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: The evidence on the prognostic value of transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) in elderly, hemodynamically stable patients with Pulmonary Embolism (PE) is limited.', 'To evaluate the prevalence of common echocardiographic signs of right ventricular (RV) dysfunction and their prognostic impact in hemodynamically stable patients aged ≥65years with acute PE in a prospective multicenter cohort.', 'TTE was performed by cardiologists. We defined RV dysfunction as a RV/left ventricular ratio >0.9 or RV hypokinesis (primary definition) or the presence of ≥1 or ≥2 of 6 predefined echocardiographic signs (secondary definitions). Outcomes were overall mortality and mortality/non-fatal recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE) at 30days, adjusting for the Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index risk score and highly sensitive troponin T values.', 'Of 400 patients, 36% had RV dysfunction based on our primary definition, and 81% (≥1 sign) and 53% (≥2 signs) based on our secondary definitions, respectively. Using our primary definition, there was no association between RV dysfunction and mortality (adjusted HR 0.90, 95% CI 0.31-2.58) and mortality/non-fatal VTE (adjusted HR 1.09, 95% CI 0.40-2.98). Similarly, there was no statistically significant association between the presence of ≥1 or ≥2 echocardiographic signs (secondary definitions) and clinical outcomes.

SOLUTION: 1

PROBLEM: The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare microwave disinfection with chemical disinfection of dental gypsum casts.', 'A total of 120 casts were prepared from a silicone mold using Type III dental stone. Of the 120 casts, 60 casts were contaminated with 1 ml suspension of Staphylococcus aureus and 60 casts were contaminated with 1 ml suspension of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Then, the casts were disinfected with microwave irradiation and chemical disinfection using the microwave oven and 0.5% sodium hypochlorite. Bacteriologic procedures were performed; the cfu/ml for each cast was calculated as a weighted mean. The results were analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis test and Mann-Whitney test.', 'The untreated casts showed Brain heart infusion broth counts of 106 log cfu/ml compared to irradiated and chemically disinfected casts, in which 105 log reduction of cfu/ml was seen. These results satisfied the requirements of current infection control guidelines for the dental laboratory. The results obtained for chemical disinfection were in equivalence with microwave disinfection.

SOLUTION: 0

PROBLEM: The association between elevated malondialdehyde-modified low-density lipoprotein (MDA-LDL) and plaque instability in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) is suspected but not established. The aim of the present study was therefore to investigate the association between serum MDA-LDL and plaque characteristics on angioscopy.', 'A total of 37 consecutive patients with CAD and single-vessel disease who underwent pre-interventional angioscopy, were studied. Using angioscopy at the target lesions, the presence of yellow plaque and complex plaque was examined. Moreover, we evaluated the yellow intensity, which has been shown to have an inverse correlation with the fibrous-cap thickness of the plaques, with quantitative colorimetry to identify a thin-cap atheroma. Serum MDA-LDL in patients with thin-cap atheroma diagnosed on quantitative colorimetry was significantly higher than in patients without thin-cap atheroma (P<0.0009). Univariate logistic regression indicated that serum MDA-LDL was a predictor for thin-cap atheroma (odds ratio [OR], 1.48; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.10-1.97; P=0.003) and for complex plaque (OR, 1.22; 95% CI: 1.00-1.48; P=0.046). On multivariate logistic regression serum MDA-LDL was the only independent predictor for thin-cap atheroma (OR, 1.48; 95% CI: 1.10-1.97; P=0.011).

SOLUTION:
0