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### Instruction: Is thyroid surgery in octogenarians associated with higher complication rates? ### Response:

Age > or =80 is associated with higher morbidity after thyroid surgery, although not independently. Earlier operative intervention may be advised in those at high risk for disease progression, whereas follow-up strategies without operation may be advised for others.

### Instruction: Is parental Staphylococcus aureus carriage associated with staphylococcal carriage in young children? ### Response:

Parental S. aureus colonization, but not DCC attendance or having young siblings, is an independent predictor for staphylococcal carriage in young children.

### Instruction: Is growth in foetal life and infancy associated with abdominal adiposity at the age of 2 years : the generation R study? ### Response:

Our results suggest that rapid growth rates during foetal life and infancy are associated with increased abdominal subcutaneous and preperitoneal fat mass in healthy children. Further studies need to explore whether these associations persist in later life and are related to metabolic syndrome outcomes.

### Instruction: Does ascites from patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis contain higher IGF-I bioactivity than serum? ### Response:

It is a novel observation that the in vitro bioactivity of IGF-I can be higher in fluids from an extravascular compartment than in serum, in contrast to immunoreactive levels. This supports different roles for endocrine and paracrine/autocrine IGF-I, but the pathophysiological significance of our observation remains to be clarified.

### Instruction: Do evaluation of the cost-effectiveness of root canal treatment using conventional approaches versus replacement with an implant? ### Response:

Modelling the available clinical and cost data indicates that, root canal treatment is highly cost-effective as a first line intervention. Orthograde re-treatment is also cost-effective, if a root treatment subsequently fails, but surgical re-treatment is not. Implants may have a role as a third line intervention if re-treatment fails.

### Instruction: Do a case study evaluation of ethics review systems for multicentre clinical trials? ### Response:

Any difference in time to approval between the review systems was outweighed by the overall time taken. However, the time spent by both the coordinating centre and local sites in collation, submission and correspondence was greatly reduced, and the centralised process allowed for standardised documentation at all study sites.

### Instruction: Does use of a discharge facilitator improve recall of emergency department discharge instructions for acute gastroenteritis? ### Response:

Verbal reinforcement of written discharge instructions by a bilingual DF improves parental recall of discharge instructions for gastroenteritis.

### Instruction: Are serum polybrominated diphenyl ether ( PBDE ) levels higher in children ( 2-5 years of age ) than in infants and adults? ### Response:

The observed peak concentration at 2.6-3 years of age is later than the period when breast-feeding is typically ceased. This suggests that in addition to the exposure via human milk, young children have higher exposure to these chemicals and/or a lower capacity to eliminate them.

### Instruction: Does overexpression of transcription factor Sp1 lead to gene expression perturbations and cell cycle inhibition? ### Response:

This study shows that the binding to DNA of overexpressed Sp1 induces an inhibition of cell cycle progression that precedes apoptosis and a transcriptional response targeting genes containing Sp1 binding sites in their promoter or not suggesting both direct Sp1-driven transcription and indirect mechanisms.

### Instruction: Is downregulation of adiponectin/AdipoR2 associated with steatohepatitis in obese mice? ### Response:

Diet-induced liver steatosis is associated with increased lipogensis, upregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and transcription factors as well as downregulation of AdipoR2. Reduction in serum adiponectin suggests that adiponectin signaling may be the crosslink between high fat diet, hepatic inflammation, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

### Instruction: Do patients ' memory and psychological distress after ICU stay compared with expectations of the relatives? ### Response:

Psychological distress symptoms were frequent among ICU survivors. Relatives expected the patients to be more distressed after ICU treatment than the patients reported. The strongest predictors of posttraumatic stress symptoms from the ICU were memoris about pain, lack of control and inability to express needs. Pessimism may be a reason for psychological distress and should be addressed during follow up, as pessimistic patients may need more motivation and support.

### Instruction: Does aCS-NSQIP have the potential to create an HPB-NSQIP option? ### Response:

These data suggest that HPB operations performed at ACS-NSQIP hospitals have acceptable outcomes. However, the creation of an HPB-NSQIP has the potential to improve quality, provide risk-adjusted registries with HPB-specific data and facilitate multi-institutional clinical trials.

