Trends in the epidemiology of larynx and lung cancer in south-east England, 1985–2004

We analysed data on 8987 larynx and 174060 lung cancer patients diagnosed between 1985 and 2004, of which 17.3% of larynx and 35.5% of lung cancers were in females. The age-standardised rates for each cancer declined in both sexes, but since the 1990s, the rates in females over 70 years of age have been diverging

Investigations of three, four, and five-particle exit channels of levels in light nuclei created using a 9C beam

The interactions of a E/A=70-MeV 9C beam with a Be target was used to populate levels in Be, B, and C isotopes which undergo decay into many-particle exit channels. The decay products were detected in the HiRA array and the level energies were identified from their invariant mass. Correlations between the decay products were examined to deduce the nature of the decays, specifically to what extent all the fragments were created in one prompt step or whether the disintegration proceeded in a sequential fashion through long-lived intermediate states. In the latter case, information on the spin of the level was also obtained. Of particular interest is the 5-body decay of the 8C ground state which was found to disintegrate in two steps of two-proton decay passing through the 6Beg.s. intermediate state. The isobaric analog of 8Cg.s. in 8B was also found to undergo two-proton decay to the isobaric analog of 6Beg.s. in 6Li. A 9.69-MeV state in 10C was found to undergo prompt 4-body decay to the 2p+2alpha exit channel. The two protons were found to have a strong enhancementin the diproton region and the relative energies of all four p-alpha pairs were consistent with the 5Lig.s. resonance

Spin alignment of excited projectiles due to target spin-flip interactions

The sequential breakup of E/A=65.5-MeVBe7 and E/A=36.6-MeVLi6 projectiles excited through inelastic interactions with Be9 target nuclei has been studied. For events where the target nucleus remained in its ground state, significant alignment of the excited projectile\u27s spin axis parallel or antiparallel to the beam direction was observed. This unusual spin alignment was found to be largely independent of the projectile\u27s scattering angle and it was deduced that the target nucleus has a significant probability of changing its spin orientation during the interaction. It is proposed that the unusual spin alignment is a consequence of the molecular structure of the Be9 nucleus

Isobaric multiplet mass equation for A=7 and 8

Deviations from the isobaric multiplet mass equation are presented and discussed for the A=7, T=3/2 quartet and the A=8, T=2 quintet. © 2011 American Physical Society

Tissue factor expression pattern in human non-small cell lung cancer tissues indicate increased blood thrombogenicity and tumor metastasis

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) comprises of 75% of all lung cancers. Human full length tissue factor (flHTF), the physiological initiator of blood coagulation, is aberrantly expressed in certain solid tumors. FlHTF and its soluble isoform, alternatively spliced human tissue factor (asHTF), have been shown to contribute to thrombogenicity of the blood of healthy individuals. The aim of this study was to quantify flHTF and asHTF on mRNA and protein levels (using immunohistochemistry, immunoblotting, and ELISA) on a panel of human NSCLC tissue and plasma specimens. The tissue factor (TF) expression of 21 pulmonary adenomatous (AC) and 12 normal healthy tissues was assessed by real-time qRT-PCR. The TF protein concentration was quantified by ELISA in a subset of 11 AC and 9 normal tissue specimens as well as in the plasma of 13 lung cancer patients and 15 healthy controls. We found a significant increase in the ratio of flHTF/HGAPDH mRNA in AC (0.24±0.06 vs. 0.07±0.01; p=0.02 vs. controls) and in asHTF/HGAPDH mRNA (0.027±0.01 vs. 0.004±0.001; p=0.03 AC vs. controls). AsHTF mRNA expression was significantly lower in patients with stage IA disease compared to patients with higher grade stages, pointing to TF as being a marker of malignancy and metastases. TF protein of lung tumors was significantly increased in AC (p=0.004 vs. controls). TF in plasma was up-regulated in lung cancer patients (334.9±95.4 vs. 124.1±14.8 pg/ml; p=0.02 vs. controls). Immunohistochemical and immunoblotting data are in line with the increased TF expression, showing elevated blood thrombogenicity of NSCLC patients. The up-regulation of flHTF and, especially, asHTF in AC suggests not only a raised risk of thrombosis, but also of tumor progression, thereby, indicating a poor prognosis in these patients

Investigation of low 5-year relative survival for breast cancer in a London cancer network

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer 5-year relative survival is low in the North East London Cancer Network (NELCN). METHODS: We compared breast cancer that was diagnosed during 2001-2005 with that in the rest of London. RESULTS: North East London Cancer Network women more often lived in socioeconomic quintile 5 (42 vs 21%) and presented with advanced disease (11 vs 7%). Cox regression analysis showed the survival difference (hazard ratio: 1.27, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.15-1.41) reduced to 1.00 (95% CI: 0.89-1.11) after adjustment for age, stage, socioeconomic deprivation, ethnicity and treatment. Major drivers were stage and deprivation. Excess mortality was in the first year. CONCLUSION: Late diagnosis occurs in NELCN

Ischaemic strokes in patients with pulmonary arteriovenous malformations and hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia: associations with iron deficiency and platelets.

<div><p>Background</p><p>Pulmonary first pass filtration of particles marginally exceeding ∼7 µm (the size of a red blood cell) is used routinely in diagnostics, and allows cellular aggregates forming or entering the circulation in the preceding cardiac cycle to lodge safely in pulmonary capillaries/arterioles. Pulmonary arteriovenous malformations compromise capillary bed filtration, and are commonly associated with ischaemic stroke. Cohorts with CT-scan evident malformations associated with the highest contrast echocardiographic shunt grades are known to be at higher stroke risk. Our goal was to identify within this broad grouping, which patients were at higher risk of stroke.</p><p>Methodology</p><p>497 consecutive patients with CT-proven pulmonary arteriovenous malformations due to hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia were studied. Relationships with radiologically-confirmed clinical ischaemic stroke were examined using logistic regression, receiver operating characteristic analyses, and platelet studies.</p><p>Principal Findings</p><p>Sixty-one individuals (12.3%) had acute, non-iatrogenic ischaemic clinical strokes at a median age of 52 (IQR 41–63) years. In crude and age-adjusted logistic regression, stroke risk was associated not with venous thromboemboli or conventional neurovascular risk factors, but with low serum iron (adjusted odds ratio 0.96 [95% confidence intervals 0.92, 1.00]), and more weakly with low oxygen saturations reflecting a larger right-to-left shunt (adjusted OR 0.96 [0.92, 1.01]). For the same pulmonary arteriovenous malformations, the stroke risk would approximately double with serum iron 6 µmol/L compared to mid-normal range (7–27 µmol/L). Platelet studies confirmed overlooked data that iron deficiency is associated with exuberant platelet aggregation to serotonin (5HT), correcting following iron treatment. By MANOVA, adjusting for participant and 5HT, iron or ferritin explained 14% of the variance in log-transformed aggregation-rate (p = 0.039/p = 0.021).</p><p>Significance</p><p>These data suggest that patients with compromised pulmonary capillary filtration due to pulmonary arteriovenous malformations are at increased risk of ischaemic stroke if they are iron deficient, and that mechanisms are likely to include enhanced aggregation of circulating platelets.</p></div