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: Two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2DSTE) has been used widely in research, but rarely in clinical practice because data acquisition and analysis are time-consuming. By reducing the acquisition and analysis time, 3-dimensional STE may improve clinical impact. We investigated the feasibility of 3DSTE myocardial deformation, with comparison to 2DSTE.', 'Transthoracic 3DSTE and 2DSTE were performed in 230 adults (138 men, 51 ± 14 years, and 142 hypertension, 10 heart failure and 78 normotensive subjects). The variables of LV deformation were analyzed using EchoPAC software.', 'The 3D LV longitudinal (LS) analysis was feasible in 84.9% of the study subjects, which was lower than the 2D analysis (97.2%). The success rates for circumferential strain (CS) and radial strain (RS) were similar between the 2D and 3D techniques. All magnitude of strains measured by 2DSTE and 3DSTE were significantly correlated. The magnitude of 3D LS and CS was lower, but the 3D RS is higher than that of 2DSTE (-18.5 ± 2.8 vs. -21.2 ± 3.5; 20.8 ± 4.1 vs. 21.7; and 50.0 ± 11.2 vs. 37.7 ± 12.6, respectively). Strains measured by 3DSTE exhibited stronger correlation with LV ejection fraction (EF) than that by 2DSTE. In inter- and intra-observer reproducibility for 3D LS, CS, RS and AS were acceptable. The mean time of analysis for LV volume, EF and strains was 116s by 3DSTE, which was significantly shorter than that by 2DSTE (5 min, P<0.0001).

SOLUTION: Is three-dimensional speckle strain echocardiography more accurate and efficient than 2D strain in the evaluation of left ventricular function?

PROBLEM: To analyze the expression of HMOX1 and miR-122 in liver biopsy samples obtained from HCV mono-and HIV/HCV co-infected patients in relation to selected clinical parameters, histological examination and IL-28B polymorphism as well as to determine whether HMOX1 expression is dependent on Bach-1.', 'The study group consisted of 90 patients with CHC: 69 with HCV mono and 21 with HIV/HCV co-infection. RT-PCR was used in the analysis of HMOX1, Bach-1 and miR-122 expression in liver biopsy samples and in the assessment of IL-28B single-nucleotide polymorphism C/T (rs12979860) in the blood. Moreover in liver biopsy samples an analysis of HO-1 and Bach-1 protein level by Western Blot was performed.', "HCV mono-infected patients, with lower grading score (G<2) and higher HCV viral load (>600000 IU/mL) demonstrated higher expression of HMOX1. In patients with HIV/HCV co-infection, the expression of HMOX1 was lower in patients with lower lymphocyte CD4 count and higher HIV viral load. IL28B polymorphism did not affect the expression of either HMOX1 or miR-122. Higher HMOX1 expression correlated with higher expression of Bach-1 (Spearman's ρ\u200a=\u200a0.586, p\u200a=\u200a0.000001) and miR-122 (Spearman's ρ\u200a=\u200a0.270, p\u200a=\u200a0.014059).

SOLUTION: Does hepatic HMOX1 expression positively correlate with Bach-1 and miR-122 in patients with HCV mono and HIV/HCV coinfection?

PROBLEM: Food supplements are known to affect the development of gastric adenocarcinoma. In this study, an animal model of gastric resection was used to investigate the effects of calcium carbonate on spontaneous development of gastric adenocarcinoma.', 'Ninety-two Wistar rats with gastric resections (performed to induce spontaneous gastric cancer) and 60 without resections (controls) were used to analyse the carcinogenic potential of different ion supplements in food.', 'Among the resected rats, cancer developed in 3 out of 18 (17%, NS) given NaCl but in 11 out of 18 (61%, p<0.01) exposed to calcium carbonate. No tumours were found in the unresected (unoperated) animals. These findings were further analysed by separately investigating the effects of calcium and carbonate ions on tumorigenesis in the gastric stump model. Cancer developed in one of 26 (4%) resected animals given a diet supplemented with CaHPO(4), which was lower than the rate observed in the resected control group fed a normal diet, although this difference was not statistically significant. However, tumour development increased significantly in the resected animals given a diet supplemented with NaHCO(3) (tumours in 13 out of 24 rats, 54%; p<0.01).

SOLUTION:
Does dietary supplementation of carbonate promote spontaneous tumorigenesis in a rat gastric stump model?