Viscous Aqueous Gel Illustrating Natural Anatomy: The VAGINA method in gynaecological MRI simulation.

Accurately defining gross tumour volume (GTV) and organs at risk (OAR) is key to successful radiation therapy (RT) treatment outcomes for patients with gynaecological cancers. With improved access to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for RT simulation and planning, the optimisation and tailoring of proven diagnostic MRI techniques towards RT specific planning goals is fast evolving. Modifying MRI techniques for radiation oncology (RO) with the priority of anatomy visualisation and spatial location over diagnosis and disease characterisation relies heavily on successful collaboration between radiology and radiation oncology staff.

MRI sequence optimisation methods to identify cranial nerve course for radiotherapy planning.

Introduction: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is being increasingly used to improve radiation therapy planning by allowing visualisation of organs at risk that cannot be well-defined on computed tomography (CT). Diagnostic sequences are increasingly being adapted for radiation therapy planning, such as the use of heavily T2-weighted 3D SPACE (Sampling Perfection with Application optimised Contrasts using different flip angle Evolution) sequence for cranial nerve identification in head and neck tumour treatment planning.

Methods: A 3D isotropic T2 SPACE sequence used for cranial nerve identification was adapted for radiation therapy purposes.

Knowledge, attitudes and perceived behavioral modification of chiropractic students returning to clinical training in South Africa amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the knowledge and attitudes toward COVID-19 and perceived behavioral modification of South African chiropractic students returning to clinical training during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: An online survey was administered to students registered for clinical training in South African chiropractic programs. The survey consisted of questions related to knowledge and attitudes toward COVID-19 and perceptions on behavioral modification in the form of personal protective equipment (PPE) use to prevent transmission.

Comparison of Synthetic Computed Tomography Generation Methods, Incorporating Male and Female Anatomical Differences, for Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Only Definitive Pelvic Radiotherapy.

Purpose: There are several means of synthetic computed tomography (sCT) generation for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-only planning; however, much of the research omits large pelvic treatment regions and female anatomical specific methods. This research aimed to apply four of the most popular methods of sCT creation to facilitate MRI-only radiotherapy treatment planning for male and female anorectal and gynecological neoplasms. sCT methods were validated against conventional computed tomography (CT), with regard to Hounsfield unit (HU) estimation and plan dosimetry.

Optimisation and validation of an integrated magnetic resonance imaging-only radiotherapy planning solution.

Background And Purpose: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-only treatment planning is gaining in popularity in radiation oncology, with various methods available to generate a synthetic computed tomography (sCT) for this purpose. The aim of this study was to validate a sCT generation software for MRI-only radiotherapy planning of male and female pelvic cancers. The secondary aim of this study was to improve dose agreement by applying a derived relative electron and mass density (RED) curve to the sCT.

Public Reporting of Adverse Events From Long-Term Care Facilities for Older Persons and People With Disability in Ireland 2013-2019: Development of an Openly Accessible Database and Descriptive Analyses.

Objectives: To describe the development of an analyzable database of statutory notifications received from long-term care facilities (LTCFs) and to describe trends in receipt of notifications from 2013 to 2019.

Design: Description of database development with descriptive and trend analyses.

Setting And Participants: LTCFs for older persons and for people with disability in Ireland.

Derivation and Validation of a Total Fruit and Vegetable Intake Prediction Model to Identify Targets for Biomarker Discovery Using the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey.

Background: Dietary assessments in research and clinical settings are largely reliant on self-reported questionnaires. It is acknowledged that these are subject to measurement error and biases and that objective approaches would be beneficial. Dietary biomarkers have been purported as a complementary approach to improve the accuracy of dietary assessments.

Deformable image registration in radiation therapy.

Deformable image registration is an increasingly important method to account for soft tissue deformation between image acquisitions. This editorial discusses the clinical need and current status of deformable image registration.

Dietary dairy product intake and incident type 2 diabetes: a prospective study using dietary data from a 7-day food diary.

Aim/hypothesis: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between total and types of dairy product intake and risk of developing incident type 2 diabetes, using a food diary.

Methods: A nested case-cohort within the EPIC-Norfolk Study was examined, including a random subcohort (n = 4,000) and cases of incident diabetes (n = 892, including 143 cases in the subcohort) followed-up for 11 years. Diet was assessed using a prospective 7-day food diary.

The p38 MAPK inhibitor, PD169316, inhibits transforming growth factor beta-induced Smad signaling in human ovarian cancer cells.

Transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta) can signal through a variety of Smad-independent pathways, including the p38 MAPK pathway. Recent work has shown that inhibitors of p38 MAPK, such as SB203580 and SB202190, can inhibit signaling induced by TGFbeta. Here we show that another p38 MAPK inhibitor, PD169316, abrogates signaling initiated by both TGFbeta and Activin A, but not bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) 4.