nils-herrmann/clean_scirepeval huggingface dataset:
Dealing with a positive result: routine HIV testing of pregnant women in Vietnam.

HIV testing is an essential component of PMTCT. It can be offered to pregnant women through different testing models, ranging from voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) to routine and mandatory testing. This study was conducted in Hanoi, Vietnam, where HIV-prevalence is low among the general population, but high among young, urban, sexually active, male intravenous drug users. Women who want to deliver in a state hospital are routinely tested for HIV in the absence of well-defined opt-out procedures. In-depth interviews with a convenience sample of 38 seropositive pregnant women and mothers and 53 health workers explored the acceptability of routine testing. Patients and healthcare workers appeared to accept routine 'blood' tests (including HIV tests) because they feel uncomfortable discussing issues specific to HIV/AIDS. To avoid having to inform women directly about their HIV status, health workers at routine testing sites rely on the official notification system, shifting the responsibility from the hospitals to district and commune health staff. The notification system in Hanoi informs these local officials about the HIV status of people living in their catchment area without patients' consent. Our study shows that this non-confidential process can have serious social, economic and health consequences for the HIV-positive women and their children.
Red meat enhances the colonic formation of the DNA adduct O6-carboxymethyl guanine: implications for colorectal cancer risk.

Red meat is associated with increased risk of colorectal cancer and increases the endogenous formation of N-nitrosocompounds (NOC). To investigate the genotoxic effects of NOC arising from red meat consumption, human volunteers were fed high (420 g) red meat, vegetarian, and high red meat, high-fiber diets for 15 days in a randomized crossover design while living in a volunteer suite, where food was carefully controlled and all specimens were collected. In 21 volunteers, there was a consistent and significant (P < 0.0001) increase in endogenous formation of NOC with the red meat diet compared with the vegetarian diet as measured by apparent total NOC (ATNC) in feces. In colonic exfoliated cells, the percentage staining positive for the NOC-specific DNA adduct, O(6)-carboxymethyl guanine (O(6)CMG) was significantly (P < 0.001) higher on the high red meat diet. In 13 volunteers, levels were intermediate on the high-fiber, high red meat diet. Fecal ATNC were positively correlated with the percentage of cells staining positive for O(6)CMG (r(2) = 0.56, P = 0.011). The presence of O(6)CMG was also shown in intact small intestine from rats treated with the N-nitrosopeptide N-acetyl-N'-prolyl-N'-nitrosoglycine and in HT-29 cells treated with diazoacetate. This study has shown that fecal NOC arising from red meat include direct acting diazopeptides or N-nitrosopeptides able to form alkylating DNA adducts in the colon. As these O(6)CMG adducts are not repaired, and if other related adducts are formed and not repaired, this may explain the association of red meat with colorectal cancer.
Web Mining in Search Engines

Given the rate of growth of the Web, scalability of search engines is a key issue, as the amount of hardware and network resources needed is large, and expensive. In addition, search engines are popular tools, so they have heavy constraints on query answer time. So, the efficient use of resources can improve both scalability and answer time. One tool to achieve these goals is Web mining. Web mining has three branches: link mining, usage mining, and content mining. One important analysis in all these cases is the dynamic behavior. Here we give examples of link and usage mining related to search engines, as well as the related Web dynamics.
Arterial Limb Microemboli during Cardiopulmonary Bypass: Observations from a Congenital Cardiac Surgery Practice.

