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: Smoking, largely through increased oxidative stress, causes endothelial dysfunction which is an early key event in atherosclerosis. Smoking cessation and antioxidant vitamin therapy are shown to have beneficial role by restoring altered endothelial physiology. The present study was aimed to determine whether Terminalia arjuna, an Indian medicinal plant with potent antioxidant constituents, would improve endothelial dysfunction in smokers.', 'Eighteen healthy male smokers (age 28.16+/-9.45 years) and equal number of age-matched non-smoker controls participated in the study. The baseline brachial artery reactivity studies were performed using high frequency ultrasound according to standard protocol under identical conditions to determine endothelium-dependent, flow-mediated dilation and endothelium-independent nitroglycerine-mediated dilation. The two groups were matched regarding age, body mass index, blood pressure, serum cholesterol, mean resting vessel diameters and post-occlusion flow velocities (all p=NS). While flow-mediated dilation was significantly impaired amongst smokers compared to controls (4.71+/-2.22 v. 11.75+/-5.94%, p <0.005), the nitroglycerine-mediated dilation was similar in the two groups (20.35+/-3.89 v. 19.68+/-3.74%, p=NS). Subsequently the smokers were given Terminalia arjuna (500 mg q8h) or matching placebo randomly in a double blind cross-over design for two weeks each, followed by repetition of brachial artery reactivity studies to determine various parameters including flow-mediated dilation after each period. There was no significant difference as regards vessel diameter and flow velocities between the two therapies. However, the flow-mediated dilation showed significant improvement from baseline values after Terrminalia arjuna therapy but not with placebo (9.31+/-3.74 v. 5.17+/-2.42%, p <0.005).

SOLUTION: 0

PROBLEM: Obesity has shown a positive association with depression. We aimed to investigate the relationships among body weight, body mass index (BMI=kg/m(2)), change in a depression rating scale, and change in a functional scale with fluoxetine treatment for hospitalized patients with major depressive disorder (MDD).', 'A total of 131 acutely ill inpatients with MDD were enrolled to receive 20mg of fluoxetine daily for 6 weeks. The 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17) for symptom and the Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS) for functioning were assessed at weeks 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6. Remission was defined as a score of≤7 on the HAMD-17 at endpoint. Body weight, body length, and BMI were measured at baseline. Pearson correlation coefficients (r) were calculated among body weight, BMI, HAMD-17 score change, and WSAS score change.', 'Of the 131 participants, 126 (96.2%) had at least one post-baseline assessment and were included in the analysis. Significant differences in body weight and BMI existed between remitters and nonremitters. There were statistically significant relationships among baseline body weight, baseline BMI, HAMD-17 score change, and WSAS score change at end point.

SOLUTION: 0

PROBLEM: The efficacy of programmes to reduce long-term benzodiazepine use could be compromised by subsequent increases in contacts with the family practice. In this study the hypothesis was tested as to whether participation in a benzodiazepine discontinuation programme affects the frequency of contacts with the family practice.', 'A controlled stepped-care intervention programme to decrease long-term benzodiazepine use.', 'Family practices in the Netherlands. Subjects. The experimental group consisted of 996 long-term benzodiazepine users and a control group of 883 long-term benzodiazepine users.', 'Practice contacts before and up to 12 months after the start of the programme.', 'There was a general tendency visible for contacts to decrease during the follow-up time. The course of the number of contacts during the follow-up was not different for the experimental and control groups (p=0.45). The level of non-benzodiazepine prescriptions was generally not altered. The number of non-benzodiazepine prescriptions decreased in benzodiazepine quitters during the follow-up of the programme.

SOLUTION:
1