Citations

The primary purpose of this investigation was to quantify the effects of fitness media exposure on psychological affect utilizing the Solomon 4-group design. Volunteers were counterbalanced and randomly assigned to 30 minutes of viewing either a fitness or control magazine. State anxiety (STAI), tension, depression, anger vigor, fatigue, confusion, and global mood (POMS) were measured. Results indicate that pre-test sensitization was not a significant factor when testing the psychological factors in this investigation. Additionally, the outcomes associated with viewing ultra-fit images in popular media are not a benign experience and merit further examination.

Abstract Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening rates are often ascertained via self-reports but can be subject to overreporting bias. Asking about intention to get screened before asking about past screening may minimize overreporting of cancer screening. In a statewide survey conducted from July through October of 2005, we embedded an experiment that tested the effect of question ordering (asking about future intention to get screened before or after asking about past screening; “future first” and “future second,” respectively), crossed with survey mode (mail versus telephone), on CRC screening rates. Weighted analysis focused on 752 respondents who were ages 50 years or older. We found (a) that asking about future intentions to get screened before asking about past screening (future first) statistically significantly lowers reports of past CRC screening [70.9% future second versus 58.0% future first; odds ratio (OR), 1.83; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.08-3.13]; (b) that there was no main effect of survey mode; and (c) that the effect of the ordering of the future intentions item varies by survey mode. In the mailed survey, the odds of reporting past CRC screening were almost thrice greater in the future second condition compared with the future first condition (72.4% versus 49.0%, respectively; OR, 2.74; 95% CI, 1.22-6.17). In the telephone condition, the odds of reporting were only 28% higher in the future second (69.5%) condition than in the future first condition (63.9%; OR, 1.28; 95% CI, 0.64-2.57). The results suggest that asking about future intentions to get screened before the actual behavior elicits lower, and arguably more truthful reports of CRC screening but mainly in mailed surveys. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2008;17(4):785–90)

AbstractBackground: Limited studies have examined the associations between mammographic density and subsequent breast tumor characteristics.Methods: Eligible women were part of a case-control study of postmenopausal breast cancer, were 40 years or older and had a routine mammogram 4 years or more before their diagnosis. Mammographic density (percent density, dense area, and nondense area) was estimated using a computer-assisted thresholding program. At the time of cancer diagnosis, cases were classified as asymptomatic or symptomatic based on medical record review and breast imaging workup. Pathologic review was done blinded to the density status. Linear regression models and tests for trend examined the association between pathologic characteristics of the breast tumor and the components of density for all participants, and stratified by symptom status at diagnosis.Results: Of the 286 eligible cases, 77% were 60 years or older and mean percent density was 29.5% (SD, 14.6%). Density was not significantly associated with tumor size (P = 0.22), histologic type (P = 0.77), estrogen receptor (P = 0.11) or progesterone receptor (P = 0.37) status, mitotic activity (P = 0.12), or nuclear pleomorphism (P = 0.09; P values for percent density). An inverse association was suggested between tumor grade and percent density (32.0%, 30.3%, 26.7% for grades 1-3; P = 0.06 for trend). The inverse association with tumor grade and its components (nuclear pleomorphism and tubular differentiation) was only evident among the 97 symptomatic women; positive associations of estrogen receptor (P = 0.009) and progesterone receptor (P = 0.04) were also seen with percent density only in this subgroup.Conclusions: The inverse association between tumor grade and percent density in the symptomatic population could inform the biology of the association between mammographic density and breast cancer risk. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2008;17(4):872–9)