### Instruction: Does mammalian target of rapamycin inhibition prevent glomerular hypertrophy in a model of renal mass reduction? ### Response:

Although early SRL introduction blocked glomerular hypertrophy, SRL treatment revealed the potential to halt progression of proteinuria and histologic damage at any time of administration in a model of RMR.

### Instruction: Is cD133 gene overexpression frequently observed in early colorectal carcinoma? ### Response:

CD133 gene overexpression in early colorectal cancer patients was more frequently observed than in advanced cases.

### Instruction: Does refractory response to growth factors impair liver regeneration after hepatectomy in patients with viral hepatitis? ### Response:

The refractory response of injured hepatocytes to cytokines may explain the impaired postoperative liver regeneration in patients with damaged liver.

### Instruction: Does phase II trial of CoQ10 for ALS found insufficient evidence to justify phase III? ### Response:

CoQ10 at 2,700 mg daily for 9 months shows insufficient promise to warrant Phase III testing. Given this outcome, the adaptive Phase II design incorporating a dose selection and a futility test avoided the need for a much larger conventional Phase III trial.

### Instruction: Does severity of hypoperfusion in distinct brain regions predict severity of hemispatial neglect in different reference frames? ### Response:

Location, severity, and volume of ischemia together determine the type and severity of neglect after right hemisphere stroke. Results also show that perfusion-weighted MRI can be used as a semiquantitative measure of tissue dysfunction in acute stroke and can account for a substantial proportion of the variability in functional deficits in the acute stage.

### Instruction: Are cerebral microbleeds frequent in infective endocarditis : a case-control study? ### Response:

CMBs are highly frequent in patients with IE. The strong association found between IE and CMBs supports the need for further evaluation of CMBs as additional diagnostic criteria of IE.

### Instruction: Does memantine prevent cardiomyocytes nuclear size reduction in the left ventricle of rats exposed to cold stress? ### Response:

Memantine prevented the nuclear size reduction of cardiomyocytes in rats exposed to cold stress.

### Instruction: Does in the human urothelium and suburothelium , intradetrusor botulinum neurotoxin type A induce apoptosis : preliminary results? ### Response:

Comparison of TUNEL-positive cells (yes vs no) in the bladder urothelium and suburothelium revealed no significant differences in OAB patients before (4 of 12, 33%) versus after (3 of 12, 25%) BoNTA treatment (p=0.99). In addition, no significant differences (p=0.99) were found in OAB patients versus controls. Because our findings are based on first intradetrusor BoNTA injections only, it is unclear whether the results could be extrapolated to repeat injections.

### Instruction: Are outer membrane vesicles of Helicobacter pylori TK1402 involved in biofilm formation? ### Response:

The results suggested that OMV produced from TK1402 play an important role in biofilm formation in strain TK1402.

### Instruction: Does activation of hypoxia-inducible factor attenuate renal injury in rat remnant kidney? ### Response:

Activation of HIF by DMOG halted the progression of proteinuria and attenuated structural damage by preventing podocyte injury in the remnant kidney model. This renoprotection was accompanied by a reduction of oxidative stress, inflammation and fibrosis.

### Instruction: Does regular aerobic exercise training improve endothelium-dependent arterial dilation in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism? ### Response:

Regular aerobic exercise improves FMD in sHT patients, and changes of lipids and inflammation during the exercise period may partially contribute to the improvement of endothelial function.

### Instruction: Are vEGF gene haplotypes associated with sarcoidosis? ### Response:

There is strong evidence that VEGF and its receptors are involved in the onset of sarcoidosis and influence its course.

### Instruction: Does an intervention integrated into daily clinical practice reduce the incidence of delirium during hospitalization in elderly patients? ### Response:

A multicomponent, nonpharmacological intervention integrated into routine practice reduces delirium during hospitalization in older patients, improves quality of care, and can be implemented without additional resources in a public healthcare system.

### Instruction: Are kynurenine and its metabolites -- kynurenic acid and anthranilic acid associated with soluble endothelial adhesion molecules and oxidative status in patients with chronic kidney disease? ### Response:

This study demonstrated that KYN is independently and significantly associated with elevated sICAM-1, whereas oxidative status and platelets independently and significantly predicted increased sVCAM-1 levels in patients with CKD.

### Instruction: Does regenerative effects of basic fibroblast growth factor on extracellular matrix production in aged rat vocal fold? ### Response:

Basic fibroblast growth factor induced the up-regulation of HAS-2, HAS-3, MMP-2, and procollagen type I. Histologically, aged vocal folds treated with bFGF revealed increased deposition of HA as compared to sham-treated vocal folds.

