/ml (p < 0.05). Regarding the coagulation studies, there were significant increases in the platelet count, from 227,300 +/- 13,900 to 312,500 +/- 30,200 per mm3, and in the maximum clot amplitude (a) obtained by thromboelastography (from 53.6 +/- 1.4 percent to 60.4 +/- 1.1 percent). The coagulation time (k) of the thromboelastography also decreased significantly, from 7.5 +/- 0.7mm prephlebotomy to 4.5 +/- 0.3mm postphlebotomy. Although the coagulation changes were small amount, the observed significant decrease in iron contents may have clinical implications.
Cinnamon improves glucose and lipids of people with type 2 diabetes.

The objective of this study was to determine whether cinnamon improves blood glucose, triglyceride, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol levels in people with type 2 diabetes.



A total of 60 people with type 2 diabetes, 30 men and 30 women aged 52.2 +/- 6.32 years, were divided randomly into six groups. Groups 1, 2, and 3 consumed 1, 3, or 6 g of cinnamon daily, respectively, and groups 4, 5, and 6 were given placebo capsules corresponding to the number of capsules consumed for the three levels of cinnamon. The cinnamon was consumed for 40 days followed by a 20-day washout period.



After 40 days, all three levels of cinnamon reduced the mean fasting serum glucose (18-29%), triglyceride (23-30%), LDL cholesterol (7-27%), and total cholesterol (12-26%) levels; no significant changes were noted in the placebo groups. Changes in HDL cholesterol were not significant.



The results of this study demonstrate that intake of 1, 3, or 6 g of cinnamon per day reduces serum glucose, triglyceride, LDL cholesterol, and total cholesterol in people with type 2 diabetes and suggest that the inclusion of cinnamon in the diet of people with type 2 diabetes will reduce risk factors associated with diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
Patient priorities in osteoarthritis and comorbid conditions: a secondary analysis of qualitative data.

A lack of agreement between clinician and patient priorities can impact the clinician-patient relationship, treatment concordance, and potential health outcomes. Studies have suggested that patients with osteoarthritis (OA) may prioritize comorbidities over their OA, but as yet no explicit systematic exploration of OA patients' priorities in relation to comorbidities exists. This study aims to explore how patients prioritize their OA among their conditions, which factors underlie this prioritization, and whether and why these priorities change over time.



A secondary analysis of qualitative data was conducted utilizing 4 existing data sets collated from the 3 research centers involved. Purposive sampling provided a sample of 30 participants who all had OA and comorbidities. The research team collectively coded and analyzed the data thematically.



Three groups of patients emerged from the analysis. The 2 smaller groups had stable priorities (where OA was or was not prioritized) and illustrated the importance of factors, such as personal social context and the specific nature of the comorbid conditions. The third and largest group reported priorities that shifted over time. Shifting appeared to be influenced by the participants' perceptions of control and/or interactions with clinical professionals, and could have important consequences for self-management behavior.



The various factors underlying patients' priorities among their conditions, and the fluctuating nature of these priorities, highlight the importance of regular assessments during clinician-patient consultations to allow better communication and treatment planning, and ultimately optimize patient outcomes.
A randomized, controlled study of autologous therapy with bone marrow-derived aldehyde dehydrogenase bright cells in patients with critical limb ischemia.

The safety and efficacy of direct intramuscular injections of aldehyde dehydrogenase bright (ALDH(br)) cells isolated from autologous bone marrow mononuclear cells (ABMMNCs) and ABMMNCs were studied in patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI) who were not eligible for percutaneous or surgical revascularization.



Many CLI patients are not candidates for current revascularization procedures, and amputation rates are high in these patients. Cell therapy may be a viable option for CLI patients.



Safety was the primary objective and was evaluated by occurrence of adverse events. Efficacy, the secondary objective, was evaluated by assessment of Rutherford category, ankle-brachial index (ABI), transcutaneous partial pressure of oxygen (TcPO(2)), quality of life, and pain.



