PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

For breast cancer screening, 1 size doesn't fit all

New findings reported in The American Journal of Medicine

2013-04-08
(Press-News.org) Philadelphia, PA, April 8, 2013 – Although mammography, the gold standard of breast cancer screening, reduces breast cancer mortality, it has important limitations. Critics point to reduced sensitivity for women with dense breasts, a high rate of false positives leading to excessive biopsies, and concerns about long-term effects of repeated radiation. With greater understanding of risk stratification, the authors of this review envision a re-thinking of the typical breast cancer paradigm to include new technologies that allow a more individualized approach that integrates patient-specific metrics, such as age, breast density, and personal preference. The review is published in the June issue of The American Journal of Medicine.

The authors discuss the pros and cons of new technologies for breast cancer screening. For instance, "digital breast tomosynthesis is an imaging technique aimed at eliminating the pitfalls of overlapping breast tissue. It has the potential to lower recall rates on screening mammography and reduce false negative examinations due to dense breast tissue," says lead author Jennifer S. Drukteinis, MD, of the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute in Tampa. MRI, which offers improved sensitivity but reduced specificity, is appropriate for high-risk patients. Other technologies outlined are contrast-enhanced mammography, low-dose mammography, automated whole breast ultrasound, and positron emission mammography.

"Given the heterogeneity of the human population, a 'perfect' imaging technology for breast cancer screening will likely never be found. In fact, because of this heterogeneity, the very concept of 'one strategy fits all' may be outmoded," says Dr. Drukteinis.

"The development of a personalized, individual patient-centered approach to breast cancer screening mirrors the evolution of similar strategies in other aspects of medicine," writes Robert G. Stern, MD, a radiologist affiliated with the University of Arizona College of Medicine, in an accompanying editorial. "There will likely be no new whiz-bang technology to replace mammography; rather, innovative patient-specific approaches that incorporate new adjunctive and complementary technologies into overall breast cancer screening will improve specificity and sensitivity, reduce radiation exposure, and remove a significant amount of anxiety from the lives of our patients."

Citing the intricacies of each modality, Dr. Stern brings up a very critical point: the need for a much closer working relationship between breast imagers and clinicians to make sure each woman undergoes breast cancer screening tailored to her. ### END


ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Religious, nonreligious organizations may have similar impact on immigrants

2013-04-08
Religious and nonreligious organizations may have a similar impact on the ability of immigrants to acclimate to life in the U.S., despite the organizations' different motivations for providing charitable services, according to new research from Rice University. "There's been a lot of discussion as to whether religious organizations offer some special or unique benefit to immigrant groups that will help them better adapt to American society," said the study's lead author, Elaine Howard Ecklund, the Herbert S. Autrey Professor of Sociology and director of Rice's Religion ...

Link between obesity and polycystic ovary syndrome may be exaggerated

2013-04-08
AUGUSTA, Ga. – The relationship between obesity and polycystic ovary syndrome may be exaggerated, likely because the women who actively seek care for the condition tend to be heavier than those identified through screening of the general population, researchers report. PCOS affects about 10 percent of women and is characterized by excess male hormone, irregular ovulation and menstruation as well as increased risk of metabolic diseases often associated with being overweight. The study in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism looked at what have long been ...

Nanowires have the power to revolutionize solar energy

2013-04-08
Imagine a solar panel more efficient than today's best solar panels, but using 10 000 times less material. This is what EPFL researchers expect given recent findings on these tiny filaments called nanowires. Solar technology integrating nanowires could capture large quantities of light and produce energy with incredible efficiency at a much lower cost. This technology is possibly the future for powering microchips and the basis for a new generation of solar panels. Despite their size, nanowires have tremendous potential for energy production. "These nanowires capture ...

Birds find ways to avoid raising cuckoos' young

2013-04-08
Some species of birds reproduce not by rearing their own young, but by handing that task on to adults of other species. Known as brood parasitism, this habit has been most thoroughly researched in the cuckoo. Previous research has found, however, that the nests of martins and swallows in Europe are rarely parasitized by cuckoos. A new study by Wen Liang from the Hainan Normal University in China and his colleagues suggests that swallows build their nests close to humans to reduce their susceptibility to brood parasitism. The findings are published in Springer's journal ...

Research demonstrates why going green is good chemistry

2013-04-08
Shaken, not stirred, is the essence of new research that's showing promise in creating the chemical reactions necessary for industries such as pharmaceutical companies, but eliminating the resulting waste from traditional methods. James Mack, a University of Cincinnati associate professor of chemistry, will present this research into greener chemistry on April 9, at the annual meeting of the American Chemical Society in New Orleans. Instead of using solutions to create chemical reactions needed to manufacture products such as detergents, plastics and pharmaceuticals, ...

