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: In dialysis patients, volume overhydration is common and is related to increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. However, it remains unclear whether volume overload imposes those detrimental effects through endothelial dysfunction.', 'In this cross-sectional study, 81 stable patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis in a single center were recruited. Volume status was evaluated by extracellular water, assessed by bioimpedance analysis, and normalized to individual height (nECW). Endothelial function was estimated by endothelial-dependent flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) of the brachial artery and expressed as percentage change relative to baseline diameter.', 'There were 37 male and 44 female patients (mean age 61 +/- 12 years, dialysis vintage 20 +/- 23 months). FMD in female patients was significantly higher than that in male patients (9.17% +/- 6.23% vs 6.31% +/- 5.01%, p < 0.05). FMD was negatively correlated with weight (r = -0.308, p < 0.01), body mass index (r = -0.242, p < 0.05), systolic blood pressure (r = -0.228, p < 0.05), ECW (r = -0.404, p < 0.001), and nECW (r = -0.418, p < 0.001). No correlation was found between FMD and other variables. In multiple stepwise regression analysis, calcium x phosphate product (beta = 0.422, p < 0.001), nECW (beta = -0.343, p < 0.01), and dialysis vintage (beta = -0.237, p < 0.05) were independent determinants of FMD (adjusted R(2) = 0.327 for this model).

SOLUTION: 1

PROBLEM: We reviewed our experience with preoperative chemoradiotherapy in patients with adenocarcinoma of the distal esophagus and pretreatment endoscopic ultrasonography-identified celiac adenopathy.', 'One hundred eighty-six patients with adenocarcinoma of the distal esophagus were staged with endoscopic ultrasonography before treatment from 1997 through 2004. All patients were treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CRT group) and surgical intervention or induction chemotherapy followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy (C-->CRT group) and surgical intervention. Survival analysis (excluding operative mortality) evaluated various pretreatment factors.', 'Multivariable Cox regression analysis showed that pretreatment endoscopic ultrasonography-identified celiac adenopathy was a significant predictor of decreased long-term survival (P = .03). Median and 3-year survivals were 49 months and 54% in the endoscopic ultrasonography-identified cN0 M0 group (n = 65), 45 months and 56% in the endoscopic ultrasonography-identified cN1 M0 group (n = 96), and 19 months and 12% in the endoscopic ultrasonography-identified celiac adenopathy (cM1a) group (n = 18; P = .03). Increased systemic relapse was noted in the endoscopic ultrasonography-identified cM1a group (44% vs 22%, P = .07). The only factor associated with increased survival in the endoscopic ultrasonography-identified cM1a group (27 vs 15 months, P = .02) was the addition of induction chemotherapy before concurrent chemoradiotherapy and surgical intervention.

SOLUTION: 1

PROBLEM: The prognostic value of the Ki67 expression level is yet unclear in breast cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between Ki67 expression levels and prognostic factors such as grade, Her2 and hormone receptor expression status in breast cancers.', 'Clinical and pathological features of the patients with breast cancer were retreived from the hospital records.', 'In this study, 163 patients with breast cancer were analyzed, with a mean age of 53.412.2 years. Median Ki67 positivity was 20% and Ki67-high tumors were significantly associated with high grade (p<0.001), lymphovascular invasion (p=0.001), estrogen receptor (ER) negativity (p=0.035), Her2 positivity (p=0.001), advanced stage (p<0.001) and lymph node positivity (p<0.003) . Lower Ki67 levels were significantly associated with longer median relapse-free and overall survival compared to those of higher Ki67 levels.

SOLUTION:
0