Purpose: This study aimed to compare the dose characteristics of the volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) and dynamic conformal arc (DCA) techniques for metastatic brain tumor treatment using various indices to evaluate the quality of the plan and provide insights into the clinical implications of each approach. Methods: Twelve patients with single metastatic brain tumors treated with VMAT were retrospectively analyzed. For comparison with DCA, identical geometric parameters (excluding multileaf collimators) were applied. Dose coverage, normal tissue sparing, and treatment efficiencywere evaluated using indices such as CILIM98 , CIICRU , CIRTOG , QCRTOG , CISALT , HTCISALT , and CIPADDIC .These indices were statistically assessed to evaluate the differences between VMAT and DCA. Results: VMAT was superior to DCA in most indices for both small and large planning targetvolumes (PTVs). DCA plans for large PTVs showed a higher V12Gy , exceeding 10 mL and failing tomeet the recommended criteria (<10 mL). However, DCA required nearly half the monitor units(MUs) of VMAT, resulting in shorter treatment times. All indices, except for QCRTOG , demonstratedsignificant differences between VMAT and DCA. Conclusions Careful consideration is necessary for larger PTVs when deciding a plan becauseDCA can occasionally result in V12Gy of a brain minus PTV >10 mL. Conversely, DCA provides theadvantage of shorter treatment times because of its lower MU. This study highlights the importance of using a combination of indices to comprehensively assess treatment plan quality.

Purpose: This study aimed to compare the dose characteristics of the volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) and dynamic conformal arc (DCA) techniques for metastatic brain tumor treatment using various indices to evaluate the quality of the plan and provide insights into the clinical implications of each approach. Methods: Twelve patients with single metastatic brain tumors treated with VMAT were retrospectively analyzed. For comparison with DCA, identical geometric parameters (excluding multileaf collimators) were applied. Dose coverage, normal tissue sparing, and treatment efficiencywere evaluated using indices such as CILIM98 , CIICRU , CIRTOG , QCRTOG , CISALT , HTCISALT , and CIPADDIC .These indices were statistically assessed to evaluate the differences between VMAT and DCA. Results: VMAT was superior to DCA in most indices for both small and large planning targetvolumes (PTVs). DCA plans for large PTVs showed a higher V12Gy , exceeding 10 mL and failing tomeet the recommended criteria (<10 mL). However, DCA required nearly half the monitor units(MUs) of VMAT, resulting in shorter treatment times. All indices, except for QCRTOG , demonstratedsignificant differences between VMAT and DCA. Conclusions Careful consideration is necessary for larger PTVs when deciding a plan becauseDCA can occasionally result in V12Gy of a brain minus PTV >10 mL. Conversely, DCA provides theadvantage of shorter treatment times because of its lower MU. This study highlights the importance of using a combination of indices to comprehensively assess treatment plan quality.

Purpose: This study aimed to compare the dose characteristics of the volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) and dynamic conformal arc (DCA) techniques for metastatic brain tumor treatment using various indices to evaluate the quality of the plan and provide insights into the clinical implications of each approach. Methods: Twelve patients with single metastatic brain tumors treated with VMAT were retrospectively analyzed. For comparison with DCA, identical geometric parameters (excluding multileaf collimators) were applied. Dose coverage, normal tissue sparing, and treatment efficiencywere evaluated using indices such as CILIM98 , CIICRU , CIRTOG , QCRTOG , CISALT , HTCISALT , and CIPADDIC .These indices were statistically assessed to evaluate the differences between VMAT and DCA. Results: VMAT was superior to DCA in most indices for both small and large planning targetvolumes (PTVs). DCA plans for large PTVs showed a higher V12Gy , exceeding 10 mL and failing tomeet the recommended criteria (<10 mL). However, DCA required nearly half the monitor units(MUs) of VMAT, resulting in shorter treatment times. All indices, except for QCRTOG , demonstratedsignificant differences between VMAT and DCA. Conclusions Careful consideration is necessary for larger PTVs when deciding a plan becauseDCA can occasionally result in V12Gy of a brain minus PTV >10 mL. Conversely, DCA provides theadvantage of shorter treatment times because of its lower MU. This study highlights the importance of using a combination of indices to comprehensively assess treatment plan quality.

