nils-herrmann/clean_scirepeval huggingface dataset:
Independent evaluation of a clinical prediction rule for spinal manipulative therapy: a randomised controlled trial

A clinical prediction rule to identify patients most likely to respond to spinal manipulation has been published and widely cited but requires further testing for external validity. We performed a pre-planned secondary analysis of a randomised controlled trial investigating the efficacy of spinal manipulative therapy in 239 patients presenting to general practice clinics for acute, non-specific, low back pain. Patients were randomised to receive spinal manipulative therapy or placebo 2 to 3 times per week for up to 4 weeks. All patients received general practitioner care (advice and paracetamol). Outcomes were pain and disability measured at 1, 2, 4 and 12 weeks. Status on the clinical prediction rule was measured at baseline. The clinical prediction rule performed no better than chance in identifying patients with acute, non-specific low back pain most likely to respond to spinal manipulative therapy (pain P = 0.805, disability P = 0.600). At 1-week follow-up, the mean difference in effect of spinal manipulative therapy compared to placebo in patients who were rule positive rather than rule negative was 0.3 points less on a 10-point pain scale (95% CI −0.8 to 1.4). The clinical prediction rule proposed by Childs et al. did not generalise to patients presenting to primary care with acute low back pain who received a course of spinal manipulative therapy.
Ergebnisse der randomisierten Phase-III-Studie der „German Testicular Cancer Study Group“

Da 30% der Nichtseminome im klinischen Stadium I unter einer Surveillancestrategie progredient werden, können als adjuvante Therapien die nerverhaltende retroperitoneale Lymphadenektomie (RLA) oder 2 Zyklen Cisplatin/Etoposid/Bleomycin (PEB) angeboten werden. Die Progressraten sinken so auf 10% bzw. 2%. Unabhängig von den Prognoseparametern und bei deutlich reduzierter Toxizität wird postuliert, dass 1 Zyklus PEB die Rezidivrate im Vergleich zur RLA signifikant senkt. Zwischen 1996 und 2005 wurden 382 Patienten randomisiert, 191 wurden der RLA, 191 einem Zyklus PEB zugeordnet. Protokollgerecht wurden 174 mit 1 Zyklus PEB behandelt, 173 wurden operiert. Primärer Endpunkt der Studie war die Reduktion der Rezidivrate von 10% nach RLA auf maximal 3% nach 1 Zyklus PEB. Nach einer medianen Nachbeobachtungszeit von 4,7 Jahren ergab die According-to-protocol-Analyse 2 Rezidive nach einmal PEB, gegenüber 13 nach RLA. Diese Differenz von 1,15% zu 7,51% ist statistisch signifikant (p=0,0033). Das tumorspezifische Überleben beträgt 100%. In dieser größten randomisierten Studie zum klinischen Stadium I der Nichtseminome [“German Testicular Cancer Study Group“ (GTCSG), AUO AH 01/94] zeigte sich bezüglich der Rezidivrate eine klare Überlegenheit eines Zyklus PEB über die primäre RLA. Die vorliegenden Daten der Studie bieten die Grundlage für eine reduzierte Chemotherapie. As 30% of non-seminomas in clinical stage I will progress during active surveillance, alternative adjuvant strategies of 2 cycles of bleomycin, etoposid, cisplatin (BEP) or nerve sparing retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy (RPLND) can be offered. The risk of relapse is reduced to 2% and 10%, respectively. Without prognostic markers and with lowered toxicity it is postulated that only one cycle of BEP could significantly reduce the recurrence rate in comparison to RPLND. Between 1996 and 2005, 382 patients were randomly assigned to receive either RPLND (n=191) or 1 cycle of BEP (n=191). In accordance with the protocol, 174 patients were treated with 1 cycle of BEP and 173 underwent RPLND. The primary study end-point was a reduction of recurrence from 10% after RPLND to a maximum of 3% after 1 cycle of BEP. After a mean follow-up of 4.7 years, there were 2 and 13 recurrences in the according-to-protocol population with chemotherapy and surgery, respectively. The difference between chemotherapy (1.15%) and surgery (7.5%) was statistically significant (p=0.0033). The tumor-specific survival was 100%. This largest randomized trial investigating treatment strategies in clinical stage I non-seminomas (AUO AH 01/94) showed the superiority of one cycle BEP over RPLND. The data obtained represent the basis for a reduced chemotherapy.
Light-to-moderate drinking and incident heart failure--the Norwegian HUNT study.

