Given a passage classify if the passage has a definite objective/aim/goal or not. Output '1' if the passage has a defininte objective/aim/goal and output '0' if the passage does not have a definite objective/aim/goal.

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a major cause of heart failure that may require heart transplantation. Approximately one third of DCM cases are familial. Next-generation DNA sequencing of large panels of candidate genes (ie, targeted sequencing) or of the whole exome can rapidly and economically identify pathogenic mutations in familial DCM.', 'We recruited 64 individuals from 26 DCM families followed at the Montreal Heart Institute Cardiovascular Genetic Center and sequenced the whole exome of 44 patients and 2 controls. Both affected and unaffected family members underwent genotyping for segregation analysis.', 'We found 2 truncating mutations in BAG3 in 4 DCM families (15%) and confirmed segregation with disease status by linkage (log of the odds [LOD] score = 3.8). BAG3 nonsense mutations conferred a worse prognosis as evidenced by a younger age of clinical onset (37 vs 48 years for carriers and noncarriers respectively; P = 0.037). We also found truncating mutations in TTN in 5 families (19%). Finally, we identified potential pathogenic mutations for 9 DCM families in 6 candidate genes (DSP, LMNA, MYH7, MYPN, RBM20, and TNNT2). We still need to confirm several of these mutations by segregation analysis.
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The efficacy of lansoprazole (LPZ) at inhibiting gastric acid secretion is influenced by cytochrome P450 2C19 (CYP2C19) polymorphism. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether CYP2C19 polymorphism had an influence on the remission of erosive reflux esophagitis (RE) during maintenance therapy with LPZ.', 'Eighty-two Japanese patients with initial healing of erosive RE by 8 weeks of LPZ therapy were enrolled. As maintenance therapy, the patients were treated with LPZ (15 mg/day) for 6 months. The CYP2C19 genotype, Helicobacter pylori infection status, and serum pepsinogen (PG) I/II ratio were assessed before treatment. The patients were investigated for relapse by endoscopy at 6 months or when symptoms recurred.', 'The proportion of patients in remission after 6 months was 61.5%, 78.0%, and 100% among homozygous extensive metabolizers (homo-EM), heterozygous EM (hetero-EM), and poor metabolizers (PM), respectively. The percentage of PM patients who remained in remission was significantly higher than that of homo-EM or hetero-EM.
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Vitamin D is associated with a number of inflammatory diseases and plays a significant role in regulating bone metabolism. Serum calcifediol was demonstrated to be potentially associated with periodontal disease. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether an association exists between plasma calcifediol concentrations and aggressive periodontitis (AgP) and whether plasma levels of bone-related biomarkers (osteocalcin, alkaline phosphatase, calcium, and phosphorus) regulated by vitamin D are related to AgP.', 'Sixty-six patients with generalized AgP, 52 patients with chronic periodontitis, and 60 healthy controls were included in this study. Periodontal examination consisted of probing depth, attachment loss, and bleeding index measurements. Hematic calcifediol and bone-related biomarker levels were detected using radioimmunity assay kits or a biochemical analyzer.', 'Plasma calcifediol levels in patients with AgP were higher than those of healthy controls (29.28 versus 21.60 nmol/l; P <0.05) and were statistically significantly correlated with bleeding index (r = 0.321; P <0.05). Plasma osteocalcin concentrations in patients with AgP were higher than those of healthy controls (0.90 versus 0.70 ng/ml; P <0.05). Serum inorganic phosphorus values of both periodontitis groups were lower than those of healthy controls (1.06 +/- 0.18 mmol/l and 1.10 +/- 0.15 mmol/l versus 1.26 +/- 0.17 mmol/l; P <0.05).

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