Objective To evaluate the necessity of arc by arc setup verification in patients with brain metastases receiving stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) by analyzing the inter-and intra-fraction setup errors and residual errors collected from the ExacTrac X-ray portal image.Methods Clinical data of brain metastases patients treated with SRT in the previous two years were retrospectively analyzed.The ExacTrac X-ray setup images were collected after the normal setup procedure.Setup errors were calculated by registering the cranial bony structures of the ExacTrac X-ray setup images to that of the digitally reconstructed setup images.The inter-and intra-fraction setup errors and residual errors were statistically analyzed.Results Seventy-five patients from 116 lesions received 337 cycles of SRT of the head.The inter-and intra-fraction translational setup errors in the x,y and z directions were (0.93±0.86) mm and (0.15±0.59) mm;(1.83± 1.27) mm and (0.25±0.73) mm;(0.96±0.80) mm and (0.14±0.56) mm,respectively.The inter-and intra-fraction rotational setup errors in the x,y,z directions were (0.65°± 0.62°) and (0.19°± 0.40°);(0.97°±0.94°) and (0.13°± 0.25°);(0.92°± 0.71°) and (0.10°± 0.29°),respectively.The residual translational setup errors in the x,y,z directions were (0.06±0.23) mm,(0.08±0.24) mm and (0.08±0.22)mm,and (0.12°± 0.27°),(0.09°± 0.18°) and (0.06°± 0.19°) for the residual rotational setup errors,respectively.For a reference setup error threshold of 0.7 mm/0.7°,99.1％ of the SRT exceeded the threshold and required setup correction.For 1 006 non-coplanar arcs,rotating the treatment couch from 0° to the treatment angle made 66.4％ of arcs exceed the threshold and require at least once setup correction.Conclusions During SRT for brain metastasis,the inter-and intra-fraction setup errors should be emphasized.It is necessary to perform arc by arc setup error verification.

Objective To retrospectively analyze the setup error in radiotherapy of somal tumors and body metastases using the ExacTrac X-ray portal image,and to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of 6D setup error correction in body radiotherapy.Methods The translational and rotational setup errors were calculated by registering the bony structures on the ExacTrac X-setup images to that of the digitally reconstructed setup images,and the corresponding residual errors were calculated together.Results The translational and rotational setup errors in the x (left-right),y (superior-inferior),z (anterior-posterior) and Rx (sagittal),Ry (transverse),Rz (coronal) directions were(2.27±2.02) mm,(4.49±2.52) mm,(2.27± 1.37) mm and (1.02 ± 0.73) °,(0.67 ± 0.68) °,(0.76 ± 0.84) °,respectively.The residual translational and rotational setup errors in the x(r),y(r),z(r) and Rx(r),Ry(r),Rz(r) directions were(0.27±0.48)mm,(0.37±0.45)mm,(0.22±0.30)mm and (0.17±0.33)°,(0.14±0.34)°,(0.16± 0.28) ° respectively.Conclusions Besides the translational setup errors,a certain amount of rotational setup errors exist in radiotherapy of somal tumors and body metastases.By using the 6D setup error correction of the ExacTrac system,a translational less than 0.4 mm and rotational setup errors less than 0.2° could be achieved.

Objective To evaluate the effect of setup errors upon the target area and the organs at risk (OAR) during radiotherapy for prostate cancer.Methods Twelve prostate cancer patients receiving treatment in the recent 1 year were randomly recruited in this study.The position of each patient was verified by using cone beam CT (CBCT) for 6-10 times during the treatment.In treatment planning system (TPS),the isocenter position was moved along the setup errors with averaging error value (Plan_A) and each CBCT value (Plan_F).The dose distribution was recalculated without changing the beam setting,weight factors and monitor units (MUs).The dose difference was statistically compared between the simulation and original plans (Plan_O).Results For clinical target volume (CTV) D95,there was a significant difference between Plan_A and Plan_O (P =0.008),whereas no significant difference was observed between Plan_F and Plan_O.There were significant differences between Plan_F and Plan_O,Plan_A and Plan_O (P=0.004,and 0.041) for the planned target volume (PTV) D95.For OAR,rectal V60,Dmax,left femoral V20,Dmax and right femoral Dmax significantly differed between Plan_F and Plan_O (P=0.026,0.015,0.041,0.049,0.003).However,only left femoral Dmax significantly differed between Plan_A and Plan_O (P=0.045).The movement in the superior-inferior (SI) direction was significantly correlated with the changes in the rectal V40,V50 and V60 and PTV D95 (r=-0.785,-0.887,-0.833,0.682).The movement in the anterior-posterior (AP) direction was significantly associated with the variations in the bladder V20,V30,V40,V50 and V60(r=-0.945,-0.823,-0.853,-0.818,-0.774).The evaluation indexes of all normal tissues in the re-plan could meet the clinical requirements.However,the volume of target prescription volume had different levels of deficit,and the deficit of Plan_F was greater than that of Plan_A.Conclusions The simulation results of averaging into the TPS underestimates the effect of daily setup errors on the dose distribution.The effect of setup errors on the dose distribution in target area is greater than that of normal tissues.Y-direction errors are more likely to cause the variations of the rectal and PTV dose,and the errors in the z-direction are inclined to cause the changes in the bladder dose.

