Clinical features and survival analysis of very young (age<35) breast cancer patients.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the clinicalpathological features and prognosis between premenopausal breast cancer patients aged of <35 and ≥35 years old. METHODS: The clinical data and survival status of 1498 cases premenopausal operable breast cancer treated in our hospital from 2002.1 to 2004. 12 were collected, 118 cases were aged <35. They were divided into 4 groups: Luminal A, Luminal B, HER2-positive, Triple-negative. The disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were identified. RESULTS: The 5-year DFS and OS rates were significantly lower in age<35 than in age≥35 patients. In the Luminal B, HER2-positive, Triple-negative group, the 5-year recurrence risk was higher in age<35 than in age≥35 patients, and age<35 patients' 5-year death risk was higher only in Luminal B, Triple-negative group. Regardless of whether lymph node involved, age<35 patients had a bad prognosis in both DFS and OS. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with premenopausal age ≥35 breast cancer, age<35 patients had a worse outcome.

Application of Real-time Ultrasound Elastography in Diagnosing Benign and Malignant Thyroid Solid Nodules.

OBJECTIVE: Real-time ultrasound elastography (US-E) is a helpful tool in diagnosing thyroid nodules. This study aims to evaluate thyroid solid nodules, to establish the accuracy of US-E in providing information on the nature of these nodules, and to assess the clinical value of elasticity scores (ES) and strain ratio (SR) in differentiating thyroid solid nodules and to explore its distribution characteristics using pathological analysis as reference. METHODS: Traditional ultrasonography and US-E were performed on 131 thyroid solid nodules (99 benign ones and 32 malignant ones) in 120 patients (78 females and 41 males). Three radiologists evaluated the nodules based on a four-degree elasticity scoring system. The nodules were classified according to the ES as soft (ES 1-2) or hard (ES 3-4). The SR was calculated online. RESULTS: The sensitivity and specificity of the ES for thyroid cancer diagnosis were 78% and 80%, respectively. SR values ≥ 2.9 used as a standard to distinguish benign from malignant nodules had a sensitivity of 87% and a specificity of 92%. The SR of the benign lesions was 1.64±1.37, which was significantly different from that of malignant lesions, which was 4.96±2.13 (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Both the ES and SR were higher in malignant nodules than those in benign ones. Real-time US-E was a useful index in the differential diagnosis of thyroid solid nodules. It can provide quantitative information on thyroid nodule characterization and improve diagnostic confidence.

Development, survival, and reproduction of the psocid Liposcelis paeta (Psocoptera: Liposcelididae) as a function of temperature.

The development, survival, and reproduction of Liposcelis paeta Pearman (Psocoptera: Liposcelididae), an important insect pest of stored products, were evaluated at nine constant temperatures (20-40 degrees C). Few insects could complete the development or reproduce at 20 or 40 degrees C. Between 22.5 and 37.5 degrees C, the developmental period from egg to adult varied from 45.4 d at 22.5 degrees C to 11.5 d at 37.5 degrees C. The lower temperature developmental thresholds were estimated at 18.1-21.9 degrees C, and the upper temperature thresholds were 40.4-42.0 degrees C. The percentage of survival from egg to adult was 52.79% at 32.5 degrees C and 18.79% at 22.5 degrees C. After emergence, the adult had a short preoviposition period that ranged from 6.3 d at 22.5 degrees C to 0.8 d at 37.5 degrees C. L. paeta produced the most eggs at 27.5 degrees C and the fewest at 37.5 degrees C. The population reared at 32.5 degrees C had the highest intrinsic rate of increase compared with the other temperatures. Based on our data, the optimal range of temperature for L. paeta population growth was 30-35 degrees C. These data give us better understanding of L. paeta population dynamics, and they can be used to develop effective management strategies for this psocid.