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: Insulin exerts a direct action on vascular cells, thereby affecting the outcome and progression of diabetic vascular complications. However, the mechanism through which insulin signalling is impaired in the endothelium of diabetic individuals remains unclear. In this work, we have evaluated the role of the AGE precursor methylglyoxal (MGO) in generating endothelial insulin resistance both in cells and in animal models.', 'Time course experiments were performed on mouse aortic endothelial cells (MAECs) incubated with 500 mol/l MGO. The glyoxalase-1 inhibitor S-p-bromobenzylglutathione-cyclopentyl-diester (SpBrBzGSHCp2) was used to increase the endogenous levels of MGO. For the in vivo study, an MGO solution was administrated i.p. to C57BL/6 mice for 7 weeks.', 'MGO prevented the insulin-dependent activation of the IRS1/protein kinase Akt/endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) pathway, thereby blunting nitric oxide (NO) production, while extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2) activation and endothelin-1 (ET-1) release were increased by MGO in MAECs. Similar results were obtained in MAECs treated with SpBrBzGSHCp2. In MGO- and SpBrBzGSHCp2-exposed cells, inhibition of ERK1/2 decreased IRS1 phosphorylation on S616 and rescued insulin-dependent Akt activation and NO generation, indicating that MGO inhibition of the IRS1/Akt/eNOS pathway is mediated, at least in part, by ERK1/2. Chronic administration of MGO to C57BL/6 mice impaired whole-body insulin sensitivity and induced endothelial insulin resistance.

SOLUTION: 1

PROBLEM: Patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) whose culprit lesion lies in a branch of the 3 major coronary arteries have well-preserved cardiac function. A first MI with preserved cardiac function is a risk factor for left ventricular free wall rupture (LVFWR), so the aim of this study was to investigate the possible relationship between AMI with branch segment occlusion and LVFWR.', 'The 439 patients with AMI were retrospectively studied. They were divided into 2 groups: group B (n=70; segments 4 atrioventricular node artery, 4 posterior descending coronary artery, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, or 15 according to the AHA classification), and group P (n=369; segments 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 11, or 13). Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was more often performed in group P (75% vs 57%; P=0.0018). In-hospital mortality tended to be lower in group B (1.4% vs 6.2%; P=0.105). The incidence of LVFWR was significantly higher in group B (10.0% vs 1.6%; P=0.0002).By multivariate logistic regression analysis, 1-vessel disease, absence of primary PCI, branch segment occlusion, and age were identified as independent predictors of LVFWR.

SOLUTION: 0

PROBLEM: We examined whether heparin-coated (HC) circuits can improve the operative results in patients with chronic renal insufficiency.', 'Elective cardiac surgery was performed in 24 patients with a serum creatinine (Cr) level of at least 1.5 mg/dl. Uncoated circuits were used in 12 patients, and HC circuits were used in 12 patients. The results of surgery were compared between the two groups.', 'The mean preoperative Cr concentration was significantly higher in the HC group (2.3 vs 1.8 mg/dl). The heparin doses, protamine dose, and activated clotting times were significantly lower in the HC group. The mean blood loss was also less, although this difference was not significant. The postoperative increase in the Cr level was small in the HC group (2.3-->2.5 mg/dl) compared to that in the noncoated group (1.8-->2.3 mg/dl). Postoperative dialysis was not required in the 5 patients in the HC group with a preoperative Cr clearance less than 20 ml/min.

SOLUTION:
0