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: Reduced levels of free and total insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-I) have been observed in type-1 diabetes (T1D) patients. The bioavailability of IGF-I from the circulation to the target cells is controlled by multifunctional IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs). The aim of this study was to profile serum IGFBPs in T1D and its complications.', 'We measured the IGFBP levels in 3662 patient serum samples from our ongoing Phenome and Genome of Diabetes Autoimmunity (PAGODA) study. IGFBP levels of four different groups of T1D patients (with 0, 1, 2, and ≥3 complications) were compared with healthy controls.', 'Three serum IGFBPs (IGFBP-1, -2, and -6) are significantly higher in T1D patients, and these alterations are greater in the presence of diabetic complications. IGFBP-3 is lower in patients with diabetic complications. Analyses using quintiles revealed that risk of T1D complications increases with increasing concentrations of IGFBP-2 (fifth quintile ORs: 18-60, p\u2009<\u200910(-26)), IGFBP-1 (fifth quintile ORs: 8-20, p\u2009<\u200910(-15)), and IGFBP-6 (fifth quintile ORs: 3-148, p\u2009<\u200910(-3)). IGFBP-3 has a negative association with T1D complications (fifth quintile ORs: 0.12-0.25, p\u2009<\u200910(-5)).

SOLUTION: Do iGF-Binding Proteins in Type-1 Diabetes Are More Severely Altered in the Presence of Complications?

PROBLEM: Coinfection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) is present in one-third of all human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals in the United States and is associated with rapid progression of liver fibrosis and poor response to pegylated interferon (IFN) and ribavirin. In this study we examined gene expression profiles in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from different groups of individuals who are monoinfected or coinfected with HIV and HCV. Data showed that HIV and HCV viremia up-regulate genes associated with immune activation and immunoregulatory pathways. HCV viremia is also associated with abnormalities in all peripheral immune cells, suggesting a global effect of HCV on the immune system. Interferon-alpha-induced genes were expressed at a higher level in PBMCs from HIV-infected individuals. HCV and HIV infections leave distinct profiles or gene expression of immune activation in PBMCs. HIV viremia induces an immune activated state; by comparison, HCV infection induces immunoregulatory and proinflammatory pathways that may contribute to progression of liver fibrosis.

SOLUTION: Do human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis C infections induce distinct immunologic imprints in peripheral mononuclear cells?

PROBLEM: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relation between preoperative chronic cerebral ischemia and postoperative new cerebral ischemia in patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy (CEA).', 'We reviewed the diffusion weighted magnetic resonance images (DWI) of the 51 patients (37 men, mean age 68.8\u2009±\u20098.4 years) undergoing isolated CEA in the preoperative and early postoperative period. The number, anatomic location and the size of new ischemic lesions were recorded.', 'In the preoperative period, 28 (54.9 %) patients were symptomatic. There was chronic cerebral infarction in the preoperative DWI images of 17 patients (33.3 %). In the postoperative period, there was newly developed cerebral ischemia in postoperative DWI images of eight (15.7 %) patients. Six of the eight patients with newly developed cerebral ischemia had chronic cerebral infarction in their preoperative DWI images. The incidence of newly developed cerebral ischemia after CEA in patients with preoperative chronic cerebral ischemia was significantly higher than the incidence in patients without preoperative chronic cerebral ischemia (p\u2009=\u20090.01).

SOLUTION:
Is previous chronic cerebral infarction predictive for new cerebral ischemia after carotid endarterectomy?