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: Anxiety and depression frequently co-occur in the elderly and in patients with dementia. Prior research has shown that depression is related to the risk of dementia, but the effect of anxiety on dementia remains unclear. We studied whether anxiety symptoms and anxiety disorders are associated with the risk of dementia and cognition.', 'We studied 2,708 nondemented participants from the prospective, population-based Rotterdam Study who underwent the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) (sample I, baseline 1993-1995) and 3,069 nondemented participants who underwent screening for anxiety disorders (sample II, baseline 2002-2004). In 1993-1995, anxiety symptoms were assessed using the HADS. In 2002-2004, anxiety disorders were assessed using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition. In both study samples, participants were continuously monitored for dementia until January 1, 2011. Cognition was tested in 2002-2004 and at a follow-up visit in 2009-2011 in sample II only.', 'In sample I, 358 persons developed dementia, and in sample II, 248 persons developed dementia. We did not find an association with the risk of dementia for anxiety symptoms (hazard ratio 1.05, 95% confidence interval: 0.77-1.43, Wald statistic 0.08, p= 0.77, df= 1) or for anxiety disorders (hazard ratio 0.92, 95% confidence interval: 0.58-1.45, Wald statistic 0.14, p= 0.71, df= 1). We could demonstrate an association of anxiety disorders with poor cognition cross-sectionally, but this attenuated after additional adjustments.

SOLUTION: Is anxiety associated with the risk of dementia or cognitive decline : the Rotterdam Study?

PROBLEM: Three surgical approaches: cochleostomy (C), round window (RW), and extended round window (ERW); and two electrodes types: lateral wall (LW) and perimodiolar (PM), account for the vast majority of cochlear implantations. The goal of this study was to analyze the relationship between surgical approach and electrode type with final intracochlear position of the electrode array and subsequent hearing outcomes.', 'Comparative longitudinal study.', 'One hundred postlingually implanted adult patients were enrolled in the study. From the postoperative scan, intracochlear electrode location was determined and using rigid registration, transformed back to the preoperative computed tomography which had intracochlear anatomy (scala tympani and scala vestibuli) specified using a statistical shape model based on 10 microCT scans of human cadaveric cochleae. Likelihood ratio chi-square statistics were used to evaluate for differences in electrode placement with respect to surgical approach (C, RW, ERW) and type of electrode (LW, PM).', 'Electrode placement completely within the scala tympani (ST) was more common for LW than were PM designs (89% vs. 58%; P<0.001). RW and ERW approaches were associated with lower rates of electrode placement outside the ST than was the cochleostomy approach (9%, 16%, and 63%, respectively; P<0.001). This pattern held true regardless of whether the implant was LW or PM. When examining electrode placement and hearing outcome, those with electrode residing completely within the ST had better consonant-nucleus-consonant word scores than did patients with any number of electrodes located outside the ST (P=0.045).

SOLUTION: Do impact of electrode design and surgical approach on scalar location and cochlear implant outcomes?

PROBLEM: To evaluate the potential prognostic impact of the effect of radiotherapy (RT) on motor function and of the post-RT ambulatory status on survival in metastatic spinal cord compression (MSCC) patients.', 'Of 1,852 patients irradiated for MSCC, 778 patients (42%) received short-course RT and 1,074 (58%) received long-course RT. The effect of RT on motor function (improvement vs. no change vs. deterioration) and the ambulatory status after RT (ambulatory vs. nonambulatory) were evaluated with respect to survival.', 'The actuarial survival rate of the entire cohort was 56% at 6 months, 43% at 12 months, and 32% at 24 months. The patients in whom motor function improved after RT had a significantly better 1-year survival rate than those who had no change or deterioration of motor function (75% vs. 40% and 3%, p < 0.001). The 1-year survival rate of the patients who were ambulatory after RT was significantly better than for those who were not ambulatory (63% vs. 4%, p < 0.001). The results were confirmed in multivariate analysis.

SOLUTION:
Is improved posttreatment functional outcome associated with better survival in patients irradiated for metastatic spinal cord compression?