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: To assess the ability of an adult risk screening questionnaire (RSQ), previously shown to predict attendance at hospital emergency departments, to identify impaired quality of life in adult patients with asthma in general practice.', 'Baseline data from an RCT of asthma clinics in general practice, using the St. George Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) to measure quality of life.', 'Twelve general practices in Adelaide, Australia.', 'A total of 184 adult asthmatics were recruited, with a mean (standard deviation) age of 50.3 years (16.6 years). Age, gender, weight, number of comorbidities, smoking status, FEV1 and percent predicted FEV1 (pre-and post-bronchodilator), peak flow (pre and post), and RSQ were independently related to SGRQ scores. After adjusting for potential confounders, an RSQ score predictive of hospital attendance was also associated with an average increase (worsening) in SGRQ total score of 11.9 (95% CI: 7.6, 16.3), an average increase in activity score of 9.0 (2.5, 15.5), symptom score of 14.8 (8.6, 21.0), and impact score of 13.1 (8.6, 17.6). These represent clinically significant differences.\Question: Does hospital attendance prediction tool also identify impaired quality of life in adults with asthma in general practice?

SOLUTION: An RSQ score predictive of hospital attendance should alert the general practitioner to explore and address symptom, activity, and impact domains associated with impaired quality of life in adult asthma.

PROBLEM: Context: Recently, extract of Ginkgo biloba leaves (GbE) have become widely known phytomedicines and have shown various pharmacological activities, including improvement of blood circulation, protection of oxidative cell damage, prevention of Alzheimer's disease, treatment of cardiovascular disease and diabetes complications. This study was designed to investigate the effects of an ethanolic GbE on renal fibrosis in diabetic nephropathy (DN) and to clarify the possible mechanism by which GbE prevents renal fibrosis.", 'We investigated the protective effects of GbE on renal fibrosis in STZ-induced diabetic rats. Rats were randomized into six groups termed normal control, diabetes mellitus, low dose of GbE (50\xa0mg/kg/d), intermediate dose of GbE (100\xa0mg/kg/d), high dose of GbE (200\xa0mg/kg/d) and rapamycin (1\xa0mg/kg/d).', 'After 12 weeks, the rats were sacrificed and then fasting blood glucose (FBG), creatinine (Cr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), urine protein, relative kidney weight, glycogen and collagen accumulation, and collagen IV and laminin expression were measured by different methods. The amounts of E-cadherin, α-SMA and snail, as well as the phosphorylation of Akt, mTOR and p70S6K in the renal cortex of rats, were examined by western blotting.', 'Compared with diabetic rats, the levels of Cr, BUN, urine protein, relative kidney weight, accumulation of glycogen and collagen, and expression of collagen IV and laminin in the renal cortex were all decreased in GbE treated rats. In addition, GbE reduced the expression of E-cadherin, α-SMA, snail and the phosphorylation of Akt, mTOR and p70S6K in diabetic renal cortex.\Question: Does ethanolic Ginkgo biloba leaf extract prevent renal fibrosis through Akt/mTOR signaling in diabetic nephropathy?

SOLUTION: GbE can prevent renal fibrosis in rats with diabetic nephropathy, which is most likely to be associated with its abilities to inhibit the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway.

PROBLEM: Context: This study addresses the potential utility of preoperative functional imaging with magnetoencephalography (MEG) for the selection of glioma patients who are likely to benefit from resective surgical treatment regarding postoperative morbidity.', 'One hundred and nineteen patients with gliomas adjacent to sensorimotor, visual and speech related brain areas were investigated preoperatively with a MAGNES II biomagnetometer. In each patient the pre-surgical evaluation was focussed on the visual, sensorimotor cortex and/or of the speech related brain areas. A grading system was then used according to the distance of the MEG activation sources to the nearest tumour border to determine the further treatment. The therapeutic options consisted in conservative treatment, stereotactic biopsy and/or a radiation and chemotherapy, substantial cytoreduction and the gross total removal of the lesion.', 'From 119 investigated patients, 55 patients (46.2%) were not considered for surgery due to tumour invasion to functional cortex. Sixty four patients (53.8%) were chosen for resective surgery. In the surgical group only four patients (6.2%) suffered from neurological deterioration.\Question: Does magnetic source imaging support clinical decision making in glioma patients?

SOLUTION:
Magnetic source imaging (MSI) proved to be a valuable help in the clinical decision making process of lesions adjacent to functional important brain areas. The relative high number of patients in whom MSI warns of the postoperative crippling sequelae may lead to a better selection of patients who benefit from resective surgery. This method may help to find the patients for whom conservative treatment seems to be more favourable concerning quality of life in the surviving time.

