question stringlengths 52 373 | long_answer stringlengths 1 3.34k |
|---|---|
### Instruction:
Is plasma osteopontin an independent prognostic marker for head and neck cancers?
### Response:
| In this expanded study, we were able to replicate the prognostic significance of OPN using a predefined cut off point in an independent patient group and demonstrated that plasma OPN is an independent prognostic marker for HNSCC. |
### Instruction:
Does egr1 gene knockdown affect embryonic ocular development in zebrafish?
### Response:
| The Egr1 gene plays an important role in zebrafish embryonic oculogenesis. Ocular structures including lens and retina were primitive and lacked appropriate differentiation. Such arrested retinal and lenticular development in Egr1 morphants resulted in microphthalmos. |
### Instruction:
Is reduced myocardial contractility assessed by tissue Doppler echocardiography associated with increased risk during adrenal surgery of patients with pheochromocytoma : report of a preliminary study?
### Response:
| Patients with pheochromocytoma may have depressed myocardial contractility detected by tissue Doppler echocardiography despite a normal standard echocardiogram. A systolic SR less than 2 s(-1) was associated with an increased risk of perioperative collapse. |
### Instruction:
Is serial detection of circulating tumour cells by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction assays a marker for poor outcome in patients with malignant melanoma?
### Response:
| Our findings indicated that serial RT-PCR assay may identify a high risk subset of melanoma patients with occult cancer cells constantly detected in blood circulation. Prolonged presence of CMCs seems to act as a surrogate marker of disease progression or a sign of more aggressive disease. |
### Instruction:
Is a complex additive model of inheritance for Hirschsprung disease supported by both RET mutations and predisposing RET haplotypes?
### Response:
| These results would be concordant with a complex additive model of inheritance. The whole findings seem to suggest that low-penetrance mutations would be necessary but not sufficient and the additional presence of the "Hirschsprung disease haplotype" could contribute to the manifestation of the disease. |
### Instruction:
Does functional copper transport explain neurologic sparing in occipital horn syndrome?
### Response:
| These patients' mild neurologic phenotypes, together with our yeast complementation and growth experiments, imply that N1304S does not completely block copper transport to the developing brain early in life. The findings suggest that neurologic sparing in untreated occipital horn syndrome is associated with approximately 30% residual functional activity of ATP7A. |
### Instruction:
Does peritoneal instillation of taurolidine or polihexanide modulate intestinal microcirculation in experimental endotoxemia?
### Response:
| Some of the observed microcirculatory changes could be a result of the direct vascular effects of these agents. |
### Instruction:
Does transureteroureterostomy allow renal sparing radical resection of advanced malignancies with rectosigmoid invasion?
### Response:
| For patients with advanced colorectal cancer or other pelvic malignancy, transureteroureterostomy is a favourable technique for definitive reconstruction of the urinary tract whenever tumor resection affords partial ureteral resection. Intra-operative insertion of double J stents into both ureters is highly recommended to prevent leakage or stenosis of the anastomosis. |
### Instruction:
Do preoperative serum levels of c-erbB-2 seem to be useful in management of patients with rectal cancer?
### Response:
| Although preoperative serum c-erbB-2 levels were significantly higher in rectal cancer patients than in healthy controls, the soluble c-erbB-2 does not seem to be useful in the diagnosis of rectal cancer due to its low sensitivity. Preoperative serum levels of this oncoprotein were predictive neither for overall survival nor for local recurrence/distant metastases in rectal cancer patients. |
### Instruction:
Does iFN-gamma abrogate profibrogenic TGF-beta signaling in liver by targeting expression of inhibitory and receptor Smads?
### Response:
| IFN-gamma displays antifibrotic effects in liver cells via STAT-1 phosphorylation, upregulation of Smad7 expression and impaired TGF-beta signaling. |
### Instruction:
Is hepatitis E virus ( HEV ) infection in patients with cirrhosis associated with rapid decompensation and death?
### Response:
| In India, cirrhotics were prone to HEV infection, which was associated with rapid decompensation and death. |
### Instruction:
Does attachment to laminin-111 facilitate transforming growth factor beta-induced expression of matrix metalloproteinase-3 in synovial fibroblasts?
### Response:
| Attachment of SF to LM-111 by itself has only minor effects on the expression of MMP-1 or MMP-3, but it facilitates the TGFbeta-induced expression of MMP-3 significantly. This mode of MMP-3 induction may therefore contribute to inflammatory joint destruction in RA independent of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)1beta or tumour necrosis factor (TNF)alpha. |
### Instruction:
Is biphasic insulin aspart given thrice daily as efficacious as a basal-bolus insulin regimen with four daily injections : a randomised open-label parallel group four months comparison in patients with type 2 diabetes?
