Monacha samsunensis (Pfeiffer, 1868): another Anatolian species introduced to Western Europe, where it is known as Monacha atacis Gittenberger & de Winter, 1985 (Gastropoda: Eupulmonata: Hygromiidae)

Populations of Monacha atacis from southern Occitania in France and of M. samsunensis from northern Anatolia in Turkey (Atakum/Samsun and Kastamonu) were investigated by an integrative approach based on morphological (shell and genitalia) and molecular (mitochondrial and nuclear gene sequences) features. Morphological examination revealed a complex pattern of variation within and between geographically separated populations, while molecular analysis showed strong similarity between the two species, confirming earlier suggestions that the species are conspecific. Pfeiffer’s name Helix samsunensis introduced in 1868 has priority over the name M. atacis given by Gittenberger & de Winter in 1985. © 2022 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group

Dose homogeneity in the group of 15 patients undergoing fractionated total body irradiation

MethodsFractionated total body irradiation (FTBI) before bone marrow transplantation (BMT) was performed in 15 patients with different proliferative diseases.Common regimen of 12 Gy in 8 fractions (four days) was applied with the reduction of dose to lungs to 9.4 Gy.ResultsMidline dose discrepancies ranged from −15.9% to +9.9% and exceeded ±10% of prescribed dose in one patient. Outside midline dose discrepancies ranged from −16.5% to +19.8% and exceeded ±10% of prescribed dose in six patients.Dose determination error was estimated for between 2.8% and 5% depending on the body part.ConclusionsEstimated error of the dose determination increased dose deviations from prescribed values from between −1.6% and +4.8% to between −5.2% and +9.3% in midline and from −8.4% and +19.8% to between −12.0% and +24.8% across transverses

32 Porównanie rozkładu dawek w ciele chorego podczas napromienianiania całego ciała w technice radioterapiiCo-60 i akceleratorem X 15 MeV

Napromienianie całego ciała stosuje się w procesie leczenia chorych na niektóre nowotwory układu krwiotwórczego. Celem napromieniania jest wytrzebienie komórek nowotworowych rozsianych na całym ciele, wywołanie immunosupresji i przygotowanie miejsca pod nowo przeszczepiony szpik.MetodaNapromieniano dwudziestu chorych przy użyciu aparatu kobaltowego Co-60 i sześciu przy użyciu akceleratora X 15 MeV. Zastosowano pola boczne i przednio –tylne (AP/PA). W polach AP/PA stosowano osłony płuc. Łączna dawka wynosiła 12,6 Gy w całym ciele i 9 Gy w płucach. Ścianę klatki piersiowej w obu przypadkach dopromieniano elektronami o energii 6 MeV–10 MeV.Do pomiarów dawki in vivo zastosowano detektory termoluminescencyjne i półprzewodnikowe rozmieszczone w 10 przekrojach referencyjnych na wejściu i wyjsciu promieniowania do i z ciała.WynikiNiejednorodność dawki w przypadku stosowania promieniowania Co-60 wynosiła od −0,8% do +7,9% w linii środkowej ciała i od 0,5% do +5,8 dla promieniowania X 15 MV. Odpowiednio poza linią środkową ciała od −1,6% do +8,7% dla Co-60 i od −1,2% do +6,9% dla X 15 MeV.Wnioski-zastosowanie promieniowania X 15 MeV zmniejszyło niejednorodność dawki w całym ciele do −1,2%÷ +6,9%-zastosowanie promieniowania X 15 MeV skróciło czas napromieniania poprzez eliminację konieczności obracania chorego podczas pól AP/PA oraz przenoszenia chorego na drugi aparat (akcelerator) w celu dopromienienia ciała elektronami

28. Comparison of doses measured by thermolumi-nescent and semiconductor detectors during total body irradiation at Cobalt-60 and 15 meV linear accelerator

