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.

Airway remodeling in asthma is the result of increased expression of connective tissue proteins, airway smooth muscle cell (ASMC) hyperplasia and hypertrophy. TGF-beta1 has been found to increase ASMC proliferation. The activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), p38, ERK, and JNK, is critical to the signal transduction associated with cell proliferation. In the present study, we determined the role of phosphorylated MAPKs in TGF-beta1 induced ASMC proliferation.', 'Confluent and growth-arrested bovine ASMCs were treated with TGF-beta1. Proliferation was measured by [3H]-thymidine incorporation and cell counting. Expressions of phosphorylated p38, ERK1/2, and JNK were determined by Western analysis.', 'In a concentration-dependent manner, TGF-beta1 increased [3H]-thymidine incorporation and cell number of ASMCs. TGF-beta1 also enhanced serum-induced ASMC proliferation. Although ASMCs cultured with TGF-beta1 had a significant increase in phosphorylated p38, ERK1/2, and JNK, the maximal phosphorylation of each MAPK had a varied onset after incubation with TGF-beta1. TGF-beta1 induced DNA synthesis was inhibited by SB 203580 or PD 98059, selective inhibitors of p38 and MAP kinase kinase (MEK), respectively. Antibodies against EGF, FGF-2, IGF-I, and PDGF did not inhibit the TGF-beta1 induced DNA synthesis.
Does tGF-beta1 increase proliferation of airway smooth muscle cells by phosphorylation of map kinases?

Recently, there has been increasing concern about adverse health effects of exposure to desert dust events. However, the association between dust and the incidence of ischemic heart diseases is unknown. The aim of the present study was to elucidate whether Asian dust (AD), a windblown sand dust originating from mineral soil in China and Mongolia, is associated with the incidence of acute myocardial infarction (AMI).', 'We investigated the data regarding hospitalization because of AMI among 3068 consecutive patients from 4 AMI centers in Fukuoka, Japan, and data for AD from April 2003 to December 2010. We applied a time-stratified case-crossover design to examine the association between AD and the incidence of AMI. Using a conditional logistic regression analysis, we estimated the odds ratios of AMI associated with AD after controlling for ambient temperature and relative humidity. The occurrence of AD events 0 to 4 days before the day of admission was significantly associated with the incidence of AMI. In particular, the occurrence of AD 4 days before admission was significantly associated with the onset of AMI.
Is desert dust a risk factor for the incidence of acute myocardial infarction in Western Japan?

Carotenoids may reduce the risk for diabetes mellitus, but little is known about the association of insulin resistance with serum carotenoids in non-diabetic subjects. This study aimed to investigate whether the homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index would be lower in the presence of high serum carotenoid concentrations in non-diabetic subjects.', 'A total of 812 subjects (256 males and 556 females) who had received health examinations in 2003 participated in the study. The associations of the serum-carotenoid concentrations and HOMA-IR were evaluated cross-sectionally. The multivariate-adjusted geometric means of HOMA-IR by the tertiles of the serum carotenoid concentration were calculated after adjusting for age, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, triacylglycerols, current tobacco use, regular alcohol intake, exercise habits and total energy intake. Associations among high HOMA-IR (3.0+mUxmmol/L2) across tertiles of serum carotenoid concentration were assessed by tests for logistic regression analysis.', 'In male subjects, the multivariate adjusted geometric mean of HOMA-IR was inversely associated with the serum beta-cryptoxanthin concentrations. In female subjects, an inverse association of the serum carotenoid concentration and HOMA-IR was observed in lycopene, beta-cryptoxanthin, and zeaxanthin. The confounding factor-adjusted odds ratios (OR) for high HOMA-IR on the highest tertiles of serum alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, and zeaxanthin were 0.18 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.06-0.52], 0.22 (95% CI: 0.07-0.67), 0.34 (95% CI: 0.12-0.96), and 0.30 (95% CI: 0.11-0.79), respectively, in male subjects. On the other hand, in female subjects, the adjusted OR for high HOMA-IR on the highest tertiles of serum lycopene and beta-cryptoxanthin were 0.39 (95% CI: 0.21-0.73) and 0.51 (95% CI: 0.28-0.95), respectively.

Is the homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance index inversely associated with serum carotenoids in non-diabetic subjects?