### Response:
| A thrice daily meal-time BIAsp regimen is a suitable alternative to an intensified insulin regimen in people with inadequately controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus, and requires fewer daily injections than a basal-bolus therapy without compromising efficacy and safety. |
### Instruction:
Does heart-type fatty acid-binding protein permit early risk stratification of pulmonary embolism?
### Response:
| H-FABP is a promising early indicator of right ventricular injury and dysfunction in acute PE. It may help optimize risk stratification algorithms and treatment strategies. |
### Instruction:
Does p53 independent induction of PUMA mediate intestinal apoptosis in response to ischaemia-reperfusion?
### Response:
| Our data demonstrated that PUMA is activated by oxidative stress in response to I/R to promote p53 independent apoptosis in the small intestine through the mitochondrial pathway. Inhibition of PUMA is potentially useful for protecting against I/R induced intestinal injury and apoptosis. |
### Instruction:
Does adenovirus-mediated expression of BMP-7 suppress the development of liver fibrosis in rats?
### Response:
| These data demonstrate that BMP-7, Smad 1/5/8 and Ids interact to antagonise hepatic fibrogenesis. |
### Instruction:
Is efficacy of percutaneous ethanol injection therapy ( PEIT ) related to the number of parathyroid glands in haemodialysis patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism?
### Response:
| Superior results in efficacy rate, remission period and risk of relapse are obtained when PEIT is restricted to patients with one hyperplastic gland > or =0.5 cm(3). |
### Instruction:
Is lipo-prostaglandin E1 in combination with steroid therapy effective for treatment of sudden sensorineural hearing loss in Korean patients with Type 2 diabetes?
### Response:
| Lipo-PGE(1) may have beneficial effects in the treatment of SSNHL in Korean patients with Type 2 diabetes. |
### Instruction:
Is haemoglobin A1c a surrogate for glucose and insulin measures for investigating the early life and childhood determinants of insulin resistance and Type 2 diabetes in healthy children . An analysis from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children ( ALSPAC )?
### Response:
| HbA(1c) is not a good marker of fasting or post-load glucose and insulin measures in healthy children, and is not a viable alternative to these measures for investigating the determinants of insulin resistance and Type 2 diabetes in children. |
### Instruction:
Does lower insulin sensitivity differentiate hirsute from non-hirsute Sicilian women with polycystic ovary syndrome?
### Response:
| Our study suggests that the increased responsiveness of the pilo-sebaceous unit to androgens seems to be influenced by insulin sensitivity and that insulin resistance should be assessed in all hirsute women with PCOS regardless of their BMI, as insulin resistance was found in hirsute women irrespective of whether they were overweight or obese. |
### Instruction:
Does infrared exposure induce an angiogenic switch in human skin that is partially mediated by heat?
### Response:
| Our results suggest that IR radiation plays an important role in skin angiogenesis via regulation of the balance between the angiogenic inducer VEGF and the angiogenic inhibitor TSP-2, and that IR-induced skin angiogenesis might be partially caused by the effects of heat in human skin in vivo. |
### Instruction:
Do macrophage-derived matrix metalloproteinase-2 and -9 promote the progression of cerebral aneurysms in rats?
### Response:
| These data suggest that macrophage-derived MMP-2 and -9 may play an important role in the progression of cerebral aneurysms. The findings of this study will shed a new light into the pathogenesis of cerebral aneurysms and highlight the importance of inflammatory response causing the degeneration of extracellular matrix in the process of this disease. |
### Instruction:
Do peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma agonists diminish peritoneal functional and morphological changes induced by bioincompatible peritoneal dialysis solution?
### Response:
| The addition of rosiglitazone to standard dialysis fluids can maintain the peritoneal morphology and increase ultrafiltration in a PD rat model. |
### Instruction:
Are aBCB1 gene polymorphisms associated with treatment outcome in elderly acute myeloid leukemia patients?
### Response:
| In AML patients aged 60 years or older, allelic ABCB1 variations of C1236T, G2677T, or C3435T are not associated with altered P-gp function or with MDR1 expression at the transcriptional or translational level in leukemic blasts, and they do not significantly affect clinical prognosis. |
### Instruction:
Do helminth-derived products inhibit the development of allergic responses in mice?
### Response:
| Our results suggest that helminths suppress the development of asthma by secreting substances that modulate allergic responses without affecting the generation of helminth-specific Th2 immunity. The identification of these products may lead to the design of novel therapeutic intervention strategies for the treatment of asthma. |
### Instruction:
Is immunohistochemical detection using the new rabbit monoclonal antibody SP1 of estrogen receptor in breast cancer superior to mouse monoclonal antibody 1D5 in predicting survival?