ALDH(br) cells and ABMMNCs were successfully administered to all patients. No therapy-related serious adverse events occurred. Patients treated with ALDH(br) cells (n = 11) showed significant improvements in Rutherford category from baseline to 12 weeks (mean, 4.09 ± 0.30 to 3.46 ± 1.04; P = 0.05) and in ABI at 6 (mean, 0.22 ± 0.19 to 0.30 ± 0.24; P = 0.02), and 12 weeks (mean, 0.36 ± 0.18; P = 0.03) compared with baseline. Patients in the ABMMNC group (n = 10) showed no significant improvements at 6 or 12 weeks in Rutherford category but did show improvement in ABI from baseline to 12 weeks (0.38 ± 0.06 to 0.52 ± 0.16; P = 0.03). No significant changes from baseline were noted in ischemic ulcer grade or TcPO(2) in either group.



Administration of autologous ALDH(br) cells appears to be safe and warrants further study in patients with CLI.
A large-scale study on epidemiology and risk factors for chronic ankle instability in young adults.

Up to 40% of ankle sprains can result in chronic ankle instability (CAI). The prevalence of CAI and its association with body mass index (BMI) and height in the general young adult population has not been reported. The database records of young adults before recruitment into mandatory military service were studied. Information on the disability codes associated with CAI was retrieved. Logistic regression models were used to assess the association between the BMI and body height with various grades of CAI severity. The study cohort included 829,791 subjects (470,125 males and 359,666 females). The prevalence was 0.7% for mild CAI and 0.4% for severe instability in males and 0.3% and 0.4%, respectively, for females (p < .001). An increased BMI was associated with ankle instability in males (overweight, odds ratio [OR] 1.249, p < .001; obese, OR 1.418, p < .001) and females (overweight, OR 1.989 p < .001; obese, OR 2.754, p < .001). The body height was associated with an increased risk of CAI when the highest height quintile was compared with the lowest height quintile in both males (OR 2.443, p < .001) and females (OR 1.436, p < .001) for all levels of instability severity. The present study has shown a greater prevalence of CAI among males than females in a general healthy young adult population. CAI was associated with an increased BMI and greater body height for all grades of instability severity.
Systematic comparison of microarray profiling, real-time PCR, and next-generation sequencing technologies for measuring differential microRNA expression.

RNA abundance and DNA copy number are routinely measured in high-throughput using microarray and next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies, and the attributes of different platforms have been extensively analyzed. Recently, the application of both microarrays and NGS has expanded to include microRNAs (miRNAs), but the relative performance of these methods has not been rigorously characterized. We analyzed three biological samples across six miRNA microarray platforms and compared their hybridization performance. We examined the utility of these platforms, as well as NGS, for the detection of differentially expressed miRNAs. We then validated the results for 89 miRNAs by real-time RT-PCR and challenged the use of this assay as a "gold standard." Finally, we implemented a novel method to evaluate false-positive and false-negative rates for all methods in the absence of a reference method.
Ketamine and the obstetric patient.

1 (0,8%) 5 (4,0%) Thiopentone N20 + O2 (+ ether) 126 1 (0,8'10) The study included 261 unpremedicated mothers scheduled for abdominal delivery. The conventional anaesthetic sequence-thiopentone, muscle relaxants, nitrous oxide and oxygen given by controlled ventilation-was used in 126 subjects. The remaining 135 patients were given ketamine and muscle relaxants by intravenous injection. and ventilation was controlled with an oxygen-nitrogen admixture. After delivery of the fetus, in the latter group, anaesthesia was maintained with either nitrous oxide, nitrous oxide and ether, or further injections of ketamine. Diazepam (5 10 mg) was given intravenously to 35 of the mothers maintained on ketamine alone. On the day after operation, each patient was interviewed in an attempt to elicit the incidence of factual and dream recall. In addition, the theatre, recovery room and· ward nursing staff were asked to report abnormal behaviour during recovery from anaesthesia.
Staff attitudes and the associations with treatment organisation, clinical practices and outcomes in opioid maintenance treatment

In opioid maintenance treatment (OMT) there are documented treatment differences both between countries and between OMT programmes. Some of these differences have been associated with staff attitudes. The aim of this study was to 1) assess if there were differences in staff attitudes within a national OMT programme, and 2) investigate the associations of staff attitudes with treatment organisation, clinical practices and outcomes.



