TASK DEFINITION: Given a passage classify if the passage has a definite objective/aim/goal or not. Output '1' if the passage has a defininte objective/aim/goal and output '0' if the passage does not have a definite objective/aim/goal.
PROBLEM: Surgery has been the gold standard in the treatment of adult pyloric stenosis (APS). The introduction of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) in 1989 revolutionised the treatment of peptic ulcer disease and its complications.', 'We carried out a prospective study to evaluate the effectiveness of PPIs as an alternative to surgery for treatment of APS. Six consecutive patients admitted with a diagnosis of adult peptic pyloric stenosis between November 1999 and August 2002 were studied. The diagnosis was confirmed with endoscopy. All patients were commenced on a twice-daily dose of intravenous PPI. This was changed to oral treatment after 2 days. Main outcome measures evaluated were resolution of symptoms on PPIs and failure of medical therapy.', 'There were five females and one male. Median age at diagnosis was 72 years (range, 30-90 years). Median duration of symptoms was 2 weeks (range, 1-5 weeks). Of the patients, five had a history of peptic ulcer disease. Complete resolution was achieved in 5 patients (83%). Median duration for resolution of symptoms was 9 days (range, 5-14 days). All patients were changed to oral PPIs after 2 days. One patient did not respond to oral therapy and required surgical intervention (pyloroplasty). Median follow-up was 26 months (range, 6-48 months). There was no recurrence of symptoms. All patients were discharged on low-dose PPI.

SOLUTION: 0

PROBLEM: The aim of this study was to investigate the suppressive capacity of CD25(+) regulatory T cells on birch allergen-induced T-cell responses during the first birch pollen season after initiation of specific immunotherapy (SIT).', 'CD25(pos) and CD25(neg) T cells were purified from blood of birch-allergic SIT patients and birch-allergic controls, stimulated with birch pollen extract, and analyzed for T-cell proliferation and production of interferon gamma (IFN-gamma), interleukin (IL)-5 and IL-10.', 'We show that allergen-induced proliferation and IFN-gamma production were suppressed equally well by CD25(pos) T cells from SIT patients and controls, while the IL-5 production was not suppressed by either of the groups. IL-10 levels were higher in SIT patients relative to controls only when CD25(neg) and CD25(pos) were cultured together. Furthermore, neither FOXP3 levels nor proportions of CD25(high) T cells were enhanced in SIT patients compared to allergic controls.

SOLUTION: 0

PROBLEM: Age and certain pathologic features (ie, follicular histology, vascular invasion, and extracapsular extension) are reported to impact on prognosis in thyroid cancer, but the relationship between these two factors remains incompletely defined.', 'Clinical, pathologic, therapeutic, prognostic, and outcome data were retrospectively collected and compared among three groups of patients with thyroid cancer: group 1 (age 21 to 50), group 2 (age 51 to 70), and group 3 (age greater than 70).', 'There was a statistically significant age-related decrement in survival: 10-year survival was 92% in group 1, 77% in group 2, and 48% in group 3. Follicular histology, vascular invasion, and extracapsular extension were more frequently observed in group 3 versus group 2 and in group 2 versus group 1 (all differences statistically significant except for vascular invasion). Although survival was significantly less for group 3 versus group 2 versus group 1, only vascular invasion and extracapsular extension independently predicted outcome by multivariate analysis.

SOLUTION:
0