TASK DEFINITION: Given a passage with a context and an answer, 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: Context: Current staging for renal cancer (RC) does not directly rely on tumor size. We examined the increment in accuracy related to inclusion of pathologically determined tumor size in prediction of nodal metastases (N+), distant metastases (M+), and cancer-specific survival (CSS).', 'Partial or radical nephrectomy was performed in 2245 patients with clear cell histology. Pathologic stages were T1a in 566, T1b in 490, T2 in 303, T3 in 831, and T4 in 55 patients. Tumor size was 0.5-25 cm (mean, 6.8). Multivariate models relied on 1997 and 2002 TNM variables and addressed N+, M+ disease, and CCS. Their accuracy was compared according to either the presence or absence of tumor size.', 'In all univariate and multivariate models, tumor size was a statistically significant predictor of all outcomes (p< or =0.001). In all multivariate models, tumor size added between 3.7% and 0.8% to predictive accuracy of either 1997 or 2002 TNM categories.
Answer: Tumor size represents a highly significant, multivariate, and informative predictor of RC outcomes and may warrant inclusion in future TNM revisions.

SOLUTION: Does tumor size improve the accuracy of TNM predictions in patients with renal cancer?

PROBLEM: Context: Asteatotic eczema (AE) is characterized by itchy, dry, rough, and scaling skin. The treatments for AE are mainly emollients, usually containing urea, lactic acid, or a lactate salt. N-palmitoylethanolamine (PEA) and N-acetylethanolamine (AEA) are both endogenous lipids used as novel therapeutic tools in the treatment of many skin diseases. The purpose of this study was to compare a PEA/AEA emollient with a traditional emollient in the treatment of AE.', "A monocentric, randomized, double-blind, comparative trial was conducted in 60 AE patients to evaluate and compare the efficacy of the two emollients. The level of skin dryness among the subjects ranged from mild to moderate. The subjects' skin barrier function and the current perception threshold were tested for 28 days by clinical scoring and bioengineering technology.", 'The results showed that, although some aspects were improved in both groups, the group using the emollient containing PEA/AEA presented a better skin surface change in capacitance. However, the most impressive finding was the ability of the PEA/AEA emollient to increase the 5 Hz current perception threshold to a normal level after 7 days, with a significant difference between values at baseline and after 14 days. A current perception threshold of 5 Hz was positively and significantly correlated with skin surface hydration and negatively correlated with transepidermal water loss in the PEA/AEA emollient group.
Answer: Compared with traditional emollients, regular application of a topical PEA/AEA emollient could improve both passive and active skin functions simultaneously.

SOLUTION: Are n-palmitoylethanolamine and N-acetylethanolamine effective in asteatotic eczema : results of a randomized , double-blind , controlled study in 60 patients?

PROBLEM: Context: Whether low socioeconomic status (SES) is associated with worse rheumatoid arthritis (RA) outcomes in countries with general tax-financed healthcare systems (such as Sweden) remains to be elucidated. Our aim was to investigate the influence of educational background (achieving university/college degree (high) or not (low)) on the outcomes of early RA, in terms of disease activity (DAS28), pain (VAS-pain), and functional impairment (HAQ).', 'We evaluated DMARD-naive RA patients recruited in the Epidemiological Investigation of RA (EIRA) study with outcomes followed in the Swedish Rheumatology Quality (SRQ) register (N=3021). Outcomes were categorized in three ways: (1) scores equal to/above median vs. below median; (2) DAS28-based low disease activity, good response, remission; (3) scores decreased over the median vs. less than median. Associations between educational background and outcomes were calculated by modified Poisson regressions, at diagnosis and at each of the three standard (3, 6, 12 months) follow-up visits.', 'Patients with different educational background had similar symptom durations (195 days) and anti-rheumatic therapies at baseline, and comparable treatment patterns during follow-up. Patients with a high education level had significantly less pain and less functional disability at baseline and throughout the whole follow-up period (VAS-pain: baseline: 49 (28-67) vs. 53 (33-71), p<0.0001; 1-year visit: RR=0.81 (95% CI 0.73-0.90). HAQ: baseline: 0.88 (0.50-1.38) vs. 1.00 (0.63-1.50), p=0.001; 1-year visit: 0.84 (0.77-0.92)). They also had greater chances to achieve pain remission (VAS-pain20) after one year (1.17 (1.07-1.28)). Adjustments for smoking and BMI altered the results only marginally. Educational background did not influence DAS28-based outcomes.
Answer: In Sweden, with tax-financed, generally accessible healthcare system, RA patients with a high education level experienced less pain and less functional disability. Further, these patients achieved pain remission more often during the first year receiving standard care. Importantly, education background affected neither time to referral to rheumatologists, disease activity nor anti-rheumatic treatments.

SOLUTION:
Is higher education associated with a better rheumatoid arthritis outcome concerning for pain and function but not disease activity : results from the EIRA cohort and Swedish rheumatology register?