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.

Hostility may be associated with greater systemic inflammation. However, contradictory evidence exists. Certain individuals or dimensions of hostility may be more susceptible to these effects. Main and interactive effects of hostility with sex and/or age were evaluated on markers of inflammation, independently of traditional risk factors for coronary artery disease.', '199 healthy men (81) and women (118), aged 20-64 years (M=41 ± 11 years) were recruited. Hostility was assessed using the Cook-Medley Hostility Inventory (CMHo) and ecological momentary assessments (EMA) of quarrelsome behavior and angry affect in daily living. Blood samples were drawn to measure inflammatory activity (Il-6, TNF-α, hsCRP, Il-8, Il-10, Il-18, MCP-1) and lipid oxidation (Myeloperoxidase; MPO). Correlations and hierarchical regression analyses were performed controlling for pertinent behavioral, psychological, medical, and socio-demographic factors.', 'Significant univariate associations emerged between CMHo and Il-6, TNF-α, MCP-1 (p<.05). Hierarchical regressions showed interactions of hostility with sex (Il-6, TNF-α; p<.05) and age (hsCRP, Il-6, TNF-α; p<.05). For example, in simple slope analyses, hostility was positively related to TNF-α in women (b=0.009, p=0.006) but not men. Greater hostility was also related to greater Il-6 levels among younger women (b=. 027, p=0.000).
Is the relation between hostility and concurrent levels of inflammation sex , age , and measure dependent?

Genetic variability in hepatic uptake was recently shown to influence the disposition and cholesterol-lowering effects of statins. Ezetimibe, an inhibitor of the intestinal cholesterol uptake protein Niemann-Pick C 1 like 1, is another drug for which genetic polymorphisms of hepatic organic anion transporting polypeptides (OATPs) are expected to be of clinical relevance because ezetimibe undergoes intensive enterohepatic circulation for which hepatic uptake transporters may be rate-limiting determinants.', 'Using OATP1B3-, OATP2B1-, and OATP1B1-transfected HEK cells, including the OATP1B1 variants OATP1B1*1b and OATP1B1*5, we measured the uptake of ezetimibe and its glucuronide and we analyzed the competition with the common OATP-substrate bromosulfophthalein. Disposition and sterol-lowering effects of 20-mg ezetimibe were measured in 35 healthy participants genotyped for OATP1B1, ABCB1, ABCC2, and UGT1A1.', 'Ezetimibe glucuronide inhibited bromosulfophthalein uptake in all OATP-transfected cells (50% inhibitory concentration (IC50): 0.14-0.26 mumol/l) whereas ezetimibe was 30-100 times less potent. Only the glucuronide was accumulated significantly in cells expressing OATP1B1 and OATP2B1. Its uptake in cells expressing OATP1B1*1b and *5 was reduced. In-vivo studies showed there was a gene-dose-dependent decrease in the area under the curve of ezetimibe in participants with the OATP1B1*1b protein (*1a/*1a, N=12, 112+/-66 ngxh/ml vs. *1a/*1b, N=8, 88+/-39 ngxh/ml vs. *1b/*1b, N=5, 55+/-18 ngxh/ml; Jonkheere-Terpstra, P=0.041) and a tendency for increased glucuronide exposure (704+/-296 vs. 878+/-369 vs. 1059+/-363 ngxh/ml; P=0.092). Fecal ezetimibe excretion was significantly decreased whereas renal glucuronide excretion was increased in carriers of *1b/*1b. Fecal excretion was also diminished in carriers of OATP1B1*5 and *15. The sterol-lowering effect of ezetimibe was not influenced by OATP1B1 polymorphisms.
Is disposition of ezetimibe influenced by polymorphisms of the hepatic uptake carrier OATP1B1?

Hyperhomocysteinemia is present in the majority of chronic hemodialysis patients. Treatment with folic acid, vitamin B12, and vitamin B6 cannot fully normalize plasma homocysteine concentrations (tHcy). Previously we have demonstrated the tHcy-lowering effect of creatine supplementation in an animal model of uremia (Kidney Int 64:1331-1337, 2003). The present study investigates the effects of creatine supplementation on tHcy in a vitamin-repleted chronic hemodialysis population.', 'Forty-five hemodialysis patients receiving folic acid and vitamin B6 and B12 were included. Patients were treated with creatine (2 g/day) or placebo during 2 treatment periods of 4 weeks, separated by a washout of 4 weeks. Plasma tHcy, creatine, Kt/V(urea), folic acid, vitamin B12, and routine biochemistry were determined, as well as the prognostic inflammatory and nutritional index.', 'All patients had elevated tHcy concentrations (21.2 +/- 5.6 micromol/L). Creatine treatment resulted in increased plasma and red blood cell creatine levels, documenting uptake of creatine. Creatine did not affect tHcy concentrations. There was no relationship between plasma creatine concentrations and tHcy concentrations. No changes in body weight, routine biochemistry, nutritional status, folic acid, or vitamin B12 were observed during the study.

Does creatine supplementation decrease total plasma homocysteine in chronic hemodialysis patients?