Domestic dog invasion in an agroforestry \ud mosaic in southern Bahia, Brazil

Although the value of agroforests for biodiversity conservation has been frequently highlighted, little is known about the \ud susceptibility of this production system to biological invasions. Drawing on a camera-trap dataset obtained in 39 sites in an \ud agroforestry mosaic in southern Bahia, Brazil, we investigated whether the conversion of native forests into agroforests and \ud management intensification in agroforests favor the invasion by the most common carnivore worldwide, the domestic dog. We \ud also examined whether domestic dog invasion is more associated with human activity in agroforests than in native forests. While \ud the number of invading dogs was higher in agroforests than in native forests (11 compared to 7 dogs per site), management \ud intensification in agroforests led to a higher mean number of visits per dog. In both habitats (not only agroforests) visits by \ud domestic dogs tended to be concentrated on times of the day (around midday) and days of the week (Monday to Saturday) when \ud there is greater human activity. Despite being permeable to native species, agroforests may act as sink or trap areas given their \ud higher susceptibility to invasion, potentially limiting the value of this production system for biodiversity conservation. Moreover, \ud local management intensification, which has been expanding worldwide, increases the intensity of such invasions, further \ud decreasing the value of agroforests. The value of agroforestry mosaics for conservation thus depends on the management of \ud invasive species and at least in the case of dogs, one of the most common and widely distributed invasive species, this \ud management should focus on the habits and behavior of humans.EF was granted a MSc scholarship and CRC a PhD scholarship from FAPESP (2011/03113-5 and 2007/54888-1, respectively), and RP had a research fellowship from CNPq (306715/2011-2) during the development of this wor

Predictors of invasive breast cancer and lymph node involvement in ductal carcinoma in situ initially diagnosed by vacuum-assisted breast biopsy: Experience of 733 cases

Abstract Objective To predict presence of invasive component and nodal involvement in women diagnosed preoperatively with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) by vacuum-assisted breast biopsy (VABB). Materials and methods We retrospectively analyzed 733 patients with preoperatively diagnosed DCIS, investigating the association of clinical–radiological variables with invasive component and nodal involvement. Results Mammographic size >20 mm and residual lesion on post-VABB mammogram were related to invasive component (both p p = 0.001, p = 0.03). Age p = 0.003). By multivariate analysis residual disease was associated with invasive component, and mammographic tumor size >20 mm with nodal involvement, both highly significant. Conclusions Older age, lesio

Optical study on the dependence of breast tissue composition and structure on subject anamnesis

Time domain multi-wavelength (635 to 1060 nm) optical mammography was performed on 200 subjects to estimate their average breast tissue composition in terms of oxy- and deoxy-hemoglobin, water, lipid and collagen, and structural information, as provided by scattering parameters (amplitude and power). Significant (and often marked) dependence of tissue composition and structure on age, menopausal status, body mass index, and use of oral contraceptives was demonstrated

Ultrasound Challenge: Secondary Breast Angiosarcoma Mimicking Lipoma

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Optical discrimination between malignant and benign breast lesions

Time domain multi-wavelength (635 to 1060 nm) optical mammography was performed on 82 subjects with breast lesions (45 malignant and 38 benign lesions). A perturbative approach based on the high-order calculation of the pathlength of photons inside the lesion was applied to estimate differences between lesion and average healthy breast tissue in terms of: i) absorption properties, and ii) concentration of the major tissue constituents (oxy- and deoxy-hemoglobin, water, lipid and collagen). The absorption difference a between lesion and healthy tissue is significantly different for malignant vs. benign lesions at all wavelengths. Logistic regression fitted to the absorption data identifies 975 nm as the key wavelength to discriminate malignant from benign lesions. When the difference in tissue composition between lesion and healthy tissue is considered, malignant lesions are characterized by significantly higher collagen content than benign lesions. Also the best model for the discrimination of malignant lesions obtained applying regression logistic to tissue composition is based only on collagen

Non-invasive optical estimate of tissue composition to differentiate malignant from benign breast lesions: A pilot study

Several techniques are being investigated as a complement to screening mammography, to reduce its false-positive rate, but results are still insufficient to draw conclusions. This initial study explores time domain diffuse optical imaging as an adjunct method to classify non-invasively malignant vs benign breast lesions. We estimated differences in tissue composition (oxy-and deoxyhemoglobin, lipid, water, collagen) and absorption properties between lesion and average healthy tissue in the same breast applying a perturbative approach to optical images collected at 7 red-near infrared wavelengths (635-1060 nm) from subjects bearing breast lesions. The Discrete AdaBoost procedure, a machine-learning algorithm, was then exploited to classify lesions based on optically derived information (either tissue composition or absorption) and risk factors obtained from patient's anamnesis (age, body mass index, familiarity, parity, use of oral contraceptives, and use of Tamoxifen). Collagen content, in particular, turned out to be the most important parameter for discrimination. Based on the initial results of this study the proposed method deserves further investigation

