instruction:
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.
question:
Context: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) patients are at risk of ventricular arrhythmias (VAs). We aimed to explore whether systolic function by strain echocardiography is related to VAs and to the extent of fibrosis by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR).', 'We included 150 HCM patients and 50 healthy individuals. VAs were defined as non-sustained and sustained ventricular tachycardia and aborted cardiac arrest. Left ventricular function was assessed by ejection fraction (EF) and by global longitudinal strain (GLS) assessed by speckle tracking echocardiography. Mechanical dispersion was calculated as standard deviation (SD) of time from Q/R on ECG to peak longitudinal strain in 16 left ventricular segments. Late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) was assessed by CMR. HCM patients had similar EF (61 ± 5% vs. 61 ± 8%, P = 0.77), but worse GLS (-15.7 ± 3.6% vs. -21.1 ± 1.9%, P < 0.001) and more pronounced mechanical dispersion (64 ± 22 vs. 36 ± 13 ms, P < 0.001) compared with healthy individuals. VAs were documented in 37 (25%) HCM patients. Patients with VAs had worse GLS (-14.1 ± 3.6% vs. -16.3 ± 3.4%, P < 0.01), more pronounced mechanical dispersion (79 ± 27 vs. 59 ± 16 ms, P < 0.001), and higher %LGE (6.1 ± 7.8% vs. 0.5 ± 1.4%, P < 0.001) than patients without VAs. Mechanical dispersion correlated with %LGE (R = 0.52, P < 0.001) and was independently associated with VAs (OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.1-2.3, P = 0.02) and improved risk stratification for VAs.
Answer: GLS, mechanical dispersion, and LGE were markers of VAs in HCM patients. Mechanical dispersion was a strong independent predictor of VAs and related to the extent of fibrosis. Strain echocardiography may improve risk stratification of VAs in HCM.
answer:
Is strain echocardiography related to fibrosis and ventricular arrhythmias in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?


question:
Context: The role of Helicobacter pylori in gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is controversial.', 'To compare the severity of GERD in infected vs. non-infected patients, as part of an ongoing randomized controlled trial that examines the impact of H. pylori eradication on GERD-related outcomes.', 'Consecutive GERD patients underwent urea breath testing and completed validated GERD symptom severity, and quality of life questionnaires as well as, 24-h pH-metry. These parameters, as well as demographics and endoscopic findings were assessed in double-blinded fashion and compared between H. pylori-infected and non-infected subjects.', "Helicobacter pylori-infected GERD patients (n=50) were significantly older and less educated than non-infected patients (n=51). They also used proton pump inhibitors less often but had no difference in symptoms (as measured with both the Spechler's Activity Index and the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale), quality of life, endoscopic findings or 24-h pH-metry findings.
Answer: This prospective, double-blind study demonstrates, using excellent GERD quantifying measures including validated symptom severity scores, endoscopy, and 24-h pH-metry, that there exist no clinically significant differences in clinical or laboratory-related GERD manifestations between H. pylori-infected and non-infected GERD patients.
answer:
Is there no difference in the disease severity of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease between patients infected and not infected with Helicobacter pylori?


question:
Context: To analyze whether peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ2) rs1801282 (Pro12Ala) polymorphism is associated with the response to pegylated-interferon-alpha plus ribavirin treatment in HIV/hepatitis C virus (HCV)-coinfected patients, and whether it is able to predict the outcome of HCV treatment.', 'Retrospective follow-up study.', 'Two hundred eighty-five naive patients, who started HCV-treatment, were genotyped for PPARγ2 and interleukin 28B polymorphisms. Genetic data were analyzed under dominant inheritance model. Sustained virological response (SVR) was defined as undetectable HCV viremia through 24 weeks after the end of HCV treatment.', 'The variables significantly associated with SVR in a multivariate analysis were HCV-genotype (GT) 3 {adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 7.66 [95% of confidence interval (95% CI): 3.96 to 14.81] P < 0.001}, HCV-viremia <500,000 IU/mL [aOR = 2.20 (95% CI: 1.16 to 4.15] P = 0.015), no/mild liver fibrosis (F < 2) [aOR = 1.92 (95% CI: 1.08 to 3.42) P = 0.026], IL28B rs12980275 AA genotype [aOR = 2.70 (95% CI: 1.54 to 4.71) P < 0.001], and PPARγ2 rs1801282 CG/GG genotype [aOR = 2.93 (95% CI: 1.27 to 6.72) P = 0.011]. When PPARγ2 rs1801282 genotype was included in a decision tree analysis, HCV-GT3 patients with CG/GG genotype had increased SVR from 80.3% to 100%. In GT1/4 patients, rs12980275 AA carriers had increased SVR from 58.7% to 78.6%, and rs12980275 AG/GG carriers had increased SVR from 28.7% to 35.7%. The overall percentage of patients correctly classified was 71.6% and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curves was 0.766 ± 0.028.
Answer: The presence of PPARγ2 rs1801282 G allele (Ala variant) was associated with increased odds for achieving SVR in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients on HCV treatment.
answer:

Is pPARγ2 Pro12Ala polymorphism associated with sustained virological response in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients under HCV therapy?