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: A distinct velocity pattern represented by a "notch" is observed during the time interval between the end of the systolic and the onset of the early diastolic velocity wave on longitudinal myocardial velocity curve. The origin of the post-systolic velocity notch (PSN) has not been resolved.', 'The high frame rate color tissue Doppler imaging of the apical longitudinal axis was performed in 32 healthy subjects.', 'The time delays of the PSN onset at the posterior aortic wall (AW), the mid anteroseptal wall (MAS) and the posterior mitral annulus (MA) relatively to the anterior aortic annulus (AA) were found to be significantly longer than zero (5.1 ± 2.2, 6.0 ± 2.3, 6.8 ± 2.8 ms; p < 0.001). The amplitude was the highest at the AA when compared to the AW, the MAS and the MA (4.77 ± 1.28 vs. 2.88 ± 1.11, 2.15 ± 0.73, 2.44 ± 1.17 cm/s; p < 0.001). A second PSN spike was identifiable in 10/32 (31%) of the studied subjects at the AA. Of these, 9 (28%) exhibited a second PSN spike at the AW, 3 (9%) at the MAS and no one at the MA.

SOLUTION: Does the tissue Doppler imaging derived post-systolic velocity notch originate at the aortic annulus?

PROBLEM: B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and N-terminal-pro-BNP (NT-pro-BNP) are important diagnostic tools for patients with suspected cardiac disorders. The aim of this study was to evaluate the predictive value of plasma NT-pro-BNP in identifying cardiac metastases in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and dyspnoea.', 'A total of 120 patients, median age 62 years (range 46-83), with NSCLC and dyspnoea were studied. Patients with heart failure or documented coronary artery disease were excluded. Echocardiographic imaging was used to detect cardiac metastases and estimate global left ventricular function. Ejection fraction and E/A ratio from transmitral inflow pattern were calculated. Plasma NT-pro-BNP was also measured. 72 patients (72/120, 60%) with cardiac metastases were identified.', 'NT-pro-BNP was significantly higher in patients with metastases (1347.5 +/- 1004.30 pg/ml vs. 159.02 +/- 93.29 pg/ml; p = 0.001). No differences between groups, regarding s-creatinine (p = 0.45), haemoglobin (p = 0.71), left ventricular hypertrophy (p = 0.91), and diastolic dysfunction (p = 0.79), were observed.

SOLUTION: Is pro-brain natriuretic peptide a sensitive marker for detecting cardiac metastases in patients with non-small cell lung cancer?

PROBLEM: The reconstruction of large facial bony defects using microvascular transplants requires extensive surgery to achieve full rehabilitation of form and function. The purpose of this study is to measure the agreement between virtual plans and the actual results of maxillofacial reconstruction.', 'This retrospective cohort study included 30 subjects receiving maxillofacial reconstruction with a preoperative virtual planning. Parameters including defect size, position, angle and volume of the transplanted segments were compared between the virtual plan and the real outcome using paired t test.', 'A total of 63 bone segments were transplanted. The mean differences between the virtual planning and the postoperative situation were for the defect sizes 1.17 mm (95 % confidence interval (CI) (-.21 to 2.56 mm); p\u2009=\u20090.094), for the resection planes 1.69 mm (95 % CI (1.26-2.11); p\u2009=\u20090.033) and 10.16° (95 % CI (8.36°-11.96°); p\u2009<\u20090.001) and for the planes of the donor segments 10.81° (95 % CI (9.44°-12.17°); p\u2009<\u20090.001) The orientation of the segments differed by 6.68° (95 % CI (5.7°-7.66°); p\u2009<\u20090.001) from the virtual plan; the length of the segments differed by -0.12 mm (95 % CI (0.89-0.65 mm); not significant (n.s.)), respectively, while the volume differed by 73.3 % (95 % CI (69.4-77.6 %); p\u2009<\u20090.001). The distance between the transplanted segments and the remaining bone was 1.49 mm (95 % CI (1.24-1.74); p\u2009<\u20090.001) and between the segments 1.49 mm (95 % CI (1.16-1.81); p\u2009<\u20090.001).

SOLUTION:
Does virtual planning of complex head and neck reconstruction result in satisfactory match between real outcomes and virtual models?