### Response:
| SP1 represents an improved standard for ER immunohistochemistry assessment in breast cancer. |
### Instruction:
Is increased brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity associated with impaired endothelial function in patients with coronary artery disease?
### Response:
| CAD is associated with increased baPWV and endothelial dysfunction. Increased baPWV parallels diminished endothelial function. Our data therefore suggest that baPWV can be used as a noninvasive surrogate index in clinical evaluation of endothelial function. |
### Instruction:
Do large annuloplasty rings facilitate mitral valve repair in Barlow 's disease?
### Response:
| Mitral valve repair can be predictably performed in Barlow's disease with excellent early outcomes. Large annuloplasty rings help minimize the risk of systolic anterior motion and are an important adjunct to established repair techniques in this patient cohort with large annular size and excess leaflet tissue. |
### Instruction:
Is retinopathy reduced during experimental diabetes in a mouse model of outer retinal degeneration?
### Response:
| Loss of the outer retina reduces the severity of diabetic retinopathy in a murine model. Oxygen usage by the photoreceptors during dark adaptation may contribute to retinal hypoxia and exacerbate the progression of diabetic retinopathy. |
### Instruction:
Is small volume resuscitation with tempol detrimental during uncontrolled hemorrhagic shock in rats?
### Response:
| Despite its benefits in other model systems, free tempol is potentially hazardous when combined with hypertonic fluids. PNA abrogates these deleterious effects on acute mortality but may lead to increased blood loss in the setting of UHS. |
### Instruction:
Is preterm labor induced by intraamniotic infusions of interleukin-1beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha but not by interleukin-6 or interleukin-8 in a nonhuman primate model?
### Response:
| Preterm labor was induced by intraamniotic infusions of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha, but not by IL-6 or IL-8 although inflammatory changes in fetal membranes and lungs were uniformly present. Our results indicate a primary role for IL-1beta and TNF-alpha in the triggering of preterm labor associated with inflammation or infection. |
### Instruction:
Is wildtype epidermal growth factor receptor ( Egfr ) required for daily locomotor or masking behavior in mice?
### Response:
| Our results demonstrate that reduced EGFR activity alone is insufficient to perturb locomotor and masking behaviors in mice. Our results also suggest that other uncontrolled genetic or environmental parameters confounded previous experiments linking EGFR activity to daily locomotor activity and provide a cautionary tale for genetically uncontrolled studies. |
### Instruction:
Does elevated pressure selectively blunt flow-evoked vasodilatation in rat mesenteric small arteries?
### Response:
| The present study shows that transient exposure to an elevated intraluminal pressure selectively inhibits flow-evoked NO-mediated vasodilatation, probably through activation of endothelin receptors and increased formation of superoxide. In contrast, elevation of pressure did not affect the acetylcholine-evoked endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor type vasodilatation in mesenteric small arteries. |
### Instruction:
Do dietary n-3 fatty acids promote arrhythmias during acute regional myocardial ischemia in isolated pig hearts?
### Response:
| A diet rich in fish oil results in proarrhythmia compared to a control diet during regional ischemia in pigs. Myocardial excitability is reduced in the fish oil and sunflower oil group during the early phase of arrhythmogenesis. In the late phase of arrhythmogenesis, excitability is more reduced in the control group than in the fish oil and sunflower oil group. |
### Instruction:
Does effect of antihistamine eye drop on the conjunctival provocation test with Japanese cedar pollen allergen?
### Response:
| Preadministration of antihistamine eye drops suppressed the symptoms induced by the allergen, which suggests that this is an effective early therapy for Japanese cedar pollinosis, if it is started before the pollen season. However, self-protection by patients using a mask may not be effective enough to suppress nasal symptoms during the pollen season, requiring them to additionally wear glasses to avoid exposure to the allergen. |
### Instruction:
Does soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products trigger a proinflammatory cytokine cascade via beta2 integrin Mac-1?
### Response:
| We conclude that sRAGE interacts with Mac-1, thereby acting as an important proinflammatory and chemotactic molecule. |
### Instruction:
Do steroid hormones strongly support bovine articular cartilage integration in the absence of interleukin-1beta?
### Response:
| This is the first study to demonstrate that steroid hormones such as 17beta-estradiol, DHEA, and testosterone stimulate articular cartilage integration. This effect is abrogated by low concentrations of IL-1beta. In the absence of IL-1beta or after neutralization of IL-1beta, steroid hormones might be favorable adjuvant compounds to optimize cartilage integration. |
### Instruction:
Is the social tariff of EQ-5D adequate to assess quality of life in patients with low back pain?
