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: To investigate if diabetic patients without diabetic retinopathy despite long disease duration have different human leukocyte antigen (HLA) status vs those with an early onset of retinopathy.', 'Retrospective, nonrandomized, masked comparative study. Type 1 diabetic patients with a disease onset before age 30 were recruited to the study. The study population consisted of two groups of diabetic patients: those with normal retinopathy course (retinopathy developed during the first 20 years of diabetes onset) (23 patients) and those with postponed retinopathy (no obvious retinopathy in spite of passing 20 years of diabetes) (19 patients). These groups were matched with regard to level of glycemic control, blood pressure, and lipid profile. A group of 23 healthy patients served as controls. HLA-DQB1 typing of blood samples was done using a polymerase chain reaction with sequence-specific primer (PCR-SSP) method.', 'HLA-DQB1*0201/HLA-DQB1*0501 and HLA-DQB1*0201/HLA-DQB1*0504 haplotypes were more common among type 1 diabetic patients with normal retinopathy course than those with postponed retinopathy (26.1% vs 0.0%; p=0.019). HLA-DQB1*0301 and HLA-DQB1*0304 were less common among those diabetic patients with normal retinopathy course than those with a postponed retinopathy (63.2% vs 34.8%; p=0.067).

SOLUTION: 1

PROBLEM: To study the healing effect of recombinant human epidermal growth factor (hEGF) on diabetic foot ulcers.', 'A total of 127 consecutive patients were screened and 61 diabetic subjects were recruited into this double-blind randomized controlled study. Predetermined criteria were used for diagnosis and classification of the diabetic wound. The patients were randomized into three groups. All patients attended our Diabetes Ambulatory Care Center every other week for joint consultation with the diabetologist and the podiatrist. Group 1 (control) was treated with Actovegin 5% cream (Actovegin), group 2 with Actovegin plus 0.02% (wt/wt) hEGF, and group 3 with Actovegin plus 0.04% (wt/wt) hEGF. The study end point was the complete closure of the wound. Failure to heal was arbitrarily defined as incomplete healing after 12 weeks.', 'Final data were obtained from 61 patients randomly assigned into three groups. The mean ages of the patients, wound sizes, wound duration, metabolic measurements, and comorbidities were comparable within groups, except that group 3 had more female patients. Mean follow-up for the patients was 24 weeks. Data were cutoff at 12 weeks, and results were analyzed by intention to treat. After 12 weeks, in group 1 (control) eight patients had complete healing, two patients underwent toe amputation, and nine had nonhealing ulcers. In group 2 (0.02% [wt/wt] hEGF) 12 patients experienced wound healing, 2 had toe amputations, and 7 had nonhealing ulcers. Some 20 of 21 patients in group 3 (0.04% [wt/wt] hEGF) showed complete wound healing. Healing rates were 42.10, 57.14, and 95% for the control, 0.02% (wt/wt) hEGF, and 0.04% (wt/wt) hEGF groups, respectively. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis suggested that application of cream with 0.04% (wt/wt) hEGF caused more ulcers to heal by 12 weeks and increased the rate of healing compared with the other treatments (log-rank test, P = 0.0003).

SOLUTION: 1

PROBLEM: CXCL4 is a platelet chemokine released at micromolar concentrations upon platelet activation. CXCL4 has been shown to promote atherogenesis by various mechanisms. However, data on CXCL4 plasma levels in patients with coronary artery disease are largely inconclusive. Computed coronary artery angiography (CCTA) represents an excellent tool to quantify and characterize coronary atherosclerotic plaques. We hypothesized that increased CXCL4 plasma levels may be associated with features of plaque instability resulting in adverse cardiovascular events. Specifically, we sought to determine whether CXCL4 levels are correlated with specific features of coronary artery disease including (1) plaque volume, (2) calcium score, (3) degree of stenosis, or (4) vascular remodeling.', 'CXCL4 plasma levels were measured by ELISA in 217 patients undergoing CCTA for suspected CAD (mean age 64.2 ± 9.4 years, 107 (49.3%) male). Mean CXCL4 plasma levels were 12.5 ± 4.6 ng/mL. There was no significant correlation between CXCL4 levels and any clinical or demographic parameters including cardiovascular risk factors. CXCL4 plasma levels did not differ between patient with or without coronary artery disease (CAD: 12.5 ± 4.5 ng/ml, no CAD: 12.5 ± 4.8 ng/ml). Neither univariate nor multivariate analysis showed an association between CXCL4 levels and plaque volume, total calcium score, degree of stenosis, or vascular remodeling. Subgroup analysis of patients with CAD as confirmed by CCTA did not show any association of CXCL4 levels with the extent of CAD.

SOLUTION:
0