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### Instruction:
Are vEGF and cortactin expression independent predictors of tumor recurrence following curative resection of gastric cancer?
### Response:
| VEGF and cortactin may be a good biomarker to be applied in clinic to predict the prognosis of patients with curatively resected gastric cancer. |
### Instruction:
Does treatment with histone deacetylase inhibitor attenuate MAP kinase mediated liver injury in a lethal model of septic shock?
### Response:
| Administration of SAHA is associated with attenuation of MAPK activation and alteration of inflammatory and anti-inflammatory markers in murine liver after a lethal LPS insult. The suppression of MAPK activity is rapid (within 3 h), and is sustained for up to 48 h post-treatment. These results may in part account for the improvement in survival shown in this model. |
### Instruction:
Is serum uric acid level associated with cardiac hypertrophy in renal transplant recipients?
### Response:
| High serum UA levels are associated with LVH in renal transplant recipients, which underlines the importance of treating hyperuricemia. |
### Instruction:
Is the antigen presentation function of bone marrow-derived mast cells spatiotemporally restricted to a subset expressing high levels of cell surface FcepsilonRI and MHC II?
### Response:
| This is the first observation to attribute a spatiotemporally restricted antigen-presenting function to a subset of three-week old pure BMMC expressing both high levels of surface FcepsilonRI and surface MHC II. We propose that mast cells play an important role in immune deviating and/or sustaining the activation of infiltrating CD4 T-cells, and modulating T-cell mediated allergic inflammation via its flexibility to present antigens and antigen-IgE complexes. |
### Instruction:
Does resistin enhance the expansion of regulatory T cells through modulation of dendritic cells?
### Response:
| Our results suggest that resistin induces expansion of functional Tregs only when co-cultured with DCs. |
### Instruction:
Does haptoglobin 2-1 phenotype predict rapid growth of abdominal aortic aneurysms?
### Response:
| The Hp 2-1 phenotype showed a strong association with increased rates of the expansion of AAAs and may be a useful independent predictor of growth rate. Further large follow-up studies will be needed to investigate the pathomechanisms of association and the role of elastase and inflammation in the progression of AAA. |
### Instruction:
Is the concentration of CD44 increased in hematopoietic stem cell grafts of patients with acute myeloid leukemia , plasma cell myeloma , and non-Hodgkin lymphoma?
### Response:
| These results show that CD44 levels in an autoHSCT graft may be linked to clinical outcome after autoHSCT. |
### Instruction:
Does hygrochastic capsule dehiscence support safe site strategies in New Zealand alpine Veronica ( Plantaginaceae )?
### Response:
| The results suggest that hygrochasy is a very effective mechanism of restricting seed dispersal to rainfall events and ensuring short-distance dispersal within a small habitat patch. It appears that it is an adaptation for directed dispersal to safe sites that only exist within the parent habitat. |
### Instruction:
Does coronary microvascular endothelial function deteriorate late ( 12 months ) after sirolimus-eluting stent implantation?
### Response:
| Coronary microvascular endothelial function may deteriorate between 6 and 12 months after SES implantation. |
### Instruction:
Does melatonin restore the basal level of lipid peroxidation in rat tissues exposed to potassium bromate in vitro?
### Response:
| Potassium bromate-induced LPO in the rat lung homogenates suggests that the lung may be the target for this carcinogen. An exposure of organisms to melatonin decreases tissue sensitivity to KBrO3-induced damage, possibly by restoring the oxidative balance. |
### Instruction:
Do norepinephrine and ephedrine counteract the increase in cutaneous microcirculation induced by spinal anaesthesia?
### Response:
| Improved skin perfusion induced by spinal anaesthesia was not counteracted by the use of norepinephrine or ephedrine. |
### Instruction:
Is drug resistance widespread among children who receive long-term antiretroviral treatment at a rural Tanzanian hospital?
### Response:
| Among children on long-term ART in rural Tanzania, >50% harboured drug resistance. Results for children were markedly poorer than for adults attending the same programme, underscoring the need for improved treatment strategies for children in resource-limited settings. |
### Instruction:
Is the loudness dependence auditory evoked potential insensitive to acute changes in serotonergic and noradrenergic neurotransmission?
### Response:
| These findings suggest that the LDAEP is insensitive to acute changes in serotonergic or noradrenergic neurotransmission and thus is a poor pharmacodynamic marker of these systems. |
### Instruction:
Do caffeine and stress alter salivary alpha-amylase activity in young men?
### Response:
| Findings provide evidence for acute sAA changes in response to caffeine and stress in habitual caffeine users. |
### Instruction:
Is e/E ' ratio more sensitive than E/A ratio for detection of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in patients with systemic sclerosis?
