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: The hepatitis B virus X protein (HBx) plays critical roles in cell survival via modulation of signaling pathways. In our previous studies, we reported that HBx inhibited the growth of CCL13-HBx-stable cells (Chang-HBx cells) in vitro and tumor formation in vivo in CCL13-HBx-cell-injected nude mice; however, this inhibition mechanism is unclear.', 'To investigate the role of HBx in Wnt-3/beta-catenin signaling pathways, we focused on the key molecules GSK-3beta and beta-catenin, and analyzed by Western blotting and immunofluorescence staining.', 'Results indicated that following HBx induction, GSK-3beta activity was up-regulated, the expression and accumulation of beta-catenin in the nucleus were decreased, and cell proliferation was suppressed. Inhibition of GSK-3beta activity by pharmacological inhibitors rescued the expression and accumulation of beta-catenin in the nucleus and facilitated cell proliferation and growth following HBx induction. The localization of beta-catenin, which is involved in cell proliferation, and mediated by GSK-3beta activation was also demonstrated.

SOLUTION: 1

PROBLEM: Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is closely associated with the development of infection-induced deleterious pulmonary reactions. In this study, we investigated the enhancement effects of LPS on tachykinin-mediated plasma exudation in the lungs of guinea pigs. The role of oxidants was also explored.', 'Intravenous LPS (100 mu kg-1) or its vehicle was administered 0 to 3 hours prior to bilateral electrical or sham stimulation of the cervical vagus nerves in animals anesthetized with urethane and artificially ventilated. Plasma exudation into the lungs was assessed by measurement of extravasated 125I-albumin which had been intravenously administered before stimulation.', 'The plasma exudation in the lungs increased after bilateral cervical vagal stimulation. LPS alone did not induce significant plasma exudation. The vagally-mediated plasma exudation was enhanced by LPS with the peak effect 1 hour after LPS administration. LPS also enhanced exogenous substance P (10(-8) mol kg-1, i.v.)-induced plasma exudation. The vagally-induced plasma exudation was abolished by a specific neurokinin-1 (NK-1) receptor antagonist, L-732,138. The LPS-induced enhancement response was also attenuated by L-732,138. The vagally-induced plasma exudation was not affected by superoxide dismutase (SOD, 5000 U kg-1, i.p.) pretreatment. However, SOD significantly inhibited the LPS-enhanced neurogenic plasma leakage. The LPS-induced enhancement was not completely abolished by either L-732,138 or SOD pretreatment alone, but by a combination of both.

SOLUTION: 0

PROBLEM: It is not clear whether tumor marker responses can predict survival during sorafenib treatment in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We investigated whether the -fetoprotein (AFP) response is associated with survival in patients with advanced HCC treated with sorafenib.', 'We retrospectively reviewed the records of 126 patients with advanced HCC treated with sorafenib between 2007 and 2012. An AFP response was defined as >20% decrease from baseline. At 6-8 weeks after commencing sorafenib, AFP and radiological responses were assessed by modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors.', 'The median overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were 6.2 and 3.5 months, respectively. Of the study population, a partial response (PR) was identified in 5 patients (4.0%), stable disease (SD) in 65 patients (51.6%), and progressive disease (PD) in 57 patients (44.4%), respectively. AFP non-response was an independent prognostic factor for poor OS (median 10.9 months for AFP response vs 5.2 months for AFP non-response), together with Child-Pugh B, tumor diameter 10 cm, and portal vein invasion (all P<0.05), and PFS (median 5.3 months for AFP response vs 2.9 months for AFP non-response), together with tumor diameter 10 cm and portal vein invasion (all P<0.05). SD or PR was more frequently found in AFP responders than in non-responders (72.1% vs 47.0%, respectively; P=0.007). In a sub-group with SD, OS (median 12.7 vs 5.8 months, respectively) and PFS (median 9.1 vs 3.7 months, respectively) were significantly longer in AFP responders than in non-responders (all P<0.05).

SOLUTION:
0