### Instruction: Is expression of renal aquaporins down-regulated in children with congenital hydronephrosis? ### Response:

The expression of AQP1-4 mRNA and protein abundance is reduced in proportion with the degree of hydronephrosis graded by ultrasound in human congenital HK.

### Instruction: Do microneedle arrays allow lower microbial penetration than hypodermic needles in vitro? ### Response:

We have shown here that microneedle puncture resulted in significantly less microbial penetration than did hypodermic needle puncture and that no microorganisms crossed the viable epidermis in microneedle-punctured skin, in contrast to needle-punctured skin. Given the antimicrobial properties of skin, it is, therefore, likely that application of microneedle arrays to skin in an appropriate manner would not cause either local or systemic infection in normal circumstances in immune-competent patients. In supporting widespread clinical use of microneedle-based delivery systems, appropriate animal studies are now needed to conclusively demonstrate this in vivo. Safety in patients will be enhanced by aseptic or sterile manufacture and by fabricating microneedles from self-disabling materials (e.g. dissolving or biodegradable polymers) to prevent inappropriate or accidental reuse.

### Instruction: Is high expression level of Toll-like receptor 2 on monocytes an important risk factor for arteriosclerotic disease? ### Response:

High TLR2 expression level on monocytes may be an independent risk factor for atherogenesis.

### Instruction: Are [ Mutations in the BRCA1 gene ( 185delAG and 5382insC ) present in any of the 30 breast cancer patients analyzed from eastern Colombia ]? ### Response:

Additional mutation screening techniques are necessary involving the entire BRCA1 gene, are necessary in order to better characterize the molecular epidemiology of breast cancer in Bucaramanga, Santander, Colombia.

### Instruction: Is the anastomosis angle a key to improved long-term patency of proximal femoropopliteal bypass? ### Response:

We suggest that a better understanding of the hemodynamics and its influence on IH should lead to an optimized graft design by adopting a more acute angle of the anastomosis.

### Instruction: Does carbon dioxide laser irradiation stimulate mineralization in rat dental pulp cells? ### Response:

These results suggested that carbon dioxide laser irradiation stimulated mineralization in dental pulp cells. The laser irradiation also increased HSP47 expression but not collagen gene expression.

### Instruction: Do acute hyperinsulinaemia and hyperlipidaemia modify circulating adiponectin and its oligomers? ### Response:

The presented data suggest that both, hyperinsulinaemia and hyperlipidaemia, may contribute to low adiponectin levels in states of obesity.

### Instruction: Does extent of initial injury determine language lateralization in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy with hippocampal sclerosis ( MTLE-HS )? ### Response:

ALL occurs in one-fifth of patients with left MTLE-HS. ALL is more frequent in those with structural or functional extrahippocampal involvement and early onset of epilepsy interrupting the development of normal language networks. Because ALL is uncommon in those with damage/dysfunction restricted to the hippocampus, the hippocampus itself may have only a limited role in determining language lateralization.

### Instruction: Does postinfarct treatment with oxytocin improve cardiac function and remodeling via activating cell-survival signals and angiogenesis? ### Response:

Postinfarct treatment with OT reduces myocardial infarct size and improves LV function and remodeling by activating OT receptors and prosurvival signals and by exerting antifibrotic and angiogenic effects through activation of MMP-1, endothelial NO synthase, and vascular endothelial growth factor. These findings provide new insight into therapeutic strategies for ischemic heart disease.

### Instruction: Does serum anti-Müllerian hormone predict ovarian response and cycle outcome in IVF patients? ### Response:

AMH correlates better than age, FSH, and inhibin B with the number of retrieved oocytes. Serum basal AMH may offer a better prognostic value for clinical pregnancy than other currently available markers of IVF outcome in our preliminary study.

### Instruction: Does hepatitis C virus core protein subvert the antiviral activities of human Kupffer cells? ### Response:

KC are intravascular macrophages that are continuously exposed to, and tolerant of, bacterial TLR ligands, which are delivered via the portal circulation. By mimicking a bacterial TLR2 ligand and effectively blocking the TLR3-mediated, double-stranded RNA-induced antiviral response, HCVc might appear to exploit this unique aspect of immunity in the liver.