### Response:
| E/E' ratio is more sensitive than E/A ratio for identifying LV diastolic dysfunction in SSc patients without CHF symptoms. Furthermore, SSc patients who had received ACEI or ARB treatment showed significantly better preservation of LV diastolic function than those who had not received these medications. |
### Instruction:
Does angiotensin II contribute to the increased baseline leg vascular resistance in spinal cord-injured individuals?
### Response:
| Our results indicate that angiotensin II contributes to the increased baseline LVR in SCI individuals. As angiotensin II does not contribute to forearm vascular resistance, the contribution to LVR may relate to the extreme inactivity of the legs in SCI individuals. Angiotensin II does not contribute to the increase in LVR during HUT in SCI individuals nor in controls. |
### Instruction:
Does non-diabetic hyperglycaemia correlate with angiographic coronary artery disease prevalence and severity?
### Response:
| Non-diabetic hyperglycaemia, assessed either categorically by fasting glucose categories or continuously by HbA(1c) levels, correlates with the poorest angiographic outcomes. |
### Instruction:
Does pulsed acoustic cellular treatment induce expression of proangiogenic factors and chemokines in muscle flaps?
### Response:
| Application of PACE treatment, applied as short time acting preconditioning and conditioning treatment, resulted in upregulation of proangiogenic chemokines gene expression in the muscle and showed upregulation of expression of proangiogenic factors such as VEGF and vWF on the vessel endothelium. |
### Instruction:
Are carotid intima-media thickness and stiffness independent risk factors for atherosclerotic diseases?
### Response:
| Carotid IMT and stiffness represent different properties of atherosclerotic vessel wall. Measuring both traits provides a better characterization of atherosclerosis. |
### Instruction:
Is serum lipoprotein ( a ) levels in patients with first unprovoked venous thromboembolism associated with subsequent risk of recurrent VTE?
### Response:
| Elevated serum Lp(a) does not appear to be associated with recurrent VTE in patients with history of first unprovoked VTE and may not play a role in identifying patients with unprovoked VTE at high risk of recurrence. There was no optimal predictive threshold for the overall population or for sex sub-groups and Lp(a)>or=0.3 g/L was not a significant predictor of recurrent VTE. |
### Instruction:
Does in vivo proliferation of hepadnavirus-infected hepatocytes induce loss of covalently closed circular DNA in mice?
### Response:
| Cell division in the setting of liver regeneration and without administration of antiviral drugs induced strong destabilization of the cccDNA reservoir, resulting in cccDNA clearance in the great majority of chronically infected hepatocytes. |
### Instruction:
Does down-regulated microRNA-152 induce aberrant DNA methylation in hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma by targeting DNA methyltransferase 1?
### Response:
| Our findings suggest that miR-152 is frequently down-regulated and regulates DNMT1 in HBV-related HCC. These findings support a tumor-suppressive role of miR-152 in the epigenetic aberration of HBV-related HCC and the potential development of miRNA-based targeted approaches for the treatment of HBV-related HCC. |
### Instruction:
Does insulin resistance impair response to interferon plus ribavirin in patients coinfected with HIV and hepatitis C virus?
### Response:
| Our data suggest that IR is an important determinant of SVR in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients treated with interferon plus ribavirin. Strategies to modify IR should be explored to enhance SVR during anti-HCV therapy. |
### Instruction:
Are goldmann applanation tonometry and dynamic contour tonometry correlated with central corneal thickness in primary open angle glaucoma?
### Response:
| In this group of patients with OAG, there was a strong correlation between GAT and DCT measurements of IOP. IOP measured with DCT was consistently higher than IOP measured with GAT. Neither GAT nor DCT measurements were correlated with CCT. This data suggests that factors other than CCT may be involved in the tendency of DCT to produce higher measures of IOP than GAT. |
### Instruction:
Is the omentum a site of stromal cell-derived factor 1alpha production and reservoir for CXC chemokine receptor 4-positive cell recruitment?
### Response:
| Activated omentum, important in the SDF-1alpha/CXCR4 axis, may serve as an intraperitoneal reservoir for recruitment of circulating bone marrow-derived cells vital to healing. |
### Instruction:
Do injury hospitalization as a marker for emergency medical services use in elderly patients?
### Response:
| An injury hospitalization in the elderly serves as a sentinel marker for an abrupt increase in EMS utilization and costs, even after accounting for confounders. |
### Instruction:
Does desmuslin gene knockdown cause altered expression of phenotype markers and differentiation of saphenous vein smooth muscle cells?
### Response:
| These results indicated desmuslin expression is required for the maintenance of VSMC phenotype. Decreased desmuslin expression may affect differentiation of VSMCs and ultimately contribute to the development of varicose veins. |
### Instruction:
Do molecular imaging genetics of methylphenidate response in ADHD and substance use comorbidity?
