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: Reports on outcome after posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) reconstruction often contain both isolated PCL and combined knee ligament injuries. This makes it difficult to conclude on the outcome after reconstruction of isolated PCL injuries.', 'To investigate the outcome after PCL reconstruction in patients with an isolated PCL injury and to compare this with the outcome of patients treated with reconstruction after isolated anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries.', 'Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.', 'Seventy-one patients with an isolated PCL injury that was reconstructed surgically and who had registered in the Norwegian Knee Ligament Registry between 2004 and 2010 were included in this study. Patients with isolated ACL reconstructions (n = 9661) who had registered in the same period were included for comparison. Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) was used as the patient-reported outcome measure. Preoperative and 2-year postoperative KOOS scores were compared. Changes in KOOS score reported by the PCL patients were compared with changes reported by the ACL patients.', 'At the 2-year postoperative follow-up of the PCL-reconstructed patients, the patient-reported outcome was improved, measured by KOOS as follows: pain, 15.1 (95% CI, 8.5-21.8; P < .001); symptoms, 0.9 (95% CI, -6.6 to 8.3; P = .82); activities of daily living, 13.2 (95% CI, 6.6-13.9; P < .001); sports, 20.7 (95% CI, 11.8-29.4; P < .001); and quality of life, 26.6 (95% CI, 18.9-34.2; P < .001). According to the KOOS, the incremental improvements were similar for PCL and ACL patients. Time from injury to surgery was longer for the PCL patients compared with ACL patients (median, 21.5 vs 8.0 months; P < .001).

SOLUTION: Do patients With Isolated PCL Injuries Improve From Surgery as Much as Patients With ACL Injuries After 2 Years?

PROBLEM: The brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene is a candidate gene in therapeutic responses to antidepressants. The aim of the study was to determine the effects of BDNF allelic variability on responses to escitalopram treatment at 3\xa0weeks after treatment initiation and at a 6-week endpoint.', 'We included 187 Caucasian subjects with depression; 153 completed the 6-week study. Clinical evaluation was performed using the Montgomery and Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) before and after 3-6 weeks of treatment.', 'After 3\xa0weeks of treatment, we saw significantly better treatment responses in the Met carriers and greater antidepressant resistance among the Val/Val homozygotes. Relative to Val/Val homozygous (59.78\xa0%), a significantly greater proportion of subjects Met-carriers (77.94\xa0%) responded to escitalopram treatment (χ (2)\u2009=\u20095.88, p\u2009=\u20090.015). After 6\xa0weeks, we found the same pattern of results but this effect did not reach statistical significance (χ (2)\u2009=\u20092.07, p\u2009=\u20090.15).

SOLUTION: Is the BDNF Val ( 66 ) Met polymorphism associated with escitalopram response in depressed patients?

PROBLEM: The aim of the present work was to investigate the mechanism of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 and Sloan-Kettering Institute (Ski) in the pathogenesis of hypertrophic scars (HS).', 'Wound healing is an inherent process, but the aberrant wound healing of skin injury may lead to HS. There has been growing evidence suggesting a role for TGF-β1 and Ski in the pathogenesis of fibrosis.', 'The MTT assay was used to detect the cell proliferation induced by TGF-β1. The Ski gene was transduced into cells with an adenovirus, and then the function of Ski in cell proliferation and differentiation was observed. Ski mRNA levels were measured by RT-PCR. Western blotting was used to detect the protein expression of α-SMA, E-cadherin, Meox1, Meox2, Zeb1 and Zeb2.', 'TGF-β1 can promote human skin fibroblast (HSF) cell proliferation in a time-dependent manner, but the promoting effect could be suppressed by Ski. TGF-β1 also induces the formation of the myofibroblast phenotype and the effect of TGF-β1 could be diminished by Ski. Also, Ski modulates the cardiac myofibroblast phenotype and function through suppression of Zeb2 by up-regulating the expression of Meox2.

SOLUTION:
Does ski diminish TGF-β1-induced myofibroblast phenotype via up-regulating Meox2 expression?