nils-herrmann/clean_scirepeval huggingface dataset:
Improving Adolescent Social Competence and Behavior: A Randomized Trial of an 11-Week Equine Facilitated Learning Prevention Program

There is growing evidence that promoting social competence in youth is an effective strategy to prevent mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders in adulthood. Research suggests that programs delivered in collaboration with schools are particularly effective when they target social and emotional skill building, utilize an interactive instructional style, provide opportunities for youth participation and self-direction, and include explicit attempts to enhance youth social competence. A relatively new but popular approach that incorporates these characteristics is human animal interaction, which can be implemented in educational settings. We report the results from a randomized clinical trial examining the effects of an 11-week equine facilitated learning (EFL) program on the social competence and behavior of 5th–8th grade children. Children (N = 131) were recruited through referral by school counselors and school-based recruitment and then screened for low social competence. Researchers randomly assigned children to an experimental (n = 53) or waitlisted control group (n = 60). Children in the experimental group participated in an 11-week EFL program consisting of once-weekly, 90-min sessions of individual and team-focused activities, whereas children in the control group served as a wait-listed control and participated 16 weeks later. Parents of children in both groups rated child social competence at pretest and posttest. Three independent raters observed and reported children’s positive and negative behavior using a validated checklist during each weekly session. Results indicated that program participation had a moderate treatment effect (d = .55) on social competence (p = .02) that was independent of pretest levels, age, gender, and referral status. Results showed that higher levels of program attendance predicted children’s trajectories of observed positive (β = .500; p = .003) and negative behavior (β = −.062; p < .001) over the 11-week program.
Phase I evaluation of telatinib, a vascular endothelial growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, in combination with irinotecan and capecitabine in patients with advanced solid tumors.

We studied the safety and tolerability of telatinib, an orally available, small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor of the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR-2/VEGFR-3), platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta, and c-Kit in combination with capecitabine and irinotecan.



Telatinib twice daily continuously, irinotecan once every 3 weeks, and capecitabine oral twice daily on day 1 to 14 were administered in cycles of 21 days in escalating doses in successive cohorts. Toxicity was evaluated to conform to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 3.0. Pharmacokinetic and (circulating) endothelial (progenitor) cell measurements were done. Tumor efficacy was evaluated using the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors.



Twenty-three patients were included in this phase I trial. Most frequently (>25%) reported adverse events of any grade were vomiting, nausea, fatigue, diarrhea, alopecia, and hand-foot syndrome. A silent myocardial infarction and two cases of decreased left ventricular ejection fraction were reported; both were reversible. Cardiac monitoring of the subsequent patients did not reveal other abnormalities. The study was terminated when the recommended single agent phase II doses of telatinib (900 mg twice daily) and capecitabine/irinotecan was reached. Pharmacokinetic profiles showed no clinically relevant changes upon coadministration of the three drugs. (Circulating) endothelial (progenitor) cell levels stabilized during treatment. Five of 23 patients had partial remission and 9 of 23 patients showed stable disease.



Continuous administration of 900 mg telatinib twice daily can be safely combined with irinotecan (180 mg/m(2)) and capecitabine (1,000 mg/m(2) twice daily, day 1-14) and is the recommended schedule for further phase II studies. Tumor shrinkage and disease stabilization was observed. Cardiac toxicity needs further investigation in following studies.
Treatment acceleration p rogram and the experience of the DREAM program in prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV

opyright © L From the DREAM Italy, Libera Unive Campaign Team f Machava General Correspondence t Tel:  The Drug Resource Enhancement against AIDS and Malnutrition (DREAM) program is a large antiretroviral therapy treatment program financed by the Treatment Acceleration Program (TAP) of the World Bank. In addition to provision of antiretroviral treatment to individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in sub-Saharan Africa, one major aspect of the DREAM program is nutritional supplementation and prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV.
Increased frontal phase-locking of event-related theta oscillations in Alzheimer patients treated with cholinesterase inhibitors.

This is a pilot study describing event-related oscillations in patients with Alzheimer-type dementia (AD). Theta responses of 22 mild probable AD subjects according to NINCDS-ADRDA criteria (11 non-treated, 11 treated by cholinesterase inhibitors), and 20 healthy elderly controls were analyzed by using the conventional visual oddball paradigm. We aimed to compare theta responses of the three groups in a range between 4-7 Hz at the frontal electrodes. At F(3) location, theta responses of healthy subjects were phase locked to stimulation and theta oscillatory responses of non-treated Alzheimer patients showed weaker phase-locking, i.e. average of Z-transformed means of correlation coefficients between single trials was closer to zero. In treated AD patients, phase-locking following target stimulation was two times higher in comparison to the responses of non-treated patients. The results indicate that the phase-locking of theta oscillations at F(3) in the treated patients is as strong as the control subjects. The F(4) theta responses were not statistically significant between the groups. Our findings imply that the theta responses at F(3) location are highly unstable in comparison to F(4) in non-treated mild AD patients and cholinergic agents may modulate event-related theta oscillatory activities in the frontal regions.
Association of Common Polymorphisms in the Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Alpha4 Subunit Gene with an Electrophysiological Endophenotype in a Large Population-Based Sample