### Response:
| In patients with ADHD/SUDs, combined DRD4 7R and DAT1 10/10 could index MPH reduced DAT occupancy. This might be important for clinical trials, in terms of better understanding individual variability in treatment response. |
### Instruction:
Do esophagogastric varices predict mortality in hospitalized patients with alcoholic liver disease in Taiwan?
### Response:
| The presence of esophagogastric varices had a statistically significant relationship with increased mortality. This study strongly implicates esophagogastric varices were a valuable poor prognostic factor with mortality. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy is a simple clinical available tool for the assessment of the occurrence of varices to predict the disease severity and mortality in hospitalized patients with ALD. |
### Instruction:
Does period 2 gene deletion abolish beta-endorphin neuronal response to ethanol?
### Response:
| These results suggest for the first time that the Per2 gene may be critically involved in regulating beta-endorphin neuronal function. Furthermore, the data revealed an involvement of the Per2 gene in regulating beta-endorphin neuronal responses to ethanol. |
### Instruction:
Is a depression in left ventricular diastolic filling following prolonged strenuous exercise associated with changes in left atrial mechanics?
### Response:
| This study demonstrates transient changes in LV diastolic relaxation following prolonged exercise that appear to have a direct impact on subsequent LA deformation. The impact of reduced LA preload on these findings and the delay in LA activation time requires further exploration. |
### Instruction:
Is delayed onset of lactogenesis among first-time mothers related to maternal obesity and factors associated with ineffective breastfeeding?
### Response:
| The risk factors for delayed OL are multidimensional. Public health and obstetric and maternity care interventions are needed to address what has become an alarmingly common problem among primiparas. |
### Instruction:
Do biliary apotopes and anti-mitochondrial antibodies activate innate immune responses in primary biliary cirrhosis?
### Response:
| These results provide a mechanism for the biliary specificity of PBC, the recurrence of disease after liver transplantation, and the success of ursodiol in treatment. They further emphasize the critical role of the innate immune system in the perpetuation of this autoimmune disease. |
### Instruction:
Do serum cholesterol and statin use predict virological response to peginterferon and ribavirin therapy?
### Response:
| Baseline elevated LDL levels or low HDL levels and preemptive statin usage were associated with higher SVR rates. Prospective studies may be considered to explore the biological impact of these factors on HCV RNA replication and treatment response. |
### Instruction:
Does microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 contribute to ischaemic excitotoxicity through prostaglandin E2 EP3 receptors?
### Response:
| Activity of mPGES-1 exacerbated stroke injury through EP(3) receptors and activation of Rho kinase and/or G(i). Thus, mPGES-1 and EP(3) receptors may be valuable therapeutic targets for treatment of human stroke. |
### Instruction:
Do simulation-based mock codes significantly correlate with improved pediatric patient cardiopulmonary arrest survival rates?
### Response:
| This study suggests that a simulation-based mock code program may significantly benefit pediatric patient CPA outcomes-applied clinical outcomes-not simply learner perceived value, increased confidence, or simulation-based outcomes. The use of mock codes as an integral part of residency programs could provide residents with the resuscitation training they require to become proficient in their practice. Future programs that incorporate transport scenarios, ambulatory care, and other outpatient settings could further benefit pediatric patients in prehospital contexts. |
### Instruction:
Does interleukin-27 act as multifunctional antitumor agent in multiple myeloma?
### Response:
| These findings show that IL-27 may represent a novel therapeutic agent capable of inhibiting directly MM cell growth as well as osteoclast differentiation and activity. |
### Instruction:
Does elastin haploinsufficiency result in progressive aortic valve malformation and latent valve disease in a mouse model?
### Response:
| These results identify the Eln(+/-) mouse as a model of latent aortic valve disease and establish a role for elastin dysregulation in valve pathogenesis. |
### Instruction:
Does small molecule disruption of G beta gamma signaling inhibit the progression of heart failure?
### Response:
| These data suggest a promising therapeutic role for small molecule inhibition of pathological Gbetagamma signaling in the treatment of HF. |
### Instruction:
Is tumor necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis a mitogen for liver progenitor cells?
### Response:
| TWEAK acts directly and stimulates LPC mitosis in an Fn14-dependent and NFkappaB-dependent fashion, and signaling via this pathway mediates the LPC response to CDE-induced injury and regeneration. |
### Instruction:
Does sulforaphane protect liver injury induced by intestinal ischemia reperfusion through Nrf2-ARE pathway?
### Response:
| SFN pretreatment attenuates liver injury induced by intestinal I/R in rats, attributable to the antioxidant effect through Nrf2-ARE pathway. |
### Instruction:
Are inflammation-based prognostic score and number of lymph node metastases independent prognostic factors in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma?
