Early detection of pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is a low-incident but highly mortal disease. It accounts for only 3% of estimated new cancer cases each year but is currently the fourth common cause of cancer mortality. By 2030, it is expected to be the 2nd leading cause of cancer death. There is a clear need to diagnose and classify pancreatic cancer at earlier stages in order to give patients the best chance at a definitive cure through surgery. Three precursor lesions that distinctly lead to pancreatic adenocarcinoma have been identified, and we have increasing understanding the non-genetic and genetic risk factors for the disease. With increased understanding about the risk factors, the familial patters, and associated accumulation of genetic mutations involved in pancreatic cancer, we know that there are mutations that occur early in the development of pancreatic cancer and that improved genetic risk-based strategies in screening for pancreatic cancer may be possible and successful at saving or prolonging lives. The remaining challenge is that current standards for diagnosing pancreatic cancer remain too invasive and too costly for widespread screening for pancreatic cancer. Furthermore, the promises of noninvasive methods of detection such as blood, saliva, and stool remain underdeveloped or lack robust testing. However, significant progress has been made, and we are drawing closer to a strategy for the screening and early detection of pancreatic cancer.

Multi-area detection sensitivity calculation model and detection blind areas influence analysis of photoelectric detection target

Multi-element array photoelectric detector is the core devices to form a photoelectric detection target with a large field of view.This photoelectric detection target brings about the problem of uneven detection sensitivity distribution in the detection screen.To improve the uneven detection sensitivity of this photoelectric detection target,this paper analyzes the distribution law of the uneven detection sensitivity of the photoelectric detection target using the multi-element array photoelectric detector,dissects the main factors affecting the detection sensitivity according to the photoelectric detection principle,establishes the calculation model of detection sensitivity of the photoelectric detection target in the different detection areas and proposes a method to improve the detection sensitivity by compensating the gain of each unit photoelectric detector.The analysis of simulation and experimental results show that the proposed method of photoelectric detection target can effectively improve the output signal amplitude of the projectile under the certain detection distance,in particular,the output signal amplitude of the projectile is significantly increased when the projectile passes through the detection blind area.The experimental results are consistent with the simulation results,which verify the effectiveness of the proposed improvement method.

A line laser detection screen design and projectile echo power calculation in detection screen area

A line laser with high power as the background light source for the design of a new photoelectric detection target is proposed in this paper, aiming to improve the detection ability of the traditional photoelectric detection target under low background illumination. The laser emitted pulse waveform function and the laser echo pulse response function were used to establish the mathematical model of the reflected echo power of projectile in the detection area and derive the calculation function of minimum detectable echo power in the line laser detection screen, according to information of the line laser emitted power, incident angle of projectile, duration time and detection distance of projectile passing through the line laser detection screen. Calculations and experimental results showed that the design method of line laser detection screen and calculation model of laser echo power are reasonable, and the detection ability of line laser detection screen is obviously higher than that of traditional photoelectric detection screen, especially in low background illumination;at the same time, the designed line laser detection screen was used to combine a six line laser detection screen intersection test system, based on live ammunition for shooting. The test system is stable and able to obtain the dynamic parameters of the flying projectile, verifying that the design of the line laser detection screen in new photoelectric detection target can be suitable for shooting range test applications.

A new Screening Tool for Detecting Early Atheroslerosis

In a study published in the current issue of the Journal of Geriatric Cardiology, Ang and co-investigators used the highresolution 64-slice CT coronary angiography to detect coronary lesions in a group of patients with atypical angina.1 The clinical data of these patients were also used to calculate their risk according the Framingham and PROCAM scoring system.2,3 As the cohort is composed with a majority of low risk patients with atypical angina, only a small minority of the patients were classified as having medium and high risk. The results showed that MDCT uncovered 18% either significant lesions (＞50% stenosis) or calcifications (＞400Agatston units)in the low risk patients and 33% in the medium and high risk subgroups.……

Screening for Oral Cancer 2018

In Hungary, the incidence and mortality from oral cancer is so high, that in the past decades it has attracted international attention. The mortality rates are the highest in Europe. As risk factors, smoking and alcohol drinking have a multiplicative role;in addition, a number of dental factors also play a role. Premalignant conditions and lesions are well known. They should be targeted for early detection and early treatment. The screening tool is simple: inspection and palpation. The physician-patient encounters provide opportunity for screening. This paper looks for the answer to the long debated question: who is responsible for oral screening?

