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: Thromboembolic events represent a clinically significant cause of neurological morbidity during the endovascular management of cerebral aneurysms. We have implemented an anti-thromboembolic regimen consisting of pre- and postoperative dual antiplatelet therapy, as well as postoperative anticoagulation using heparin and dextran. The aims of our study were to examine the effect of this regimen on thromboembolic rates during elective aneurysm coiling, and to elucidate risk factors associated with the development of thromboembolic events in this setting.', 'We conducted a retrospective review of patients who underwent elective intracranial aneurysm coiling between January 2005 and February 2012. The primary outcome of interest was the occurrence of a clinically significant peri-procedural thromboembolic event. Secondary outcomes included the occurrence of a central nervous system (CNS) or systemic hemorrhage.', 'During the study period, 312 patients underwent elective aneurysm coiling and six (2%) thromboembolic events occurred; three (1%) occurred in the group that received the anti-thromboembolic regimen (261 patients) and three (6%) occurred in the group that did not receive the regimen (51 patients), resulting in a statistically significant difference (P=0.024). Both the presence of a hypercoagulable state (P=0.014) and the lack of the anti-thromboembolic regimen (P=0.043) were significantly associated with the occurrence of a thromboembolic event.

SOLUTION: 0

PROBLEM: Recently, it has been shown that exposure to welding fumes containing both zinc and copper leads to asymptomatic systemic inflammation in humans as shown by an increase of blood C-reactive protein. In the present study, it was investigated which metal is responsible for this effect.', 'Fifteen healthy male subjects were exposed under controlled conditions to welding fumes containing either zinc, or copper, or copper and zinc.', 'For each exposure blood C-reactive protein increased.

SOLUTION: 1

PROBLEM: Myocardial contractility can be investigated using longitudinal peak strain. It can be calculated using the Doppler-derived TDI method and the non-Doppler method based on tissue tracking on B-mode images. Both are validated and show good reproducibility, but no comparative analysis of their results has yet been conducted. This study analyzes the results obtained from the basal segments of the ventricular chambers in a group of athletes.', '30 regularly-trained athletes were submitted to an echocardiography at rest and after handgrip. Starting from the four-chamber view, overall myocardial function and regional velocities were evaluated. The images obtained were processed to determine strain in left and right ventricle basal segments. Strain was calculated using the TDI method and a validated "speckle tracking" or, more correctly, "feature tracking" algorithm. The statistical analysis included a Student's t-test (p < 0.05).', 'The range of strain values obtained is in agreement with the data reported in the literature. In the left ventricle (LV) the average strain values of the basal segments calculated with TDI on IVS and LW at rest and after stress were: -21.05 +/- 3.31; -20.41 +/- 2.99 and -20.05 +/- 2.61; -21.20 +/- 2.37, respectively. In the right ventricle (RV) the same method gave IVS and LW strain values at rest of -22.22 +/- 2.58 ; -24.42 +/- 5.84, and after HG of -22.02 +/- 5.20 ;-23.93 +/- 6.34. The values obtained using feature tracking were: LV at rest -20.48 +/- 2.65 for IVS, and -21.25 +/- 2.85 for LW; LV after HG: -19.48 +/- 3 for IVS and -21.69 +/- 3.85 for LW. In RV at rest: -21.46 +/- 3.25 for IVS and -24.13 +/- 5.86 for LW; RV after HG: -24.79 +/- 7.9 for IVS and -24.13 +/- 7.0 for LW. Tissue Doppler and "feature tracking" methods showed the respective consistency of the results in the basal segments of myocardial ventricle walls.

SOLUTION:
0