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: Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) is a key component of innate immunity. The expression of cortical MBL is up-regulated after clinical and experimental head trauma. This study aimed to assess the association of serum MBL levels with injury severity and long-term clinical outcomes after severe traumatic brain injury (STBI).', 'Serum MBL levels were measured in 122 patients and 100 healthy controls. Multivariate analyses were used to analyze the relationship between serum MBL levels and trauma severity reflected by Glasgow Coma Scale scores as well as between serum MBL levels and 6-month mortality and unfavorable outcome (Glasgow Outcome Scale score: 1-3). A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was structured to evaluate the prognostic predictive performance of serum MBL levels.', 'Compared with healthy controls, serum MBL levels of patients were markedly elevated. Using multivariate analyses, serum MBL levels were found to be associated closely with Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores and MBL emerged as an independent predictor for 6-month mortality and unfavorable outcome. Under ROC curve, serum MBL levels and GCS scores possessed similar prognostic predictive values.

SOLUTION: 0

PROBLEM: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) neurofilament light chain protein (NFL) is a sensitive marker of neuronal injury in a variety of neurodegenerative conditions, including the CNS dysfunction injury that is common in untreated HIV infection. However, an important limitation is the requirement for lumbar puncture. For this reason, a sensitive and reliable blood biomarker of CNS injury would represent a welcome advance in both clinical and research settings.', 'To explore whether plasma concentrations of NFL might be used to detect CNS injury in HIV infection, an ultrasensitive Single molecule array (Simoa) immunoassay was developed. Using a cross-sectional design, we measured NFL in paired CSF and plasma samples from 121 HIV-infected subjects divided into groups according to stage of their systemic disease, presence of overt HIV-associated dementia (HAD), and after antiretroviral treatment (ART)-induced viral suppression. HIV-negative controls were also examined.', 'Plasma and CSF NFL concentrations were very highly correlated (r = 0.89, P < 0.0001). While NFL was more than 50-fold lower plasma than CSF it was within the quantifiable range of the new plasma assay in all subjects, including the HIV negatives and the HIV positives with normal CSF NFL concentrations. The pattern of NFL changes were almost identical in plasma and CSF, both exhibiting similar age-related increases in concentrations along with highest values in HAD and substantial elevations in ART-naïve neuroasymptomatic subjects with low blood CD4(+) T cells.

SOLUTION: 0

PROBLEM: Gastrin and pepsinogens reflect the functional state of the gastric mucosa.', 'To evaluate whether serum gastrin and pepsinogens correlate with the different grades of severity of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD).', "In all, 388 patients with heartburn not taking any form of acid suppressive therapy were matched-controlled for age and gender and sub-classified into four groups: group 1 non-erosive reflux disease (NERD); group 2, erosive reflux disease (ERD) Los Angeles (LA) A and B, group 3, ERD LA C and D; group 4 Barrett's oesophagus (BO). Fasting serum was analysed for gastrin 17, pepsinogen I, pepsinogen II und Helicobacter pylori using specific EIA tests (GastroPanel; Biohit, Plc).", 'Kruskal-Wallis test and analysis of variance.', 'There was a significant difference among the four groups with respect for pepsinogen I, but not for pepsinogen II, the pepsinogen I pepsinogen II ratio, H. pylori serology and gastrin levels. Pepsinogen I was the lowest in NERD and the highest in BO (median 91.6, mean +/- standard deviation 106.2 +/- 51.6 vs. median 114.7, mean +/- standard deviation 130.4 +/- 70.6; P = 0.046). Pepsinogen I levels were higher in H. pylori positive subjects. After adjusting for H. pylori status, the differences in pepsinogen I across patient groups were no longer statistically significant (P = 0.298).

SOLUTION:
1