We analyzed the association between light-to-moderate alcohol intake and the risk of heart failure (HF).



We studied 60,665 individuals free of HF who provided information on alcohol consumption in a population-based cohort study conducted in 1995-97 in Norway. Sociodemographic factors, cardiovascular risk factors and common chronic disorders were assessed by questionnaires and/or by a clinical examination. The cohort was followed for a first HF event for an average of 11.2 ± 3.0 years. Mean alcohol consumption was 2.95 ± 4.5 g/day; 1588 HF cases occurred during follow-up. The quantity of alcohol consumption was inversely associated with incident HF in this low-drinking population. The risk was lowest for consumption over three but less than six drinks/week; the multivariate hazard ratio when comparing this category to non-drinkers was 0.67 (95% CI: 0.50-0.92). Among problem drinkers based on CAGE questionnaires, total consumption showed no favorable association with HF, even when overall consumption was otherwise moderate. Excluding former drinkers and controlling for common chronic diseases had minimal effect on these associations. Frequent alcohol consumption, i.e. more than five times/month, was associated with the lowest HF risk; the adjusted hazard ratio comparing this group to alcohol intake less than once/month was 0.83 (95% CI: 0.68-1.03). We found no evidence for a differential effect according to beverage type, nor that the competing risks of death from other causes modified the association.



Frequent light-to-moderate alcohol consumption without problem drinking was associated with a lower HF risk in this population characterized by a low average alcohol intake.
Daily hemodialysis and the outcome of acute renal failure.

Intermittent hemodialysis is widely used as renal-replacement therapy in patients with acute renal failure, but an adequate dose has not been defined. We performed a prospective study to determine the effect of daily intermittent hemodialysis, as compared with conventional (alternate-day) intermittent hemodialysis, on survival among patients with acute renal failure.



A total of 160 patients with acute renal failure were assigned to receive daily or conventional intermittent hemodialysis. Survival was the primary end point of the study. The duration of acute renal failure and the frequency of therapy-related complications were secondary end points.



The two study groups were similar with respect to age, sex, cause and severity of acute renal failure, medical or surgical intensive care setting, and the score on the Acute Physiology, Age, and Chronic Health Evaluation. Daily hemodialysis resulted in better control of uremia, fewer hypotensive episodes during hemodialysis, and more rapid resolution of acute renal failure (mean [+/-SD], 9+/-2 vs. 16+/-6 days; P=0.001) than did conventional hemodialysis. The mortality rate, according to the intention-to-treat analysis, was 28 percent for daily dialysis and 46 percent for alternate-day dialysis (P=0.01). In a multiple regression analysis, less frequent hemodialysis (on alternate days, as opposed to daily) was an independent risk factor for death.



The high mortality rate among critically ill patients with acute renal failure who require renal-replacement therapy is related to both coexisting conditions and uremic damage to other organ systems. Intensive hemodialysis reduces mortality without increasing hemodynamically induced morbidity.
Different clinical outcomes in patients with asymptomatic severe aortic stenosis according to the stage classification: Does the aortic valve area matter?

The ACC/AHA guidelines introduced a new classification of severe aortic stenosis (AS) mainly based on maximum jet velocity (Vmax) and mean pressure gradient (mPG), but not on aortic valve area (AVA). However, prognostic value of this new classification has not yet been fully evaluated.



