TASK DEFINITION: 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.
PROBLEM: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of season of diagnosis on the outcome of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). In this study, we included curatively treated DLBCL (n = 5875) and HL (n = 1693) patients, diagnosed between 2000 and 2011, based on data from the Swedish Lymphoma Register.', 'Overall survival was significantly better for patients diagnosed with DLBCL during the summer months, but not for patients diagnosed with HL. The difference remained in a multivariable analysis adjusted for age, stage, performance status, number of extra nodal sites and year of diagnosis (HR 1.08; 95% CI 1.02-1.14, P = 0.0069). When analyzing the DLBCL patients according to gender in the multivariable model, the effect of season was shown to be restricted to male patients (HR = 1.09, 95% CI 1.01-1.17, P = 0.0269.

SOLUTION: 1

PROBLEM: Cirrhotic patients undergoing transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) for refractory ascites or recurrent variceal bleeding are at risk for decompensation and death. This study examined whether a new model for end stage liver disease (MELD), which incorporates serum sodium (MELDNa), is a better predictor of death or transplant after TIPS than the original MELD.', "One hundred forty-eight consecutive patients undergoing nonemergent TIPS for refractory ascites or recurrent variceal bleeding from 1997 to 2006 at a single center were evaluated retrospectively. Cox model analysis was performed with death or transplant within 6 months as the end point. The models were compared using the Harrell's C index. Recursive partitioning determined the optimal MELDNa cutoff to maximize the risk:benefit ratio of TIPS.", 'The predictive ability of MELDNa was superior to MELD, particularly in patients with low MELD scores. The C indices (95% confidence interval [CI]) for MELDNa and MELD were 0.65 (95% CI, 0.55-0.71) and 0.58 (95% CI, 0.51-0.67) using a cut-off score of 18, and 0.72 (95% CI, 0.60-0.85) and 0.62 (95% CI, 0.49-0.74) using a cut-off score of 15. Using a MELDNa >15, 22% of patients were reclassified to a higher risk with an event rate of 44% compared with 10% when the score was <or=15.

SOLUTION: 1

PROBLEM: To explore the role of SCF/c-Kit signaling in the invasion of bladder cancer T24 cells.', 'Western blotting was used to detect the expression of c-Kit and PI3K pathway activation stimulated by stem cell factor (SCF) in T24 cells. The invasiveness of T24 cells before and after SCF stimulation and Wortmannin (aspecific PI3K inhibitor) treatment was evaluated using Transwell invasion assay (direct and indirect counting methods).', 'T24 cells expressed c-Kit protein and showed obvious Akt phosphorylation after stimulation with SCF (1 ng/ml) for 24 h. Compared to the control group, SCF stimulation (1 ng/ml) caused a greater number of T24 cells to migrate through the polycarbonate film (P<0.01), and this effect was blocked by the application of Wortmannin before the stimulation.

SOLUTION:
1