TASK DEFINITION: Given a passage with a context and an answer, 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: Context: The shape of the ionizing radiation response curve at very low doses has been the subject of considerable debate. Linear-no-threshold (LNT) models are widely used to estimate risks associated with low-dose exposures. However, the low-dose hyperradiosensitivity (HRS) phenomenon, in which cells are especially sensitive at low doses but then show increased radioresistance at higher doses, provides evidence of nonlinearity in the low-dose region. HRS is more prominent in the G2 phase of the cell cycle than in the G0/G1 or S phases. Here we provide the first cytogenetic mechanistic evidence of low-dose HRS in human peripheral blood lymphocytes using structural chromosomal aberrations.', 'Human peripheral blood lymphocytes from 2 normal healthy female donors were acutely exposed to cobalt 60 γ rays in either G0 or G2 using closely spaced doses ranging from 0 to 1.5 Gy. Structural chromosomal aberrations were enumerated, and the slopes of the regression lines at low doses (0-0.4 Gy) were compared with doses of 0.5 Gy and above.', 'HRS was clearly evident in both donors for cells irradiated in G2. No HRS was observed in cells irradiated in G0. The radiation effect per unit dose was 2.5- to 3.5-fold higher for doses ≤0.4 Gy than for doses >0.5 Gy.
Answer: These data provide the first cytogenetic evidence for the existence of HRS in human cells irradiated in G2 and suggest that LNT models may not always be optimal for making radiation risk assessments at low doses.

SOLUTION: Is cytogenetic low-dose hyperradiosensitivity observed in human peripheral blood lymphocytes?

PROBLEM: Context: MicroRNAs play important roles in regulation of the initiation and progression of AML. MiR-210 is closely related with cancer development; however, whether miR-210 expression level correlates with clinical correlation in AML is unknown. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the potential relationship between miR-210 expression and AML prognosis.', 'Real-time quantitative PCR was carried out to examine the expression level of miR-210 in bone marrow and serum obtained from AML patients and healthy controls. Then the correlation between miR-210 expression and a variety of important clinical parameters (such as overall survival, relapse-free survival, and prognostic value) were further studied.', 'The expression level of miR-210 was significantly higher in the bone marrow and serum of AML patients than that of healthy controls (p<0.001). Moreover, miR-210 expression was associated with various AML clinicopathological parameters, including FAB classification and cytogenetics. The serum miR-210 expression level was reduced significantly when the patients achieved complete remission (p=0.02). The high miR-210 expression group had both poorer relapse-free survival (p=0.015) and worse overall survival (p=0.008). In the multivariate analysis model, miR-210 was identified as an independent prognostic marker.
Answer: MiR-210 up-regulation was associated with poor prognosis in AML and it might be useful as a marker for predicting the clinical outcome of AML patients.

SOLUTION: Is overexpression of miR-210 Associated with Poor Prognosis of Acute Myeloid Leukemia?

PROBLEM: Context: Chemotactic cytokines, referred to as chemokines, play an important role in leukocyte trafficking. The circulating levels of chemokines have been shown to increase in inflammatory processes including obesity-related pathologies (e.g. atherosclerosis and diabetes). However, little is currently known about the relationship between chemokines and human obesity. In the present study, we investigated the circulating levels of selected chemokines (monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha (MIP-1alpha), leukotactin-1, interleukin-8 (IL-8)) and the association between the chemokine levels and obesity-related parameters: body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, fasting glucose and insulin levels, lipids profile, and the level of C-reactive protein (CRP).', 'A total of 100 subjects, 50 obese (BMI>or=25 kg/m2) and 50 who were not obese (BMI<25 kg/m2) participated in the present study. The levels of chemokines and CRP were measured in a fasting state serum by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, triglyceride, glucose, and insulin levels were measured by enzymatic analysis and immunoassay.', 'The circulating levels of MCP-1 and IL-8 in the serum were significantly (P<0.05) higher in obese subjects (BMI>30 kg/m2) compared with those of nonobese controls (BMI<25 kg/m2). The levels of CRP were positively correlated with BMI (P<0.001) or waist circumference (P<0.0001). The levels of MCP-1 and IL-8 were positively related to BMI (MCP-1, P<0.02; IL-8, P<0.01) and/or waist circumference (MCP-1, P<0.009; IL-8, P<0.03). The levels of MCP-1 were positively related to the levels of CRP (P<0.007) or interleukin-6 (IL-6) (P<0.0001), and negatively related to the levels of HDL-cholesterol (P<0.01). Homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) score was positively related to the levels of MCP-1 (P<0.02) or IL-8 (P<0.03) in obese subject.
Answer: Our data demonstrated that the circulating levels of MCP-1 and IL-8 are related to obesity-related parameters such as BMI, waist circumference, CRP, IL-6, HOMA and HDL-cholesterol. These findings suggest that the circulating MCP-1 and/or IL-8 may be a potential candidate linking obesity with obesity-related metabolic complications such as atherosclerosis and diabetes.

SOLUTION:
Are circulating levels of MCP-1 and IL-8 elevated in human obese subjects and associated with obesity-related parameters?