In-vivo dosimetry is an important way of dose verification during total body irradiation (TBI).AimThe aim of this paper was to compare the doses measured in-vivo with two types of detectors: thermoluminescent (TLD) and semiconductor (SEM) during TBI.PatientsSince 1993, 38 patients have TBI performed, out of them – 22 on Cobalt-60 and 16 on 15 MeV linear accelerator. Total dose of 12,6 Gy was prescribed and delivered in 8 fractions during 4 days. Combination of lateral and anterior-posterior fields, with lung shields was used. Doses were measured with the aim to verify primarily calculated doses (in ten reference points in the body).MethodsMeasured doses were normalised to those pre-calculated. Mean doses and their standard deviations (SD) were calculated separately for each of ten sections, for doses measured with TLD and SEM detectors respectively. Analysis was carried out for doses measured in points lying on the beam to the body entry during irradiation at lateral fields.ResultsMean dose for the whole group of patients treated on Cobalt-60, for all ten sections together, measured with TLD detectors was equal to 1,05 (normalised to calculated dose) with standard deviation (SD) of 3,4% and for SEM was equal to 0,98 with SD = 2,5%. Respectively, for 15 MeV linear accelerator mean dose for TLD was 1,05 with SD = 3,1% and 1,02 with SD = 3,1%.ConclusionsMean differences between doses measured with TLD and SEM dosimeters at beam entry at lateral fields were equal to 6,8% for Cobalt-60 and 3,1% for 15 MeV

Effectiveness of „mobile” and stationary X-ray units and computed tomography in brachytherapy treatment planning

CT, mobile and stationary x-ray cameras were used with the aim of comparing the source localization effectiveness in brachytherapy planning. Properties of orthogonal X-ray pictures were discussed and their impact on dose planning in brachytherapy was evaluated.Differences between doses calculated for applicator positions localized by stationary and „mobile” X-ray units ranged between 6% and 11% in the rectum and 10% in the bladder, respectively

19. Does in vivo dosimetry improve quality of radiotherapy: evaluation of 1000 patient's checks

Radiotherapy is a part of a complex treatment administered to patients with cancer. It uses a radiation which is generated and processed by specialized and sophisticated equipment.Since the beginning of the 20th century the main idea of radiotherapy remained unchanged. It is based on a proven interaction between radiation and human tissues resulting in their partial or total damage. Over the years more knowledge has been gained, especially on fractionation, doses and the reactions of different tissues and organs. The new sources of radiation have begun to be used, including high energy photon end electron beam accelerators. It became evident that major advance in clinical results might be achieved by limitation of the dose strictly to the target volume (tumour) and by sparing normal tissues.The issue of critical importance was the execution of the prescribed treatment. When treatment planning with the accuracy expressed in milimmitres became possible it it had to be proved that subsequent treatments would make it possible to assure such accuracy. In-vivo dosimetry was believed to be of help in increasing the accuracy in radiotherapy. Since its aim was not to modify the treatment but only to execute it according to a prescribed schedule dosimetry should bring about only benefits when implemented in the routine workHowever, being an extensive procedure, dosimetry consumed a lot of effort. In regular work, it is difficult to imagine that each beam could be measured in-vivo for each fraction. Measurements at more than one point for one beam were only considered for special and rare procedures such as mantle fields.In the practice of radiotherapy as carried out at the Greatpoland Cancer Centre routine in-vivo dosimetry was started in 1999, first applied to the patient's head and neck, and then extended to all patients. At least two measurements for each patient were made during the whole treatment. Whenever discrepancy occurred, exceeding 10% between the calculated and measured dose, the search for its cause was initiated. The very first problem involving the implementation of our method to the routine, was the number of dosimeters required. Transporting the dosimeter from one unit to another when dosimetry was requested involved a larger error due to the instability of the detecting unit. Another problem was the staff required. At first, physicists took care of dosimetry, but then technologists were trained who are now making the majority of measurements. A protocol from each measurement is included in the patient's record and is shown for approval to the physician.For the evaluation of our method a group of 1123 patients were analysed: 850 patients with head and neck cancer, 228 with breast cancer and 45 with lung cancer. The number of measurements was at least twice as large because each patient was irradiated from more than one beam.The mean percent differences between the calculated doses and those measured in-vivo were −1.5% (Standard Deviation, SD of 7.8) for the head and neck, +3.4% (SD=4.9) for breast, and −2.4% (4.3) for the lungs.The estimation of the error usinf a total differential method for a single measurement gives the value of more than 10% (upper limit of error). However, the statistical analysis of the measurements on the whole group with nearly a normal distribution provided a more realistic error of about 6%.ConclusionsIn-vivo dosimetry is a standard procedure in conformal radiotherapy. It does not help to avoid casual and even large errors since it is not done for all beams every time. It makes it possible to reduce the mean error in whole group of patients, which in effect should lead to more effective radiotherapy

