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: Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) was shown to improve the immune function and survival in experimental sepsis. This study examined the effect of DHEA on intestinal leukocyte recruitment during experimental sepsis, considering factors of gender (male, female and ovariectomized female animals) and combined treatment using orthovanadate (OV) in two models of sepsis.', 'Male rats underwent colon ascendens stent peritonitis (CASP) or endotoxemia. DHEA was administered after induction of experimental sepsis. Changes in leukocyte adherence and capillary perfusion (measured as intestinal functional capillary density - FCD) were assessed using intravital microscopy. While DHEA increased baseline leukocyte adherence in control animals, DHEA reduced leukocyte adherence and increased FCD in male animals with CASP. These effects were also observed in DHEA-treated ovariectomized female rats with CASP. Similarly, the administration of DHEA reduced the number of adherent leukocytes to intestinal venules by 30% in the endotoxemia model. The combined treatment of DHEA and OV significantly reduced adherence of leukocytes to intestinal venules and improved FCD.

SOLUTION: 0

PROBLEM: We determined whether milrinone, a phosphodiesterase III inhibitor, attenuates serotonin-induced (5-hydroxytryptamine [5HT]) pulmonary hypertension (PH) and bronchoconstriction. Dogs were anesthetized with pentobarbital (30 mg/kg + 2 mg. kg(-1). h(-1)). Bronchoconstriction and PH were elicited by 5HT (10 microg/kg + 1.0 mg. kg(-1). h(-1)). Pulmonary vascular resistance was used to assess PH. Bronchoconstriction was also assessed by changes in bronchial cross-sectional area obtained from our bronchoscopic method. At 30 min after 5HT infusion started, seven dogs were given milrinone: 0 (saline), 5, 50, 500, and 5000 microg/kg at 10-min intervals. The other 12 dogs were given milrinone 5000 microg/kg 30 min after 5HT infusion, and 5 min later were given propranolol 0.2 mg/kg (n = 6) or saline (n = 6) IV. The 5HT significantly increased percentage of pulmonary vascular resistance to 208% +/- 27% and decreased percentage of bronchial cross-sectional area to 52% +/- 5% of the basal. Milrinone significantly attenuated both PH and bronchoconstriction in a dose-dependent manner. However, -log 50% effective concentration (mean ED(50) in microg/kg) of milrinone for bronchoconstriction: 4.32 +/- 0.13 (47.6) was significantly smaller than that for PH: 3.84 +/- 0.29 (144.9) (P < 0.01). In addition, the spasmolytic effects of milrinone (5000 microg/kg) were not antagonized by propranolol, although this dose significantly increased plasma catecholamines. In conclusion, milrinone attenuates 5HT-induced PH and bronchoconstriction; however, this drug may be more sensitive to phosphodiesterase III in the airway smooth muscle than in pulmonary vascular smooth muscle. In addition, the relaxant effects could not be caused by beta-adrenoceptor activation because beta-blocker did not antagonize.

SOLUTION: 0

PROBLEM: We report on the early and intermediate-term follow-up results of self-expanding Wallstent (Schneider, Switzerland) implanted in children with congenital heart disease.', 'The inherent shortcomings of balloon-expandable stents prompted the trial of an alternative stent.', 'Twenty patients underwent 22 implantations of 25 self-expanding Wallstents between December 1993 and June 1997 in two institutions. The mean age and weight were 10.8+/-4.5 years and 30.5+/-14.2 kg, respectively. The patients were divided into two groups: 1) Group I comprised 17 patients with pulmonary arterial stenoses, 2) Group II comprised four patients with venous stenoses (one belonged to both groups). Sixteen patients underwent recatheterization at a median of 5.8 months (range 0.5 to 31, mean 8.1 months) after stenting. Hemodynamic and angiographic changes after the interventional procedures and complications were documented.', 'All the stents were successfully deployed in the intended position. In Group I, the narrowest diameter of the stented vessel increased from 4.1+/-1.5 to 8+/-2 mm (95% increase, p < 0.0001) while the systolic pressure gradient across decreased from 24.6+/-15.8 to 12.1+/-11.4 mm Hg (51% decrease, p = 0.001). In Group II, the dimensional changes of the narrowest segment increased from 4.3+/-0.5 to 7.5+/-0.4 mm (75% increase, p = 0.003), and the pressure gradient reduced from 5.0+/-2.9 to 0.9+/-1.0 mm Hg (82% decrease, p = 0.04) across the stented venous channel. Distal migration of two optimally positioned stents occurred within 24 h of implantation. At recatheterization, significant neointimal ingrowth (>30% of the expanded diameter) was noted in 7 (28%) of the 25 implanted stents. This responded poorly to balloon dilation. Predisposing factors for the neointimal ingrowth included stents of smaller diameter (<9 mm) and longer period after implantation.

SOLUTION:
1