We studied 1512 patients with asymptomatic severe AS enrolled in the CURRENT AS registry in whom surgery was not initially planned. Patients were divided into 2 groups: Group 1 (N=122) comprised patients who met the recommendation for surgery; high-gradient (HG)-AS (Vmax≥4.0m/s or mPG≥40mmHg) with ejection fraction (EF)<50%, or very HG-AS (Vmax≥5.0m/s or mPG≥60mmHg), and Group 2 (N=1390) comprised patients who did not meet this recommendation. Group 2 was further subdivided into HG-AS with preserved EF (HGpEF-AS, N=498) and low-gradient (LG)-AS, but AVA<1.0cm2 (N=892). The excess risk of Group 1 relative to Group 2 for the primary outcome measure (a composite of aortic valve-related death or heart failure hospitalization) was significant (adjusted HR: 1.92, 95%CI: 1.37-2.68, P<0.001). The excess risk of HGpEF-AS relative to LG-AS for the primary outcome measure was also significant (adjusted HR: 1.45, 95%CI: 1.11-1.89, P=0.006). Among LG-AS patients, patients with reduced EF (<50%) (LGrEF-AS, N=103) had extremely high cumulative 5-year incidence of all-cause death (85.5%).



Trans-aortic valve gradient in combination with EF was a good prognostic marker in patients with asymptomatic AS. However, patients with LGrEF-AS had extremely poor prognosis when managed conservatively.
HLA DR-DQ haplotypes and genotypes and type 1 diabetes risk: analysis of the type 1 diabetes genetics consortium families.

The Type 1 Diabetes Genetics Consortium has collected type 1 diabetic families worldwide for genetic analysis. The major genetic determinants of type 1 diabetes are alleles at the HLA-DRB1 and DQB1 loci, with both susceptible and protective DR-DQ haplotypes present in all human populations. The aim of this study is to estimate the risk conferred by specific DR-DQ haplotypes and genotypes.



Six hundred and seven Caucasian families and 38 Asian families were typed at high resolution for the DRB1, DQA1, and DQB1 loci. The association analysis was performed by comparing the frequency of DR-DQ haplotypes among the chromosomes transmitted to an affected child with the frequency of chromosomes not transmitted to any affected child.



A number of susceptible, neutral, and protective DR-DQ haplotypes have been identified, and a statistically significant hierarchy of type 1 diabetes risk has been established. The most susceptible haplotypes are the DRB1*0301-DQA1*0501-DQB1*0201 (odds ratio [OR] 3.64) and the DRB1*0405-DQA1*0301-DQB1*0302, DRB1*0401-DQA1*0301-DQB*0302, and DRB1*0402-DQA1*0301-DQB1*0302 haplotypes (ORs 11.37, 8.39, and 3.63), followed by the DRB1*0404-DQA1*0301-DQB1*0302 (OR 1.59) and the DRB1*0801-DQB1*0401-DQB1*0402 (OR 1.25) haplotypes. The most protective haplotypes are DRB1*1501-DQA1*0102-DQB1*0602 (OR 0.03), DRB1*1401-DQA1*0101-DQB1*0503 (OR 0.02), and DRB1*0701-DQA1*0201-DQB1*0303 (OR 0.02).



Specific combinations of alleles at the DRB1, DQA1, and DQB1 loci determine the extent of haplotypic risk. The comparison of closely related DR-DQ haplotype pairs with different type 1 diabetes risks allowed identification of specific amino acid positions critical in determining disease susceptibility. These data also indicate that the risk associated with specific HLA haplotypes can be influenced by the genotype context and that the trans-complementing heterodimer encoded by DQA1*0501 and DQB1*0302 confers very high risk.
[The Spanish version of the Newcastle Asthma Knowledge Questionnaire for parents of children with asthma (NAKQ). Transcultural adaptation and reliability analysis].

The Newcastle Asthma Knowledge Questionnaire for parents of children with asthma (NAKQ) has proven to be a valid instrument for asthma knowledge assessment of patients and their parents. The widespread use of the SRS-22 in non-English-speaking countries requires its transcultural adaptation. Our objective was to obtain a version of the NAKQ questionnaire adapted to Spanish and to analyze its validity and reliability.



The Spanish version was obtained by using the forward/back-translation method with expert, bilingual translators. The questionnaire was administered to 157 parents with high knowledge (n = 78) and low knowledge (n = 79) of asthma. The differences in the number of answers between both groups were analyzed with the chi(2) test. Internal consistency was determined with Cronbach's alpha coefficient and test-retest reliability with the tau-b of Kendall correlation coefficient, and kappa statistics.