### Response:
| Methods used to develop the social tariff for the Spanish version of EQ-5D were inadequate. In addition, this study shows that values given by the general population are different from those of low back pain patients, further confirming that the social tariff of EQ-5D should not be used with actual patients. |
### Instruction:
Does glucose inhibit glucagon secretion by a direct effect on mouse pancreatic alpha cells?
### Response:
| Beta cell factors or somatostatin do not seem to mediate glucose inhibition of glucagon secretion. We instead propose that glucose has a direct inhibitory effect on mouse alpha cells by suppressing a depolarising Ca(2+) store-operated current. |
### Instruction:
Do children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes eat a more atherosclerosis-prone diet than healthy control subjects?
### Response:
| Diabetic children and adolescents had a high intake of energy from saturated fat and low intake of fibre, fruits and vegetables, which could increase the risk of development of atherosclerosis. This study supports the idea that nutritional guidance in the treatment of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes should be more focused, especially with regard to intake of fibre, fruits and vegetables and to quality and quantity of fat intake. |
### Instruction:
Does comprehensive genomic analysis identify MDM2 and AURKA as novel amplified genes in juvenile angiofibromas?
### Response:
| Metaphase-CGH results confirmed numerous chromosomal aberrations in juvenile angiofibromas. The most frequent aberrations affected sex chromosomes. Further consensus regions of chromosomal aberrations were detected at 4q, 6, 8, 12, 16, 17, and 22. AURKA and MDM2 were identified as interesting novel amplified genes in juvenile angiofibromas. |
### Instruction:
Do goals and intentions mediate efficacy beliefs and declining physical activity in high school girls?
### Response:
| These observations of longitudinal relations elaborate application of self-efficacy theory and the theory of planned behavior to physical activity by showing that goal setting and satisfaction mediate the relations of self-efficacy and perceived behavioral control with changes in intention and physical activity. The results encourage additional research to identify the sources and development of physical activity goals, and their attainment, among girls, and whether experimental manipulation of goals and intentions can mitigate the decline in girls' physical activity during high school. |
### Instruction:
Does an aggressive surgical approach lead to long-term survival in patients with pancreatic endocrine tumors?
### Response:
| We show that an aggressive surgical approach leads to long-term survival in patients with malignant PETs. Although long-term cure can only be achieved in a proportion of patients with malignant PETs, significant long-term palliation can be achieved. |
### Instruction:
Is repeated sputum microscopy essential for monitoring tuberculosis treatment response?
### Response:
| The yield of a second on-the-spot sputum specimen is negligible, provided that the first smear is from an overnight specimen. From the data available, it is evident that repeated follow-up smears are not essential for documenting treatment outcome. |
### Instruction:
Are age-related increases in circulating inflammatory markers in men independent of BMI , blood pressure and blood lipid concentrations?
### Response:
| Plasma concentrations of some inflammatory markers (sVCAM-1, IL-6, MCP-1, 6Ckine, IP-10) are positively correlated with age, independent of other cardiovascular risk factors. This suggests that age-related inflammation may not be driven by recognised risk factors. |
### Instruction:
Is adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette B1 ( ABCB1 ) ( multidrug resistance 1 ) G2677T/A gene polymorphism associated with high risk of lung cancer?
### Response:
| The current results taken together suggest that, aside from other known causes of lung cancer, such as tobacco smoke, the existence of polymorphisms in the ABCB1 gene and, specifically, the presence of the G2677T mutation can be crucial in conferring susceptibility to lung cancer. Further studies comprising larger populations are needed to confirm these preliminary findings. |
### Instruction:
Does high-frequency oscillatory ventilation following prone positioning prevent a further impairment in oxygenation?
### Response:
| HFOV maintained the improvement in oxygenation related to prone positioning when ARDS patients were returned to the supine position. |
### Instruction:
Does tracheostomy improve the outcome of patients requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation : a propensity analysis?
### Response:
| Tracheostomy does not seem to reduce intensive care unit mortality when performed in unselected patients but may represent a burden after intensive care unit discharge. |
### Instruction:
Is early activity feasible and safe in respiratory failure patients?
### Response:
| We conclude that early activity is feasible and safe in respiratory failure patients. A majority of survivors (69%) were able to ambulate >100 feet at RICU discharge. Early activity is a candidate therapy to prevent or treat the neuromuscular complications of critical illness. |
### Instruction:
Does goal-directed fluid management reduce vasopressor and catecholamine use in cardiac surgery patients?