### Instruction: Are human subjects protected from mast cell tryptase deficiency despite frequent inheritance of loss-of-function mutations? ### Response:

Tryptase deficiency alleles (alpha and the newly discovered betaIII(FS)) are common, causing the number of inherited active genes to range from a minimum of 2 to a maximum of 4, with major differences between populations in the proportion of individuals inheriting 2 versus 4 active alleles. African and Asian populations are especially enriched in genes encoding functional and nonfunctional tryptases, respectively. Strong linkage of TPSAB1 and TPSB2 and pairing of deficiency alleles with functional alleles in observed haplotypes protect human subjects from "knockout" genomes and indeed from inheritance of fewer than 2 active alleles.

### Instruction: Does toyota production system quality improvement initiative improve perioperative antibiotic therapy? ### Response:

The use of TPS methods resulted in a QI intervention that was associated with an increase in appropriate perioperative antibiotic therapy among surgical patients, without affecting LOS.

### Instruction: Does impaired effector memory T-cell regulation facilitate graft versus host disease in CCR7-deficient bone marrow transplant chimeras? ### Response:

We are the first to demonstrate that lack of CCR7 results in delayed regulatory T-cell expansion. This results in insufficient control of effector memory T-cell expansion, which eventually leads to severe tissue damage. Conceivably, therapies aimed at boosting CD4 CD62L regulatory T-cell expansion after BMT could help to control GvHD.

### Instruction: Does m-Calpain antagonize RhoA overactivation and endothelial barrier dysfunction under disturbed shear conditions? ### Response:

Our findings revealed relatively high m-calpain expression levels in the inferior arch. The m-calpain activity antagonizes DF-induced overactivation of RhoA/ROCK/LIMK2 signalling and subsequent cytoskeletal rearrangement in ECs, which leads to barrier improvement.

### Instruction: Is vasoreactivity rapidly improved in obese subjects after gastric bypass surgery? ### Response:

Obese patients showed impaired vasoreactivity in resistance arteries that was normalized already 1 month after gastric bypass surgery. The basis for this remarkable outcome, not significantly related to changes in body weight and metabolic variables, remains to be clarified.

### Instruction: Do caffeine expectancies influence the subjective and behavioral effects of caffeine? ### Response:

Manipulating the expected effects of caffeine altered the behavioral and subjective effects of caffeine. A significant dose by expectancy interaction revealed a somewhat paradoxical outcome in the placebo conditions whereby those told "impair" performed better than those told "enhance." This may reflect compensatory responding as has been observed in similar studies using alcohol (Fillmore et al. Psychopharmacology 115:383-388, 1994). Impair instructions led to greater negative somatic effects only when caffeine was administered supporting the active placebo hypothesis.

### Instruction: Do bupropion and nicotine enhance responding for nondrug reinforcers via dissociable pharmacological mechanisms in rats? ### Response:

The reinforcement enhancing effects of nicotine and bupropion increased over time and repeated treatments suggesting a shared mechanism of action. However, the reinforcement enhancing effects of nicotine are mediated by nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, whereas the reinforcement enhancing effects of bupropion were mediated by alpha noradrenergic receptors.

### Instruction: Do donor serum SMARCAL1 concentrations predict primary graft dysfunction in cardiac transplantation? ### Response:

Donor serum SMARCAL1 may serve as a specific, sensitive, and noninvasive predictive marker in the assessment of cardiac graft quality.

### Instruction: Does twenty-four-hour holter monitor follow-up provide accurate heart rhythm status after surgical atrial fibrillation ablation therapy : up to 12 months experience with a novel permanently implantable heart rhythm monitor device? ### Response:

For "real-life" cardiac rhythm documentation, continuous heart rhythm surveillance instead of any conventional 24HM follow-up strategy is necessary. This is particularly important for further judgment of ablation techniques, devices as well as anticoagulation and antiarrhythmic therapy.

### Instruction: Do preoperative sCD40L levels predict risk of atrial fibrillation after off-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery? ### Response:

Preoperative platelet activation, as assessed by sCD40L levels, is a novel predictor of postoperative AF, independent of systemic endothelial function, vascular redox state, and systemic inflammation.

### Instruction: Does ranolazine as a cardioplegia additive improve recovery of diastolic function in isolated rat hearts? ### Response:

Our results suggest that Ran may have therapeutic potential as an adjunct to CP and further support a protective role of Na(+) current inhibition during ischemia/reperfusion.

