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: Contralateral groin exploration in children with unilateral inguinal hernia is still controversial, particularly in infants. The patency rate of processus vaginalis is highest in infants but there are few data on the subsequent risk of contralateral hernia development in infants. In this retrospective study, we aimed to find out the incidence of contralateral inguinal hernia following unilateral inguinal herniotomy in infants aged less than one year.', 'All infants who underwent a unilateral Inguinal herniotomy between January 1990 and December 1998 were studied retrospectively. Infants with bilateral hernia (n = 7) were excluded from the study.', 'One hundred and one infants (93 boys and 8 girls) were studied. Median age at operation was 23 (range 2-52) weeks. The herniotomy was right-sided in 75% of the infants. Follow-up ranged from three and a half years to 11 years. A contralateral hernia developed in nine infants (9.0%). One of the initial hernias was incarcerated. Median time from operation to occurrence of contralateral hernia was 18 (range 2-60) months. None of the contralateral hernia was incarcerated. Age, sex, incarceration and side of initial hernia did not influence the development of contralateral hernia.
Answer: The low incidence and benign nature of contralateral hernia development in infants undergoing a unilateral inguinal herniotomy does not justify routine contralateral groin exploration.

SOLUTION: Is contralateral groin exploration justified in infants with a unilateral inguinal hernia?

PROBLEM: Context: To develop a specific SARS virus-targeted antibody preparation for emergent prophylaxis and treatment of SARS virus infection.', 'By using phage display technology, we constructed a naive antibody library from convalescent SARS patient lymphocytes. To obtain the neutralizing antibody to SARS virus surface proteins, the library panning procedure was performed on purified SARS virions and the specific Fab antibody clones were enriched by four rounds of repeated panning procedure and screened by highthroughput selection. The selected Fab antibodies expressed in the periplasma of E. coli were soluble and further purified and tested for their binding properties and antiviral function to SARS virus. The functional Fab antibodies were converted to full human IgG antibodies with recombinant baculovirus/insect cell systems and their neutralizing activities were further determined.', 'After four rounds of the panning, a number of SARS-CoV virus-targeted human recombinant Fab antibodies were isolated from the SARS patient antibody library. Most of these were identified to recognize both natural and recombinant SARS spike (S) proteins, two Fab antibodies were specific for the virus membrane (M) protein, only one bound to SARS-CoV nucleocapsid protein. The SARS-CoV S and M protein-targeted Fab or IgG antibodies showed significant neutralizing activities in cytopathic effect (CPE) inhibition neutralization test, these antibodies were able to completely neutralize the SARS virus and protect the Vero cells from CPE after virus infection. However, the N protein-targeted Fab or IgG antibodies failed to neutralize the virus. In addition, the SARS N protein-targeted human Fab antibody reacted with the denatured N proteins, whereas none of the S and M protein specific neutralizing antibodies did. These results suggested that the S and M protein-specific neutralizing antibodies could recognize conformational epitopes which might be involved in the binding of virions to cellular receptors and the fusion activity of the virus.
Answer: The SARS-CoV spike protein and membrane proteins are able to elicite efficient neutralizing antibodies in SARS patients. The neutralizing antibodies we generated in this study may be more promising candidates for prophylaxis and treatment of SARS infection.

SOLUTION: Do sARS patients-derived human recombinant antibodies to S and M proteins efficiently neutralize SARS-coronavirus infectivity?

PROBLEM: Context: Oxidative stress and inflammatory processes accelerate the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGE), e.g. of pentosidine. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between levels of pentosidine in serum and synovial fluid, proinflammatory cytokines, other markers of inflammatory activity, and the state of radiologically visible bone destruction in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).', 'One hundred thirty-three nondiabetic RA patients and 56 age-matched, healthy subjects were included. Serum and synovial fluid pentosidine, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), and rheumatoid factor levels were determined. In 30 patients, the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha and the soluble receptors sIL-2R, sIL-6R, sTNF-alpha, and RI/RII were also measured.', 'Serum levels of pentosidine were on average significantly higher in RA patients than in healthy subjects and correlated significantly to ESR, CRP, and serum levels of IL-6. Serum and synovial fluid pentosidine did not show any differences. Rheumatoid factor-positive RA patients had higher pentosidine levels in the synovial fluid than rheumatoid factor-negative patients. Correlations could not be found between pentosidine and the other cytokines or cytokine receptors measured.
Answer: The binding of AGE on cell receptors induces activation of nuclear factor kappa B, resulting in enhanced synthesis of proinflammatory cytokines. Moreover, AGE generation may also lead to the formation of new, immunologically relevant epitopes at synovial proteins. Both mechanisms could contribute to initiation and perpetuation of the inflammatory and destructive processes in RA.

SOLUTION:
Does the advanced glycation end product pentosidine correlate to IL-6 and other relevant inflammatory markers in rheumatoid arthritis?