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: Doxorubicin is a cytotoxic drug with potential for severe myelosuppression that is highly variable and poorly predictable.', 'We correlated CBR1 and CBR3 genotypes with the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of doxorubicin in 101 Southeast Asian breast cancer patients receiving first-line doxorubicin.', 'A common CBR3 11G>A variant was associated with lower doxorubicinol area under the concentration-time curve (AUC)/doxorubicin AUC metabolite ratio (P=0.009, GG vs. AA; trend test, P=0.004), lower CBR3 expression in breast tumor tissue (P=0.001, GG vs. AA), greater tumor reduction (P=0.015, GG vs. AA), and greater percentage reduction of leukocyte and platelet counts at nadir (trend test, P < or = 0.03). Chinese and Malays had higher frequency of the CBR3 11G>A variant than Indians (P < or = 0.002). Another variant CBR3 730G>A was associated with higher doxorubicinol AUC (P=0.009, GG vs. AA) and CBR3 expression in breast tumor tissue (P=0.001, GG vs AA).

SOLUTION: Does genotype of human carbonyl reductase CBR3 correlate with doxorubicin disposition and toxicity?

PROBLEM: Tinnitus can adversely affect patients' quality of life. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) may be effective in the management of tinnitus. No study has investigated the efficacy of TENS for the management of tinnitus by means of quality of life measures. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of TENS for the management of tinnitus symptoms by using the visual analogue scale (VAS), tinnitus handicap inventory test, Nottingham health profile (NHP) and short form-36 (SF-36) questionnaires.", 'Twenty-two patients were included in this study (male/female, 16/6; mean age, 48.04 +/- 15.57 years). Nine patients had unilateral and 13 patients had bilateral tinnitus.', 'After TENS, improvement measured by VAS was only marginally significant (p = 0.059). However, after TENS, there were statistically significant improvements regarding tinnitus severity scores, tinnitus handicap inventory scores, NHP fatigue, social isolation and emotional problems scores, and many parameters measured by the SF-36 (physical functioning, general health, vitality, social functioning, role limitations due to emotional problems, and mental health)(p < 0.05).

SOLUTION: Does treatment of tinnitus with transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation improve patients ' quality of life?

PROBLEM: During opioid administration, decreasing respiratory rate is typically used as a predictor of respiratory depression. Prior to opioid-induced apnea, progressively irregular breathing patterns have been noticed. We hypothesize that opioid administration to children will increase tidal volume variability (TV(var)) and that this will be a better predictor of respiratory depression than a decrease in respiratory rate.', 'We recruited 32 children aged 2-8 years scheduled to undergo surgery. During spontaneous ventilation, flow rates and respiratory rates were continuously recorded, while remifentanil was infused at stepwise increasing doses each lasting 10 min. The infusion was continued until the patient showed signs of respiratory depression. Flow data from each dose was used to calculate tidal volumes, from which TV(var) was calculated. The respiratory rate and TV(var) during the last (D(last)), second to last (D-2), and third to last (D-3), administered doses were compared to those during baseline (fourth to last dose). We chose a threshold of TV(var) increase and compared it to a decrease in respiratory rate below 10 breaths per min as predictors of respiratory depression.', 'Compared to baseline, the TV(var) increased by 336% and 668% during D(-2) and D(last), respectively, whereas respiratory rate decreased by 14.3%, 31.7%, and 55.5% during D(-3), D(-2), and D(last), respectively. A threshold increase in TV(var) of 150% over baseline correctly predicted respiratory depression in 41% of patients, compared to a drop in respiratory rate correctly predicting 22% of patients.

SOLUTION:
Is increased tidal volume variability in children a better marker of opioid-induced respiratory depression than decreased respiratory rate?