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: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is associated with myocardial scarring and ventricular tachycardia (VT). Contrast-enhanced cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CE-CMR) can quantify myocardial scar, and scar imaging has been documented in patients with HCM. We investigated the assessment of myocardial scar in HCM patients using CE-CMR, and its correlation with proven VT.', 'Twenty-five patients (mean age 54 +/- 8) with HCM who underwent CE-CMR were identified, and clinical data obtained from chart review. Parameters of LV function were calculated from cine imaging, and myocardial scar was assessed using delayed enhancement imaging following gadolinium administration.', 'Myocardial scar was detected in 16 (64%) patients with a mean mass 9 +/- 15 g. Scar was patchy, mid-myocardial and located in the basal anteroseptum, and RV insertion sites. Scar was seen in septal, apical and concentric variants of HCM. Scar mass correlated with both LV Mass (r2 = 0.74) and maximal LV wall thickness (r2 = 0.42). VT occurred in 32% of patients, and was associated with both increased scar mass and wall thickness compared to non-VT patients (21 +/- 22 g vs. 4 +/- 6 g, and 2.4 +/- 0.5 cm vs. 1.8 +/- 0.5 cm, p < 0.05). LV size and function were similar in patients with and without VT. A scar mass of >7 g predicted the presence of VT with a sensitivity of 75% and specificity 82%.

SOLUTION: 0

PROBLEM: Endothelin receptor antagonists improve pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Mutations in the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) type 2 receptor (BMPR2) predispose to PAH. Here, we sought to determine whether there might exist interactions between these 2 signaling pathways and their effect on the acquisition of the altered phenotype of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PA-SMCs) observed in PAH.', 'Expression of BMPR2, of the BMP agonist BMP4, and of the BMP antagonists gremlin1 and gremlin2 was evaluated in lungs and in PA-SMCs from 6 PAH patients and 14 controls treated with endothelin-1. Endothelin-1 pre-treated PA-SMCs were assessed for proliferation, apoptosis, and downstream signaling activation of Smad1/5/8 and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38(MAPK)) after BMP2 treatment.', 'In PA-SMCs from PAH patients, expression of BMPR2 and BMP4 decreased, whereas expression of gremlin1 and gremlin2 increased compared with controls. Treatment of control PA-SMCs with endothelin-1 induced a dose-dependent increase in gremlin1 and gremlin2, whereas BMPR2 and BMP4 expression decreased, reaching similar levels as those observed in PAH cells. In control PA-SMCs, endothelin-1 pre-treatment reduced inhibitor of DNA binding 1 (Id1) expression and Smad1/5/8 activation induced by BMP2, whereas it enhanced p38(MAPK) activation. Moreover, BMP2 decreased serum-induced proliferation and increased the pro-apoptotic Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. These effects were attenuated by endothelin-1 pre-treatment. Endothelin-1 did not alter BMPR2 signaling in PA-SMCs from PAH patients.

SOLUTION: 0

PROBLEM: Phospholipase C epsilon 1 (PLCE1) plays a crucial role in carcinogenesis and progression of several types of cancers. A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP, rs2274223) in PLCE1 has been identified as a novel susceptibility locus. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of three potentially functional SNPs (rs2274223A > G, rs3765524C > T, and rs7922612C > T) of PLCE1 in gastric cancer patients from Kashmir Valley.', 'The study was conducted in 108 GC cases and 195 healthy controls from Kashmir Valley. Genotyping was performed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method. Data were statistically analyzed using c2 test and logistic regression models. A P value of less than 0.05 was regarded as statistically significant.', 'The frequency of PLCE1 A2274223C3765524T7922612, G2274223C3765524T7922612 , and G2274223T3765524C7922612 haplotypes were higher in patients compared with controls, conferred high risk for GC [odds ratio (OR) =6.29; P = 0.001; Pcorr = 0.003], (OR = 3.23; P = 0.011; Pcorr = 0.033), and (OR = 5.14; P = 0.011; Pcorr = 0.033), respectively. Smoking and salted tea are independent risk factors for GC, but we did not find any significant modulation of cancer risk by PLCE1 variants with smoking or excessive consumption of salted tea.

SOLUTION:
1