### Response:
| Preoperative GPS may be useful for postoperative prognosis of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. GPS and the number of lymph node metastases could be used to identify a subgroup of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who are eligible for radical resection but show poor prognosis. |
### Instruction:
Is comorbidity , not age , prognostic in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer receiving gemcitabine-based chemotherapy?
### Response:
| Gemcitabine-based chemotherapy can be an effective treatment, without significant toxicity, in elderly patients. Comorbidity, not age, was prognostic in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. |
### Instruction:
Do location and duration of treatment of cystic fibrosis respiratory exacerbations affect outcomes?
### Response:
| Intravenous antibiotic therapy for CF respiratory exacerbations administered in the hospital and in the home was found to be equivalent in terms of long-term FEV₁ change and interval between courses of antibiotics. Optimal duration of therapy (7-10 d) may be shorter than current practice. Large prospective studies are needed to answer these essential questions for CF respiratory management. |
### Instruction:
Are chest radiographs valuable in demonstrating clinically significant pacemaker complications that require reoperation?
### Response:
| Chest radiographs are useful after pacemaker placement and demonstrate the majority of complications that require reoperation. Familiarity with the expected normal position of the leads, appearances of pacemaker complications, and comparison with prior radiographs is crucial in rendering a correct diagnosis that guides patient management. |
### Instruction:
Does serum midkine correlate with tumor progression and imatinib response in gastrointestinal stromal tumors?
### Response:
| S-MK concentration is a potential marker for evaluating the progression and prognosis of GIST, especially during imatinib therapy. Further studies could focus on the role of midkine in the tumorigenesis of GIST and responsiveness toward imatinib therapy. |
### Instruction:
Is plasmodium falciparum PfA-M1 aminopeptidase trafficked via the parasitophorous vacuole and marginally delivered to the food vacuole?
### Response:
| The PfA-M1 trafficking/maturation scenario that emerges from this data indicates that PfA-M1, synthesized as the precursor p120 form, is targeted to the parasitophorous vacuole via the parasite endoplasmic reticulum/Golgi, where it is converted into the transient p96 form. This p96 form is eventually redirected into the parasite to be converted into the processed p68 form that is only marginally delivered to the parasite food vacuole. These results provide insights on PfA-M1 topology regarding key compartments of the infected red blood cells that have important implications for the development of inhibitors targeting this plasmodial enzyme. |
### Instruction:
Does azithromycin attenuate airway inflammation in a mouse model of viral bronchiolitis?
### Response:
| In this mouse model of paramyxoviral bronchiolitis, azithromycin attenuated acute and chronic airway inflammation. These findings demonstrate anti-inflammatory effects of azithromycin that are not related to anti-viral activity. Our findings support the rationale for future prospective randomized clinical trials that will evaluate the effects of macrolides on acute viral bronchiolitis and their long-term consequences. |
### Instruction:
Does deletion analysis of BMI1 oncoprotein identify its negative regulatory domain?
### Response:
| In summary, our data suggest that the PS domain of BMI1 is involved in its stability and that it negatively regulates function of BMI1 oncoprotein. Our results also suggest that the PS domain of BMI1 could be targeted for the treatment of proliferative disorders such as cancer and aging. |
### Instruction:
Does nerve growth factor promote breast cancer angiogenesis by activating multiple pathways?
### Response:
| Our findings provided direct evidence that NGF could be an important stimulator for breast cancer angiogenesis. Thus, NGF, as well as the activated signaling pathways, should be regarded as potential new targets for anti-angiogenic therapy against breast cancer. |
### Instruction:
Does the approximate entropy of the electromyographic signals of tremor correlate with the osmotic fragility of human erythrocytes?
### Response:
| In healthy individuals, the increase in the erythrocyte osmotic fragility was associated with a decrease in the approximate entropy for rest tremor and with an increase of the entropy for movement tremor. This suggests that the neuromuscular degeneration associated with tremor entails also the mechanisms involved in the breakdown of structural homeostasis of the erythrocyte membrane. |
### Instruction:
Does inhibitory effect of TIMP influence the morphology of varicose veins?
### Response:
| This study linked morphological changes in varicose vein walls with MMP/TIMP balance. A higher TIMP expression favours deposition of connective tissue and thus thicker vein wall, reducing matrix turnover by suppression of protease activity. |
### Instruction:
Is genetic polymorphism in exon 2 of cathepsin D associated with vascular dementia?
### Response:
| The major genotype frequency at CTSD C224T in normal controls was higher in the Asian population than in various European populations. Our study does not show a significant difference in genotype (P=0.3071) and allele (P=0.2291) frequencies of CTSD C224T between VaD and normal controls. This was the first genetic association study of CTSD in a VaD population. |
### Instruction:
Is yeast karyopherin Kap95 required for cell cycle progression at Start?
