Purpose: Modern radiotherapy delivers radiation doses to targets within a few minutes using intricate multiple-beam segments determined with multi-leaf collimators (MLC). Therefore, we propose a scintillator-based dosimetry system capable of assessing the dosimetric and mechanical performance of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) in real time. Methods: The dosimeter was equipped with a scintillator plate and two digital cameras. The dose distribution was generated by applying deep learning-based signal processing to correct the intrinsic characteristics of the camera sensor and a tomographic image reconstruction technique to rectify the geometric distortion of the recorded video. Dosimetric evaluations were performed using a gamma analysis against a two-dimensional array and radiochromic film measurements for 20 clinical cases. The average difference in the MLC position measurements and machine log files was tested for the applicability of the mechanical quality assurance (QA) of MLCs. Results: The agreement of the dose distribution in the IMRT and VMAT plans was clinically acceptable between the proposed system and conventional dosimeters. The average differences in the MLC positions for the IMRT/VMAT plans were 1.7010/2.8107 mm and 1.4722/2.7713 mm in banks A and B, respectively. Conclusions In this study, we developed an instantaneously interpretable real-time dosimeter for QA in a medical linear accelerator using a scintillator plate and digital cameras. The feasibility of the proposed system was investigated using dosimetric and mechanical evaluations in the IMRT and VMAT plans. The developed system has clinically acceptable accuracy in both the dosimetric and mechanical QAs of the IMRT and VMAT plans.

Purpose: Modern radiotherapy delivers radiation doses to targets within a few minutes using intricate multiple-beam segments determined with multi-leaf collimators (MLC). Therefore, we propose a scintillator-based dosimetry system capable of assessing the dosimetric and mechanical performance of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) in real time. Methods: The dosimeter was equipped with a scintillator plate and two digital cameras. The dose distribution was generated by applying deep learning-based signal processing to correct the intrinsic characteristics of the camera sensor and a tomographic image reconstruction technique to rectify the geometric distortion of the recorded video. Dosimetric evaluations were performed using a gamma analysis against a two-dimensional array and radiochromic film measurements for 20 clinical cases. The average difference in the MLC position measurements and machine log files was tested for the applicability of the mechanical quality assurance (QA) of MLCs. Results: The agreement of the dose distribution in the IMRT and VMAT plans was clinically acceptable between the proposed system and conventional dosimeters. The average differences in the MLC positions for the IMRT/VMAT plans were 1.7010/2.8107 mm and 1.4722/2.7713 mm in banks A and B, respectively. Conclusions In this study, we developed an instantaneously interpretable real-time dosimeter for QA in a medical linear accelerator using a scintillator plate and digital cameras. The feasibility of the proposed system was investigated using dosimetric and mechanical evaluations in the IMRT and VMAT plans. The developed system has clinically acceptable accuracy in both the dosimetric and mechanical QAs of the IMRT and VMAT plans.

Purpose: Modern radiotherapy delivers radiation doses to targets within a few minutes using intricate multiple-beam segments determined with multi-leaf collimators (MLC). Therefore, we propose a scintillator-based dosimetry system capable of assessing the dosimetric and mechanical performance of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) in real time. Methods: The dosimeter was equipped with a scintillator plate and two digital cameras. The dose distribution was generated by applying deep learning-based signal processing to correct the intrinsic characteristics of the camera sensor and a tomographic image reconstruction technique to rectify the geometric distortion of the recorded video. Dosimetric evaluations were performed using a gamma analysis against a two-dimensional array and radiochromic film measurements for 20 clinical cases. The average difference in the MLC position measurements and machine log files was tested for the applicability of the mechanical quality assurance (QA) of MLCs. Results: The agreement of the dose distribution in the IMRT and VMAT plans was clinically acceptable between the proposed system and conventional dosimeters. The average differences in the MLC positions for the IMRT/VMAT plans were 1.7010/2.8107 mm and 1.4722/2.7713 mm in banks A and B, respectively. Conclusions In this study, we developed an instantaneously interpretable real-time dosimeter for QA in a medical linear accelerator using a scintillator plate and digital cameras. The feasibility of the proposed system was investigated using dosimetric and mechanical evaluations in the IMRT and VMAT plans. The developed system has clinically acceptable accuracy in both the dosimetric and mechanical QAs of the IMRT and VMAT plans.

