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: Secreted phospholipases A(2) (sPLA(2)s) are released in plasma and other biologic fluids of patients with inflammatory, autoimmune, and allergic diseases.', 'We sought to evaluate sPLA(2) activity in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of asthmatic patients and to examine the expression and release of sPLA(2)s from primary human lung mast cells (HLMCs).', 'sPLA(2) activity was measured in BALF and supernatants of either unstimulated or anti-IgE-activated HLMCs as hydrolysis of oleic acid from radiolabeled Escherichia coli membranes. Expression of sPLA(2)s was examined by using RT-PCR. The release of cysteinyl leukotriene (LT) C(4) was measured by means of enzyme immunoassay.', 'Phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)) activity was higher in the BALF of asthmatic patients than in the control group. BALF PLA(2) activity was blocked by the sPLA(2) inhibitors dithiothreitol and Me-Indoxam but not by the cytosolic PLA(2) inhibitor AZ-1. HLMCs spontaneously released a PLA(2) activity that was increased on stimulation with anti-IgE. This PLA(2) activity was blocked by dithiothreitol and Me-Indoxam but not by AZ-1. HLMCs constitutively express mRNA for group IB, IIA, IID, IIE, IIF, III, V, X, XIIA, and XIIB sPLA(2)s. Anti-IgE did not modify the expression of sPLA(2)s. The cell-impermeable inhibitor Me-Indoxam significantly reduced (up to 40%) the production of LTC(4) from anti-IgE-stimulated HLMCs.

SOLUTION: 1

PROBLEM: Tyrosinase, the rate-limiting enzyme required for melanin production, has been targeted to develop active brightening/lightening materials for skin products. Unexpected depigmentation of the skin characterized with the diverse symptoms was reported in some subjects who used a tyrosinase-competitive inhibiting quasi-drug, rhododendrol.', 'To investigate the mechanism underlying the depigmentation caused by rhododendrol-containing cosmetics, this study was performed.', 'The mechanism above was examined using more than dozen of melanocytes derived from donors of different ethnic backgrounds. The RNAi technology was utilized to confirm the effect of tyrosinase to induce the cytotoxicity of rhododendrol and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was introduced to detect rhododendrol and its metabolites in the presence of tyrosinase.', 'Melanocyte damage was related to tyrosinase activity at a certain threshold. Treatment with a tyrosinase-specific siRNA was shown to dramatically rescue the rhododendrol-induced melanocyte impairment. Hydroxyl-rhododendrol was detected only in melanocytes with higher tyrosinase activity. When an equivalent amount of hydroxyl-rhododendrol was administered, cell viability was almost equally suppressed even in melanocytes with lower tyrosinase activity.

SOLUTION: 1

PROBLEM: The role of BRCA1 in chronic ischemic episodes seems to be pivotal for adverse remodeling and development of ischemic cardiomyopathy, because of its role in DNA repair and apoptosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of BRCA-1 in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDCM).', 'The study group (IDCM) comprised myocardial samples from hearts explanted before transplantation owing to IDCM in 10 males (age 44 5.3 years) without clinical symptoms of ischemic heart disease. The control group consisted myocardial fragments taken from 10 male heart valve and pulmonary artery donors with diagnosed cerebral death (age 40 2.3 years). BRCA1 was detected immunohistochemically with rabbit anti-BRCA1 polyclonal antibody. The intensity of BRCA1 expression was semiquantitatively assessed for cardiocytes, small vessels including capillaries, and interstitial cells. The significances between groups were estimated using the Mann-Whitney U test.', 'All IDCM cases were positive and presented nonuniform BRCA1 expression: hypertrophied cardiocytes showed very intense staining and typical cardiomyopathic cardiocytes were stained weakly forming mosaic. Control cases showed weak-to-moderate uniform staining. Intensity of staining was significantly higher in IDCM cardiocytes, whereas small vessels and interstitial were stained similarly in both groups.

SOLUTION:
0