TASK DEFINITION: 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.
PROBLEM: Anemia of chronic disease, a cytokine-mediated anemia, is a frequent complication of many chronic inflammatory conditions. The present case-control study was aimed to evaluate levels of systemic hematological markers indicative of anemia in patients with generalized, severe, chronic periodontitis.', 'A convenience quota sample of 30 systemically-healthy, urban, male patients comprised two groups, based on full mouth periodontal examination: group A patients (n=15) were diagnosed with generalized, severe, chronic periodontitis, and group B patients comprised the control group (n=15), which included patients with a clinically-healthy periodontium. Laboratory blood investigations included hemoglobin (g%), total number of erythrocytes (red blood cells), hematocrit/packed cell volume, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, mean corpuscular volume of erythrocytes, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration. An analysis of covariance using age as a covariate was done to compare the mean values of hematological parameters within groups.', 'The mean values of hemoglobin, red blood cells, packed cell volume, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration were significantly lower, while the mean corpuscular volume of erythrocytes and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were significantly higher in group A patients compared to those in group B, indicating mild anemia.

SOLUTION: 1

PROBLEM: Vascular pathology is associated with reduced performance on neuropsychological tests, particularly in older adults. A likely explanation involves a disruption in the blood brain barrier (BBB). Work from clinical samples show alterations in BBB function is associated with cognitive dysfunction on testing, though no study has examined this possibility in healthy older adults.', '35 older adults, without significant neurological or psychiatric history, underwent fasting blood draw and neuropsychological testing. Serum levels of S100beta were quantified to provide a measure of BBB function.', 'Partial correlations showed S100beta levels were inversely related to performance in multiple cognitive domains, including memory (r = 0.43, p = 0.02), psychomotor speed and visual attention (r = 0.37, p = 0.05), and working memory (r = -0.48, p = 0.008).

SOLUTION: 1

PROBLEM: Anxiety and depression frequently co-occur in the elderly and in patients with dementia. Prior research has shown that depression is related to the risk of dementia, but the effect of anxiety on dementia remains unclear. We studied whether anxiety symptoms and anxiety disorders are associated with the risk of dementia and cognition.', 'We studied 2,708 nondemented participants from the prospective, population-based Rotterdam Study who underwent the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) (sample I, baseline 1993-1995) and 3,069 nondemented participants who underwent screening for anxiety disorders (sample II, baseline 2002-2004). In 1993-1995, anxiety symptoms were assessed using the HADS. In 2002-2004, anxiety disorders were assessed using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition. In both study samples, participants were continuously monitored for dementia until January 1, 2011. Cognition was tested in 2002-2004 and at a follow-up visit in 2009-2011 in sample II only.', 'In sample I, 358 persons developed dementia, and in sample II, 248 persons developed dementia. We did not find an association with the risk of dementia for anxiety symptoms (hazard ratio 1.05, 95% confidence interval: 0.77-1.43, Wald statistic 0.08, p\xa0= 0.77, df\xa0= 1) or for anxiety disorders (hazard ratio 0.92, 95% confidence interval: 0.58-1.45, Wald statistic 0.14, p\xa0= 0.71, df\xa0= 1). We could demonstrate an association of anxiety disorders with poor cognition cross-sectionally, but this attenuated after additional adjustments.

SOLUTION:
1