Gaseous microemboli (GME) are known to be delivered to the arterial circulation of patients during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). An increased number of GME delivered during adult CPB has been associated with brain injury and postoperative cognitive dysfunction. The GME load in children exposed to CPB and its consequences are not well characterized. We sought to establish a baseline of arterial limb emboli counts during the conduct of CPB for our population of patients requiring surgery for congenital heart disease. We used the emboli detection and counting (EDAC) device to measure GME activity in 103 consecutive patients for which an EDAC machine was available. Emboli counts for GME <40 μ and >40 μ were quantified and indexed to CPB time (minutes) and body surface area (BSA) to account for the variation in patient size and CPB times. Patients of all sizes had a similar embolic burden when indexed to bypass time and BSA. Furthermore, patients of all sizes saw a three-fold increase in the <40 μ embolic burden and a five-fold increase in the >40 μ embolic burden when regular air was noted in the venous line. The use of kinetic venous-assisted drainage did not significantly increase arterial limb GME. Efforts for early identification and mitigation of venous line air are warranted to minimize GME transmission to congenital cardiac surgery patients during CPB.
Dietary factors and risk of pancreatic cancer: a multi-centre case-control study in China.

Pancreatic cancer is the sixth leading cause of cancer death with an increasing trend in China. Dietary intake is believed to play an important role in pancreatic cancer carcinogenesis. The aim of this paper was to evaluate associations between some dietary factors and risk of pancreatic cancer in a multi-centre case-control study conducted in China.



Cases (n=323) were ascertained from four provincial cancer hospitals. Controls (n=323) were randomly selected from the family members of patients without pancreatic cancer in the same hospitals, 1:1 matched to cases by gender, age and study center. Data were collected with a questionnaire by personal interview. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were estimated using conditional logistic regression.



Tea intake (OR =0.49; 95%CI: 0.30-0.80) was associated with a half reduction in risk of pancreatic cancer. Reduced vegetable consumption (P trend: 0.04) was significant related to pancreatic cancer. Although no significant association was found for meat and fruit, ORs were all above or below the reference group. A protective effect was found for fruit (OR=1.73 for consumption of 1-2 times/week vs more than 3 times/week; 95%CI: 1.05-2.86). A high intake of meat was associated to a higher risk of pancreatic cancer (OR=0.59 for consumption of 1-2 times /week vs. more than 3 times /week; 95%CI: 0.35-0.97).



The present study supports fruit consumption to reduce pancreatic cancer risk and indicates that high consumption of meat is related to an elevated risk. Direct inverse relations with tea and vegetable intake were also confirmed.
Medical and psychosocial effects of early discharge after surgery for breast cancer: randomised trial.

To assess the medical and psychosocial effects of early hospital discharge after surgery for breast cancer on complication rate, patient satisfaction, and psychosocial outcomes.



Randomised trial comparing discharge from hospital 4 days after surgery (with drain in situ) with discharge after drain removal (mean 9 days in hospital). Psychosocial measurements performed before surgery and 1 and 4 months after.



General hospital and cancer clinic in Rotterdam with a socioeconomically diverse population.



125 women with operable breast cancer.



Incidence of complications after surgery for breast cancer, patient satisfaction with treatment, and psychosocial effects of short stay or long stay in hospital.



Patient satisfaction with the short stay in hospital was high; only 4% (2/56 at 1 month after surgery and 2/52 at 4 months after surgery) of patients indicated that they would have preferred a longer stay. There were no significant differences in duration of drainage from the axilla between the short stay and long stay groups (median 8 v 9 days respectively, P=0.45) or the incidence of wound complications (10 patients v 9 patients). The median number of seroma aspirations per patient was higher for the long stay group (1 v 3.5, P=0.04). Leakage along the drain occurred more frequently in short stay patients (21 v 10 patients, P=0.04). The two groups did not differ in scores for psychosocial problems (uncertainty, anxiety, loneliness, disturbed sleep, loss of control, threat to self esteem), physical or psychological complaints, or in the coping strategies used. Before surgery, short stay patients scored higher on scales of depression (P=0.03) and after surgery they were more likely to discuss their disease with their families (at 1 month P=0.004, at 4 months P=0.04).



Early discharge from hospital after surgery for breast cancer is safe and is well received by patients. Early discharge seems to enhance the opportunity for social support within the family.
Multicenter phase II study of bendamustine for relapsed or refractory indolent B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma and mantle cell lymphoma.