### Response:
| Guiding therapy by an algorithm based on GEDVI leads to a shortened and reduced need for vasopressors, catecholamines, mechanical ventilation, and ICU therapy in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. |
### Instruction:
Is fenretinide-induced neuronal differentiation of ARPE-19 human retinal pigment epithelial cells associated with the differential expression of Hsp70 , 14-3-3 , pax-6 , tubulin beta-III , NSE , and bag-1 proteins?
### Response:
| The fenretinide-induced neuronal differentiation of ARPE-19 cells is associated with an increase in expression of the neuronal specific protein tubulin beta-III, and a decrease in expression of the progenitor cell marker pax-6. Neuronal differentiation of ARPE-19 cells is also associated with nuclear translocation of 14-3-3, a protein involved in signal transduction, cell cycle check point and cell growth, and an increase in expression of bag-1, a protein involved in neuronal cell survival and axon elongation. These results suggest that ARPE-19 cells could be a progenitor cell line that can be differentiated into neuronal cells when treated with factors such as fenretinide. |
### Instruction:
Does uptake of cholesterol by the retina occur primarily via a low density lipoprotein receptor-mediated process?
### Response:
| The retina is capable of rapid uptake of circulating LDL via an LDLR-mediated process primarily occurring in the RPE and also possibly Müller cells. Despite the dominance of HDL over LDL in rat serum, LDL appears to be the preferred carrier for cholesterol transport to and uptake by the retina. The results also suggest that blood-borne LDL represents a significant contributor to the steady-state levels of cholesterol and possibly other lipids in the retina. |
### Instruction:
Is intraretinal lipid transport dependent on high density lipoprotein-like particles and class B scavenger receptors?
### Response:
| The presence and specific localization of these well-known lipid transport proteins suggest that the retina employs an internal lipid transport mechanism that involves processing and maturation of HDL-like particles. |
### Instruction:
Is the rat Apg3p/Aut1p homolog upregulated by ischemic preconditioning in the retina?
### Response:
| Our results suggest that the upregulation of rApg3 is a specific response to ischemic preconditioning rather than to retina ischemia, and autophagy may contribute to the neuroprotective effect of ischemic preconditioning in the retina. |
### Instruction:
Is [ Obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome in children associated with obesity ]?
### Response:
| No differences were observed between the height z-score, weight z-score, BMI z-score, age, and AHI. No association between obesity and OSAHS was found in this series. However, studies of larger, unselected populations are needed to determine if obesity is a risk factor for OSAHS in children. |
### Instruction:
Is sonohysterography superior to transvaginal sonography for the diagnostic approach of irregular uterine bleeding in women of reproductive age?
### Response:
| SHG showed superior sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values compared with TVS in diagnosing intrauterine lesions in women of reproductive age with IUB. |
### Instruction:
Do adjustable vs set-pressure valves decrease the risk of proximal shunt obstruction in the treatment of pediatric hydrocephalus?
### Response:
| In our experience, the use of programmable vales was associated with a decreased risk of proximal shunt obstruction and shunt revision. Programmable valves may be preferred in patients frequently experiencing proximal shunt failure. A prospective, controlled study is warranted to evaluate the potential value of adjustable vs set-pressure valve systems. |
### Instruction:
Is compliance with the guidelines for acute ankle sprain for physiotherapists moderate in the Netherlands : an observational study?
### Response:
| Although compliance with the guidelines for acute ankle sprain was fair/moderate, compliance may be enhanced by improving clarity of the function score, including it in the short version and improving the attitude of physiotherapists towards guidelines in general. |
### Instruction:
Does uremic serum induce proatherogenic changes in human endothelial cells?
### Response:
| Our results indicate that uremic serum affects HEC inducing a proatherogenic state that may be responsible for the accelerated atherosclerosis of uremic patients. Apparently uremic serum effect is not mediated by NO or by AGEs. |
### Instruction:
Does bortezomib induce different apoptotic rates in B-CLL cells according to IgVH and BCL-6 mutations?
### Response:
| Btz is a promising pharmacologic agent for the treatment of B-CLL, but its efficacy seems to be related to IgVH and BCL-6 mutational status, therefore, it could be interesting to further investigate the mechanisms involved in the different behavior of the cells in response to apoptosis induction by this drug. |
### Instruction:
Is decreased expression of insulin-like growth factor binding protein 7 in human colorectal carcinoma related to DNA methylation?
### Response:
| DNA methylation is a mechanism responsible for IGFBP-7 gene silencing providing a target for therapeutic intervention of this tumor suppressor gene. |
### Instruction:
Is psoriasin ( S100A7 ) significantly up-regulated in human epithelial skin tumours?
### Response:
| Similar to the findings in breast and bladder cancer, the up-regulation of psoriasin might play a role in the progression of skin cancer. The expression of psoriasin in human skin tumours seems to be independent from differentiation and inflammation. |
### Instruction:
Are equal amounts of intracellular and virion-enclosed hepatitis C virus RNA associated with peripheral-blood mononuclear cells in vivo?
