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.

We hypothesized that erythropoietin (EPO)-immersed gelatin hydrogel microspheres (GHM) injected into ischemic legs might continuously release a small amount of EPO to locally stimulate angiogenesis without unfavorable systemic effects.', 'EPO is a potent angiogenic factor, but its use for relieving ischemic organs is limited because of the untoward systemic erythrogenic effect and its short half-life in plasma.', 'The right femoral arteries of BALB/c mice were ligated. Recombinant human EPO (5,000 IU/kg)-immersed GHM was injected into the right hind limb muscles (n = 12); the control groups included a saline-injected group (n = 12), an EPO-injected group (n = 8), and an empty GHM-injected group (n = 8).', 'Eight weeks later, improvement of blood perfusion to the ischemic limb was significantly augmented in the EPO-GHM group compared with any of the control groups. There was no increase in the hemoglobin level, nor was there any increase in endothelial progenitor cells. However, capillary and arteriolar densities were significantly increased in this group. Although the treatment did not affect the levels of vascular endothelial growth factor or interleukin-1 beta, it up-regulated the EPO receptor and matrix metalloproteinase-2 and activated the downstream signaling of Akt and also endothelial nitric oxide synthase in ischemic limbs, which might have been associated with the evident angiogenic and arteriogenic effects in the present system.
Does sustained release of erythropoietin using biodegradable gelatin hydrogel microspheres persistently improve lower leg ischemia?

The biliary cast syndrome (BCS) is a frequent problem following liver transplantation. The pathogenesis of this complication is not well understood. Previous research has demonstrated that the soluble form of MICA (sMICA) is significantly higher in patients with chronic liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) than in healthy volunteers. The aim of this study is to investigate the possible involvement of sMICA in the formation of BCS after liver transplantation.', 'Serum soluble MICA was retrospectively evaluated in pre- and post-transplant sera from 133 consecutive primary liver transplant patients and in sera from 88 healthy volunteers using sandwich ELISA. Normal distribution of serum sMICA was described by the data obtained from healthy population and sMICA concentration that was greater than the upper bound 95% normal range was considered as high levels of sMICA. Patient records were reviewed to identify patients who developed BCS.', 'The results demonstrated that 37.6% of patients with end-stage liver diseases had significantly higher pre-transplant serum sMICA than in healthy population. 34.4% of recipients with post-transplant high levels of sMICA developed BCS. In contrast, 17.3% of patients with post-transplant normal levels of sMICA developed BCS. The risk of BCS development is significantly associated with the presence of post-transplant high levels of sMICA (P=0.0365). Further analysis disclosed that patients with decreased post-transplant sMICA following liver transplantation had a lower incidence rate of BCS than those with remained high levels of sMICA after transplantation (10.5% vs. 38.7%, P=0.0302). Furthermore, log-rank test showed that BCS occurrence was significantly associated with dynamic changes of sMICA among different groups (P=0.0188).
Are high levels of soluble Major Histocompatibility Complex class I related chain A ( MICA ) associated with biliary cast syndrome after liver transplantation?

A prospective radiographic analysis of deformity correction during the balloon kyphoplasty procedure.', 'To determine the spontaneous reduction of the deformity in prone position, the subsequent deformity correction by the inflatable bone tamp, and the overall deformity correction after deposition of the cement.', 'Fracture mobility has been shown to contribute to fracture reduction in vertebroplasty. Spontaneous reduction has not been taken into account in recently published series of balloon kyphoplasty, but it must be considered when performing vertebral augmentation and when reporting and interpreting the significance of vertebral height restoration.', 'A consecutive series of 39 osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures were treated in 30 patients. Lateral radiographs were taken and analyzed at six different time points: 1) Preoperative standing. During the kyphoplasty procedure, four consecutive radiographs were obtained: 2) after placing the patient in prone position on the operation table, 3) after inflation of the bone tamp (IBT), 4) after deflation and removal of the IBT, and 5) after deposition of the cement. 6) Standing lateral radiographs were taken after the procedure. All fractures were analyzed for improvement in sagittal alignment (Cobb angle, kyphotic angle, sagittal index, vertebral height), complications, and reduction of pain (VAS).', 'Placement of the patient in prone position displayed a significant spontaneous reduction in deformity of 6.5 degrees +/- 4.1 degrees Cobb angle. Inflation of the IBT demonstrated a further reduction of the fracture and a significant improvement of the Cobb angle of 3.4 degrees compared with baseline prone. After deflation and removal of the IBT and placement of the cement, no significant loss of fracture reduction was seen. Postoperative measurement of the Cobb angle by means of standing radiographs demonstrated a 3.1 degrees significant loss of reduction compared with the intraoperative measurement in prone position after cement application. Cement leaks occurred in 9 of 39 vertebral fractures. All patients subjectively reported immediate relief of their typical fracture pain. The VAS score significantly improved from 8.7 +/- 1.4 before surgery to 2.3 +/- 0.9.
Is balloon kyphoplasty effective in deformity correction of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures?