TASK DEFINITION: In this task, you are given a passage which has a question and the context. You have to generate an answer to the question based on the information present in the context.
PROBLEM: Context: Data on combined coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and restrictive annuloplasty in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy are scarce, and the effect on reverse left ventricular (LV) remodeling is unknown.', '51 patients with ischemic LV dysfunction (LV ejection fraction 31+/-8%) and severe mitral regurgitation (grade 3 to 4+) underwent CABG and restrictive annuloplasty with stringent downsizing of the mitral annulus (by 2 sizes, Physio-ring, mean size 28+/-2). Serial transthoracic echocardiographic studies were performed (before surgery and within 3 months and 1.5 years after surgery) to assess mitral regurgitation, transmitral gradient, leaflet coaptation, and left atrial and LV reverse remodeling. Clinical follow-up (New York Heart Association [NYHA] class, survival, events) was assessed at 2-year follow-up. Early operative mortality was 5.6%; at 2-year follow-up, all patients were free of endocarditis and thromboembolism, and 1 needed re-operation for recurrent mitral regurgitation; 2-year survival was 84%. NYHA class improved from 3.4+/-0.8 to 1.3+/-0.4 (P<0.01), with all patients in class I/II. Intraoperative transesophageal echo showed minimal (grade 1+) mitral regurgitation in 8 patients and none in 43, without stenosis. Leaflet coaptation was 0.8+/-0.2 cm. These values remained unchanged; all patients had no or minimal (grade 1+) mitral regurgitation at 2-year follow-up. LV end-systolic and end-diastolic dimensions decreased from 51+/-10 to 43+/-12 mm (P<0.001) and from 64+/-8 to 58+/-11 mm (P<0.001). Left atrial dimension decreased from 53+/-8 to 47+/-7 mm (P<0.001).\Question: Does restrictive annuloplasty and coronary revascularization in ischemic mitral regurgitation result in reverse left ventricular remodeling?

SOLUTION: Excellent results of combined restrictive annuloplasty and CABG were obtained. Residual mitral regurgitation was absent/minimal at 2-year follow-up, associated with a significant reduction in left atrial dimension and LV reverse remodeling.

PROBLEM: Context: Optimistic people report a higher quality of life, engage in more active coping and adopt more health-promoting behaviors than people low in optimism, ie, pessimism. We evaluated whether pessimists are more likely to show progression in carotid disease than optimists.', 'A total of 209 middle-aged healthy premenopausal women enrolled in an epidemiological study of cardiovascular risk factors and had carotid scans 10.4 years and 13.5 years later when they were at least 5 years postmenopausal. Women completed the Life Orientation Test (LOT), a measure of pessimistic and optimistic attitudes, at study entry and at the time of the first carotid scan. Analyses evaluated the association of LOT scores and change in carotid intima medial thickness (IMT) across 3 years.', 'Multiple linear regression analyses showed that the higher the pessimism scores at study entry, the greater the increase in mean IMT (beta = 0.17, p <.007). A comparison of those in the lowest quartile of LOT scores (most optimistic) with those in the other three quartiles showed that the most optimistic group had less progression than the remaining more pessimistic women (mean percent increase = 1.3 and 6.0 for mean IMT, F = 15.4, p <.001). Women who were chronically optimistic at study entry and at the first carotid scan (bottom quartiles at both times) had less progression in mean IMT than did those who were chronically pessimistic (top quartiles at both times).\Question: Do optimistic attitudes protect against progression of carotid atherosclerosis in healthy middle-aged women?

SOLUTION: Optimistic women are less likely to show progression of carotid disease in mid-life than are pessimists.

PROBLEM: Context: To examine the direct effect of high glucose levels on primary cultured human retinal capillary endothelial cells (HRCEC).', 'HRCECs were isolated from donated eyes and cultured for 6 days in the media containing 5 or 25 mmol/L glucose. The cell viability was determined by trypan blue exclusion assay and cell cycle analyzed by flow cytometry, with the cell apoptosis assayed by TUNEL method.', 'The cell viability was significantly decreased after exposure to 25 mmol/L glucose, and the number of apoptotic cells determined by flow cytometry and TUNEL was significantly increased in response to high-dose glucose treatment.\Question: Does [ High-dose glucose induce human retinal endothelial cell apoptosis ]?

SOLUTION:
High-dose glucose induces apoptosis in HRCEC, which may contribute to the development of diabetic retinopathy.