Virtual reality training for radiotherapy becomes a reality.

A report in 2007 to the UK Government identified a crisis in England for training staff and students for the radiotherapy treatment of cancer. The Hull authors have developed an immersive life size virtual environment of a radiotherapy treatment room, known as VERT, to address this problem. VERT provides the trainee with models, simulation, enhanced visualization and training aids for treatment of virtual patients in a virtual treatment room.

GPU accelerated viscous-fluid deformable registration for radiotherapy.

Repeated acquisitions of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging are increasingly used during radiotherapy treatment to accurately deliver radiation while limiting side effects. This is only feasible however after all acquisitions have been correlated to a single reference scan using a deformable registration method. This paper presents a parallel implementation of one such method, the viscous-fluid registration method, on modern graphics hardware.

Theta EEG oscillatory activity and auditory change detection.

The mismatch negativity is an electrophysiological marker of auditory change detection in the event-related brain potential and has been proposed to reflect an automatic comparison process between an incoming stimulus and the representation of prior items in a sequence. There is evidence for two main functional subcomponents comprising the MMN, generated by temporal and frontal brain areas, respectively. Using data obtained in an MMN paradigm, we performed time-frequency analysis to reveal the changes in oscillatory neural activity in the theta band.

Prospective study of 18FDG-PET in the detection and management of patients with lymph node metastases to the neck from an unknown primary tumor. Results from the DAHANCA-13 study.

Background: The benefit of a complementary fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) scan to standard workup for carcinoma of unknown primary (CUP) and metastatic neck lesions was prospectively studied.

Methods: Sixty-seven patients underwent standardized diagnostic workup according to national guidelines including panendoscopies, multiple mucosal biopsies, and diagnostic CT/MRI scans. Median follow-up was 40 months (range, 2-65 months).

ENOBIO dry electrophysiology electrode; first human trial plus wireless electrode system.

This paper presents the results of the first human trials with the ENOBIO electrophysiology electrode prototype plus the initial results of a new wireless prototype with flexible electrodes based on the same platform. The results indicate that a dry active electrode that employs a CNT array as the electrode interface can perform on a par with traditional "wet" electrodes for the recording of EEG, ECG, EOG and EMG. We also demonstrate a new platform combining wireless technology plus flexible electrodes for improved comfort for applications that take advantage of the dry electrode concept.

ENOBIO - first tests of a dry electrophysiology electrode using carbon nanotubes.

We describe the development and first tests of ENOBIO, a dry electrode sensor concept for biopotential applications. In the proposed electrodes the tip of the electrode is covered with a forest of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) that can be coated with Ag/AgCl to provide ionic-electronic transduction. The CNT brush-like structure is to penetrate the outer layers of the skin improving electrical contact as well as increase the contact surface area.

Potential for Integrated Management of Soybean Virus Disease.

The recent introduction of the colonizing soybean aphid (Aphis glycines) to soybean in the northern United States has raised concern for potential increased disease caused by the nonpersistently aphid-transmitted Soybean mosaic virus (SMV). This study was conducted to examine the potential integration of host plant resistance and insecticide tactics for control of virus disease. Research from four location-years demonstrated that foliar application of the pyrethroid insecticide lambda-cyhalothrin (Warrior) or the organophosphate chlorpyrifos (Lorsban 4E) timed to suppress soybean aphid populations does not reduce SMV.

The PLPp-specific T-cell population promoted by pertussis toxin is characterized by high frequencies of IL-17-producing cells.

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is commonly regarded as an animal model of the human disease multiple sclerosis (MS). Pertussis toxin (PTX) is routinely used for EAE induction in mice. Besides opening the blood-brain barrier, it acts as an adjuvant causing strong expansion of antigen-specific cells after coinjection with neuroantigens in IFA.

Patient assessed symptoms are poor predictors of objective findings. Results from a cross sectional study in patients treated with radiotherapy for pharyngeal cancer.

Introduction: The aim of the study was to assess the value of the EORTC questionnaires C30 and H&N35, as an instrument for the study of side effects.

Patients And Methods: We invited all recurrence free patients, treated with radical radiotherapy for pharyngeal cancer between 1998 and 2002 at our institution, to participate in the study. Data was retrieved using questionnaires, functional endoscopic evaluation of swallowing, dental examination with orthopantomography and saliva flow measurements.

First Report of Sudden Death Syndrome of Soybean in Wisconsin.

In August of 2006, soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) plants collected from Columbia, Dane, Green Lake, Walworth, Jefferson, and Waushara counties in southern Wisconsin exhibited symptoms typical of sudden death syndrome (SDS) caused by Fusarium virguliforme O'Donnell & Aoki [synonym F.

Late swallowing dysfunction and dysphagia after radiotherapy for pharynx cancer: frequency, intensity and correlation with dose and volume parameters.

Background And Purpose: Dysphagia and swallowing problems are common in pharynx cancer patients treated with radiotherapy. Dysfunction of the upper aerodigestive tract may lead to reduced quality of life, malnutrition and aspiration pneumonia. The aim of the current study was to describe swallowing function after radiotherapy and examine its correlation with irradiated volume and dose.

Analysis of gene expression profiles in response to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in Brassica napus.

Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is a necrotrophic plant pathogen which causes serious disease in agronomically important crop species. The molecular basis of plant defense to this pathogen is poorly understood. We investigated gene expression changes associated with S.

Morbidity after ipsilateral radiotherapy for oropharyngeal cancer.

