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.

Context: Postictal inhibition (PI) is a decrease in excitability that follows an epileptic seizure and decreases probability of new seizure occurrence. PI may involve both increased inhibition and persisting elevated excitation. Our experiments tested whether shorter trains of weak stimuli are able to unmask this residual increase of excitability during the PI.', 'Four epileptic afterdischarges (ADs) were evoked by intense electrical stimulation (20 s, 8 Hz, current intensity at 5x threshold) of the neocortex in two groups (A, B) of Wistar rats. Before the first AD and during the 10-min interictal period, 8-Hz trains of four weak pulses (half of the intensity used for the AD triggering; 4P) were applied every 20 s in group B and a single pulse with similar parameters in group A.', 'The number of interictal epileptiform events evoked by 4P in the group B was significantly higher than that in the group A (evoked by single pulses) except after the second AD. Epileptic events were triggered by 4P also immediately after the AD termination.
Answer: It is apparent that weak stimulation can trigger epileptic phenomena during PI. Our results indicate that it is no longer possible to perceive PI only as persisting extreme and active inhibition. An appropriate stimulation can reveal more subtle (but important) excitatory events contributing to the functional status during the postictal period.
Do short bursts of weak pulses break postictal inhibition in the neocortex of Wistar rats?

Context: The biological function of resistin (RST) is unknown, although it may have roles in obesity, diabetes, and insulin resistance. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the human RST gene on muscle, bone, and adipose tissue phenotypes and in response to resistance training (RT).', 'Subjects were white and consisted of strength (n = 482) and size (n = 409) cohorts who had not performed RT in the previous year. Subjects completed 12 weeks of structured, unilateral upper arm RT aimed at increasing the size and strength of the non-dominant arm, using their dominant arm as an untrained control. Strength measurements were taken pre- and post-12-week RT and consisted of elbow flexor isometric strength and one-repetition maximum during a biceps curl using free weights. Whole muscle, subcutaneous fat, and cortical bone volumes were measured by magnetic resonance imaging. Six RST SNPs were identified. Analysis of covariance was used to test for effects of the SNPs on pre- and post-muscle strength and whole muscle, fat, and bone volumes independent of gender, age, and body weight.', 'Five RST SNPs (-537 A>C, -420 C>G, 398 C>T, 540 G>A, 980 C>G) were associated with measured phenotypes among subjects when stratified by BMI (<25, >/ or = 25 kg/m(2)). Several gender-specific associations were observed between RST SNPs and phenotypes among individuals with a BMI > or = 25. Conversely, only two associations were observed among individuals with a BMI < 25.
Answer: These data support previous identified associations of RST with adipose tissue and demonstrate additional associations with bone and skeletal muscle that warrant further investigation.
Are resistin polymorphisms associated with muscle , bone , and fat phenotypes in white men and women?

Context: Known factors affecting the management of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) include reflux grade, infection frequency, age and gender. We hypothesized that provider preference is highly associated with management.', 'Utilizing the national billing database, Faculty Practice Solutions Center, a multivariable logistic regression model, was applied to analyze the association of pediatric urologist treatment patterns, patient age, gender, uni- or bilateral disease, insurance type, presence of nephropathy and race with the type of VUR treatment a patient would receive.', "We identified 59 pediatric urologists who managed 7,882 new reflux patients from 2009 to 2011. Over this 3-year period there was wide variation in surgical utilization between surgeons (mean 50 %) but minimal change for each surgeon (5 %). For every 100 new reflux patients, median utilization of reimplantation surgery and injection of dextranomer/hyaluronic acid copolymer (Deflux) was 26 and 20 %, respectively. Age ranked highest in predicting surgical versus non-surgical management, while a surgeon's historic Deflux utilization rate ranked highest in predicting surgery type. Older age, female gender and white race also increased the odds of Deflux utilization over reimplantation.
Answer: A surgeon's historic Deflux utilization was the most important predictor of VUR surgery type. Although data on reflux grade were not available, analysis of patient and surgeon characteristics suggests that surgeon preference is the first or second most critical factor in determining a patient's treatment.

Is physician preference a major factor in management of vesicoureteral reflux?