Robust treatment planning in whole pelvis pencil beam scanning proton therapy for prostate cancer.

Whole-pelvis pencil beam scanning (PBS) proton therapy is utilized in both the intact and post-operative settings in patients with prostate cancer. As whole pelvis prostate radiotherapy has traditionally been delivered with standard photon beams, limited evidence and technical descriptions have been reported regarding the use of proton therapy. Here we present two robust three-field treatment planning approaches utilized to maximize target coverage in the presence of anatomic and delivery uncertainties.

Abdominoplasty Improves Low Back Pain and Urinary Incontinence.

Background: The authors studied the incidence of low back pain and urinary incontinence in the postpartum population presenting for abdominoplasty, and the extent of improvement following the operation.

Methods: This multicenter prospective study used validated questionnaires: the Oswestry Disability Index for back pain and the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Urinary Incontinence-Short Form for urinary incontinence. Questionnaires were administered preoperatively and at 6 weeks and 6 months postoperatively.

Cost-effective immobilization for whole brain radiation therapy.

To investigate the inter- and intra-fraction motion associated with the use of a low-cost tape immobilization technique as an alternative to thermoplastic immobilization masks for whole-brain treatments. The results of this study may be of interest to clinical staff with severely limited resources (e.g.

The feasibility of endoscopy-CT image registration in the head and neck without prospective endoscope tracking.

Purpose: Endoscopic examinations are frequently-used procedures for patients with head and neck cancer undergoing radiotherapy, but radiation treatment plans are created on computed tomography (CT) scans. Image registration between endoscopic video and CT could be used to improve treatment planning and analysis of radiation-related normal tissue toxicity. The purpose of this study was to explore the feasibility of endoscopy-CT image registration without prospective physical tracking of the endoscope during the examination.

The influence of non-rigid anatomy and patient positioning on endoscopy-CT image registration in the head and neck.

Purpose: To assess the influence of non-rigid anatomy and differences in patient positioning between CT acquisition and endoscopic examination on endoscopy-CT image registration in the head and neck.

Methods: Radiotherapy planning CTs and 31-35 daily treatment-room CTs were acquired for nineteen patients. Diagnostic CTs were acquired for thirteen of the patients.

The Gore-Tex Suture in Periareolar Closure: A Modified Closure Technique.

In breast reduction and mastopexy procedures, the periareolar closure forms a vital component of the surgery. Periareolar closures completed with an absorbable suture may be prone to significant widening, hypertrophy and/or areolar distortion. In an effort to avoid this, some surgeons use a non-absorbable/permanent suture material [Franco (Arch Plast Surg 41 (6): 728-733, 2014)].

Climate challenges, vulnerabilities, and food security.

This paper identifies rare climate challenges in the long-term history of seven areas, three in the subpolar North Atlantic Islands and four in the arid-to-semiarid deserts of the US Southwest. For each case, the vulnerability to food shortage before the climate challenge is quantified based on eight variables encompassing both environmental and social domains. These data are used to evaluate the relationship between the "weight" of vulnerability before a climate challenge and the nature of social change and food security following a challenge.

Calculations and measurements of the scintillator-to-water stopping power ratio of liquid scintillators for use in proton radiotherapy.

Liquid scintillators are a promising detector for high-resolution three-dimensional proton therapy dosimetry. Because the scintillator comprises both the active volume of the detector and the phantom material, an ideal scintillator will exhibit water equivalence in its radiological properties. One of the most fundamental of these is the scintillator's stopping power.

In vitro comparison of lagged and nonlagged screw fixation of metacarpal fractures in cadavers.

Purpose: Lag screw fixation is reported to provide the most biomechanically stable construct for fixation of oblique or spiral metacarpal fractures. Lag screws are inserted after overdrilling the proximal cortex, resulting in compression at the fracture site. Minor drilling errors can result in poor screw purchase, instability, and ultimately impaired fracture healing.