Variation in genes coding for nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subunits affect cognitive processes and may contribute to the genetic architecture of neuropsychiatric disorders. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the CHRNA4 gene that codes for the alpha4 subunit of alpha4/beta2-containing receptors have previously been implicated in aspects of (mostly visual) attention and smoking-related behavioral measures. Here we investigated the effects of six synonymous but functional CHRNA4 exon 5 SNPs on the N100 event-related potential (ERP), an electrophysiological endophenotype elicited by a standard auditory oddball. A total of N = 1,705 subjects randomly selected from the general population were studied with electroencephalography (EEG) as part of the German Multicenter Study on nicotine addiction. Two of the six variants, rs1044396 and neighboring rs1044397, were significantly associated with N100 amplitude. This effect was pronounced in females where we also observed an effect on reaction time. Sequencing of the complete exon 5 region in the population sample excluded the existence of additional/functional variants that may be responsible for the observed effects. This is the first large-scale population-based study investigation the effects of CHRNA4 SNPs on brain activity measures related to stimulus processing and attention. Our results provide further evidence that common synonymous CHRNA4 exon 5 SNPs affect cognitive processes and suggest that they also play a role in the auditory system. As N100 amplitude reduction is considered a schizophrenia-related endophenotype the SNPs studied here may also be associated with schizophrenia outcome measures.
A novel test for IGT utilizing metabolite markers of glucose tolerance.

The oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) is the only method to diagnose patients having impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), but its use has diminished considerably in recent years. Metabolomic profiling studies have identified a number of metabolites whose fasting levels are associated with dysglycemia and type 2 diabetes. These metabolites may serve as the basis of an alternative test for IGT. Using the stable isotope dilution technique, quantitative assays were developed for 23 candidate biomarker metabolites. These metabolites were measured in fasting plasma samples taken just prior to an OGTT from 1623 nondiabetic subjects: 955 from the Relationship between Insulin Sensitivity and Cardiovascular Disease Study (RISC Study; 11.7% IGT) and 668 subjects from the Diabetes Mellitus and Vascular Health Initiative (DMVhi) cohort from the DEXLIFE project (11.8% IGT). The associations between metabolites, anthropometric, and metabolic parameters and 2hPG values were assessed by Pearson correlation coefficients and Random Forest classification analysis to rank variables for their ability to distinguish IGT from normal glucose tolerance (NGT). Multivariate logistic regression models for estimating risk of IGT were developed and evaluated using AUCs calculated from the corresponding ROC curves. A model based on the fasting plasma levels of glucose, α-hydroxybutyric acid, β-hydroxybutyric acid, 4-methyl-2-oxopentanoic acid, linoleoylglycerophosphocholine, oleic acid, serine and vitamin B5 was optimized in the RISC cohort (AUC = 0.82) and validated in the DMVhi cohort (AUC = 0.83). A novel, all-metabolite-based test is shown to be a discriminate marker of IGT. It requires only a single fasted blood draw and may serve as a more convenient surrogate for the OGTT or as a means of identifying subjects likely to be IGT.
Early effect of nasal salmon calcitonin on the bone marker Crosslaps

The aim of this study was to investigate the early effect of nasal salmon calcitonin on a bone-resorption marker, “Crosslaps”, in postmenopausal osteoporotic women. In this randomized, single-blind and placebo-controlled study we included 78 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, between 45 and 65 years of age, with at least 5 years duration of menopause. Patients were randomly divided into two groups, the treatment and the placebo groups. Patients in the treatment group were given 100 IU day−1 nasal salmon calcitonin, 1,000 mg day−1 elemental calcium, and 400 IU day−1 vitamin D. Patients in the placebo group took only 1,000 mg day−1 elemental calcium, and 400 IU day−1 vitamin D. The outcome measurements were urinary deoxypyridinoline, serum alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, and Crosslaps. The treatment group consisted of 39 patients whose mean age was 60.4±6 years and the placebo group included 39 patients with a mean age of 60.5±4.9 years. There was no significant difference between two groups in terms of demographic characteristics. The results of bone marker measurements were analyzed statistically. Crosslaps levels in the treatment group were significantly lower (P<0.05) than in the placebo group. Other bone marker levels at the end of the study were not significantly lower (P>0.05) than those at baseline in both treatment and placebo groups, however. Salmon calcitonin affects bone turnover within a few months and bone-resorption markers such as Crosslaps can be used to monitor the effect of nasal salmon calcitonin in the early phase of treatment for postmenopausal osteoporosis.
Developing a tool to assess quality of stroke care across European populations: the EROS Quality Assessment Tool.

There are significant differences in the provision of care and outcome after stroke across countries. The European Registers of Stroke study aimed to develop, test, and refine a tool to assess quality of care.



We used a systematic review and grading of evidence for stroke care across the clinical pathway and developed and field-tested a quality tool that was delivered by post and later by site visit at 7 centers. Items were refined by using an algorithm that took into account the level of evidence, measurement properties, and consensus of opinion obtained using, the Delphi techniques.



The tool included 251 items across 11 domains, of which 214 items could be categorized by any level of evidence. Overall agreement between postal and site visit modes of delivery was acceptable (κ=0.77), with most items having a κ>0.5. The refinement process resulted in 2 practical versions of the tool (93 items and 22 items). Positive responses to items in the tool indicated implementation of evidence-based stroke care. In field testing, the proportion of positive responses to evidence-based items ranged from 43% to 79% across populations. Proportions of different types of evidence being implemented were similar: high quality 62%, limited quality 72%, and expert opinion 54% across the populations. More than half (4 of 7) of the centers provided stroke unit care and thrombolysis, but availability and access to inpatient rehabilitation varied significantly, with poor access to community follow-up for rehabilitation and medical management.



The European Registers of Stroke Quality Assessment Tool has potential to be used as a framework to compare services and promote increased implementation of evidence-based care.
Efficacy of omalizumab in eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis patients with asthma.

Authors have nothing to disclose.  Yesudian PD, Penny M, Azurdia RM, King CM. Ibuprofen-induced acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis.   Rastogi S, Modi M, Dhawan V. Acute localized exanthematous pustulosis (ALEP) caused by Ibuprofen: a case report. Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg.  132e134.  Romano A, Torres MJ, Castells M, Sanz ML, Blanca M. Diagnosis and management of drug hypersensitivity reactions.  Drew AC, Eusebius NP, Kenins L, de Silva HD, Suphioglu C, Rolland JM, et al. Hypoallergenic variants of the mayor latex allergen Hev b 6.01 retaining human T lymphocyte reactivity.   Speeckaert MM, Speeckaert R, Lambert J, Brochez L. Acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis: an overview of the clinical, immunological and diagnostic concepts.
An external validation study of nomograms designed to predict isolated loco-regional and distant endometrial cancer recurrences: how applicable are they?

To externally validate and assess the robustness of two nomograms to predict the recurrence risk of women with endometrial cancer (EC).Methods:Using an independent, multicentre external patient cohort we assessed the discrimination and calibration of two nomograms – the 3-year isolated loco-regional (ILRR) and distant (DR) recurrence nomograms – in women with surgically treated stage I–III EC.Results:Two hundred and seventy one eligible women were identified from two university hospital databases and the Senti-Endo trial. The median follow-up and initial recurrence time were 38.1 (range: 12–69) and 22.0 (range: 8.3–55) months, respectively. The overall recurrence rate was 13.8% (37 out of 271). Predictive accuracy according to the discrimination was 0.69 (95% CI, 0.58–0.79) and 0.66 (95% CI, 0.60–0.71) for the 3-year ILRR and DR nomograms, respectively. The correspondence between observed recurrence rate and the nomogram predictions suggests a moderate calibration of the nomograms in the validation cohort.The nomograms were externally validated and shown to be partly generalisable to a new and independent patient population. The tools need to be improved by including information on the lymph node status and adjuvant therapies.
Types and outcomes of cardioversion in patients admitted to hospital for atrial fibrillation: results of the German RHYTHM-AF Study

Atrial fibrillation (AF) accounts for approximately one-third of hospitalizations for cardiac rhythm disturbances. Little is known about the characteristics of current use of cardioversion (CV) and its success rates in clinical practice in Germany. As part of the international RHYTHM-AF Study, 655 consecutive patients with documented AF (mean age 68.3 ± 10.5 years, 64.9 % males) who were considered candidates for CV were prospectively enrolled in 22 German hospitals (21 academic/teaching and 1 non-teaching). CV was considered successful if sinus rhythm or atrial rhythm was obtained within 1 day after start of pharmacological CV (PCV) or if sinus rhythm was achieved and maintained for at least 10 min after electrical CV (ECV). Patients with AF considered for CV had ECG in 94.4 %, Holter ECG in 25.8 %, and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in 73.1 % of cases. They underwent ECV (after mean 16 h, range 4–48), in 65.3 % and PCV in 6.7 % of patients (amiodarone in 47.7 %, flecainide in 27.3 %, propafenone in 2.3 %) as first CV procedure. No CV was performed in 27.9 %, mainly due to spontaneous CV or pathologic TEE. Primary success rates were 86.7 % for electrical CV and 54.5 % for pharmacological CV. More patients in the ECV group compared to the PCV group received oral anticoagulation at discharge (79.2 vs. 59.1 %, p < 0.001), and at 60 days (77.5 vs. 56.8 %, p < 0.001). Further, at 60 days the proportion of patients in sinus rhythm was not different between groups (ECV 76.8 % vs. PCV 77.3 %). In large academic centres in Germany, the preferred CV method is electrical, mainly due to its easy access and to its higher success rate for the initial restoration of sinus rhythm. Considering the limitations of the open-label, non-randomised study design, overall short-term success rates appeared higher after ECV compared to PCV during hospitalisation, but not after 60 days.
Enteral levodopa/carbidopa infusion in advanced Parkinson disease: long-term exposure.