Intravaginal brachytherapy for patients with endometrial cancer after surgery-review of technical developments

The use of intravaginal brachytherapy as a post-operative procedure to reduce the incidence of reccurence of carcinoma of the endometrium is well known. We analysed 3 differents methods of intravaginal brachytherapy: conventional brachytherapy Ra-226, LDR after-loading technic Cez 137 and HDR after-loading brachytherapy lrydium 192. In the period 1953–1986 in Gynaecological Radiotherapy Department in Poznań, brachytherapy with vaginal applicators containing 30 mg radium, filtrated by 2 mm Pb, were used after total hysterectomy. The given dose was 3000 mgh in 100 hours of one insertion. Since 1986 Caesium 137 in one oblong applicator has been used to fill the vagina. Usualy four sources were employed and treatment time was about 24 hours. On the basis of the radiological verification in two planes, the doses were calculated at 0,5 cm from the applicator surface and at the contact point of the contrast image of the Foley catheter placed in the bladder neck. Dose in the rectum was calculated at the distance shown by a marker situated in the rectum. The patients were treated to the total dose of 30 Gy. From 1995 HDR after-loading inreasingly replaced LDR after-loading in intravaginal brachytherapy. With iridium 192 the overall dose was applied in three fractions-each 6 Gy calculated at 0,5 cm from the surface of the oblong applicator. Complications were graded with EORTC\RTOG criteria

47. Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in first and second complete remission conditioned with fractionated total body irradiation and etoposide or cyclophosphamide

Patients and methodsFrom 1993 to 2001 thirty two children underwent bone marrow transplantation (BMT) for ALL (12 in I CR and 20 in II CR after early BM or BM/organ relapse). Except 2 syngeneic all other were HLA-identical siblings transplants. All patients (pts) were conditioned with FTBI 2×1,5 Gy for 4 days (total dose 12 Gy) with lung shielding (9 Gy) and CY 60 mg/kg i.v for 2 days (total dose 120 mg/kg) (n=1 in I CR and n = 11 in II CR) or VP 60 mg/kg i.v (n = 11 in I CR and n = 9 in II CR), Pts in I CR have been given 1,1–4,9×108 MNC/kg (med. 2,7×108/kg), while pts in II CR 1,9–4,0×108 MNC/kg (med. 2,7×108/kg). For GvHD prevention CsA 3 mg/kg/d i.v was administered alone in 22 pts (n = 9 in I CR and n = 13 in II CR) or in combination with “short” MTX +/− PRED in 8 pts (n = 3 in I CR and n = 5 in II CR). Two pts transplanted with syngeneic BM received no GvHD prevention. Regimen related toxicity (RRT) was graded according to the system developed by Bearman et al. (1988).ResultsOnly mild or moderate expression of RRT was observed (GI toxicity, I°− 80%, II° −4%; stomatitis I° −40%, II° −20%; hepatic toxicity I°− 28%; renal, bladder and cardiac toxicity I°− 4%) and no transplant related deaths occured (TRM=0%). Among 12 pts transplanted in I CR only one child relapsed 4 months from BMT, while remaining 11 pts are alive in CCR with a median follow-up of 33months (range 6 to 66 months) and 92% probability of 5-year EFS. Of 20 children transplanted in II CR 6 relapsed 1–14 months from BMT (median 6,5 months). Fourteen of them remain in CCR with a median follow-up 19,5 months (range 1 to 96 months) and 66% probability of 8-year EFS.Conclusions1.In children with ALL the FTBI-12 Gy-containing regimen is well tolerated without the life-threatening toxic complications.2.FTBI-12 Gy-containing regimen demonstrates very good antileukemic efficacy for HR-ALL in I CR, but only limited for ALL in II CA.3.3. In context of good tolerance of FTBI in a total dose of 12 Gy and its limited antileukemic efficacy in children with ALL in II CR the escalation of FTBI total dose from 12 Gy to 13,2 Gy appears to be justified in those children. Supported by grant KBN 4 PO5E 108 18