Research examines corporate communications in the 'gilded age' of free speech

2013-04-08
An analysis of U.S. Supreme Court decisions suggests "historical amnesia" regarding the growing power of speech rights for corporations in electronic media, versus the First Amendment rights of individuals. Jeff Blevins, associate professor and head of the University of Cincinnati's Department of Journalism, will present his research on Tuesday, April 9, at the 58th annual convention of the Broadcast Education Association in Las Vegas. Blevins' presentation, titled "Historical Amnesia in First Amendment Jurisprudence on Corporate Power and Electronic Media," suggests ...

Bird flu mutation study offers vaccine clue

2013-04-08
Scientists have described small genetic changes that enable the H5N1 bird flu virus to replicate more easily in the noses of mammals. So far there have only been isolated cases of bird flu in humans, and no widespread transmission as the H5N1 virus can't replicate efficiently in the nose. The new study, using weakened viruses in the lab, supports the conclusions of controversial research published in 2012 which demonstrated that just a few genetic mutations could enable bird flu to spread between ferrets, which are used to model flu infection in humans. Researchers ...

Older patients have higher expectations and are more satisfied with healthcare

2013-04-08
London (08 April 2013). New research on patients' experiences of health services and how these relate to their expectations and satisfaction, published by the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, reveals that older people have higher expectations of their care and that they believe that their expectations are being met. The research questions prevailing stereotypes that characterise older patients as being satisfied with their care because their expectations are lower. Patients visiting their GP and hospital outpatient departments were surveyed before and after their ...

Transcendental Meditation significantly reduces posttraumatic stress in African refugees

2013-04-08
Contact: Ken Chawkin kchawkin@mum.edu 641-470-1314 Maharishi University of Management Transcendental Meditation significantly reduces posttraumatic stress in African refugees New study reports immediate and dramatic reductions to a non-symptomatic level after 30 days of TM practice remaining low at endpoint of 135 days VIDEO: This video was taken of Esperance Ndozi, one of the Congolese refugees in the study. She was interviewed before learning the Transcendental ...

Tortuous paths hamper ion transport

2013-04-08
Mobile phone batteries that last longer, car batteries that enable you to drive further, storage that accumulates a lot of energy from wind and solar generators: many applications require better batteries. The research essentially focuses on three aspects here: researchers want to increase the energy density – in other words store more energy in a smaller battery. They are also looking to improve the discharging and charging speed by changing and controlling the material, shape and size of the electrochemically active particles and the structure of the battery electrodes ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

New play in the chemical-reaction playbook uncovered

Fungicides intended to suppress turfgrass diseases may damage fairways

Measuring how – and where – Antarctic ice is cracking with new data tool

Simulating the unthinkable: Models show nuclear winter food production plunge

New research supports Ivermectin as an effective strategy to control malaria transmission

New research reveals scars of Gambia’s witch hunts

McGill scientists develop cleaner, cheaper way to make lithium-ion batteries

Forever chemicals, lasting effects: Prenatal PFAS exposure shapes baby immunity

Colonial-era land-use changes in India led to severe decline in grassland birds, study finds

Use of antiseizure drugs with known or uncertain risks during pregnancy continues

Healthy European peatlands require specific temperature and water level parameters

Matches in online dating illuminated in study of Czech app

Gender disparities in Italian medical academia have persisted or worsened since 2014, with a continued "leaky pipeline" of women not progressing to senior roles

Grand Canyon was a ‘Goldilocks zone’ for the evolution of early animals

This tiny brain network could hold the key to beating cocaine addiction

Dinosaur tracks show first evidence of multispecies herding

Teen smokers and vapers have higher rates of depression and anxiety, study finds

Immunity to seasonal flu protects against severe illness from bird flu in ferrets

Innovative imaging tool could improve diagnosis and treatment of hearing loss

Researchers develop new microscope for neurovascular coupling imaging

Scientists propose AI-driven biotech model for future crop breeding

Collaborative initiative highlights successes and challenges in global bioethics training

A device developed at the EHU makes it simple to obtain platelet-rich plasma

Scientists discover brain switch that controls freeze-or-flight survival instincts

Complex genetic variation revealed in diverse human genomes

The most complete view of the human genome yet sets new standard for use in precision medicine

A ‘wonder’ fossil changes our understanding of reptile evolution

Llama antibodies: New therapeutic avenues against schizophrenia

The Evolution of escape

Newly discovered ‘sixth sense’ links gut microbes to the brain in real time

[Press-News.org] For breast cancer screening, 1 size doesn't fit all
New findings reported in The American Journal of Medicine