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: The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of sympathetic versus parasympathetic neuropathy among type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients.', 'There were 43 patients with type 1 and 17 with type 2 diabetes who were investigated. Sympathetic nerve function was assessed by measurement of the vasoconstriction (VAC) index by laser Doppler perfusion imaging of a locally heated finger followed by indirect cooling. Parasympathetic nerve function was assessed by R-R interval variation during deep breathing as measured by the expiration/inspiration (E/I) ratio. Results were expressed as age-corrected z scores in SD; VAC index >1.64 SD and E/I ratio <-1.64 SD were considered abnormal.', 'VAC index was abnormal in 40% with type 1 and 41% with type 2 diabetes, whereas the E/I ratio was abnormal in 42% with type 1 and 65% with type 2 diabetes. There was a clear association between VAC index and E/I ratio among type 1 (rs=0.525; P=0.0002) but not among type 2 (rs=0.10) diabetic patients. Among type 2 diabetic patients, the degree of dysfunction was most severe regarding parasympathetic function (P=0.0167).

SOLUTION: Are sympathetic and parasympathetic neuropathy frequent in both type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients?

PROBLEM: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been well documented to stimulate cell proliferation and differentiation; however, we have observed that copper (Cu)-induced regression of heart hypertrophy was VEGF-dependent. The present study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that Cu causes alterations in the distribution of VEGF receptors (VEGFRs) in hypertrophic cardiomyocytes so that it switches the signalling pathway from stimulation of cell growth to reversal of cell hypertrophy.', 'Primary cultures of neonatal rat cardiomyocytes were exposed to phenylephrine (PE) at a final concentration of 100 microM in cultures for 48 h to induce cell hypertrophy. The hypertrophic cardiomyocytes were exposed to copper sulfate at a final concentration of 5 microM in cultures for 24 h with a concomitant presence of PE. Flow cytometry, gene silencing, and ELISA procedures were used to analyse the changes in VEGFRs and their relationship with regression of cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. Cu did not change the concentration of VEGF in culture media, but increased the ratio of VEGFR-1 to VEGFR-2 two-fold. Gene silencing of VEGFR-2, in the absence of Cu addition, reversed PE-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, which was suppressed by an anti-VEGF antibody. Gene silencing of VEGFR-1 blocked Cu-induced regression of cell hypertrophy and decreased the activity of cGMP-dependent protein kinase-1 (PKG-1). A PKG-1 antagonist, Rp-8-pCPT-cGMPS, blocked both Cu- and VEGFR-2 gene silencing-induced regression of cardiomyocyte hypertrophy.

SOLUTION: Is copper-induced regression of cardiomyocyte hypertrophy associated with enhanced vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 signalling pathway?

PROBLEM: To examine the mortality risk of blood transfusions when donor information, postdonation treatment, and a wide selection of risk factors are taken into account.', 'A retrospective study was performed on 9907 patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting and/or aortic valve replacement. Several transfusion-related risk factors, including age of blood products, sex of donor, ABO group, Rh group, posttransfusion treatment, and sex matching, were included in the analysis. A wide selection of preoperative comorbidities were included as well. A Cox proportional hazards analysis was performed to determine significant risk factors. Patients were followed for a period of up to 12years posttransfusion.', 'We found an excess mortality for transfusions of sex-mismatched red blood cells (RBCs) per unit transfused (hazard ratio [HR], 1.083; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.028-1.140; P=.003). In addition, we found a significant risk during the first year for transfusing 1 to 2 units of non-leukocyte-depleted RBCs (HR, 1.426; 95% CI, 1.004-2.024; P=.047). Transfusion of 1 to 2 units of leukocyte-depleted RBCs was not associated with increased risk (HR, 0.981; 95% CI, 0.866-1.110; P=not significant). The age of blood products was not associated with increased mortality.

SOLUTION:
Does transfusion of sex-mismatched and non-leukocyte-depleted red blood cells in cardiac surgery increase mortality?