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: In this study, we examined chondrogenic regulation of 2 types of mesenchymal stem cells seeded on the bioengineered substrate in monolayer cultures under mechanically defined conditions to mimic the in vivo microenvironment of chondrocytes within articular cartilage tissues.', 'Human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BSCs) were exposed to 0.2 Pa shear stress, 3 MPa cyclic hydrostatic pressure, and combined loading with different sequences on chemically designed medical-grade silicone rubber, while no soluble growth factors were added to the culture medium. The expression levels of chondrogenic-specific genes of SOX9, aggrecan, and type II collagen (Col II) were measured. Results were compared to those of cells treated by biological growth factor.', 'Gene expression patterns were dependent on the loading regime. Moreover, the source of mesenchymal stem cells (adipose or bone marrow) was influential in gene expression. Overall, enhanced expression of chondrogenic markers was found through application of mechanical stimuli. The response was generally found to be significantly promoted when the 2 loading regimes were superimposed.

SOLUTION: Do the synergistic effects of shear stress and cyclic hydrostatic pressure modulate chondrogenic induction of human mesenchymal stem cells?

PROBLEM: Severe malaria (SM) is classically associated with Plasmodium falciparum infection. Little information is available on the contribution of P. vivax to severe disease. There are some epidemiological indications that P. vivax or mixed infections protect against complications and deaths. A large morbidity surveillance conducted in an area where the four species coexist allowed us to estimate rates of SM among patients infected with one or several species.', 'This was a prospective cohort study conducted within the framework of the Malaria Vaccine Epidemiology and Evaluation Project. All presumptive malaria cases presenting at two rural health facilities over an 8-y period were investigated with history taking, clinical examination, and laboratory assessment. Case definition of SM was based on the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria adapted for the setting (i.e., clinical diagnosis of malaria associated with asexual blood stage parasitaemia and recent history of fits, or coma, or respiratory distress, or anaemia [haemoglobin < 5 g/dl]). Out of 17,201 presumptive malaria cases, 9,537 (55%) had a confirmed Plasmodium parasitaemia. Among those, 6.2% (95% confidence interval [CI] 5.7%-6.8%) fulfilled the case definition of SM, most of them in children <5 y. In this age group, the proportion of SM was 11.7% (10.4%-13.2%) for P. falciparum, 8.8% (7.1%-10.7%) for P. vivax, and 17.3% (11.7%-24.2%) for mixed P. falciparum and P. vivax infections. P. vivax SM presented more often with respiratory distress than did P. falciparum (60% versus 41%, p = 0.002), but less often with anaemia (19% versus 41%, p = 0.0001).

SOLUTION: Are plasmodium vivax and mixed infections associated with severe malaria in children : a prospective cohort study from Papua New Guinea?

PROBLEM: Both the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and the p53 homologue p63 are overexpressed in a significant number of cases of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Epidermal growth factor receptor and p63 both possess oncogenic properties, including the potential to increase cell proliferation and antagonize apoptosis. ZD1839 ("Iressa") is an adenosine triphosphate-competitive inhibitor specific to the EGFR tyrosine kinase currently under evaluation as a chemotherapeutic agent in HNSCC. The objective was to investigate whether p63 expression is decreased after treatment of HNSCC cells with ZD1839. Downregulation of p63 by ZD1839 would identify a potential molecular relationship between EGFR signaling and p63 and could provide insight into the mechanism of action of ZD1839.', 'In vitro examination of p63 expression after ZD1839 treatment.', 'A human HNSCC cell line, SCC-012, was treated with varying doses of ZD1839. p63 protein and messenger RNA levels were analyzed by Western and Northern blot analyses. The effect of ZD1839 on SCC-012 cell cycle was analyzed by flow cytometric analysis.', 'In SCC-012 cells there was a dose-dependent decrease in p63 protein and messenger RNA levels over the course of ZD1839 treatment. Levels of phosphorylated MAPK decreased and p27KIP-1 levels increased after ZD1839 treatment. ZD1839 treatment induced a twofold increase in G1-phase cells and a 3.5-fold decrease in S-phase cells consistent with growth arrest.

SOLUTION:
Does inhibition of epidermal growth factor receptor signaling decrease p63 expression in head and neck squamous carcinoma cells?