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: High sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) is more sensitive than standard C-reactive protein (CRP) assay in evaluating the risk of coronary heart disease and other atherosclerotic events. By this time, there are several reports that type 2 diabetic subjects have higher serum levels of hsCRP than those of non-diabetic subjects. However, there are few reports about factors which have influence upon the level of serum hsCRP in type 2 diabetic subjects. We had evaluated the association of serum hsCRP level with risk factors of cardiovascular diseases and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) in type 2 diabetic subjects.', 'One hundred and five patients (59 men and 46 women) with type 2 diabetes were recruited. Subjects with severe cardiovascular diseases were excluded. All subjects were undergone carotid ultrasonography for evaluation of carotid IMT. Serum hsCRP concentrations were measured.', 'Serum hsCRP level was correlated with mean left IMT (r = 0.366, P = 0.003), maximal left IMT (r = 0.370, P = 0.002), mean right IMT (r = 0.281, P = 0.023) and maximal right IMT (r = 0.370, P = 0.002), body mass index (r = 0.377, P < 0.001), waist circumference (r = 0.342, P < 0.001), waist-hip ratio (r = 0.229, P = 0.020), serum total cholesterol (r = 0.202, P = 0.024), serum triglyceride (r = 0.292, P = 0.022) and serum low-density lipoprotein (r = 0.133, P = 0.044).
Answer: Our result shows that serum hsCRP level is correlated with carotid IMT and the risk factors of cardiovascular diseases and may be useful to predict accelerated atherosclerotic process in type 2 diabetic subjects.

SOLUTION: Is serum high sensitivity C-reactive protein associated with carotid intima-media thickness in type 2 diabetes?

PROBLEM: Context: The purpose of this study was to examine how variation in the beta-2 adrenergic receptor gene (ADRB2), in combination with the moderating influences of race, body mass index (BMI), and anger expression style (anger-in, anger-out), affects blood pressure (BP) at rest and in response to acute laboratory stress.', 'Four hundred fifty adolescents (mean age = 18.5 +/- 2.7 years; 228 [124 males] whites and 222 [110 males] blacks completed two stressors (video game challenge, forehead cold pressor). Hemodynamic measures were taken before, during, and after each stressor. Stressors were separated by a 20-minute rest period.', 'Frequency of detrimental haplotype (Gly16/Glu27) carrier status was greater among whites than blacks (p < .05). A significant three-way interaction among haplotype, BMI, and race for resting systolic blood pressure (SBP) found the highest BP level to be among high BMI carriers, but only for whites. A separate three-way interaction was found to be significant for haplotype, anger-in and race such that high anger-in carriers showed the highest level of resting SBP (p < .05) and total peripheral resistance (TPR) (p < .05) and the greatest TPR reactivity to the cold pressor task (p < .01). Post hoc analyses revealed these interactions with anger-in were only present among blacks. No significant interactions with anger-out for either ethnic group were observed.
Answer: This study demonstrates modulating influences of BMI and anger expression styles on ADRB2 gene associations with hemodynamic function at rest and in response to laboratory stress. These findings support the hypothesis that consideration of gene-environment interactions may better characterize the role of ADRB2 variation in the development of stress-induced essential hypertension.

SOLUTION: Do anger suppression and adiposity modulate association between ADRB2 haplotype and cardiovascular stress reactivity?

PROBLEM: Context: Patients with bradycardia can have severe tachyarrhythmias but it is unclear whether bradycardia alone can induce arrhythmias or whether an additional substrate is necessary. While several animal models of ventricular tachycardia (VT) exist, no model has been reported to mimic the clinical condition of spontaneous VT and sudden cardiac death (SCD) in the presence of bradycardia and chronic myocardial infarction (MI) in large animals without manipulation of the autonomic nervous system. We tested the hypothesis that MI and bradycardia cause more spontaneous sustained VT than does bradycardia alone.', 'Sheep (42-56 kg) underwent atrioventricular (AV) node catheter ablation alone (n = 5) or AV node ablation and 150 minutes of angioplasty balloon occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery (n = 9). An implantable cardioverter defibrillator delivered rescue shocks and demand pacing at 90 beats per minute for the first week and at 40 beats per minute thereafter. Electrograms were continuously radiotelemetered and recorded for 6 weeks. Acute post-MI VT disappeared by day 4. The sudden bradycardia on day 8 triggered numerous premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) and episodes of sustained VT lasting >30 seconds during the next 5 weeks. There were 43 episodes of sustained VT and no spontaneous ventricular fibrillation (VF) with bradycardia alone. However, in the presence of both MI and bradycardia there were 970 episodes of VT/VF (P < 0.05) and three deaths at days 13, 15, and 34. The average 24-hour count of PVCs was similar at day 7 between the two groups but by days 11 and 40, the PVC counts were 35 times and 4 times greater, respectively, in the presence of bradycardia and chronic MI compared to bradycardia alone. No significant difference in the incidence of PVCs was detected because of large individual variation between the two groups (P = 0.21). A high PVC count did not appear to predict SCD.
Answer: The combination of MI and bradycardia secondary to AV node ablation in sheep produces a higher incidence of VT than bradycardia alone, suggesting that this preparation can serve as a model for the study of VT and sudden cardiac death.

SOLUTION:
Is chronic myocardial infarction a substrate for bradycardia-induced spontaneous tachyarrhythmias and sudden death in conscious animals?