Bendamustine is a unique cytotoxic agent that has demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of indolent B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas (B-NHLs). In this multicenter phase II trial, the efficacy and safety of bendamustine were evaluated in Japanese patients with relapsed or refractory indolent B-NHL or mantle-cell lymphoma (MCL). Patients received bendamustine (120 mg/m(2) ) on days 1-2 of a 21-day cycle, for up to six cycles. The primary endpoint was the overall response rate (ORR) as assessed by an extramural committee according to International Workshop Response Criteria (IWRC). Secondary endpoints included complete response (CR) rate, ORR according to Revised Response Criteria (revised RC), progression-free survival (PFS), and safety. Fifty-eight patients with indolent B-NHL and 11 with MCL were enrolled. By IWRC, bendamustine produced an ORR of 91% (95% confidence interval [CI], 82-97%; 90% and 100% in patients with indolent B-NHL and MCL, respectively), with a CR rate of 67% (95% CI, 54-78%). ORR and CR rates according to revised RC were 93% (95% CI, 84-98%) and 57% (95% CI, 44-68%), respectively. After a median follow-up of 12.6 months, median PFS had not been reached. Estimated PFS rates at 1 year were 70% and 90% among indolent B-NHL and MCL patients, respectively. Bendamustine was generally well tolerated. Reversible myelosuppression, including grade 3/4 leukopenia (65%) and neutropenia (72%), was the most clinically significant toxicity observed. Common non-hematologic toxicities included mild gastrointestinal events and fatigue. These results demonstrate the high efficacy and tolerability of single-agent bendamustine in relapsed patients with indolent B-NHL or MCL histologies.
Associations between executive functioning, coping, and psychosocial functioning after acquired brain injury.

To examine the relationships between executive functioning, coping, depressive symptoms, and quality of life in individuals with neuropsychiatric symptoms after acquired brain injury (ABI).



Cross-sectional study.



Individuals (n = 93) in the post-acute and chronic phase (>3 months) after ABI and their significant others (N = 58) were recruited from outpatient clinics of four mental health centres in the Netherlands. Outcome measures were the Trail Making Test, Stroop Colour Word Test, Frontal Systems Behavioural Scale, Utrecht Coping List, Patient Health Questionnaire, and Life Satisfaction Questionnaire. Data were analysed with multiple regression analyses.



Self-reported executive dysfunction was associated with greater use of passive coping styles (β = .37, p < .01), and passive coping, in turn, was associated with lower quality of life (β = -.57, p < .001) and more depressive symptoms (β = .65, p < .001). Problem-focused coping was associated with higher quality of life among individuals who reported better executive functioning (β = -.94, p < .05). Performances on executive functioning tests were not associated with coping, depressive symptoms, or quality of life.



For clinicians, these data indicate that individuals who report greater difficulties with executive functioning after ABI are inclined to use maladaptive passive coping styles, which should be targeted in treatment. In comparison, individuals who report greater difficulties with executive functioning should not be prompted to use problem-focused coping styles. These individuals may benefit from other coping styles, such as the use of seeking social support or acceptance of problems.



Coping influences the association between executive functioning and quality of life. Individuals who report difficulties with executive functioning after ABI may be inclined to use passive coping styles, which are maladaptive. Problem-focused coping strategies may be more useful for individuals who have strong executive abilities. This study was a cross-sectional study; thus, a cause-and-effect relationship could not be established between executive functioning, coping, and psychosocial functioning. As this research was part of standard clinical care, non-traditional tests for executive functioning were not administered.
A coronary heart disease prediction model: the Korean Heart Study

The objectives of this study were to develop a coronary heart disease (CHD) risk model among the Korean Heart Study (KHS) population and compare it with the Framingham CHD risk score.



A prospective cohort study within a national insurance system.



18 health promotion centres nationwide between 1996 and 2001 in Korea.



268 315 Koreans between the ages of 30 and 74 years without CHD at baseline.



