Cryptococcosis is a cosmopolitan mycotic disease caused by a yeast like fungus, Cryptococcus neoformans. Resiratory tract, as portal of entry, is the initial focus of infection. Initial pulmonary lesion may heal with orwithout dissemination of the disease. Authors reviewed 8 cases of confirmed cryptococcosis during Jan. 1973 toJune 1981 at Seoul National University Hsopital. The resuls are as follows; Majority of the cases are below 5years old. The most common symptoms are fever, abdominal pain and distension, and respiratory symptoms in only 2cases. The involved organs are liver, lymph node, spleen, meninges, and skin in the order of frequency. Chest P-Aroentgenograms show both hilar enlargement with perihilar and basilar, linear and small nodular infiltrations. Miliary nodular lesions and mediastinal lymphadenopathy were also noted.
Abdominal Pain ; Cryptococcosis ; Cryptococcus neoformans ; Fever ; Fungi ; Liver ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Meninges ; Seoul ; Skin ; Spleen ; Thorax ; Yeasts

Clinical estimation of bladder and rectal doses from high dose rate intracavitary irradiation in carcinoma of the cervix uteri has been initiated on a routine basis in an effort to obtain the optimum radiotherapeutic dose. Simulation films with contrast media are used to image the bladder and rectum, and dose rates are estimated at various interesting points with the aid of treatment planning computer, NEC Therac-2300. Fifty-three patients have been reviewed in order to ascertain the correlation between radiation dose at interesting points in the bladder and rectum and the dose at Point A and B. The dose ratio between doses at Point A and interesting points in an important clinical factor in evaluating the treatment planning. This also serves as documentation of the dose to normal structures within the treatment volume. Authors conclude that obtained data are within acceptable ranges and routine simulation films of the bladder and rectum after administration of contrast media with dose calculations at interesting points provide important information for optimizing radiotherapy planning in the treatment of cervical carcinoma without increased time and effort or patient's discomfort.
Cervix Uteri ; Contrast Media ; Female ; Humans ; Radiotherapy ; Rectum ; Urinary Bladder ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms*

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to assess the effects of x-irradiation on the expression of the novel glutathione S-transferase K1 gene. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Human glutathione S-transferase K1 (hGSTK1) DNA was purified and ligated to a pcDNA3.1/Myc-His(+) vector for the overexpression of hGSTK1 gene. MCF-7 cells were transfected with or without the recombinant hGSTK1 gene, and irradiated with 6 MV x-ray. After incubation of 14 days, cell survival was measured and compared. The expression of hGSTK1 and the effect of x- irradiation on hGSTK1 expression were also estimated in MCF-7 cells transfected with or without the hGSTK1 gene by RT-PCR. RESULTS: Following 2 to 12 Gy of x-irradiation, the cell survivals were higher in the MCF-7 cells transfected with the hGSTK1 gene than in those without transfection. Despite the higher cell survival in the hGSTK1-transfected cells, RT-PCR for hGSTK1 mRNA revealed no significant differences according to radiation dose, fractionation, and time after irradiation. CONCLUSION: The MCF-7 cells transfected with the hGSTK1 gene showed higher cell survival than those without transfection of the gene. The hGSTK1 gene might be associated with the radiosensitivity of MCF-7 cell line and further analysis should be needed.
Cell Survival ; DNA ; Glutathione Transferase* ; Glutathione* ; Humans ; MCF-7 Cells* ; Radiation Tolerance ; RNA, Messenger ; Transfection

Total 21 patients with airway obstruction from lung cancer treated with radiotherapy at Department of Therapeuctic Radiology, Yeungnam University College of Medicine, between April 1986 and December 1988 are retrospectively analyzed by means of roentgenologic findings. Obtained results are as follows. 1. 15 out of 21 patients (71%) showed complete or partial response. 2. Patients with small cell lung cancer showed 100% response in spite of low dose (30 GY/10 fractions.) 3. Patients with non-small cell lung cancer treated with 50 GY or over showed better response than below 45 GY or below. 4. There is no relationship between the response and site of airway obstruction. These date suggested that high dose irradiation is more effective in the management of airway obstruction from lung cancer and meticulous radiotherapy planning with appropriate protection of normal lung and critical organs should be investigated in order to maximize radiation effect and minimize side effect, complication or sequelae.
Airway Obstruction* ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms* ; Lung* ; Radiation Effects* ; Radiotherapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Small Cell Lung Carcinoma