### Instruction: Do seizure frequency and lateralization affect progression of atrophy in temporal lobe epilepsy? ### Response:

The progression of white and gray matter atrophy in patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) was more intense in patients with left MTLE and was associated with poorer seizure control and a longer duration of epilepsy.

### Instruction: Does exclusion of NFAT5 from mitotic chromatin reset its nucleo-cytoplasmic distribution in interphase? ### Response:

Our results reveal a multipart mechanism regulating the subcellular localization of NFAT5. The transactivating module of NFAT5 switches its function from an stimulus-specific activator of transcription in interphase to an stimulus-independent repressor of binding to DNA in mitosis. This mechanism, together with export signals acting in interphase, resets the cytoplasmic localization of NFAT5 and prevents its nuclear accumulation and association with DNA in the absence of hypertonic stress.

### Instruction: Are paternal mtDNA and maleness co-inherited but not causally linked in mytilid mussels? ### Response:

These findings are important in our efforts to understand the mechanistic basis of this unusual mode of mitochondrial DNA inheritance that is common among bivalves.

### Instruction: Does amino acid residues 201-205 in C-terminal acidic tail region play a crucial role in antibacterial activity of HMGB1? ### Response:

In sum, these results define the key region and the crucial site in HMGB1 for its antibacterial function, which is helpful to illustrating the antibacterial mechanisms of HMGB1.

### Instruction: Is endothelin signalling in arterial smooth muscle tightly regulated by G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2? ### Response:

These studies identify GRK2 as a key regulator of ET(A)R responsiveness in resistance arteries, highlighting the potential importance of this GRK isoenzyme in regulating vasoconstrictor signalling pathways implicated in vascular disease.

### Instruction: Does transperitoneal laparoscopic prostatectomy increase small bowel within the target volume for postoperative radiotherapy? ### Response:

There is no difference between transperitoneal laparoscopic and open retropubic radical prostatectomy in the incidence of small bowel within the planning target volume for radiotherapy to the prostate bed. Thus, patients who undergo transperitoneal laparoscopic radical prostatectomy do not face a higher risk of toxicity or compromise due to adjuvant or salvage radiotherapy should they require it.

### Instruction: Do occurrence of physiologic gaze-evoked nystagmus at small angles of gaze? ### Response:

A significant number of subjects with normal vision have physiologic GEN at gaze angles as small as 10 degrees. This could potentially refute the "failing" grade that is the hallmark of the HGNT and propagates further testing of the validity of this test in the conviction of intoxicated drivers.

### Instruction: Does the Dominant white mutation in the PMEL17 gene cause visual impairment in chickens? ### Response:

The results indicate that the Dominant white mutation in PMEL17 does not seem to affect the visual ability or eye structures in chickens.

### Instruction: Is insulin gene expression regulated by DNA methylation? ### Response:

Our findings suggest that insulin promoter CpG demethylation may play a crucial role in beta cell maturation and tissue-specific insulin gene expression.

### Instruction: Is early treatment for non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome associated with appropriate discharge care? ### Response:

Acute treatment for NSTE ACS in-hospital is associated with appropriate treatment on hospital discharge. This link between early treatment and discharge therapy may lead to new approaches ensuring the delivery of high-quality, guideline-based care for patients with NSTE ACS.

### Instruction: Does genetic and attachment influence on adolescents ' regulation of autonomy and aggressiveness? ### Response:

The study suggests a gene-attachment interaction in adolescents where the adolescent's attachment status moderates a genetically based higher negative reactivity in response to threats to autonomy in social interactions.

### Instruction: Is enhancement of plasmacytoma cell growth by ascorbic acid mediated via glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase? ### Response:

The results from this study suggest that enhanced glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity may at least in part explain the stimulation of cell growth by ascorbate or ascorbyl 2-phosphate.

### Instruction: Does src tyrosine kinase regulate adhesion and chemotaxis in Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia? ### Response:

Taken together, these results delineate the role of Src kinase activity in Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia and provide the framework for future clinical trials using Src inhibitors in combination with other drugs to improve the outcome of patients with Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia.

