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: Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) was shown to improve the immune function and survival in experimental sepsis. This study examined the effect of DHEA on intestinal leukocyte recruitment during experimental sepsis, considering factors of gender (male, female and ovariectomized female animals) and combined treatment using orthovanadate (OV) in two models of sepsis.', 'Male rats underwent colon ascendens stent peritonitis (CASP) or endotoxemia. DHEA was administered after induction of experimental sepsis. Changes in leukocyte adherence and capillary perfusion (measured as intestinal functional capillary density - FCD) were assessed using intravital microscopy. While DHEA increased baseline leukocyte adherence in control animals, DHEA reduced leukocyte adherence and increased FCD in male animals with CASP. These effects were also observed in DHEA-treated ovariectomized female rats with CASP. Similarly, the administration of DHEA reduced the number of adherent leukocytes to intestinal venules by 30% in the endotoxemia model. The combined treatment of DHEA and OV significantly reduced adherence of leukocytes to intestinal venules and improved FCD.

SOLUTION: 0

PROBLEM: Epidermal growth factor (EGF) has been shown to induce intestinal proliferation and maturation; however, little information is available regarding substrates of the intestinal EGF receptor tyrosine kinase. The purpose of this study was to determine if src homologous collagen-like protein (Shc) was an in vivo substrate of the intestinal EGF receptor.', 'Ten-day-old rats were treated with EGF or were breast-fed. In some experiments, IEC-6 cells were treated with EGF. Intestinal tissue and cell fractions were studied by immunodetection to compare the tyrosine phosphorylation state and the subcellular localization of intestinal proteins.', 'The total tyrosine phosphorylation state of intestinal proteins was increased threefold by EGF. Tyrosine phosphorylation of the EGF receptor and Shc were rapidly increased by EGF. The association of Grb2 with Shc increased fourfold and fivefold. Plasma membrane translocation of Shc and associated phosphotyrosyl proteins was increased within 30 seconds of EGF treatment.

SOLUTION: 1

PROBLEM: Mice heterozygous for the Del1 transgene locus with a short deletion mutation in the type II collagen gene develop early-onset degenerative changes in the knee joints that progress to end-stage osteoarthritis by the age of 12-15 months. This study focuses on the expression and distribution of syndecan-1, a cell-surface heparan sulfate proteoglycan, during the development of osteoarthritic cartilage degeneration, to better understand its role in this disease.', 'Northern analyses of total RNA extracted from knee joints of transgenic Del1 mice and their nontransgenic controls were used to monitor changes in syndecan-1 mRNA levels during development, growth, ageing, and cartilage degeneration. Immunohistochemistry was used to study the distribution of syndecan-1 in the knee joints at different stages of cartilage degeneration.', 'Syndecan-1 mRNA was present in knee joints throughout life, with the highest mRNA levels in ageing knee joints. In Del1 mice, a transient upregulation of syndecan-1 mRNA synthesis was observed at the age of 6 months coinciding with early stages of cartilage degeneration and a period of attempted repair. Immunostaining for syndecan-1 was most intense in chondrocytes of superficial and intermediate zones of articular cartilage adjacent to defect areas. Chondrocyte clusters also stained strongly for syndecan-1.

SOLUTION:
1