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.

Platelets promote liver regeneration through site-specific serotonin release from dense granules, triggering proliferative signaling in hepatocytes. However, the effects of factors derived from platelet α-granules on liver regeneration are unclear, because α-granules contain bioactive molecules with opposing functions. Because α-granule molecules are stored in separate compartments, it has been suggested that platelets selectively release their α-granule content dependent on the environmental stimulus. Therefore, we investigated the pattern of circulating α-granule molecules during liver regeneration in 157 patients undergoing partial hepatectomy. We measured plasma levels of α-granule-derived factors in the liver vein at the end of liver resection, as well as on the first postoperative day. We observed a rapid accumulation of platelets within the liver after induction of liver regeneration. Platelet count and P-selectin (a ubiquitous cargo of α-granules) were not associated with postoperative liver dysfunction. However, low plasma levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), but high levels of thrombospondin 1 (TSP-1), predicted liver dysfunction after resection. Patients with an unfavorable postoperative α-granule release profile (high TSP-1/low VEGF) showed substantially worse postoperative clinical outcomes. The unfavorable postoperative α-granule release profile was associated with increased postoperative portal venous pressure and von Willebrand factor antigen levels as a marker for intrahepatic endothelial dysfunction.
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Syndromic forms of osteosarcoma (OS) account for less than 10% of all recorded cases of this malignancy. An individual OS predisposition is also possible by the inheritance of low penetrance alleles of tumor susceptibility genes, usually without evidence of a syndromic condition. Genetic variants involved in such a non-syndromic form of tumor predisposition are difficult to identify, given the low incidence of osteosarcoma cases and the genetic heterogeneity of patients. We recently mapped a major OS susceptibility QTL to mouse chromosome 14 by comparing alpha-radiation induced osteosarcoma in mouse strains which differ in their tumor susceptibility.', 'Tumor-specific allelic losses in murine osteosacoma were mapped along chromosome 14 using microsatellite markers and SNP allelotyping. Candidate gene search in the mapped interval was refined using PosMed data mining and mRNA expression analysis in normal osteoblasts. A strain-specific promoter variant in Rb1 was tested for its influence on mRNA expression using reporter assay.', 'A common Rb1 allele derived from the BALB/cHeNhg strain was identified as the major determinant of radiation-induced OS risk at this locus. Increased OS-risk is linked with a hexanucleotide deletion in the promoter region which is predicted to change WT1 and SP1 transcription factor-binding sites. Both in-vitro reporter and in-vivo expression assays confirmed an approx. 1.5 fold reduced gene expression by this promoter variant. Concordantly, the 50% reduction in Rb1 expression in mice bearing a conditional hemizygous Rb1 deletion causes a significant rise of OS incidence following alpha-irradiation.
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Oxylipins, including eicosanoids, are highly bioactive molecules endogenously produced from polyunsaturated fatty acids. Oxylipins play a key role in chronic disease progression. It is possible, but unknown, if oxylipin concentrations change with the consumption of functional foods or differ with subject age.', 'Therefore, in a parallel comparator trial, 20 healthy individuals were recruited into a younger (19-28years) or older (45-64years) age group (n=10/group). Participants ingested one muffin/day containing 30g of milled flaxseed (6g alpha-linolenic acid) for 4weeks. Plasma oxylipins were isolated through solid phase extraction, analyzed with HPLC-MS/MS targeted lipidomics, and quantified with the stable isotope dilution method.', 'At baseline, the older group exhibited 13 oxylipins ≥2-fold the concentration of the younger group. Specifically, pro-inflammatory oxylipins 5-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid, 9,10,13-trihydroxyoctadecenoic acid, and 9,12,13-trihydroxyoctadecenoic acid were significantly greater in the older (1.1±0.23nM, 5.6±0.84nM, and 4.5±0.58nM, respectively) versus the younger group (0.34±0.12nM, 3.5±0.33nM, and 3.0±0.24nM, respectively) (p<0.05). After 4weeks of flaxseed consumption the number of oxylipins that were ≥2-fold higher in the older versus the younger group was reduced to 3. 5-Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid, 9,10,13-trihydroxyoctadecenoic acid, and 9,12,13-trihydroxyoctadecenoic acid decreased in the older group to concentrations equivalent to the younger group after flaxseed consumption.

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