This study was a cross-sectional multicentre study. Norwegian OMT staff (n = 140) were invited to participate in this study in 2007 using an instrument measuring attitudes towards OMT. The OMT programme comprised 14 regional centres. Data describing treatment organisation, clinical practices and patient outcomes in these centres were extracted from the annual OMT programme assessment 2007. Centres were divided into three groups based upon mean attitudinal scores and labelled; "rehabilitation-oriented", "harm reduction-oriented" and "intermediate" centres.



All invited staff (n = 140) participated. Staff attitudes differed between the centres. "Rehabilitation-oriented" centres had smaller caseloads, more frequent urine drug screening and increased case management (interdisciplinary meetings). In addition these centres had less drug use and more social rehabilitation among their patients in terms of long-term living arrangements, unemployment, and social security benefits as main income. "Intermediate" centres had the lowest treatment termination rate.



This study identified marked variations in staff attitudes between the regional centres within a national OMT programme. These variations were associated with measurable differences in caseload, intensity of case management and patient outcomes.
Effects of increased wholegrain consumption on immune and inflammatory markers in healthy low habitual wholegrain consumers.

Wholegrain (WG) consumption is associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, but clinical data on inflammation and immune function is either conflicting or limited. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of increasing WG consumption to at least 80 g/day on markers of inflammation and glucose metabolism and on phenotypic and functional aspects of the immune system, in healthy, middle-aged adults with low habitual WG intake.



Subjects consumed a diet high in WG (>80 g/day) or low in WG (<16 g/day, refined grain diet) in a crossover study, with 6-week intervention periods, separated by a 4-week washout. Adherence to the dietary regimes was achieved by dietary advice and provision of a range of food products, with compliance verified by analysis of plasma alkylresorcinols (ARs).



On the WG intervention, WG consumption reached 168 g/day (P < 0.001), accompanied by an increase in plasma ARs (P < 0.001) and fibre intake (P < 0.001), without affecting other aspects of dietary intake. On the WG arm, there were trends for lower ex vivo activation of CD4(+) T cells and circulating concentrations of IL-10, C-reactive protein, C-peptide, insulin and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1. The percentage of CD4(+) central memory T cells and circulating levels of adipsin tended to increase during the WG intervention.



Despite the dramatic increase in WG consumption, there were no effects on phenotypic or functional immune parameters, markers of inflammation or metabolic markers.
Randomized double-blind factorial trial of three treatments to reduce the prevalence of precancerous gastric lesions.

Randomized trials have yielded mixed results on the effects of treatment for Helicobacter pylori and little information on the effects of vitamins or garlic supplements on precancerous gastric lesions. We conducted a randomized trial to test the effects of one-time H. pylori treatment and long-term vitamin or garlic supplements in reducing the prevalence of advanced precancerous gastric lesions.



Most of the adults aged 35-64 years in 13 randomly selected villages in Linqu County, Shandong Province, China, were identified and given baseline endoscopies in 1994. In 1995, 3365 eligible subjects were randomly assigned in a factorial design to three interventions or placebos: amoxicillin and omeprazole for 2 weeks in 1995 (H. pylori treatment); vitamin C, vitamin E, and selenium for 7.3 years (vitamin supplement); and aged garlic extract and steam-distilled garlic oil for 7.3 years (garlic supplement). Subjects underwent endoscopies with biopsies in 1999 and 2003, and the prevalence of precancerous gastric lesions was determined by histopathologic examination of seven standard biopsy sites. The 3365 eligible randomized subjects represented 93.5% of those with baseline endoscopy and included all baseline histologic categories except gastric cancer. Only 0.18% had normal gastric mucosa. Logistic regression was used to estimate the intervention effects on the odds of advanced precancerous gastric lesions, and t-tests were used to assess effects on histologic severity. All statistical tests were two-sided.



