Trends and Determinants of Up-to-date Status with Colorectal Cancer Screening in Tennessee, 2002-2008

BACKGROUND: Screening rates for colorectal cancer (CRC) are increasing nationwide including Tennessee (TN); however, their up-to-date status is unknown. The objective of this study is to determine the trends and characteristics of TN adults who are up-to-date status with CRC screening during 2002-2008. METHODS: We examined data from the TN Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System for 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2008 to estimate the proportion of respondents aged 50 years and above who were up-to-date status with CRC screening, defined as an annual home fecal occult blood test and/or sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy in the past 5 years. We identified trends in up-to-status in all eligible respondents. Using multivariable logistic regression models, we delineated key characteristics of respondents who were up-to-date status. RESULTS: During 2002-2008, the proportion of respondents with up-to-date status for CRC screening increased from 49% in 2002- 55% in 2006 and then decreased to 46% in 2008. The screening rates were higher among adults aged 65-74 years, those with some college education, those with annual household income ≥$35,000 and those with health-care access. In 2008, the respondents who were not up-to-date status with CRC screening included those with no health-care coverage (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 0.46, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.33-0.63), those aged 50-54 years (OR 0.62, 95% CI 0.46-0.82) and those with annual household income CONCLUSIONS: TN adults who are up-to-date status with CRC screening are increasing, but not across all socio-demographic subgroups. The results identified specific subgroups to be targeted by screening programs, along with continued efforts to educate public and providers about the importance of CRC screening

Algorithms for ℓp Low Rank Approximation

We consider the problem of approximating a given matrix by a low-rank matrix so as to minimize the entry-wise ℓp-approximation error, for any P ≥ 1; the case p = 2 is the classical SVD problem. We obtain the first provably good approximation algorithms for this version of low-rank approximation that work for every value of p ≥ 1, including p = σ. Our algorithms are simple, easy to implement, work well in practice, and illustrate interesting tradeoffs between the approximation quality, the running time, and the rank of the approximating matrix

Structural, elastic and magnetic properties of spinel Co3O4

We have investigated the structural and magnetic properties of Co3O4 ceramic synthesized by solid state reaction method. Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopic and Fourier transforms infrared (FTIR) analysis reveals single phase formation at room temperature. Analysis of XRD data indicates that the Co3O4 crystallizes in cubic symmetry with face-centered cubic (fcc) Bravais lattice. Force constants and elastic properties have been estimated at room temperature using XRD and FTIR spectra and interpreted in terms of bond lengths. An octahedral broadening of the FTIR band (vo) and large force constant (ko) has been observed and indicated the inverse proportionality relationship between the force constant and the bond length. The elastic moduli and Poisson’s ratio uncorrected and corrected to zero porosity reveals the solidification of the Co3O4 ceramic sample. The field cooled (FC) and zero field cooled (ZFC) magnetization measurements using superconducting quantum interface device (SQUID) magnetometer exhibit a well-defined long-range antiferromagnetic order below transition (TN = 40 K) temperature

Stipe anatomical studies on selected pteridophytes of South India

Present study is based on the stipe anatomy of 13 selected species of pteridophytes of South India. Detailed description, key to the taxa based on stipe anatomy, photographs and descriptions are provided

Processing of fine size minerals : Studies on some Indian uranium ores

Conventionally uranium ores are processed by direct chemical leaching techniques. However, the application of chemical leaching for lean tenor and high tonnage uranium- ores is being desisted due to obvious environmental concerns. It is in this context that the physical benefi-ciation methods for the pre-concentration of uranium ores, if feasible, are gaining importance. Adoption of physical beneficiation helps in containing uranium and daughter nuclides in a smaller mass of pre-concentrate, which can be further subjected to conventional chemical processing, leaving bulk of the ore safe for disposal. In the application of physical beneficiation techniques, particle size plays a significant role. Both the economic mineral of uranium - uraninite and pitchblend, are brittle and report in very fine sizes during comminution, an oper-ation meant for their liberation.It is well established fact that concentration of particles finer than 25um by conventional physical beneficiation methods is very difficult due to the low mass and high surface area. However with the advent of new fine particle concentrators and techniques the situation has shown tremendous impr-ovement. This paper highlights the studies carried out on the use of both physical (gravity and magnetic) and physico-chemical beneficiation methods for recovering fine size uranium values from some low grade uranium bearing ores of India