Flight parameter calculation method of multi-projectiles using temporal and spatial information constraint

The dynamic parameters of multiple projectiles that are fired using multi-barrel weapons in highfrequency continuous firing modes are important indicators to measure the performance of these weapons.The characteristics of multiple projectiles are high randomness and large numbers launched in a short period of time,making it very difficult to obtain the real dispersion parameters of the projectiles due to the occlusion or coincidence of multiple projectiles.Using six intersecting-screen testing system,in this paper,we propose an association recognition and matching algorithm of multiple projectiles using a temporal and spatial information constraint mechanism.We extract the output signal from each detection screen and then use the wavelet transform to process the output signal.We present a method to identify and extract the time values on which the projectiles pass through the detection screens using the wavelet transform modulus maximum theory.We then use the correlation of the output signals of three parallel detection screens to establish a correlation coefficient recognition constraint function for the multiple projectiles.Based on the premise of linear projectile motion,we establish a temporal and spatial constraint matching model using the projectile’s position coordinates in each detection screen and the projectile’s time constraints within the multiple intersecting-screen geometry.We then determine the time values of the multiple projectiles in each detection screen using an iterative search cycle registration,and finally obtain the flight parameters for the multiple projectiles in the presence of uncertainty.The proposed method and algorithm were verified experimentally and can solve the problem of uncertainty in projectiles flight parameter under different multiple projectile firing states.

Genetic Analysis of the PKHD1 Gene with Long-rang PCR Sequencing

PKHD1 gene mutations are found responsible for autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease（ARPKD）. However, it is inconvenient to detect the mutations by common polymerase chain reaction（PCR） because the open reading frame of PKHD1 is very long. Recently, long-range（LR） PCR is demonstrated to be a more sensitive mutation screening method for PKHD1 by directly sequencing. In this study, the entire PKHD1 coding region was amplified by 29 reactions to avoid the specific PCR amplification of individual exons, which generated the size of 1 to 7 kb products by LR PCR. This method was compared to the screening method with standard direct sequencing of each individual exon of the gene by a reference laboratory in 15 patients with ARPKD. The results showed that a total of 37 genetic changes were detected with LR PCR sequencing, which included 33 variations identified by the reference laboratory with standard direct sequencing. LR PCR sequencing had 100% sensitivity, 96% specificity, and 97.0% accuracy, which were higher than those with standard direct sequencing method. In conclusion, LR PCR sequencing is a reliable method with high sensitivity, specificity and accuracy for detecting genetic variations. It also has more intronic coverage and lower cost, and is an applicable clinical method for complex genetic analyses.

Modeling Breast Cancer Incidence Rates: A Comparison between the Components of Functional Time Series (FTS) Model Applied on Karachi (Pakistan) and US Data

Several studies showed that the breast cancer incidence rates are higher in high-income (developed) countries, due to the link of breast cancer with several risk factors and the presence of systematic screening policies. Some of the authors suggest that lower breast cancer incidence rates in low-income (developing) countries probably reflect international variation in hormonal factors and accessibility to early detection facilities. Recent studies showed that the breast cancer increased rapidly among women in Pakistan (a developing country) and it became the first malignancy among females of Pakistan. Although, the incidence rates may contain important evidence for understanding and control of the disease;however in Pakistan, the breast cancer incidence data have never been available in the last five decades since independence;rather, only hospital-based data are available. In this study, we intend to apply Functional Time Series (FTS) models to the breast cancer incidence rates of United State (developed country), and to see the difference between various components (age and time) of Functional Time Series (FTS) models applied independently on the breast cancer incidence rates of Karachi (Pakistan) and US. Past studies have already suggested that the incidence of US breast cancer cases was expected to increase in the coming decades. A progressive increase in the number of new cases is already predetermined by the high birth rate that occurred during the middle part of the century, and it will lead to nearly a doubling in the number of cases in about 4 decades. We also obtain 15 years predictions of breast cancer incidence rates in United States and compare them with the forecasts of incidence curves for Karachi. Development of methods for cancer incidence trend forecasting can provide a sound and accurate foundation for planning a comprehensive national strategy for optimal partitioning of research resources between the need for development of new treatments and the need for new research directed toward primary preventive measures.

Future Science Prize goes to non-invasive prenatal testing

The Future Forum,a non-profit organization established last year in Beijing,announced that pathologist Dennis Ming Yuk Lo from the Chinese University of Hong Kong won the life sciences Future Science Prize for the discovery of fetal cell-free DNA（cfDNA）in maternal plasma in 1997（Lo et al.,1997）.By detecting male fetus-derived Y sequences in maternal plasma,Lo et al.successfully proved the presence of fetal cfDNA in maternal plasma and serum（Lo et al.,1997）.