TASK DEFINITION: In this task, you are given a passage which has a question and the context. You have to generate an answer to the question based on the information present in the context.
PROBLEM: Context: Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine gland malignancy. Advances in understanding the genetic basis for thyroid cancer revealed the potential involvement of several genes in the formation of thyroid tumors. Mutations in the gene coding for succinate dehydrogenase subtype B (SDHB) have been implicated in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). Succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) is a heterotetrameric protein composed of four subunits, SDHA, SDHB, SDHC, and SDHD, and participates in both the electron transport chain and the tricarboxylic acid cycle. The aim of the study was to evaluate the association between variants in the SDHA, SDHB, SDHC, and SDHD genes and familiar PTC in a large Brazilian family.', 'Four patients with PTC, 1 patient with PTC and gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST), 1 patient with GIST, and their relatives - several of them with different thyroid problems - from a large Brazilian family were screened for genetic variations of SDHx genes with the use of polymerase chain reaction-single-stranded conformational polymorphism and direct sequencing.', 'Only one rare variation in SDHA was found in some of the family members, but not segregating with the disease. No other genetic variants of these genes were detected in the family members that presented with PTC and/or GIST.\Question: Is familiar Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma in a Large Brazilian Family Associated with Succinate Dehydrogenase Defects?

SOLUTION: Familiar PTC and a GIST were not associated with SDHx mutations; additional genetic defects, yet unknown, may be responsible for the development of tumor.

PROBLEM: Context: To systematically review methodological articles which focus on nonpublication of studies and to describe methods of detecting and/or quantifying and/or adjusting for dissemination in meta-analyses. To evaluate whether the methods have been applied to an empirical data set for which one can be reasonably confident that all studies conducted have been included.', 'We systematically searched Medline, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science, for methodological articles that describe at least one method of detecting and/or quantifying and/or adjusting for dissemination bias in meta-analyses.', 'The literature search retrieved 2,224 records, of which we finally included 150 full-text articles. A great variety of methods to detect, quantify, or adjust for dissemination bias were described. Methods included graphical methods mainly based on funnel plot approaches, statistical methods, such as regression tests, selection models, sensitivity analyses, and a great number of more recent statistical approaches. Only few methods have been validated in empirical evaluations using unpublished studies obtained from regulators (Food and Drug Administration, European Medicines Agency).\Question: Are methods for detecting , quantifying , and adjusting for dissemination bias in meta-analysis described?

SOLUTION: We present an overview of existing methods to detect, quantify, or adjust for dissemination bias. It remains difficult to advise which method should be used as they are all limited and their validity has rarely been assessed. Therefore, a thorough literature search remains crucial in systematic reviews, and further steps to increase the availability of all research results need to be taken.

PROBLEM: Context: Plague is a severe, highly communicable bacterial disease caused by Yersinia pestis. It is still endemic in more than 20 countries worldwide. Although known as a devastating disease for centuries, laboratory confirmation of clinical suspected cases is still problematic. No standardized and internationally approved test system is commercially available. The aim of this study was the introduction and evaluation of a combination of immunomagnetic separation and flow cytometry for the serodiagnosis of human plague.', 'Paramagnetic polystyrene beads were coated with purified F1 capsular antigen (F1 CA) and reacted with sera from plague patients, from 26 laboratory personnel vaccinated against plague and from 102 healthy blood donors (HBD). After incubation with fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated anti-human rabbit IgG, particle-associated fluorescence was detected by flow cytometry.', 'Anti-F1 CA antibodies could be demonstrated in all patients with bacteriologically confirmed plague and in 22 sera (84.6%) from vaccinees. Only one serum in the HBD group showed a weakly positive reaction. The total assay time was less than 2 h.\Question: Do serodiagnosis of human plague by a combination of immunomagnetic separation and flow cytometry?

SOLUTION:
Compared with a recently published combination of an anti-F1 CA enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunoblot, the new assay showed the same sensitivity as the ELISA and almost the same specificity (99.0 versus 100%) as the immunoblot. Allowing a rapid, reliable, and quantitative analysis, immunomagnetic separation combined with flow cytometry might replace both conventional immunoassays.