Applications of computational methods in biomedical breast cancer imaging diagnostics: A review

With the exponential increase in new cases coupled with an increased mortality rate, cancer has ranked as the second most prevalent cause of death in the world. Early detection is paramount for suitable diagnosis and effective treatment of different kinds of cancers, but this is limited to the accuracy and sensitivity of available diagnostic imaging methods. Breast cancer is the most widely diagnosed cancer among women across the globe with a high percentage of total cancer deaths requiring an intensive, accurate, and sensitive imaging approach. Indeed, it is treatable when detected at an early stage

Tumor markers in breast cancer - European Group on Tumor Markers recommendations

Recommendations are presented for the routine clinical use of serum and tissue-based markers in the diagnosis and management of patients with breast cancer. Their low sensitivity and specificity preclude the use of serum markers such as the MUC-1 mucin glycoproteins ( CA 15.3, BR 27.29) and carcinoembryonic antigen in the diagnosis of early breast cancer. However, serial measurement of these markers can result in the early detection of recurrent disease as well as indicate the efficacy of therapy. Of the tissue-based markers, measurement of estrogen and progesterone receptors is mandatory in the selection of patients for treatment with hormone therapy, while HER-2 is essential in selecting patients with advanced breast cancer for treatment with Herceptin ( trastuzumab). Urokinase plasminogen activator and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 are recently validated prognostic markers for lymph node-negative breast cancer patients and thus may be of value in selecting node-negative patients that do not require adjuvant chemotherapy. Copyright (C) 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel

Does the availability of positron emission tomography modify diagnostic strategies for solitary pulmonary nodules? An observational study in France

International audienceBACKGROUND: Previous studies showed that at the individual level, positron emission tomography (PET) has some benefits for patients and physicians in terms of cancer management and staging. We aimed to describe the benefits of (PET) in the management of solitary pulmonary nodules (SPNs) in a population level, in terms of the number of diagnostic and invasive tests performed, time to diagnosis and factors determining PET utilization. METHODS: In an observational study, we examined reports of computed tomography (CT) performed and mentioning "spherical lesion", "nodule" or synonymous terms. We found 11,515 reports in a before-PET period, 2002-2003, and 20,075 in an after-PET period, 2004-2005. Patients were followed through their physician, who was responsible for diagnostic management. RESULTS: We had complete data for 112 patients (73.7%) with new cases of SPN in the before-PET period and 250 (81.4%) in the after-PET period. Patients did not differ in mean age (64.9 vs. 64.8 years). The before-PET patients underwent a mean of 4 tests as compared with 3 tests for the after-PET patients (p = 0.08). Patients in the before-PET period had to wait 41.4 days, on average, before receiving a diagnosis as compared with 24.0 days, on average, for patients in the after-PET period who did not undergo PET (p < 0.001). In the after-PET period, 11% of patients underwent PET during the diagnostic process. A spiculated nodule was more likely to determine prescription for PET (p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that patients in both periods underwent fewer tests when PET was prescribed by general practitioners (p < 0.001) and if the nodule was not spiculated (p < 0.001). The proportion of unnecessary invasive approaches prescribed (47% vs. 49%) did not differ between the groups. CONCLUSION: In our study, 1 year after the availability of PET, the technology was not the first choice for diagnostic management of SPN. Even though we observed a tendency for reduced number of tests and mean time to diagnosis with PET, these phenomena did not fully relate to PET availability in health communities. In addition, the availability of PET in the management of SPN diagnosis did not reduce the overall rate of unnecessary invasive approaches

Prise en charge du risque B.S.E.- T.S.E. au sein de l'industrie pharmaceutique (aspects réglementaires (exclusion faite des vaccins, des dispositifs médicaux et des produits de cosmétologie))

Les encéphalopathies subaiguës spongiformes transmissibles (E.S.S.T.) sont des maladies neurodégénératives, d'issue fatale, provoquées par des agents transmissibles non conventionnels (A.T.N.C). Ces maladies sont induites par les prions, agents infectieux d'un nouveau type. L'émergence de l' Encéphalopathie Spongiforme Bovine (E.S.B) date de 1986. Les premiers cas du nouveau variant de la Maladie de Creutzfeld-Jakob (nv-M.C.J.), maladie due au passage chez l'homme du prion de l'Encéphalopathie Spongiforme Bovine, sont identifiés en 1996. La principale voie de contamination chez l'homme semble être la voie orale : aliments et produits de santé sont rapidement montrés du doigt. En effet, les médicaments, de part l'utilisation dans leur fabrication de matière premières d'origine animale ou humaine, sont susceptibles de transmettre cette maladie. Par conséquent, de nouvelles mesures ont été peu à peu adoptées dans le domaine pharmaceutique, aussi bien au niveau national qu'européen. ces mesures visent à renforcer la sécurité de ces produits face à ce nouveau risque. Quels sont les mesures susceptibles de limiter le risque de contamination ? Comment les exigences réglementaires ont-elles évoluées pour gérer la crise ? Quelles sont ces nouvelles exigences réglementaires, applicables à chaque nouveau produit, tel le Certificat de Conformité à la Pharmacopée européenne, et visant à minimiser ce risque de transmission ? Quelle position adopter, au niveau national, pour les produits sanguins.CHATENAY M.-PARIS 11-BU Pharma. (920192101) / SudocSudocFranceF