Contemporary distribution of high-grade prostate cancer in the circumstances of opportunistic testing

© 2020, University of Kragujevac, Faculty of Science. All rights reserved. Screening has dramatically changed the distribution of the mean age, stage and grade of prostate cancer (PCa) at diagnosis. However, regional-level data that characterize contemporary PCa patients are limited. The aim of the study was to ascertain main clinical and pathological characteristics of PCa at the present time in the circumstances of opportunistic testing. High-grade PCa according to age, serum prostate specific antigen (PSA), volume prostate, PSA density (PSAD), digital rectal examination (DRE) number of positive cores biopsies and the average percentage of cancer in biopsy at diagnosis has been retrospectively evaluated in 100 men with biopsy-proven PCa, at Clinical Centre Kragujevac, from September 2016 until September 2017. PCa were stratified according to Gleason score (GS) into low/intermediate-grade (GS ≤ 7) and high-grade (GS ≥ 8). To identify the determinants as-sociated with high-grade PCa, we performed univariate and multivariate logistic regression. The most prevalent PCa were the low/intermediate-grade (65%), followed by high-grade (35%). The mean age of the patients was 71.5 (range: 56–88) years and median PSA was 14.6 (range: 1.4–935) ng/ml. There were significant dif-ferences in age, PSA, PSAD, DRE, number of positive biopsy and average percentage of cancer in biopsy between patients with or without high-grade GS. Logistic analysis demon-strated the PSAD and age have strong prognostic value of high-grade PCa. In conclusion, our study has shown the worrying frequen-cy of high-grade PCa in the circumstances of opportunistic testing. Older men and higher level of PSAD had a much higher probability of high-grade PCa

Harmonised projections of future forest resources in Europe

Data PaperAbstract • Key message A dataset of forest resource projections in 23 European countries to 2040 has been prepared for fores trelated policy analysis and decision-making. Due to applying harmonised definitions, while maintaining country-specific forestry practices, the projections should be usable from national to international levels. The dataset can be accessed at https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.4t880qh. The associated metadata are available at https://metadata-afs.nancy.inra.fr/ geonetwork/srv/eng/catalog.search#/metadata/8f93e0d6-b524-43bd-bdb8-621ad5ae6fa9info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Assortment structure in beech coppice stands in Boljevac region

Assortment structure in beech coppice stands was studied in the area of Boljevac. Assortment structure was evaluated according to the articles of the valid standard (JUS). The assortments represented in the assortment structure, based on the stemwood quality are: Logs for matches, sawlogs I II and III classes, mine timber, technical roundwood, pulpwood, wood for excelsior and fuelwood, I and II classes. The results of the analyses show that the value assortment structure (sum of the values of assortments produced from one tree) grows significantly with the increase of tree diameter and this dependence is presented by a degree function. The value percentage of logs for matches, sawlogs of the I and II classes, technical roundwood, mine timber, fuelwood and pulpwood, grows with the increase of the tree diameter. The occurrence of better quality logs (sawlogs) in these stands, in contrast to the beech coppice stand in the area of Crni Vrh results from the more favourable diameter structure. There are no statistically significant differences between the value assortment structure on the established sample plot series within the same locality, consequently the data ere united. Because of the differences in stand age, the data are not unified for the localities, although there are no statistically significant differences between value assortment structure for diameter degrees represented in them. False heart (red heart) is one of very significant defects of beech wood, and its incidence, inter alia, depends on tree age. The low effect of this defect of wood resulted in a significant percentage of logs for matches. Along with the value assortment structure this paper also presents the percentage of assortments depending on tree diameter

Regression models of volume increment percentage in the Most represented stands of coniferous tree species in Serbia

Considering the great significance of volume increment in forestry, it is understandable that there are numerous methods of its assessment. However, all these methods have some disadvantages, either the accuracy of the obtained results, too large scope of works of forest inventory (economicity), or the restriction only to stands of certain silvicultural type. To make the method of stand volume increment more economic and simplified, we defined regression models for volume increment percentage assessment in fir, spruce, Austrian pine and Scots pine stands in Serbia. Empirical data were fitted by four regression models for each tree species. The criteria for the final selection of models for the determination of volume increment percentage were the relevant statistic parameters of regression and correlation analysis, and the degree of concordance of "real" and fitted ("table") values of volume increment percentage. The selected models for the above tree species are Fir Spruce Austrian pine Scots pine In the practical work of the assessment of current volume increment in the stand, in regular forest inventories, the method of volume increment percentage should be implemented with correction factors for the fitting of "table" (obtained by this method) values of volume increment and "real" values (obtained by the method of diameter increment), on at least 10 % of the stands of the same or similar stand class (same or similar tree species and stand form). In this way, the costs of forest inventory would be reduced, and the obtained results would range within the limits of the required accuracy

Stand state, silvicultural demands and measures in beech forests of mixed origin in Boljevac area

This paper presents the comparative analysis of stand state, productivity and silvicultural demands in beech stands of mixed origin, with a predominating percentage of trees of coppice origin, in different site and stand conditions, in the area of Čestobrodica and Straža. The main cruising elements were analyzed in three ecological units: Number of trees, basal area, volume, volume increment, mean stand diameters and height and the development of individual trees. The differences of the study ecological units, presented through the values of cruising elements and the phases of diameter, height and volume development of individual trees, are computed by the analysis of variance and LSD test. The analysis and the concluded significant differences enabled the real and comprehensive understanding of the state of these stands, based on which the long-term objectives of forest management were decided (conversion into a high silvicultural form) and actual silvicultural demands and measures - high selection thinning

