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: Vitamin D is associated with a number of inflammatory diseases and plays a significant role in regulating bone metabolism. Serum calcifediol was demonstrated to be potentially associated with periodontal disease. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether an association exists between plasma calcifediol concentrations and aggressive periodontitis (AgP) and whether plasma levels of bone-related biomarkers (osteocalcin, alkaline phosphatase, calcium, and phosphorus) regulated by vitamin D are related to AgP.', 'Sixty-six patients with generalized AgP, 52 patients with chronic periodontitis, and 60 healthy controls were included in this study. Periodontal examination consisted of probing depth, attachment loss, and bleeding index measurements. Hematic calcifediol and bone-related biomarker levels were detected using radioimmunity assay kits or a biochemical analyzer.', 'Plasma calcifediol levels in patients with AgP were higher than those of healthy controls (29.28 versus 21.60 nmol/l; P <0.05) and were statistically significantly correlated with bleeding index (r = 0.321; P <0.05). Plasma osteocalcin concentrations in patients with AgP were higher than those of healthy controls (0.90 versus 0.70 ng/ml; P <0.05). Serum inorganic phosphorus values of both periodontitis groups were lower than those of healthy controls (1.06 +/- 0.18 mmol/l and 1.10 +/- 0.15 mmol/l versus 1.26 +/- 0.17 mmol/l; P <0.05).

SOLUTION: Is elevated plasma calcifediol associated with aggressive periodontitis?

PROBLEM: In rats, oral oleoyl-estrone (OE) decreases food intake and body lipid content. The aim of this study was to determine whether OE treatment affects the energy metabolism of pregnant rats and eventually, of their pups; i.e. changes in normal growth patterns and the onset of obesity after weaning.', 'Pregnant Wistar rats were treated with daily intragastric gavages of OE in 0.2 ml sunflower oil from days 11 to 21 of pregnancy (i.e. 10 nmol oleoyl-estrone/g/day). Control animals received only the vehicle. Plasma and hormone metabolites were determined together with variations in cellularity of adipose tissue.', "Treatment decreased food intake and lowered weight gain during late pregnancy, mainly because of reduced adipose tissue accumulation in different sites. OE-treated pregnant rats' metabolic pattern after delivery was similar to that of controls. Neonates from OE-treated rats weighed the same as those from controls. They also maintained the same growth rate up to weaning, but pups from OE-treated rats slowed their growth rate afterwards, despite only limited differences in metabolite concentrations.

SOLUTION: Does treatment of pregnant rats with oleoyl-estrone slow down pup fat deposition after weaning?

PROBLEM: Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) results from either maternal undernutrition or impaired placental blood flow, exposing offspring to increased perinatal mortality and a higher risk of metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease during adulthood. l-Citrulline is a precursor of l-arginine and nitric oxide (NO), which regulates placental blood flow. Moreover, l-citrulline stimulates protein synthesis in other models of undernutrition.', 'The aim of the study was to determine whether l-citrulline supplementation would enhance fetal growth in a model of IUGR induced by maternal dietary protein restriction.', 'Pregnant rats were fed either a control (20% protein) or a low-protein (LP; 4% protein) diet. LP dams were randomly allocated to drink tap water either as such or supplemented with l-citrulline (2 g · kg(-1) · d(-1)), an isonitrogenous amount of l-arginine, or nonessential l-amino acids (NEAAs). On day 21 of gestation, dams received a 2-h infusion of l-[1-(13)C]-valine until fetuses were extracted by cesarean delivery. Isotope enrichments were measured in free amino acids and fetal muscle, liver, and placenta protein by GC-mass spectrometry.', 'Fetal weight was ∼29% lower in the LP group (3.82 ± 0.06 g) than in the control group (5.41 ± 0.10 g) (P < 0.001). Regardless of supplementation, fetal weight remained below that of control fetuses. Yet, compared with the LP group, l-citrulline and l-arginine equally increased fetal weight to 4.15 ± 0.08 g (P < 0.05) and 4.13 ± 0.1 g (P < 0.05 compared with LP), respectively, whereas NEAA did not (4.05 ± 0.05 g; P = 0.07). Fetal muscle protein fractional synthesis rate was 35% lower in the LP fetuses (41% ± 11%/d) than in the control (61% ± 13%/d) fetuses (P < 0.001) and was normalized by l-citrulline (56% ± 4%/d; P < 0.05 compared with LP, NS compared with control) and not by other supplements. Urinary nitrite and nitrate excretion was lower in the LP group (6.4 ± 0.8 μmol/d) than in the control group (17.9 ± 1.1 μmol/d; P < 0.001) and increased in response to l-citrulline or l-arginine (12.1 ± 2.2 and 10.6 ± 0.9 μmol/d; P < 0.05), whereas they did not in the LP + NEAA group.

SOLUTION:
Does l-Citrulline Supplementation enhance Fetal Growth and Protein Synthesis in Rats with Intrauterine Growth Restriction?