TASK DEFINITION: In this task, you are given a passage which has a question and the context. You have to generate an answer to the question based on the information present in the context.
PROBLEM: Context: Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a vital inflammatory factor in the peritoneal cavity of peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. Because intraperitoneal inflammation is closely associated with angiogenesis, we sought to explore the effect of IL-6 on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) synthesis and its transduction pathway in mesothelial cells.', 'Human mesothelial cells (Met-5A) were incubated with different concentrations of glucose and mannitol, and the effect of glucose and mannitol on the expression of IL-6 was determined. Then, the cells were stimulated by IL-6 with or without two soluble receptors of IL-6 (sIL-6R or sgp130), and VEGF synthesis was detected. Finally, the cells were incubated with IL-6/sIL-6R combined with or without the inhibitor of Janus kinases (JAK) AG490. The phosphorylation of the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and its intracellular translocation were examined.', '1. High glucose and mannitol could up-regulate IL-6 mRNA expression and IL-6 secretion in mesothelial cells significantly, and there was no difference of its effect between high glucose and mannitol. 2. Met-5A was a cell line with a single IL-6 receptor. The IL-6/sIL-6R complex induced VEGF synthesis of mesothelial cells, which was alleviated by sgp130 or AG490. IL-6 trans-signaling could induce the phosphorylation of STAT3, which is recruited to the cellular nucleus of Met-5A cells.\Question: Does interleukin-6 trans-signaling induce VEGF synthesis partly via Janus kinases-STAT3 pathway in human mesothelial cells?

SOLUTION: The present study might provide evidence that high glucose up-regulates IL-6 synthesis in Met-5A cells, to some extent, depending on its osmolality and that IL-6 trans-signaling could induce VEGF synthesis partly dependent on the JAK/STAT3 pathway. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

PROBLEM: Context: To investigate the prognostic value of the pre-treatment haemoglobin level in patients with advanced squamous cell head and neck cancer treated with induction polychemotherapy.', 'Seventy-two patients with advanced squamous cell head and neck cancer received primary combination chemotherapy consisting of docetaxel 75 mg/m(2) on day 1, cisplatin 100 mg/m(2) on day 1, and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) 1000 mg/m(2)/day on days 1-4 (total dose 4000 mg/m(2)), repeated on days 1, 22 and 43 followed by chemoradiation. The data collected included pre-treatment haemoglobin, response to treatment, disease-free and overall survival.', 'The pre-treatment haemoglobin level was found to be a significant predictor of response to induction chemotherapy (P = 0.01) and an independent predictor of overall survival [hazard ratio (HR) 0.77, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.58-1.03, P = 0.0001] and disease free survival (HR 2.09, 95% CI 1.41-3.09, P = 0.0001). Furthermore N-stage was found to be a significant prognostic factor of overall survival (HR 9.24, 95% CI 6.90-21.34, P = 0.005). The Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status scale was also found to be significant for disease free survival (HR 7.66, 95% CI 2.61-22.46, P = 0.003).\Question: Does pre-treatment haemoglobin level predict response and survival after TPF induction polychemotherapy in advanced head and neck cancer patients?

SOLUTION: In patients with advanced squamous cell head and neck cancer, the haemoglobin level prior to induction chemotherapy is significantly related to outcome including response and survival.

PROBLEM: Context: A prevailing paradigm is that electrical fields can promote cell migration and tissue healing. To further validate this paradigm, we tested the hypothesis that periodic direct current (DC) can enhance wound closure using an in vitro dynamic model of cell migration.', 'Layers of primary fibroblasts were wounded and treated with DC under various voltages. Repair area, cell velocity, and directionality as well as lamellipodium area were evaluated at different times. Direct current had no beneficial effect on cell migration. Moreover, prolonged stimulation under the highest voltage led to significant reduction in wound closure and cell velocity. The reduction of membrane protusions in stimulated cells may be associated with the deleterious effect of DC.\Question: Does periodic direct current promote wound closure in an in vitro dynamic model of cell migration?

SOLUTION:
Contrary to the authors' expectations, they found that periodic DC did not promote wound closure, a finding that emphasizes the need to clarify the complex effects of electrical fields on migrating cells.