### Response:
| Kap95 plays an essential role at the initiation of the cell cycle by driving the nuclear import of Swi4, Swi6 and Mbp1, the three transcription factors responsible for the gene expression at Start. This transport depends on the specific nuclear localization signals present in cargo proteins. |
### Instruction:
Does absence of invariant natural killer T cells deteriorate liver inflammation and fibrosis in mice fed high-fat diet?
### Response:
| These findings indicate that iNKT cells play a protective role against liver inflammation progressing to fibrosis, but not against steatosis, enhanced by dietary excess fat, suggesting a key role of these cells in NASH pathogenesis. |
### Instruction:
Are smoking motives in movies important for understanding adolescent smoking : a preliminary investigation?
### Response:
| These results suggest that the way that smoking is portrayed in movies is important in determining its effect on adolescent smoking. |
### Instruction:
Does mesenchymal stem cell and islet co-transplantation promote graft revascularization and function?
### Response:
| Our results demonstrate the improvement of islet graft morphology and function by co-transplantation with MSCs. This improvement is attributable, at least in part, to the promotion of graft revascularization mediated by MSCs. |
### Instruction:
Does telemedicine in urban and suburban childcare and elementary schools lighten family burdens?
### Response:
| Health-e-Access was well accepted by a substantial, diverse group of parents despite unfamiliarity with this approach to care. Convenience and convenience-related experience dominated perceptions. This model enables service beyond that mandated by payers and beyond that generally provided by medical practices. |
### Instruction:
Does akt phosphorylation of deleted in liver cancer 1 abrogate its suppression of liver cancer tumorigenesis and metastasis?
### Response:
| This study has revealed a novel post-translational modification that functionally deregulates the biologic activities of DLC1. Phosphorylation of DLC1 and DLC2 by Akt at the conserved residue points to a common regulatory mechanism of the DLC tumor suppressor family. |
### Instruction:
Does inhibition of angiopoietin-2 in LuCaP 23.1 prostate cancer tumors decrease tumor growth and viability?
### Response:
| Our results demonstrate that inhibiting angiopoietin-2 activity impedes angiogenesis and growth of LuCaP 23.1 PCa xenografts. Based on these data, we hypothesize that angiopoietin-2 inhibition in combination with other therapies may represent a potential therapy for patients with metastatic disease. |
### Instruction:
Is expression of cancer/testis antigens in prostate cancer associated with disease progression?
### Response:
| Considered together, the remarkable stage-specific expression patterns of the CT-X antigens strongly suggests that these CTAs may serve as unique biomarkers that could potentially be used to distinguish men with aggressive disease who need treatment from men with indolent disease not requiring immediate intervention. The data also suggest that the CT-X antigens may be novel therapeutic targets for CRPC for which there are currently no effective therapeutics. |
### Instruction:
Is increasing derangement of glucose homeostasis associated with increased arterial stiffness in patients with diabetes , impaired fasting glucose and normal controls?
### Response:
| Arterial stiffness parameters varied significantly across subgroups of patients with different degrees of impaired glucose regulation, such that increasingly deranged glucose homeostasis was associated with increased arterial stiffness. Early adverse vascular changes were detected in subjects with IFG. |
### Instruction:
Does microRNA-125a contribute to elevated inflammatory chemokine RANTES levels via targeting KLF13 in systemic lupus erythematosus?
### Response:
| MicroRNA-125a negatively regulates RANTES expression by targeting KLF13 in activated T cells. The underexpression of miR-125a contributes to the elevated expression of RANTES in SLE. Our findings extend the role of miRNA in the pathogenesis of lupus and provide potential strategies for therapeutic intervention. |
### Instruction:
Does knockdown of Fcγ receptor III in an arthritic temporomandibular joint reduce the nociceptive response in rats?
### Response:
| FcγRIII contributes to the pain resulting from inflammatory arthritis of the TMJ, and siRNA has the potential to be an effective treatment for this disorder. |
### Instruction:
Is nPR-B , the C-type natriuretic peptide specific receptor , the predominant biological receptor in mouse and pig myocardial tissue?
### Response:
| In the present study, we provided the first evidence of a higher mRNA expression in cardiac tissue of NPR-B with respect to NPR-A indicating that CNP specific receptor (NPR-B) is the predominant biological receptor in mouse and pig myocardial tissue. |
### Instruction:
Is deletion of alloreactive T cells by veto cytotoxic T lymphocytes mediated through extracellular signal-regulated kinase phosphorylation?
