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: To investigate the effect of recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) identification on the complications after total thyroidectomy and lobectomy.', 'Total 134 consecutive patients undergoing total thyroidectomy or thyroid lobectomy from January 2003 to November 2004 were investigated retrospectively. Patients were divided into two groups: RLN identified (Group A) or not (Group B). The two groups were compared for RLN injury and hypocalcaemia.', 'The numbers of patients and nerves at risk were 71 and 129 in Group A, and 63 and 121 in Group B, respectively. RLN injury in Group A (0) was significantly lower than that in Group B (5 [7.9%]) patients, 7 [5.8%] nerves) for the numbers of patients (P=0.016) and nerves at risk (P=0.006). Temporary hypocalcaemia was significantly higher in Group A than in Group B (14 [24.1%] vs 6 [10.3%], P=0.049). Permanent complications in Group B were significantly higher than those in Group A (13 [20.6%] vs 4 [5.6%], P=0.009).

SOLUTION: Is total thyroidectomy safer with identification of recurrent laryngeal nerve?

PROBLEM: To compare the safety and success of a retrograde approach using a microcatheter vs. a sheath in the treatment of superficial femoral artery (SFA) chronic total occlusions (CTOs).', 'From April 2007 to December 2012, 188 consecutive patients underwent EVT for 229 de novo SFA CTOs using the retrograde approach in 68 patients (35 men; mean age 72 years). This cohort was divided into cases performed with a 4-F or 6-F sheath (n=28, 36 limbs) and those with a 2.1-F microcatheter (n=35, 49 limbs). The primary outcomes were mean time to hemostasis and number of intra- and postoperative puncture site complications, as well as the success of popliteal artery puncture, lesion crossing, and reperfusion.', 'There were no significant differences between two groups in baseline characteristics. PA puncture was successful in all limbs, and the success in crossing the lesion with the wire was not significantly different (91.9% in the sheath group vs. 89.8% in the microcatheter group). Mean time to hemostasis was 8.9±8.8 minutes in the microcatheter group vs. 47.7±13 minutes in the sheath group (p<0.0001). There was a significant difference in intraoperative and postoperative complications (22.2% in the sheath group vs. 2.0% in the microcatheter group, p=0.002).

SOLUTION: Is a sheathless retrograde approach via the popliteal artery useful and safe for treating chronic total occlusions in the superficial femoral artery?

PROBLEM: The first Heschl's gyrus (HG) is believed to receive the core projection of the acoustic radiation. We examined if it were possible to differentiate the subcortical white matter of the HG from the superior temporal gyrus (STG) using diffusion tensor (DT) imaging.", 'The study was approved and informed consent was obtained in accordance with the guidelines of our Institutional Review Board for human subject studies. We examined six healthy adult volunteers with DT images using 20 orientations and repeated 11 times. The fractional anisotropy (FA) and the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) were calculated.', 'The mean FA of the subcortical white matter of the HG (0.37) was higher than that of the STG (0.27) on both sides (P < .01). There was no statistically significant difference when comparing left and right HG and STG (P > .05). There was no statistically significant difference in mean ADC of the HGs and STGs (0.75 x 10(-3) mm(2)/sec, P > .05).

SOLUTION:
Is fractional anisotropy higher in Heschl 's gyrus than in superior temporal gyrus in normal subjects?