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.

Diosgenin is a steroidal sapogenin with estrogenic and antitumor properties. In order to elucidate the mechanism of its antiproliferative activity, we investigated its effects on the cell cycle and apoptosis in human chronic myelogenous leukemia K562 cells.', 'Cell viability was assessed via an MTT assay. Apoptosis was investigated in terms of nuclear morphology, DNA fragmentation, and phosphatidylserine externalization. Cell cycle analysis was performed via PI staining and flow cytometry (FCM). Western blotting and immunofluorescence methods were used to determine the levels of p53, cell cycle-related proteins and Bcl-2 family members. FCM was also used to estimate the changes in mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), intracellular Ca2+ concentration and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation.', 'Cell cycle analysis showed that diosgenin caused G2/M arrest independently of p53. The levels of cyclin B1 and p21Cip1/Waf1 were decreased, whereas cdc2 levels were increased. Subsequent apoptosis was demonstrated with the dramatic activation of caspase-3. A dramatic decline in intracellular Ca2+ concentration was observed as an initiating event in the process of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, which was followed by the hyperpolarization and depolarization of MMP. Generation of ROS was observed in the progression of apoptosis. The antiapoptotic Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL proteins were downregulated, whereas the proapoptotic Bax was upregulated.
Does diosgenin induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in human leukemia K562 cells with the disruption of Ca2+ homeostasis?

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is an incurable disease with a highly variable clinical course. IgV(H) mutational status, chromosomal aberrations, CD38 expression and ZAP-70 expression are prognostic markers in CLL, however, they are not exclusively confined to this disease. We recently identified a novel CLL-specific gene (CLL upregulated gene1, CLLU1) that is exclusively upregulated in CLL cells. Here we describe our evaluation of the prognostic significance of CLLU1 in CLL.', 'A cohort of 59 previously untreated CLL patients was studied. We determined the expression levels of two CLLU1 transcripts, cDNA1 and CDS, by quantitative RT-PCR. The relation between CLLU1 expression and time to therapy, overall survival and presence or absence of ZAP-70, CD38, chromosomal aberrations or IgV(H) mutations in the 59 patients was analyzed.', 'Analyzed as a continuous, quantitative parameter CLLU1 levels significantly predicted time from diagnosis to initiation of therapy (P < or = 0.0003) Analyzed as a categorical parameter, by segregation of the patients into groups with cDNA1 or CDS expression above or below the median, the CLLU1 levels significantly predicted time from diagnosis to initiation of therapy (P = 0.001) and predicted overall survival with borderline significance (P < or = 0.05). Patient stratification according to clinical stage, cytogenetics, IgV(H) mutational status, ZAP-70 and CD38, demonstrated significantly increased CLLU1 expression in all investigated CLL poor risk groups. CLLU1 expression levels contributed additional prognostic information to ZAP-70-positive patients.
Do cLLU1 expression levels predict time to initiation of therapy and overall survival in chronic lymphocytic leukemia?

Patients undergoing chemoradiation for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are predisposed to unplanned hospitalizations.', 'To assess the factors associated with prolonged hospitalization and its impact on patient outcomes.', 'We assessed the outcomes of patients hospitalized for 5 days or <5 days in 251 patients with advanced HNSCC who were undergoing radiotherapy during 2000-2012.', 'Patients who had been hospitalized for 5 days were more likely to be admitted for infection, acute renal failure, and/or dehydration. We found no other patient, tumor, or treatment characteristics associated with prolonged hospitalizations. Hospitalizations of 5 days were associated with a higher incidence of delays in radiotherapy (RT; odds ratio [OR], 2.49; 95% confidence index [CI], 1.09-5.69; = .03) and worse performance status after RT (OR, 5.76; 95% CI, 1.85-18.38; = .003). On multivariate analysis, hospitalization of 5 days predicted for worse local-regional control (hazard ratio [HR], 1.85; 95% CI, 1.08-3.17; = .03) and time to treatment failure (HR, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.03-2.61; = .04), and performance status after RT predicted for worse local-regional control, time to treatment failure, progression-free survival, and overall survival.
Do hospitalizations of more than 5 days predict for worse outcomes after radiotherapy for head and neck cancer?