In patients with advanced Parkinson disease, levodopa/carbidopa formulated as a gel suspension (Duodopa) permits continuous delivery into the small intestine using a portable pump, resulting in less variability in levodopa concentrations and fewer motor fluctuations and dyskinesias than with oral levodopa administration. This is a retrospective analysis of the long-term clinical experience with this agent.



All but 1 of the patients who had received enteral levodopa infusion treatment between January 1, 1991, and June 30, 2002, consented to a review of their hospital charts.



Of the 65 patients with initial testing of the treatment, 86% opted for continued treatment via percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy or gastrojejunostomy. Total exposure to levodopa infusion was 216 patient-years (mean, 3.7 years). Maximum treatment duration was 10.7 years. Fifty-two patients were treated for 1 year or longer. The adverse effect profile of levodopa/carbidopa infusion was similar to that observed with oral administration of levodopa. Seven deaths occurred, all considered unrelated to the treatment. Intestinal tube problems, including dislocation of the intestinal tube to the stomach, were the most common technical problem, occurring in 69% of the patients during the first year. The optimal daily dose of levodopa decreased by an average of 5% during follow-up.



The safety of enteral infusion of levodopa/carbidopa formulated as a gel suspension was found acceptable. For most patients, the technical challenges posed by the enteral infusion system were offset by the improvement in motor fluctuations and dyskinesias offered by this technique.
A Floorplan-Based Planning Methodology for Power and Clock Distribution in ASICs

In deep submicron technology, IR-drop and clock skew issues become more crucial to the functionality of chip. This paper presents a oorplan-based power and clock distribution methodology for ASIC design. From the oorplan and the estimated power consumption, the power network size is determined at an early design stage. Next, without detailed gate-level netlist, clock interconnect sizing, the number and strength of clock bu ers are planned for balanced clock distribution. This early planning methodology at the full-chip level enables us to x the global interconnect issues before the detailed layout composition is started.
Influence of religion on adolescent sexual attitudes and behaviour among Nigerian university students: affiliation or commitment?

Religion plays a significant role in the life of individuals in any society. Its role as a moral builder has been variously acknowledged. This study examines the role of religion in adolescent sexual attitudes and behaviour in Nigeria. The study was conducted in two national universities in Nigeria with student population of more than 40,000. The institutions are located in the eastern and western parts of the country. Data for the study were collected from a representative sample of students resident in the universities. A total of 1,870 students were successfully interviewed but because of the age restriction for adolescents, information from 1,153 campus-based adolescents aged 10-24 years was analysed. Logistic regression model was used to do the analysis both at the adjusted and unadjusted levels. Findings are consistent with existing literature. There is a strong relationship between religiosity and adolescent sexual attitudes and behaviour, although religious commitment is more important than religious affiliation in affecting adolescent sexual attitudes and behaviours. This paper calls for further investigation to be able to disentangle the relationship between religiosity and adolescent sexuality, especially with the use of longitudinal data. Since religion affects the sexual lifestyles of adolescents, religious leaders can do a lot by mobilising their members towards supporting HIV/AIDS prevention initiatives in the country.
Carers’ Hope, Wellbeing and Attitudes Regarding Recovery

Carers are important to the recovery of their relatives with serious mental disorder however, it is unclear whether they are aware of, or endorse recent conceptualisations of recovery. This study compared carers’ and mental health workers’ recovery attitudes, and undertook multivariate predictions of carers’ wellbeing, hopefulness and recovery attitudes. Participants were 82 Australian family members caring for a relative with psychosis. Carers’ average recovery attitudes were less optimistic than for previously surveyed staff. Carers’ recovery attitudes were predicted by perceptions that their relative’s negative symptoms were more severe. Hopefulness and wellbeing was predicted by more positive and less negative caregiving experiences. Hopefulness was also predicted by less frequent contacts with their affected relative, and unexpectedly, by perceptions of more severe psychotic symptoms. Carers’ wellbeing was further predicted by having a partner and having no lifetime history of a mental disorder. Hope and wellbeing are affected by everyday challenges and positive experiences of caregiving.