Two of the most important prognostic indicators for breast cancer are tumor size and extent of axillary lymph node involvement. Data on 24,740 cases recorded in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program of the National Cancer Institute were used to evaluate the breast cancer survival experience in a representative sample of women from the United States. Actuarial (life table) methods were used to investigate the 5-year relative survival rates in cases with known operative/pathologic axillary lymph node status and primary tumor diameter. Survival rates varied from 45.5% for tumor diameters equal to or greater than 5 cm with positive axillary nodes to 96.3% for tumors less than 2 cm and with no involved nodes. The relation between tumor size and lymph node status was investigated in detail. Tumor diameter and lymph node status were found to act as independent but additive prognostic indicators. As tumor size increased, survival decreased regardless of lymph node status; and as lymph node involvement increased, survival status also decreased regardless of tumor size. A linear relation was found between tumor diameter and the percent of cases with positive lymph node involvement. The results of our analyses suggest that disease progression to distant sites does not occur exclusively via the axillary lymph nodes, but rather that lymph node status serves as an indicator of the tumor's ability to spread.

Relation of tumor size, lymph node status, and survival in 24,740 breast cancer cases

The tumor node metastasis (TNM) system, which was developed by the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC), is the most practical cancer staging system available. The AJCC TNM staging has been modified periodically in response to newly acquired clinical information and data on prognosis. The seventh edition of this system was published in late 2009 and the manual is effective for cancers diagnosed during or after 2010. There are 9 new classifications, 6 major modifications, elimination of cMX (metastasis cannot be assessed clinically), and there is an introduction to anatomical stages and prognostic groupings. But, compared to the 6 th edition, there are no remarkable changes regarding ampulla of Vater and pancreatic cancer, except that neuroendocrine tumors of the pancreas now is staged as a carcinoma.

간담췌 종양에 대한 American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) 종양 병기 7판 소개

A new methodology for designing and implementing high-efficiency broadband Class-E power amplifiers (PAs) using high-order low-pass filter-prototype is proposed in this paper. A GaN transistor is used in this work, which is carefully modeled and characterized to prescribe the optimal output impedance for the broadband Class-E operation. A sixth-order low-pass filter-matching network is designed and implemented for the output matching, which provides optimized fundamental and harmonic impedances within an octave bandwidth (L-band). Simulation and experimental results show that an optimal Class-E PA is realized from 1.2 to 2 GHz (50%) with a measured efficiency of 80%-89%, which is the highest reported today for such a bandwidth. An overall PA bandwidth of 0.9-2.2 GHz (84%) is measured with 10-20-W output power, 10-13-dB gain, and 63%-89% efficiency throughout the band. Furthermore, the Class-E PA is characterized through measurements using constant-envelop global system for mobile communications signals, indicating a favorable adjacent channel power ratio from -40 to -50 dBc within the entire bandwidth.

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Design of Highly Efficient Broadband Class-E Power Amplifier Using Synthesized Low-Pass Matching Networks

All participants for image samplings provided written informed consent. Conventional B-mode ultrasonography (US) has been widely utilized for musculoskeletal problems as a first-line approach because of the advantages of real-time access and the relatively low cost. The biomechanical properties of soft tissues reflect to some degree the pathophysiology of the musculoskeletal disorder. Sonoelastography is an in situ method that can be used to assess the mechanical properties of soft tissue qualitatively and quantitatively through US imaging techniques. Sonoelastography has demonstrated feasibility in the diagnosis of cancers of the breast and liver, and in some preliminary work, in several musculoskeletal disorders. The main types of sonoelastography are compression elastography, shear-wave elastography, and transient elastography. In this article, the current knowledge of sonoelastographic techniques and their use in musculoskeletal imaging will be reviewed.

Sonoelastography: musculoskeletal applications.

Background The promise of Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers has led to their incorporation in new diagnostic criteria and in therapeutic trials; however, significant barriers exist to widespread use. Chief among these is the lack of internationally accepted standards for quantitative metrics. Hippocampal volumetry is the most widely studied quantitative magnetic resonance imaging measure in Alzheimer’s disease and thus represents the most rational target for an initial effort at standardization. Methods and Results The authors of this position paper propose a path toward this goal. The steps include the following: (1) Establish and empower an oversight board to manage and assess the effort, (2) adopt the standardized definition of anatomic hippocampal boundaries on magnetic resonance imaging arising from the European Alzheimer’s Disease Centers–Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative hippocampal harmonization effort as a reference standard, (3) establish a scientifically appropriate, publicly available reference standard data set based on manual delineation of the hippocampus in an appropriate sample of subjects (Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative), and (4) define minimum technical and prognostic performance metrics for validation of new measurement techniques using the reference standard data set as a benchmark. Conclusions Although manual delineation of the hippocampus is the best available reference standard, practical application of hippocampal volumetry will require automated methods. Our intent was to establish a mechanism for credentialing automated software applications to achieve internationally recognized accuracy and prognostic performance standards that lead to the systematic evaluation and then widespread acceptance and use of hippocampal volumetry. The standardization and assay validation process outlined for hippocampal volumetry was envisioned as a template that could be applied to other imaging biomarkers.

Steps to standardization and validation of hippocampal volumetry as a biomarker in clinical trials and diagnostic criterion for Alzheimer's disease

This paper describes a two-stage 5-W broad-band amplifier covering the frequency range from 10 MHz to 2.4 GHz. An SiC MESFET is used as the power stage. A large-signal table-based model has been developed and verified for the SiC device by comparison with measurements. A novel broad-band choke structure was developed to obtain high dc isolation and low RF loss over the full bandwidth. No impedance transformer was used at all. Broad-band input and output matching networks and shunt feedback topology were introduced to fulfill the bandwidth requirements. Typical values of 22-dB power gain, 37-dBm output power, 28% power-added efficiency, and 47-dBm third-order intercept points have been achieved in a two-stage design using a GaAs MESFET as driver stage. All power and linearity results were obtained over the whole frequency band. The design procedure is given in detail and the results are being discussed and compared with simulations.

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Two-stage ultrawide-band 5-W power amplifier using SiC MESFET

Nonlinear characterization of breast cancer using multi-compression 3D ultrasound elastography in vivo.

In this work a broad-band class E power amplifier (PA) is designed, manufactured and measured. 400 MHz bandwidth with a center frequency of 800 MHz was realized using a GaN HEMT device. A novel and easy circuit topology is proposed for broad-band bandpass filter with integrated output matching network. Different filter types are discussed, suitable topology is chosen and design equations are shown. A maximum drain efficiency of 87.8 % (PAE = 80.6 %) is observed. Maximum output power of 49 W is measured with 16.3 dB power gain at the 1 dB compression point.

/pdf/broadband-gan-switch-mode-class-e-power-amplifier-for-uhf-532cx5ahpa.pdf

Broadband GaN switch mode class E power amplifier for UHF applications

The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in Alzheimer's disease: Current understanding and potential applications.

This paper describes a new hybrid wideband architecture of a two-stage Wilkinson power combiner/divider using additional capacitive and inductive elements in both stages. The combiner/divider shows a bandwidth from 0.3 GHz up to 2.8 GHz with an insertion loss of less than 0.2 dB and an isolation of about 10 dB. The new combiner topology, design process and results are being discussed.

Ahmed Sayed

Papers

Two-stage ultrawide-band 5-W power amplifier using SiC MESFET

Nonlinear characterization of breast cancer using multi-compression 3D ultrasound elastography in vivo.

Broadband GaN switch mode class E power amplifier for UHF applications

The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in Alzheimer's disease: Current understanding and potential applications.

Novel Broadband Wilkinson Power Combiner