32 research outputs found
Optimization of Two-Phase Sampling Designs with Application to Naturalistic Driving Studies
Naturalistic driving studies (NDS) generate tremendous amounts of traffic data and constitute an important component of modern traffic safety research. However, analysis of the entire NDS database is rarely feasible, as it often requires expensive and time-consuming annotations of video sequences. We describe how automatic measurements, readily available in an NDS database, may be utilised for selection of time segments for annotation that are most informative with regards to detection of potential associations between driving behaviour and a consecutive safety critical event. The methodology is illustrated and evaluated on data from a large naturalistic driving study, showing that the use of optimised instance selection may reduce the number of segments that need to be annotated by as much as 50%, compared to simple random sampling
Effects of DAPAgliflozin on CARDiac substrate uptake, myocardial efficiency, and myocardial contractile work in type 2 diabetes patientsâa description of the DAPACARD study
Background:
Diabetes increases the risk for cardiovascular (CV) events. It has
recently been shown that the use of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2
(SGLT2) inhibitors leads to a reduction in CV outcomes in patients with
type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), including mortality and heart failure
hospitalization. The exact mechanisms of how SGLT2 inhibitors lead to
this CV risk reduction remain incompletely understood. The study of
DAPAgliflozin on CARDiac substrate uptake, myocardial efficiency and
myocardial contractile work in type 2 diabetes patients (DAPACARD)
(NCT03387683) explores the possible effects of dapagliflozin, an SGLT2
inhibitor, on cardiac work, metabolism, and biomarker levels.Methods:
DAPACARD is an international, randomized, double-blind trial that aims
to examine the effects of dapagliflozin versus matching placebo in 52
patients with T2DM that are on stable metformin therapy prior to and
during the 6âweeks of treatment. The primary efficacy endpoint is change
in global longitudinal strain of the left ventricle (GLSLV) measured
with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) between baseline (pre-treatment)
and end of study (on-treatment). The secondary endpoint is the
corresponding change in myocardial efficiency measured as external left
ventricular work divided by total left ventricular work, which is
estimated using [11C]-acetate clearance using positron emission
tomography (PET).Conclusion:
The DAPACARD study is an extensive investigation of cardiac function
and metabolism, by advanced imaging with PET and MRI, as well as
biomarkers, performed in order to further explore how the SGLT2
inhibitor dapagliflozin could influence cardiovascular outcomes in
patients with T2DM.</p
A Novel Fibrosis Index Comprising a Non-Cholesterol Sterol Accurately Predicts HCV-Related Liver Cirrhosis
Peer reviewe
Potassium reduction with sodium zirconium cyclosilicate in patients with heart failure
Aims:
Several patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) do not receive reninâangiotensinâaldosterone system (RAAS) inhibitors at the recommended dose or at all, frequently due to actual or feared hyperkalaemia. Sodium zirconium cyclosilicate (SZC) is an orally administered non-absorbed intestinal potassium binder proven to lower serum potassium concentrations.
Methods and results:
PRIORITIZE-HF was an international, multicentre, parallel-group, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the benefits and risks of using SZC to intensify RAAS inhibitor therapy. Patients with symptomatic HFrEF were eligible and randomly assigned to receive SZC 5 g or placebo once daily for 12 weeks. Doses of study medication and RAAS inhibitors were titrated during the treatment period. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients at 12 weeks in the following categories: (i) any RAAS inhibitor at less than target dose, and no MRA; (ii) any RAAS inhibitor at target dose and no MRA; (ii) MRA at less than target dose; and (iv) MRA at target dose. Due to challenges in participant management related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the study was prematurely terminated with 182 randomized patients. There was no statistically significant difference in the distribution of patients by RAAS inhibitor treatment categories at 3 months (P = 0.43). The proportion of patients at target MRA dose was numerically higher in the SZC group (56.4%) compared with the placebo group (47.0%). Overall, SZC was well tolerated.
Conclusions:
PRIORITIZE-HF was terminated prematurely due to COVID-19 and did not demonstrate a statistically significant increase in the intensity of RAAS inhibitor therapies with the potassium-reducing agent SZC compared with placebo