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: Contralateral groin exploration in children with unilateral inguinal hernia is still controversial, particularly in infants. The patency rate of processus vaginalis is highest in infants but there are few data on the subsequent risk of contralateral hernia development in infants. In this retrospective study, we aimed to find out the incidence of contralateral inguinal hernia following unilateral inguinal herniotomy in infants aged less than one year.', 'All infants who underwent a unilateral Inguinal herniotomy between January 1990 and December 1998 were studied retrospectively. Infants with bilateral hernia (n = 7) were excluded from the study.', 'One hundred and one infants (93 boys and 8 girls) were studied. Median age at operation was 23 (range 2-52) weeks. The herniotomy was right-sided in 75% of the infants. Follow-up ranged from three and a half years to 11 years. A contralateral hernia developed in nine infants (9.0%). One of the initial hernias was incarcerated. Median time from operation to occurrence of contralateral hernia was 18 (range 2-60) months. None of the contralateral hernia was incarcerated. Age, sex, incarceration and side of initial hernia did not influence the development of contralateral hernia.

SOLUTION: Is contralateral groin exploration justified in infants with a unilateral inguinal hernia?

PROBLEM: We investigated the clinical significance of GALNT4 expression in patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma.', 'Enrolled in this study were 104 patients treated with curative nephrectomy at Zhongshan Hospital, Shanghai during 2004. Of the cohort 23 patients died of disease, 33 experienced recurrence and 3 died of another cause. GALNT4 density was assessed by immunohistochemistry in patient specimens. Univariate and multivariate Cox models, and ROC analysis were used to analyze the impact of prognostic factors on overall and relapse-free survival. Kaplan-Meier analysis with the log rank test was done to compare clinical outcomes between subgroups.', 'Intratumor GALNT4 expression was significantly lower than peritumor expression. Low GALNT4 expression was associated with poor overall and relapse-free survival (p = 0.001 and 0.004, respectively). Intratumor GALNT4 expression, which negatively correlated with tumor size (p = 0.032), necrosis (p=0.013) and TNM stage (p = 0.017), was an independent prognostic indicator for overall and relapse-free survival (HR 3.088, p = 0.020 and 2.173, p = 0.047, respectively). Extending the TNM staging system according to GALNT4 expression showed a better prognostic value for overall and relapse-free survival (AUC 0.786, p = 0.029 and 0.761, p = 0.040, respectively).

SOLUTION: Does gALNT4 predict clinical outcome in patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma?

PROBLEM: Despite ongoing research, the molecular mechanisms controlling asthma are still elusive. CD48 is a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored protein involved in lymphocyte adhesion, activation, and costimulation. Although CD48 is widely expressed on hematopoietic cells and commonly studied in the context of natural killer and cytotoxic T cell functions, its role in helper T cell type 2 settings has not been examined.', 'To evaluate the expression and function of CD48, CD2, and 2B4 in a murine model of allergic eosinophilic airway inflammation.', 'Allergic eosinophilic airway inflammation was induced by ovalbumin (OVA)-alum sensitization and intranasal inoculation of OVA or, alternatively, by repeated intranasal inoculation of Aspergillus fumigatus antigen in wild-type, STAT (signal transducer and activator of transcription)-6-deficient, and IL-4/IL-13-deficient BALB/c mice. Gene profiling of whole lungs was performed, followed by Northern blot and flow cytometric analysis. Anti-CD48, -CD2, and -2B4 antibodies were administered before OVA challenge and cytokine expression and histology were assessed.', 'Microarray data analysis demonstrated upregulation of CD48 in the lungs of OVA-challenged mice. Allergen-induced CD48 expression was independent of STAT-6, IL-13, and IL-4. Neutralization of CD48 in allergen-challenged mice abrogated bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and lung inflammation. Neutralization of CD2 inhibited the inflammatory response to a lesser extent and neutralization of 2B4 had no effect.

SOLUTION:
Is cD48 critically involved in allergic eosinophilic airway inflammation?