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: To fully understand the cytotoxicity of after-degradation QDs, we synthesized CdS QDs and investigated its toxicity mechanism.', 'Biomimetic method was proposed to synthesize cadmium sulfide (CdS) QDs. Thereafter MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay was conducted to evaluate their cytotoxicity. To investigate the toxicity mechanism, we subsequently conducted intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) measurement with DCFH-DA, glutathione (GSH) measurement with DTNB, and cellular cadmium assay using atomic absorption spectrometer. Microsized CdS were simultaneously tested as a comparison.', "MTT assay results indicated that CdS QDs are more toxic than microsized CdS especially at concentrations below 40 microg/ml. While microsized CdS did not trigger ROS elevation, CdS QDs increase ROS by 20-30% over control levels. However, they both deplete cellular GSH significantly at the medium concentration of 20 microg/ml. In the presence of NAC, cells are partially protected from CdS QDs, but not from microsized particles. Additionally, nearly 20% of cadmium was released from CdS nanoparticles within 24h, which also accounts for QDs' toxicity.

SOLUTION: Do intracellular oxidative stress and cadmium ions release induce cytotoxicity of unmodified cadmium sulfide quantum dots?

PROBLEM: B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and N-terminal-pro-BNP (NT-pro-BNP) are important diagnostic tools for patients with suspected cardiac disorders. The aim of this study was to evaluate the predictive value of plasma NT-pro-BNP in identifying cardiac metastases in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and dyspnoea.', 'A total of 120 patients, median age 62 years (range 46-83), with NSCLC and dyspnoea were studied. Patients with heart failure or documented coronary artery disease were excluded. Echocardiographic imaging was used to detect cardiac metastases and estimate global left ventricular function. Ejection fraction and E/A ratio from transmitral inflow pattern were calculated. Plasma NT-pro-BNP was also measured. 72 patients (72/120, 60%) with cardiac metastases were identified.', 'NT-pro-BNP was significantly higher in patients with metastases (1347.5 +/- 1004.30 pg/ml vs. 159.02 +/- 93.29 pg/ml; p = 0.001). No differences between groups, regarding s-creatinine (p = 0.45), haemoglobin (p = 0.71), left ventricular hypertrophy (p = 0.91), and diastolic dysfunction (p = 0.79), were observed.

SOLUTION: Is pro-brain natriuretic peptide a sensitive marker for detecting cardiac metastases in patients with non-small cell lung cancer?

PROBLEM: The integrity of lipid rafts in cell membranes is important for signal transduction.', 'To determine the distinct effects of beta-glycolipids on the composition of lipid rafts in natural killer T (NKT) cells and on the level of expression of flotillin-2, leukocyte-specific protein tyrosine kinase (Lck), and STAT1-associated pathways.', 'The effects of glycolipids were determined by composition analysis of the raft domains, FACS analysis of the distribution patterns for the raft ganglioside, GM1, and fluorescence microscopy of raft patching. To evaluate the effects of the immune environment on glycolipid-associated alteration of lipid rafts, hepatitis was induced by an intravenous injection of concanavalin A (ConA) in mice treated with various glycolipids.', 'The administration of beta-glucosylceramide, beta-lactosylceramide, and a combination of both significantly altered GM1 content in lymphocyte membranes in an environment-dependent manner. These effects were associated with altered expression levels of flotillin-2, Lck, and STAT1, and with a significant decrease in intrahepatic CD8+ lymphocyte trapping and the alleviation of ConA-induced hepatitis. The administration of alpha-glycolipids failed to induce similar effects.

SOLUTION:
Is modulation of intracellular machinery by beta-glycolipids associated with alteration of NKT lipid rafts and amelioration of concanavalin-induced hepatitis?