### Instruction: Are octogenarians at increased risk for periprocedural stroke following carotid artery stenting? ### Response:

Octogenarians are not at increased risk of periprocedural adverse events following CAS compared to younger patients. Exclusion of high-risk patients from CAS based on age alone is unjustified.

### Instruction: Does a new locus for hereditary hypotrichosis simplex map to chromosome 13q12.12 approximately 12.3 in a Chinese family? ### Response:

A novel locus for HHS maps to chromosome 13q12.12 approximately 12.3 in a Chinese family.

### Instruction: Does carbohydrate restriction favorably alter lipoprotein metabolism in Emirati subjects classified with the metabolic syndrome? ### Response:

These results suggest that weight loss favorably affects lipoprotein metabolism and that the CRD had a better effect on atherogenic VLDL and HDL than the low fat diet recommended by AHA.

### Instruction: Does impaired TGF-beta signalling enhance peritoneal inflammation induced by E. coli in rats? ### Response:

Results from this study demonstrate that TGF-beta signalling is essential in protection against acute peritoneal inflammation induced by bacterial infection.

### Instruction: Does three weeks of creatine monohydrate supplementation affect dihydrotestosterone to testosterone ratio in college-aged rugby players? ### Response:

Creatine supplementation may, in part, act through an increased rate of conversion of T to DHT. Further investigation is warranted as a result of the high frequency of individuals using creatine supplementation and the long-term safety of alterations in circulating androgen composition. STATEMENT OF CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Although creatine is a widely used ergogenic aid, the mechanisms of action are incompletely understood, particularly in relation to dihydrotestosterone, and therefore the long-term clinical safety cannot be guaranteed.

### Instruction: Does cyst size indicate malignant transformation in branch duct intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm of the pancreas without mural nodules? ### Response:

We conclude that the size criteria (> or =30 mm) to predict malignancy proposed in the international consensus guidelines is appropriate and resection or meticulous follow-up using cytological examination and MPD dilatation is needed in patients with flat branch duct IPMNs.

### Instruction: Does modulation of chromatin modification facilitate extinction of cocaine-induced conditioned place preference? ### Response:

This study provides the first evidence that modulation of chromatin modification can facilitate extinction and prevent reinstatement of drug-induced behavioral changes. These findings provide a potential novel approach to the development of treatments that facilitate extinction of drug-seeking behavior.

### Instruction: Do two adjacent nuclear factor-binding domains activate expression from the human PRNP promoter? ### Response:

Results from transient transfection, DNase I footprinting, mobility shift electrophoresis, and methylation interference experiments suggest that two DNase I protected domains designated as prpA and prpB are binding sites for as yet unidentified regulatory factors that independently activate expression from the PRNP promoter.

### Instruction: Does therapeutic targeting of the focal adhesion complex prevent oncogenic TGF-beta signaling and metastasis? ### Response:

Our studies identify an essential function for FAK in mediating the interaction between beta3 integrin and TbetaR-II, and thus in facilitating the oncogenic conversion of TGF-beta required for mammary tumor metastasis. Furthermore, this study establishes chemotherapeutic targeting of FAK as an effective, two-pronged approach in preventing tumor progression both by decreasing innate immune cell infiltration, and by inhibiting early TGF-beta-dependent metastasis.

### Instruction: Is plasma level of soluble c-Met tightly associated with the clinical risk of preeclampsia? ### Response:

Plasma sMet could serve as a potential biomarker for predicting severe preeclampia at early second trimester of pregnancy.

### Instruction: Do conjunctival epithelial cells maintain stem cell properties after long-term culture and cryopreservation? ### Response:

Conjunctival epithelial cells with progenitor cell-like characteristics can be efficiently cryopreserved and can subsequently maintain their function in vitro over several culture passages. The option to cryopreserve conjunctival cells prior to in vitro expansion would be an advantage when cells have to be cultivated for clinical transplantation.

### Instruction: Does influence of Diabetes on the Interpretation of PET scan in Patients With Esophageal Cancer? ### Response:

Regardless of glucose levels, DM and IDDM do not influence pretreatment SUV scores in patients with localized esophageal cancer. However, DM may influence posttreatment SUV scores and thus complicate interpretation of treatment response. Further confirmatory study in a larger cohort of DM patients to evaluate the relationship of posttreatment SUV score to pathologic response is warranted.

