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: The DSM-5 encompasses a wide range of symptoms for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Symptoms are commonly added up to sum-scores, and thresholds differentiate between healthy and depressed individuals. The underlying assumption is that all patients diagnosed with MDD have a similar condition, and that sum-scores accurately reflect the severity of this condition. To test this assumption, we examined the number of DSM-5 depression symptom patterns in the "Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression" (STAR*D) study.', 'We investigated the number of unique symptom profiles reported by 3703 depressed outpatients at the beginning of the first treatment stage of STAR*D.', 'Overall, we identified 1030 unique symptom profiles. Of these profiles, 864 profiles (83.9%) were endorsed by five or fewer subjects, and 501 profiles (48.6%) were endorsed by only one individual. The most common symptom profile exhibited a frequency of only 1.8%. Controlling for overall depression severity did not reduce the amount of observed heterogeneity.

SOLUTION: Is depression a consistent syndrome : An investigation of unique symptom patterns in the STAR*D study?

PROBLEM: We investigated whether a computed tomography (CT)-based score could predict a large infarct (≥ 80 mL) on early diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI).', 'Acute stroke patients considered for endovascular therapy within 8 hours of the onset of symptoms were included. The Alberta Stroke Program Early Computed Tomography Score (ASPECTS) was determined on noncontrast CT and computed tomography angiography source images (CTA-SI). Limited collateral flow was defined as less than 50% collateral filling on CTA-SI.', 'Fifty-six patients were analyzed. National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score was 20 (15-24) in the large infarct group and 16 (11-20) in the small infarct group (P = .049). ASPECTS on noncontrast CT and CTA-SI was 5 (3-8) and 3 (2-6) in the large infarct group and 9 (8-10) and 8 (7-9) in the small infarct group (both P < .001), respectively. Limited collateral flow was frequent in the large infarct group than in the small infarct group (92% vs. 11%, P < .001). Multivariate analysis found that CTA-SI ASPECTS less than or equal to 5 (odds ratio [OR], 40.55; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.10-1493.44; P = .044) and limited collateral flow (OR, 114.64; 95% CI, 1.93-6812.79; P = .023) were associated with a large infarct. Absence of ASPECTS less than or equal to 5 and limited collateral flow on CTA-SI predicted absence of a large infarct with a sensitivity of .89, specificity of 1.00, positive predictive value of 1.00, and negative predictive value of .71.

SOLUTION: Do collateral flow and brain changes on computed tomography angiography predict infarct volume on early diffusion-weighted imaging?

PROBLEM: Natriuretic peptides and echocardiographic parameters both predict cardiovascular events in patients with CKD. However, it is unknown whether simultaneous assessment of amino-terminal probrain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and echocardiographic parameters provides complementary or redundant predictive information; in the latter case, one of these two might be dispensable. We aimed to analyze the implications of using NT-proBNP alone, echocardiographic parameters alone, or a combination of both for prediction of adverse cardiovascular outcome.', 'Within the longitudinal Cardiovascular and Renal Outcome in CKD 2-4 Patients-The Fourth Homburg Evaluation Study, we prospectively studied 496 patients with CKD stages G2-G4, in whom we measured NT-proBNP. Left ventricular mass index, left atrial volume index, diastolic left ventricular function, and systolic left ventricular function were assessed echocardiographically. During 4.5±2.0 years of follow-up, the occurrence of (1) decompensated heart failure or all-cause mortality and (2) atherosclerotic events or all-cause mortality was recorded. We assessed the association of NT-proBNP and echocardiographic parameters with outcome (using Cox models) and evaluated the increased discriminative value associated with the addition of echocardiographic parameters and NT-proBNP (using integrated discrimination improvement and net reclassification improvement).', 'During follow-up, 104 patients suffered decompensated heart failure or all-cause mortality, and 127 patents had atherosclerotic events or all-cause mortality. In univariable analyses, NT-proBNP and echocardiographic parameters predicted cardiovascular events. NT-proBNP remained an independent predictor for both end points in multivariate analysis, whereas left ventricular mass index, left atrial volume index, and diastolic left ventricular function did not. The addition of NT-proBNP on top of clinical and various echocardiographic variables was associated with improvements in reclassification for decompensated heart failure or all-cause mortality (integrated discrimination improvement =6.5%-8.3%; net reclassification improvement =23.1%-27.0%; all P≤0.03). Adding echocardiographic variables on top of clinical variables and NT-proBNP was not associated with significant net reclassification improvement (all P>0.05).

SOLUTION:
Does nT-proBNP and Echocardiographic Parameters for Prediction of Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients with CKD stage G2-G4?