Objective To establish a novel method of describing the off-axis ratio (OAR) characteristics of the flattening filter-free (FFF) beam.Methods The OAR curves at a depth of 1.5,5,10 and 20 cm were measured for Varian Edge,Elekta VersaHD and Tomotherapy using the water tank.The second derivatives of the OAR in the positive and negative directions were calculated.The center of the line connecting the maximum and minimum second derivatives was defined as the field edge.The distance between the left and right field edges was defined as the dosimetric field size.The OAR curve within the 80％ of dosimetric field size was fitted using the gaussian function and the fitting parameters were adopted to describe the shape of OAR.Results The calculated field size error was less than 0.11 cm and the central axis position error was less than 0.05 cm.The fitting correlation coefficient was greater than O.998.The fitting maximum error of OAR curve did not significantly alter with the depth,whereas slightly increased over the increased field size.The maximum error for a field size of 10,20,30 and 40 cm was 0.49％,0.67％,1.25％ and 2.52％,respectively.Conclusions A method which can independently and accurately describe the OAR characteristics of FFF photon beam is established for the first time,which can calculate the field size of FFF beam and fit the OAR curve of FFF beam using the gaussian function.

Objective To understand the drug resistance of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Foshan area and to detect the related drug resistant gene mutation situation.Methods 57 strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae were collected.The drug susceptibility test was per-formed by adopting the agar dilution method.The related drug resistance genes were amplified by PCR and the PCR product se-quencing results were performed the homological searching in GenBank by the BLAST algorithm.Results The sensitive rates of Neisseria gonorrhoeae to penicillin,tetracycline,ciprooxacin,ceftriaxone and spectinomycin were 0.0%,8.8%,7.0%,61.4% and 100.0%,respectively.The rates of beta lactamase-producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae and tetracycline resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae were 35.1% and 56.1%,respectively.The mutation rate of drug resistance genes were over 80%.Conclusion Ceftriaxone and spectinomycin can be used as the first choice drug for the treatment of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Foshan region.The drug resistance mechanism of Neisseria gonorrhoeae is complex.The epidemiological monitoring of the Neisseria gonorrhoeae related drug resist-ance genes should be strengthened.

Objective To analyze the influencing factors of cone-beam CT (CBCT) imagine registration in lung cancer. Methods From Mar. 2007 to Dec. 2007, 20 patients with lung cancer were treated with IGRT. The imagines of CBCT were collected from 6 to 19 fractions during the patients' radiotherapy. To compare the difference of set-up errors between the two groups according to the distance from the lesion in lung to the centrum. At the same time, CBCT imagines from the first, middle and the last fraction of these patients' radiotherapy were registrated in bone and grey methods by four doctors. The difference of set-up errors between different doctors and registrated methods were compared. Results The mean values of set-up errors were ＜2 mm in the two groups without significant difference (x:-1.31mm vs 0. 10 mm (t=0. 07,P=0.554);y:1.24 mm vs 1.37 mm (t=0. 05,P=0. 652);z: - 1.88mm vs -1.26mm (t= -0. 12,P=0.321)). The mean values of set-up errors were ＜ 1.3 mm in four doctors and registrated methods without significant difference, for bone registration,x: -0. 05 mm, -0. 01 mm,0. 05 mm, -0.12 mm and -1.31 mm ( F=-0.01,P=0.887) ;y:0.56 mm,0.35 mm,0.51 mm and 0.43 mm (F= -0.01,P=0.880);z: -1.16 mm, -1.20 mm, -0.88 mm and -1.03 mm (F= -0.04,P=0. 555 ), for grey registration ,x: -0.32 mm, -0.341 mm, -0.395 mm and - 0.37 mm(F=-0.01, P=0.874);y:0.34 mm,0.54 mm, -0.04 mm and 0.27 mm (F= -0.03,P=0.622);x:-1.12 mm,- 1.15 mm, - 1.13 mm and - 1.04 mm (F=0. 00,P=0. 812). Conclusions With the same registrated box and imagine quality, the location of the lesions in lung, registred methods and different doctors are not the influencing factors for CBCT imagine registration.

Objective To study the variation of gross tumor volume (GTV) and clinical target volume (CTV) definition for lung cancer between different doctors.Methods Ten lung cancer patients with PET-CT simulation were selected from January 2008 to December 2009.GTV and CTV of these patients were defined by four professors or associate professors of radiotherapy independently.Results The mean ratios of largest to smallest GTV and CTV were 1.66 and 1.65, respectively.The mean coefficients of variation for GTV and CTV were 0.20 and 0.17, respectively.System errors of CTV definition in three dimension were less than 5 mm, which was the largest in inferior and superior (0.48 cm,0.37 cm,0.32 cm;F=0.40,0.60,0.15,P=0.755,0.618,0.928).Conclusions The variation of GTV and CTV definition for lung cancer between different doctors exist.The mean ratios of largest to smallest GTV and CTV were less than 1.7.The variation was in hilar and mediastinum lymphanode regions.System error of CTV definition was the largest (<5 mm) in cranio-caudal direction.