Epithelioid trophoblastic tumor: a case report of a rare trophoblastic neoplasm

Epithelioid Trophoblastic Tumor (ETT) is a rare neoplasm of the chorionic type intermediate trophoblastic cells. It is a neoplasm of reproductive age women and usually follows a gestational event. ETT can occur at both intra uterine and extra uterine sites and can be confused with other entities such as squamous cell carcinoma, placental site nodule, placental site trophoblastic tumor etc. Hence, proper diagnosis of this tumor is necessary to avoid unnecessary, excessive treatment as surgical treatment is considered sufficient for ETT. We present a case of ETT in a 36 year old female, who came with symptoms of pain abdomen, white discharge per vaginum and a cervical mass

Primary pulmonary synovial sarcoma: a rare case report

Primary lung sarcoma is an extremely rare tumor, accounting for less than 0.5% of all lung tumors. Histological subtypes are differentiated on the basis of immunohistochemical markers, such as vimentin, desmin, actin, CD99, and epithelial membrane antigen. A 50-year-old male presented with progressively increasing shortness of breath with cough for 2 months. On Contrast Enhanced Computed Tomography (CECT) of thorax a large heterogeneous mass with multiple areas of necrosis, occupying almost whole of left hemithorax was seen. CT-guided Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) revealed spindle cell neoplasm. Histopathological examination revealed a spindle cell sarcoma. On immunohistochemistry the tumor cells expressed both epithelial membrane antigen and vimentin. Hence, final impression from immunohistochemistry was primary monophasic synovial sarcoma of lung

Uncontrolled Hypertension Increases Risk of All-Cause and Cardiovascular Disease Mortality in Us Adults: The NHANES III Linked Mortality Study

Clinical trials had provided evidence for the benefit effect of antihypertensive treatments in preventing future cardiovascular disease (CVD) events; however, the association between hypertension, whether treated/untreated or controlled/uncontrolled and risk of mortality in US population has been poorly understood. A total of 13,947 US adults aged ≥18 years enrolled in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1988-1994) were used to conduct this study. Mortality outcome events included all-cause, CVD-specific, heart disease-specific and cerebrovascular disease-specific deaths, which were obtained from linked 2011 National Death Index (NDI) files. During a median follow-up of 19.1 years, there were 3,550 all-cause deaths, including 1,027 CVD deaths. Compared with normotensives, treated but uncontrolled hypertensive patients were at higher risk of all-cause (HR = 1.62, 95%CI = 1.35-1.95), CVD-specific (HR = 2.23, 95%CI = 1.66-2.99), heart disease-specific (HR = 2.19, 95%CI = 1.57-3.05) and cerebrovascular disease-specific (HR = 3.01, 95%CI = 1.91-4.73) mortality. Additionally, untreated hypertensive patients had increased risk of all-cause (HR = 1.40, 95%CI = 1.21-1.62), CVD-specific (HR = 1.77, 95%CI = 1.34-2.35), heart disease-specific (HR = 1.69, 95%CI = 1.23-2.32) and cerebrovascular disease-specific death (HR = 2.53, 95%CI = 1.52-4.23). No significant differences were identified between normotensives, and treated and controlled hypertensives (all p \u3e 0.05). Our study findings emphasize the benefit of secondary prevention in hypertensive patients and primary prevention in general population to prevent risk of mortality later in life

Microperforate hymen and labial fusion: an unusual case

Genital tract abnormalities are uncommon, occurring in approximately 7% of female population. Among these cases, hymenal abnormalities are the most frequent, with imperforate hymen occurring in 1 in 2000 girls. Imperforate and microperforate hymen is a congenital disorder of hymenal configuration which does not permit normal menstrual flow. We report a case of 26 year old primigravida at 28 weeks gestation with threatened preterm labor and was incidentally found to have fused labia minor and microperforate hymen. Scope examination through the hymen revealed a normal looking vagina and cervix. Urethral meatus was not made out. She was taken up for elective caesarean section at 37 weeks of gestation with hymenectomy. Intraoperatively, urethral orifice was identified after incising the fused labia minora. A uterine angle fibroid was found, myomectomy done. No uterine anomalies were noted