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: Severity of pancreatitis seems to be aggravated by impairment of vascular perfusion of the gland. Early mortality occurs within the first few days from the acute consequences of pancreatic injury with subsequent inflammatory response. Because vasoactive substances, including endothelin, seem to contribute to early mortality in acute pancreatitis, we tested the hypothesis that the inhibition of endothelin action could alter the outcome after severe experimental pancreatitis.', 'In two groups of rats, pancreatitis was induced by intraductal infusion into the pancreatic duct of 1 microL/g body weight (b.w.) of either a 4% or a 5% sodium taurocholate solution. The mixed endothelin A and endothelin B receptor antagonist bosentan (20 mg/kg b.w.) or vehicle was injected intravenously in 12-h intervals for 3 d starting 1 h after induction of bile acid pancreatitis. This dose of bosentan is known to completely inhibit the effect of exogenous endothelin. The survival rate was monitored for 7 d. Thereafter, the surviving rats were sacrificed and the pancreas was prepared for histological and biochemical evaluation.', 'Irrespective of the treatment protocol (bosentan versus saline), survival was not different in animals challenged with either 4% or 5% sodium taurocholate. The corresponding survival rates were 62% with bosentan and 77% without bosentan in the 4% sodium taurocholate group. In the 5% sodium taurocholate group, the survival rates were 20% with and 27% without bosentan. Morphological and biochemical alterations were identical in control as well as in endothelin-antagonist-treated rats.

SOLUTION: 0

PROBLEM: To evaluate the effect of uterine leiomyomas on the endometrium using molecular markers of endometrial receptivity: HOXA10, HOXA11, LIF, and BTEB1.', 'Case-control study.', 'University medical center.', 'Thirty reproductive-aged women with submucosal, intramural, or no uterine myomas who underwent hysteroscopy or hysterectomy.', 'Proliferative phase endometrial sampling was performed at the time of surgery. In uteri with a submucosal myoma, directed endometrial biopsies were obtained over the myoma and over normal myometrium.', 'Endometrial HOXA10 expression was evaluated as a primary endpoint using quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry. HOXA11, BTEB1, and LIF were evaluated using real-time RT-PCR.', 'Endometrial HOXA10 and HOXA11 messenger RNA (mRNA) expression were significantly decreased in uteri with submucosal myomas compared with controls and with uteri with intramural myomas. A similar trend was seen in BTEB1 mRNA expression; however, no difference was found in LIF mRNA expression. Immunohistochemistry localized the decrease in endometrial HOXA10 protein expression to stroma. In the presence of a submucosal myoma, there were no regional differences in gene expression.

SOLUTION: 1

PROBLEM: Dysphagia is a leading complication in stroke patients causing aspiration pneumonia, malnutrition and increased mortality. Current strategies of swallowing therapy involve on the one hand modification of eating behaviour or swallowing technique and on the other hand facilitation of swallowing with the use of pharyngeal sensory stimulation. Thermal tactile oral stimulation (TTOS) is an established method to treat patients with neurogenic dysphagia especially if caused by sensory deficits. Little is known about the possible mechanisms by which this interventional therapy may work. We employed whole-head MEG to study changes in cortical activation during self-paced volitional swallowing in fifteen healthy subjects with and without TTOS. Data were analyzed by means of synthetic aperture magnetometry (SAM) and the group analysis of individual SAM data was performed using a permutation test.', 'Compared to the normal swallowing task a significantly increased bilateral cortical activation was seen after oropharyngeal stimulation. Analysis of the chronological changes during swallowing suggests facilitation of both the oral and the pharyngeal phase of deglutition.

SOLUTION:
0