Big Data, Little Data, and Care Coordination for Medicare Beneficiaries with Medigap Coverage.

Most healthcare data warehouses include big data such as health plan, medical, and pharmacy claims information for many thousands and sometimes millions of insured individuals. This makes it possible to identify those with multiple chronic conditions who may benefit from participation in care coordination programs meant to improve their health. The objective of this article is to describe how large databases, including individual and claims data, and other, smaller types of data from surveys and personal interviews, are used to support a care coordination program.

Accuracy of Breath-hold CT in Treatment Planning for Lung Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy.

Purpose: The objectives of this study are (1) to measure concordance of tumor position on breath-hold (BH) computed tomography (CT) scans relative to the natural tumor path during free breathing (FB) and (2) to evaluate the benefits of the breathing monitoring device Abches (Apex Medical, Tokyo) for stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) treatment planning.

Methods: In 53 lung cancer patients treated with CyberKnife™ robotic radiosurgery system, FB four-dimensional computerized tomography (4DCT) and end-expiration (EE) BH CT images were obtained. Extent of natural tumor motion was assessed with rigid registration derived from end-inspiration (EI) and EE phases of the 4DCT.

¹⁸F-FDG-PET imaging in radiotherapy tumor volume delineation in treatment of head and neck cancer.

Purpose: To determine the impact of (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (PET) in radiotherapy target delineation and patient management for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) compared to computed tomography (CT) alone.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-nine patients with HNSCC were included. CT and PET/CT obtained for treatment planning purposes were reviewed respectively by a neuroradiologist and a nuclear medicine specialist who were blinded to the findings from each other.

Radiation induced-tubulogenesis in endothelial cells is antagonized by the antiangiogenic properties of green tea polyphenol (-) epigallocatechin-3-gallate.

Radiation therapy is a widely-used option for the treatment of a variety of solid tumors. Although effective, ionizing radiation (IR) may give rise to various side effects, including secondary tumors. In agreement with this, recent reports have demonstrated increased invasive potential in different tumor-derived cell lines following radiation treatment.