In recent years there has been a growing interest in total body, hemibody, total lymphoid irradiation. For refractory leukemia or lymphoma patients, various techniques and dose regimens were introduced, including high dose total body irradiation for destruction of leukemic or bone marrow cells and immunosuppression prior to bone marrow transplantation, and low dose total body irradiation for treatment of lymphocytic leukemias or lymphomas. Accurate provision for specified dose and the desired homogeneity are essential before clinical total body irradiation. Purposes of this paper are to discuss calibrating Cobalt Unit in 3m distance using Rando Phantom, to compare calculated dose, calibrated dose, and compensating filters for homogeneous dose distribution in the head and neck, the lung and the pelvis. Results were following. 1. Measured dose on the lung was 6% higher than on the abdomen. Measured dose on the head (10%) and neck (18%) were higher than the abdomen because of thinness. Pelvic dose was measured 12% less than the abdomen. Those date suggest that compensating filter was essential. 2. Measured dose according to distance was 3% less than calculated dose which suggest that all doses in clinical use should be compared with calculated dose for minimizing error.
Abdomen ; Bone Marrow Cells ; Bone Marrow Transplantation ; Cobalt ; Head ; Humans ; Immunosuppression ; Leukemia ; Leukemia, Lymphoid ; Lung ; Lymphatic Irradiation ; Lymphoma ; Neck ; Pelvis ; Thinness ; Whole-Body Irradiation*

Radiotherapeutically, nasopharyngeal caner is an important disease in Korea. Because of its blind anatomic location, early detection is relatively uncommon. Clinically, most of cases are locally advanced and nodal involvements are common. Recently better understanding of nature of the disease and improvement of radio – therapy technique permit better treatment result, including locoregional control and survival rate, and minimal normal tissue damages comparing with previously published date. We analyzed 31 patients of pathologically proven and previously untreated naso – pharyngeal carcinoma with different treatment techniques, retrospectively. Minimal and maximal follow up period of the survivor is 6 months and 68 months, respectively. Thirteen patients with squamous cell carcinoma are included in this analysis. The median age is 49 years (range from 20 to 64 years). Twenty two patients are stage III. Eleven patients are treated with radiotherapy alone and 20 are treated with combined modalities treatment. The degree of response after radiotherapy are categorized by 3-classes, i,e. complete response, partial response. In spite of similarities of complete response rate and 1-year survival rate between two different treatment techniques, those patients with undifferentiated carcinoma appear to benefit from the adjuvant chemotherapy. In addition, systemic failure is more suggest that adjuvant therapy in the radiotherapeutic management of nasopharyngeal cancer needs additional research according to histologic types and future extensive clinical trials.
Carcinoma ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Korea ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms* ; Radiotherapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Survivors

Using same TDE factors, the authors studied the effects of whole abdominal irradiation on body weight and peripheral blood picture in 30±3 day old mice. Fractions of 100 and 200 cGy were given five times a week to the final TDF factors 17, 33, and 49. Total 80 mice were irradiated with orthovoltage x-ray machine. Our results can be summarized as follows: There were no significant differences by sex. Body weight was progressively decreased by the duration for irradiation, but no remarkable difference by fractional dose. Hemoglobin level showed no remarkable change by fractional dose or TDF factors. Leukopenic changes showed that severity of decrease seems to be more related to TDF factors. There were no significant changes of differential count by TDF factors of total doses.
Animals ; Body Weight* ; Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane ; Mice*

Total 55 patients with nonsmall cell lung cancer treated with radiation therapy at Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Yeungnam University Hospital, between May-1 1986 and April-30 1993 were retrospectively analyzed by clinical characteristics, failure patterns follow up duration and survival ratio according to prognostic factors. Obtained results were as follows : 1. Male to female ratio was 17.3 2. Sixth and seventh decades were predominant age group. 3. The patients were 8 in stage I-II, 34 in stage IIIA, 13 in stage IIIb, respectively. 4. Forty five patients out of 55 were squamous cell carcinoma. 5. Primary tumor were originated from upper lobe bronchi predominantly. 6. The size of the primary tumor, lymph node involvement and the degree of differentiation were important in evaluation of prognosis. 7. In conclusion, for patients with poor prognostic factors systemic chemotherapy and multidisciplinary approach were recommended for better treatment outcome and improvement of survival.
Bronchi ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms* ; Lung* ; Lymph Nodes ; Male ; Prognosis ; Radiation Oncology ; Radiotherapy* ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

In recent years there has been a growing interest in all forms of rotational therapy, and many different types of therapy machines designed for this kind of treatment have become available. To the medical radiation physicist, the dosimetry of rotation therapy has presented a number of interesting problems, and much useful work has been published on the basic date of dose distribution and dosage calculation. The setting dose for ARC therapy were obtained by computer calculation and measurement with cylindrical phantom. Authors compared computer calculation with measured value. And in ARC therapy, the region of maximum dose in shifted from the tumor center. The extent of shift was analyzed by isodose distribution for ARC therapy techniques.
Particle Accelerators*

In electron therapy, low melting point alloy is used for shaping of the field. Electron field shaping material affect the output factor as well as the collimator system. The output factors of electron beams for shaped fields from NELAC-1018 were measured using ionization chamber of Farmer type in water phantom. The output factors of electron beams depend on the incident energy, inherent collimator system and the size of shaped field. Obtained results were followings. 1. In the smaller applicator, output varied extremely according to extent of collimator opening. 2. The higher energy, the output is less varied according to treatment field at small field.
Alloys ; Farmers ; Freezing ; Water