Atypical ductal hyperplasia: Our experience in the management and long term clinical follow-up in 71 patients

Abstract Introduction Atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH) is a high-risk benign lesion found in approximately 1–10% of breast biopsies and associated with a variable incidence of carcinoma after surgical excision. The main goal of our study is to present our experience in the management and long-term follow-up of 71 patients with ADH diagnosed on breast biopsy. Materials and methods Results of 3808 breast biopsy specimens from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2005 were analyzed to identify all biopsies which resulted in a diagnosis of ADH. The histopathological results of the 45 patients who underwent surgery were analyzed. Long-term follow-up for the remaining patients was carried out. Results 45 of 71 (63.4%) patients with histological diagnosis of ADH on breast biopsy underwent surgery. Definitive histological results revealed invasive carcinoma in 7 cases (15.6%), high grade Ductal Carcinoma in situ (DCIS) in 10 (22.2%) patients, Lobular Carcinoma in situ (LCIS) in 4 cases (8.9%) and benign findings in 24 cases (53.3%). 12 of 71 (16.9%) patients underwent only long term follow-up; one (8,3%) of these developed invasive breast carcinoma after 6 years. Conclusion Atypical ductal hyperplasia diagnosed on breast biopsy is associated with a relatively high incidence of invasive carcinoma and high grade ductal carcinoma in situ at the time of surgical excision. Certain radiological and cytological criteria can be used to help determine which patients should forgo surgery and be followed up with good results. Long term follow-up is always crucial for patients who have not undergone surgery

Time domain diffuse optical spectroscopy: In vivo quantification of collagen in breast tissue

Time-resolved diffuse optical spectroscopy provides non-invasively the optical characterization of highly diffusive media, such as biological tissues. Light pulses are injected into the tissue and the effects of light propagation on re-emitted pulses are interpreted with the diffusion theory to assess simultaneously tissue absorption and reduced scattering coefficients. Performing spectral measurements, information on tissue composition and structure is derived applying the Beer law to the measured absorption and an empiric approximation to Mie theory to the reduced scattering. The absorption properties of collagen powder were preliminarily measured in the range of 600-1100 nm using a laboratory set-up for broadband time-resolved diffuse optical spectroscopy. Optical projection images were subsequently acquired in compressed breast geometry on 218 subjects, either healthy or bearing breast lesions, using a portable instrument for optical mammography that operates at 7 wavelengths selected in the range 635-1060 nm. For all subjects, tissue composition was estimated in terms of oxy- and deoxy-hemoglobin, water, lipids, and collagen. Information on tissue microscopic structure was also derived. Good correlation was obtained between mammographic breast density (a strong risk factor for breast cancer) and an optical index based on collagen content and scattering power (that accounts mostly for tissue collagen). Logistic regression applied to all optically derived parameters showed that subjects at high risk for developing breast cancer for their high breast density can effectively be identified based on collagen content and scattering parameters. Tissue composition assessed in breast lesions with a perturbative approach indicated that collagen and hemoglobin content are significantly higher in malignant lesions than in benign ones

Estimate of tissue composition in malignant and benign breast lesions by time-domain optical mammography

partially_open10noThe optical characterization of malignant and benign breast lesions is presented. Time-resolved transmittance measurements were performed in the 630-1060 nm range by means of a 7-wavelength optical mammograph, providing both imaging and spectroscopy information. A total of 62 lesions were analyzed, including 33 malignant and 29 benign lesions. The characterization of breast lesions was performed applying a perturbation model based on the high-order calculation of the pathlength of photons inside the lesion, which led to the assessment of oxy- and deoxy- hemoglobin, lipids, water and collagen concentrations. Significant variations between tumor and healthy tissue were observed in terms of both absorption properties and constituents co ncentration. In particular, benign lesions and tumors show a statistically significant discrimination in terms of absorption at several wavelengths and also in terms of oxy-hemoglobin and collagen content.G. Quarto; L. Spinelli; A. Pifferi; A. Torricelli; R. Cubeddu; F. Abbate; N. Balestreri; S. Menna; E. Cassano; P. TaroniQuarto, Giovanna; Spinelli, Lorenzo; Pifferi, ANTONIO GIOVANNI; Torricelli, Alessandro; Cubeddu, Rinaldo; F., Abbate; N., Balestreri; S., Menna; E., Cassano; Taroni, Paol