Results of three-year mass screening programme for lung cancer using mobile low-dose spiral computed tomography scanner

The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of annual screening for lung cancer by low-dose computed tomography (CT) and the characteristics of identified lung cancers. Subjects consisted of 5483 general population aged 40–74 years, who received initial CT scans in 1996, followed by repeat annual scans for most subjects in 1997 and 1998, with a total of 13 786 scans taken during 1996–1998. Work-up examinations for patients with suspicious lesions were conducted using diagnostic CTs. The initial screening in 1996 detected suspicious nodules in 279 (5.1%) of 5483 subjects, and 22 (8%) were confirmed surgically to have lung cancer. Corresponding figures in 1997 and 1998 screening studies were 173 (3.9%) of 4425 and 25 (14%) of 173, and 136 (3.5%) of 3878 and 9 (7%) of 136, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of detecting surgically confirmed lung cancer were 55% (22/40) and 95% (4960/5199) in 1996 and 83% (25/30) and 97% (4113/4252) in 1997 screening, respectively. 88% (55/60) of lung cancers identified on screening and surgically confirmed were AJCC stage IA. Our trial allowed detection of nearly 11 times the expected annual number of early lung cancers. Repeat CT allowed the detection of more aggressive, rapidly growing lung cancers, compared to those in the initial screening. © 2001 Cancer Research Campaign http://www.bjcancer.co

A Measurement of the W Boson Mass

We report a measurement of the W boson mass based on an integrated luminosity of 82 pb$^{-1}$ from \ppbar collisions at $\sqrt{s}=1.8$ TeV recorded in 1994--1995 by the \Dzero detector at the Fermilab Tevatron. We identify W bosons by their decays to $e\nu$ and extract the mass by fitting the transverse mass spectrum from 28,323 W boson candidates. A sample of 3,563 dielectron events, mostly due to Z to ee decays, constrains models of W boson production and the detector. We measure \mw=80.44\pm0.10(stat)\pm0.07(syst)~GeV. By combining this measurement with our result from the 1992--1993 data set, we obtain \mw=80.43\pm0.11 GeV.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figure

Efficacy of expired foot-and-mouth disease O type vaccines in cattle and buffalo in Lao People's Democratic Republic

Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) submitted a request to Japan for 200,000 doses of expired foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) O type vaccines that were in storage for emergency use. Approximately 100,000 animals, consisting of both cattle and Asian water buffalo (Bubalus bubalus bubalis), received the same vaccine twice within one month in Xieng Khouang province in the northeast area of Lao PDR. Concurrently, the efficacy of three-month expired FMD O type vaccine (6PD50 O Manisa) was assessed in serum samples of 90 cattle and 31 buffalo from the field using a Liquid Phase Blocking-ELISA (LPBE) assay. Of these samples, 75 cattle (83.3%) and 24 buffalo (77.4%) were seropositive against the FMD virus (FMDV) O type before vaccination. Testing for non-structural protein (NSP) using the PrioCHECK FMD NS kit showed that many of the animals with high titers in the screening test before vaccination were FMDV-infected animals. Fifteen cattle and seven buffalo with titers 1:32 or under before vaccination exhibited high titers of antibody (1:45-1:1448) one month after the first vaccination and further increased titers (1:362-1:5792) one month after the second vaccination. Nearly all of the cattle (97.6%) had high titers to control FMD 14 months after the second vaccination. To date, no outbreak of FMD has been reported at the study site. Three-month expired FMD O type vaccines induced appropriate immune responses against FMD in both cattle and buffalo

Direct imaging and chemical identification of the encapsulated metal atoms in bimetallic endofullerene peapods

In this paper, a chemically sensitive local characterization technique is used to characterize fullerene peapods containing two metal atoms within each fullerene. By combining bright-field imaging, high-angle annular dark-field imaging, and electron energy loss spectroscopy in a scanning transmission electron microscope, unambiguous identification of the metal atoms present is possible. Key to making this possible is aberration correction, which allows atomic resolution at lower beam energies. The peapods can be imaged for several consecutive scans at 80 keV beam energy, and the combination of techniques allows the position as well as the species of the encapsulated atoms to be identified. Movements of the encapsulated atoms are monitored. © 2010 American Chemical Society