Introduction: Radiotherapy for oropharyngeal cancer often causes severe side effects. If the primary tumour is localized to the tonsillar region, elective irradiation may be limited to the ipsilateral neck, sparring the contralateral normal tissues. We wanted to study the consequences of volume sparring on all prospectively registered morbidity endpoints.

Functional neural dynamics underlying auditory event-related N1 and N1 suppression response.

Presenting tone triplets of identical stimuli preceded by silent intervals of 30 s produces a series of three N1 averaged event-related potentials (ERPs), the first being of greater amplitude (non-suppressed N1) than the second and third ones (suppressed N1). Maximal statistically independent components (ICs) of single-trial multi-electrode scalp EEG responses to triplets were obtained by ICA algorithm, and then each IC was searched for underlying brain structures by LORETA inverse solution, and for oscillatory contributions by time-frequency analysis. Non-suppressed N1 cortical mechanisms were broken down into five ICs, grouped in two time-windows (early-onset and late-onset) involving the participation of temporal, frontal and parietal structures, and sub-serving EEG oscillatory contributions of power enhancement and putative phase concentration of mainly theta, alpha and low beta bands.

Mismatch negativity impairment associated with alcohol consumption in chronic alcoholics: a scalp current density study.

Previous studies, based on amplitude and latency measurements of auditory event-related brain potentials, yielded inconclusive results about the status of mismatch negativity (MMN) in chronic alcoholics. The present study explores scalp current density (SCD) dynamics during MMN latency range in alcoholics, and correlates electrical SCD results with clinical data of the patients. SCD was computed from 30 electrodes in 16 abstinent chronic alcoholics and 16 healthy control volunteers in a paradigm on MMN elicited by duration changes.

Seasonal Progression, Symptom Development, and Yield Effects of Alfalfa mosaic virus Epidemics on Soybean in Wisconsin.

The occurrence of Alfalfa mosaic virus (AMV) has increased in Wisconsin soybean fields in conjunction with the establishment of the soybean aphid (Aphis glycines). Field studies were conducted to determine the seasonal incidence of AMV-infected plants, progression of symptom severity caused by AMV, and the effect of AMV on soybean yield and seed quality. An isolate of AMV, collected from field-grown soybean, was introduced into plots by mechanical inoculation of plants at the V1 growth stage.

Crh1p and Crh2p are required for the cross-linking of chitin to beta(1-6)glucan in the Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell wall.

In budding yeast, chitin is found in three locations: at the primary septum, largely in free form, at the mother-bud neck, partially linked to beta(1-3)glucan, and in the lateral wall, attached in part to beta(1-6)glucan. By using a recently developed strategy for the study of cell wall cross-links, we have found that chitin linked to beta(1-6)glucan is diminished in mutants of the CRH1 or the CRH2/UTR2 gene and completely absent in a double mutant. This indicates that Crh1p and Crh2p, homologues of glycosyltransferases, ferry chitin chains from chitin synthase III to beta(1-6)glucan.

Dose optimisation in single plane interstitial brachytherapy.

Background And Purpose: Brachytherapy dose distributions can be optimised by modulation of source dwell times. In this study dose optimisation in single planar interstitial implants was evaluated in order to quantify the potential benefit in patients.

Material And Methods: In 14 patients, treated for recurrent rectal and cervical cancer, flexible catheters were sutured intra-operatively to the tumour bed in areas with compromised surgical margin.

Phase II study on stereotactic body radiotherapy of colorectal metastases.

Surgical resection provides long term survival in approximately 30% of patients with colorectal carcinoma (CRC) liver metastases. However, only a limited number of patients with CRC-metastases are amendable for surgery. We have tested the effect of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) in the treatment of inoperable patients with CRC-metastases.

Aggravation of dyspnea in stage I non-small cell lung cancer patients following stereotactic body radiotherapy: Is there a dose-volume dependency?

In SBRT for NSCLC, highly potent radiation doses are delivered to patients with frequent pre-irradiatory compromise of pulmonary function. For the risk of pulmonary toxicity to be minimized during SBRT planning, data on its dose-volume dependency is needed. In the present study, we analyse the association of dose-volume histogram parameters with changes in dyspnea.

Location of brain rhythms and their modulation by preparatory attention estimated by current density.

To test the hypothesis that there is a functional modulation of conventional EEG bands associated with preparatory attention, putative changes in the spontaneous brain rhythms and their associated cerebral sources were addressed. The goals of the present report were, first, to find the brain areas with maximal rhythmic activity before warning and imperative stimuli in a classic contingent negative variation (CNV) paradigm, and, second, to study the modulation of the EEG rhythms of these areas during the preparatory attention interval which precedes the S2 (imperative) stimulus. Trial by trial LORETA analysis found similar brain rhythm generators during both pre-S1 and pre-S2 intervals.

Smoking has a negative impact upon health related quality of life after treatment for head and neck cancer.

To examine the influence of smoking on observer based morbidity scores and patient assessed health related quality of life after treatment for head and neck cancer. The results of EORTC C30 and H&N35 questionnaires and DAHANCA morbidity scores were studied according to smoking status in 114 recurrence free head and neck cancer patients. In contrast to observer based toxicity scoring, smoking had a significantly negative influence on 20 of the 33 quality of life scales.

Population Dynamics of Phialophora gregata in Stem Residue of a Resistant and a Susceptible Soybean Cultivar.

Previous studies on the saprophytic survival of Phialophora gregata were conducted with soybean residue derived from a susceptible cultivar and did not address genotypes of P. gregata. This current study monitored the saprophytic population density of P.