TASK DEFINITION: In this task, you are given a passage which has a question and the context. You have to generate an answer to the question based on the information present in the context.
PROBLEM: Context: Proliferation of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) plays an important role in vascular pathobiology, being involved in the development of coronary restenosis and atherosclerosis. The activation of nuclear proto-oncogenes appears to be a final common pathway onto which various mitogenic signals coverage. Accordingly, we attempted to determine whether the activation of the c-myc nuclear proto-oncogene is essential for human SMC proliferation and explored the possibility of inhibiting their growth using antisense oligonucleotides directed against c-myc messenger RNA (mRNA).', 'Proliferation of human SMCs was associated with an increase in c-myc mRNA expression after growth stimulation. Using 15-mer phosphorothioate oligonucleotides (oligomers), we tested their growth-inhibitory effect in SMCs in vitro. Antisense oligomers directed against the translation initiation region of the human c-myc gene exhibited a significant antiproliferative effect, whereas sense and mismatched oligomers did not inhibit the growth. The growth-inhibitory effect of c-myc antisense oligomers was dose dependent and preventable by an excess of sense oligomers. Furthermore, growth inhibition of SMCs treated with c-myc antisense oligomers was associated with a marked decrease in the c-myc mRNA level. Phosphorothioate oligomers remained stable in medium containing 20% serum and were detectable in SMCs as early as 1 hour after cell exposure. Intact oligomers rapidly accumulated intracellularly and persisted within human SMCs for at least 16 hours.\Question: Does downregulation of c-myc expression by antisense oligonucleotides inhibit proliferation of human smooth muscle cells?

SOLUTION: c-myc antisense oligomers reduced c-myc expression and produced a significant growth inhibition of human SMCs, indicating an important role of c-myc gene activation in the process of SMC proliferation. Furthermore, extracellular stability and rapid cellular uptake provide the basis for future studies assessing the therapeutic role of the c-myc antisense approach in reducing SMC proliferation in the process of vascular restenosis.

PROBLEM: Context: Physical activity is beneficial for cancer survivors, but exercise participation is low in this population. It is therefore important to understand the psychological factors underlying exercise uptake so that more effective interventions can be developed. Social-cognitive theory constructs such as outcome expectancies predict exercise behavior, but self-report measures have several limitations. We examined the associations between implicit (automatic) cognitions and exercise behavior and self-efficacy in endometrial cancer survivors.', 'This was a longitudinal study to examine predictors of exercise behavior in female endometrial cancer survivors who all received an exercise intervention. Participants (N = 100, mean age of 57.0) completed questionnaires to assess self-report exercise-related measures (outcome expectancy and attitudes about and identification with exercise) and reaction time (RT) tasks to assess implicit exercise cognitions (expectancy accessibility, implicit attitudes about exercise, and implicit self-identification with exercise) at baseline and at 2, 4, and 6 months at follow-up. Exercise behavior was measured using accelerometers and self-report. Data were analyzed using linear mixed models.', 'Expectancy accessibility was associated with exercise duration independent of the corresponding self-report measure. Exercise implicit attitudes and self-identification were prospectively associated with exercise self-efficacy only after adjustment for the corresponding self-report measures and baseline self-efficacy. Self-report measures were also associated with study outcomes.\Question: Are self-reported and automatic cognitions associated with exercise behavior in cancer survivors?

SOLUTION: Both self-reported cognitions and implicit cognitions may be useful to identify individuals at risk of failing to exercise. Individuals so identified might be provided with a different or more intensive intervention. The data also suggest cognitive targets for intervention. (PsycINFO Database Record

PROBLEM: Context: Both the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and the p53 homologue p63 are overexpressed in a significant number of cases of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Epidermal growth factor receptor and p63 both possess oncogenic properties, including the potential to increase cell proliferation and antagonize apoptosis. ZD1839 ("Iressa") is an adenosine triphosphate-competitive inhibitor specific to the EGFR tyrosine kinase currently under evaluation as a chemotherapeutic agent in HNSCC. The objective was to investigate whether p63 expression is decreased after treatment of HNSCC cells with ZD1839. Downregulation of p63 by ZD1839 would identify a potential molecular relationship between EGFR signaling and p63 and could provide insight into the mechanism of action of ZD1839.', 'In vitro examination of p63 expression after ZD1839 treatment.', 'A human HNSCC cell line, SCC-012, was treated with varying doses of ZD1839. p63 protein and messenger RNA levels were analyzed by Western and Northern blot analyses. The effect of ZD1839 on SCC-012 cell cycle was analyzed by flow cytometric analysis.', 'In SCC-012 cells there was a dose-dependent decrease in p63 protein and messenger RNA levels over the course of ZD1839 treatment. Levels of phosphorylated MAPK decreased and p27KIP-1 levels increased after ZD1839 treatment. ZD1839 treatment induced a twofold increase in G1-phase cells and a 3.5-fold decrease in S-phase cells consistent with growth arrest.\Question: Does inhibition of epidermal growth factor receptor signaling decrease p63 expression in head and neck squamous carcinoma cells?

SOLUTION:
ZD1839 downregulates p63 expression at the messenger RNA level, suggesting that p63 is a downstream target of EGFR signaling.