A novel compound 6D-offset simulating phantom and quality assurance program for stereotactic image-guided radiation therapy system.

A comprehensive quality assurance (QA) device cum program was developed for the commissioning and routine testing of the 6D IGRT systems. In this article, both the new QA system and the BrainLAB IGRT system which was added onto a Varian Clinac were evaluated. A novel compound 6D-offset simulating phantom was designed and fabricated in the Prince of Wales Hospital (PWH), Hong Kong.

Development and validation of an ultra high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of a diastereomeric impurity in (+)-pinoresinol diglucoside chemical reference substance.

(+)-Pinoresinol 4,4'-di-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside ((+)-PDG) is one of the major lignans with various pharmacological activities which could be isolated from Duzhong and other plant species. In this study, a diastereomeric impurity, (-)-pinoresinol 4,4'-di-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside ((-)-PDG), the main impurity was identified in (+)-PDG chemical reference substance (CRS) and a reliable chromatographic method for rapid purity determination of (+)-PDG CRS was firstly developed. The optimal chromatographic condition was found to be using ACN/1,4-dioxane-water (2.

The effects of Scutellaria baicalensis extract on embryonic development in mice.

Background: Scutellaria baicalensis is a perennial herbaceous plant widely distributed in Oriental areas. Its roots, a commonly used medicinal source, reputedly calm fetuses in pregnant women; however, there is no sufficient evidence to date to assess its safety during pregnancy. This study aims to evaluate the effects of S.

THM, HAA and CNCl formation from UV irradiation and chlor(am)ination of selected organic waters.

The formation of disinfection by-products (DBPs), including chloroform, dichloroacetic acid (DCAA), trichloroacetic acid (TCAA), and cyanogen chloride (CNCl) after sequential exposure of four organic waters to UV irradiation via either low- or medium-pressure lamps and free chlorine (or preformed monochloramine) under practical conditions was simulated. Statistically significant changes in the DBP formation from chlorination due to the additional UV irradiation are commonly observed under testing conditions, although some of these changes are not practically significant. The impacts from UV exposure were found to be most significant in chloroform formation (up to 40 microg/L) among the four tested DBPs.