### Instruction: Does the hormone receptor GUCY2C suppress intestinal tumor formation by inhibiting AKT signaling? ### Response:

GUCY2C is a tumor suppressor that controls proliferation and metabolism of intestinal epithelial cells by inactivating AKT signaling. This receptor and its ligands, which are paracrine hormones, might be novel candidates for anticolorectal cancer therapy.

### Instruction: Do virally infected mouse liver endothelial cells trigger CD8+ T-cell immunity? ### Response:

These results shed new light on the generation of organ-specific immunity and may contribute to overcoming tolerance in relevant situations, such as cancer.

### Instruction: Is childhood trauma associated with hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis responsiveness in irritable bowel syndrome? ### Response:

HPA axis hyperresponsiveness to a visceral stressor is related more to a history of EALs than to the presence of IBS. However, HPA axis reactivity has a moderating effect on IBS symptoms.

### Instruction: Does 18F-FDG PET/CT identify patients at risk for future vascular events in an otherwise asymptomatic cohort with neoplastic disease? ### Response:

In a large cohort of cancer patients, increased (18)F-FDG uptake in major arteries emerged as the strongest predictor of a subsequent vascular event. Concomitant severe vascular calcifications seemed to impart a particularly high risk. Given the small event rate in the present study, larger, prospective trials of patients without cancer are required to substantiate these promising results.

### Instruction: Do salivary gland side effects commonly develop several weeks after initial radioactive iodine ablation? ### Response:

Although SSEs occurred in 39% of patients after routine RRA, they were usually transient, so that the overall incidence of persistent side effects at a median follow-up of 7 y was only 5%. Even though the risk for persistent side effects is rather small, these data do emphasize the need to select patients carefully for RRA who are thought to be at moderate to high risk for recurrence and to use the minimally effective dose of RAI activity, in an attempt to maximize the potential benefit while minimizing the risk for adverse events for an individual patient.

### Instruction: Is greater activation of secondary motor areas related to less arm use after stroke? ### Response:

The results of this pilot study demonstrate a negative relationship between brain activation and actual arm use after stroke. Larger studies using accelerometers that can detect amount and types of movement may offer further insight into brain reorganization and rehabilitation interventions.

### Instruction: Is abdominal fat deposition associated with increased inflammation , protein-energy wasting and worse outcome in patients undergoing haemodialysis? ### Response:

Abdominal fat deposition in haemodialysis patients is linked to both inflammation and PEW, resulting in an increased mortality risk. Our results support the idea that regional differences in adiposity accumulation may have diverse implications on patient outcome.

### Instruction: Is nocturnal haemodialysis associated with improved vascular smooth muscle cell biology? ### Response:

We demonstrate that NHD is associated with restoration of abnormal VSMC biology in ESRD. Given the increasing importance of VSMCs in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and medial calcification, these data may have important implications for vascular risk in ESRD patients.

### Instruction: Do phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors have distinct effects on the hemodynamics of the liver? ### Response:

Low doses of phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors have distinct effects on hepatic hemodynamic parameters. Their therapeutic use in portal hypertension should therefore be evaluated.

### Instruction: Are microvolt T-wave alternans during exercise and pacing comparable? ### Response:

Indeterminate test results are less common during pacing. However, there is a low concordance rate between test results using different protocols. This necessitates further study to determine the predictive value of each method in high risk patients with ischaemic cardiomyopathy.

### Instruction: Does once-weekly administration of etanercept 50 mg improve patient-reported outcomes in patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis? ### Response:

Patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis entered this trial with serious PRO impairment. At week 12, etanercept 50 mg QW provided significant QoL improvements compared with placebo. After 24 weeks of etanercept, the patients' serious PRO impairment had largely abated.

### Instruction: Does non-enzymatic glycation alter microdamage formation in human cancellous bone? ### Response:

Using a novel microCT technique to characterize and quantify microdamage, this study shows that the accumulation of AGEs in the bone matrix significantly alters the quantity and morphology of microdamage production and results in reduced fracture resistance.

### Instruction: Does risedronate prevent early radiation-induced osteoporosis in mice at multiple skeletal locations? ### Response:

This study demonstrated a rapid loss of trabecular bone at several skeletal sites after whole-body irradiation. Changes were accompanied by an increase in osteoclast number and serum markers of bone loss. Risedronate entirely prevented bone loss, providing further evidence that an increase in bone resorption likely caused this radiation-induced bone loss.

