TASK DEFINITION: In this task, you are given a passage which has a question and the context. You have to generate an answer to the question based on the information present in the context.
PROBLEM: Context: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronically relapsing, pruritic, eczematous skin disorder accompanying allergic inflammation. AD is triggered by oxidative stress and immune imbalance. The effect of oral arjunolic acid (AA) on 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB)-induced atopic dermatitis in mice was investigated.', 'Repeated epicutaneous application of DNCB to the ear and shaved dorsal skin of mice was performed to induce AD-like symptoms and skin lesions: 250mg/kg AA was given orally for three weeks to assess its anti-pruritic effects. Serum levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-, interleukin (IL)-4, IL-6, IL-10, immunoglobulin (Ig)E and caspase-3 were assessed by ELISA.', 'We found that AA alleviated DNCB-induced AD-like symptoms as quantified by skin lesions, dermatitis score, ear thickness and scratching behavior. Levels of reactive oxygen species in the AA group were significantly inhibited compared with those in the DNCB group. In parallel, AA blocked a DNCB-induced reduction in serum levels of IL-4 and IL-10 associated with an attenuation of DNCB-induced increases in serum TNF-, IL-6, IgE and caspase-3.\Question: Does arjunolic acid protect against DNCB-induced atopic dermatitis-like symptoms in mice by restoring a normal cytokine balance?

SOLUTION: The results indicate that AA suppresses DNCB-induced AD in mice via redox balance and immune modulation, and could be a safe clinical treatment for AD.

PROBLEM: Context: Microalbuminuria and impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilation are both predictors for cardiac events in patients with type 2 diabetes. The aim of the study was to evaluate whether microalbuminuria correlated with coronary endothelium-dependent vasodilation.', 'We evaluated 84 patients (47 men, mean age 50.5 +/- 5.9 years) with type 2 diabetes for 9.4 +/- 3.4 years, without angiographic coronary stenosis and without major cardiovascular risk factors or other confounding factors, for endothelium investigation. Quantitative coronary angiography was used to assess coronary artery response to cold pressor testing, used to assess endothelium-dependent vasodilation, and to isosorbide dinitrate (endothelium-independent vasodilation).', 'Endothelium-dependent vasodilation differed in the patients with and without microalbuminuria (changes in coronary artery diameter during cold pressor testing: -15.0 +/- 1.9% vs. -10.2 +/- 1.3%, respectively, P < 0.05) and correlated with urinary albumin excretion rate (r = -0.39, P = 0.003), diastolic blood pressure (r = 0.29, P < 0.01), and left ventricular mass index (r = -0.24, P < 0.05). Independent predictors for endothelium-dependent vasodilation were urinary albumin excretion rate (beta -0.04 [95% CI -0.07 to -0.01], P < 0.005) and left ventricular mass index (-0.26 [-0.49 to -0.05], P < 0.05). Endothelium-independent vasodilation was similar in both groups.\Question: Is impaired coronary endothelium-dependent vasodilation associated with microalbuminuria in patients with type 2 diabetes and angiographically normal coronary arteries?

SOLUTION: Type 2 diabetic patients with microalbuminuria have a more severely impaired coronary endothelium-dependent vasodilation than those with normoalbuminuria. These data suggest a common pathophysiological process for both coronary vasomotor abnormalities and microalbuminuria.

PROBLEM: Context: Surgical site infections (SSIs) after colectomy for colon cancer (CC), Crohn's disease (CD), and diverticulitis (DD) significantly impact both the immediate postoperative course and long-term disease-specific outcomes. We aim to profile the effect of diagnosis on SSI after segmental colectomy using the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) data set.", "NSQIP data from 2006 to 2011 were investigated, and segmental colectomy procedures performed for the diagnoses of Crohn's disease, DD, and colon malignancy were included. SSI complications were compared by diagnosis using univariate and multivariate analysis.", 'We included 35,557 colectomy cases in the analysis. CD had the highest rate of postoperative SSI (17 vs. 13% DD vs. 10% CC; p<0.001). Using CC as the comparison group and controlling for multiple variables, the multivariate analysis showed that the CD group had an increased risk for acquiring at least one SSI (odds ratio (OR)=1.38, p0.001), deep incisional SSI (OR=1.85, p=0.03), and organ space SSI (OR=1.51, p=0.02).\Question: Is crohn 's disease but not diverticulitis an independent risk factor for surgical site infections in colectomy?

SOLUTION:
For patients undergoing segmental colectomy in the NSQIP data set, statistically significant increases in SSI are seen in CD, but not DD, when compared to CC, thus confirming CD as an independent risk factor for SSI.