Depth dose characteristics of electron beams at extended SSDS

The purpose of this study is to investigate the behaviour of the percent depth dose curves (%DD) and surface doses of electron beams at extended Source-to Surface Distances (SSDS). A GE Saturne 42 linear accelerator was used in this study, which produces dual photon energies of 6 and 15 MW as well as eight electron energies ranging between 4.5 and 21 MeV The % Depth Dose curves were generated with water scanning equipment at 6, 9, and 15 MeV for 4 x 4 cm(2) and 20 x 20 cm(2) field sizes at SSDS of 100 cm, 108 cm, and 115 cm. According to the measurements from surface to the depth of dose maximum the surface dose increased for all of the electron energies studied at extended SSDS for small field sizes. On the other hand for larger field sizes the surface doses decreased at extended SSDS. It was also observed that the increase in the surface dose diminished as the field size approached to 10 x 10cm(2) then the surface dose started decreasing at extended SSDS as the field sizes increased. Extended SSDs have no observable effect on the tail portion of the depth dose curves

Surgical theraphy by using tracheal sleeve pnomonectomy of a carcinoid tumor complicating a total atrioventricular block with a carinal localisation

We point out that a peculiar annihilation of a vortex-antovortex pairobserved numerically by Hertel and Schneider [Phys. Rev. Lett. 97, 177202(2006)] represents the formation and subsequent decay of a skyrmion

The effect of pull back technique on dose distribution in the junction region for Sr-90/Y-90 intravascular brachytherapy sources

The aim of this work is to investigate the effect of pull back technique on dose distribution in the junction region for intravascular brachytherapy (IVBT) with beta source train. In this purpose, the five positions which were created with 0 cm gap, 2.5, 5 mm gap and 2.5, 5 mm overlap between active seeds were studied. The measurement for IVBT beta source train (Novoste Beta Cath) with 40 mm active source length were performed using radiochromic film dosimetry. Radiochromic film measurements were performed using a specially manufactured phantom, which was made of a white polystyrene material in our department. Radiochromic films were calibrated using Co-60 beams with 50, 100, 150, 200 Gy doses at 5 cm depth within solid water phantom in the same day. In the presence of a 2.5 mm (1 seed) and 5 mm (2 seed) gap, the dose in the middle of junction region can be decreased to 44% and 23%, respectively. On the other hand, in the presence of a 2.5 mm (1 seed) and 5 mm (2 seed) overlap, the dose can be increased as to much as 62% and 74%, respectively. In an IVBT application using pull back technique, the best dose distribution in the junction region was obtained with a perfect end-to-end match and our results show that significant underdose or overdose regions in the junction can occur in the presence of gap or overlap. Therefore, to create a perfect end-to-end match in an IVBT application using pull back technique, all movements of balloon should be recorded and the sources have been carefully placed to irradiate the injured vessel part with sufficient radiation doses. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Does rectum and bladder dose vary during the course of image-guided radiotherapy in the postprostatectomy setting?

Aims and background. To assess the variations in actual doses delivered to the recturn and bladder in the course of postprostatectomy radiotherapy using kilovoltage-cone-beam computed tomography datasets acquired during image-guided radiotherapy

Endocrinopathies in Turkish children with beta thalassemia major: Results from a single center study

PubMed: 24854890The endocrinological complications in ?-thalassemia major patients do affect the life quality to a large extend. In this study, the endocrinological complications of 47 ?-thalassemia patients, who have been followed-up at our hospital's pediatric hematology department, were evaluated. Out of ?-thalassemia major cases included to this study, the 55.3% was male and 44.7% was female. The patients' mean levels of ferritin, whose mean age was 10.0 ± 4.5 years (2-20 years), were 2497 ± 1469 ng/mL (472-8558 ng/mL). At least one endocrinological pathology in 27 out of 47 (57.4%) and more than one endocrinological pathology in 14 out of 47 (29.7%) thalassemia patients were observed. The most frequently observed complication in followed-up cases was vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency (78.2%). The other complications in decreasing order were pubertal failure (41.6%), growth retardation (25.5%), decreased bone-mineral density (22.2%), secondary hyperparathyroidism (11.5%), overt hypothyroidism (4.25%), subclinical hypothyroidism (2.12%), and impaired glucose tolerance (2.12%). There was no statistically significant difference between serum mean ferritin level and endocrin complications (P > .05). Four patients (8.5%) had decreased signal intensity in pituitary magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) but this finding was not associated with ferritin levels (P = .87). MRI parameters were similar between patients with and without gonadal dysfunction. Mean height of the pituitary gland was 4.98 ± 1.1 mm (3-9 mm) and this was similar to those normal values in the literature. Ferritin levels were not correlated with pituitary height (P > .05). Beta thalassemia major, having the potential of leading to multisystemic complications, is a chronic disease that should be treated and followed-up by a multidisciplinary approach. Due to frequently encountered endocrinological complications, beta thalassemic patients should be followed-up regularly by hematology and endocrinology departments in coordination. © 2014 Informa Healthcare USA, Inc

