A dose calculation algorithm for boron neutron capture therapy using convolution/superposition method.

The convolution/superposition (C/S) method originally designed for photon dose calculation was first applied for developing a treatment planning system for boron neutron capture therapy. The original concept of TEGMA (total energy generated per unit mass) was proposed to represent distinctive dose components from neutron reactions with the elements in the patient's tissue. First, neutron fluence distributions in a homogeneous brain phantom irradiated with an energy-groupwise pencil beam of 2.

Characterization of radiochromic films as a micrometer-resolution dosimeter by confocal Raman spectroscopy.

Purpose: Micrometer spatial resolution dosimetry has become inevitable for advanced radiotherapy techniques. A new approach using radiochromic films was developed to measure a radiation dose at a micrometer spatial resolution by confocal Raman spectroscopy.

Methods: The commercial radiochromic films (RCF), EBT3 and EBT-XD, were irradiated with known doses using 50, 100, 200, and 300 kVp, and 6-MV x rays.

Development and dosimetric assessment of a patient-specific elastic skin applicator for high-dose-rate brachytherapy.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop a patient-specific elastic skin applicator and to evaluate its dosimetric characteristics for high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy.

Methods And Materials: We simulated the treatment of a nonmelanoma skin cancer on the nose. An elastic skin applicator was manufactured by pouring the Dragon Skin (Smooth-On Inc.

Optimal collimator rotation based on the outline of multiple brain targets in VMAT.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the dosimetric quality in volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) plans with optimal collimator angles that can represent the outline of multiple brain targets.

Methods: Twenty patients with multiple target volumes in the brain cases were selected retrospectively. To better represent the outline of the multiple brain targets, four conformal arc plans were generated for each patient using one full arc with four collimator settings.

In vivo therapeutic effect of combination treatment with metformin and Scutellaria baicalensis on maintaining bile acid homeostasis.

The radix of Scutellaria baicalensis (SB) is a herb widely used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat metabolic diseases. Several main components, including baicalin and wogonoside, possess anti-dyslipidemia, anti-obesity and anti-diabetic effects. We hypothesized that co-administration of SB extract and metformin exerts a better effect on obesity-induced insulin resistance and lipid metabolism than treatment with metformin alone.

Dosimetric characteristics of a reusable 3D radiochromic dosimetry material.

Purpose: To investigate the dosimetric characteristics of PRESAGEREU dosimeters.

Methods: Commercially available PRESAGEREU dosimeters (size of 10 mm × 10 mm × 45 mm) were divided into two groups, with one of the groups placed at room temperature of 22°C (RT group) and another group placed at low temperature of 10°C (LT group). A total of 3 dosimeters (set of dosimeters) were irradiated at a time, with doses of 1 Gy, 2 Gy, 4 Gy, 8 Gy, 12 Gy, 16 Gy, and 20 Gy, at a nominal dose rate of 400 MU/min at temperature of 22°C.

Sensitivity and stability of optically stimulated luminescence dosimeters with filled deep electron/hole traps under pre-irradiation and bleaching conditions.

Purpose: We aimed to evaluate the characteristics of optically stimulated luminescence dosimeters (OSLDs) with fully filled deep electron/hole traps, and determine the optimal bleaching conditions for these OSLDs to minimize the changes in dose sensitivity or linearity according to the accumulated dose.

Methods: InLight nanoDots were used as OSLDs. The OSLDs were first pre-irradiated at a dose greater than 5kGy to fill the deep electron and hole traps, and then bleached (OSLD).

Modified SJH alleviates FFAs-induced hepatic steatosis through leptin signaling pathways.

Samjunghwan (SJH) is an herbal formula used in traditional Korean medicine. This prescription has long been used in treatment of aging and lifestyle diseases. The current study showed the effect and mechanisms of anti-hepatic steatosis action of modified SJH (mSJH) in vitro and in vivo.

The influence of the dose calculation resolution of VMAT plans on the calculated dose for eye lens and optic pathway.

To investigate the effect of dose calculation grid on calculated dose-volumetric parameters for eye lenses and optic pathways. A total of 30 patients treated using the volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) technique, were retrospectively selected. For each patient, dose distributions were calculated with calculation grids ranging from 1 to 5 mm at 1 mm intervals.

A Patient-Specific Polylactic Acid Bolus Made by a 3D Printer for Breast Cancer Radiation Therapy.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility and advantages of a patient-specific breast bolus made using a 3D printer technique.

Methods: We used the anthropomorphic female phantom with breast attachments, which volumes are 200, 300, 400, 500 and 650 cc. We simulated the treatment for a right breast patient using parallel opposed tangential fields.

Daesiho-Tang Is an Effective Herbal Formulation in Attenuation of Obesity in Mice through Alteration of Gene Expression and Modulation of Intestinal Microbiota.

Background: Obesity has become a major global health challenge due to its increasing prevalence, and the associated health risk. It is the main cause of various metabolic diseases including diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, stroke and certain forms of cancer.

Methods And Results: In the present study we evaluated the anti-obesity property of Daesiho-tang (DSHT), an herbal medicine, using high fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice as a model.

Quality of tri-Co-60 MR-IGRT treatment plans in comparison with VMAT treatment plans for spine SABR.

Objective: To investigate the plan quality of tri-Co-60 intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) plans for spine stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR).

Methods: A total of 20 patients with spine metastasis were retrospectively selected. For each patient, a tri-Co-60 IMRT plan and a volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) plan were generated.

Use of radiochromic film as a high-spatial resolution dosimeter by Raman spectroscopy.

Purpose: Due to increasing demand for high-spatial resolution dosimetry, radiochromic films have been investigated as potential candidates but are often limited by the scanning system, e.g., flatbed optical scanner.

Textural feature calculated from segmental fluences as a modulation index for VMAT.

Purpose: Textural features calculated from various segmental fluences of volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) plans were optimized to enhance its performance to predict plan delivery accuracy.

Methods: Twenty prostate and twenty head and neck VMAT plans were selected retrospectively. Fluences were generated for each VMAT plan by summations of segments at sequential groups of control points.

Evaluation of a commercial orthopaedic metal artefact reduction tool in radiation therapy of patients with head and neck cancer.

Objective: To assess the image quality and dosimetric effects of the Philips orthopaedic metal artefact reduction (OMAR) (Philips Healthcare System, Cleveland, OH) function for reducing metal artefacts on CT images of head and neck (H&N) patients.

Methods: 11 patients and a custom-built phantom with metal bead inserts (alumina, titanium, zirconia and chrome) were scanned. The image was reconstructed in two ways: with and without OMAR (OMAR and non-OMAR image).

The effect of beam interruption during VMAT delivery on the delivered dose distribution.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of beam interruptions during delivery of volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) on delivered dose distributions.

Methods: Ten prostate and ten head and neck (H&N) VMAT plans were retrospectively selected. Each VMAT plan was delivered using Trilogy™ without beam interruption, and with 4 and 8 intentional beam interruptions per a single arc.

Texture analysis on the fluence map to evaluate the degree of modulation for volumetric modulated arc therapy.

Purpose: Texture analysis on fluence maps was performed to evaluate the degree of modulation for volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) plans.

Methods: A total of six textural features including angular second moment, inverse difference moment, contrast, variance, correlation, and entropy were calculated for fluence maps generated from 20 prostate and 20 head and neck VMAT plans. For each of the textural features, particular displacement distances (d) of 1, 5, and 10 were adopted.