H. pylori treatment resulted in statistically significant decreases in the combined prevalence of severe chronic atrophic gastritis, intestinal metaplasia, dysplasia, or gastric cancer in 1999 (odds ratio [OR] = 0.77; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.62 to 0.95) and in 2003 (OR = 0.60; 95% CI = 0.47 to 0.75), and had favorable effects on the average histopathologic severity and on progression and regression of precancerous gastric lesions in 2003. H. pylori treatment did not reduce the combined prevalence of dysplasia or gastric cancer. However, fewer subjects receiving H. pylori treatment (19/1130; 1.7%) than receiving placebo (27/1128; 2.4%) developed gastric cancer (adjusted P = .14). No statistically significant favorable effects were seen for garlic or vitamin supplements.



H. pylori treatment reduces the prevalence of precancerous gastric lesions and may reduce gastric cancer incidence, but further data are needed to prove the latter point. Long-term vitamin or garlic supplementation had no beneficial effects on the prevalence of precancerous gastric lesions or on gastric cancer incidence.
Hemodynamic effects of endothelin-1 and big endothelin-1 in chronic hemodialysis patients.

Increased plasma concentrations of endothelin-1 (ET-1) and big endothelin-1 (big ET-1) have been reported in patients with end-stage renal failure (ESRD). In the present study, which included hemodialysis (HD) patients with (n = 21) and without (n = 32) ischemic heart disease, the putative association between plasma levels of ET-1 and big ET-1 and ischemic heart disease and the influence of the dialysis procedure on ET concentrations was investigated. This study also examined in an additional five HD patients without cardiac disease whether intravenously infused ET-1 and big ET-1 (0.2, 1, and 4 pmol/kg per min, each dose for 20 min) preserve their vasoactive potency and whether exogenous big ET-1, which in healthy humans is converted in the kidney, is still converted to ET-1 in ESRD. HD patients with ischemic heart disease demonstrated higher plasma levels of ET-1 and big ET-1 than HD patients without this disorder, and HD reduced plasma ET-1 and big ET-1 concentrations. In HD patients, the big ET-1 infusion, resulting in a 1.5-fold increase in plasma ET-1, caused a more marked and prolonged rise in mean arterial BP than ET-1 (20% versus 13%, P = 0.0001) and a slightly smaller but more prolonged decrease in estimated splanchnic blood flow than ET-1 (37% versus 44%, P = 0.02). Furthermore, big ET-1 lowered heart rate by 9% (P = 0.01) but ET-1 did not. Plasma half-lives of ET-1 and big ET-1 were longer in HD patients than in healthy humans. Thus, ET-1 and big ET-1 preserve their vasoactive potency, and circulating big ET-1 is still converted to active ET-1 in ESRD. Consequently, the increased plasma levels of ET-1 and big ET-1 noted in HD patients, especially in patients with ischemic heart disease, might play a role in the development of uremic cardiovascular complications.
Reaction time and movement time after embryonic cell implantation in Parkinson disease.

Embryonic nigral cell implants are a novel treatment for Parkinson disease (PD). Reaction time (RT) and movement time (MT) analysis, validated quantitative measures of premovement neural processing and motor execution, can be used as objective physiological markers of motor performance in PD.



To gauge the change in motor performance in patients with PD who received implants, and to determine whether the physiological findings correlate with clinical outcome measures after transplantation.



Double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.  Forty patients with levodopa-responsive, Hoehn and Yahr stage III or greater PD.



Random assignment to embryonic tissue implants or placebo (sham) operation.



Combined RT + MT scores measured preoperatively and at 4 and 12 months postoperatively in the "off" state.