### Response:
| These results suggest that the interaction between CD8 on veto CTL and the MHC class I alpha3 domain on the effector cell, leads to phosphorylation of MEK/ERK in the latter cell, associated with a significant reduction of XIAP levels which, in turn, enables potent triggering of Fas-FasL mediated apoptosis on cognate binding of the veto CTLs. |
### Instruction:
Does curcumin disrupt meiotic and mitotic divisions via spindle impairment and inhibition of CDK1 activity?
### Response:
| We have shown for the first time, that curcumin, in a dose-dependent manner, delays and partially inhibits meiotic resumption of oocytes and inhibits meiotic and mitotic divisions by causing disruption of spindle structure and does not induce DNA damage. Our analysis indicated that curcumin affects CDK1 kinase activity but does not directly affect microtubule polymerization and tubulin acetylation. As our study showed that curcumin impairs generative and somatic cell division, its future clinical use or of its derivatives with improved bioavailability after oral administration, should take into consideration the possibility of extensive side-effects on normal cells. |
### Instruction:
Are histologic atherosclerotic plaque characteristics associated with restenosis rates after endarterectomy of the common and superficial femoral arteries?
### Response:
| Plaque composition of the CFA and SFA differs. Furthermore, the dissection of a fibrous collagen-rich plaque is an independent predictive variable for restenosis after endarterectomy of the CFA and SFA. |
### Instruction:
Are phylogenetic and evolutionary patterns in microbial carotenoid biosynthesis revealed by comparative genomics?
### Response:
| Comparative genomics analyses of microbial carotenoid biosynthetic proteins indicate a much greater taxonomic diversity then that identified based on structural and biosynthetic data, and divides microbial carotenoid biosynthesis into several, well-supported phylogenetic lineages not evident previously. This phylogenetic framework is applicable to understanding the evolution of specific carotenoid biosynthetic proteins or the unique characteristics of carotenoid biosynthetic evolution in a specific phylogenetic lineage. Together, these analyses suggest a "bramble" model for microbial carotenoid biosynthesis whereby later biosynthetic steps exhibit greater evolutionary plasticity and reticulation compared to those closer to the biosynthetic "root". Structural diversification may be constrained ("trimmed") where selection is strong, but less so where selection is weaker. These analyses also highlight likely productive avenues for future research and bioprospecting by identifying both gaps in current knowledge and taxa which may particularly facilitate carotenoid diversification. |
### Instruction:
Is carotid Intima-Media Thickness , Not Carotid Plaque , Associated With Large Territory Cerebral Infarction in Patients With Ischemic Stroke?
### Response:
| Carotid IMT is significantly increased in patients with large territory infarction compared with those with small vessel stroke. |
### Instruction:
Does early diffuse demyelinating lesion in the cervical spinal cord predict a worse prognosis in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis?
### Response:
| The diffuse abnormality in cervical spinal cord at the beginning of the disease is persistent and predicts a worse prognosis in RRMS patients. |
### Instruction:
Does eplerenone suppress salt-induced vascular endothelial growth factor expression in the kidney?
### Response:
| Based on these findings, we suggest that in part, VEGF stimulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase plays a significant role in the eplerenone-induced reversal of the renal and vascular damage caused by high dietary salt intake. |
### Instruction:
Do children With Cochlear implants recognize their mother 's voice?
### Response:
| We attribute child CI users' success on talker differentiation, even on same-gender differentiation, to their use of two types of temporal cues: variations in consonant and vowel articulation and variations in speaking rate. Moreover, we contend that child CI users' differentiation of speakers was facilitated by long-term familiarity with their mother's voice. |
### Instruction:
Does transcriptional profile analysis of RPGRORF15 frameshift mutation identify novel genes associated with retinal degeneration?
### Response:
| Several DE genes were identified in mutant retinas. At 7 weeks, a combination of nonclassic anti- and proapoptosis genes appear to be involved in photoreceptor degeneration, whereas at both 7 and 16 weeks, the expression of mitochondria-related genes indicates that they may play a relevant role in the disease process. |
### Instruction:
Is mismatch repair deficiency an uncommon mechanism of alkylator resistance in pediatric malignant gliomas : a report from the Children 's Oncology Group?
### Response:
| MMR deficiency is an infrequent contributor to initial alkylator resistance in children with malignant gliomas. |
### Instruction:
Do serovar profiling of Haemophilus parasuis on Australian farms by sampling live pigs?
### Response:
| Healthy pigs contain a range of Hps serovars, even on farms free of Glässer's disease. Nasal swabbing of both healthy and sick pigs seems a useful method of serovar profiling of farms. |
### Instruction:
Are purkinje cells from RyR2 mutant mice highly arrhythmogenic but responsive to targeted therapy?