Multivariate survival analysis of patients with operable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

We point out that a peculiar annihilation of a vortex-antovortex pairobserved numerically by Hertel and Schneider [Phys. Rev. Lett. 97, 177202(2006)] represents the formation and subsequent decay of a skyrmion

Measurement of C-reactive protein and Prostaglandin F-2 alpha Metabolite Concentrations in Differentiation of Canine Pyometra and Cystic Endometrial Hyperplasia/Mucometra

Canine pyometra is a dioestrus period disease in which systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) is a common outcome due to the response of the body to the bacterial infection. The purpose of this study was i) to differentiate canine pyometra and cystic endometrial hyperplasia (CEH)/mucometra by measuring serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and prostaglandin F-2 alpha metabolite (PGFM) concentrations in blood and ii) to compare serum concentrations of CRP and PGFM in bitches with a pathological uterus (pyometra or CEH/mucometra) to concentrations in bitches with a healthy uterus. Mean CRP concentrations were found significantly higher (p < 0.001) in dogs with pyometra compared to those with CEH/mucometra or healthy uterus. However, no statistical difference could be detected between the groups for mean PGFM concentrations. Mean white blood cell count (WBC), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and total protein concentrations were found significantly higher (p < 0.001) in dogs with pyometra. Escherichia coli was the most frequently isolated microorganism from dogs with pyometra (64.3%). Edwardsiella spp. was detected in a single case of pyometra for the first time. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that serum CRP concentrations were increased in dogs with pyometra and thus we conclude that serum CRP concentration but not PGFM might be useful as a marker to differentiate a case of CEH/mucometra from pyometra in female dogs. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report in which Edwardsiella spp. has been isolated in the canine uterus

Comparison of the classification ratios of four depression rating scales commonly used in Turkey

Objective: According to literature more than 20 depression scales are in use in Turkey. Considering that depression is a popular area of study, it may not seem abnormally unusual that there are so many measuring scales available. However, so many measuring instruments may lead to a problem of different sensitivity levels and raise the question of whether or not all the instruments have the same sensitivity in measuring the particular entity. The purpose of this study is to compare the four commonly used self-report scales adapted into Turkish, namely CES-Depression Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (depression subscale) by cross-validation. Method: These depression scales had been applied to three hundred and forty-one subjects and total scores of the subjects for each scale have been obtained. Next, the sample group was divided into two according to group averages of total scale scores. Normative scores and cut-off scores have not been considered because the study objective was to compare these scales on a theoretical basis. The groups below and above average for each of the four scales have been compared by the ROC curve analyzes. Results: The results showed that the total score of Beck Depression Inventory had been grouped correctly by the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale at a ratio of 0.871, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (depression subscale) at a ratio of 0.885, and by CES-Depression Scale at a ratio of 0.874. The total score of CES-Depression Scale had been correctly grouped by Beck Depression Inventory at a ratio of 0.871, the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale at a ratio of 0.869, and by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (depression subscale) at a ratio of 0.862. The total score of the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale has been correctly grouped by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale depression subscale at a ratio of 0.848, Beck Depression Inventory at a ratio of 0.872, and by CES-Depression Scale at a ratio of 0.878. The total score of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (depression subscale) has been correctly grouped by the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale at a ratio of 0.848, Beck Depression Inventory at a ratio of 0.889, and by CES-Depression Scale at a ratio of 0.887. Conclusion: The overall results showed that the scales cross-validated with ratios ranging from 0.85 to 0.89. The classifying ratios obtained by ROC analysis were similar across four depression scales