TASK DEFINITION: Given a passage, construct a question on the basis of the information present in the passage. Construct the question in such a way that (i) it is unambiguous, (ii) it is answerable from the passage, (iii) its answer is unique (iv) it answer uses text phrases from the passage. Avoid creating questions that (i) can't be answered correctly without actually understanding the passage and (ii) uses the same words or phrases given in the passage.
PROBLEM: Psoriasis profoundly affects patient quality of life (QOL). Amevive (alefacept), a novel and selective biologic agent, was clinically effective and significantly improved QOL in a phase 2 study.', 'The present placebo-controlled, randomized phase 3 study examined the effects of a 12-week course of intramuscular alefacept on QOL in 507 patients with chronic plaque psoriasis using both dermatology-specific questionnaires [Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI); Dermatology Quality of Life Scales (DQOLS)] and the Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36), a generic, general health questionnaire.', 'All 3 QOL measures (DLQI, DQOLS, SF-36) demonstrated that alefacept 15 mg was significantly more effective than placebo in improving QOL in patients with chronic plaque psoriasis. In addition, the improvements in QOL for patients in the alefacept 15 mg group were of similar magnitude for all 3 QOL measures.

SOLUTION: Does intramuscular alefacept improve health-related quality of life in patients with chronic plaque psoriasis?

PROBLEM: We investigated the function of major superoxide-generating enzymes after remote ischemic preconditioning (IPC) and hepatic ischemia-reperfusion (IR), with the specific aim of assessing the importance of the most relevant NADPH oxidase (NOX) isoforms, NOX2 and NOX4, in the mechanism of action.', '60-min partial liver ischemia was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats in the presence or absence of remote IPC (2 × 10-min limb IR), and hepatic microcirculatory variables were determined through intravital video microscopy and lightguide spectrophotometry during reperfusion. Inflammatory enzyme activities (myeloperoxidase (MPO) and xanthine oxidoreductase (XOR)), cytokine production (TNF-α and HMGB-1), liver necroenzyme levels (AST, ALT and LDH) and NOX2 and NOX4 protein expression changes (Western blot analysis) were assayed biochemically.', 'In this setting, remote IPC significantly decreased the IR-induced hepatic NOX2 expression, but the NOX4 expression remained unchanged. The remote IPC provided significant, but incomplete protection against the leukocyte-endothelial cell interactions and flow deterioration. Hepatocellular damage (AST, ALT and LDH release), cytokine levels, and XOR and MPO activities also diminished.

SOLUTION: Does remote ischemic preconditioning differentially affect NADPH oxidase isoforms during hepatic ischemia-reperfusion?

PROBLEM: Glucagon like peptide-1 (GLP-1), an incretin hormone, regulates glucose metabolism by inducing insulin secretion and suppressing glucagon secretion. The aim of the study is to assess the levels of fasting and post-prandial GLP-1 and their risk for T2DM. A case control study was conducted at the diabetes clinic Sanglah Hospital Denpasar Bali, involving 40 subjects who were native Indonesian citizens and 18-70 years of age. Twenty subjects were allocated as the case group (subjects with T2DM) and 20 subjects were allocated as the control group (subjects with normal glucose tolerance [NGT]). Both fasting intact GLP-1 (FGLP-1) and 60\xa0minutes post-75 gram glucose loading intact GLP-1 (1hGLP-1) levels were measured.', 'Both fasting and post-prandial GLP-1 levels were significantly lower in subjects with T2DM than those with NGT (2.06\u2009±\u20090.43 vs. 2.87\u2009±\u20090.67\xa0pg/L, p\u2009<\u20090.01; and 2.49\u2009±\u20090.60 vs. 3.42\u2009±\u20090.85\xa0pg/L, p\u2009=\u20090.02; respectively). Low levels of FGLP-1 (OR, 13.5; p\u2009=\u20090.001) and 1hGLP-1 (OR, 5.667, p\u2009=\u20090.018), with no response after glucose loading (∆GLP-1), were a significant risk for T2DM. According to the ∆GLP-1, there was a tendency of decreasing response of GLP-1 after glucose loading among subjects with T2DM (∆\u2009=\u20090.43\xa0pg/L) compared to subjects with NGT (∆\u2009=\u20090.55\xa0pg/L).

SOLUTION:
Is the low level of glucagon-like peptide-1 ( glp-1 ) a risk factor of type 2 diabetes mellitus?