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Objective To identify atypical hyperplasia (AH) of the breast by shell-isolated nanoparticle-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SHINERS), and to explore the molecular fingerprinting characteristics of breast AH. Methods Breast hyperplasia was studied in 11 hospitals across China from January 2015 to December 2016. All patients completed questionnaires on women’s health. The differences between patients with and without breast AH were compared. AH breast lesions were detected by Raman spectroscopy followed by the SHINERS technique. Results There were no significant differences in clinical features and risk-related factors between patients with breast AH (n = 37) and the control group (n = 2576). Fifteen cases of breast AH lesions were detected by Raman spectroscopy. The main different Raman peaks in patients with AH appeared at 880, 1001, 1086, 1156, 1260, and 1610 cm −1 , attributed to the different vibrational modes of nucleic acids, β-carotene, and proteins. Shell-isolated nanoparticles had different enhancement effects on the nucleic acid, protein, and lipid components in AH. Conclusion Raman spectroscopy can detect characteristic molecular changes in breast AH lesions, and may thus be useful for the non-invasive early diagnosis and for investigating the mechanism of tumorigenesis in patients with breast AH.

We have extended the recently developed approach that employs first-principles Hamiltonian, tight-binding Hamiltonian, and Green’s function methods to study native point defect states in InAs/InAs0.7Sb0.3 strained layer superlattices (SLS) latticed matched to GaSb. Our calculations predict a defect level at 250 meV below the GaSb valance band edge, in agreement with values deduced recently from lifetime measurements and analysis [Aytac et al. Phys. Rev. Appl., 5, 054016 (2016)]. In addition, we identify the defect level to be arising from an In-vacancy in the InAsSb region of the superlattice. The formation energy calculations further indicate that In-vacancies are easier to form in both regions of the superlattice than in bulk InAs or in InAsSb alloy. Our results suggest that In-vacancy is the most damaging native defect that limits lifetimes InAs/InAs0.7Sb0.3.

To assess whether a development strategy will be profitable enough, production forecasting is a crucial and difficult step in the process. The development history of other reservoirs in the same class tends to be studied to make predictions accurate. However, the permeability field, well patterns, and development regime must all be similar for two reservoirs to be considered in the same class. This results in very few available experiences from other reservoirs even though there is a lot of historical information on numerous reservoirs because it is difficult to find such similar reservoirs. This paper proposes a learn-tolearn method, which can better utilize a vast amount of historical data from various reservoirs. Intuitively, the proposed method first learns how to learn samples before directly learning rules in samples. Technically, by utilizing gradients from networks with independent parameters and copied structure in each class of reservoirs, the proposed network obtains the optimal shared initial parameters which are regarded as transferable information across different classes. Based on that, the network is able to predict future production indices for the target reservoir by only training with very limited samples collected from reservoirs in the same class. Two cases further demonstrate its superiority in accuracy to other widely-used network methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The level of total adiponectin, a mixture of different adiponectin forms, has been reported associated with breast cancer risk with inconsistent results. Whether the different forms play different roles in breast cancer risk prediction is unclear. To examine this, we measured total and high molecular weight (HMW) adiponectin in a case-control study (1167 sets). Higher circulating HMW adiponectin was negatively associated with breast cancer risk after adjusting for menopausal status and family history of breast cancer (P=0.024). We analyzed the relationship between adiponectin and breast cancer risk in 6 subgroups. Higher circulating HMW adiponectin was also negatively associated with breast cancer risk (P=0.020, 0.014, 0.035) in the subgroups of postmenopausal women, negative family history of breast cancer, BMI>=24.0. Total adiponectin was positively associated with breast cancer (P=0.028) in the subgroup of BMI=24.0 subgroups, whereas higher circulating HMW adiponectin levels is a risk factor in women with a family history of breast cancer. Further investigation of different forms of adiponectin on breast cancer risk is needed.

A full band structure derived from a hybrid pseudopotential tight-binding Hamiltonian was used to calculate the temperature and carrier density dependent two-photon absorption coefficients, free carrier absorption cross section, and Auger lifetimes in InAs, InSb, and HgCdTe alloys. The accurate evaluation of all parameters in the model could provide insight into the underlying mechanisms and selection of materials for light propagation appliations.

