Lowering Costs, Waiting Times For Colonoscopies
Colorectal cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States, leading to over 50,000 fatalities every year. But it can be prevented with early screening using a procedure called a colonoscopy. Now researchers from North Carolina State University, Mayo Clinic and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst (UMass) have created a tool to help colonoscopy facilities operate more efficiently, ultimately lowering costs and leading to shorter waiting times for patients.
The researchers have created a computer model that “helps people who manage colonoscopy facilities, such as hospitals and clinics, find the best combination of physicians, staff, rooms and equipment needed to cater to the number of patients they can expect,” says Bjorn Berg, lead author of the paper outlining the new tool and a Ph.D. student in the Edward P. Fitts Department of Industrial & Systems Engineering at NC State. The model can also be used to determine the optimum number of patients a facility can see in any given day. Read more
High-sensitivity Bone Marrow Aspiration Technology Enhances Leukemia Cell Detection
Scientists have created a viable technology to improve the detection of leukemia cells in bone marrow.
Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID) enhanced the ability to rapidly quantify the amount of nanoparticle bound tumor cells in a sample at least 10 fold, and increased sensitivity of minimal residual disease measurements. Results of this proof-of-concept study are published in Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.
“This promises to significantly enhance the detection for residual disease in leukemia and other cancers,” said lead scientist Richard S. Larson, M.D., Ph.D., vice president for translation research at the University of New Mexico Health Science Center. “Coupling nanotechnology can be employed in common techniques to enhance its utility.” Read more
What Is Liver Cancer? What Causes Liver Cancer?
Liver cancer begins in the cells of the liver. The liver is a football-sized organ that sits in the upper right portion of the abdomen.
The liver carries out many vital functions, such as digesting proteins and fats, removing toxins from the body, producing chemicals that stop blood clotting and releasing bile in order to aid digestion. Liver cancer is a serious condition because the disruption, or loss, of any of these functions can be fatal.
Primary liver cancer
Cancer that begins in the liver is known as primary liver cancer. The major cause of primary liver cancer is hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This is cancer that begins in the main liver cells. It is more common among men, and those over the age of 60.
Another type of primary liver cancer is cholangiocarcinoma, which is also known as cancer of the bile duct.
Secondary liver cancer
Most cases of liver cancer are known as secondary. It means that the cancer started somewhere else in the body before spreading (metastasizing) to the liver.
The best ways to prevent HCC are to drink alcohol in moderation and avoid behavior that increases the chance of catching hepatitis C (such as injecting drugs and having unprotected sex). Read more