Purpose: This study aimed to compare the dose characteristics of the volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) and dynamic conformal arc (DCA) techniques for metastatic brain tumor treatment using various indices to evaluate the quality of the plan and provide insights into the clinical implications of each approach. Methods: Twelve patients with single metastatic brain tumors treated with VMAT were retrospectively analyzed. For comparison with DCA, identical geometric parameters (excluding multileaf collimators) were applied. Dose coverage, normal tissue sparing, and treatment efficiencywere evaluated using indices such as CILIM98 , CIICRU , CIRTOG , QCRTOG , CISALT , HTCISALT , and CIPADDIC .These indices were statistically assessed to evaluate the differences between VMAT and DCA. Results: VMAT was superior to DCA in most indices for both small and large planning targetvolumes (PTVs). DCA plans for large PTVs showed a higher V12Gy , exceeding 10 mL and failing tomeet the recommended criteria (<10 mL). However, DCA required nearly half the monitor units(MUs) of VMAT, resulting in shorter treatment times. All indices, except for QCRTOG , demonstratedsignificant differences between VMAT and DCA. Conclusions Careful consideration is necessary for larger PTVs when deciding a plan becauseDCA can occasionally result in V12Gy of a brain minus PTV >10 mL. Conversely, DCA provides theadvantage of shorter treatment times because of its lower MU. This study highlights the importance of using a combination of indices to comprehensively assess treatment plan quality.

Purpose: This study aimed to compare the dose characteristics of the volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) and dynamic conformal arc (DCA) techniques for metastatic brain tumor treatment using various indices to evaluate the quality of the plan and provide insights into the clinical implications of each approach. Methods: Twelve patients with single metastatic brain tumors treated with VMAT were retrospectively analyzed. For comparison with DCA, identical geometric parameters (excluding multileaf collimators) were applied. Dose coverage, normal tissue sparing, and treatment efficiencywere evaluated using indices such as CILIM98 , CIICRU , CIRTOG , QCRTOG , CISALT , HTCISALT , and CIPADDIC .These indices were statistically assessed to evaluate the differences between VMAT and DCA. Results: VMAT was superior to DCA in most indices for both small and large planning targetvolumes (PTVs). DCA plans for large PTVs showed a higher V12Gy , exceeding 10 mL and failing tomeet the recommended criteria (<10 mL). However, DCA required nearly half the monitor units(MUs) of VMAT, resulting in shorter treatment times. All indices, except for QCRTOG , demonstratedsignificant differences between VMAT and DCA. Conclusions Careful consideration is necessary for larger PTVs when deciding a plan becauseDCA can occasionally result in V12Gy of a brain minus PTV >10 mL. Conversely, DCA provides theadvantage of shorter treatment times because of its lower MU. This study highlights the importance of using a combination of indices to comprehensively assess treatment plan quality.

Background: Radiotherapy improves overall survival in patients with abdominopelvic malignancies. However, the toxic effects of radiation restrict the maximum dose that can be given, and there are no well-established preventive or therapeutic strategies. This study was conducted to evaluate whether rebamipide, sucralfate, and rifaximin have a suppressive effect on acute ionizing radiation (IR)-induced inflammation in the intestines of mice. Methods: Thirty-six ICR mice were divided into a vehicle-treated group with sham irradiation; a vehicle-treated group with irradiation; rebamipide, sucralfate, or rifaximin-treated groups with irradiation; and a rebamipide-treated group with sham irradiation. The expression of proinflammatory, anti-inflammatory, proapoptotic, and antiapoptotic factors was investigated. Results: The downregulated expression of nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase by IR was attenuated by all drugs (p<0.05). All drugs suppressed the IR-induced activation of NF-κB and phosphorylation of MAPKs (p<0.05) and attenuated the production of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in response to IR (p<0.05). The administration of all drugs markedly attenuated IR-induced increases in iNOS, COX-2, and PGE2 (p<0.05), as well as [Ca2+] oscillations that were increased by IR. The expression of proapoptotic genes and antiapoptotic genes was suppressed and induced, respectively, by all drugs. IR treatment increased the release of cytochrome C, which was attenuated by all drugs (p<0.05). All drug treatments resulted in a significant decrease in the expression of caspase-3 and caspase-7 (p<0.05), which were both upregulated following IR treatment. Conclusions The administration of rebamipide, sucralfate, or rifaximin prior to radiation therapy may prevent or attenuate acute radiation-induced enterocolitis.

