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: Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels within populations do not follow Gaussian distribution, and normal limits are derived after mathematical normalization. The clinical relevance of these limits is unknown. The objective of this study was to compare upper and lower TSH limits by four data normalization methods with non-normalized data and assess their clinical relevance.', 'Results of blood samples taken by community physicians and stored in a computerized database were analysed after removing samples from patients with evidence of thyroid illness. TSH values were normalized by the Hoffmann and Tukey methods and each method with natural log transformation. Non-normalized data for TSH in the uppermost and lowermost percentile were also calculated. Clinical relevance was determined by alterations in thyroid hormone levels at, below and above the limits for each method.', 'The maximal reduction from non-normalized data for the upper normal limit (UNL) was by the Hoffman method 43% = 3·1 mIU/l). The maximal increase for the lower normal limit (LNL) was also by the Hoffman method (708% = 0·81 mIU/l). There was very limited difference in average FT3 and FT4 between patients with TSH within, below or above the normal range for all methods.

SOLUTION: 0

PROBLEM: Airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) is associated with persistent air flow limitation and accelerated FEV(1) decline. AHR can influence diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis. We assessed the value of pulmonary function variables, symptoms, and history as selection criteria for methacholine bronchoprovocation testing to detect AHR in symptomatic subjects.', 'Over a 4-year period we conducted a prospective study of consecutive subjects who underwent methacholine bronchoprovocation testing. Baseline pulmonary function testing (PFT) and a questionnaire were obtained prior to methacholine bronchoprovocation testing. PFT and symptom and history variables were assessed as AHR predictors in univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses for the whole group and for 4 different age groups.', 'There were 530 subjects, with ages ranging from 5 to 87 years, and 232 (44%) were positive for methacholine AHR. AHR was more prevalent among subjects < or = 25 years old (59%) and > 65 years old (47%) than among the other age groups. PFT values, symptom, and history variables had different AHR predictive values among the different age groups. Symptom and history variables had no AHR predictive value among subjects < or = 25 or > 65 years old.

SOLUTION: 1

PROBLEM: We examined whether patients with a diagnosis of fibromyalgia have an increased risk of coronary heart disease (CHD), compared with age- and sex-matched control patients. We hypothesized that patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia are at increased risk of adverse coronary events.', 'Using a matched-cohort study design, we analyzed data retrieved from the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2000 released by the National Health Research Institute, Taiwan. The Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2000 includes medical claims data and registration files for 1 million enrollees randomly selected from the 2000 Registry for Beneficiaries (n = 23.72 million) of the National Health Insurance program. Patients treated for fibromyalgia at least once a month for 3 consecutive months following their initial diagnosis were enrolled in our study. The primary end point was the composite of CHD events, including percutaneous coronary interventions and coronary artery bypass grafting procedures. A propensity score was estimated by a logistic regression method, in which the fibromyalgia status was regressed on baseline prognostic factors. The hazard ratios and the 95% confidence intervals were estimated using multivariate Cox proportional-hazards regression models while adjusting for the propensity score.', 'After adjusting for the propensity score, the patients with fibromyalgia showed a significantly higher subsequent risk of a CHD event (hazard ratio, 2.11; 95% confidence interval, 1.46-3.05; P < 0.001) than the patients without fibromyalgia.

SOLUTION:
1