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: Classical conditioning of the eyeblink reflex is a simple form of motor learning which depends on the integrity of the cerebellum. Acquisition of conditioned eyeblink responses is markedly reduced in patients with cerebellar disorders. Noninvasive transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been reported to modify the excitability of the cerebellar cortex.', 'The aim of the study was to assess whether acquisition of conditioned eyeblink responses (CR) is altered by cerebellar tDCS.', 'A standard delay conditioning paradigm with a 540 ms tone as conditioned stimulus (CS) coterminating with a 100 ms air puff as unconditioned stimulus (US) was used in a total of 30 healthy subjects (18 female, 12 male, mean age 23.4 ± 1.9 years). One hundred paired CS-US trials and 30 extinction CS alone trials were given. tDCS (2 mA intensity, ramp like onset) was applied over the right cerebellar hemisphere ipsilaterally to the US during the acquisition phase. Subjects were randomly assigned to three groups (n = 10) using anodal, cathodal or sham stimulation. The investigator as well as the participants was blinded to the stimulation modality.', 'CR acquisition was significantly enhanced by anodal tDCS (mean total CR incidence 73.4 ± 25.2%) and significantly reduced by cathodal stimulation (12.6 ± 17.2%) compared to sham stimulation (43.8 ± 24.1%). During anodal tDCS CR onset occurred significantly earlier, that is mean onset of responses was shifted closer to CS onset.\Question: Is acquisition of conditioned eyeblink responses modulated by cerebellar tDCS?

SOLUTION: Acquisition and timing of conditioned eyeblink responses is modified by cerebellar tDCS in a polarity dependent manner.

PROBLEM: Context: To investigate the expression of scavenger receptor that binds phosphatidylserine and oxidized lipoprotein (SR-PSOX)/CXC chemokine ligand 16 (CXCL16) in the human monocyte-derived cell line THP-1, and the effect of lentiviral vectors for the stable delivery of SR-PSOX/CXCL16 short hairpin RNA on foam cell formation.', 'A lentiviral expression vector containing enhanced green fluorescence protein (GFP) and SR-PSOX small interfering RNA (siRNA) (Lenti-SR-PSOXsi), or the control siRNA (Lenti-NC) gene was constructed. A human monocyte-derived cell line THP-1 was transfected with a different multiplicity of infection (MOI) of Lenti-SR-PSOXsi or Lenti-NC, and cultured to obtain stably-transfected THP- 1KD and THP-1NC cells. After incubation with oxidatively-modified, low-density lipoprotein (Ox-LDL), the expression of SR-PSOX/CXCL16 mRNA was determined by real-time PCR. The expression of the SR-PSOX/CXCL16 protein was detected by flow cytometry analysis. The effect of Lenti-SR-PSOXsi on foam cell formation was assessed by Oil red O-stain analysis.', 'Ox-LDL increased the expression of SR-PSOX/CXCL16 mRNA in a time- and dose-dependent manner in THP-1 cells. Four days after transfection with Lenti-SR-PSOXsi (MOI: 100), the percentage of GFP expression cells was over 89.3%. The expression of the SR-PSOX/ CXCL16 mRNA and protein in THP-1KD cells significantly decreased compared with the parent cells, even the THP-1KD cells stimulated with 40 mg/L Ox-LDL. Ox-LDL uptake experiments in THP-1- and THP-1KD-derived macrophages indicated that SR-PSOX/CXCL16 deficiency decreased the development of macrophage- derived foam cell formation.\Question: Does lentiviral vector-mediated siRNA knockdown of SR-PSOX inhibit foam cell formation in vitro?

SOLUTION: The above data showed that SRPSOX siRNA delivered by using lentiviral vectors in THP-1 cells was a powerful tool for studying the effect of SR-PSOX, and decreased the expression of the SRPSOX gene by inhibiting macrophage-derived foam cell formation.

PROBLEM: Context: The association between epilepsy and autism is consistently reported, with a wide range of prevalence rates. This may be attributed to the heterogeneity of the samples with respect to age, comorbidity, sex, and intellectual disability (ID). We aimed to compare the prevalence of epilepsy 1) among autistic patients with ID versus autistic patients without ID and 2) among male versus female autistic patients.', 'We reviewed all data available from published reports (1963-2006) on autism and epilepsy and conducted a meta-analysis of 10 and 14 studies, respectively, to assess the relative risk (RR) of epilepsy in autism according to ID and gender. The pooled groups included 2112 (627 with IQ > or = 70, 1485 with IQ < 70) and 1530 (1191 male, 339 female) patients, respectively.', 'There was a strong discrepancy in relative risk (RR) according to IQ, with more autistic patients with ID having epilepsy (RR = .555; 95% confidence interval [CI]: .42-.73; p < .001). The pooled prevalence of epilepsy was 21.5% in autistic subjects with ID versus 8% in autistic subjects without ID. There was a strong discrepancy in RR according to sex, favoring comorbidity of epilepsy in autistic girls (RR = .549; 95% CI: .45-.66; p < .001). The male:female ratio of autism comorbid with epilepsy was close to 2:1 whereas the male:female ratio of autism without epilepsy was 3.5:1.\Question: Is epilepsy in autism associated with intellectual disability and gender : evidence from a meta-analysis?

SOLUTION:
The results of this meta-analysis indicate that risk for epilepsy in autism is a function of ID severity and distinguishes autism associated with epilepsy as a subgroup of autism by its male-female ratio.