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 investigate copeptin levels in serum, and assess their associations with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and diabetic complications.', 'In this post hoc analysis, serum levels of copeptin were tested in 306 patients with T2DM. Clinical information including diabetic retinopathy (DR) and diabetic nephropathy (DN) were collected. The relation of serum copeptin with DR and DN were investigated with the use of logistic regression models according to equal quartiles of the distributions of serum copeptin.', 'We found that serum copeptin levels were significantly higher in diabetes as compared to normal controls [9.4(IQR, 7.4-12.5) pmol/L vs. 4.1(IQR, 2.5-6.2) pmol/L; P<0.0001]. In multivariate analysis, there was an increased risk of T2DM associated with copeptin levels (OR 1.312, 95% CI: 1.204-1.403; P<0.0001) after adjusting for possible confounders. After adjustment for possible confounders, serum copeptin levels were positively associated with the DR (odds ratio [OR], 1.117; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.072-1.241; P<0.001) and DN (OR, 1.259; 95% CI, 1.198-1.323; P<0.001). Compared with the first quartile of serum copeptin levels, the ORs for DR and DN were as follows: second quartile, 1.19 (95% CI, 0.94-1.51, P=0.12) and 1.37 (95% CI, 0.78-2.37, P=0.28); third quartile, 1.61 (95% CI, 1.18-2.43, P=0.005) and 2.12 (95% CI, 1.32-3.27, P=0.003); fourth quartile, 2.83 (95% CI, 2.04-4.93; P<0.001) and 3.48 (95% CI, 1.77-7.03; P<0.001), respectively.

SOLUTION: 1

PROBLEM: Right ventricular failure does not explain all cases of death in patients with chronic pulmonary hypertension. Searching for alternative explanations, we evaluated the prognostic significance of main pulmonary artery (PA) dilatation in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) or chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH).', 'A retrospective outcome analysis was made of 264 patients (aged 46 17 years; women, 69%; PAH, 82%) who underwent both CT scan measurement of the PA and right-sided heart catheterization (mean PA pressure, 57.6 16.5 mm Hg) at initial evaluation.', 'The diameter of the PA ranged from 28 to 120 mm (mean, 39 8.6 mm; median, 38 mm) and was largest in patients with unrepaired congenital defects (42.6 7.6 mm). Pulmonary pulse pressure (P = .04), lower age (P = .03), and duration of symptoms (P &lt; .001) were independently but weakly related to PA diameter. During follow-up (median, 38 months), 99 patients (37%) died. Of these 99 deaths, 73 (74%) were due to heart failure or comorbidities, and 26 (26%) were unexpected deaths (UE-Ds). PA diameter (hazard ratio [HR], 1.06 per 1 mm; 95% CI, 1.03-1.08), heart rate (HR, 1.30 per 10 beats/min; 95% CI, 1.01-1.66), and systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (HR, 1.02 per 1 mm Hg; 95% CI, 1.01-1.04) were the only independent predictors of UE-D and differed from the usual predictors found in the study group for all-cause mortality. PA diameter 48 mm had 95% specificity and 39% sensitivity and carried 7.5 times higher risk of UE-D (95% CI, 3.4-16.5; P &lt; .0001) during follow-up.

SOLUTION: 0

PROBLEM: Retrospective evaluation of the long-term health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among survivors after non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) surgery.', 'A total of 586 patients underwent surgery for NSCLC in Helsinki University Central Hospital between January 2000 and June 2009. Two validated quality-of-life questionnaires, the 15D and the EORTC QLQ-C30 with its lung cancer-specific module, QLQ-LC13, were sent to the 276 patients alive in June 2011. Response rate was 83.3%. Results of the 15D were compared with those of an age- and gender-standardized general population.', 'Median follow-up was 5 years. Compared with a general population, our patients had a significantly lower 15D total score, representing their total HRQoL and scores for dimensions of mobility, breathing, usual activities, depression, distress, and vitality. The patients, however, scored significantly higher on vision, hearing, and mental function.

SOLUTION:
0