Pilot scale validation campaign of gel dosimetry for pre-treatment quality assurance in stereotactic radiotherapy.

Purpose: Complex stereotactic radiotherapy treatment plans require prior verification. A gel dosimetry system was developed and tested to serve as a high-resolution 3D dosimeter for Quality Assurance (QA) purposes.

Materials And Methods: A modified version of a polyacrylamide polymer gel dosimeter based on chemical response inhibition was employed.

Clinical Impact of the Line Probe Assay and Xpert® MTB/RIF Assay in the Presumptive Diagnosis of Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis in Brazil: A Pragmatic Clinical Trial.

Background: Rapid molecular methods such as the line probe assay (LPA) and Xpert® MTB/RIF assay (Xpert) have been recommended by the World Health Organization for drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) diagnosis. We conducted an interventional trial in DR-TB reference centers in Brazil to evaluate the impact of the use of LPA and Xpert.

Methods: Patients with DR-TB were eligible if their drug susceptibility testing results were available to the treating physician at the time of consultation.

Outcomes from patients with presumed drug resistant tuberculosis in five reference centers in Brazil.

Background: The implementation of rapid drug susceptibility testing (DST) is a current global priority for TB control. However, data are scarce on patient-relevant outcomes for presumptive diagnosis of drug-resistant tuberculosis (pDR-TB) evaluated under field conditions in high burden countries.

Methods: Observational study of pDR-TB patients referred by primary and secondary health units.

Breast cancer electron intraoperative radiotherapy: assessment of preoperative selection factors from a retrospective analysis of 758 patients and review of literature.

Purpose: To report our experience with full-dose 21 Gy IORT in early breast cancer patients after breast-conserving surgery to define most important selection factors.

Methods: Seven hundred and fifty eight patients, subjected to conserving surgery and IORT, were retrospectively analyzed evaluating most important clinical outcomes.

Results: Median follow up was 5.

[Study of occupational exposure to magnetic fields among operators of magnetic resonance scanning at the Papa Giovanni XXIII Hospital (Bergamo)].

Background: In this study occupational exposure to static magnetic fields of 1T and 1.5 T MR scanners installed at Azienda Ospedaliera Papa Giovanni XXIII, Bergamo, Italy, was assessed and the results were compared with the limits for worker's exposure to static magnetic field currently applicable in Italy (Attachment 1 of D.M.