### Instruction: Do age and sex predict PaO2/FiO2 ratio in brain-dead donor lungs? ### Response:

Results of oxygen challenge tests demonstrated better suitability of lungs from male and younger brain-dead donors. This finding is independent of other variables including cause of brain death and clinical and paraclinical data.

### Instruction: Is c-terminal processing of GABARAP required for trafficking of the angiotensin II type 1A receptor? ### Response:

GABARAP and AT(1)R interact through discrete domains and this association regulates the cell-surface accumulation and, consequently, ligand-induced function of the receptor. Unlike that observed with the GABA(A) receptor, this regulation is not dependent on C-terminal processing and modification of GABARAP.

### Instruction: Is norcantharidin a small-molecule synthetic compound with anti-angiogenesis effect? ### Response:

NCTD is a synthetic, small-molecule compound possessing anti-angiogenetic activity with potential use in anti-cancer therapy as an anti-metastatic and anti-angiogenic agent.

### Instruction: Is serotonin 1A receptor gene associated with Japanese methamphetamine-induced psychosis patients? ### Response:

HTR1A may play an important role in the pathophysiology of METH-induced psychosis in the Japanese population. However, because we did not perform a mutation scan of HTR1A, a replication study using a larger sample may be required for conclusive results.

### Instruction: Does enteropathogenic Escherichia coli infection inhibit intestinal serotonin transporter function and expression? ### Response:

Our results demonstrate inhibition of SERT by EPEC and define the mechanisms underlying these effects. These data may aid in the development of a novel pharmacotherapy to modulate the serotonergic system in treatment of infectious diarrheal diseases.

### Instruction: Are cytokeratins 18 and 8 poor prognostic markers in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oesophagus? ### Response:

CK18/CK8 expression correlated with progression of OSCC. The significant correlation with prognosis and stable expression in biopsy specimen suggest usefulness of CK18 in selection of treatment strategies for OSCC.

### Instruction: Are the associations between visceral fat and calcified atherosclerosis stronger in women than men? ### Response:

Measures of body morphology are significantly associated with AC in the coronary arteries and abdominal aorta. Of the measures studied, VF appears to be the most relevant by having the most consistent and stronger magnitudes of association, especially in women. These results suggest that VF may be more relevant in women than men with respect to the presence and extent of atherosclerosis in multiple vascular beds.

### Instruction: Does iris abscess with and without intralenticular fungal invasion in the horse? ### Response:

This is the first clinical report of iris abscesses in the horse, and the first histologic report of fungal invasion of the horse lens.

### Instruction: Is gastric band placement for obesity associated with increased urinary risk of urolithiasis compared to bypass? ### Response:

Our study confirms the risk of urinary stones following the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass procedure as a result of hyperoxaluria, low urine volume and hypocitraturia. Those with gastric banding placement had low urine volumes. Future studies should elucidate the effect of nutrition and/or pharmacological therapy on stone risk of both surgeries as their incidence increases.

### Instruction: Does alendronate reduce the excretion of risk factors for calcium phosphate stone formation in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis? ### Response:

The results suggested that ALN not only improves BMD and osteoporosis, but also reduces the risk of calcium phosphate stone formation in postmenopausal women.

### Instruction: Is the survival of osteosarcoma patients 10 years old or younger worse than the survival of older patients : a retrospective analysis? ### Response:

We could not find any statistical difference in the clinical characteristics and survival from osteosarcoma for the preadolescents and adolescents, so the current approach of having the same protocol for both groups of patients seems to be reasonable.

### Instruction: Is diagnostic performance of magnetic resonance first pass perfusion imaging equally potent in female compared to male patients with coronary artery disease? ### Response:

Diagnostic accuracy of CMR-FPPI is very high in women with intermediate risk of CAD and comparable or in part superior to results in males. With the advantage of the absence of radiation exposure and high spatial and temporal resolution, CMR-FPPI has the potential to become the preferred imaging test to select women for coronary angiography.

### Instruction: Does cTA-based screening reduce time to diagnosis and stroke rate in blunt cervical vascular injury? ### Response:

The initiation of a CTA-based screening and diagnostic program, along with interdisciplinary standardized treatment guidelines, reduced the time to diagnosis of BCVI 12-fold and the institutional stroke rate due to BCVI fourfold. This may be due to earlier diagnosis and initiation of definitive therapy.