Purpose: Modern radiotherapy delivers radiation doses to targets within a few minutes using intricate multiple-beam segments determined with multi-leaf collimators (MLC). Therefore, we propose a scintillator-based dosimetry system capable of assessing the dosimetric and mechanical performance of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) in real time. Methods: The dosimeter was equipped with a scintillator plate and two digital cameras. The dose distribution was generated by applying deep learning-based signal processing to correct the intrinsic characteristics of the camera sensor and a tomographic image reconstruction technique to rectify the geometric distortion of the recorded video. Dosimetric evaluations were performed using a gamma analysis against a two-dimensional array and radiochromic film measurements for 20 clinical cases. The average difference in the MLC position measurements and machine log files was tested for the applicability of the mechanical quality assurance (QA) of MLCs. Results: The agreement of the dose distribution in the IMRT and VMAT plans was clinically acceptable between the proposed system and conventional dosimeters. The average differences in the MLC positions for the IMRT/VMAT plans were 1.7010/2.8107 mm and 1.4722/2.7713 mm in banks A and B, respectively. Conclusions In this study, we developed an instantaneously interpretable real-time dosimeter for QA in a medical linear accelerator using a scintillator plate and digital cameras. The feasibility of the proposed system was investigated using dosimetric and mechanical evaluations in the IMRT and VMAT plans. The developed system has clinically acceptable accuracy in both the dosimetric and mechanical QAs of the IMRT and VMAT plans.

Purpose: Modern radiotherapy delivers radiation doses to targets within a few minutes using intricate multiple-beam segments determined with multi-leaf collimators (MLC). Therefore, we propose a scintillator-based dosimetry system capable of assessing the dosimetric and mechanical performance of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) in real time. Methods: The dosimeter was equipped with a scintillator plate and two digital cameras. The dose distribution was generated by applying deep learning-based signal processing to correct the intrinsic characteristics of the camera sensor and a tomographic image reconstruction technique to rectify the geometric distortion of the recorded video. Dosimetric evaluations were performed using a gamma analysis against a two-dimensional array and radiochromic film measurements for 20 clinical cases. The average difference in the MLC position measurements and machine log files was tested for the applicability of the mechanical quality assurance (QA) of MLCs. Results: The agreement of the dose distribution in the IMRT and VMAT plans was clinically acceptable between the proposed system and conventional dosimeters. The average differences in the MLC positions for the IMRT/VMAT plans were 1.7010/2.8107 mm and 1.4722/2.7713 mm in banks A and B, respectively. Conclusions In this study, we developed an instantaneously interpretable real-time dosimeter for QA in a medical linear accelerator using a scintillator plate and digital cameras. The feasibility of the proposed system was investigated using dosimetric and mechanical evaluations in the IMRT and VMAT plans. The developed system has clinically acceptable accuracy in both the dosimetric and mechanical QAs of the IMRT and VMAT plans.

Objective: This study analyzed the characteristics and accident patterns of electric scooter accidents using in-depth survey data from 23 hospital emergency rooms (ER) in Korea. The characteristics of accident types were examined depending on alcohol consumption. Methods: An in-depth investigation was conducted on ER patients involved in electric scooter accidents between 2014 and 2021. The research focused on variables such as age, time of ER visit, alcohol use, emergency room discharge outcome, injury severity, and areas of injury. Results: One thousand nine hundred and sixty-two electric scooter injuries were examined. The riders belonged predominantly to the 20-39 years age group (60.40%), and most were males (69.67%). Visits to the ER peaked between 6 pm and 12 am (36.29%). Alcohol was implicated in 24.52% of the accidents. Head and neck injuries occurred commonly (60.70%). The number of accidents increased from 4 to 843. Moreover, alcohol-related incidents surged annually, except during 2014-2015. The alcohol use group comprised more males than the non-alcohol use group (79.42% vs. 66.51%). Accidents occurred more commonly in the 20-39 years age group (76.92% vs. 55.03%), and a higher proportion of emergency room visits occurred between 0 am and 6 am (58.84% vs. 39.43%). Cases with severe Excess Mortality Ratio-adjusted Injury Severity Scores were more frequent (29.29% vs. 12.97%), and head and neck injuries were more common (83.78% vs. 53.21%). Conclusion The regulations for licensing, alcohol use, and helmet compliance should be enforced to reduce the incidence of alcohol-related electric scooter accidents in the younger population.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Okra seed is a rich source of various nutritional and bioactive constituents, but its mechanism of action is still unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluated the effects on glucose uptake and serum lipid profiles of unsaponifiable matter (USM) from okra seed in adipocytes and diabetic animal models.MATERIALS/METHODSUSM was prepared from okra seed powder by saponification. The contents of phytosterols and vitamin E in USM were measured. 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were cultured for 6 days with different concentrations of USM (0–200 μg/mL). The diabetic rats were administered with or without USM for 5 wk. RESULTS: In the USM, the contents of phytosterols and vitamin E were 394.13 mg/g USM and 31.16 mg/g USM, respectively. USM showed no cytotoxicity and led to an approximately 1.4-fold increase in glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. The treatment of USM also increased the expressions of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ and glucose transporter-4 in a dose-dependent manner in adipocytes. The body weight change was not significantly different in all diabetic rats. However, blood glucose and the weights of liver and adipose tissues were significantly reduced compared to those in the control diabetic rats. Treatment with USM decreased the levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol compared to the control group. The USM group also showed significantly decreased atherogenic indices and cardiac risk factors. CONCLUSION These results suggest that USM from okra seed improves the hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects in diabetic rats, and provides valuable information for improving the functional properties of okra seed.