Non-fatal or fatal CHD events between 1997 and 2011. During an 11.6-year median follow-up, 2596 CHD events (1903 non-fatal and 693 fatal) occurred in the cohort. The optimal CHD model was created by adding high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol and triglycerides to the basic CHD model, evaluating using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) and continuous net reclassification index (NRI).



The optimal CHD models for men and women included HDL-cholesterol (NRI=0.284) and triglycerides (NRI=0.207) from the basic CHD model, respectively. The discrimination using the CHD model in the Korean cohort was high: the areas under ROC were 0.764 (95% CI 0.752 to 0.774) for men and 0.815 (95% CI 0.795 to 0.835) for women. The Framingham risk function predicted 3-6 times as many CHD events than observed. Recalibration of the Framingham function using the mean values of risk factors and mean CHD incidence rates of the KHS cohort substantially improved the performance of the Framingham functions in the KHS cohort.



The present study provides the first evidence that the Framingham risk function overestimates the risk of CHD in the Korean population where CHD incidence is low. The Korean CHD risk model is well-calculated alternations which can be used to predict an individual's risk of CHD and provides a useful guide to identify the groups at high risk for CHD among Koreans.
Tiotropium + olodaterol shows clinically meaningful improvements in quality of life.

Tiotropium + olodaterol improves lung function and symptoms compared to monotherapies in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The OTEMTO 1 and 2 studies investigated the effects of tiotropium + olodaterol on lung function and health-related quality of life compared to placebo in patients with moderate to severe COPD.



In these two replicate, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled trials, patients were randomised to receive tiotropium + olodaterol 5/5 μg, 2.5/5 μg, tiotropium 5 μg or placebo for 12 weeks, via the Respimat(®) inhaler. Primary end points were St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) total score, forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) area under the curve from 0 to 3 h (AUC0-3) response and trough FEV1 response.



In OTEMTO 1 and 2, tiotropium + olodaterol 5/5 μg improved SGRQ total score by 4.89 (95% confidence interval [CI] -6.90, -2.88) and 4.56 (95% CI -6.50, -2.63) units versus placebo (both p < 0.0001), and 2.49 (95% CI -4.47, -0.51; p < 0.05) and 1.72 (95% CI -3.63, 0.19) units versus tiotropium 5 μg. Tiotropium + olodaterol 2.5/5 μg significantly improved SGRQ score compared to placebo. Both doses significantly improved FEV1 AUC0-3 response compared to placebo and tiotropium 5 μg. Tiotropium + olodaterol 5/5 and 2.5/5 μg also significantly improved trough FEV1 response compared to placebo (both studies) and separated from tiotropium 5 μg in OTEMTO 2. Adverse-event incidence was similar between treatment groups.



Tiotropium + olodaterol improved lung function and quality of life compared to placebo and tiotropium 5 μg.
Long-term effects of an outpatient rehabilitation program in patients with chronic recurrent low back pain

This longitudinal study investigated long-term effects of a multidisciplinary rehabilitation program consisting of resistance and sensorimotor training, patient education, and stress management over 6 months in patients with chronic low back pain. Ninety-six patients with chronic recurrent low back pain performed a multidisciplinary rehabilitation program. We assessed pain-free lumbar spine range of motion (ROM), strength of the lumbar extensor muscles, and pain by visual analog scale (VAS). Furthermore, the Roland–Morris (RM) questionnaire and SF-36 were used. The examinations were performed before and after rehabilitation, and a long-term follow-up was performed after 18 months. All outcome measurements (ROM, VAS, RM, muscle strength, and SF-36 scores) improved significantly from baseline to the post-rehabilitation evaluation. These improvements were found to persist until a follow-up evaluation 18 months after cessation of the intervention. Our findings confirm the results of former studies evaluating the short-term effects of multidisciplinary rehabilitation programs. In addition, our data demonstrate that well-balanced outpatient rehabilitation programs may induce persistent improvements in muscle strength, pain, function and quality of life in patients with chronic low back pain.
Restoration of gait and motor recovery by functional electrical stimulation therapy in persons with stroke.

