Background. There are marked regional differences in breast cancer mortality rates in Italy, probably linked to factors such as diagnostic delay, therapeutic strategies, and biologic and sociodemographic differences. To investigate a possible link between sociodemographic factors (e.g. age, education, and residence) and delay in the diagnosis of breast cancer, data were evaluated from all such patients from our Institute living in the Campania Region of Southern Italy for 1991–1993. Methods. Patients were grouped into Tis‐T1/NO‐N+ versus T2‐4/NO‐N+ and the variables examined were age (<40, 41–50, 51–60,>60 years), education (≤5 vs.>5 school years) and residence (urban vs. rural). An analysis was made using the Pearson's Chi‐square test and the multiple logistic regression. Results. Statistically significant differences were found for both residence (P = 0.04) and education level (P = 0.03) in the older than 60 years age group, but only for residence (P = 0.03) in the 51–60 years age group. The risks according to Mantel–Haenszel were 1.28 for education (P = 0.08) and 1.32 for residence in rural municipalities (P = 0.05). The odds ratio for residence in rural municipalities, adjusted by education and by the education‐residence interaction, was 2.26 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12–4.54) in the 51–60 years age group and 1.74 (95% CI, 1.01–3.00) in the older than 60 years age group. Conclusions. These data clearly indicate that residents of rural municipalities, as well as poorly educated subjects, are more likely than their respective counter‐parts to have a delayed diagnosis of breast cancer. Cancer 1995; 76:1585–90.

In this work, we report on a new development of Silicon Drift Detectors (SDDs) for gamma-ray spectroscopy with space science applications. The research is supported by the European Space Agency through the Technology Research Programme (TRP). The final goal of the development is the realization of monolithic arrays of SDDs which will be assembled to readout large (2” and 3”) (Ce) scintillators. We present here the results of the development of a single SDD prototype, with active area, produced at Fondazione Bruno Kessler (FBK) semiconductor laboratories. We discuss the design issues related to the specific use of this device as a photo-detector for scintillators. Then, we focus on the read-out electronics. Since this SDD does not include a front-end transistor on the silicon chip, we have adopted a CMOS charge preamplifier (CUBE) recently developed at Politecnico di Milano. This preamplifier has allowed the achievement of state-of-the-art noise performance using a SDD technology process without the integration of the FET (Field Effect Transistor) on the detector chip. A quantum efficiency of about 80% has been measured for the SDD at the emission wavelength band of (360–380 nm). First experimental measurements consisting of direct irradiation of the SDD without scintillator, have demonstrated energy resolution of 140 eV and 129 eV at and respectively. By coupling the SDD with a (Ce) scintillator (9 mm diameter), we have measured energy resolution of 5.6% FWHM and 2.6% FWHM at 122 keV and 662 keV respectively

To simulate the hemodynamic effects in the feet in response to a thigh cuff occlusion, we have developed a multi-compartmental model in which the circulatory system for the leg is represented by its electrical equivalents. Dynamic vascular optical tomographic imaging data previously obtained from 20 patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) and 20 healthy subjects is used to test the model. Analyzing the clinical data with the support of the model yields diagnostic specificity and sensitivity in the 90-95% range, significantly higher than previously reported.

No abstract

The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether a diffuse optical tomography breast imaging system (DOTBIS) can provide a comparable optical-based image index of mammographic breast density, an established biomarker of breast cancer risk. Oxyhemoglobin concentration (ctO 2 Hb) measured by DOTBIS was collected from 40 patients with stage II-III breast cancer. The tumor-free contralateral breast was used for this evaluation. We observed a moderate positive correlation between the patient's mammogram density classification and ctO 2 Hb, r s = 0.486 (p = 0.001). In addition, significant reduction in ctO 2 Hb levels were noted during neoadjuvant chemotherapy treatment (p = 0.017). This observation indicates that ctO 2 Hb levels measured by DOTBIS could be a novel modifiable imaging biomarker of breast cancer risk and warrants further investigation.