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: To determine microRNA (miRNA) expression in human blastocysts relative to advanced maternal age and chromosome constitution.', "Cryopreserved human blastocysts were warmed and underwent a trophectoderm biopsy for comprehensive chromosomal screening. Select blastocysts were then lysed, reverse transcribed, and pre-amplified prior to running real-time PCR. Statistical analysis was performed using an internal constant housekeeping miRNA. Significant microRNA's of interest were then analyzed for their predicted genes and biological pathways. Additional cryopreserved blastocysts were warmed and stained for the SIRT1 protein for validation.", 'Human blastocysts exhibit unique miRNA expression profiles in relation to maternal age and chromosome constitution. miR-93 was exclusively expressed in blastocysts from women in their forties and further up-regulated with an abnormal chromosome complement. Up-regulated miR-93 resulted in an inverse down-regulation of targets like SIRT1, resulting in reduced oxidative defense.

SOLUTION: Do human blastocysts exhibit unique microrna profiles in relation to maternal age and chromosome constitution?

PROBLEM: The ability of Yersinia pestis to form a biofilm is an important characteristic in flea transmission of this pathogen. Y. pestis laterally acquired two plasmids (pPCP1and pMT1) and the ability to form biofilms when it evolved from Yersinia pseudotuberculosis. Small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs) are thought to play a crucial role in the processes of biofilm formation and pathogenesis.', 'A pPCP1-derived sRNA HmsA (also known as sR084) was found to contribute to the enhanced biofilm formation phenotype of Y. pestis. The concentration of c-di-GMP was significantly reduced upon deletion of the hmsA gene in Y. pestis. The abundance of mRNA transcripts determining exopolysaccharide production, crucial for biofilm formation, was measured by primer extension, RT-PCR and lacZ transcriptional fusion assays in the wild-type and hmsA mutant strains. HmsA positively regulated biofilm synthesis-associated genes (hmsHFRS, hmsT and hmsCDE), but had no regulatory effect on the biofilm degradation-associated gene hmsP. Interestingly, the recently identified biofilm activator sRNA, HmsB, was rapidly degraded in the hmsA deletion mutant. Two genes (rovM and rovA) functioning as biofilm regulators were also found to be regulated by HmsA, whose regulatory effects were consistent with the HmsA-mediated biofilm phenotype.

SOLUTION: Does plasmid pPCP1-derived sRNA HmsA promote biofilm formation of Yersinia pestis?

PROBLEM: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is an important cause of cancer-related death worldwide. To improve prognoses in patients with ESCC, we evaluated the potential of transforming growth factor-beta-induced protein (TGFBI), which is overexpressed in ESCC, as a therapeutic candidate.', 'We examined the clinical significance of TBFBI in 102 ESCC samples using real-time RT-PCR. Immunohistochemical studies were conducted to examine the localization of TGFBI. Knockdown of TGFBI in cocultured fibroblasts was performed to determine the roles of TGFBI in migration and invasion.', 'The level of TGFBI in ESCC tissues was higher than that in normal tissues. The high TGFBI expression group (n = 16) had higher TGFB1 expression and more frequent hematogenous recurrence than the low-expression group (n = 86). High TGFBI expression was an independent prognostic factor in patients with ESCC. TGFBI was mainly localized in stromal cells of ESCC. Moreover, suppression of TGFBI in fibroblasts inhibited the migration and invasion capacity of TE8 ESCC cells.

SOLUTION:
Is tGFBI Expression in Cancer Stromal Cells Associated with Poor Prognosis and Hematogenous Recurrence in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma?