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: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common disorder characterized by chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH). OSA is prevalent in obese subjects and is associated with endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular disorders. We tested the hypothesis that the deleterious effects of IH could be further modulated by diet-induced obesity.', 'Thirty adult (8-10 weeks) male C57BL/6J mice were divided into four groups. Mice were subjected to CIH or intermittent air (IA) for 12h a day and fed either a high fat (HF) or a low fat control diet (CD) for 6weeks. We analyzed endothelial function using a wire myograph, and measured markers of oxidative stress (plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC)) using colorimetrical assays. We also measured C-reactive protein (CRP) using ELISA and endothelial nitric oxide (eNOS) gene expression using real time PCR.', 'Stimulated endothelial dependent dilation was significantly impaired only in the group fed high fat diet and subjected to CIH (Emax: HFIH 782%, p<0.0001) when compared to the other groups (Emax: HFIA 950.7%, CDIH 942%, CDIA 971%). Also basal endothelial dependant dilation was attenuated in the HFIH group compared to the HFIA group (Emax: HFIH: 17910% vs. HFIA: 14911% in the presence of L-NAME). Levels of MDA were elevated in the CDIH group when compared to CDIA (0.680.04 vs. 0.410.03 M, p<0.05) but were greatest in the HFIH group (0.830.08 M, p<0.05). However, there was no significant increase in MDA levels in the HFIA group (0.450.03 M, p=NS) when compared to all other groups. Similar effects were observed with CRP levels; CRP levels were significantly higher in the CDIH group compared with intermittent air (10.390.38 vs. 8.700.21 g/ml, p<0.05) but the HFIH had the greatest levels of CRP (11.870.31 g/ml, p<0.05). In the HFIA group, CRP levels were not elevated (9.960.37 g/ml, p=NS). Nevertheless, total antioxidant capacity and eNOS gene expression were not significantly different in the groups.

SOLUTION: Does chronic intermittent hypoxia cause endothelial dysfunction in a mouse model of diet-induced obesity?

PROBLEM: Prolonged re-exposure to a fear-eliciting cue in the absence of an aversive event extinguishes the fear response to the cue, and has been clinically used as an exposure therapy. Arc (also known as Arg3.1) is implicated in synaptic and experience-dependent plasticity. Arc is regulated by the transcription factor cAMP response element binding protein, which is upregulated with and necessary for fear extinction. Because Arc expression is also activated with fear extinction, we hypothesized that Arc expression is required for fear extinction.', 'Extinction training increased the proportion of Arc-labeled cells in the basolateral amygdala (BLA). Arc was transcribed during latter part of extinction training, which is possibly associated with fear extinction, as well as former part of extinction training. Intra-BLA infusions of Arc antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) before extinction training impaired long-term but not short-term extinction memory. Intra-BLA infusions of Arc antisense ODN 3h after extinction training had no effect on fear extinction.

SOLUTION: Does fear extinction require Arc/Arg3.1 expression in the basolateral amygdala?

PROBLEM: Cerebrovascular accidents (CVAs) frequently coexist with coronary artery disease (CAD) and adversely affect prognosis in patients with CAD; however, fewer studies have investigated the role of prior ischemic stroke on the outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The aim of this study was to determine the safety and effectiveness of PCI in patients with a prior ischemic stroke.', 'A review of patients who underwent PCI between June 2003 and September 2005 (n=3893) at the Beijing Anzhen Hospital of Capital University of Medical Science, identified 295 PCI patients with a prior ischemic stroke ( 3 months) and 3598 patients without a prior stroke. To investigate whether prior history of an ischemic stroke was independently associated with increased risk of adverse PCI outcomes, prognostic parameters were analyzed using univariate analysis and Cox multivariate regression analysis. Propensity score analysis was then used to match the two subgroups of patients based on multiple factors known to impact cardiac outcome.', 'Patients with a prior ischemic stroke had more frequent high-risk baseline characteristics (diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia and prior myocardial infarction). No significant differences were found in the major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular event (MACCEs) rates between the two groups (1.7% in the stroke group vs. 1.4% in the non-stroke group; p=0.06). Diabetes mellitus, triple vessel CAD, number of diseased vessels, chronic total occlusion and previous myocardial infarction were independent predictors of MACCE in patients with prior stroke undergoing PCI.

SOLUTION:
Is prior ischemic stroke associated with worse clinical outcomes in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention?