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: To assess the influence of vascular clamping and ischemia time on long-term post-operative renal function following partial nephrectomy (PN) for cancer in a solitary kidney.', 'This is a retrospective study including 259patients managed by PN between 1979 and 2010 in 13centers. Clamping use, technique choice (pedicular or parenchymal clamping), ischemia time, and peri-operative data were collected. Pre-operative and last follow-up glomerular filtration rates were compared. A multivariate analysis using a Cox model was performed to assess the impact of ischemia on post-operative chronic renal failure risk.', 'Mean tumor size was 4.02.3cm and mean pre-operative glomerular filtration rate was 60.818.9mL/min. One hundred and six patients were managed with warm ischemia (40.9%) and 53patients with cold ischemia (20.5%). Thirty patients (11.6%) have had a chronic kidney disease. In multivariate analysis, neither vascular clamping (P=0.44) nor warm ischemia time (P=0.1) were associated with a pejorative evolution of renal function. Pre-operative glomerular filtration rate (P<0.0001) and blood loss volume (P=0.02) were significant independent predictive factors of long-term renal failure.

SOLUTION: 1

PROBLEM: This study used dopamine D2 receptor (D2R) knockout (KO) mice to investigate the role of D2R activity in the development of form-deprivation myopia (FDM). Sulpiride, a D2R antagonist, was administered systemically into wild-type (WT) mice to validate the involvement of D2R in FDM development.', 'The D2R KO and WT C57BL/6 mice were subjected to FDM. Wild-type mice received daily intraperitoneal injections of sulpiride, 8 g/g body weight, for a period of 4 weeks. The body weight, refraction, corneal radius of curvature, and ocular axial components were measured at week 4 of the experiment. Differences in all ocular parameters between the experimental and control groups were compared statistically.', 'Form-deprivation myopia in D2R KO mice (FD-KO) was significantly reduced compared with their WT littermates (interocular difference, -2.12 0.91 diopter [D] in FD-KO versus -5.35 0.83 D in FD-WT, P = 0.014), with a smaller vitreous chamber depth (0.008 0.006 vs. 0.026 0.006 mm, P = 0.044) and axial length (-0.001 0.007 vs. 0.027 0.008 mm, P = 0.007). Furthermore, FDM was attenuated in animals treated with sulpiride (-2.01 0.31 D in FD-sulpiride versus -4.06 0.30 D in FD-DMSO, P < 0.001) compared with those treated with vehicle, with a retardation in growth of vitreous chamber depth (-0.001 0.006 vs. 0.022 0.004 mm, P = 0.003) and axial length (-0.004 0.007 vs. 0.027 0.005 mm, P = 0.001).

SOLUTION: 1

PROBLEM: In RA, conflicting results have been described on the association between genotypes of the complement factor mannose-binding lectin (MBL) and disease susceptibility and severity. This might be due to underpowerment of previous research work and the fact that no confirmation cohorts were used. Therefore a different approach is warranted.', 'MBL2 gene polymorphisms were determined in two RA cohorts (378 and 261 cases) and 648 controls. Considering MBL polymorphisms, cases and controls were categorized in groups of high, intermediate and low MBL production. The total sample size allows detection of a potential association between RA susceptibility and MBL groups with an odds ratio of 1.37 (alpha < 0.05; 1-beta > 0.8). Disease severity as defined by the need for anti-TNF therapy was also analysed for possible associations with MBL groups.', 'There was no difference in the frequencies between MBL genotypes of RA cases and controls that are associated with high (cases 54.4%, controls 57.0%), intermediate (cases 28.9%, controls 27.5%) or low (cases 16.7%, controls 15.5%) MBL production. Furthermore, there was no association between MBL groups and disease severity.

SOLUTION:
1