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.

Follicular variant of papillary thyroid cancer (FVPTC) is the most common and fastest growing subtype of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) with features of both PTC and follicular thyroid cancer (FTC). The purpose of this study was to determine the patient and tumor features associated with lymph node metastases (LNM) in FVPTC.', 'This was a retrospective review of adult (≥18) patients with histologically confirmed diagnoses of FVPTC within the SEER database between 1988 and 2009. LNM were defined by at least two lymph nodes with metastatic disease. To determine factors associated with LNM, we constructed a multivariate logistic regression model from significant variables (p < 0.05) identified on univariate analysis. Similarly, we used a Cox proportional hazards model to understand the relative importance of LNM in determining disease-specific mortality (DSM).', 'Of the 20,357 cases of FVPTC with lymph node data available, 1,761 (8.7%) had LNM; 61.1% of these LNM were located in the central neck and 38.9% were in the lateral neck. Extrathyroidal extension (odds ratio [OR] 2.6, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.2-3.0, p < 0.01) and multifocality (OR 3.0, 95% CI 2.5-3.6, p < 0.01) were the strongest predictors of LNM. Importantly, LNM did not independently predict DSM (p = 0.52). Tumor size >4 cm (hazards ratio [HR] 5.3, 95% CI 2.2-12.8, p < 0.01) and extrathyroidal extension (HR 8.2, 95% CI 3.0-22.0, p < 0.01) were the strongest predictors of DSM.
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To investigate whether tafluprost, which is a prostaglandin-related compound and an anti-glaucoma drug, has a direct anti-apoptotic effect in cultured retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and rat RGCs in retinas with optic nerve crush (ONC).', 'RGC-5 cells were induced to undergo apoptosis by a serum deprivation and by exogenous glutamate. The level of cell death with or without tafluprost was monitored by an XTT assay and by immunocytochemistry with activated caspase-3. Changes in intracellular calcium ([Ca(2+)]i) levels were measured with fluo-4 fluorescence. Rat RGCs were degenerated by ONC. After topical instillation of tafluprost for 7 and 14 days, the numbers of retrograde-labeled RGCs were counted. Retinal flatmounts were subjected to terminal dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining to detect apoptotic cells.', 'Tafluprost dose-dependently promoted RGC-5 cell viability with an optimum concentration of 3 microM (p = 0.006). Tafluprost significantly reduced caspase-3-positive cells and suppressed [Ca(+2)]i evoked by exogenous glutamate. The cGMP-dependent protein kinase inhibitor and KT-5823 partially blocked the rescue effect of tafluprost (p = 0.002). The survival rate of RGCs significantly increased in eyes treated with tafluprost (p = 0.01), and the prevalence of TUNEL-positive cells was significantly decreased 14 days after ONC (p < 0.001).
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Recent research has reported that high sugar diets increase insulin resistance, without abdominal obesity, in male, but not female Wistar rats. Whether a high sucrose (SU) diet increased insulin resistance in ovariectomized (OVX) rats was determined.', 'Female Sprague Dawley rats, weighing 273 +/- 20 g, had either an ovariectomy or a sham operation (sham). OVX and sham rats were divided into two groups: one group had a 68 En% SU diet and the other a 68 En% starch (ST) diet for 8 weeks.', 'The body weight was higher in the OVX than the sham rats, regardless of dietary carbohydrate subtype. The fasting serum glucose levels did not differ according to diet and ovariectomy. However, the fasting serum insulin levels were higher in the OVX than the sham rats, and in the OVX rats, a high SU diet increased the serum insulin levels more than a high ST diet. The whole body glucose disposal rates, which referred to the state of insulin sensitivity, were lower in the OVX rats fed both the high SU and ST diets, compared to sham rats. Glycogen deposits in the soleus and quadriceps muscles were lower in the OVX rats fed high SU and ST diets than in sham rats. The glucose transporter 4 content and fraction velocity of glycogen synthase in muscles showed similar glucose disposal rates. However, the triacylglycerol content in the muscles were higher in the OVX rats with a high SU diet than those with a high ST diet.

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