We present full-band structure calculations of temperature- and wavelength-dependent two-photon absorption coefficients and free-carrier absorption cross sections in GaAs, InP, and 0.92 eV-band gap Ga64In36As and InP60As40 alloys. The calculated coefficient decreases with increasing wavelength and band gap but increases with temperature. Using detailed band structure analysis, we identify various contributions to the free-carrier absorption in GaAs and InP. Although the free-carrier absorption is found to arise predominantly from hole absorption, we show that direct absorption by excited electrons is possible, leading to an enhanced free-carrier absorption coefficient. This excited state absorption could be exploited to modulate the transmission of light at communication wavelengths (of 1.33 or 1.55 μm) with, for example, the more commonly available 0.8 μm diode laser. We further show that the high-intensity transmission calculated with our values of nonlinear parameters in GaAs agrees very well with the measured values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives To investigate the awareness and knowledge level of breast cancer among Chinese participants. Design Case-control study. Settings This study was based on the database of the minister-affiliated hospital key project of the Ministry of Health of the People's Republic of China that included 21 Chinese hospitals between April 2012 and April 2013. Participants Matched study was designed among 2978 participants with Han ethnicity aged between 25 and 70. Primary and secondary outcome measures Student's t-test, Pearson's χ² test, reliability analysis, exploratory factor analysis, and univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to know the level of breast cancer knowledge and find the breast cancer awareness-associated factors. Results 80.0% (2383/2978) of the participants had poor awareness level of breast cancer. In-depth knowledge of breast cancer such as early symptoms and risk factors was poorly found among them. Television broadcast and relatives or friends with breast cancers were the main sources of information about breast cancer. Of all participants, 72.8% (2167/2978) had heard about breast cancer as a frequent cancer affecting women, and 63.3% (1884/2978) knew that family history of breast cancer was a risk factor for breast cancer. Over half of them were aware that a breast lump could be a symptom of breast cancer. Multivariate analysis identified the following variables that predicted awareness of breast cancer: young age (OR=0.843, 95% CI 0.740 to 0.961), occupation (agricultural worker) (OR=12.831, 95% CI 6.998 to 23.523), high household social status (OR=0.644, 95% CI 0.531 to 0.780), breast hyperplasia history (OR=1.684, 95% CI 1.273 to 2.228), high behavioural prevention score (OR=4.407, 95% CI 3.433 to 5.657). Conclusion Most women were aware of breast cancer as a disease, but their in-depth knowledge of it was poor. More publicity and education programmes to increase breast cancer awareness are necessary and urgent, especially for the ageing women and agricultural workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have extended the recently developed approach that employs first-principles Hamiltonian, tight-binding Hamiltonian, and Green's function methods to study native point defect states in InAs/InAs0.7Sb0.3 strained layer superlattices (SLS) latticed matched to GaSb. Our calculations predict a defect level at 250 meV below the GaSb valance band edge, in agreement with values deduced recently from lifetime measurements and analysis [Aytac et al. Phys. Rev. Appl., 5, 054016 (2016)]. In addition, we identify the defect level to be arising from an In-vacancy in the InAsSb region of the superlattice. The formation energy calculations further indicate that In-vacancies are easier to form in both regions of the superlattice than in bulk InAs or in InAsSb alloy. Our results suggest that In-vacancy is the most damaging native defect that limits lifetimes InAs/InAs0.7Sb0.3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The two most desired properties for photo-detection using a strained-layer superlattice (SLS) are high native point defect (NPD) formation energies and absence of mid-gap levels. In this Letter we use first-principles calculations to study the formation energies of NPDs. First we validate the numerical method by comparing the calculated defect formation energies with measured values reported in the literature. Then we calculate the formation energy of various NPDs in a number of InAs-GaSb SLS systems. From the calculated defect formation energies in SLS relative to that in constituent bulk material, the probability of defect presence in SLS can be inferred if we know the growth conditions of SLS with respect to those of the bulk material. Since the defects with much higher formation energy in SLS will be difficult to form, their energy levels in the SLS mini-gap will have little effect on device performance, even if the defect states lie in mid-gap. Together with our calculated defect energy level results, we can identify promising SLS designs for high-performing photodetectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polarization beam splitters, devices that separate the two orthogonal polarizations of light into different propagation directions, are among the most ubiquitous optical elements. However, traditionally polarization splitters rely on bulky optical materials, while emerging optoelectronic and