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: High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) protein has been identified as a novel pro-inflammatory cytokine in coronary artery disease (CAD). We investigated the relationship between serum HMGB1 level and the severity of coronary artery stenosis.', 'Serum HMGB1 concentration in patients was measured by ELISA. All patients underwent coronary angiography and were assigned into groups according to the quartile of HMGB1 level.', 'HMGB1 level in USAP group was higher than that in control and SAP group. HMGB1 level in SAP group was higher than that in control group (p<0.05). Gensini scores in the highest quartile group (group IV), group III and group II were all significantly higher than that in the lowest quartile group (group I). There was significant correlation between angiographic Gensini score and serum level of HMGB1 (r=0.710, p<0.05). However, in subgroup analysis, we found that serum HMGB1 level was only correlated with angiographic Gensini score in SAP patients (r=0.786, p<0.05), but not USAP patients.

SOLUTION: Is increased serum HMGB1 related to the severity of coronary artery stenosis?

PROBLEM: Multiple intercostal recordings were supposed to get a more comprehensive view of the depolarization vector of the outflow tract ventricular arrhythmia (OT-VA), which may help to identify the OT-VA more accurately. This study was undertaken to develop a more accurate electrocardiogram (ECG) criterion for differentiating between left and right OT-VA origins.', 'We studied OT-VA with a left bundle branch block pattern and inferior axis QRS morphology in 47 patients with successful catheter ablation in the right ventricular OT (RVOT; n = 37) or aortic coronary cusp (ACC; n = 10). Superior and inferior precordial leads were taken together with the routine 12-lead ECG. The ECG during the OT-VA and during sinus beats were analyzed. Transition ratio, transition zone (TZ) index, R/S amplitude ratio, and R-wave duration ratio were measured in the regular, superior, and inferior precordial leads.', 'The combined TZ index, TZ index inferior was significantly smaller, while the V2 inferior transition ratio was significantly larger for ACC origins than RVOT origins (P < 0.05). The area under the curve for the combined TZ index by a receiver operating characteristic analysis was 0.974, which was significantly larger than other parameters. A cutoff value ≤0.25 predicted an ACC origin with 94% sensitivity and 100% specificity. This advantage of the parameter over others also held true for a subanalysis of OT-VAs with a lead V3 precordial transition or TZ index = 0.

SOLUTION: Does multiple Intercostal Space Electrocardiogram allow Accurate Localization of Outflow Tract Ventricular Arrhythmia Origin?

PROBLEM: To evaluate the risk of reclassification on serial biopsy for Caucasian and African American (AA) men with very low-risk (VLR) prostate cancer enrolled in a large prospective active surveillance (AS) registry.', 'The Johns Hopkins AS registry is a prospective observational study that has enrolled 982 men since 1994. Including only men who met all National Comprehensive Cancer Network VLR criteria (clinical stage ≤T1, Gleason score ≤6, prostate-specific antigen [PSA] level <10 ng/mL, PSA density <0.15 ng/mL/cm(3), positive cores <3, percent cancer per core ≤50), we analyzed a cohort of 654 men (615 Caucasians and 39 AAs). The association of race with reclassification on serial biopsy was assessed with competing-risks regressions.', 'AA men on AS were more likely than Caucasians to experience upgrading on serial biopsy (36% vs 16%; adjusted P <.001). Adjusting for PSA level, prostate size, volume of cancer on biopsy, treatment year, and body mass index, AA race was an independent predictor of biopsy reclassification (subdistribution hazard ratio, 1.8; P = .003). Examining specific modes of reclassification, AA race was independently associated with reclassification by grade (subdistribution hazard ratio, 3.0; P = .002) but not by volume.

SOLUTION:
Are reclassification rates higher among African American men than Caucasians on active surveillance?