Whole brain radiotherapy with adjuvant or concomitant boost in brain metastasis: dosimetric comparison between helical and volumetric IMRT technique

To compare and evaluate the possible advantages related to the use of VMAT and helical IMRT and two different modalities of boost delivering, adjuvant stereotactic boost (SRS) or simultaneous integrated boost (SIB), in the treatment of brain metastasis (BM) in RPA classes I-II patients

Home-based pulmonary rehabilitation in patients undergoing (chemo)radiation therapy for unresectable lung cancer: a prospective explorative study

Aims The prevention of pulmonary toxicity is an important goal for patient candidate to radiation therapy for lung cancer. There is a lack of evidence on the role of exercise training for patients with unresectable stage III lung cancer candidated to radical treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of a home-based pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) program and to identify reliable tools in terms of respiratory function, exercise capacity and quality of life. Methods Patients' recruitment lasted from April 2020 till February 2022. The PR program was proposed concomitantly to radiation therapy to the first 20 patients (interventional group, IG), and the other 20 patients were identified as an observational group (OG). All patients were assessed at baseline (T0) and after 8 weeks (T2) with 6 minute walking test (6MWT), modified Borg Scale (mBORG), SF-36 questionnaire (SF-36) and pulmonary function test (PFT); after 4 weeks (T1), only SF-36 was administered. Results A decrease of 13.8 m in the walked-distance was registered in the OG between T0 and T2 (p = 0.083). Instead, an increase of 56.6 m in the distance walked was recorded in the IG between T0 and T2 (p <= 0.001). In the OG, the mBORG scores showed a negative trend. On the contrary, in the IG, these scores showed a slight improvement. In the OG, all the items of SF-36 scores decreased between T0 and T1. In the IG, an increased trend from T0 to T2 was observed for all the items of SF-36. No clinically significant variations were detected from baseline to T2 in both groups regarding PFT. Conclusion The 6MWT, mBORG and SF-36 resulted as useful tools to assess the role of a PR program. A significant gain in functional exercise capacity and a prevention of the physiological impairment of QoL during radio(chemo)therapy was registered

EURECA: European-Japanese microcalorimeter array

The EURECA project aims to demonstrate technological readiness of a micro-calorimeter array for application in future X-ray astronomy missions, like Constellation-X, EDGE, and XEUS. The prototype instrument consists of a 5 × 5 pixel array of TES-based micro-calorimeters read out by two SQUID-amplifier channels using frequency-domain-multiplexing (FDM) with digital base-band feedback. The detector array is cooled by a cryogen-free cryostat consisting of a pulse tube cooler and a two stage ADR. Initial tests of the system at the PTB beam line of the BESSY synchrotron showed stable performance and an X-ray energy resolution of 1.5 eV at 250 eV for read-out of one TES-pixel only. Next step is deployment of FDM to read-out the full array. Full performance demonstration is expected end 2008.This work was financially supported by the Dutch Organization for Scientific Research (NWO).Peer Reviewe

[email protected]; phone +31 30 2535710; fax +31 30 2540860, www.sron.nl Space Telescopes and Instrumentation

ABSTRACT The EURECA (EURopean-JapanEse Calorimeter Array) project aims to demonstrate the science performance and technological readiness of an imaging X-ray spectrometer based on a micro-calorimeter array for application in future X-ray astronomy missions, like Constellation-X and XEUS. The prototype instrument consists of a 5 x 5 pixel array of TES-based micro-calorimeters read out by by two SQUID-amplifier channels using frequency-domain-multiplexing (FDM). The SQUID-amplifiers are linearized by digital base-band feedback. The detector array is cooled in a cryogenfree cryostat consisting of a pulse tube cooler and a two stage ADR. A European-Japanese consortium designs, fabricates, and tests this prototype instrument. This paper describes the instrument concept, and shows the design and status of the various sub-units, like the TES detector array, LC-filters, SQUID-amplifiers, AC-bias sources, digital electronics, etc. Initial tests of the system at the PTB beam line of the BESSY synchrotron showed stable performance and an X-ray energy resolution of 1.58 eV at 250 eV and 2.5 eV @ 5.9 keV for the read-out of one TES-pixel only. Next step is deployment of FDM to read-out the full array. Full performance demonstration is expected mid 2009

An optimized cDNA-AFLP protocol for the identification of TDFs involved in the malus-venturia inaequalis interaction.

The interaction of apple genotypes and Venturia inaequalis, the causal agent of apple scab, is nowadays the most studied plant-pathogen interaction in a non-model woody plant. After the cloning of the apple scab resistance gene HcrVf2, the cascade of reactions induced after pathogen recognition is under investigation. To understand the gene networks that underlie plant defense responses, it is necessary to identify and characterize the genes responding to pathogen infection. Young leaf samples were collected from genetically modified \u2018Gala\u2019 plants carrying the HcrVf2 gene, at different times after inoculation with V. inaequalis. A cDNA-AFLP procedure, successfully applied to study plant-pathogen interactions, has been chosen in order to identify sequences (TDFs, transcript derived fragments) that are differentially expressed after pathogen inoculation. An optimized and highly reproducible cDNA-AFLP protocol was set up on PAGE, starting with an RNA extraction from apple leaves until gel band elution from polyacrylamide gels. The feasibility of this cDNA-AFLP protocol by the dHPLC for fragment separation in order to automatize all band elution steps will be discussed

First evidence of d-HPLC efficiency for an automated cDNA-AFLP in the apple scab resistance model.

Apple scab resistance is one of the most well-characterized plant-pathogen interactions in woody plant species. After the cloning of the apple scab resistance gene HcrVf2, we aimed at identifying the network of genes that are differentially expressed after pathogen challenge by cDNA-AFLP. As electrophoretic analyses are labour-intensive with only limited potential for automation and the recovery of DNA fragments from gels is cumbersome, we investigated the possibility of performing the cDNA-AFLP analysis by d-HPLC (denaturing high performance liquid chromatography) and automating the DNA fragments collection using the Transgenomic WAVE\uae System. Direct sequencing of the collected DNA fragments was also carried out and our preliminary results are reported

Radiation Tolerance of Normal Brain: QUANTEC 2010 and Beyond

External beam radiation therapy (EBRT) plays a central role in the management of high-grade gliomas, both for curative and palliative intent. Advances in treatment strategies have improved patient survival; therefore neurotoxicity became a significant problem. The use of ionizing radiations results in malignant cell damage and induces deterministic or stochastic side effects on normal tissues