The difference in mean RT + MT scores between the sham and implant groups was statistically significant (P =.005) and was greatest in those 60 years or older (P =.003). Changes correlated with Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale off scores at 4 (r = 0.87, P =.001) and 12 (r = 0.75, P =.01) months in those younger than 60 years. There was a significant deterioration in the sham surgery group at 12 months (P =.03) that was thought to be due to worsening in subjects 60 years and older (P<.001).



The physiological measures detected significant changes in patients undergoing embryonic nigral cell implants and correlated directly with clinical outcome measures. Comprehensive analyses of RT paradigms can document subtle changes in motor performance over time, making them useful outcome measures in therapeutic trials of PD. These findings support further research into nigral cell implantation for PD.
Feasibility and Effectiveness of HIV Prevention Among Wives of Heavy Drinkers in Bangalore, India

Few studies have examined the effectiveness of community based HIV interventions for monogamous married women. We examined prevalence of risky behaviors and effectiveness of a Western intervention on increased knowledge and reductions in risky behaviors among wives of heavy drinkers in an urban slum in Bangalore, India. Household enumeration was conducted on 509 households; wives of the youngest married man 18–50 years of age who scored 8+ on the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) were selected (N = 100) and assessed with Indian adaptations of the Substance Abuse Module (SAM), the Washington University Risk Behavior Assessment for Women (WU-RBA-W), the Violence Exposure Questionnaire (VEQ), the CES-D, the Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS-IV), and a Proxy AUDIT. After random assignment to either the Standard (Pre-post HIV counseling; N = 50) or the Enhanced Intervention (Standard + Body Wise Intervention; N = 50), women were re-assessed at 2 months; a 100% follow-up rate was achieved. Though no major intervention effects were found, at follow-up women were less likely to report victimization and perpetrated violence, more likely to feel empowered to make decisions about birth control, and were more knowledgeable about how to protect themselves from STDs and HIV. The findings have implications for HIV prevention among at risk monogamous women in community settings.
The effects of the novel SHIP1 activator AQX-1125 on allergen-induced responses in mild-to-moderate asthma.

SH2-containing inositol-5'-phosphatase 1 (SHIP1) is an endogenous inhibitor of the phosphoinositide-3-kinase pathway that is involved in the activation and chemotaxis of inflammatory cells. AQX-1125 is a first-in-class, oral SHIP1 activator with a novel anti-inflammatory mode of action.



To evaluate the effects of AQX-1125 on airway responses to allergen challenge in mild-to-moderate asthmatic patients.



A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, two-way crossover study was performed in 22 steroid-naïve mild-to-moderate asthmatics with a documented late-phase response to inhaled allergen (LAR). AQX-1125 (450 mg daily) or placebo was administered orally for 7 days. Allergen challenge was performed on day 6 (2 h postdose), followed by methacholine challenge (day 7), and induced sputum collection and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO).



AQX-1125 significantly attenuated the late-phase response compared with placebo (FEV1 4-10 h: mean difference 150 mL, 20%; P = 0.027) and significantly increased the minimum FEV1 during LAR (mean difference 180 mL; P = 0.014). AQX-1125 had no effect on the early-phase response. AQX-1125 showed a trend in reduction of sputum eosinophils, neutrophils and macrophages although this did not achieve significance as there were only 11 paired samples for analysis. There was no effect on methacholine responsiveness or FeNO. Pharmacokinetic data showed AQX-1125 was rapidly absorbed with geometric mean Cmax and AUC0-24 h values of 1417 ng/mL and 16 727 h ng/mL, respectively. AQX-1125 was well tolerated, but mild GI side-effects (dyspepsia, nausea and abdominal pain) were described in 4/22 subjects on active treatment. These side-effects were mild self-limiting, required no further treatment and did not lead to discontinuation of therapy.



AQX-1125, a novel oral SHIP1 activator, significantly reduces the late response to allergen challenge, with a trend to reduce airway inflammation. AQX-1125 was safe and well tolerated and merits further investigation in inflammatory disorders.