To evaluate the clinical efficacy of functional electrical stimulation (FES) therapy of the tibialis anterior (TA) muscle on gait restoration and enhancing motor recovery with stroke patients.



Thirty hemiparetic participants with spastic foot-drop impairments who were at least 3 months post-stroke were recruited from a rehabilitation institute and were assigned either to a control group or a FES group. Both the groups participated in a conventional stroke rehabilitation program for 60 min per day, 5 days a week, for 12-weeks. The FES group received the electrical stimulation to the TA muscle for correction of foot-drop.



Functional electric stimulation (FES) resulted in a 26.3% (p < 0.001) improvement of walking speed measured with 10-m walkway, whereas the improvement in the control group was only 11.5% (p < 0.01). The FES group also showed significantly greater improvements compared to control group in other gait parameters (e.g. cadence, step length), physiological cost index (PCI), ankle range of motion, spasticity of calf muscle, Fugl-Meyer scores, and the maximum value of the root mean square (RMS(max)), which reflects the capacity of the muscle output.



These findings suggest that, the FES therapy combined with conventional therapy treatment more effectively improves the walking ability and enhances the motor recovery when compared with conventional therapy alone in stroke survivors.
Efficacy and tolerability of intravenous methylergonovine in migraine female patients attending the emergency department: a pilot open-label study

Methylergonovine is an ergot alkaloid widely used in postpartum women. It is also an active metabolite of methysergide and previous studies suggest that it could be effective against refractory headache and cluster headache. The purpose of the present study was to assess the potential therapeutic effectiveness of methylergonovine in the emergency treatment of severe migraine.



One hundred and twenty five female patients with migraine attending the emergency department received 0.15 mg of methylergonovine intravenously. Pain intensity, heart rate, blood pressure, and methylergonovine side effects were checked 5, 10, 15, 30 and 60 minutes after drug administration. An additional 0.075 mg dose of methylergonovine was administered to those patients who did not experienced relevant pain relief 15 minutes after dosing.



Pain intensity decreased markedly from the first minutes after dosing, the 74.4% of patients being pain free at 60 minutes. Only seven patients required an additional dose of methylergonovine. Nausea and vomiting were the most relevant side effects related with methylergonovine administration (84% of patients). A substantial decrease (10 to 25 mmHg) in systolic blood pressure values was observed in 56% of the patients. A significant correlation (p < 0.0001) was found between the decrease in pain intensity and the reduction of systolic blood pressure.



Although limited by the non-controlled design of the study, our data suggest that intravenous methylergonovine can be an effective and safe drug in the management of severe migraine attacks in the emergency room.
A prospective randomized study of clinical and economic consequences of using G-CSF following autologous peripheral blood progenitor cell (PBPC) transplantation in children

This prospective and randomized study was conducted to evaluate clinical and economic consequences of using granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) following autologous peripheral blood progenitor cell (PBPC) transplantation in children. Between January 1999 and December 2003, 117 patients underwent autologous PBPCT: 51 patients received G-CSF following PBPCT, while 66 patients did not receive G-CSF. Median time to absolute neutrophil count >0.5 × 109/l was 10 days in the treatment group and 11 days in the control group (P<0.009). The median time to platelets >20 × 109/l was 12 days in both groups (P=NS). The median time to platelets >50 × 109/l was 15 days in the G-CSF group and 14 days in the control group (P<0.005). In patients who received <5 × 106/kg CD34+ cells, the median time to platelets >20 × 109/l and >50 × 109/l was similar with or without G-CSF (12 and 15 days, respectively). Platelet transfusion requirements were lower in the control group (2 vs 3 U in G-CSF group). There was a trend towards higher total costs with G-CSF: 8146.82 euros and 7873.34 euros with and without G-CSF, respectively . Our data suggest that there is no indication of the standard application of G-CSF in children following PBPC transplantation. The only possible indication is the group of patients with a lower yield of CD34+ cells.