Single high-energy arc proton therapy with Bragg peak boost (SHARP).

Introduction: Because of the co-location of critical organs at risk, base of skull tumours require steep dose gradients to achieve the prescribed dosimetric criteria. When available, proton beam therapy (PBT) is often considered a desirable modality for these cases, but in many instances, compromises in target coverage are still required to achieve critical organ at risk (OAR) tolerance doses. A number of techniques have been proposed to further improve the penumbra of PBT.

Dosimetric comparison of gantry and horizontal fixed-beam proton therapy treatment plans for base of skull chordoma.

Introduction: Australia's first proton beam therapy (PBT) centre will house a fixed-beam room and two gantry rooms. As the only PBT facility in Australia for at least the short term, there is a need to efficiently allocate treatment appointments between the gantry and fixed-beam rooms. This planning study assesses the dosimetric differences between fixed-beam and gantry-based treatment plans for base of skull chordoma, one of the core indications likely to be referred for PBT in Australia.

Direct SARS-CoV-2 infection of the human inner ear may underlie COVID-19-associated audiovestibular dysfunction.

Background: COVID-19 is a pandemic respiratory and vascular disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus. There is a growing number of sensory deficits associated with COVID-19 and molecular mechanisms underlying these deficits are incompletely understood.

Methods: We report a series of ten COVID-19 patients with audiovestibular symptoms such as hearing loss, vestibular dysfunction and tinnitus.

Predictors of 30-Day Readmission After Inpatient Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography: A Single-Center Experience.

Introduction: The 30-day hospital readmission rate is a nationally recognized quality measure. Nearly one-fifth of medicare beneficiaries are hospitalized within 30 days of discharge, resulting in a cost of over $26 billion dollars annually. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) remains the endoscopic procedure with the highest risk of morbidity and mortality.