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: Periodontitis is a chronic, polymicrobial inflammatory disease that degrades connective tissue and alveolar bone and results in tooth loss. Oxidative stress has been linked to the onset of periodontal tissue breakdown and systemic inflammation, and the success of antiresorptive treatments will rely on how effectively they can ameliorate periodontal disease-induced oxidative stress during oral infection.', 'Rats were infected with polybacterial inoculum consisting of Porphyromonas gingivalis, Treponema denticola, and Tannerella forsythia, as an oral lavage every other week for 12 weeks. Daily subcutaneous injections of enoxacin, bis-enoxacin, alendronate, or doxycycline were administered for 6 weeks after 6 weeks of polybacterial infection in rats. The serum levels of oxidative stress parameters and antioxidant enzymes, including glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase, were evaluated in each of the infected, treated, and sham-infected rats.', 'Rats infected with the periodontal pathogens displayed a five-fold increase in the oxidative stress index compared with controls as a result of increased levels of serum oxidants and decreases in total antioxidant activity. The overall decrease in antioxidant activity occurred despite increases in three important antioxidant enzymes, suggesting an imbalance between antioxidant macromolecules/small molecules production and antioxidant enzyme levels. Surprisingly, the bone-targeted antiresorptives bis-enoxacin and alendronate inhibited increases in oxidative stress caused by periodontitis. Bis-enoxacin, which has both antiresorptive and antibiotic activities, was more effective than alendronate, which acts only as an antiresorptive.

SOLUTION: 0

PROBLEM: The cost effectiveness of preoperative localization in cases of primary hyperpara-thyroidism has not been established. We analyzed the potential savings in operative time after localization with technetium 99m (99mTc) sestamibi scan.', 'Thirty-three patients had localization of a solitary adenoma with 99mTc-sestamibi. Measurement was made of the time required for adenomectomy, unilateral neck exploration (UNE), unilateral neck exploration and confirmation of one contralateral parathyroid gland (UNEC), or bilateral neck exploration (BNE).', 'The total operative time in minutes was 76.4 +/- 18.8 for adenomectomy; 87.5 +/- 20.4 for UNE; 105.6 +/- 25.0 for UNEC; and 117.9 +/- 26.7 for BNE. The time difference was significant between adenomectomy versus UNE, UNEC, and BNE. There were also significant time differences between UNE versus UNEC and BNE.

SOLUTION: 0

PROBLEM: Agonism of alpha-adrenoreceptors has a powerful anesthetic result mediated, in part, by effects on the spinal cord. Alpha-adrenoreceptor agonists (e.g., dexmedetomidine) can decrease the minimum alveolar anesthetic concentration (MAC) of inhaled anesthetics (e.g., halothane) to zero, with an apparently additive interaction between halothane and dexmedetomidine. We tested whether the capacity of the inhaled anesthetic isoflurane to produce immobility in the face of noxious stimulation resulted from agonism of alpha-adrenoreceptors. MAC (the concentration required to eliminate movement in response to a noxious stimulus in 50% of subjects) of isoflurane was determined before and after intraperitoneal administration of the alpha-adrenoreceptor antagonists yohimbine and atipamezole. The doses of yohimbine and atipamezole equaled or exceeded those that reverse the ability of agonism of alpha-adrenoreceptors to decrease MAC. Smaller doses of yohimbine or atipamezole slightly increased (by 10%) the MAC of isoflurane, an increase we interpret as the result of blockade of a small amount of tonically active alpha-adrenoreceptor activity. Doses five-fold larger did not change MAC. Doses 10-fold larger decreased MAC. We conclude that alpha-adrenoreceptors do not or minimally mediate the capacity of inhaled anesthetics to produce immobility.

SOLUTION:
0