BACKGROUND: Complete blood count (CBC) results play an important role in peripheral blood smear (PBS) examinations. Many descriptions in PBS reports may simply be translated from CBC parameters. We developed a computer program that automatically generates a PBS draft report based on CBC parameters and age- and sex-matched reference ranges. METHODS: The Java programming language was used to develop a computer program that supports a graphical user interface. Four hematology analyzers from three different laboratories were tested: Sysmex XE-5000 (Sysmex, Kobe, Japan), Sysmex XN-9000 (Sysmex), DxH800 (Beckman Coulter, Brea, CA, USA), and ADVIA 2120i (Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics, Eschborn, Germany). Input data files containing 862 CBC results were generated from hematology analyzers, middlewares, or laboratory information systems. The draft reports were compared with the content of input data files. RESULTS: We developed a computer program that reads CBC results from a data file and automatically writes a draft PBS report. Age- and sex-matched reference ranges can be automatically applied. After examining PBS, users can modify the draft report based on microscopic findings. Recommendations such as suggestions for further evaluations are also provided based on morphological findings, and they can be modified by users. The program was compatible with all four hematology analyzers tested. CONCLUSIONS: Our program is expected to reduce the time required to manually incorporate CBC results into PBS reports. Systematic inclusion of CBC results could help improve the reliability and sensitivity of PBS examinations.
Blood Cell Count* ; Clinical Laboratory Information Systems ; Delivery of Health Care ; Hematology ; Indonesia ; Information Storage and Retrieval ; Programming Languages ; Reference Values

PURPOSE: To see the gross tumor volume (GTV) dependency according to the phase selection and reconstruction methods, we measured and analyzed the changes of tumor volume and motion at each phase in 20 cases with lung cancer patients who underwent image-guided radiotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed four-dimensional computed tomography (4D-CT) images in 20 cases of 19 patients who underwent image-guided radiotherapy. The 4D-CT images were reconstructed by the maximum intensity projection (MIP) and the minimum intensity projection (Min-IP) method after sorting phase as 40%–60%, 30%–70%, and 0%–90%. We analyzed the relationship between the range of motion and the change of GTV according to the reconstruction method. RESULTS: The motion ranges of GTVs are statistically significant only for the tumor motion in craniocaudal direction. The discrepancies of GTV volume and motion between MIP and Min-IP increased rapidly as the wider ranges of duty cycles are selected. CONCLUSION: As narrow as possible duty cycle such as 40%–60% and MIP reconstruction was suitable for lung cancer if the respiration was stable. Selecting the reconstruction methods and duty cycle is important for small size and for large motion range tumors.
Four-Dimensional Computed Tomography* ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms* ; Lung* ; Methods* ; Radiotherapy, Image-Guided ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Respiration ; Retrospective Studies ; Tumor Burden*

PURPOSE: To see the gross tumor volume (GTV) dependency according to the phase selection and reconstruction methods, we measured and analyzed the changes of tumor volume and motion at each phase in 20 cases with lung cancer patients who underwent image-guided radiotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed four-dimensional computed tomography (4D-CT) images in 20 cases of 19 patients who underwent image-guided radiotherapy. The 4D-CT images were reconstructed by the maximum intensity projection (MIP) and the minimum intensity projection (Min-IP) method after sorting phase as 40%–60%, 30%–70%, and 0%–90%. We analyzed the relationship between the range of motion and the change of GTV according to the reconstruction method. RESULTS: The motion ranges of GTVs are statistically significant only for the tumor motion in craniocaudal direction. The discrepancies of GTV volume and motion between MIP and Min-IP increased rapidly as the wider ranges of duty cycles are selected. CONCLUSION: As narrow as possible duty cycle such as 40%–60% and MIP reconstruction was suitable for lung cancer if the respiration was stable. Selecting the reconstruction methods and duty cycle is important for small size and for large motion range tumors.
Four-Dimensional Computed Tomography* ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms* ; Lung* ; Methods* ; Radiotherapy, Image-Guided ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Respiration ; Retrospective Studies ; Tumor Burden*

PURPOSE: To compare audio-only biofeedback to conventional audiovisual biofeedback for regulating patients' respiration during four-dimensional radiotherapy, limiting damage to healthy surrounding tissues caused by organ movement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six healthy volunteers were assisted by audiovisual or audio-only biofeedback systems to regulate their respirations. Volunteers breathed through a mask developed for this study by following computer-generated guiding curves displayed on a screen, combined with instructional sounds. They then performed breathing following instructional sounds only. The guiding signals and the volunteers' respiratory signals were logged at 20 samples per second. RESULTS: The standard deviations between the guiding and respiratory curves for the audiovisual and audio-only biofeedback systems were 21.55% and 23.19%, respectively; the average correlation coefficients were 0.9778 and 0.9756, respectively. The regularities between audiovisual and audio-only biofeedback for six volunteers' respirations were same statistically from the paired t-test. CONCLUSION: The difference between the audiovisual and audio-only biofeedback methods was not significant. Audio-only biofeedback has many advantages, as patients do not require a mask and can quickly adapt to this method in the clinic.
Biofeedback, Psychology* ; Feedback, Sensory ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Masks ; Radiotherapy* ; Respiration* ; Volunteers