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: Serotonergic dysfunction is implicated in depression, psychiatric disorders and suicidal behaviors. The first and rate-limiting step in the synthesis of serotonin is catalyzed by tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) which is encoded by TPH1 and THP2 genes. Genetic association studies have revealed contradictory results about the effect of the TPH1 A218C (rs1800532) polymorphism on suicidal behavior in different populations.', "In this study, we investigated A218C polymorphism in 109 suicide attempters and 98 healthy controls. Socio-demographic characteristics of participants were obtained through questionnaire. DNA was extracted from peripheral blood and genotyping was performed by Real Time PCR. Fisher's exact test was used to evaluate the significance of the difference among the independent variables. Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was tested using Pearson's goodness-of-fit chi-squared test.", 'The frequency of A allele was significantly higher in suicide attempters than controls (46.33% vs. 35.71%, p=0.0357). However, there were no differences in genotype frequencies of this locus between participants having attempted suicide and controls (p>0.05). Among males, frequencies of CC genotype and C allele were found to be significantly higher in controls (p=0.0125, p=0.0298). With regard to the female subjects and female controls, no significant association was detected between suicidal behavior and genotype/allele frequencies (p>0.05).

SOLUTION: Is tPH1 A218 allele associated with suicidal behavior in Turkish population?

PROBLEM: Airway remodeling in asthma is the result of increased expression of connective tissue proteins, airway smooth muscle cell (ASMC) hyperplasia and hypertrophy. TGF-beta1 has been found to increase ASMC proliferation. The activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), p38, ERK, and JNK, is critical to the signal transduction associated with cell proliferation. In the present study, we determined the role of phosphorylated MAPKs in TGF-beta1 induced ASMC proliferation.', 'Confluent and growth-arrested bovine ASMCs were treated with TGF-beta1. Proliferation was measured by [3H]-thymidine incorporation and cell counting. Expressions of phosphorylated p38, ERK1/2, and JNK were determined by Western analysis.', 'In a concentration-dependent manner, TGF-beta1 increased [3H]-thymidine incorporation and cell number of ASMCs. TGF-beta1 also enhanced serum-induced ASMC proliferation. Although ASMCs cultured with TGF-beta1 had a significant increase in phosphorylated p38, ERK1/2, and JNK, the maximal phosphorylation of each MAPK had a varied onset after incubation with TGF-beta1. TGF-beta1 induced DNA synthesis was inhibited by SB 203580 or PD 98059, selective inhibitors of p38 and MAP kinase kinase (MEK), respectively. Antibodies against EGF, FGF-2, IGF-I, and PDGF did not inhibit the TGF-beta1 induced DNA synthesis.

SOLUTION: Does tGF-beta1 increase proliferation of airway smooth muscle cells by phosphorylation of map kinases?

PROBLEM: Peritoneal fibrosis is one of the long-term complications in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. Recent evidences have suggested that hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is beneficial in treating various fibrotic diseases, including pulmonary fibrosis, cirrhosis, kidney fibrosis and cardiac hypertrophy. However, no information is known about the effect of H2S on peritoneal fibrosis. In the present study, we investigated the effect of H2S on peritoneal fibrosis and explored its potential mechanisms.', 'We developed a model of peritoneal fibrosis by intraperitoneally injecting 4.25%-glucose PD fluids and lipopolysaccharide to Sprague-Dawley rats. The rats received daily intraperitoneal injections of NaHS (56 μg/kg), an H2S donor. After 28 days, the peritoneal equilibration test (PET) was used to assess peritoneal function. At the end of dialysis, the rats were killed and parietal peritoneum was harvested for microscopic examination and immunohistochemistry.', 'On the 28th day, the parietal peritoneum of the PD rats markedly thickened as a result of increased depositions of type III collagen and fibronectin. Moreover, the number of ED-1-positive cells and the expressions of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), α-smooth muscle actin and CD31 were significantly increased in the fibrotic peritoneum. Administration of NaHS markedly decreased the biomarkers of inflammation, fibrosis and angiogenesis in the peritoneum. NaHS also improved peritoneal function assessed by PET.

SOLUTION:
Does hydrogen Sulfide alleviate Peritoneal Fibrosis via Attenuating Inflammation and TGF-β1 Synthesis?