Radiation exposure dose outside the irradiation field due to differences in pediatric head computed tomography scanning methods.

The use of pediatric computed tomography (CT), a valuable imaging tool, has been increasing rapidly. The present study examined radiation exposure in non-irradiated fields of CT scans in pediatric patients using a 7-year-old child phantom. Radio-photoluminescence glass dosimeters were placed in the insertion ports of the phantom corresponding to the organs.

COMPARISON OF THE PERIPHERAL DOSES FROM DIFFERENT IMRT TECHNIQUES FOR PEDIATRIC HEAD AND NECK RADIATION THERAPY.

Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) can deliver high and homogeneous doses to the target area while limiting doses to organs at risk. We used a pediatric phantom to simulate the treatment of a head and neck tumor in a child. The peripheral doses were examined for three different IMRT techniques [dynamic multileaf collimator (DMLC), segmental multileaf collimator (SMLC) and volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT)].

Increased mortality of respiratory diseases, including lung cancer, in the area with large amount of ashfall from Mount Sakurajima volcano.

Objectives: Mount Sakurajima in Japan is one of the most active volcanoes in the world. This work was conducted to examine the effect of volcanic ash on the chronic respiratory disease mortality in the vicinity of Mt. Sakurajima.

Spheroid formation and functional restoration of human fetal hepatocytes on poly-amino acid-coated dishes after serial proliferation.

Primary human fetal hepatocytes proliferated in monolayer culture up to the 9th passage. During proliferation, the cells changed their morphology from a fibroblast-like shape after inoculation to an epithelia-like polygonal shape after they reached confluence. The proliferation was associated with the loss of ammonia detoxification capacity, which is essential for the function of bioartificial liver.