### Response:
| Purkinje cells display a greater propensity to develop abnormalities in intracellular Ca(2+) handling than ventricular myocytes. This proarrhythmic behavior is enhanced by disease-causing mutations in the RyR2 Ca(2+) release channel and greatly exacerbated by catecholaminergic stimulation, with the development of arrhythmogenic triggered beats. These data support the concept that Purkinje cells are critical contributors to arrhythmic triggers in animal models and humans with CPVT and suggest a broader role for the Purkinje fiber network in the genesis of ventricular arrhythmias. |
### Instruction:
Does activation of PKN mediate survival of cardiac myocytes in the heart during ischemia/reperfusion?
### Response:
| PKN is activated by I/R and inhibits apoptosis of cardiac myocytes, thereby protecting the heart from I/R injury. PKN mediates phosphorylation of alpha B crystallin and stimulation of proteasome activity, which, in part, mediates the protective effect of PKN in the heart. |
### Instruction:
Are high neutrophil numbers in human carotid atherosclerotic plaques associated with characteristics of rupture-prone lesions?
### Response:
| For the first time to our knowledge, these results show that neutrophil numbers are strongly associated with the histopathologic features of rupture-prone atherosclerotic lesions and suggest a role for neutrophils in plaque destabilization. |
### Instruction:
Does episodic exposure to fine particulate air pollution decrease circulating levels of endothelial progenitor cells?
### Response:
| Episodic exposure to PM(2.5) induces reversible vascular injury, reflected in part by depletion of circulating EPC levels, and increases in platelet activation and the plasma level of high-density lipoprotein. These changes were also accompanied by an increase in nonalbumin protein and may be related to mechanisms by which exposure to particulate air pollution increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and adverse cardiovascular events. |
### Instruction:
Does diffusion-weighted imaging improve the diagnostic accuracy of conventional 3.0-T breast MR imaging?
### Response:
| DW imaging with glandular tissue-normalized ADC assessment improves the characterization of breast lesions beyond the characterization achieved with conventional 3D T1-weighted and dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging at 3.0 T. |
### Instruction:
Do small numbers limit the use of the inpatient pediatric quality indicators for hospital comparison?
### Response:
| Using these AHRQ-developed, nationally endorsed measures of the quality of inpatient pediatric care, one would not be able to identify many hospitals with performance 2 times worse than the statewide average due to extremely low event rates and inadequate pediatric hospital volume. |
### Instruction:
Does chronic consumption of fructose rich soft drinks alter tissue lipids of rats?
### Response:
| Based on the results, it can be concluded that daily ingestion of a large amount of fructose- rich soft drink resulted in unfavorable alterations to the lipid profile of the rats. |
### Instruction:
Do total and high molecular weight adiponectin have similar utility for the identification of insulin resistance?
### Response:
| Total adiponectin, HMWA and the SA index had similar utility for the identification of IR and metabolic disturbances. |
### Instruction:
Is loss of response to melatonin treatment associated with slow melatonin metabolism?
### Response:
| We hypothesise that loss of response to melatonin treatment can be caused by slow metabolisation of exogenous melatonin. As melatonin is metabolised in the liver almost exclusively by cytochrome P450 enzyme CYP1A2, this slow melatonin metabolism is probably due to decreased activity/inducibility of CYP1A2. In patients with loss of response to melatonin, a melatonin clearance test should be considered and a considerably dose reduction is advised. |
### Instruction:
Does conditional Gata4 deletion in mice induce bile acid absorption in the proximal small intestine?
### Response:
| Reduction of intestinal GATA4 activity induces bile acid absorption in proximal small intestine without inducing major changes in bile acid homeostasis. This induction is sufficient to correct bile acid malabsorption caused by ICR in mice. |
### Instruction:
Does tracheal torsion assessed by a computer-generated 3-dimensional image analysis predict tracheal self-expandable metallic stent fracture?
### Response:
| Three-dimensional tracheal reconstructions from 2-dimensional chest computed tomographic data are useful in assessing the severity of tracheal torsion. Tortuous trachea with a central axis bending angle of 19° or more and peripheral tracheal wall maximal bending angle of 44° or more were associated with a high probability of fracture of the self-expandable metallic stent. |
### Instruction:
Does mitral ring annuloplasty relieve tension of the secondary but not primary chordae tendineae in the anterior mitral leaflet?
### Response:
| In normal porcine hearts mitral ring annuloplasty primarily relieves stress on the anterior leaflet belly rather than the leading edge. Mitral ring annuloplasty might therefore protect repairs of the central portion of the anterior leaflet and secondary chordae but not repairs that solely involve the anterior leaflet's leading edge and adjacent chordae. |
### Instruction:
Does preemptive multimodal pain regimen reduce opioid analgesia for patients undergoing robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy?
