In this task, you are given a passage which has a question and the context. You have to generate an answer to the question based on the information present in the context.

[EX Q]: Context: BDNF blood levels are reduced in MDD. They can be increased with pharmacologic treatment and ECT, but it is not clear whether the combination of treatments promotes an additional increase. The present study aims to evaluate whether combined treatment promotes an increase in BDNF, restoring the level to that of non-depressed controls.', 'Ninety-nine adult inpatients were invited to participate in this naturalistic prospective cohort study between May 2011 and April 2013. Diagnosis was made by MINI, and the symptoms were evaluated at admission and at discharge by HDRS-17. Those inpatients with a diagnosis of depression were included and divided into two groups: those who underwent combined ECT and medication (31 subjects) and those who used only pharmacotherapy (68 subjects). Serum BDNF was measured in blood samples collected at admission and discharge. One hundred healthy blood donors without any psychiatric diagnosis were included as a control group.', 'There were no significant differences in serum BDNF levels between the combined and pharmacological groups at admission and at discharge, and no significant variation in BDNF occurred in any group during the treatment. There were no interactions between time and treatment groups nor significant time effects or treatment group effects for BDNF in the Generalized Estimating Equation Model (GEE). The control group had significantly higher serum BDNF levels in comparison with each of the treatment groups at admission and discharge (p = 0.00).\Question: Is combining ECT with pharmacological treatment of depressed inpatients in a naturalistic study associated with serum BDNF level increase?
[EX A]: Combination of ECT with pharmacological treatment did not result in increased serum BDNF levels and did not restore levels to that of controls.

[EX Q]: Context: Activation of NF-kappaB signaling pathway plays a critical role in the initiation and progression of carcinogenesis. However, the role of NF-kappaB pathway in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) has not been fully elucidated. Studies have shown that curcumin possesses anti-infection and anti-oxidation effects. This study was to evaluate whether curcumin could induce apoptosis through inhibition of NF-kappaB signaling pathway in ESCC cells.', 'Expressions of pIkappaBalpha and Bcl-2 were detected using Western blott after incubation of ESCC cells with curcumin (50 micromol/L) at different time points. Apoptosis and the number of viable ESCC cells were analyzed using flow cytometry and MTT, respectively, after the treatment of curcumin, 5-FU, or the combination of curcumin and 5-FU.', 'In two ESCC cell lines, EC9706 and Eca109,curcumin inhibited IkappaBalpha phosphorylation and Bcl-2 in a time-dependent manner; curcumin alone increased cell apoptosis (P<0.05), and the effect became more prominent when it was combined with 5-FU (P<0.05); curcumin plus 5-FU exerted a stronger inhibition effect on cell proliferation than curcumin alone (P<0.05) or 5-FU alone (P<0.05).\Question: Does [ Curcumin promote apoptosis of esophageal squamous carcinoma cell lines through inhibition of NF-kappaB signaling pathway ]?
[EX A]: Curcumin inhibits the phosphorylation of IkappaBalpha, leading to suppression of proliferation, induction of apoptosis and an increase of the sensitivity of ESCC cell lines towards 5-FU.

[EX Q]: Context: Hostility may predict coronary heart disease morbidity and mortality, as well as the metabolic syndrome. We tested to see if high levels of the attitudinal and emotional aspects of hostility lead to progression of carotid atherosclerosis in women and if the metabolic syndrome is a mediator of the association.', 'Two hundred nine healthy women were followed during the perimenopausal and postmenopausal periods. Carotid artery ultrasound scans measured intima-media thickness (IMT) an average 7.4 (SD = 0.9, range 4.2-10.8) and 10.5 years (SD = 1.1, range = 6.9-13.0) after baseline. Hostility was measured at baseline and at the first carotid scan with Spielberger Trait Anger (being angry frequently) and Anger In (suppressing angry feelings) scales, and the Cook-Medley Hostility Inventory (hostile, cynical attitudes toward others). Metabolic syndrome was measured at the study entry and through the second carotid scan.', 'Baseline Trait Anger scores predicted an increase in IMT across 3 years (p < .05) and predicted the risk for developing the metabolic syndrome (p < .05). The risk for developing the metabolic syndrome, in turn, predicted an increase in IMT across 3 years (p < .05). Anger suppression and cynical attitudes were not associated with progression of carotid atherosclerosis.\Question: Do trait anger and the metabolic syndrome predict progression of carotid atherosclerosis in healthy middle-aged women?
[EX A]:
Anger predicts progression of carotid atherosclerosis, and the metabolic syndrome may mediate this association. Women who experience angry feelings frequently may benefit from interventions aimed at reducing anger and reducing the metabolic syndrome components early in the natural history of atherosclerosis.