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.

Ex Input:
Two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2DSTE) has been used widely in research, but rarely in clinical practice because data acquisition and analysis are time-consuming. By reducing the acquisition and analysis time, 3-dimensional STE may improve clinical impact. We investigated the feasibility of 3DSTE myocardial deformation, with comparison to 2DSTE.', 'Transthoracic 3DSTE and 2DSTE were performed in 230 adults (138 men, 51 ± 14 years, and 142 hypertension, 10 heart failure and 78 normotensive subjects). The variables of LV deformation were analyzed using EchoPAC software.', 'The 3D LV longitudinal (LS) analysis was feasible in 84.9% of the study subjects, which was lower than the 2D analysis (97.2%). The success rates for circumferential strain (CS) and radial strain (RS) were similar between the 2D and 3D techniques. All magnitude of strains measured by 2DSTE and 3DSTE were significantly correlated. The magnitude of 3D LS and CS was lower, but the 3D RS is higher than that of 2DSTE (-18.5 ± 2.8 vs. -21.2 ± 3.5; 20.8 ± 4.1 vs. 21.7; and 50.0 ± 11.2 vs. 37.7 ± 12.6, respectively). Strains measured by 3DSTE exhibited stronger correlation with LV ejection fraction (EF) than that by 2DSTE. In inter- and intra-observer reproducibility for 3D LS, CS, RS and AS were acceptable. The mean time of analysis for LV volume, EF and strains was 116s by 3DSTE, which was significantly shorter than that by 2DSTE (5 min, P<0.0001).

Ex Output:
Is three-dimensional speckle strain echocardiography more accurate and efficient than 2D strain in the evaluation of left ventricular function?


Ex Input:
Proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin-like 9 (PCSK9) is a secreted glycoprotein that is transcriptionally regulated by cholesterol status. It modulates levels of circulating low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC) by negatively regulating low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) levels. PCSK9 variants that result in 'gain of function' have been linked to autosomal dominant hypercholesterolemia, while significant protection from coronary artery disease has been documented in individuals who carry 'loss of function' PCSK9 variants. PCSK9 circulates in human plasma, and we previously reported that plasma PCSK9 is positively correlated with total cholesterol and LDLC in men.", 'Herein, we report the effects of two lipid-modulating therapies, namely statins and fibrates, on PCSK9 plasma levels in human subjects. We also document their effects on endogenous PCSK9 and LDLR expression in a human hepatocyte cell line, HepG2, using immunoprecipitation and immunoblot analyses. Changes in plasma PCSK9 following fenofibrate or gemfibrozil treatments (fibric acid derivatives) were inversely correlated with changes in LDLC levels (r = -0.558, p = 0.013). Atorvastatin administration (HMGCoA reductase inhibitor) significantly increased plasma PCSK9 (7.40%, p = 0.033) and these changes were inversely correlated with changes in LDLC levels (r = -0.393, p = 0.012). Immunoblot analyses of endogenous PCSK9 and LDLR expression by HepG2 cells in response to statins and fibrates showed that LDLR is more upregulated than PCSK9 by simvastatin (2.6x vs 1.5x, respectively at 10 muM), while fenofibrate did not induce changes in either.

Ex Output:
Are plasma PCSK9 levels significantly modified by statins and fibrates in humans?


Ex Input:
Both the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and the p53 homologue p63 are overexpressed in a significant number of cases of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Epidermal growth factor receptor and p63 both possess oncogenic properties, including the potential to increase cell proliferation and antagonize apoptosis. ZD1839 ("Iressa") is an adenosine triphosphate-competitive inhibitor specific to the EGFR tyrosine kinase currently under evaluation as a chemotherapeutic agent in HNSCC. The objective was to investigate whether p63 expression is decreased after treatment of HNSCC cells with ZD1839. Downregulation of p63 by ZD1839 would identify a potential molecular relationship between EGFR signaling and p63 and could provide insight into the mechanism of action of ZD1839.', 'In vitro examination of p63 expression after ZD1839 treatment.', 'A human HNSCC cell line, SCC-012, was treated with varying doses of ZD1839. p63 protein and messenger RNA levels were analyzed by Western and Northern blot analyses. The effect of ZD1839 on SCC-012 cell cycle was analyzed by flow cytometric analysis.', 'In SCC-012 cells there was a dose-dependent decrease in p63 protein and messenger RNA levels over the course of ZD1839 treatment. Levels of phosphorylated MAPK decreased and p27KIP-1 levels increased after ZD1839 treatment. ZD1839 treatment induced a twofold increase in G1-phase cells and a 3.5-fold decrease in S-phase cells consistent with growth arrest.

Ex Output:

Does inhibition of epidermal growth factor receptor signaling decrease p63 expression in head and neck squamous carcinoma cells?