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: Advances in imaging technology have enhanced the detection of small nodular lesions during the course of chronic liver disease.', 'Between 1995 and 2002, the authors examined 154 consecutive patients with small hepatic nodules without hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) over a median duration of 2.8 years. The median size of these nodules was 14 mm (range, 7-40 mm). The initial histopathologic diagnosis included high-grade dysplastic nodule (HGDN) (n=13), low-grade dysplastic nodule (LGDN) (n=42), and regenerative nodule (RN) (n=99).', 'A total of 29 (18.8%) nodules developed into HCC during the observation period. Cumulative HCC development rates at the first, third, and fifth year were 46.2%, 61.5%, and 80.8% for HGDN; 2.6%, 30.2%, and 36.6% for LGDN; and 3.3%, 9.7%, and 12.4% for RN, respectively. The rate of HCC development was significantly higher in the HGDN group than for other types (P<0.001). Multivariate analysis disclosed that histopathologic diagnosis (P<0.001) and findings on computed tomographic arterial portography (CT-AP) (P=0.004) were significantly associated with future HCC development. The hazard ratios of HGDN and LGDN were 16.8 (95% confidence interval [CI], 6.19-45.6) and 2.96 (95% CI, 1.20-7.31), respectively. A decrease in portal blood flow also showed a significantly high hazard ratio of 3.04 (95% CI, 1.42-6.50). Approximate annual development rate to HCC was 20% in patients with HGDN and 10% in LGDN.

SOLUTION: 0

PROBLEM: This study was conducted to measure the corneal thickness changes associated with wearing 30-day tisilfocon A (Dk = 163) and 6-day etafilcon A (Dk = 28) contact lenses. The probable cause of the outcomes is discussed.', 'Thirty subjects were fitted with Menicon Z rigid gas-permeable (RGP) contact lenses and a control group (n = 30) was fitted with ACUVUE hydrogel lenses, at two study sites. After a 2-week period of daily wear, subjects began prolonged wear. Measurements were performed at the dispensing visit, and then at the 2-week daily wear, the 1-week, 6-month, and 12-month extended- and continuous-wear visits.', 'Repeated measures analysis of covariance was performed on mean corneal thickness. There was a significant increase in corneal thickness in the hydrogel lens extended-wear group compared to the RGP group (P = 0.03). The mean corneal thickness in the ACUVUE group was 2.58% higher at the 2-week daily wear visit, 2.38% higher at the 1-week extended-wear visit, 2.96% higher at the 6-month, and 2.97% higher at the 1-year visit compared to the RGP continuous-wear patients.

SOLUTION: 1

PROBLEM: Proliferation of fibroblasts (desmoplastic reaction) in the lung adenocarcinomas is an important phenomenon that correlates with metastases and poor prognosis. Because basement membranes are often involved in the desmoplastic areas and many cytokines have binding capacity to basement membrane molecules, we hypothesized that basement membrane modify the paracrine effects between cancer cells and fibroblasts via the fibrogenic cytokines and this hypothesis was experimentally investigated.', 'The effects of conditioned media derived from ten lung carcinoma cell lines and normal airway epithelial cells on DNA synthesis of fetal lung fibroblasts were determined. We focused on fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2) as the candidate paracrine cytokines and examined their diffusion through an experimental basement membrane matrix model, Matrigel.', 'All the conditioned media promoted DNA synthesis of fetal lung fibroblasts. Detection by ELISA methods and the neutralizing antibodies suggested that FGF-2 was one of the responsible factors for the growth promotion. Diffusion of FGF-2 across the polycarbonate membrane was suppressed by coating with Matrigel. When FGF-2-secreting A549 cells were covered with Matrigel, FGF-2 was stored in Matrigel and its diffusion into the culture media was significantly reduced. Binding of FGF-2 to Matrigel was completely blocked by a basic protein, protamine sulfate. In the presence of protamine sulfate in Matrigel overlaid on A549 cells, diffusion of FGF-2 increased 7-fold as much as that without overlaid Matrigel.

SOLUTION:
1