VOA标准英语2012--Study Says Breath Analysis Can Help in Diagnosing Cancer

Study Says Breath Analysis Can Help in Diagnosing Cancer

Lung cancer claims an estimated one and a half million lives each year. But a research team at the Cleveland Clinic and University of Illinois is working to develop a new test that could make diagnosis¹ and treatment faster and easier.

If only diagnosing lung cancer were as easy as exhaling². It soon may be. This machine analyzes³ a person's breath and identifies the exact composition of the organic compounds in it. “We all have chemicals in our breath and we think that the chemicals in breath of people with cancer are slightly different than those without cancer," said Dr. Peter Mazzone of the Cleveland Clinic.

Dr. Peter Mazzone led the study using breath analysis as a tool to diagnose lung cancer. He and his team of researchers tested the breath of 229 patients from Cleveland Clinic. Ninety-two of them had confirmed lung cancer and the others had high risk of developing it, with undefined growths in their lungs.

“We found that we could be in the 80-85% accuracy range at detecting lung cancer from the breath signature. We were a little more accurate if we looked for a very specific type of lung cancer rather than lung cancer in general. We found that we were able to characterize someone’s lung cancer that was in an advanced stage versus⁴ an early stage," he said.

Dr. Mazzone says the breath test also reveals how cancer is behaving. For example, the study shows aggressive cancers have a different breath bio-signature than cancers which are not so fast-moving.

But the test will have to be refined before it can be widely adopted.

“This was relatively⁵ a crude instrument with lots of room for improvement so our hope is that the next generation of this sensor⁶ system can increase that accuracy beyond the 80- 85 percent range to a point where it can be clinically useful," said Dr. Mazzone.

At that point, the test could be used during regular health check-ups for early detection. It would be easier to administer, less invasive and less expensive than the currently available tests, biopsies and scans.

Experts also hope that the breath test, when supplemented by a CAT scan, could help doctors quickly distinguish between benign⁷ and malignant⁸ tumors, so treatment could begin sooner.

1 diagnosis   

n.诊断，诊断结果，调查分析，判断

参考例句：

• His symptoms gave no obvious pointer to a possible diagnosis.他的症状无法作出明确的诊断。
• The engineer made a complete diagnosis of the bridge's collapse.工程师对桥的倒塌做一次彻底的调查分析。

2 exhaling   

v.呼出，发散出( exhale的现在分词 )；吐出（肺中的空气、烟等），呼气

参考例句：

• Take a deep breath inhaling slowly and exhaling slowly. 深呼吸，慢慢吸进，慢慢呼出。 来自互联网
• Unclasp your hands and return to the original position while exhaling. 呼气并松开双手恢复到原位。 来自互联网

3 analyzes   

v.分析( analyze的第三人称单数 )；分解；解释；对…进行心理分析

参考例句：

• This approach analyzes management by studying experience usually through cases. 这个学派通常从实例获得经验，用以分析管理。 来自辞典例句
• The econometrician analyzes statistical data. 经济计量学者要分析统计材料。 来自辞典例句

4 versus   

prep.以…为对手，对；与…相比之下

参考例句：

• The big match tonight is England versus Spain.今晚的大赛是英格兰对西班牙。
• The most exciting game was Harvard versus Yale.最富紧张刺激的球赛是哈佛队对耶鲁队。

5 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

6 sensor   

n.传感器，探测设备，感觉器（官）

参考例句：

• The temperature sensor is enclosed in a protective well.温度传感器密封在保护套管中。
• He plugged the sensor into a outlet.他把传感器插进电源插座。

7 benign   

adj.善良的，慈祥的；良性的，无危险的

参考例句：

• The benign weather brought North America a bumper crop.温和的气候给北美带来大丰收。
• Martha is a benign old lady.玛莎是个仁慈的老妇人。

8 malignant   

adj.恶性的，致命的；恶意的，恶毒的

参考例句：

• Alexander got a malignant slander.亚历山大受到恶意的诽谤。
• He started to his feet with a malignant glance at Winston.他爬了起来，不高兴地看了温斯顿一眼。