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: To determine whether the number and location of positive surgical margins (PSMs) in radical prostatectomy (RP) surgical specimens affect biochemical recurrence (BCR) rates.', 'The locations of PSMs were recorded for 1308 consecutive men who underwent RP between October 2000 and December 2006. BCR was defined as three consecutive prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level rises with the peak level >or=0.15 ng/mL. Multivariate regression analyses were used to identify preoperative predictors of PSMs and BCR. The estimated 5-year risk of BCR was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method.', 'In all, 128 (9.8%) men had one or more PSMs. The mean body mass index, mean preoperative serum PSA level, the distributions of clinical stage and biopsy Gleason scores, and the presence or absence of biopsy perineural invasion were significantly different between men with or with no PSMs. In multivariate analysis, baseline serum PSA level, Gleason score and perineural invasion were independent preoperative predictors of PSMs. The 5-year actuarial BCR rates were dependent on the site of the PSM (P = 0.035) and not the number of PSMs (P = 0.18). The rank order of estimated 5-year BCR rates according to the site of PSMs were base > anterior > posterolateral > apex approximately posterior.

SOLUTION: Does site of positive surgical margins influence biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy?

PROBLEM: Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is associated with chromosomal translocation t(15;17), which results in the proliferation of morphologically abnormal promyelocytes. Gain of supernumerary copies of the 8q24 chromosomal region, which harbors MYC and PVT1, has been shown to be the most common secondary alteration in human APL. Increased MYC can accelerate the development of myeloid leukemia in APL. However, the role that the expression of the long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) PVT1 plays in the pathogenesis of APL remains largely unknown.', 'In this study, we first analyzed the lncRNA PVT1 expression level in peripheral blood cells from 28 patients with de novo APL, and significantly upregulated PVT1 was found in APL patients compared with healthy donors. We then observed significantly lower MYC and PVT1 expression during all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA)-induced differentiation and cell cycle arrest in the APL cell line. MYC knockdown in NB4 cells led to PVT1 downregulation. Moreover, PVT1 knockdown by RNA interference led to suppression of the MYC protein level, and cell proliferation was inhibited.

SOLUTION: Is overexpression of the long non-coding RNA PVT1 correlated with leukemic cell proliferation in acute promyelocytic leukemia?

PROBLEM: The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between cardiomyopathy and recipient twin (RT) outcome in twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS).', 'Fetal echocardiography and outcomes data in 62 consecutive pregnancies with TTTS were reviewed. The primary outcome was neonatal RT survival. The severity of RT cardiomyopathy at presentation was assessed by the cardiovascular profile score (CVPS). RT outcomes and odds of survival were compared between groups stratified by CVPS.', 'Overall neonatal survival for all fetuses was 61% (76 of 124). RT survival was 58% (36 of 62). Grouped by CVPS, RT survival was greater (50%) for those with CVPS > or = 9 and even higher (74%) for CVPS of 10. Among the components of the CVPS, atrioventricular valve regurgitation was associated with negative RT outcome. Other factors at presentation were not predictive of RT outcome.

SOLUTION:
Does initial fetal cardiovascular profile score predict recipient twin outcome in twin-twin transfusion syndrome?