A physical phantom for amine chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) MRI.

Objective: To develop a robust amine chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) physical phantom, validate the temporal stability, and create a supporting software for automatic image processing and quality assurance.

Materials And Methods: The phantom was designed as an assembled laser-cut acrylic rack and 18 vials of phantom solutions, prepared with different pHs, glycine concentrations, and gadolinium concentrations. We evaluated glycine concentrations using ultraviolet absorbance for 70 days and measured the pH, relaxation rates, and CEST contrast for 94 days after preparation.

Effectiveness of continuing medical education in increasing colorectal cancer screening knowledge among Vietnamese American physicians.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening rates are lower in Vietnamese Americans than in non-Hispanic Whites. Most Vietnamese Americans have ethnically concordant physicians and are willing to have CRC screening if their physicians recommend it. We conducted two continuing medical education (CME) seminars with participants recruited from the Vietnamese Physician Association of Northern California to increase their CRC screening knowledge.

Hidden breast cancer disparities in Asian women: disaggregating incidence rates by ethnicity and migrant status.

Objectives: We estimated trends in breast cancer incidence rates for specific Asian populations in California to determine if disparities exist by immigrant status and age.

Methods: To calculate rates by ethnicity and immigrant status, we obtained data for 1998 through 2004 cancer diagnoses from the California Cancer Registry and imputed immigrant status from Social Security Numbers for the 26% of cases with missing birthplace information. Population estimates were obtained from the 1990 and 2000 US Censuses.

Differentiation potential of germ line stem cells derived from the postnatal mouse ovary.

General belief in reproductive biology is that in most mammals female germ line stem cells are differentiated to primary oocytes during fetal development and oogenesis starts from a pool of primordial follicles after birth. This idea has been challenged previously by using follicle kinetics studies and demonstration of mitotically active germ cells in the postnatal mouse ovary (Johnson et al., 2004; Kerr et al.

Why do Asian-American women have lower rates of breast conserving surgery: results of a survey regarding physician perceptions.

Background: US Asian women with early-stage breast cancer are more likely to receive a modified radical mastectomy (MRM) than White women, contrary to clinical recommendations regarding breast conserving treatment (BCT).

Methods: We surveyed physicians regarding treatment decision-making for early-stage breast cancer, particularly as it applies to Asian patients. Physicians were identified through the population-based Greater Bay Area Cancer Registry.

Phenotypic and molecular characterization of spermatogonial stem cells in adult primate testes.

Background: Knowledge about the identity and characteristics of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) in human is very limited. Here, Rhesus monkey was used as an animal model to investigate molecular and phenotypic characteristics of SSCs in the adult testes.

Methods: A variety of immunohistological, molecular biological and functional assays were used to study different populations of SSCs in the adult testes.

Epidemiology of non-small cell lung cancer in Asian Americans: incidence patterns among six subgroups by nativity.

Background: Differences in the epidemiology of lung cancer between Asians and non-Hispanic whites have brought to light the relative influences of genetic and environmental factors on lung cancer risk. We set out to describe the epidemiology of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) among Asians living in California, and to explore the effects of acculturation on lung cancer risk by comparing lung cancer rates between U.S.