Impact of solitary pulmonary nodule size on qualitative and quantitative assessment using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT: the SPUTNIK trial

Purpose: To compare qualitative and semi-quantitative PET/CT criteria, and the impact of nodule size on the diagnosis of solitary pulmonary nodules in a prospective multicentre trial. / Methods: Patients with an SPN on CT ≥ 8 and ≤ 30 mm were recruited to the SPUTNIK trial at 16 sites accredited by the UK PET Core Lab. Qualitative assessment used a five-point ordinal PET-grade compared to the mediastinal blood pool, and a combined PET/CT grade using the CT features. Semi-quantitative measures included SUVmax of the nodule, and as an uptake ratio to the mediastinal blood pool (SURBLOOD) or liver (SURLIVER). The endpoints were diagnosis of lung cancer via biopsy/histology or completion of 2-year follow-up. Impact of nodule size was analysed by comparison between nodule size tertiles. / Results: Three hundred fifty-five participants completed PET/CT and 2-year follow-up, with 59% (209/355) malignant nodules. The AUCs of the three techniques were SUVmax 0.87 (95% CI 0.83;0.91); SURBLOOD 0.87 (95% CI 0.83; 0.91, p = 0.30 versus SUVmax); and SURLIVER 0.87 (95% CI 0.83; 0.91, p = 0.09 vs. SUVmax). The AUCs for all techniques remained stable across size tertiles (p > 0.1 for difference), although the optimal diagnostic threshold varied by size. For nodules  16 mm, an SUVmax ≥ 3.6 or visual PET uptake greater than the mediastinum was the most accurate. / Conclusion: In this multicentre trial, SUVmax was the most accurate technique for the diagnosis of solitary pulmonary nodules. Diagnostic thresholds should be altered according to nodule size. / Trial registration: ISRCTN - ISRCTN30784948. ClinicalTrials.gov - NCT0201306

Statistical and integrative system-level analysis of DNA methylation data

Epigenetics plays a key role in cellular development and function. Alterations to the epigenome are thought to capture and mediate the effects of genetic and environmental risk factors on complex disease. Currently, DNA methylation is the only epigenetic mark that can be measured reliably and genome-wide in large numbers of samples. This Review discusses some of the key statistical challenges and algorithms associated with drawing inferences from DNA methylation data, including cell-type heterogeneity, feature selection, reverse causation and system-level analyses that require integration with other data types such as gene expression, genotype, transcription factor binding and other epigenetic information

Characterization of the barrier layer of nanoporous alumina films prepared using two different contact configurations

10.1016/j.electacta.2006.08.065Electrochimica Acta528 SPEC. ISS.2815-2821ELCA

Development of a membrane-based electrochemical immunosensor

10.1016/j.electacta.2007.07.055Electrochimica Acta532803-810ELCA

Transport and separation of proteins across platinum-coated nanoporous alumina membranes

10.1016/j.electacta.2008.01.070Electrochimica Acta53144669-4673ELCA

P16 Healthy passive cigarette smokers have increased pulmonary alveolar permeability

Background and aim To determine whether passive smoking has a measurable effect on lung function in otherwise healthy subjects? There is current interest concerning passive smoking but no objective evidence showing that it has any impact on lung function. Methods The pulmonary clearance rate of 99mTc-DTPA was measured in 21 healthy volunteers after inhalation as a radio-aerosol and compared between healthy cigarette smokers, passive smokers and non-smokers. All volunteers had normal lung function. Results Clearance half-times in healthy passive smokers (n=5) were longer than in healthy smokers (n=6) but clearly shorter compared with healthy non-smokers (n=10) with respective mean values of 45.2 (SD 8.3), 24.3 (8.6) and 80.3 (20) min. Conclusion Passive smoking has a functional impact on the lung blood/gas barrier

Characterization of the electrophoretic mobility of gold nanoparticles with different sizes using the nanoporous alumina membrane system

10.1016/j.snb.2008.04.017Sensors and Actuators, B: Chemical1341127-132SABC

Number of Nodules, Child-Pugh Status, Margin Positivity, and Microvascular Invasion, but not Tumor Size, are Prognostic Factors of Survival after Liver Resection for Multifocal Hepatocellular Carcinoma

10.1007/s11605-014-2542-0Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery1881477-148