### Response:
| The substantial and patient-specific amounts of intracellular HCV RNA found by the present study support a concept of low-level replication in PBMCs. There was no evidence for persistent HCV infection in PBMCs after clearance of viremia in plasma. |
### Instruction:
Does caspase-1 ablation protect photoreceptors in a model of autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa?
### Response:
| Increased retinal expression of caspase-1 proenzyme may be a common marker for photoreceptor degeneration. The differential effects of caspase-1 ablation suggests a modulatory role of caspase-1 for photoreceptor apoptosis in some but not all models. Such a modulatory activity may involve a caspase-1 function different from the classic activation of interleukin-1beta. |
### Instruction:
Do topographic movie of ictal high-frequency oscillations on the brain surface using subdural EEG in neocortical epilepsy?
### Response:
| Topographic movies of intracranial HFOs on the brain surface allow visualization of the dynamic ictal changes in neocortical epilepsy. |
### Instruction:
Do prognostic factors for survival after stereotactic radiosurgery vary with the number of cerebral metastases?
### Response:
| The data from this study suggested that different factors affected survival in patients who had from 1 to 3 metastases and patients who had > or =4 metastases. Further research into this area may clarify causes for this discrepancy and improve prognostication. |
### Instruction:
Is endothelial nitric oxide synthase ( Glu298Asp ) polymorphism an independent risk factor for migraine with aura?
### Response:
| Homozygous Asp298, a common variant of the eNOS gene, is an independent risk factor for MA in this study population. |
### Instruction:
Does epigenetic silencing contribute to frequent loss of the fragile histidine triad tumour suppressor in basal cell carcinomas?
### Response:
| We have identified epigenetic silencing of the FHIT tumour suppressor gene as a frequent inactivation mechanism which is likely to contribute to functional deficiencies in DNA damage response of BCCs. |
### Instruction:
Does vitamin D fortification of milk products resolve hypovitaminosis D in young Finnish men?
### Response:
| Vitamin D fortification of milk products slightly but insufficiently improved the poor vitamin D status of young Finnish men during winter. Further supplementation is warranted in order to normalize vitamin D levels and to support achievement of maximum peak bone mass. |
### Instruction:
Does insulin glargine improve glycemic control and health-related quality of life in type 1 diabetes?
### Response:
| The results of this study show that the beneficial effect of glargine is not limited to better metabolic control; the burden of type 1 diabetes mellitus on everyday life is also reduced. |
### Instruction:
Does isoelectric point determination of cardiac troponin I form present in plasma from patients with myocardial infarction?
### Response:
| 2-DE analysis of AMI plasma showed the presence of acidic cTnI forms, one of them being phosphorylated. The clinical significance of these forms has to be further investigated. |
### Instruction:
Is arginase activity increased by thrombin : a mechanism for endothelial dysfunction in arterial thrombosis?
### Response:
| Endothelial cells exposed to thrombin have increased arginase enzymatic activity, and the remainder of NO generation capability is unaffected. L-arginine supplementation or arginase blockade may counteract endothelial dysfunction in the setting of acute arterial thrombosis. |
### Instruction:
Does precultivation of engineered human nasal cartilage enhance the mechanical properties relevant for use in facial reconstructive surgery?
### Response:
| In our experimental setup, preculture for 2 weeks was necessary to engineer nasal cartilage grafts with enhanced mechanical properties relevant for clinical use in facial reconstructive surgery. |
### Instruction:
Does sidestream cigarette smoke toxicity increase with aging and exposure duration?
### Response:
| These results help explain the relatively large biological effects of secondhand smoke compared to equivalent mass doses of mainstream smoke. |
### Instruction:
Is complement lysis activity in autologous plasma associated with lower viral loads during the acute phase of HIV-1 infection?
### Response:
| Collectively our data provide evidence that antibody-mediated complement virion lysis develops rapidly and is effective early in the course of infection; thus it should be considered a parameter that, in concert with other immune functions, steers viremia control in vivo. |
### Instruction:
Does mKK4 status predict survival after resection of gastric adenocarcinoma?
### Response:
| The lack of expression of the tumor-suppressor gene MKK4 in resected gastric adenocarcinoma is robustly associated with poor survival. This finding may provide a useful prognostic tool in patients with gastric adenocarcinoma. |
### Instruction:
Do in-vitro transport characteristics discriminate wild-type ABCB1 ( MDR1 ) from ALA893SER and ALA893THR polymorphisms?
