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: With advances in medicine, the subjective assessment of patients on hemodialysis regarding their quality of life (QOL) is gaining importance. Clinicians cannot rely solely on objective markers, such as the rates of complications and mortality, when evaluating responses to dialysis. In clinical settings, laboratory values are used as measures of patients' health. However, the relationship between clinical laboratory values and QOL has not been elucidated yet. Therefore, the present study aimed to define the relationship of laboratory values and patient attributes to the QOL of outpatients on hemodialysis in order to obtain basic data for reevaluating nursing support for patients on hemodialysis in the future.", 'The participants were 44 outpatients receiving hemodialysis at Hospital B. The QOL was surveyed using a self-administered questionnaire, the Kidney Disease Quality of Life Short Form. The following patient attributes and laboratory values were taken from the medical records: age; sex; primary disease; number of years on hemodialysis; complications; number of hours of hemodialysis per session; percentage weight gain; cardiothoracic ratio; blood pressure; hematocrit; and the serum levels of albumin, potassium, phosphorus, and calcium.', 'The serum potassium level significantly affected mental health, social functioning, symptoms, and the effect of kidney disease, with the 3.5-5.0 mEq/L target range group scoring higher than the > or =5.1 mEq/L group.

SOLUTION: Does the relationship of clinical laboratory parameters and patient attribute to the quality of life of patients on hemodialysis?

PROBLEM: Tinnitus can adversely affect patients' quality of life. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) may be effective in the management of tinnitus. No study has investigated the efficacy of TENS for the management of tinnitus by means of quality of life measures. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of TENS for the management of tinnitus symptoms by using the visual analogue scale (VAS), tinnitus handicap inventory test, Nottingham health profile (NHP) and short form-36 (SF-36) questionnaires.", 'Twenty-two patients were included in this study (male/female, 16/6; mean age, 48.04 +/- 15.57 years). Nine patients had unilateral and 13 patients had bilateral tinnitus.', 'After TENS, improvement measured by VAS was only marginally significant (p = 0.059). However, after TENS, there were statistically significant improvements regarding tinnitus severity scores, tinnitus handicap inventory scores, NHP fatigue, social isolation and emotional problems scores, and many parameters measured by the SF-36 (physical functioning, general health, vitality, social functioning, role limitations due to emotional problems, and mental health)(p < 0.05).

SOLUTION: Does treatment of tinnitus with transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation improve patients ' quality of life?

PROBLEM: Hypothyroidism is a common endocrine disease associated with increased oxidative stress, increased cardiovascular (CV) risk, CV events and endothelial dysfunction. Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are a well-known marker of CV risk.', 'The aim of this work was to ascertain whether hypothyroidism is associated with lower EPC counts and if treatment with levothyroxine (LT4) or selenium (Se) improves EPC counts compared to placebo.', "Hypothyrod patients (n = 100) were randomly divided into five groups to receive placebo (group A), LT4 (group B) or Se at doses of 83 µg (group C), 166 µg (group D) or 249 µg (group E) for 3 months. Each group comprised 20 patients: 10 with 'mild' hypothyroidism and 10 with 'severe' hypothyroidism. A healthy control group (group F) with 20 euthyroid subjects was also recruited. Subjects had to be free of CV disease, diabetes and drugs that interfere with EPCs. Anthropometric measurements (height, weight, BMI), blood pressure, fasting lipids and EPC analyses were performed at baseline and after 3 months.", 'EPC counts were significantly lower in hypothyroid patients compared to controls. EPCs increased after 3 months of treatment with LT4, but not with Se at any dosage. CD133+ and CD34+ EPC counts were negatively correlated with thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH; r (2) = 0.523, p < 0.01 and r (2) = 0.517, p < 0.01, respectively) and positively correlated with FT4 (r (2) = 0.394, p < 0.01 and r (2) = 0.369, p < 0.01, respectively). TSH and FT4 were the only predictors of EPC counts.

SOLUTION:
Does levothyroxine but Not Selenium Increases Endothelial Progenitor Cell count in Patients with Hypothyroidism?