Objective To investigate the inhibitory effect of reiniosidc C (RC) on asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA)-induced soluble interacellular adhesion molecule-1 (slCAM-1) expression and its mechanisms. Methods Human umbical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC 12) were cultured.The level of slCAM-1 in the conditioned medium was determined by ELISA. Changes in intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were determined by measuring the oxidative conversion of cell permeable 2', 7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) to fluorescent dichlorofluorescein (DCF) in fluorospectro- photometer, and the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) DNA-binding activity was determined by electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA). Results sICAM 1 expressions [(138.02±16.40), (194.52±11.14), (274.28±13.11)ng/L]and the generation of ROS[(75.64±5.22),(100.18±11.15),(107.23±13.45)units] in HUVEC-12 were time dependently increased by ADMA (30 μmol/L). Furthermore, thc generation of ROS [(85.33±8.68), (70.69±7.65),(59.12±4.15)units], activation of NF-κB activity and expression of sICAM-1 [(336.58±23.32),(203.27±25.18) ,(174.13±14.53)ng/L] induced by ADMA were inhibited by reinioside C (1,3,10μmol/L) in a dose-dependent manner. This effect was found to be the same by L-arginine (0.5 mmol/L) as NOS substrate and by pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) (10 μmol/L)as inhibitor of NF-κB.Conclusions Reinioside C attenuates the increase of sICAM-1 induced by exogenous ADMA

Objective To commission a Mobetron intra-operative mobile accelerator and analyze the characteristics of its electron beams. Methods The dosimetrie characteristics of the electron beams genera-ted by Mobetron accelerator were measured and compared with those generated by conventional accelerator (Primus, Siemens). M oberton accelerator can generate electron beams of nominal energies of 4,6,9 and 12 MeV. The measurement items were as followings : percentage depth dose perpendicular to water phantom sur-face and beam profiles parallel to water phantom surface, output factors, applicator leakage, electron beam at-tenuation made by lead blocks,and machine output calibration. The measurement devices included a three-dimensional ( 3 D) water scanning phantom, an electrometer, a 0.6 cm3 Farmer ionization chamber, a parallel-plate ionization chamber and solid water slabs. During measurement, all applicators of different tilt angles and diameters were attached to the machine head,and their ends were adjusted to be tangent to the phantom surface. Results Except for the 12 MeV,skin dose for all energies was no more than 90%. The skin dose was higher for Mobetron accelerator electron beams than for regular electron beams. The Dmax depth in water for a 10 cm flat applicator were 0.7,1.3,2.0 and 2.2 cm for the 4 energies,respectively. The depths of 90% dose were 1.0,1.8,2.7 and 3.6 cm, respectively. The selected flat applicator was just 1 cm larger than the tumor bed. But for the beveled applicators,the field flatness and symmetry became worse,and con-sequently,the applicator size had to be selected based on the isodose distribution. The leakage dose at 1 cm outside the applicator was 1.2% ,5.1%, 10.0% and 9.1%, respectively. The lead thickness for full block was 1.5,3.0,4.5 and 6.0 mm,respectively. Conclusions Through the commissioning of Mobetron accel-erator, the machine characteristics are understood, and the data for clinical implementation and routine quality assurance are acquired.

Objective To study the value of image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) in lung cancer. Methods From Mar. 2007 to Dec. 2007,58 patients with lung cancer were treated with IGRT. Set-up er-rors in each axial direction was calculated based on IGRT images of each patient. The change of GTV was e-valuated on both cone-beam CT and CT simulator images. Results Twenty-two patients with left lung cane-er,30 with right lung cancer,5 with mediastinal lymphanode metastasis and one with vertebra metastasis were included. The set-up error in x,y and z axes was (0.02±0.26) cm, (0.14±0.49) cm and ( -0. 13± 0.27) cm, respectively,while the rotary set-up error in each axis was -0.15°± 1.59°, -0.01°± 1.50° and 0.12°±1.08°, respectively. The set-up errors were siguifieantly decreased by using of IGRT. GTV movement was observed in 15 patients (25.9%) ,including 5 with left upper lung cancer. GTV moving to the anterior direction was observed in 9 patients,including 4 with]eft upper lung cancer. GTV reduced in 23 (44.2%) patients during treatment. Asymmetric GTV reduction of 22 lesions was observed,with a mean re-ductive volume of 4.9 cm3. When GTV began to shrink,the irradiation dose was 4 -46 Gy,with 20 -30 Gy in 9 patients. Conclusions The use of IGRT can significantly reduce set-up errors. GTV movement and reduction are observed in some cases. The time to modify the target volume needs to be further studied.