### Response:
| These results suggest an influence of ABCB1-893 triallelic variants on transport function and drug-drug interaction, which might be most pronounced in 893Thr. Furthermore, some of the mechanisms of 2677G/T/A-based haplotype-associated alterations in ABCB1 activity may have been unveiled. |
### Instruction:
Is the functional variant of the inhibitory Fcgamma receptor IIb ( CD32B ) associated with the rate of radiologic joint damage and dendritic cell function in rheumatoid arthritis?
### Response:
| This study is the first to show that a single genetic variant, the FCGR2B 695T>C polymorphism, is a critical determinant of disease severity in RA and radically changes DC behavior. Our results underscore the key role of DCs in the progression of RA and reveal FcgammaRIIb as an important potential therapeutic target in RA and other autoimmune conditions. |
### Instruction:
Do statins activate AMP-activated protein kinase in vitro and in vivo?
### Response:
| Statins can rapidly activate AMPK via increased Thr-172 phosphorylation in vitro and in vivo. Such phosphorylation results in endothelial NO synthase activation, which provides a novel explanation for the pleiotropic effects of statins that benefit the cardiovascular system. |
### Instruction:
Do platelet count , mean platelet volume , platelet distribution width , and plateletcrit correlate with optical platelet aggregation responses in healthy volunteers?
### Response:
| As a result, we found no correlation between platelet aggregation responses obtained with optical method and platelet indices proposed as indicators of certain pathologic conditions, and it does not seem possible to use platelet indices as a direct indicator of platelet activation. In conditions where platelet functions should have been assessed, platelet indices alone are inappropriate and further evaluation is necessary with different methods. |
### Instruction:
Is osteoprotegerin associated with angiographic coronary calcification?
### Response:
| Both calcified and non-calcified culprit plaques exhibited a similar inflammatory response to stent-mediated injury. After PCI, osteoprotegerin decreased while proinflammatory cytokines increased, which may be consistent with a counterregulatory role for osteoprotegerin. |
### Instruction:
Is the glycolytic pathway of Trimastix pyriformis an evolutionary mosaic?
### Response:
| A number of the glycolytic enzymes of Trimastix have been transferred laterally from bacteria instead of being inherited from the last common eukaryotic ancestor. Thus, despite widespread conservation of the glycolytic biochemical pathway across eukaryote diversity, in a number of protist lineages the enzymatic components of the pathway have been replaced by lateral gene transfer from disparate evolutionary sources. It remains unclear if these replacements result from selectively advantageous properties of the introduced enzymes or if they are neutral outcomes of a gene transfer 'ratchet' from food or endosymbiotic organisms or a combination of both processes. |
### Instruction:
Does combination phenylbutyrate/gemcitabine therapy effectively inhibit in vitro and in vivo growth of NSCLC by intrinsic apoptotic pathways?
### Response:
| Therapy combining GEM and the HDAC inhibitor PB initiates a spectrum of apoptosis-inducing mitochondrial and further JNK-dependent events, thereby overcoming the therapeutic resistance of NSCLC tumor cells. In vivo, the combination therapy substantially reduced tumor cell proliferation, suggesting that the well tolerated PB is a useful supplemental therapeutic agent in NSCLC. |
### Instruction:
Does testosterone inhibit estrogen/progestogen-induced breast cell proliferation in postmenopausal women?
### Response:
| Addition of testosterone may counteract breast cell proliferation as induced by estrogen/progestogen therapy in postmenopausal women. |
### Instruction:
Does toll-like receptor signaling in intestinal epithelial cells contribute to colonic homoeostasis?
### Response:
| These data indicate that certain luminal bacterial products support colonic homeostasis via activation of epithelial Toll-like receptors. The role of epithelial Toll-like receptor expression and activation in the pathogenesis of human inflammatory bowel disease is yet to be explored. |
### Instruction:
Is advanced anterior vaginal wall prolapse highly correlated with apical prolapse?
### Response:
| Anterior vaginal wall prolapse is associated strongly with apical prolapse. Anterior vaginal wall defects that are surgically repaired usually require a concomitant repair of the apex. |
### Instruction:
Is the 620W allele the PTPN22 genetic variant conferring susceptibility to RA in a Dutch population?
### Response:
| We conclude that C1858T is the sole PTPN22 variant predisposing to RA in our white Dutch sample set. |
### Instruction:
Does extension of the intensive phase reduce unfavourable outcomes with the 8-month thioacetazone regimen?
### Response:
| Extension of the intensive phase considerably reduces failures and relapses with a weaker regimen in patients smear-positive at 2 months. Its effectiveness may vary with extent of initial drug resistance vs. power of the regimen. |
### Instruction:
Are increased levels of cardiac troponin-T in outpatients with heart failure and preserved systolic function related to adverse clinical findings and outcome?
