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: Pituitary tumor-transforming gene (PTTG) is a multifunctional protein involved in several tumorigenic mechanisms, including angiogenesis. PTTG has been shown to promote angiogenesis, a key rate-limiting step in tumor progression, by up-regulation of fibroblast growth factor-2 and vascular endothelial growth factor.', 'To investigate whether PTTG regulates other angiogenic genes in thyroid cells, we performed angiogenesis-specific cDNA arrays after PTTG transfection. Two of the genes [inhibitor of DNA binding-3 (ID3) and thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1)] which showed differential expression in primary thyroid cells were validated in vitro and in vivo.', 'TSP-1 showed a 2.5-fold reduction and ID3 showed a 3.5-fold induction in expression in response to PTTG overexpression in vitro. Conversely, suppression of PTTG with small interfering RNA was associated with a 2-fold induction of TSP-1 and a 2.2-fold reduction in ID3 expression. When we examined TSP-1 and ID3 expression in 34 differentiated thyroid cancers, ID3 was significantly increased in tumors compared with normal thyroid tissue. Furthermore, ID3 expression was significantly higher in follicular thyroid tumors than in papillary tumors. Although mean TSP-1 expression was not altered in cancers compared with normal thyroids, we observed a significant independent association between TSP-1 expression and early tumor recurrence, with recurrent tumors demonstrating 4.2-fold lower TSP-1 expression than normal thyroid tissues.

SOLUTION: Does pituitary tumor-transforming gene regulate multiple downstream angiogenic genes in thyroid cancer?

PROBLEM: Growing evidence documents elevated behavioral risk among sexual-minorities, including gay, lesbian, and bisexual individuals; however, tests of biological or psychological indicators of stress as explanations for these disparities have not been conducted.', 'Data were from the 2005-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, and included 9662 participants; 9254 heterosexuals, 153 gays/lesbians and 255 bisexuals. Associations between sexual orientation and tobacco, alcohol, substance, and marijuana use, and body mass index, were tested using the chi-square test. Stress, operationalized as depressive symptoms and elevated C-reactive protein, was tested as mediating the association between sexual orientation and behavioral health risks. Multiple logistic regression was used to test for mediation effects, and the Sobel test was used to evaluate the statistical significance of the meditating effect.', 'Gays/lesbians and bisexuals were more likely to report current smoking (p\u2009<\u2009.001), a lifetime history of substance use (p\u2009<\u2009.001), a lifetime history of marijuana use (p\u2009<\u2009.001), and a lifetime period of risky drinking (p\u2009=\u2009.0061). The largest disparities were observed among bisexuals. Depressive symptoms partially mediated the association between sexual orientation and current smoking (aOR 2.04, 95% CI 1.59, 2.63), lifetime history of substance use (aOR 3.30 95% CI 2.20, 4.96), and lifetime history of marijuana use (aOR 2.90, 95% CI 2.02, 4.16), among bisexuals only. C-reactive protein did not mediate the sexual orientation/behavior relationship.

SOLUTION: Does stress mediate the relationship between sexual orientation and behavioral risk disparities?

PROBLEM: A reversible contractile dysfunction without necrosis after transient myocardial ischemia has been termed stunning. The molecular mechanisms underlying this phenomenon are only now beginning to be unraveled. It is conceivable that the expression of early-response genes may play a crucial role in stunning.', 'The expression of HSP-70, c-jun, and GRP-94 was investigated in a chronically instrumented dog model (n = 9). The left anterior descending coronary artery was occluded temporarily for 10 minutes after the animals had fully recovered from instrumentation. The wall thickening fraction was measured in the left anterior descending coronary artery and the nonischemic ramus circumflex of the left coronary artery-perfused region. When the wall thickening fraction of the left anterior descending coronary artery had recovered to 50% of preocclusion values, tissue samples were obtained from the areas perfused by the left anterior descending coronary artery and the nonischemic ramus circumflex of the left coronary artery.', 'The messenger RNA of HSP-70 was increased to 214% +/- 26% in the area perfused by the left anterior descending artery compared with that perfused by the nonischemic ramus circumflex of the left coronary artery. There was no difference in the messenger RNA of GRP-94. The HSP-70 content was elevated to 130% +/- 14% in the left anterior descending artery compared with the area perfused by the ramus circumflex of the left coronary artery, and the c-jun protein content was 70% +/- 25% higher in the ischemic area compared with the control area.

SOLUTION:
Are the early response genes c-jun and HSP-70 induced in regional cardiac stunning in conscious mammals?