photonic circuits require compact, chip-scale polarization splitters. Here, we show that a rectangular lattice of cylindrical silicon Mie resonators functions as a polarization splitter, efficiently reflecting one polarization while transmitting the other. We show that the polarization splitting arises from the anisotropic permittivity and permeability of the metasurface due to the twofold rotational symmetry of the rectangular unit cell. The high polarization efficiency, low loss and low profile make these metasurface polarization splitters ideally suited for monolithic integration with optoelectronic and photonic circuits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A systematic study of native point defect states is carried out to understand the origin of gap states in strained layer superlattices. Using a combination of first principles Hamiltonian, tight-binding Hamiltonian, and Green's function approach, we calculate the native point defect states in bulk InAs, bulk GaSb, and ten InAs-GaSb strained layer superlattices. We observe that the defects in strained layer superlattices located away from the interface create fewer mid gap states if the constituent bulk materials do not have defect states in that energy interval. This can be used as a design principle to shift the superlattice band gap and reduce or eliminate the mid-gap states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Damming of river systems allowing the transformation of former rivers into artificial lakes will increase the transformation and retention of dissolved and sediment-associated phosphorus (P). The reservoir is therefore a 'filter' or 'converter', reducing and delaying the transport of nutrients to marine systems. Our study of the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) found that no stratification of phosphorus occurred, and the high particulate phosphorus (PP) concentrations upstream decreased gradually in the reservoir. Detrital P was found in greater concentrations in the surface sediment, accounting for 39% of PP; exchangeable P was rare and contributed very little to the total P budget. P forms and their concentrations in the suspended particulate matter varied throughout the TGR, with a significant increase of bioavailable P in the <8-µm particle fraction from 27% of PP in Fuling to 60% in Yichang, and decreasing detrital P and authigenic P in each grain size class. The TGR acted as a 'converter' for the dissolved reactive phosphorus, and it therefore plays a minor role in trapping incoming total dissolved phosphorus; whereas the TGR behaved as a 'filter' for the PP, especially for the coarse fraction, which resulted in the retention of 70% of the non-bioavailable PP. The controlling mechanism of P species and retention in the reservoir is particulate settling and its associated effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: High breast cancer mortality has been attributed to lack of public awareness, which leads to late diagnoses. As little is known about the level of knowledge and awareness of breast cancer in China, this study was designed to explore it among women in Eastern China. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey covering 122,058 females around Shandong, Hebei, Jiangsu and Tianjin, in Eastern China, using in-person interviews based on a self-designed structured questionnaire. Student's t-test, Pearson's χ2 test, reliability analysis, exploratory factor analysis, univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed in the statistical analysis. Results: The results showed poor awareness of breast cancer among women aged 25-70 years in Eastern China. Only 18.6% of women were highly aware in the study, whereas 81.4% were poorly aware. Among all participants, family history of breast cancer was the best accepted risk factor for breast cancer (awareness rate 31.5%), followed by menarche at age before 12 (11.2%), no parity or late childbirth (13.9%), menopause at a late age (13.7%), high-fat diets (19.1%), long time drinking (19.5%) and long-term use of estrogen drugs (20.7%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis (α = 0.05) identified nine variables that predicted awareness of breast cancer: age (OR = 0.975, 95% CI: 0.960-0.990), location (OR = 1.675, 95% CI: 1.602-1.752), occupation (OR = 4.774, 95% CI: 4.316-5.281), family history of breast cancer (OR = 1.234, 95% CI: 1.073-1.420), household annual income (OR = 0.418, 95% CI: 0.400-0.436), behavioral prevention score (OR = 4.137, 95% CI: 3.991-4.290), no smoking (OR = 2.113, 95% CI: 1.488-2.999), no drinking (OR = 1.427, 95% CI: 1.018-2.000), overall life satisfaction (OR = 0.707, 95% CI: 0.683-0.731). Conclusions: Our study indicates insufficient awareness of breast cancer among women in Eastern China, and an urgent need for health education programs on this subject. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All-dielectric metamaterials utilizing Mie resonances in high-permittivity dielectric resonators offer a low-loss alternative to plasmonic metamaterials. Here we present the demonstration of a single-negative all-dielectric metamaterial, comprised of a single layer of cylindrical silicon resonators on a silicon-on-insulator substrate, that possesses peak reflectance over 99% and an average reflectance over 98% across a 200 nm wide bandwidth in the short-wavelength infrared region. The study is also extended to disordered metamaterials, demonstrating a correlation between the degree of disorder and the reduction in reflectance. It is shown that near-unity reflection is preserved as long as resonator interaction is avoided. Realization of near-unity reflection from disordered metamaterials opens the door to large-area implementations using low-cost self-assembly based fabrication techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present an effective-medium model for calculating the frequency-dependent effective permittivity ϵ(ω) and permeability μ(ω) of metamaterial composites containing spherical particles with arbitrary permittivity and permeability. The model is derived from the zero-scattering condition within the dipole approximation, but does not invoke any additional long-wavelength approximations. As a result, it captures the effects of spatial dispersion and predicts a finite effective refractive index and antiresonances in ϵ(ω) and μ(ω), in agreement with numerical finite-element calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We exploit the Mie resonance in dielectric microparticles to design a single-negative metamaterial monolayer with near-unity reflectivity and negligible absorptivity. In contrast to Bragg reflectors and photonic band gap materials, which require multiple layers for high reflection, this metamaterial is both highly reflective and subwavelength in thickness. We identify the underlying physics necessary to design near-perfect all-dielectric reflectors at virtually any wavelength band of interest. Using full-wave, finite-element analysis and realistic optical constants for the constitutive materials, we develop a 0.45-μm-thick, silicon-based metarnaterial monolayer with normal-incidence reflectivity over 99.999% and absorptivity less than 0.001% at a short-wave infrared wavelength of 1.5 μm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here we report the effect of the signaling probe conformation on sensor performance of a "signal-on" folding-based electrochemical DNA sensor. The sensor is comprised of a methylene blue (MB)-modified signaling probe and an unlabeled capture probe that partially hybridize to each other at the distal end. In presence of the full-complement target which binds to the unlabeled capture probe, the labeled signaling probe is released. Two different signaling probes were used in this study, in which one is capable of assuming a stem-loop conformation (SLP-MB), whereas the other probe adopts a flexible linear conformation (LP-MB). In the presence of the full complement target DNA, both sensors showed a large increase in MB current when interrogated using alternating current (ac) voltammetry, verifying the release of the signaling probe. Overall, the SLP-MB sensor showed higher % signal enhancement; the LP-MB sensor, however, showed distinctly faster binding kinetics when interrogated under the same experimental conditions. The SLP-MB sensor displayed a wider usable ac frequency range when compared to the LP-MB sensor. Despite these differences, the detection limit and dynamic range were found to be similar among the two sensors. In addition to 6-mercapto-1-hexanol, longer chain hydroxyl-terminated alkanethiols were used to construct these sensors. Our results showed that sensors fabricated with longer chain diluents, independent of the sensor architecture, were not only functional, the signaling capability was significantly enhanced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose was to investigate the prevalence rate, characteristics and related factors of breast cancer among women in Eastern China. A total of 122,058 female subjects completed the study, with 320 confirmed cases of breast cancer (crude prevalence: 262.5/100,000; standardized prevalence: 207.7/100,000). Among all of the identified breast cancer cases, 91.6% were diagnosed after the age of 35 and 60.0% were diagnosed before menopause. The odds ratios (95% confidence interval) of those breast cancer risk factors as selected through multivariate logistic regression were as follows: 5.438 (1.553- 19.004) for family history of breast cancer, 3.556 (1.880-6.728) for high behavior intervention score, 3.556 (0.904-13.994) for history of diabetes, 3.357 (1.131-9.969) for history of benign breast tumors, 2.196 (1.355-3.556) for poor overall life satisfaction, 1.826 (0.995-3.350) for premenopause of breast cancer, 1.528 (1.083-2.155) for high BMI index, 1.500 (0.920- 2.446) for poor financial status, 1.497 (1.014-2.211) for multiple miscarriages/abortions, and 1.231 (0.972-1.559) for infrequent consumption of garlic (frequent garlic consumption is a protective factor). There were significantly more cases of breast cancer diagnosed prior to menopause than after menopause, and most of the patients were diagnosed after the age of 35. These findings suggest that attention should be focused on the incidence of breast cancer among premenopausal women older than 35. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Measurements of 222Rn (“radon”) in the environment are important in the geosciences and radiation-protection fields. We demonstrate here a simple laboratory-based calibration system to evaluate the efficiency of radon detectors with a reproducibility of about ±2%. The system uses a closed-loop air circulation design with 226Ra adsorbed onto MnO2-impregnated fiber as a radon source. Two RAD7 radon detectors (Durridge Co., Inc.) that were precisely calibrated at Durridge’s in-house calibration facility are used as secondary standards. By parallel analysis of the radon-enriched air within the closed loop, the test RAD7s are assigned a calibration coefficient to be applied to future measurements. We also performed a side-by-side intercomparison with two RAD7s in a high-radon natural environmental setting (limestone cave in Florida) that produced comparable results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The class Prasinophyceae (Chlorophyta) contains some photosynthetic eukaryotic ultraplankton species characterized by containing prasinoxanthin. The existence and abundance of these organisms can be estimated by the diagnostic pigment. We detected the unique pigments of prasinoxanthin-containing Prasinophyceae in Jiaozhou Bay, China using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). This was the first finding of this kind in Chinese seas. Using the ratio of prasinoxanthin to chlorophyll a, the abundance of prasinoxanthin-containing Prasinophyceae has been calculated. The average contribution of prasinoxanthin-containing Prasinophyceae to the chlorophyll a pool was 8.5% and 17.0% in May and August 2004 in Jiaozhou Bay, and the maximums were 25.9% and 36.3%. Size fractionated pigment analysis suggested that more than 80% of prasinoxanthin were in the fraction of 2-20 μm. According to the results of pigment and morphological analysis, the possible genera of prasinoxanthin-containing Prasinophyceae and the reasons for causing this high abundant phytoplankton in Jiaozhou Bay were discussed. This kind of phytoplankton can not be discovered in traditional biological investigation, but its contribution to the coastal ecosystem is significant enough to be studied further. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors present their experimental and theoretical results on nonlinear absorption of light in InAs. The nonlinear variation of output intensity as a function of input intensity and time are calculated by solving four coupled rate equations simultaneously. All required quantities, including two-photon absorption, free-carrier absorption, Auger and radiative recombination lifetimes, and intrinsic carrier densities, have been obtained from the underlying band structures. The calculated thickness and energy-dependent output intensities in InAs agree very well with the values measured in their pump-probe experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research of bidirectional pedestrian flows at signalized crosswalks is divided into two parts: model and application. In the model part, a mixed survey including the questionnaire investigation and tracking investigation is conducted to gain the basic data about walking tendentiousness of a pedestrian crossing. Then, the forward, right-hand, outstripping, and influential coefficients are outlined to quantize walking tendentiousness of pedestrian crossing and estimate transition probabilities of pedestrians. At last, an improved cellular automation model is proposed to describe walking tendentiousness and crossing behaviors of pedestrians. In the application part, channelization research of bidirectional pedestrian flows is presented for real signalized crosswalk. In this process, the effects of right-side-walking and conformity behaviors on the efficiency of pedestrian crossing are thoroughly analyzed based on simulations and experiments to obtain a final channelization method to raise the efficiency of a pedestrian crossing at the crosswalk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background X‐ray repair cross‐complementary 5 (XRCC5) and 6 (XRCC6) are critical for DNA repair. Few studies have assessed their association with breast cancer risk, and related gene‐environment interactions remain poorly understood. This study aimed to determine the influence of XRCC5/6 polymorphisms on breast cancer risk, and their interactions with cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, and sleep satisfaction. Methods The study included 1039 patients with breast cancer and 1040 controls. Four single‐nucleotide polymorphisms of XRCC5 and two of XRCC6 were genotyped. Information about smoking, alcohol consumption, and sleep satisfaction was collected through questionnaires. Odds ratios (OR) and related 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were assessed using unconditional logistic regression models. Gene‐environment interactions were analyzed using logistic regression with multiplicative interaction models. Results XRCC5 rs16855458 was associated with increased breast cancer risk in the co‐dominant (ptrend = 0.003) and dominant (CA + AA vs. CC, OR = 1.29, 95% CI = 1.07–1.56, p = 0.008) genetic models after Bonferroni correction. The CG + GG genotype of XRCC6 rs2267437 was associated with an increased risk of estrogen receptor‐negative/progesterone receptor‐negative (ER−/PR−) breast cancer (CG + GG vs. CC: OR = 1.54, 95% CI = 1.12–2.13, p = 0.008) after Bonferroni correction. Moreover, an antagonistic interaction between XRCC5 rs16855458 and alcohol consumption (pinteraction = 0.017), and a synergistic interaction between XRCC6 rs2267437 and sleep satisfaction were associated with breast cancer risk (pinteraction = 0.0497). However, these interactions became insignificant after Bonferroni correction. Conclusion XRCC5 rs16855458 was associated with breast cancer risk, and XRCC6 rs2267437 was associated with the risk of ER−/PR− breast cancer. Breast cancer risk associated with XRCC5 and XRCC6 polymorphisms might vary according to alcohol consumption and sleep satisfaction, respectively, and merit further investigation.

