Predicting brain metastases of breast cancer based on serum S100B and serum HER2

Brain metastases are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in breast cancer. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the prediction of brain metastases based on serum S100B and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). A total of 107 breast cancer patients were included in the current study from two prospective cohort studies with either elevated serum HER2 levels >15 ng/ml or brain metastases verified by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computer tomography (CT). Following the exclusion of six patients, the remaining 101 patients were divided into two groups: Group 0 (n=55), patients with normal MRI results; and group 1 (n=46), patients with brain metastases. The levels of serum S100B and HER2 in the two groups were analyzed prior to MRI or CT of the brain, and no significant differences were identified in the serum HER2 (P=0.060) or S100B levels (P=0.623) between the groups. The univariate analysis of prognostic factors for brain metastases showed a significant correlation with systemic disease (P<0.001), axillary lymph node metastases (P=0.001) and serum HER2 >30 ng/ml (P=0.002). Only systemic disease (P<0.001) remained statistically significant in the multivariate analysis. In conclusion, serum levels of S100B and HER2 did not predict the risk of brain metastases. In the multivariate analysis, brain metastases were only found to correlate with systemic disease. However, in the univariate analysis, serum HER2 levels >30 ng/ml were identified to correlate with increased risk of brain metastases, which calls for further investigation

Cancers detected by thoracoabdominal computed tomography in patients with nonspecific symptoms

INTRODUCTION Use of an urgent fast-track pathway comprising contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) is a recognised method for diagnostic evaluation of patients with non-specific symptoms. This study focused on a subgroup of patients with non-specific symptoms who are diagnosed outside of fast-track pathways. To investigate the cancer prevalence in patients with non-specific symptoms outside of fast-track pathways undergoing a thoracoabdominal CECT.METHODSThis was a retrospective observational study including patients referred for a thoracoabdominal CECT. Patients with non-specified symptoms were included. All pathology reports were reviewed to confirm histopathological findings. Data were collected during a one-year period from the Department of Radiology, Vejle Hospital.RESULTS A total of 238 patients were included; 125 (52.5%) women and 113 (47.5%) men. The median age was 69 years (range: 29-99 years). Fifty (21%) patients (25 men and 25 women) were diagnosed with malignant conditions by computed tomography (CT), all of which were confirmed by biopsy (median age = 68 years, range: 43-87 years). An additional ten patients had CT findings consistent with malignancies that were not confirmed by biopsy (median age = 86 years, range: 58-93 years).CONCLUSION We found a 21% prevalence of cancer.FUNDING none.TRIAL REGISTRATION not relevant

Cancers detected by thoracoabdominal computed tomography in patients with nonspecific symptoms

INTRODUCTION Use of an urgent fast-track pathway comprising contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) is a recognised method for diagnostic evaluation of patients with non-specific symptoms. This study focused on a subgroup of patients with non-specific symptoms who are diagnosed outside of fast-track pathways. To investigate the cancer prevalence in patients with non-specific symptoms outside of fast-track pathways undergoing a thoracoabdominal CECT.METHODSThis was a retrospective observational study including patients referred for a thoracoabdominal CECT. Patients with non-specified symptoms were included. All pathology reports were reviewed to confirm histopathological findings. Data were collected during a one-year period from the Department of Radiology, Vejle Hospital.RESULTS A total of 238 patients were included; 125 (52.5%) women and 113 (47.5%) men. The median age was 69 years (range: 29-99 years). Fifty (21%) patients (25 men and 25 women) were diagnosed with malignant conditions by computed tomography (CT), all of which were confirmed by biopsy (median age = 68 years, range: 43-87 years). An additional ten patients had CT findings consistent with malignancies that were not confirmed by biopsy (median age = 86 years, range: 58-93 years).CONCLUSION We found a 21% prevalence of cancer.FUNDING none.TRIAL REGISTRATION not relevant

Quenching-assisted actuation mechanisms in core-shell structured BiFeO3-BaTiO3 piezoceramics

Electromechanical actuation in piezoceramics is usually enhanced by creating chemically homogeneous materials with structurally heterogeneous morphotropic phase boundaries, leading to abrupt changes in ion displacement directions within the perovskite unit cell. In the present study, an alternative mechanism to enhance electromechanical coupling is found in both chemically and structurally heterogeneous BiFeO3-BaTiO3 lead-free piezoceramics. Such a mechanism is observed in a composition exhibiting core-shell type microstructure, associated with donor-type substitution of Ti4+ for Fe3+, and is primarily activated by thermal quenching treatment. Here, we describe the use of in situ high-energy synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction upon the application of a high electric field to directly monitor the ferroelectric and elastic interactions between these composite-like components, formed as core and shell regions within grains. Translational short or long-range ordering is observed in the BiFeO3-depleted shell regions which undergo significant structural alterations from pseudocubic Pm3m relaxor-ferroelectric in slow-cooled ceramics to rhombohedral R3c or R3m with long-range ferroelectric order in the quenched state. The strain contributions from each component are calculated, leading to the conclusion that the total macroscopic strain arises predominantly from the transformed shell after quenching. Such observations are also complemented by investigations of microstructure and electrical properties, including ferroelectric behaviour and temperature-dependent dielectric properties

Cancers detected by thoracoabdominal computed tomography in patients with nonspecific symptoms

INTRODUCTION Use of an urgent fast-track pathway comprising contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) is a recognised method for diagnostic evaluation of patients with non-specific symptoms. This study focused on a subgroup of patients with non-specific symptoms who are diagnosed outside of fast-track pathways. To investigate the cancer prevalence in patients with non-specific symptoms outside of fast-track pathways undergoing a thoracoabdominal CECT.METHODSThis was a retrospective observational study including patients referred for a thoracoabdominal CECT. Patients with non-specified symptoms were included. All pathology reports were reviewed to confirm histopathological findings. Data were collected during a one-year period from the Department of Radiology, Vejle Hospital.RESULTS A total of 238 patients were included; 125 (52.5%) women and 113 (47.5%) men. The median age was 69 years (range: 29-99 years). Fifty (21%) patients (25 men and 25 women) were diagnosed with malignant conditions by computed tomography (CT), all of which were confirmed by biopsy (median age = 68 years, range: 43-87 years). An additional ten patients had CT findings consistent with malignancies that were not confirmed by biopsy (median age = 86 years, range: 58-93 years).CONCLUSION We found a 21% prevalence of cancer.FUNDING none.TRIAL REGISTRATION not relevant