Purpose To assess the tolerability, pharmacokinetics (PKs), and pharmacodynamics (PDs) of the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) 1/2 inhibitor AZD6244 (ARRY-142886) in patients with advanced cancer. Patients and Methods In part A, patients received escalating doses to determine the maximum-tolerated dose (MTD). In both parts, blood samples were collected to assess PK and PD parameters. In part B, patients were stratified by cancer type (melanoma v other) and randomly assigned to receive the MTD or 50% MTD. Biopsies were collected to determine inhibition of ERK phosphorylation, Ki-67 expression, and BRAF, KRAS, and NRAS mutations. Results Fifty-seven patients were enrolled. MTD in part A was 200 mg bid, but this dose was discontinued in part B because of toxicity. The 50% MTD (100 mg bid) was well tolerated. Rash was the most frequent and dose-limiting toxicity. Most other adverse events were grade 1 or 2. The PKs were less than dose proportional, with a median half-life of approximately 8 hours and inhibition of ERK phosphorylation in peripheral-blood mononuclear cells at all dose levels. Paired tumor biopsies demonstrated reduced ERK phosphorylation (geometric mean, 79%). Five of 20 patients demonstrated ≥ 50% inhibition of Ki-67 expression, and RAF or RAS mutations were detected in 10 of 26 assessable tumor samples. Nine patients had stable disease (SD) for ≥ 5 months, including two patients with SD for 19 (thyroid cancer) and 22 (uveal melanoma plus renal cancer) 28-day cycles. Conclusion AZD6244 was well tolerated with target inhibition demonstrated at the recommended phase II dose. PK analyses supported twice-daily dosing. Prolonged SD was seen in a variety of advanced cancers. Phase II studies are ongoing.

Ultrasound vibro-acoustography is a novel medical imaging modality that combines the high resolution of high-frequency ultrasound with the speckle-free images obtained using low-frequency methods. This imaging modality relies on the non-linear interaction of two high frequency beams at slightly different frequencies. We describe the physics of ultrasound vibro-acoustography and outline a strategy for its modeling, simulation, and optimal design.

MRI guided focused ultrasound (FUS) has been shown to create thermal lesions where tissue stiffness changes significantly. To assess the correlation between tissue stiffness change and tissue ablation, a pilot animal based study was conducted to treat LNCaP tumors in vivo and Hep3B tumors immediately post mortem. MR elastography was used to analyze tissue stiffness before and after ablation. Treated tissue was excised immediately after each experiment and processed by routine histological analysis. Four prostate cancer tumors and four liver cancer tumors showed, on average, a threefold increase in stiffness due to FUS thermal treatment. Histology showed complete (100%) coagulation necrosis in these cases. These data suggest that MRE may be an effective means to assess tissue ablation.

In paper, we report our recent results of using the air force ultrasound transducer to study the resonance of rubber tubes. Experiments were carried out on a rubber latex tube. Seven resonant frequencies were measured between 50 Hz and 200 Hz. Theoretical calculation of the resonant frequency on the tube was done with the wave propagation approach. The relative differences of the seven resonant frequencies between the experiment and the theory are less than 6 %. This research shows that the air force ultrasound transducer can be used for tube resonance measurement.

A custom computer-controlled rapid prototyping system was designed and developed in this research. This system for bio-manufacturing of polymer scaffolds included 3D motion control components, a nozzle, a pressure controller, and a temperature-controlled reservoir containing a biomaterial. Heating elements built into the reservoir melted the biomaterial. The pressure line attached to the reservoir provided a controllable force that extruded the polymer biomaterial through the nozzle and deposited the polymer biomaterial onto a platform to fabricate scaffolds. A low pressure (830 KPa) system was designed and fabricated to accommodate different temperatures, motion speeds, and viscosities of polymer biomaterials. The reservoir with the nozzle was mounted to servo motor-controlled linear x-y motion devices along with a third servo motor-controlled device that controlled the z-position of the platform. Poly(ε-caprolactone) [PCL] was used to fabricate scaffolds with designed structure that were used in cell and tissue regeneration studies. 3D computer-aided design (CAD) with Pro-Engineer and computational finite element analysis (FEA) programs with MSC_Patran and MSC_Marc were used to model scaffold designs with appropriate architecture and material selection. The CAD models were used in FEA to develop new methods for determining mechanical properties of tissue scaffolds of desired structure and geometry. FEA models were validated by mechanical testing and other published results. Technology developed in this research has potential for the advancement of bio-manufacturing, and design optimization of scaffolds for tissue engineering.