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.

The FAS/FASLG system has been proposed to play a key role in germ cell apoptosis. To elucidate the role of the genetic variants of cell death pathway genes in male infertility, we genotyped the polymorphisms of FAS, FASLG and caspase-8 (CASP8) genes and evaluated their effects on sperm apoptosis and semen quality in infertile men.', 'The genotypes of FAS, FASLG and CASP8 were determined in 620 infertile men. Sperm apoptosis rates were measured by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (Tdt)-mediated dUTP nick end labelling (TUNEL) assay, and the semen quality analysis was performed using computer assisted sperm analysis.', 'We found that polymorphisms of FAS-670A/G (rs1800682: A>G) and CASP8-652 6N ins/del (rs3834129: -/CTTACT) were associated with sperm apoptosis and semen quality. Individuals with FAS-670GG showed low apoptosis rate and decreased sperm concentration, compared with the FAS-670AA genotype. Similarly, in comparison with the CASP8-652 6N ins/ins genotype, the CASP8-652 6N (ins/del+del/del) genotypes also showed significantly decreased sperm apoptosis rate and poor sperm motility. Other polymorphisms investigated did not appear to affect sperm apoptosis and semen quality.
Are polymorphisms in cell death pathway genes associated with altered sperm apoptosis and poor semen quality?

Beta blockers and calcium antagonists are widely used in the management of angina pectoris in the belief that the combination is more efficacious than either drug alone.', 'This double blind randomised crossover placebo controlled study compares the effects of nicardipine, atenolol and their combination in 30 patients with chronic stable angina. Each treatment period lasted 6 weeks with dose titration after 3 weeks. Symptom limited treadmill exercise testing and radionuclide ventriculography at rest was carried out at the end of each treatment period.', 'Total exercise duration and time to 1-mm ST-segment depression was significantly prolonged by nicardipine and atenolol when compared to placebo, the combination offered no additional benefit. Time to onset of angina was significantly prolonged by nicardipine and the combination but not by atenolol. Indices of left ventricular function were not significantly affected by any treatment other than an increase in left ventricular end diastolic volume on atenolol and the combination.
Is atenolol or nicardipine alone as efficacious in stable angina as their combination : a double blind randomised trial?

Activated protein C (APC) is a plasma serine protease with systemic anticoagulant and a wide spectrum of cytoprotective activities that has been proposed as a promising therapy for acute stroke. Therefore, we sought to investigate the role of endogenous APC in human ischemic stroke.', 'Our target were 119 consecutive patients with an ischemic stroke involving the middle cerebral artery territory who received tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) within 3 h of symptom onset. APC was measured before, as well as 1 and 2 h after t-PA administration, and again at 12 and 24 h after stroke onset. Cranial tomography scan was obtained at admission and repeated at 24-48 h or when a neurological worsening occurred to rule out the presence of hemorrhagic complications. The functional outcome was evaluated by 3-month modified Rankin Scale.', 'A total of 117 t-PA-treated patients were finally included in the analyses. APC peaked at 1 h after t-PA administration (pretreatment APC = 132.44 +/- 36.39%, 1-hour APC = 184.20 +/- 34.28%, 2-hour APC = 145.50 +/- 35.23%; p < 0.0001). Interestingly, a high 2-hour APC level was associated with parenchymal hemorrhages (OR = 25.19; 95% CI = 4.76-133.19; p = 0.0001) and mortality (OR = 13.8; 95% CI = 2.58-73.63; p = 0.001), in a logistic regression model. Our results remained significant after Bonferroni correction for multiple testing.

Does endogenous activated protein C predict hemorrhagic transformation and mortality after tissue plasminogen activator treatment in stroke patients?