Carbon-coated magnetic particles increase tissue temperatures after laser irradiation

Purpose:This work focused on the investigation the hyperthermia performance of the carboncoated magnetic particles(CCMPs)in laser-induced hyperthermia.Materials and methods:We prepared CCMPs using the organic carbonization method,and then characterized them with transmission electron microscopy(TEM),ultraviolet-visible(UV-Vis)spectrophotometry,vibrating sample magnetometer(VSM)and X-ray di®raction(XRD).In order to evaluate their performance in hyperthermia,the CCMPs were tested in laser-induced thermal therapy(LITT)experiments,in which we employed a fully distributedfiber Bragg grating(FBG)sensor to profile the tissue's dynamic temperature change under laser irradiation in real time.Results:The sizes of prepared CCMPs were about several micrometers,and the LITT results show that the tissue injected with the CCMPs absorbed more laser energy,and its temperature increased faster than the contrast tissue without CCMPs.Conclusions:The CCMPs may be of great help in hyperthermia applications.

Risk prediction of advanced colorectal neoplasia varies by race and neighbourhood socioeconomic status

Objective Neighbourhood deprivation increases the risk of colorectal neoplasia and contributes to racial disparities observed in this disease.Developing race-specific advanced colorectal neoplasia(ACN)prediction models that include neighbourhood socioeconomic status has the potential to improve the accuracy of prediction.Methods The study includes 1457 European Americans(EAs)and 936 African Americans(AAs)aged 50–80 years undergoing screening colonoscopy.Race-specific ACN risk prediction models were developed for EAs and AAs,respectively.Area Deprivation Index(ADI),derived from 17 variables of neighbourhood socioeconomic status,was evaluated by adding it to the ACN risk prediction models.Prediction accuracy was evaluated by concordance statistic(C-statistic)for discrimination and Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test for calibration.Results With fewer predictors,the EA-specific and AA-specific prediction models had better prediction accuracy in the corresponding race/ethnic subpopulation than the overall model.Compared with the overall model which had poor calibration(P_(Calibration)=0.053 in the whole population and P_(Calibration)=0.011 in AAs),the EA model had C-statistic of 0.655(95%CI 0.594 to 0.717)and P_(Calibration)=0.663;and the AA model had C-statistic of 0.637((95%CI 0.572 to 0.702)and P_(Calibration)=0.810.ADI was a significant predictor of ACN in EAs(OR=1.24((95%CI 1.03 to 1.50),P=0.029),but not in AAs(OR=1.07((95%CI 0.89 to 1.28),P=0.487).Adding ADI to the EA-specific ACN prediction model substantially improved ACN calibration accuracy of the prediction across area deprivation groups(P_(Calibration)=0.924 with ADI vs P_(Calibration)=0.140 without ADI)in EAs.Conclusions Neighbourhood socioeconomic status is an important factor to consider in ACN risk prediction modeling.Moreover,non-race-specific prediction models have poor generalisability.Race-specific prediction models incorporating neighbourhood socioeconomic factors are needed to improve ACN prediction accuracy.

Stool DNA-based versus colonoscopy-based colorectal cancer screening: Patient perceptions and preferences

Objective:Stool DNA(sDNA)tests offer a noninvasive form of colon cancer screening for pa-tients,and although the test is expected to increase uptake of colon cancer screening,it is unknown if patients’perceptions of the sDNA test differ according to race and other patient characteristics.Methods:We conducted a self-administered survey of patients undergoing both a colonoscopy and an sDNA test to evaluate perceptions of sDNA testing.Results:Of the 613 participants who were sent surveys,423 responded(69%response rate).Respondents self-identified as African American(n=127,30%),Caucasian(n=284,67%),and other ethnicity(n=12,3%).In general,participants found the sDNA test more suitable than a colonos-copy(n=309,75%).In univariate analyses,a higher percentage of Caucasians as compared with African Americans found the sDNA test more suitable than a colonoscopy(89%vs.76%,p<0.01),and more Caucasians than African Americans preferred the sDNA test(43%vs.32%,p<0.05).Ad-justment for covariates reduced these racial differences to no significance.A family history of colo-rectal cancer remains a significant factor for patient’s preferences for screening regardless of race.Conclusions:Our study shows no racial differences in the perception of and preference for sDNA testing for colon screening.Intervention to increase the uptake of sDNA testing may help reduce racial disparities in colorectal cancer.