TASK DEFINITION: Given a passage classify if the passage has a definite objective/aim/goal or not. Output '1' if the passage has a defininte objective/aim/goal and output '0' if the passage does not have a definite objective/aim/goal.
PROBLEM: Previous studies regarding the outcome of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) in men have reported inconsistent findings. We conducted this prospective study to test the hypothesis that the outcome of LC is worse in men than women.', 'Between 1997 and 2002, a total of 391 consecutive LCs were performed by a single surgeon at King Fahd Hospital of the University. We collected and analyzed data including age, gender, body mass index (kg/m(2)), the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class, mode of admission (elective or emergency), indication for LC (chronic or acute cholecystitis [AC]), comorbid disease, previous abdominal surgery, conversion to open cholecystectomy, complications, operation time, and length of postoperative hospital stay.', 'Bivariate analysis showed that both genders were matched for age, ASA class and mode of admission. The incidences of AC (P = 0.003) and comorbid disease (P = 0.031) were significantly higher in men. Women were significantly more obese than men (P < 0.001) and had a higher incidence of previous abdominal surgery (P = 0.017). There were no statistical differences between genders with regard to rates of conversion (P = 0.372) and complications (P = 0.647) and operation time (P = 0.063). The postoperative stay was significantly longer in men than women (P = 0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed that male gender was not an independent predictor of conversion (Odds ratio [OR] = 0.37 and P = 0.43) or complications (OR = 0.42, P = 0.42). Linear regression analysis showed that male gender was not an independent predictor of the operation time, but was associated with a longer postoperative stay (P = 0.02).

SOLUTION: 1

PROBLEM: Although trastuzumab improves the outcome of patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor\xa02 (HER2)-overexpressing gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma (collectively referred to as "gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma"; GEA), no clinical response is observed in a substantial population of patients. A predictive biomarker of trastuzumab response is required. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the hyperactivation of the downstream phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase pathway, due to phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) loss or PIK3CA mutations, could provide trastuzumab resistance in GEA.', 'Expression of HER2 and PTEN, and PIK3CA gene mutations were screened in 264 surgically resected GEA specimens. The effects of PTEN knockdown on the response to trastuzumab on cell viability, HER2 downstream signaling, apoptosis, and cell cycle were evaluated in HER2-overexpressing NCI-N87 gastric adenocarcinoma and OE19 esophageal adenocarcinoma cell lines. Inhibition of xenograft tumor growth by trastuzumab was investigated in OE19 cells with or without PTEN knockdown. The PTEN expression and objective response were analyzed in 23 GEA patients who received trastuzumab-based therapy.', 'PTEN loss was identified in 34.5\xa0% of HER2-overexpressing GEA patients, whereas PIK3CA mutations were rare (5.6\xa0%). Trastuzumab-mediated growth suppression, apoptosis, and G

SOLUTION: 0

PROBLEM: Clonidine prolongs the duration of sensory and motor block induced by bupivacaine, and this association, in constant infusion by the epidural route, is used for postoperative analgesia. After a near-fatal intravenous bolus of bupivacaine in dogs, clonidine improves ventricular electrophysiologic parameters, but probably worsens bupivacaine-induced bradycardia and depression of the myocardial contractility. The current study, using a rodent animal model, evaluated the influence of clonidine pretreatment on the systemic toxic effects of bupivacaine overdose induced by a constant intravenous infusion.', 'Twenty Wistar male rats were anesthetized with thiopental, and controlled ventilation was started with an equal mixture of O2 and N2O. Electrocardiogram (ECG), electroencephalogram (EEG), and invasive arterial blood pressure were continuously recorded. Clonidine (5 micrograms/kg) or saline was injected intravenously in a randomized fashion. After 15 min, an intravenous infusion of bupivacaine was started at 2 mg.kg-1 x min-1. The time of occurrence of the bupivacaine-induced toxic events was recorded and the doses were calculated. Ten (five in each group) additional rats, pretreated according to the same protocol, were killed at the time of the first dysrhythmia, for blood sampling and plasma bupivacaine concentration measurement.', 'Clonidine reduced heart rate and arterial blood pressure before bupivacaine infusion (P < 0.05). The threshold doses at the first QRS modification (11.3 +/- 5.6 vs. 2.1 +/- 0.9 mg/kg) and the first dysrhythmia (40.6 +/- 15.3 vs. 8.48 +/- 3.7 mg/kg), the increase in EEG total spectral power (33.3 +/- 21.9 vs. 8.2 +/- 5.1 mg/kg), the 25 and 50% reduction in baseline mean arterial pressure and heart rate, the isoelectric EEG (58.6 +/- 14 vs. 22 +/- 6.6 mg/kg), and the final systole (99 +/- 16 vs. 51.8 +/- 14.5 mg/kg) were significantly greater in the clonidine group than in the saline group (P < 0.01). The time between the first dysrhythmia and 50% reduction of baseline mean arterial blood pressure was not different between the groups. In the additional series, the first dysrhythmia occurred later (10.9 +/- 4.5 vs. 3.2 +/- 1.0 min, P < 0.01) and plasma bupivacaine levels were greater (18.7 +/- 8.0 vs. 7.8 +/- 3.2 micrograms/ml, P < 0.01) in the clonidine group than in the saline group.

SOLUTION:
0