Form of turkey oak tree stems in coppice forests of Fruška Gora

The study of tree stem form-form factors and form quotients, and their dependence, and the relation with other volume elements is a necessary precondition for the construction of volume tables by indirect methods, which are increasingly applied. After determining the magnitudes of the above indicators of tree stem form, this paper studies the correlation between normal form quotients and normal form factor, then the correlation between normal form factor and tree diameter and height, as well as the correlation of normal and artificial form factor

Form of beech trees in coppice forests of Fruška Gora

The study of tree form - form factors and form quotients and their interrelationship and the relation with other elements of volume is a necessary precondition for the construction of volume tables by the increasingly applied indirect methods. After the magnitudes of these parameters of tree form were defined, we studied the correlation between normal form quotients and normal form factor, between normal form factor and tree diameter and height, and between normal form factor and artificial form factor

Assortment structure in beech coppice stands in the Crni vrh region

Assortment structure in beech coppice stands was studied for the region of Crni vrh. Assortment structure was determined according to the standard (JUS) in two ecological units. The study results show that the assortment value structure significantly increases with the increase of tree diameter and that there are no statistically significant differences in assortment structure between the selected ecological units. The dependence of the assortment value structure on tree diameter can be represented by an exponential function. The value percentage of assortments made of stem wood in theoretical crosscutting depending on tree diameter has an increasing tendency, except for the wood for excelsior

A comparative analysis of directed and spontaneous development of mixed forests of fir, spruce and beech on Mt. Tara

The data of periodic complete measurements of permanent sample plots and compartments in which they were located in the period 1955/60-2005/2010 served as the basis for this research. Two sets of data from a 50-year time span enabled a comparative analysis of a number of structural and numerical elements of regularly managed selection forests of fir, spruce and beech that more or less spontaneously developed in the sample plots. The number of trees in low-diameter categories decreased in the regularly managed compartments, but it was partly compensated by regeneration and ingrowth, which amounted to 7.9 trees per year. In forests with spontaneous development, the ingrowth is either missing or minimal, and it amounts to 2.7 trees per year. From the aspect of preserving the natural composition of these forests and thus their biological stability, a significant decline in the number of beech trees is worrying, above all in the lowest-diameter categories. The accumulation of large-dimension trees is more pronounced in the sample plots in relation on the compartments with regular management. This trend resulted in high basal area values (max. was observed in compartment 131 and at the end of the analyzed period, it amounted to 37.8 m2•ha-1, and in SP-2 to 55.7 m2•ha-1) and volume (max. 605.4 m3•ha-1 was achieved in compartment 66, with a 79% share of fir, i.e. 898 m3•ha-1 in SP-2 in which the share of fir is 71%). Increase of volume in diameter catagories above 50 cm amounts to on average 120% in compartments, and in stands with spontaneous development to as much as 230%. Current volume increment is high and at the end of the period it amounted to on average 12.9 m3•ha-1 in the compartments, and 14.9 m3•ha-1 in the sample plots. In both these values the share of fir is 80%. However, increment percentage, as a more reliable indicator of vitality and good living and stand conditions decreased from 2.54% to 2.32% in the observed compartments and from 2.31% to 1.91% in the sample plots, under the conditions of spontaneous development. On the basis of the above, certain disturbances and negative trends can be identified, both in regularly managed forests and stands with spontaneous development, while they are significantly more pronounced in the latter case. This is reflected in the unfavorable spatial relationships and light regime, and consequently difficult regeneration and ingrowth (especially of beech) as well as the slowing dynamics of these forests, which finally disrupts their structure and functional value. In regularly managed forests, the reason for that is the rigid understanding of the felling ripeness diamater and lower intensity cutting of large-dimension inventory, which slowed down the dynamics and made regeneration and ingrowth difficult. More intensive operations in this part of the inventory would provide a better spatial distribution of trees (horizontal and vertical) and a a better light regime, while the development of these forests would be accelerated. This is confirmed by the fact that forests with self-regulation processes (spontaneous development) become gradually depleted in low and medium storey trees and turn into a one-layer structure with a horizontal canopy which was observed in the investigated sample plots. [Project of the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Grant no. 37008: Sustainable Management of Total Forest Potentials in the Republic of Serbia

Decision tree analysis for prostate cancer prediction

Introduction/Objective. The use of serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test has dramatically increased the number of men undergoing prostate biopsy. However, the best possible strategies for selecting appropriate patients for prostate biopsy have yet to be defined. The aim of the study was to develop a classification and regression tree (CART) model that could be used to identify patients with significant prostate cancer (PCa) on prostate biopsy in patients referred due to abnormal PSA, digital rectal examination (DRE) findings, or both, regardless of the PSA level. Methods. The data on clinicopathological characteristics regarding prebiopsy assessment collected from patients who had undergone ultrasound-guided prostate biopsies included the following: age, PSA, DRE, volume of the prostate, and PSA density (PSAD). The CART analysis was carried out using all predictors identified by univariate logistic regression analysis. Different aspects of predictive performance and clinical utility risk prediction model were assessed. Results. In this retrospective study, significant PCa was detected in 92 (41.6%) out of 221 patients. The CART model had three splits based on PSAD, as the most decisive variable, prostate volume, DRE, and PSA. Our model resulted in an 83.3% area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. Decision curve analysis showed that the regression tree provided net benefit for relevant threshold probabilities compared with the logistic regression model, PSAD, and the strategy of biopsying all patients. Conclusion. The model helps to reduce unnecessary biopsies without missing significant PCa. [Project of the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Grant no. 175014