TASK DEFINITION: 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.
PROBLEM: Some imidazoline compounds have pleiotropic effects including cell death in vitro. We examined the antiproliferative action of a novel imidazoline compound S43126, and the role of the I1-imidazoline receptor, ROS, MAPKs and caspases in S43126-induced cell death.', 'PC 12 cells were treated with various concentrations of S43126 in the presence or absence of several ligands, and the effects on cell proliferation, ROS levels, and apoptosis were evaluated using Trypan Blue, Alamar Blue, Western blot and microscopy.', 'We showed that S43126 reduced PC12 cell proliferation by greater than 50%, increased cell death by greater than 40% and increased apoptotic body formation. These effects were reversed by I1R-antagonist, efaroxan. S43126 also increased intracellular ROS levels by greater than 2.5-fold relative to vehicle-treated control. These effects were significantly inhibited by N-acetyl-cysteine. In addition, pharmacologic inhibitors of ERK, JNK and p38 MAPK, significantly reduced S43126-induced antiproliferative activity. Caspases 3, 8 and 9 were all activated in a time-dependent manner by S43126. Pan caspase inhibitor z-VAD-fmk, ameliorated the effects of S43126 on cell death and cell proliferation.

SOLUTION: Is antiproliferative effect induced by novel imidazoline S43126 in PC12 cells mediated by ROS , stress activated MAPKs and caspases?

PROBLEM: Freezing of gait (FOG) is a major concern for Parkinson's disease (PD) patients because it is a leading cause of falls and is associated with poor quality of life. The pathophysiology is unknown but it is hypothesized that it relates to cognitive abnormalities; particularly executive and visuospatial dysfunction. However, prior results have been discrepant. Pharmacologic subtypes of FOG include those that are responsive and unresponsive to levodopa.", 'To determine whether executive and visuospatial dysfunction are associated specifically with the levodopa unresponsive subtype of FOG.', '135 PD subjects completed a single assessment included FOG questionnaire, UPDRS motor scale, comprehensive cognitive battery and measure of hallucinations. Analyses compared unresponsive (n=16), responsive (n=20) and no FOG (n=99) subtypes.', 'The unresponsive subtype had a significantly older age of onset of PD than the responsive group (p=.03) and had worse motor scores (p=.003) than the no FOG group. Longer disease duration was associated with the responsive group compared to the no FOG group (p=.002). The unresponsive FOG group had significantly poorer visuospatial ability (p=.001) and executive functioning (p=.02) than both the no and responsive FOG subgroups. These latter groups were not significantly different. The responsive FOG group was associated with the presence of hallucinations.

SOLUTION: Do freezing of gait subtypes have different cognitive correlates in Parkinson 's disease?

PROBLEM: Impaired endothelial function, as assessed by brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD), is an established risk factor for cardiovascular events. FMD is impaired in heart failure (HF) patients, but less is known about hyperemic brachial artery flow. We investigated the relationship between FMD and hyperemic flow with adverse clinical outcomes in HF patients.', 'Brachial artery FMD and hyperemic flow were assessed in 156 patients (70.5 % Male; 45.5% Caucasian; mean age ( SD) = 56.2 (12.4) years) with HF and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Cox proportional hazard models were used to assess the potential explanatory association of FMD and hyperemic flow with the composite outcome of death or cardiovascular hospitalization over a median 5-year follow-up period.', 'Both FMD and hyperemic flow were negatively correlated with age, but unrelated to sex, race, body mass index, LVEF or N-terminal pro-B-Type natriuretic peptide (NT-ProBNP). Reduced hyperemic flow, but not FMD, was associated with an increased risk of death or cardiac hospitalization after controlling for traditional risk factors.

SOLUTION:
Is reactive hyperemia associated with adverse clinical outcomes in heart failure?