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Background: The incidence of neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) is rising rapidly worldwide. However, there are few reports on these heterogeneous diseases in China. Our study aimed to explore the epidemiological characteristics of NENs in Beijing. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using population-based cancer surveillance data in Beijing, China. All data were extracted from the Beijing Cancer Registry with incidence dates from 1 January 1998 to 31 December 2018; the follow-up period was through 31 December 2021. Segi's world standard population was used to estimate the age-standardized rate. Survival was estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method. Results: From 1998 to 2018, the incidence of NENs in Beijing initially showed a significant increasing trend, from 1.07/100,000 to 3.53/100,000; this began to plateau after 2013. The age-specific incidence rate increased with age and peaked in the age group 70–74 years. The incidence in men was significantly higher than that in women (4.41/100,000 vs. 1.69/100,000). The most common sites of NENs were the lung (2.38/100,000) and rectum (0.14/100,000). Most NENs were diagnosed at a late stage. We found that NENs originating from the lung had worse overall survival than extrapulmonary NENs, and male patients had worse survival than female patients. Conclusions: This study retrospectively analyzed the epidemiological characteristics of NENs in Beijing from 1998 to 2018. Our findings provide a reference regarding the epidemiological statistics of NENs in Beijing to contribute to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of these specific tumors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mammography-based breast cancer screening has been widely implemented in many developed countries. Evidence was needed on participation and diagnostic performance of population-based breast cancer screening using ultrasound in China. Methods: We used data from the Cancer Screening Program in Urban China in Beijing from 2014 to 2019 and was followed up until July 2020 by matching with the Beijing Cancer Registry database. Eligible women between the ages of 45 and 69 years were recruited from six districts and assessed their risk of breast cancer through an established risk scoring system. Women evaluated to be at high risk of breast cancer were invited to undergo both ultrasound and mammography. Participation rates were calculated, and their associated factors were explored. In addition, the performance of five different breast cancer screening modalities was evaluated in this study. Results: A total of 49,161 eligible women were recruited in this study. Among them, 15,550 women were assessed as high risk for breast cancer, and 7,500 women underwent ultrasound and/or mammography as recommended, with a participation rate of 48.2%. The sensitivity of mammography alone, ultrasound alone, combined of ultrasound and mammography, ultrasound for primary screening followed by mammography for triage, and mammography for preliminary screening followed by ultrasound for triage were19.2%, 38.5%, 50.0%, 46.2%, and 19.2%, and the specificity were 96.1%, 98.6%, 94.7%, 97.6%, 95.7%, respectively. The sensitivity of combined ultrasound and mammography, ultrasound for primary screening followed by mammography for triage, was significantly higher than mammography alone (p=0.008 and p=0.039). Additionally, ultrasound alone (48,323 RMB ($7,550)) and ultrasound for primary screening followed by mammography for triage (55,927 RMB ($8,739)) were the most cost-effective methods for breast cancer screening than other modalities. Conclusions: Ultrasound alone and ultrasound for primary screening and mammography are superior to mammography for breast cancer screening in high-risk Chinese women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have reported inverse associations between urban greenness and mortality. However, findings regarding contemporaneous and cumulative average greenness exposure are inconsistent. A potential explanation is the weak effects of greenness among the general population. This study assessed the associations between contemporaneous and cumulative average greenness exposure and survival in lung cancer patients. An open cohort consisting of lung cancer patients enrolled from 1 January 2001 was studied. The cohort was followed up until 31 December 2018. We evaluated contemporaneous and cumulative greenness exposure using the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) within a 250 m buffer of each patient's geocoded residential address. The association between NDVI and mortality was evaluated using both time-fixed and time-varying Cox models. Their difference was compared either. In time-fixed Cox models, a 0.1-unit increment in contemporaneous and cumulative average NDVI was associated with 17% (95% confidence interval [CI], 15–18%) and 7% (95% CI, 5–8%) reductions in mortality rate, respectively. Time-varying Cox models consistently revealed significant associations, but their magnitudes were lower, at 2% (95% CI, 1–3%) for both contemporaneous and cumulative average NDVI. Compared to the time-fixed models, the time-varying ones exhibited better fit for the proportional hazard assumption in Cox regressions with more conservative results. Urban greenness is positively associated with an increased chance of survival in lung cancer patients. Compared to time-fixed Cox models, the results of time-varying Cox models were more conservative. This study confirms the beneficial health effects of urban greenness, which may facilitate the improvement of public health by urban green space planning. • Associations between urban greenness and mortality remain inconclusive. • We conducted a registry-based cohort study among lung cancer patients in Beijing. • Urban greenness is found positively associated with an increased survival rate. • The comparison shows time-varying model is more conservative to study greenness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the association between long-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) and its constituents (black carbon (BC), ammonium (NH 4 +), nitrate (NO 3 −), organic matter (OM), inorganic sulfate (SO 4 2−)) and incident female breast cancer in Beijing, China. Data from a prospective cohort comprising 85,504 women enrolled in the National Urban Cancer Screening Program in Beijing (2013–2019) and the Tracking Air Pollution in China dataset are used. Monthly exposures were aggregated to calculate 5-year average concentrations to indicate long-term exposure. Cox models and mixture exposure models (weighted quantile sum, quantile-based g-computation, and explanatory machine learning model) were employed to analyze the associations. Findings indicated increased levels of PM 2.5 and its constituents were associated with higher breast cancer risk, with hazard ratios per 1-μg/m3 increase of 1.02 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01, 1.03), 1.39 (95% CI: 1.16, 1.65), 1.28 (95% CI: 1.12, 1.46), 1.15 (95% CI: 1.05, 1.24), 1.05 (95% CI: 1.02, 1.08), and 1.15 (95% CI: 1.07, 1.23) for PM 2.5 , BC, NH 4 +, NO 3 −, OM, and SO 4 2−, respectively. Exposure-response curves demonstrated a monotonic risk increase without an evident threshold. Mixture exposure models highlighted BC and SO 4 2− as key factors, underscoring the importance of reducing emissions of these pollutants. [Display omitted] • Long-term exposure to PM 2.5 and its constituents was linked to higher female breast cancer risk in Beijing. • Key pollutants black carbon (BC) and sulfate (SO 4 2−) were identified as significant contributors to breast cancer risk. • Effective control measures are crucial in mitigating pollutants to reduce the risk of female breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]