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.

Context: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) patients are at risk of ventricular arrhythmias (VAs). We aimed to explore whether systolic function by strain echocardiography is related to VAs and to the extent of fibrosis by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR).', 'We included 150 HCM patients and 50 healthy individuals. VAs were defined as non-sustained and sustained ventricular tachycardia and aborted cardiac arrest. Left ventricular function was assessed by ejection fraction (EF) and by global longitudinal strain (GLS) assessed by speckle tracking echocardiography. Mechanical dispersion was calculated as standard deviation (SD) of time from Q/R on ECG to peak longitudinal strain in 16 left ventricular segments. Late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) was assessed by CMR. HCM patients had similar EF (61 5% vs. 61 8%, P = 0.77), but worse GLS (-15.7 3.6% vs. -21.1 1.9%, P < 0.001) and more pronounced mechanical dispersion (64 22 vs. 36 13 ms, P < 0.001) compared with healthy individuals. VAs were documented in 37 (25%) HCM patients. Patients with VAs had worse GLS (-14.1 3.6% vs. -16.3 3.4%, P < 0.01), more pronounced mechanical dispersion (79 27 vs. 59 16 ms, P < 0.001), and higher %LGE (6.1 7.8% vs. 0.5 1.4%, P < 0.001) than patients without VAs. Mechanical dispersion correlated with %LGE (R = 0.52, P < 0.001) and was independently associated with VAs (OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.1-2.3, P = 0.02) and improved risk stratification for VAs.
Answer: GLS, mechanical dispersion, and LGE were markers of VAs in HCM patients. Mechanical dispersion was a strong independent predictor of VAs and related to the extent of fibrosis. Strain echocardiography may improve risk stratification of VAs in HCM.
Is strain echocardiography related to fibrosis and ventricular arrhythmias in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?

Context: Clusterin (CLU) /Apolipoprotein J is a protein biosensor of oxidative stress and inflammation, which is upregulated in many pathological processes including atherosclerosis. Previous studies have shown that in aortic tissue, CLU expression increases with atherosclerotic lesion progression and it has been coupled with vascular damage and coronary artery disease. A few studies enter into CLU and carotid atherosclerosis while the apolipoprotein's expression on human carotid tissue and its association with parameters related to the disease development has not been examined. The present study was designed to reveal the relationships between the degree of CLU immunolocalization on carotid artery and demographic characteristics, blood parameters and pharmacological treatment of patients underwent internal carotid artery endarterectomy.", "CLU expression was detected by immunohistochemistry in 42 carotid endarterectomy specimens. Patients' serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a), interleukin-6 (IL-6), high sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and classical parameters related to atherosclerosis such as lipid profile, as well as thrombosis related parameters such as fibrinogen, antithrombin III, protein C and protein S were determined. Demographic characteristics, smoking habits and the use of medications were recorded. Comparisons between groups were performed by students't-test and analysis of variance. Independent associations with CLU expression on carotid tissue were denoted by linear regression analysis.", 'CLU imuunolocalization was denser in smokers than in non-smokers (p=0.041) while it was rarefied in specimens of patients on cropidogrel treatment (p=0.045) compared to the rest not taking this medication. Clopidogrel intake was independent predictor of lower CLU expression on carotid artery (p =0.045). CLU was positively correlated with serum TNF-a concentration (r=0.33, p=0.040) that was independent predictor of higher expression of the apolipoprotein (p=0.001). IL-6, hsCRP and classical parameters related to atherosclerosis and thrombosis were not associated with CLU immunolocalization.
Answer: Our study suggests that CLU expression on carotid artery is affected by TNF-alpha, cigarette smoking confirming its association with oxidative and cellular stress and anti-platelet medication reflecting the protective effects of such pharmacological treatment on vascular wall.
Is clusterin/Apolipoprotein J immunolocalization on carotid artery affected by TNF-alpha , cigarette smoking and anti-platelet treatment?

Context: Despite of many studies conducted on toothbrushes and toothpaste to find out the culprit for abrasion, there is no clear cut evidence to pin point the real cause for abrasion.', 'An in vitro assessment of the role of different types of toothbrushes (soft/ medium/hard) in abrasion process when used in conjunction with and without a dentifrice.', 'Forty five freshly extracted, sound, human incisor teeth were collected for this study. Enamel specimens of approximately 9 mm(2) were prepared by gross trimming of extracted teeth using a lathe machine (Baldor 340 Dental lathe; Ohio, USA). They were mounted on separate acrylic bases. The specimens were divided into three groups, each group containing 15 mounted specimens. Group 1 specimens were brushed with soft toothbrush; Group 2 brushed with medium toothbrush and Group 3 with hard toothbrush. Initially, all the mounted specimens in each group were brushed using dentifrice and then the same procedure was repeated with water as control. Profilometric readings were recorded pre and post to tooth brushing and the differences in readings served as proxy measure to assess surface abrasion. These values were then compared to each other. Kruskal Wallis and Mann-Whitney U test were performed.', 'The results showed that brushing, with water alone, caused less abrasion than when toothpaste was added (p< 0.008). When brushed with water, the harder toothbrush caused more abrasion (higher Ra-value), but when toothpaste was added, the softer toothbrush caused more abrasion (p< 0.001).
Answer: Besides supporting the fact that toothpaste is needed to create a significant abrasion, this study also showed that a softer toothbrush can cause more abrasion than harder ones. The flexibility of bristles is only secondary to abrasion process and abrasivity of dentifrice has an important role in abrasion process.
Do a Profilometric Study to Assess the Role of Toothbrush and Toothpaste in Abrasion Process?