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: Brain structures underlying posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have been a focus of imaging studies, but associations between treatment outcome and alterations in brain structures remain largely unexamined. We longitudinally examined the relation of structural changes in the rostral anterior cingulate cortex (rACC), a previously identified key region in the PTSD fear network, to outcome of prolonged exposure (PE) treatment.', 'The sample included 78 adults (53 women): 41 patients with PTSD and 37 trauma-exposed healthy volunteers (TE-HCs). Patients underwent a 10-week course of PE treatment and completed pre- and posttreatment assessments and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) structural scans. TE-HCs also underwent assessment and MRI at baseline and 10 weeks later. PE remitters (n=11), nonremitters (n=14), and TE-HCs, were compared at baseline on demographic and clinical characteristics and ACC structure. Remitters, nonremitters, and TE-HCs were compared for pre- to posttreatment clinical and structural ACC change, controlling for potential confounding variables.', 'There were no baseline differences in structure between PTSD and TE-HCs or remitters and nonremitters. Following treatment, PTSD remitters exhibited cortical thinning and volume decrease in the left rACC compared with PTSD nonremitters and TE-HCs.
Answer: These results, while in need of replication, suggest that PE treatment for PTSD, by extinguishing maladaptive trauma associations, may promote synaptic plasticity and structure change in rACC. Future research should explore possible underlying mechanisms.

SOLUTION: Does pTSD REMISSION AFTER PROLONGED EXPOSURE TREATMENT be ASSOCIATED WITH ANTERIOR CINGULATE CORTEX THINNING AND VOLUME REDUCTION?

PROBLEM: Context: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between intraoperative vasopressin infusion and postoperative cardiac enzymes.', 'A prospective, double-blind, randomized, controlled study.', 'A single tertiary cardiac center.', 'One hundred consecutive patients undergoing cardiac surgery with or without cardiopulmonary bypass.', 'The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board, and patients provided informed consent to participate. Patients were randomized by computer into 2 equal groups: Vasopressin or control. The blinded study included vasopressin administered at a dose of 1.8 U/h or 1.8 mL/h of normal saline, along with catecholamines. The drug was administered continually during surgery while patients needed catecholamines. The intervention was discontinued upon admission to the intensive care unit when information regarding the true character of the drug was reported to the doctor in charge of patients in the intensive care unit by one of the investigators. Primary outcomes were CK-MB and troponin T levels measured at 0, 6, and 12 hours postoperatively.', 'Of the 100 patients, 8 were excluded; the remaining 92 were randomized to either the vasopressin (n = 47) or control (n = 45) group. There were no significant differences in demographic data between the groups. Postoperatively at 0, 6, and 12 hours, there were no differences in CK-MB (U/l) (37.5 57.9 v 32.0 21.5, 29.4 41.1 v 24.4 23.1, and 21.4 21.3 v. 21.8 32.4, respectively) and troponin T (752.4 638.2 v 762.7 557.1, 753.8 507.3 v 777.6 515.0, and 774.6 572.6 v 698.7 540.2, respectively) values.
Answer: Vasopressin infusion has been used to treat catecholamine-unresponsive shock. In this study, intraoperative vasopressin was used safely as a possible first-line drug for treating hypotension; however, it did not increase the levels of cardiac enzymes after cardiac surgery.

SOLUTION: Does vasopressin raise cardiac enzymes following cardiac surgery : a randomized double-blind clinical trial?

PROBLEM: Context: Activation of B cells is a hallmark of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Syk and TRAF6 are key signaling molecules in B-cell activation through BCR and CD40/TLR, respectively. Nevertheless, whether expression of Syk and TRAF6 is altered in SLE B cells remains unknown.', 'Phosphorylation and/or expression of Syk and TRAF6 were analyzed by flow cytometry in peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated from SLE patients.', 'Pronounced phosphorylation and expression of Syk were noted in B cells from SLE patients compared with healthy donors. Levels of Syk phosphorylation correlated with the disease activity score. TRAF6 was significantly over-expressed in B cells of SLE patients as compared with healthy donors, and significant correlation of levels of TRAF6 expression and Syk phosphorylation was observed in SLE patients. Levels of TRAF6 expression were more pronounced in CD27+ memory B cells than in CD27-naive B cells. In vitro treatment of SLE B cells with a Syk inhibitor (BAY61-3606) reduced Syk phosphorylation as well as TRAF6 expression.
Answer: Our results suggest that the activated Syk-mediated TRAF6 pathway leads to aberrant activation of B cells in SLE, and also highlight Syk as a potential target for B-cell-mediated processes in SLE.

SOLUTION:
Does increased Syk phosphorylation lead to overexpression of TRAF6 in peripheral B cells of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus?