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: An association between obesity and otitis media with effusion (OME) has been previously reported. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between dietary intake and OME when adjusting obesity.', 'We analyzed the differences in dietary intake between children with/without OME who were 4 through 13 years of age using data from a large population-based survey - the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey - from 2008 through 2012. Data from 4359 participants were analyzed using simple and multiple logistic regression analyses with complex sampling.', 'The BMI category, the proportion of total calorie intake, protein intake, water intake, and Na intake (intake/recommendation), and the distribution of carbohydrate intake were not associated with OME. The distribution of fat intake was associated with OME (each 10% increase of fat calories/total calories: unadjusted odds ratio [OR]=1.331, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.016-1.744, P=0.038; age- and sex-adjusted OR=1.359, 95% CI=1.028-1.797, P=0.031; adjusted for age, sex and other factors OR=1.392, 95% CI=1.054-1.839, P=0.020). Based on BMI subgroup analysis, the distribution of fat intake was associated with OME in the healthy weight group (each 10% increase of fat calories/total calories: unadjusted OR=1.393, 95% CI=1.017-1.909, P=0.039; adjusted OR=1.470, 95% CI=1.051-2.055, P=0.024) but not in the obese group.

SOLUTION: Is a high-fat diet associated with otitis media with effusion?

PROBLEM: The genus Fusarium comprises a heterogeneous group of fungi important for agriculture. Fusarium solani f. sp. eumartii (F. eumartii), historically considered to be a fungal pathogen of potato, has also been associated with tomato disease. Currently, chitosan and its derivatives have been receiving more attention as environmentally friendly antimicrobial compounds in sustainable practices. The aim of the present work was to characterize downstream events associated with the mode of action of chitosan, including nitrosative reactive species, in order to identify new biomarkers of its cytotoxic action.', 'Data indicated that chitosan-mediated nitric oxide (NO) production might lead to conidial death, concomitant with the strong reduction in fungal pathogenicity in tomato plants. Following chitosan applications, a notably dose-dependent reduction in conidial viability was demonstrated in F. eumartii. Thereafter, the infectivity of chitosan-treated spores was tested by a bioassay using tomato seedlings.

SOLUTION: Is nitric-oxide-mediated cell death triggered by chitosan in Fusarium eumartii spores?

PROBLEM: An intense systemic inflammatory response is observed following reperfusion after cardiac arrest. Heparin-binding protein (HBP) is a granule protein released by neutrophils that intervenes in endothelial permeability regulation. In the present study, we investigated plasma levels of HBP in a large population of patients resuscitated from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. We hypothesized that high circulating levels of HBP are associated with severity of post-cardiac arrest syndrome and poor outcome.', 'Plasma was obtained from 278 patients enrolled in a prospective multicenter observational study in 21 intensive care units (ICU) in Finland. HBP was assayed at ICU admission and 48\xa0h later. Multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) was defined as the 24\xa0h Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score\u2009≥\u200912. ICU death and 12-month Cerebral Performance Category (CPC) were evaluated. Multiple linear and logistic regression tests and receiver operating characteristic curves with area under the curve (AUC) were performed.', 'Eighty-two percent of patients (229 of 278) survived to ICU discharge and 48\xa0% (133 of 276) to 1\xa0year with a favorable neurological outcome (CPC 1 or 2). At ICU admission, median plasma levels of HBP were markedly elevated, 15.4 [9.6-31.3] ng/mL, and persisted high 48\xa0h later, 14.8 [9.8-31.1] ng/mL. Admission levels of HBP were higher in patients who had higher 24\xa0h SOFA and cardiovascular SOFA score (p\u2009<\u20090.0001) and in those who developed MODS compared to those who did not (29.3 [13.7-60.1] ng/mL vs. 13.6 [9.1-26.2] ng/mL, p\u2009<\u20090.0001; AUC\u2009=\u20090.70\u2009±\u20090.04, p\u2009=\u20090.0001). Admission levels of HBP were also higher in patients who died in ICU (31.0 [17.7-78.2] ng/mL) compared to those who survived (13.5 [9.1-25.5] ng/mL, p\u2009<\u20090.0001) and in those with an unfavorable 12-month neurological outcome compared to those with a favorable one (18.9 [11.3-44.3] ng/mL vs. 12.8 [8.6-30.4] ng/mL, p\u2009<\u20090.0001). Admission levels of HBP predicted early ICU death with an AUC of 0.74\u2009±\u20090.04 (p\u2009<\u20090.0001) and were independently associated with ICU death (OR [95 %CI] 1.607 [1.076-2.399], p\u2009=\u20090.020), but not with unfavorable 12-month neurological outcome (OR [95 %CI] 1.154 [0.834-1.596], p\u2009=\u20090.387).

SOLUTION:
Is elevated plasma heparin-binding protein associated with early death after resuscitation from cardiac arrest?