Given a passage with a context and an answer, 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.
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Question: Context: Long-QT syndrome (LQTS), a cardiac arrhythmia disorder with variable phenotype, often results in devastating outcomes, including sudden cardiac death. Variable expression, independently from the primary disease-causing mutation, can partly be explained by genetic modifiers. This study investigates variants in a known LQTS-causative gene, AKAP9, for potential LQTS-type 1-modifying effects.', "Members of a South African LQTS-type 1 founder population (181 noncarriers and 168 mutation carriers) carrying the identical-by-descent KCNQ1 p.Ala341Val (A341V) mutation were evaluated for modifying effects of AKAP9 variants on heart rate-corrected QT interval (QTc), cardiac events, and disease severity. Tag single nucleotide polymorphisms in AKAP9 rs11772585, rs7808587, rs2282972, and rs2961024 (order, 5'-3'positive strand) were genotyped. Associations between phenotypic traits and alleles, genotypes, and haplotypes were statistically assessed, adjusting for the degree of relatedness and confounding variables. The rs2961024 GG genotype, always represented by CGCG haplotype homozygotes, revealed an age-dependent heart rate-corrected QT interval increase (1% per additional 10 years) irrespective of A341V mutation status (P=0.006). The rs11772585 T allele, found uniquely in the TACT haplotype, more than doubled (218%) the risk of cardiac events (P=0.002) in the presence of A341V; additionally, it increased disease severity (P=0.025). The rs7808587 GG genotype was associated with a 74% increase in cardiac event risk (P=0.046), whereas the rs2282972 T allele, predominantly represented by the CATT haplotype, decreased risk by 53% (P=0.001).
Answer: AKAP9 has been identified as an LQTS-type 1-modifying gene. Variants investigated altered heart rate-corrected QT interval irrespective of mutation status, as well as cardiac event risk, and disease severity, in mutation carriers.

Answer: Is aKAP9 a genetic modifier of congenital long-QT syndrome type 1?


Question: Context: To study the effect of removal of YY1 binding sites within the LCR region of HPV 16 on viral transforming activity.', 'Previously we had generated new plasmids carrying HPV 16 whole genome, which contained naturally occurred mutated LCR sequences. The viral transforming abilities on mouse fibroblasts were evaluated in anchorage-independent assays, while the expression and activity of YY1 protein in fibroblasts were tested with EMSA and luciferase assays.', 'YY1 protein was expressed in mouse fibroblasts C127, with ability for DNA binding and repression on P97 activity. Both HPV 16 wild-type DNA and mutated DNAs were transfected into C127 cells and spread to the soft-agarose mediums after selecting with G 418. The growth numbers of the cells transfected with mutated HPV 16 DNAs were 2-10 fold more than that with wild-type HPV 16 DNA.
Answer: Like in epithelial cells or cell lines, transcription regulator YY1 is widely expressed in rodent fibroblasts. Removal of YY1 binding motifs can elevate in the context of the whole genome, the anchorage independent growth ability and the transforming capacity of HPV 16 on the mouse fibroblasts.

Answer: Does [ Removal of YY1 binding sites in HPV 16 LCR increase viral transforming activities on mouse fibroblasts ]?


Question: Context: The administration of anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) to improve athletic performance has increased notably during the past three decades, even among nonathletes. Thyroid function is affected by AAS use in humans, although the mechanisms of the effects of AAS are unclear. We evaluated the effects on thyroid function of supraphysiologic doses of nandrolone decanoate (DECA), which is one of the most anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) used.', 'Male Wistar rats were treated with vehicle or 1 mg.100 g(-1) body weight (b.w.) of DECA, once a week for 8 wk, intramuscularly. We analyzed thyroperoxidase (TPO) activity, type 1 iodothyronine deiodinase (D1) activities in liver, kidney, pituitary, and thyroid, and serum levels of total T3, total T4, free T4, and TSH. Parametric and nonparametric t-tests were employed for statistical analyses.', 'Treated animals showed a significant increase in the weight of kidneys and heart, and a decrease in the relative testis weight. Retroperitoneal adipose tissue was only slightly decreased. DECA treatment induced a significant increase in the absolute and relative thyroid gland weight. The concentrations of total serum T3, free T4, and TSH decreased significantly with treatment, but total serum T4 levels were unchanged. Thyroperoxidase activity was unaltered, whereas liver and kidney D1 activities were significantly increased, but pituitary and thyroid D1 did not change.
Answer: Our data indicate that DECA exerts direct actions on the thyroid gland and in the peripheral metabolism of thyroid hormones and might lead to thyroid dysfunction.

Answer:
Does chronic administration of anabolic androgenic steroid alter murine thyroid function?