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: To study the expression of small ubiquitin-like modifier 1 (SUMO-1) in aseptic loosening of prosthesis implants and to investigate its role in regulating the susceptibility of prosthesis-loosening fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) to Fas-induced apoptosis.', 'Specimens of aseptically loosened tissue were obtained at revision surgery, and the expression of SUMO-1 was analyzed by in situ hybridization. SUMO-1 levels in FLS were determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis. Immunohistochemistry and confocal microscopy were used to study the subcellular localization of SUMO-1. The functional role of SUMO-1 in Fas-induced apoptosis of prosthesis-loosening FLS was investigated by small interfering RNA-mediated knockdown of SUMO-1 and by gene transfer of the nuclear SUMO-specific protease SENP1.', 'SUMO-1 was expressed strongly in aseptically loosened tissue and was found prominently at sites adjacent to bone. Prosthesis-loosening FLS expressed levels of SUMO-1 similar to the levels expressed by rheumatoid arthritis (RA) FLS, with SUMO-1 being found mainly in promyelocytic leukemia protein nuclear bodies. Knockdown of SUMO-1 had no effect on spontaneous apoptosis but significantly increased the susceptibility of prosthesis-loosening FLS to Fas-induced apoptosis. Gene transfer of the nuclear SUMO-specific protease SENP1 reverted the apoptosis-inhibiting effects of SUMO-1.

SOLUTION: Does small ubiquitin-like modifier 1 [ corrected ] mediate the resistance of prosthesis-loosening fibroblast-like synoviocytes against Fas-induced apoptosis?

PROBLEM: Therapeutic ultrasound is an effective deep heating modality commonly applied alone or after cooling or heating of the treatment area. The purpose of this study was to examine the tissue temperature rise in the human triceps surae muscle group after ultrasound with prior heating via a silicate gel hot pack.', 'This study was designed as a 2 x 2 x 3 factorial with repeated measures on two factors (depth and time). Independent variables were temperature of pack (hot and room temperature), depth of measurement (1 cm and 3 cm), and time (beginning, after pack application, and after ultrasound). The dependent variable was tissue temperature. Subjects were assigned to one of two treatment groups: ultrasound preceded by a 15-minute hot pack treatment or ultrasound preceded by a 15-minute application with a silicate gel pack at room temperature. Measurements were taken while subjects were treated in a university training room.', 'Twenty-one uninjured male and female college student volunteers were randomly assigned to one of the two pack groups.', 'The hot packs were stored in 75 degrees C water. A 1-MHz ultrasound treatment was administered for 10 minutes at an intensity of 1.5 W/cm(2). Tissue temperature was measured every 30 seconds using 23-gauge hypodermic microprobes interfaced with a telethermometer and inserted 1 and 3 cm below the surface of anesthetized triceps surae muscle.', 'At both tissue depths, there was a 0.8 degrees C greater increase in tissue temperature with hot packs and ultrasound. At 1 cm, ultrasound increased temperature 3.5 degrees C after a 0.5 degrees C rise during the room temperature-pack application, but only 0.6 degrees C after a 3.8 degrees C increase during hot-pack application. At 3 cm, ultrasound increased temperature 3.85 degrees C following a slight (-0.26 degrees C) decrease during the room temperature-pack application and 3.68 degrees C after a 0.74 degrees C increase during hot-pack application.

SOLUTION:
Do hot-Pack and 1-MHz Ultrasound Treatments Have an Additive Effect on Muscle Temperature Increase?