Given a passage with a context and an answer, 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.

Input: Consider Input: Context: Disruptions to intermyocyte coupling have been implicated in arrhythmogenesis and development of conduction disturbances. At present, understanding of the relationship between the microscopic organization of intercellular coupling and the macroscopic spread of impulse in the normal and diseased heart is largely confined to theoretical analyses.', 'The abundance and arrangement of gap junctions, as well as conduction properties, were assessed in terminal crest preparations isolated from the atria of neonate, weanling, and adult rabbits. We report that the connexin composition of terminal crest was uncomplicated, with Cx43 being the most prominent isoform detectable by Western blotting and immunostaining. Terminal crest myocytes showed little change in total Cx43-gap junction per cell during postnatal growth as assessed by stereology. However, marked non-uniformities emerged in the sarcolemmal distribution of Cx43-gap junctions. Cx43-gap junction area at myocyte termini increased 3.5-fold from birth to adulthood. Correlated with this change in Cx43, impulse propagation velocity parallel to the myofiber axis, as assessed by multi-site optical mapping using voltage-sensitive dye (di-4-ANEPPS), increased 2.4-fold. Conversely, the amount of Cx43-gap junctions on myocyte sides, and the conduction velocity transverse to the myofiber axis, remained relatively invariant during maturation. Hence, the increasing electrical anisotropy of maturing terminal crest was wholly accounted for by increases in conductance velocity along the bundle. This increase in longitudinal conduction velocity was correlated with changes in the sarcolemmal pattern, but not the overall density, of Cx43-gap junctions.
Answer: This study provides the first correlative structure/function analysis of the relationship between the macroscopic conduction of impulse and the microscopic cellular organization of gap junctions in a differentiating cardiac bundle. Confirmation is provided for theoretical predictions which emphasize the importance of the cell-to-cell geometry of coupling in determining the spread and pattern of myocardial activation.

Output: Are the rate and anisotropy of impulse propagation in the postnatal terminal crest correlated with remodeling of Cx43 gap junction pattern?


Input: Consider Input: Context: Tinnitus can adversely affect patients' quality of life. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) may be effective in the management of tinnitus. No study has investigated the efficacy of TENS for the management of tinnitus by means of quality of life measures. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of TENS for the management of tinnitus symptoms by using the visual analogue scale (VAS), tinnitus handicap inventory test, Nottingham health profile (NHP) and short form-36 (SF-36) questionnaires.", 'Twenty-two patients were included in this study (male/female, 16/6; mean age, 48.04 +/- 15.57 years). Nine patients had unilateral and 13 patients had bilateral tinnitus.', 'After TENS, improvement measured by VAS was only marginally significant (p = 0.059). However, after TENS, there were statistically significant improvements regarding tinnitus severity scores, tinnitus handicap inventory scores, NHP fatigue, social isolation and emotional problems scores, and many parameters measured by the SF-36 (physical functioning, general health, vitality, social functioning, role limitations due to emotional problems, and mental health)(p < 0.05).
Answer: Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation is a useful method to improve the quality of life of patients with tinnitus.

Output: Does treatment of tinnitus with transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation improve patients ' quality of life?


Input: Consider Input: Context: Activated protein C (APC) is a plasma serine protease with systemic anticoagulant and a wide spectrum of cytoprotective activities that has been proposed as a promising therapy for acute stroke. Therefore, we sought to investigate the role of endogenous APC in human ischemic stroke.', 'Our target were 119 consecutive patients with an ischemic stroke involving the middle cerebral artery territory who received tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) within 3 h of symptom onset. APC was measured before, as well as 1 and 2 h after t-PA administration, and again at 12 and 24 h after stroke onset. Cranial tomography scan was obtained at admission and repeated at 24-48 h or when a neurological worsening occurred to rule out the presence of hemorrhagic complications. The functional outcome was evaluated by 3-month modified Rankin Scale.', 'A total of 117 t-PA-treated patients were finally included in the analyses. APC peaked at 1 h after t-PA administration (pretreatment APC = 132.44 +/- 36.39%, 1-hour APC = 184.20 +/- 34.28%, 2-hour APC = 145.50 +/- 35.23%; p < 0.0001). Interestingly, a high 2-hour APC level was associated with parenchymal hemorrhages (OR = 25.19; 95% CI = 4.76-133.19; p = 0.0001) and mortality (OR = 13.8; 95% CI = 2.58-73.63; p = 0.001), in a logistic regression model. Our results remained significant after Bonferroni correction for multiple testing.
Answer: A high endogenous APC level 2 h after t-PA administration is independently associated with hemorrhagic transformation and mortality in our cohort of stroke patients. Establishing any causal link for these relationships needs further research.


Output: Does endogenous activated protein C predict hemorrhagic transformation and mortality after tissue plasminogen activator treatment in stroke patients?