TASK DEFINITION: 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.
PROBLEM: Context: Ventriculo-peritoneal shunting is the most commonly used method for the treatment of paediatric hydrocephalus. The programmable valve with the ability to adjust the opening pressure non-invasively has made it easier to find exactly the right opening pressure for each child and reduce the risk of over- or under-drainage. The aim of this investigation was to study our clinical experience with the adult Codman Hakim programmable valve in children, with reference to complications and economic impact.', 'A seven-year retrospective study of 122 hydrocephalic children (aged from children born prematurely to 15 years old) shunted with the adult Codman Hakim programmable valve was performed.', 'The programmable valve was the first shunt in 76 children and in 14 after prior ventricular drainage. The remaining 46 had different non-programmable systems as their first shunt. The most common reason for changing to a programmable valve was over-drainage. With the programmable valve, catheter-related complications, e.g. proximal (36%) or distal obstructions (30%), were the main reasons for surgical revision. Non-invasive pressure adjustment was performed in 73% of the children. Among the children with the programmable valve as their first shunt, 57 (75%) were adjusted, 12 (21%) had severe symptoms of over-drainage and would have required urgent surgical change of the valve if it had not been adjustable. A resetting of the opening pressure after MRI was found in 38% and accidental resetting occurred in 4%. Programmable valves are about twice as expensive as non-programmable valves. We estimated the increased cost of the valve and compared it with the savings from a reduction in the number of re-operations. The total cost for the programmable valve (as the primary shunt) in our study was less than that for expected re-operations due to over- or under-drainage when using non-programmable valves.\Question: Is the programmable adult Codman Hakim valve useful even in very small children with hydrocephalus . A 7-year retrospective study with special focus on cost/benefit analysis?

SOLUTION: The programmable valve was easy to handle; only one size was required and the adjustment made it possible to achieve an optimal intraventricular pressure with a lower total cost, reduced hospital stay as well as an increased quality of life for the children.

PROBLEM: Context: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) allows a detailed "in vivo" macroscopic study of the human brain; previously, it has been demonstrated that Fluid Attenuated Inversion Recovery (FLAIR) sequence shows higher signal intensity of cortices belonging to limbic structures.', 'To measure and compare signal intensities (SI) of cytoarchitectonically different cortical regions.', 'In 22 adult subjects, without psychiatric or neurological diseases, FLAIR sequence was performed in coronal slices, perpendicular to the main hippocampal axis. Signal intensity was measured, with a region-of-interest (ROI) function, in 12 different cortical regions. We compared these values and grouped the cortices into five groups: (1) limbic cortices, (2) paralimbic agranular cortices, (3) paralimbic granular cortices, (4) parietal-type neopallium, (5) frontal-type neopallium. A t-test for comparison of paired samples was performed, considering p</=0.05 as statistically significant.', 'We found statistically significant differences amongst the different groups, with the exception of groups 1 and 2, which did not show differences between them. No statistically significant differences were found among cortices belonging to the same group.\Question: Does magnetic resonance imaging identify cytoarchitectonic subtypes of the normal human cerebral cortex?

SOLUTION: Structural characteristics of the cerebral cortex cause changes in its signal intensity. Magnetic resonance imaging (FLAIR sequence) allows discrimination of different cytoarchitectonic areas of the human cerebral cortex.

PROBLEM: Context: To examine the relationship between statin use in Chinese patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) during their hospitalization and the outcomes.', 'Data were collected from the China National Stroke Registry. Good functional outcome was defined by a modified Rankin Scale score between 0-2. Functional outcome and rate of mortality at 3 months and 1 year were compared between ICH patients on statin and those without it during their hospitalization. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using the multivariable logistic regression model adjusted for baseline risk factors.', 'Among 3218 consecutive ICH patients from 2007 to 2008, 220 (6.8%) were on statin during their hospitalization. Compared with those without statin, patients on statin were younger, had more stroke risk factors but lower stroke severity. ICH patients on statin had better functional outcome at 3 months (OR 2.24, 95% CI 1.49-3.36) and at 1 year (OR 2.04, 95% CI 1.37-3.06). They also had lower rate of mortality at 3 months (OR 0.44, 95% CI 0.22-0.87) and 1 year (OR 0.49, 95% CI 0.27-0.86).\Question: Does use of statin during hospitalization improve the outcome after intracerebral hemorrhage?

SOLUTION:
In-hospital statin use in ICH patients is associated with better functional outcome and lower mortality at 3 months and 1 year.