At the end of the process, 23 of the 31 items were classified as of total equivalence and eight ase of moderate equivalence. The mean score of parents high knowledge was 23 +/- 2.94 and the mean score of parents low knowledge was 16.84 +/- 2.56. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (p < 0.001). The overall Cronbach's alpha coefficient of the questionnaire was 0.72, the Kendall's tau-b 0,8573 was significant (p = 0.01) and the kappa index showed good or very good consistency in more than half of the items.



The Spanish version of the NAKQ has proven to be acceptable and culturally equivalent to the original version and it has a good degree of consistency, validity and reliability.
Designing for persistent audio conversations in the enterprise

Social media websites like flickr and del.icio.us enable collaboration by allowing users to easily share content on the web through tagging. To provide a similar advantage to the enterprise, we have designed a tagging system for audio conversations. We are developing telephonic interfaces, where participants of a spoken conversation can opt to archive and share it. We have also developed a web-based visual interface that enables annotation, search, and retrieval of archived conversations. In this interface, we have focused on visualizing relationships between users, tags and conversations, which will enable efficient searching and browsing, and more importantly, provide contextualized interaction histories. A pilot user study, conducted using simulated data, showed that our social network visualization was effective.
A comparison of atomoxetine administered as once versus twice daily dosing on the school and home functioning of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

This secondary analysis examined the efficacy and tolerability of atomoxetine (ATX) dosed once (QD) versus twice (BID) daily in 55 children aged 6-12 with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).



The original 8-week trial was designed to assess the benefits of adding behavioral therapy to ATX. In it, all subjects were treated openly with ATX, with 50% randomly assigned to additional behavioral treatments. Every subject was started on QD dosing with a target dose of 1.2 mg/kg per day. A switch to BID dosing was allowed at study midpoint to improve tolerability and efficacy. Subjects not responding to ATX at midpoint were also given the option of 0.6 mg/kg dose increase. ADHD and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) symptoms, global functioning, side effects, and classroom performance were measured weekly.



There were 22 subjects (40%) who switched to BID dosing at midpoint (mean dose = 1.56 mg/kg per day) with the other 33 remaining on QD dosing (mean dose = 1.33 mg/kg per day). The BID group did not display any improvement in parent-rated ODD symptoms during the first 4 weeks of the study on QD dosing, but there was a significant improvement seen after the addition of the second ATX dose (p < 0.05). However, BID dosing was not associated with differential rates of change for parent-rated ADHD symptoms or impairment, teacher ratings, or other measures of classroom functioning. BID dosing was associated with decreased rates of stomachaches (p < 0.05) but more persistent appetite loss than QD dosing. The degree of improvement observed during the first half of the study in ratings of global impairment and ODD but not ADHD symptoms predicted a switch to BID dosing at midpoint (p < 0.05).



The addition of an afternoon dose of ATX was associated with improved control of ODD symptoms at home, with no change in school functioning.
Effect of daily repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on motor performance in Parkinson's disease.

Previous studies in patients with Parkinson's disease have reported that a single session of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) can improve some or all of the motor symptoms for 30 to 60 minutes. A recent study suggested that repeated sessions of rTMS lead to effects that can last for at least 1 month. Here we report data that both confirm and extend this work. Fifty-five unmedicated PD patients were classified into four groups: two groups (early and late PD) received 25 Hz rTMS bilaterally on the motor arm and leg areas; other groups acted as control for frequency (10 Hz) and for site of stimulation (occipital stimulation). All patients received six consecutive daily sessions (3,000 pulses for each session). The first two groups then received a further three booster sessions (3 consecutive days of rTMS) after 1, 2, and 3 months, while the third group had only one additional session after the first month. Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), walking time, key-tapping speed, and self-assessment scale were measured for each patient before and after each rTMS session and before and after the monthly sessions. Compared to occipital stimulation, 25 Hz rTMS over motor areas improved all measures in both early and late groups; the group that received 10 Hz rTMS improved more than the occipital group but less than the 25 Hz groups. The effect built up gradually during the sessions and was maintained for 1 month after, with a slight reduction in efficacy. Interestingly, the effect was restored and maintained for the next month by the booster sessions. We conclude that 25 Hz rTMS can lead to cumulative and long-lasting effects on motor performance.
Prolonged thromboprophylaxis with Dalteparin during immobilization after ankle fracture surgery: a randomized placebo-controlled, double-blind study.

