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: The tumor necrosis factor (TNF) gene is located within the highly polymorphic major histocompatibility complex region, exhibiting the -308 GA promoter region polymorphism and six microsatellites (TNFa-f) spanning the region nearby the TNF locus.', 'In the present study, we evaluated the frequency of -308 GA and TNFa-e polymorphisms and respective haplotypes (in chromosomal sequence: TNFd-TNFe-308GA-TNFc-TNFa-TNFb), in 222 patients with AIDS, 52 of whom exhibited cytomegalovirus retinitis, and in 202 healthy HIV-negative individuals.', 'TNF microsatellite and single nucleotide polymorphism typings were performed by PCR followed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.', 'The TNF-308A allele and the 4-3-G-2-7-1 haplotype were associated with susceptibility to AIDS, whereas the TNFb4 allele and the 3-3-G-1-11-4 haplotype were associated with protection against AIDS development. The TNFc2 allele and the 4-1-G-2-2-1 haplotype, which contains the TNFc2 allele, were associated with cytomegalovirus retinitis.

Answer: Are tumor necrosis factor region polymorphisms associated with AIDS and with cytomegalovirus retinitis?


Question: Airway remodeling in asthma is the result of increased expression of connective tissue proteins, airway smooth muscle cell (ASMC) hyperplasia and hypertrophy. TGF-beta1 has been found to increase ASMC proliferation. The activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), p38, ERK, and JNK, is critical to the signal transduction associated with cell proliferation. In the present study, we determined the role of phosphorylated MAPKs in TGF-beta1 induced ASMC proliferation.', 'Confluent and growth-arrested bovine ASMCs were treated with TGF-beta1. Proliferation was measured by [3H]-thymidine incorporation and cell counting. Expressions of phosphorylated p38, ERK1/2, and JNK were determined by Western analysis.', 'In a concentration-dependent manner, TGF-beta1 increased [3H]-thymidine incorporation and cell number of ASMCs. TGF-beta1 also enhanced serum-induced ASMC proliferation. Although ASMCs cultured with TGF-beta1 had a significant increase in phosphorylated p38, ERK1/2, and JNK, the maximal phosphorylation of each MAPK had a varied onset after incubation with TGF-beta1. TGF-beta1 induced DNA synthesis was inhibited by SB 203580 or PD 98059, selective inhibitors of p38 and MAP kinase kinase (MEK), respectively. Antibodies against EGF, FGF-2, IGF-I, and PDGF did not inhibit the TGF-beta1 induced DNA synthesis.

Answer: Does tGF-beta1 increase proliferation of airway smooth muscle cells by phosphorylation of map kinases?


Question: To avoid the use of unnecessary broad-spectrum antibiotics, empirical therapy of bacteraemia should be adjusted according to the results of blood cultures.', 'To investigate whether the results of blood cultures led to changes in antibiotic use and costs in a tertiary-care university hospital in Norway.', 'Medical records from all patients with positive blood cultures in 2001 were analysed retrospectively. Factors predisposing to infections, results of blood cultures, antibiotic use and outcome were recorded. The influence of blood culture results on antibiotic treatment and costs were analysed.', 'The antibiotic use in 226 episodes of bacteraemia in 214 patients was analysed. According to the guidelines empirical antibiotic treatment should be adjusted in 166 episodes. Antibiotic use was adjusted in 146 (88%) of these 166 episodes, which led to a narrowing of therapy in 118 (80%) episodes. Compared with empirical therapy there was a 22% reduction in the number of antibiotics. Adjustment of therapy was more often performed in Gram-negative bacteraemia and polymicrobial cultures than in Gram-positive bacteraemia. In bacteraemia caused by ampicillin-resistant Escherichia coli, ampicillin was mostly replaced by ciprofloxacin. The cost for 7 days adjusted therapy in 146 episodes was euro19,800 (23%) less than for 7 days of empirical therapy.

Answer:
Does adjustment of antibiotic treatment according to the results of blood cultures lead to decreased antibiotic use and costs?