Danube University Krems

About: Danube University Krems is a education organization based out in Krems, Niederösterreich, Austria. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Stroke & Population. The organization has 498 authors who have published 1572 publications receiving 68797 citations.

Comparative risk of harm associated with the use of targeted immunomodulators: A systematic review

Abstract: Objective To systematically compare the risk of adverse events (AEs) for 13 targeted immunomodulators (TIMs) indicated for ankylosing spondylitis (AS), inflammatory bowel diseases, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis (PsA), or rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods We searched electronic databases through July 2015 to retrieve randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies comparing AEs between 2 or more TIMs head-to-head. We reported on the following outcomes: number of AEs, discontinuation due to AEs, serious AEs, mortality, serious infections, tuberculosis, herpes zoster, and malignancies. We qualitatively synthesized the literature and conducted random-effects meta-analyses if 3 or more studies provided data for an outcome. Results Ten head-to-head RCTs and 51 observational studies were included in this systematic review. A majority of the studies (70%) were conducted in RA patients. Risk of treatment discontinuation due to AEs was higher with infliximab than with adalimumab or etanercept in RA, PsA, and AS. A higher risk for serious infections was noted with infliximab than with abatacept, adalimumab, or etanercept in RA. Risk for treatment discontinuation due to AEs, serious infections, and tuberculosis was lower with etanercept than with adalimumab in RA. Limited evidence suggested no comparative differences in risk for mortality, malignancies, and herpes zoster for adalimumab, etanercept, and infliximab in RA. Conclusion Important differences were noted in the safety profile of TIMs in RA, generally favoring abatacept, adalimumab, and etanercept over infliximab. Head-to-head comparative evidence for other TIMs and non-RA populations was insufficient to draw conclusions for most of the safety outcomes.

Efficient Ambiguity Resolution in Wireless Localization Systems

Abstract: Wireless communication is widely used for node localization in various automation domains. Schemes based on time difference of arrival (TDOA) are a good compromise of achievable accuracy and implementation effort. Due to restrictions on possible reference sensor positions in industrial environments, the geometric conditions between reference and mobile nodes locations are often difficult. Consequently, iterative algorithms can fail or result in high computational effort. Exact direct methods introduce no additional errors, but can result in a valid pair of solutions. Existing direct methods thus either rely on a priori information to sort out one of those two solutions, or revert to nonexact linearization approaches of the underlying hyperbolic equations. In this work, we present a direct approach that applies exact direct methods, and resolves the ambiguous pairs of solutions without a priori information. Its divide and conquer structure and the high computational efficiency of the available exact direct methods makes it a very good candidate for fast parallel computing in distributed sensor networks. The performance is compared to the Cramer–Rao lower bound, to the iterative Gauss–Newton method and to another direct method. The new method is presented for the TDOA scheme, but can also be applied to time of arrival, or any other range-based scheme.

Assessing the effects of long-term osteoporosis treatment by using conventional spine radiographs: results from a pilot study in a sub-cohort of a large randomized controlled trial.

Abstract: To evaluate the clinical applicability of a software tool developed to extract bone textural information from conventional lumbar spine radiographs, and to test it in a subset of postmenopausal women treated for osteoporosis with the fully human monoclonal antibody denosumab. The software was developed based on the principles of a fractal model using pixel grey-level variations together with a specific machine-learning algorithm. The obtained dimensionless parameter, termed bone structure value (BSV), was then tested and compared to bone mineral density (BMD) in a sub-cohort of postmenopausal women with osteoporosis who were treated with the monoclonal antibody denosumab, within the framework of a large randomized controlled trial and its open-label extension phase. After 3 years and after 8 years of treatment with denosumab, mean lumbar spine BMD as well as mean lumbar BSV were significantly higher compared to study entry (one-way repeated measures ANOVA for DXA: F = 108.2, p < 0.00001; and for BSV: F = 84.3, p < 0.00001). The overall increase in DXA-derived lumbar spine BMD at year 8 was + 42% (mean ± SD; 0.725 ± 0.038 g/cm2 to 1.031 ± 0.092 g/cm2; p < 0.0001), and the overall increase of BSV was 255% (mean ± SD; 0.076 ± 0.022 to 0.270 ± 0.09, p < 0.0001). Overall, BMD and BSV were significantly correlated (R = 0.51; p < 0.0001). This pilot study provides evidence that lumbar spine BSV as obtained from conventional radiographs constitutes a useful means for the assessment of bone-specific treatment effects in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.

Screening for Hypertension in Children and Adolescents: Updated Evidence Report and Systematic Review for the US Preventive Services Task Force

Abstract: Importance Childhood hypertension can result in adverse outcomes during adulthood; identifying and treating primary and secondary childhood hypertension may reduce such risks. Objective To update the evidence on screening and treatment of hypertension in childhood and adolescence for the US Preventive Services Task Force. Data Sources PubMed, Cochrane Library, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, EMBASE, and trial registries through September 3, 2019; bibliographies from retrieved articles, experts, and surveillance of the literature through October 6, 2020. Study Selection Fair- or good-quality English-language studies evaluating diagnostic accuracy of blood pressure screening; cohort studies assessing the association of hypertension in childhood and adolescence with blood pressure or other intermediate outcomes in adulthood; randomized clinical trials (RCTs) or meta-analyses of pharmacological and lifestyle interventions. Data Extraction and Synthesis Two reviewers independently assessed titles/abstracts and full-text articles, extracted data, and assessed study quality; the evidence was synthesized qualitatively. Main Outcomes and Measures Sensitivity, specificity, and measures of association between childhood and adulthood blood pressure; reduction of childhood blood pressure; adverse effects of treatments. Results Forty-two studies from 43 publications were included (N>12 400). No studies evaluated the benefits or harms of screening and the effect of treating childhood hypertension on outcomes in adulthood. One study reported a sensitivity of 0.82 and a specificity of 0.70 for 2 office-based blood pressure measurements. Twenty observational studies suggested a significant association between childhood hypertension and abnormal blood pressure in adulthood (odds ratios, 1.1-4.5; risk ratios, 1.45-3.60; hazard ratios, 2.8-3.2). Thirteen placebo-controlled RCTs and 1 meta-analysis assessed reductions in systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure from pharmacological treatments. Pooled reductions of SBP were −4.38 mm Hg (95% CI, −7.27 to −2.16) for angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and −3.07 mm Hg (95% CI, −4.99 to −1.44) for angiotensin receptor blockers. Candesartan reduced SBP by −6.56 mm Hg (P Conclusions and Relevance Observational studies indicate an association between hypertension in childhood and hypertension in adulthood. However, the evidence is inconclusive whether the diagnostic accuracy of blood pressure measurements is adequate for screening asymptomatic children and adolescents in primary care.