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: Cervical cancer continues to threaten women's health worldwide, and the incidence of cervical adenocarcinoma (AD) is rising in the developed countries. Previously, we showed that glucose-regulated protein 58 (Grp58) served as an independent factor predictive of poor prognosis of patients with cervical AD. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the involvement of Grp58 in cervical carcinogenesis is currently unknown.", 'DNA microarray and enrichment analysis were used to identify the pathways disrupted by knockdown of Grp58 expression.', 'Among the pathway identified, the WNT signaling pathway was one of those that were significantly associated with knockdown of Grp58 expression in HeLa cells. Our experiments showed that -catenin, a critical effector of WNT signaling, was stabilized thereby accumulated in stable Grp58 knockdown cells. Membrane localization of -catenin was observed in Grp58 knockdown, but not control cells. Using a transwell assay, we found that accumulated -catenin induced by Grp58 knockdown or lithium chloride treatment inhibited the migration ability of HeLa cells. Furthermore, an inverse expression pattern of Grp58 and -catenin was observed in cervical tissues.\Question: Does glucose-regulated protein 58 modulate -catenin protein stability in a cervical adenocarcinoma cell line?

SOLUTION: Our results demonstrate that -catenin stability is negatively regulated by Grp58 in HeLa cells. Overexpression of Grp58 may be responsible for the loss of or decrease in membranous -catenin expression in cervical AD.

PROBLEM: Context: The aim of the study is to determine whether a biodegradable elastomeric device that uses an osmotic pressure delivery mechanism can release different therapeutic proteins at a nearly constant rate in nanomolar concentrations with high bioactivity, given the same formulation conditions. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and interleukin-2 (IL-2) were embedded in the device as sample therapeutic proteins, and their release and bioactivity were compared to that achieved previously with interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma).', 'A photo-cross-linkable biodegradable macromer consisting of acrylated star(epsilon-caprolactone-co-D,L-lactide) was prepared. VEGF, IL-2, and IFN-gamma were co-lyophilized with serum albumin and trehalose at different ratios and were then embedded into the elastomer by photo-cross-linking the lyophilized particles in a macromer solution. The protein mass and the bioactivity in the release supernatant were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent and cell-based assays.', 'VEGF, IL-2, and IFN-gamma were released at the same, nearly constant rate of 25.4 ng/day for over 18 days. Using the optimum elastomer formulation, the release profiles of the proteins were essentially identical, and their rates were linear and constant. Cell-based bioactivity assays showed that 70 and 88% of the released VEGF and IL-2, respectively, were bioactive. The rate of protein release can be adjusted by changing the trehalose loading concentration in the elastomer matrix without altering the linear nature of the protein release kinetics. The elastomeric device degraded in PBS buffer within 85 days.\Question: Are osmotic-driven release kinetics of bioactive therapeutic proteins from a biodegradable elastomer linear , constant , similar , and adjustable?

SOLUTION: The elastomer formulation shows promising potential as a sustained protein drug delivery vehicle for local delivery applications.

PROBLEM: Context: The role of sexual activity on gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is an under-recognized concern of patients, and one rarely assessed by physicians.', 'The objective of this article is to determine the influence of sexual activity on the intraesophageal acid exposure and acid reflux events in GERD patients.', 'Twenty-one patients with the diagnosis of GERD were prospectively enrolled. Intraesophageal pH monitoring was recorded for 48 hours with a Bravo capsule. All patients were instructed to have sexual intercourse or abstain in a random order two hours after the same refluxogenic dinner within two consecutive nights. Patients were requested to have sex in the standard "missionary position" and women were warned to avoid abdominal compression. The patients completed a diary reporting the time of the sexual intercourse and GERD symptoms. The percentage of reflux time and acid reflux events were compared in two ways: within 30 and 60 minutes prior to and after sexual intercourse on the day of sexual intercourse and in the same time frame of the day without sexual intercourse.', 'Fifteen of 21 GERD patients were analyzed. The percentage of reflux time and number of acid reflux events did not show a significant difference within the 30- and 60-minute periods prior to and after sexual intercourse on the day of sexual intercourse and on the day without sexual intercourse, as well.\Question: Does sexual activity predispose to reflux episodes in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease?

SOLUTION:
Sexual activity does not predispose to increased intraesophageal acid exposure and acid reflux events. Larger studies are needed to confirm our findings in patients who define reflux symptoms during sexual intercourse.