In order to develop perovskite nanocrystals as a single-photon source, there is a need to understand the complex exciton photo-physics. Here, the authors employ resonant and near-resonant excitation technique to study single CsPbI3 nanocrystal that allows them to probe the continuous and size-quantised acoustic-phonon modes.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between lifestyle habits and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among different ages who were initially diagnosed with breast cancer (within the first 2 weeks) and to determine the contribution of lifestyle habits factors on HRQoL.Methods: Patients with breast cancer were recruited from 22 hospitals in 11 provinces or municipalities in northern and eastern China. The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast Cancer (FACT-B) was used to measure HRQoL. Chi-square test, ANOVA, and multivariable generalized linear models were conducted to identify the differences in HRQoL between two age groups (age

The strong spin-orbit interaction in the organic-inorganic perovskites tied to the incorporation of heavy elements (e.g., Pb and I) makes these materials interesting for applications in spintronics. In conjunction with a lack of inversion symmetry associated with distortions of the metal-halide octahedra, surfaces and interfaces, or the application of a bias, the Rashba effect (used in spin field-effect transistors and spin filters) has been predicted to be much larger in these materials than in traditional III-V semiconductors such as GaAs. Evidence of strong Rashba coupling has been observed in both 3D (bulk) and 2D perovskites, with the relative role of bulk and surface Rashba contributions in the former case under active debate. The varying size of the reported spin splittings points to the need for more experimental studies of Rashba effects in the organic-inorganic perovskite family of materials. Here, we apply time-resolved circular dichroism techniques to the study of carrier spin dynamics in a 2D perovskite thin film [(BA)2MAPb2I7; BA = CH3(CH2)3NH3, MA = CH3NH3]. Our findings confirm the presence of a Rashba spin splitting via the dominance of precessional spin relaxation induced by the Rashba effective magnetic field (also known as D’yakonov Perel spin relaxation). The size of the Rashba spin splitting in our system was extracted from simulations of the measured spin dynamics incorporating LO-phonon and electron-electron scattering, yielding a value of 10 meV at an electron energy of 50 meV above the band gap, representing a 20 times larger value than in GaAs quantum wells.

Granulomatous lobular mastitis is an unusual breast benign inflammatory disorder with unknown aetiology. It is generally emerged with the clinical symptoms of breast mass, abscess, inflammation and mammary duct fistula. The diagnosis is made by histopathology with a chronic non-necrotizing granulomatous inflammation in lobules of the breast tissue as the microscopic feature. Therapy of granulomatous lobular mastitis consists of surgical, medication treatment or combination of both, but now researches suggest that observational management is an acceptable treatment. Keywords: Breast, Granulomatous lobular mastitis, Mastitis, Granulomas

Objective: The aim of this study was to reveal the exact changes during the occurrence of breast cancer to explore significant new and promising genes or factors related to this disease. Methods: We compared the gene expression profiles of breast cancer tissues with its uninvolved normal breast tissues as controls using the cDNA microarray analysis in seven breast cancer patients. Further, one representative gene, named IFI30, was quantitatively analyzed by real-time PCR to confirm the result of the cDNA microarray analysis. Results: A total of 427 genes were identified with significantly differential expression, 221 genes were up-regulated and 206 genes were down-regulated. And the result of cDNA microarray analysis was validated by detection of IFI30 mRNA level changes by real-time PCR. Genes for cell proliferation, cell cycle, cell division, mitosis, apoptosis, and immune response were enriched in the up-regulated genes, while genes for cell adhesion, proteolysis, and transport were significantly enriched in the down-regulated genes in breast cancer tissues compared with normal breast tissues by a gene ontology analysis. Conclusion: Our present study revealed a range of differentially expressed genes between breast cancer tissues and normal breast tissues, and provide candidate genes for further study focusing on the pathogenesis and new biomarkers for breast cancer. Keywords: Breast neoplasms, Candidate genes, Microarray