### Response:
| The present retrospective review has indicated that a multimodal analgesic approach with pregabalin and celecoxib administered preoperatively decreases intraoperative and postoperative opioid use in patients undergoing robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. |
### Instruction:
Is increased placental XIAP and caspase 3 associated with increased placental apoptosis in a baboon model of maternal nutrient reduction?
### Response:
| We conclude that placental apoptosis is increased in this baboon model of MNR at term and that the increase in X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein may be a protective mechanism against this apoptosis. |
### Instruction:
Does tamoxifen enhance the cytotoxic effects of nelfinavir in breast cancer cells?
### Response:
| The results demonstrate that nelfinavir may be an effective drug against breast cancer and could be combined with tamoxifen to enhance its efficacy against breast cancer cells. Moreover, the cytotoxic effect of a tamoxifen and nelfinavir combination was independent of the oestrogen receptor status of the analysed breast cancer cells, suggesting a potential benefit of a combination of these two drugs even in patients with no hormone-responsive tumours. We therefore recommend that clinical studies on nelfinavir with breast cancer patients should include this drug combination to analyse the therapeutic efficacy as well as the safety and tolerability of this potential treatment option. |
### Instruction:
Is increased duration of mechanical ventilation associated with decreased diaphragmatic force : a prospective observational study?
### Response:
| Duration of mechanical ventilation is associated with a logarithmic decline in diaphragmatic force, which is compatible with the concept of VIDD. The observed decline may also be due to other potentially contributing factors such as sedatives/analgesics, sepsis, or others. |
### Instruction:
Does multiplex cytokine analysis reveal elevated concentration of interleukin-8 in glaucomatous aqueous humor?
### Response:
| Concentration of the inflammatory cytokine IL-8 is significantly elevated in the AH of POAG patients, supporting the hypothesis that immune activation occurs in glaucoma. |
### Instruction:
Does vIP promote resistance in the Pseudomonas aeruginosa-infected cornea by modulating adhesion molecule expression?
### Response:
| VIP treatment downregulates the production of adhesion molecules integral to the transmigration process of host inflammatory cells (polymorphonuclear neutrophils, macrophages) into the infected cornea. This results directly in reduced cellular infiltration, less stromal destruction, and better disease outcome. |
### Instruction:
Is alanine transaminase rather than abdominal ultrasound alone an important investigation to justify cholecystectomy in patients presenting with acute pancreatitis?
### Response:
| An elevated ALT strongly supports a diagnosis of gallstones in AP. Abdominal ultrasound effectively confirms this diagnosis; however, a negative ultrasound in the presence of a raised ALT does not exclude gallstones. In some patients consideration could be given to proceeding to laparoscopic cholecystectomy based on ALT alone. |
### Instruction:
Do rOS accumulation and IGF-IR inhibition contribute to fenofibrate/PPARalpha -mediated inhibition of glioma cell motility in vitro?
### Response:
| Our results indicate that although fenofibrate-mediated inhibition of the IGF-IR may not be sufficient in counteracting Glioma cell dispersal, PPARalpha-dependent metabolic switch and the resulting ROS accumulation strongly contribute to the inhibition of these devastating brain tumor cells. |
### Instruction:
Does lymphatic pump treatment mobilize leukocytes from the gut associated lymphoid tissue into lymph?
### Response:
| LPT mobilizes leukocytes from GALT, and these leukocytes are transported by the lymphatic circulation. This enhanced release of leukocytes from GALT may provide scientific rationale for the clinical use of LPT to improve immune function. |
### Instruction:
Is the simple shoulder test responsive in assessing change following shoulder arthroplasty?
### Response:
| The SST has been previously shown to be valid and highly reliable. The present results show that the SST is also responsive following shoulder arthroplasty and that it has a clinically important difference of 3.0 SST points. This should provide confidence to clinicians who wish to use a brief shoulder-specific measure in their practice. |
### Instruction:
Does multimodality imaging reveal a gradual increase in matrix metalloproteinase activity at aneurysmal lesions in live fibulin-4 mice?
### Response:
| We aimed to develop molecular imaging procedures for faster, earlier, and easier recognition of aortic aneurysms. We show that in vivo coregistration of MMP activity by noninvasive tomographic imaging methods allows the detection of increased MMP activity, even before the aneurysm has actually formed. |
### Instruction:
Do longitudinal study of a mouse model of chronic pulmonary inflammation using breath hold gated micro-CT?
### Response:
| Longitudinal studies using breath hold gated micro-CT are feasible on the silica-induced model of chronic pulmonary inflammation, and automatic measurements from micro-CT images correlate well with histomorphometry, being more sensitive than functional tests to detect lung damage in this model. |
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