Optimized beam planning for linear accelerator-based stereotactic radiosurgery.

Purpose: Current treatment planning for linear accelerator-based stereotactic radiosurgery and radiotherapy is a lengthy and iterative procedure. The planner has to manually select the beam arcs and carefully consider many different selections to ensure target volume coverage while sparing dose to critical organs. In this article we report an optimization procedure that can automatically select the beam arcs based on geometric and dosimetric analysis of the treatment parameters.

Mugwort and sage (Artemisia) pollen cross-reactivity: ELISA inhibition and immunoblot evaluation.

Background: Plants of the genus Artemisia are a source of fall allergic symptoms, particularly in the western United States. Studies have characterized the allergens in one of the major species (A. vulgaris) but currently there are no cross-reactivity data on the major United States species.

The prevalence of Dermatophagoides mite allergen in Colorado homes utilizing central evaporative coolers.

Objective: The prevalence of mite allergen was studied in homes in which the indoor relative humidity may be increased by use of an evaporative cooler.

Methods: Colorado homes in which central evaporative coolers are used and control homes were evaluated. ELISAs with monoclonal antibodies specific for Der p 1 and Der f 1 were performed on dust samples from each home in May and August.