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: Chemerin has been implicated to play opposing roles, either pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory, in various tissue inflammation processes primarily through the regulation of tissue recruitment of immune cells. However, the effect of chemerin in allergic asthma has not yet been explored. We sought to investigate the role of chemerin in the murine model of allergic asthma and explore the underlying mechanism.', 'We examined the effect of intranasal (i.n.) administration of chemerin during antigen challenge in murine models of asthma. Moreover, we examined whether administration of CCL2 or bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) transfer reversed the effects of chemerin on ovalbumin-induced asthma. We finally examined the effect of chemerin on CCL2 expression in activated lung epithelial cells in vitro.', 'The administration of chemerin attenuated allergic airway inflammation and airway hyperreactivity during antigen challenge. Chemerin treatment caused significant decreases in BALF CD4(+) T-cell accumulation and mRNA expression of Th2-attracting chemokines, CCL17 and CCL22, which was accompanied by significantly decreased BALF CD11c(+) CD11b(+) inflammatory DC accumulation and CCL2 production. Furthermore, airway administration of exogenous CCL2 or adoptive transfer of CD11c(+) CD11b(+) BMDCs abrogated the suppressive effects of chemerin on allergic asthma. Finally, in vitro study showed that chemerin inhibited CCL2 secretion by low-dose LPS-stimulated lung epithelial cells, which led to decreased chemotaxis of BMDCs.
Answer: Our study demonstrates that chemerin plays a protective role in allergic asthma by suppressing airway recruitment of inflammatory CD11c(+) CD11b(+) DCs through the inhibition of CCL2 secretion by active lung epithelial cells.

SOLUTION: Does chemerin suppress murine allergic asthma by inhibiting CCL2 production and subsequent airway recruitment of inflammatory dendritic cells?

PROBLEM: Context: Concomitant thyroid nodules are the most common reason for false-positive ultrasonography (US) results in primary hyperparathyroidism. The aims of this prospective clinical study were to evaluate false-positive US results according to the characteristics of concomitant thyroid nodules and to determine which characteristics of thyroid nodules are important.', 'This prospective study included 120 consecutive patients with primary hyperparathyroidism. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to preoperative US results. Group 1 consisted of 32 patients with false-positive US results and group 2 consisted of 88 patients with true-positive US results.', 'The risk for false-positive US result was increased 25-fold for patients with parathyroid adenoma weight of more than 500 mg (odds ratio [OR], 25; 95% confidence interval [CI], 8.6-74.5), 75-fold for more than 1 posteriorly located thyroid (OR, 75; 95% CI, 19.3-293.4), 358-fold for the presence of exophytic thyroid nodules (OR, 358; 95% CI, 42.3-3036), and 423-fold for the presence of posteriorly located thyroid nodules (OR, 423; 95% CI, 49-3662).
Answer: Although there was no particular characteristic of concomitant thyroid nodules that contributes to false-positive US results, the posteriorly located thyroid nodules were the strongest correlate for the false-positive US results to other features.

SOLUTION: Do the characteristics of concomitant thyroid nodules cause false-positive ultrasonography results in primary hyperparathyroidism?

PROBLEM: Context: Sleep disorders are common in patients with HIV/AIDS, and can lead to poor quality of life. Although many studies have investigated the aetiology of these disorders, it is still unclear whether impaired sleep quality is associated with HIV itself, social problems, or side effects of antiretroviral therapy (ART). Moreover, despite its known neurological associations, little is known about the role of the trans-activator of transcription (Tat) protein in sleep disorders in patients with HIV/AIDS. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that the sleep quality of patients with HIV/AIDS affected by an altered circadian rhythm correlates with cerebrospinal HIV Tat protein concentration.', 'Ninety-six patients with HIV/AIDS between 20 and 69 years old completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Their circadian rhythm parameters of blood pressure, Tat concentration in cerebrospinal fluid, melatonin concentration, CD4 cell count and HIV RNA viral load in serum were measured.', 'The circadian amplitude of systolic blood pressure and the score for sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index) were negatively correlated with HIV Tat protein concentration, while the melatonin value was positively correlated with Tat protein concentration.
Answer: The HIV Tat protein affects circadian rhythmicity by interfering with the circadian system in patients with HIV/AIDS and further increases the melatonin excretion value. A Tat protein-related high melatonin value may counteract HIV-related poor sleep quality during the progression of HIV infection. This study provides the first clinical evidence offering an explanation for why sleep quality did not show an association with progression of HIV infection in previous studies.

SOLUTION:
Does hIV Tat protein affect circadian rhythmicity by interfering with the circadian system?