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.
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Question: High urine volume enhances urinary free cortisol (UFF) and cortisone (UFE) excretion rates in normal-weight adults and children. Renal excretion rates of glucocorticoids (GC) and their metabolites are frequently altered in obesity. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether UFF and UFE excretion is also affected by urine volume in severely obese subjects.', 'In 24-h urine samples of 59 extremely obese subjects (mean BMI 45.3+/-8.9 kg/m(2)) and 20 healthy lean subjects (BMI 22.1+/-1.8 kg/m(2)), UFF and UFE, tetrahydrocortisol (THF), 5alpha-tetrahydrocortisol (5alpha-THF), and tetrahydrocortisone (THE) were quantified by RIA. The sum of THF, 5alpha-THF, and THE (GC3), the three major GC metabolites, reflects daily cortisol secretion. 11beta-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (11beta-HSD2) activity was assessed by the ratio UFE/UFF. Daily GC excretion rates were corrected for urine creatinine and adjusted for gender and body weight.', 'In extremely obese subjects, urine volume was significantly associated with creatinine-corrected UFE and 11beta-HSD2 activity after adjustment for gender and BMI (r=0.47, p=0.0002 and r=0.31, p=0.02, respectively). However, urine volume was not associated with creatinine-corrected UFF and GC3 (p=0.4 and p=0.6, respectively). In lean controls, urine volume was significantly associated with creatinine-corrected UFE and UFF (r=0.58, p=0.01 and r=0.55, p=0.02, respectively), whereas urine volume was not associated with 11beta-HSD2 activity after appropriate adjustment (p=0.3).

Answer: Is urinary free cortisone , but not cortisol , associated with urine volume in severe obesity?


Question: To analyze the functional connectivity patterns of the different EEG bands during wakefulness and sleep (different sleep stages and cyclic alternating pattern (CAP) conditions), using concepts derived from Graph Theory.', 'We evaluated spatial patterns of EEG band synchronization between all possible pairs of electrodes (19) placed over the scalp of 10 sleeping healthy young normal subjects using two graph theoretical measures: the clustering coefficient (Cp) and the characteristic path length (Lp). The measures were obtained during wakefulness and the different sleep stages/CAP conditions from the real EEG connectivity networks and randomized control (surrogate) networks (Cp-s and Lp-s).', 'We found values of Cp and Lp compatible with a small-world network organization in all sleep stages and for all EEG bands. All bands below 15Hz showed an increase of these features during sleep (and during CAP-A phases in particular), compared to wakefulness.

Answer: Does the functional connectivity of different EEG bands move towards small-world network organization during sleep?


Question: Intestinal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury is believed to be the major initiator of the systemic inflammatory response syndrome. As a result of intestinal I/R, the gut becomes a major source of inflammatory cytokine production. We have previously shown that heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor (HB-EGF) is cytoprotective after intestinal I/R and down-regulates pro-inflammatory cytokine production in vitro. We now examine the effects of HB-EGF on pro-inflammatory cytokine expression in vivo.', 'Rats were randomized into three groups: sham-operated, superior mesenteric artery occlusion (SMAO) for 90 min followed by 8 h of reperfusion (I/R), and I/R with intraluminal administration of HB-EGF 25 min after the initiation of ischemia (I/R + HB-EGF). Serum was drawn at 2, 4, 6, and 8 h post reperfusion for determination of cytokine protein levels using a bioplex suspension array system. Additional animals underwent the same ischemic protocol followed by 30 and 60 min of reperfusion with harvesting of ileal mucosa. Ileal pro-inflammatory cytokine gene expression was determined using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with primers specific for TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IL-1beta.', 'HB-EGF decreased TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IL-1beta serum protein levels at 4, 6, and 8 h after intestinal I/R injury. In addition, HB-EGF decreased local intestinal mucosal mRNA expression of TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IL-1beta 30 and 60 min after intestinal injury.

Answer:
Does heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor decrease inflammatory cytokine expression after intestinal ischemia/reperfusion injury?