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: The aim of this study was to describe the revascularization process of autogenous bone block grafts placed with or without an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (e-PTFE) membrane.', 'Thirty Wistar male rats had their mandibles augmented by either an autogenous bone block graft (group A) or an autogenous bone block graft covered with an e-PTFE membrane (group B). The animals were sacrificed by perfusion at baseline, 3, 7, 14, and 21 days after surgery.', 'After 3 days, the presence of vascular sprouts derived from the recipient bed was observed in group A; more discrete sprouts were also observed in group B. After 7 days, revascularization continued, with vessels derived from both the recipient bed and the surrounding connective tissue in group A but only from the recipient bed in group B. At 14 days, group A showed penetration of vessels at the periphery of the graft; the vessels reached varying distances inside it. In group B, revascularization of the graft occurred mainly near its perforation, its borders, and at the recipient bed-graft interface. After 21 days, graft vascular penetration could be observed throughout the extent of the graft in group A but only approximately halfway through the graft in group B.

SOLUTION: 1

PROBLEM: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a hypoxia-induced endothelial cell-specific mitogen, which is angiogenic in vivo and up-regulated in several malignancies. VEGF can be used as a prognostic marker, but the effect of surgical trauma on serum VEGF (S-VEGF) concentrations is unknown and might reduce the value of VEGF as a serum marker.', 'We monitored S-VEGF levels by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in patients undergoing surgery.', 'Eighteen patients with major surgery had slightly elevated S-VEGF compared with the preoperative level (median 9.5 pg/mL) on the first (median 35 pg/mL; P = 0.0002) and third (median 19 pg/mL; P = 0.004) postoperative day, but not in later samples. The levels measured in 8 patients after minor surgery did not differ from the preoperative levels (P = 0.14).

SOLUTION: 0

PROBLEM: To determine whether the number and location of positive surgical margins (PSMs) in radical prostatectomy (RP) surgical specimens affect biochemical recurrence (BCR) rates.', 'The locations of PSMs were recorded for 1308 consecutive men who underwent RP between October 2000 and December 2006. BCR was defined as three consecutive prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level rises with the peak level >or=0.15 ng/mL. Multivariate regression analyses were used to identify preoperative predictors of PSMs and BCR. The estimated 5-year risk of BCR was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method.', 'In all, 128 (9.8%) men had one or more PSMs. The mean body mass index, mean preoperative serum PSA level, the distributions of clinical stage and biopsy Gleason scores, and the presence or absence of biopsy perineural invasion were significantly different between men with or with no PSMs. In multivariate analysis, baseline serum PSA level, Gleason score and perineural invasion were independent preoperative predictors of PSMs. The 5-year actuarial BCR rates were dependent on the site of the PSM (P = 0.035) and not the number of PSMs (P = 0.18). The rank order of estimated 5-year BCR rates according to the site of PSMs were base > anterior > posterolateral > apex approximately posterior.

SOLUTION:
1