### Response:
| Increased levels of cardiac troponin T were detected in one out of three congestive heart failure outpatients with preserved systolic function and correlated with clinical measures of disease severity and poor outcome. These findings suggest a link between ongoing myocardial injury and progressive impairment in congestive heart failure despite preserved systolic function. |
### Instruction:
Does exercise under hyperinsulinaemic conditions increase whole-body glucose disposal without affecting muscle glycogen utilisation in type 1 diabetes?
### Response:
| In patients with type 1 diabetes, exercise under peak therapeutic insulin concentrations increases exogenous glucose utilisation but does not spare muscle glycogen utilisation. A disproportionate increase in exogenous glucose utilisation relative to the increase in CHO oxidation suggests an increase in glucose flux through non-oxidative pathways. |
### Instruction:
Do antioxidants vitamin E and C attenuate hepatic fibrosis in biliary-obstructed rats?
### Response:
| Each antioxidant vitamin E, vitamin C and their combination retard hepatic fibrosis in biliary-obstructed rats. Oxidative stress may play a role in the pathogenesis of hepatic fibrosis in secondary biliary cirrhosis. |
### Instruction:
Do mDR1 C3435T polymorphisms correlate with cyclosporine levels in de novo renal recipients?
### Response:
| MDR1 SNPs are correlated with CsA exposure in the early post-transplant period. Polymorphisms, in conjunction with other criteria, may become a useful tool to optimize initial drug dosing in renal transplantation. |
### Instruction:
Are elevated C-reactive protein levels associated with postoperative events in patients undergoing lower extremity vein bypass surgery?
### Response:
| The inflammatory biomarkers of hsCRP, fibrinogen, and SAA correlate with peripheral arterial disease severity at presentation in patients undergoing lower extremity bypass. Patients with elevated hsCRP are at increased risk for postoperative vascular events, most of which are related to the vein graft. These findings suggest a potential relationship between inflammation and outcomes after lower extremity vein bypass surgery. |
### Instruction:
Do rat adipose-derived stromal cells expressing BMP4 induce ectopic bone formation in vitro and in vivo?
### Response:
| Our data demonstrated successful osteogenic differentiation of ADSC transduced with Ad-BMP4 in vitro and in vivo. ADSC may be an ideal source of mesenchyme lineage stem cells for gene therapy and tissue engineering. |
### Instruction:
Does green tea polyphenol epigallocatechin-3-gallate suppress rat hepatic stellate cell invasion by inhibition of MMP-2 expression and its activation?
### Response:
| The abilities of EGCG to suppress MMP-2 activation and HSC invasiveness suggest that EGCG may be useful in the treatment and prevention of hepatic fibrosis. |
### Instruction:
Does uropathogenic Escherichia coli alter muscle contractions in rat urinary bladder via a nitric oxide synthase-related signaling pathway?
### Response:
| Short-term intravesical instillation of UPEC enhances detrusor contractions through an eNOS-related pathway, but iNOS-regulated ERK1/2 signaling may be involved in long-term UPEC treatment-induced responses. There are different mechanisms involved in the responses induced by UPEC and LPS. |
### Instruction:
Is balance impairment related to vertebral fracture rather than thoracic kyphosis in individuals with osteoporosis?
### Response:
| Vertebral fracture but not thoracic kyphosis is associated with impaired balance characteristics in the osteoporosis population. This finding has important implications for fracture prevention and conservative management regimes. |
### Instruction:
Is blastocyst embryo transfer associated with a sex-ratio imbalance in favor of male offspring?
### Response:
| This is the first individual-center report of a significant sex-ratio imbalance after the sequential media culture of blastocysts. The large imbalance in singleton births associated with the use of donor oocytes, although not significant, is cautionary in regard to the use of elective single ETs. Observation and publication of phenomena such as the effects of extended culture on the sex ratio of live-borns will allow us a better understanding of early differences in sexual dimorphism of the embryo, and will allow us to counsel our patients more appropriately. |
### Instruction:
Is bladder tumour development after urothelial carcinoma of the upper urinary tract related to primary tumour location?
### Response:
| The risk of developing a bladder tumour after surgery for UT-UC is significantly related to ureteric tumour location and high tumour grade. Clinical trials to evaluate a possible reduction of bladder cancer risk by intraoperative ureteric ligation and/or peri-operative topical intravesical chemotherapy instillation are justified. |
### Instruction:
Are cochrane Skin Group systematic reviews more methodologically rigorous than other systematic reviews in dermatology?
### Response:
| The Cochrane Library systematic review methodology leads to higher quality reviews on dermatological topics. |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.