Purpose: Patients undergoing radiation therapy (RT) often experience psychological anxiety that manifests as muscle contraction. Our study explored psychological anxiety in these patients by using biological signals recorded using a smartwatch. Materials and Methods: Informed consent was obtained from participating patients prior to the initiation of RT. The patients wore a smartwatch from the waiting room until the conclusion of the treatment. The smartwatch acquired data related to heart rate features (average, minimum, and maximum) and stress score features (average, minimum, and maximum). On the first day of treatment, we analyzed the participants' heart rates and stress scores before and during the treatment. The acquired data were categorized according to sex and age. For patients with more than three days of data, we observed trends in heart rate during treatment relative to heart rate before treatment (HRtb) over the course of treatment. Statistical analyses were performed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test and paired t-test. Results: Twenty-nine individuals participated in the study, of which 17 had more than 3 days of data. During treatment, all patients exhibited elevated heart rates and stress scores, particularly those in the younger groups. The HRtb levels decreased as treatment progresses. Conclusion Patients undergoing RT experience notable psychological anxiety, which tends to diminish as the treatment progresses. Early stage interventions are crucial to alleviate patient anxiety during RT.

Scrub typhus is a febrile disease that is endemic to Asia and the Pacific region. Its clinical manifestations include fever, myalgia, lymphadenopathy, and a characteristic eschar. The main manifestations of this disease are difficult to differentiate from those of other febrile illnesses; thus, a careful clinical examination and a high index of suspicion are crucial for an early diagnosis. Our case involved a 55-year-old female renal transplant recipient who presented with fever and sore throat in November. Her clinical symptoms did not improve after oral amoxicillin/clavulanate administration for 7 days, after which proteinuria and acute kidney injury were identified. After hospitalization, an eschar was found and immunoglobulin M antibodies against Orientia tsutsugamushi were detected by indirect immunofluorescence. She received oral doxycycline for 7 days and showed improvement in renal function and proteinuria. This is the first case report of scrub typhus infection in a kidney transplant patient in Korea. It is meaningful to report that the renal abnormalities associated with scrub typhus improved in a renal transplant patient through treatment of the disease. This case highlights the importance of examining the social history and symptoms of patients suspected of having scrub typhus in endemic areas. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial in kidney transplant patients to preserve graft function and prevent fatal complications.

Objective: We aimed to explore the influence of public workers’ distress or viral anxiety on their level of depression and work engagement during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Additionally, we ascertain the mediation effect of resilience and public service motivation on this association. Methods: A total of 300 public workers participated in this online survey. Their demographic characteristics and responses to survey items were collected using the Stress and Anxiety to Viral Epidemics–6 items Scale, the Patient Health Questionnaire–9 items Scale, the Public Service Motivation (PSM) Scale, the Nine-item Utrecht Work Engagement Scale, the Korean Occupational Stress Scale–Short Form, and the Brief Resilience Scale. Results: Work engagement of public workers was expected by PSM (β=0.28, p<0.001), resilience (β=0.30, p<0.001), and work-related stress (β=-0.40, p<0.001) (F=57.4, p<0.001). Depression was expected by fewer years of employment (β=-0.12, p=0.02), viral anxiety (β= 0.21, p<0.001), and low resilience (β=-0.42, p<0.001) (F=22.1, p<0.001). Resilience and PSM partially mediated the effects of work-related stress on work engagement. Depression was influenced by COVID-19–induced viral anxiety, and their resilience—but not PSM—mediated the association. Conclusion Public workers’ resilience and PSM partially mediated the effects of work-related stress on work engagement. The influence of viral anxiety on public workers’ depression was mediated by their resilience but not PSM.