Skeletal trauma and immobilization are well-known risk factors for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). While prophylaxis against thromboembolic complications has become routine after major orthopedic surgery, whether or not prophylaxis after minor surgery and lower limb immobilization is necessary is still under debate.



In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 272 consecutive patients were randomized to receive either thromboprophylaxis with Dalteparin (n = 136) or placebo (n = 136) for 5 weeks after ankle fracture surgery. All patients received 1 week of initial treatment with Dalteparin before randomization. A unilateral phlebography was performed when the cast was removed.



The overall incidence of DVT was 21% (95% CI: 13-29%) in the Dalteparin group and 28% (CI: 19- 37%) in the placebo group (risk ratio = 0.8, CI: 0.6-1.1; p = 0.3). The incidence of proximal DVTs was 4% and 3%, respectively. No major bleeding occurred.



We found no significant difference in the incidence of DVT between the 2 treatment groups and our results do not support prolonged thromboprophylaxis. The overall incidence of DVT was high, reflecting the potential risk of PE and post-thrombotic syndrome after ankle fracture surgery. Most of the DVTs were asymptomatic, however, and were located in distal veins.
Can a female donor for a male recipient decrease the relapse rate for patients with acute myeloid leukemia treated with allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation?

The mismatched minor histocompatibility antigens present on Y chromosome (H-Y) in male recipients receiving stem cells from female donors may contribute to the graft-versus-leukemia effect and results in a reduced relapse rate, especially in patients with high-risk disease. We retrospectively compared the outcomes of male patients with acute myeloid leukemia who received an allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) from female donors (F-M) (174 patients) versus other gender combinations (667 patients). Median age was 50 years (range, 18 to 74 years). For the whole group, the 1-year cumulative incidence of relapse was significantly lower in F-M group (34.1% versus 41.3%, P = .044), whereas nonrelapse mortality (NRM) was higher (23.2% versus 15.7%, P = .004). For patients younger than 50 years beyond first complete remission, the F-M group was associated with lower relapse rate (42.5% versus 55.2%, P = .045) whereas NRM was not significantly different (35.8% versus 25.5%, P = .141). Although survival was not significantly improved, transplantation from a female donor for male recipient was associated with a lower relapse rate. When relapse is the most common concern for treatment failure, especially for younger patients, a female donor for a male recipient might be beneficial to decrease relapse rate after transplantation. Future studies are needed to explore how the H-Y mismatch may improve survival after transplantation.
Quality of life in haemophilia A: Hemophilia Utilization Group Study Va (HUGS-Va).

This study describes health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of persons with haemophilia A in the United States (US) and determines associations between self-reported joint pain, motion limitation and clinically evaluated joint range of motion (ROM), and between HRQoL and ROM. As part of a 2-year cohort study, we collected baseline HRQoL using the SF-12 (adults) and PedsQL (children), along with self-ratings of joint pain and motion limitation, in persons with factor VIII deficiency recruited from six Haemophilia Treatment Centres (HTCs) in geographically diverse regions of the US. Clinically measured joint ROM measurements were collected from medical charts of a subset of participants. Adults (N = 156, mean age: 33.5 ± 12.6 years) had mean physical and mental component scores of 43.4 ± 10.7 and 50.9 ± 10.1, respectively. Children (N = 164, mean age: 9.7 ± 4.5 years) had mean total PedsQL, physical functioning, and psychosocial health scores of 85.9 ± 13.8, 89.5 ± 15.2, and 84.1 ± 15.3, respectively. Persons with more severe haemophilia and higher self-reported joint pain and motion limitation had poorer scores, particularly in the physical aspects of HRQoL. In adults, significant correlations (P < 0.01) were found between ROM measures and both self-reported measures. Except among those with severe disease, children and adults with haemophilia have HRQoL scores comparable with those of the healthy US population. The physical aspects of HRQoL in both adults and children with haemophilia A in the US decrease with increasing severity of illness. However, scores for mental aspects of HRQoL do not differ between severity groups. These findings are comparable with those from studies in European and Canadian haemophilia populations.