Effect of irradiation on interleukin 6 and soluble interleukin 6 receptor modified melanoma genetic vaccine

We have designed phase I/II human melanoma gene therapy clinical protocol. The aim of the study was to actively immunize HLA-A1 and/or HLA-A2-positive patients with melanoma with an admixture of irradiated autologous tumor cells and allogeneic melanoma cells genetically engineered to secrete IL-6 and sIL-6R in order to elicit or enhance specific and nonspecific antimelanoma immune responses to autologous tumor cells to eradicate distant melanoma lesions. Irradiation of autologous and allogeneic tumor cells is a key step in preparation of cellular vaccine because of two major reasons, (i) it inhibits cell proliferation which is crucial in the case of autologous cells which may form a tumor; (ii) it increases melanoma vaccine immunogenicity. The aim of the study was to estimate the optimal dose of ionizing radiation which will provide sterilization of both autologous and allogeneic melanoma cells and will ensure cytokine secretion.Human melanoma cells (Mich-1) were transduced with IL-6 and sIL-6R cDNA using double copy bicistronic retroviral vector. Parental and transduced cells were seeded at in six-well tissue culture plates and were irradiated with 10, 50, 100 and 200 Gy. Secretion of both recombinant proteins into culture was analyzed before and 24, 48,72,96 h and 6, 7, 10 and 12 days following irradiation. At the same time adherent cells were enumerated, evaluated’ for viability and proliferation. At 24, 48, 72 and 96 h postirradiation specific IL-6 and sIL-6R mRNA levels were analyzed.Irradiation of gene modified cells inhibited their proliferation in the dose dependant manner. Dose of 50 Gy sufficiently affected cell proliferation, however, for safety reasons we decided to use the dose of 100 Gy for vaccine preparation. Irradiation did not inhibit secretion of IL-6 and sIL-6R. In contrary, on a per cell basis it significantly increased their secretion which lasted 12 days postirradiation. Interestingly, we did not observe dose or time dependent differences in specific mRNA cellular levels suggesting that increased secretion of both proteins is regulated not on the transcriptional but rather on the posttranscriptional level. Taking all these facts into account we concluded that irradiation of tumor cells may provide an effective and safe approach for gene-modified vaccine preparation

Effect of irradiation on interleukin 6 and soluble interleukin 6 receptor modified melanoma genetic vaccine

We have designed phase I/II human melanoma gene therapy clinical protocol. The aim of the study was to actively immunize HLA-A1 and/or HLA-A2-positive patients with melanoma with an admixture of irradiated autologous tumor cells and allogeneic melanoma cells genetically engineered to secrete IL-6 and sIL-6R in order to elicit or enhance specific and nonspecific anti-melanoma immune responses to autologous tumor cells to eradicate distant melanoma lesions. Irradiation of autologous and allogeneic tumor cells is a key step in preparation of cellular vaccine because of two major reasons, (i) it inhibits cell proliferation which is crucial in the case of autologous cells which may form a tumor; (ii) it increases melanoma vaccine immunogenicity. The aim of the study was to estimate the optimal dose of ionizing radiation which will provide sterilization of both autologous and allogeneic melanoma cells and will ensure cytokine secretion.Human melanoma cells (Mich-1) were transduced with IL-6 and sIL-6R cDNA using double copy bicistronic retroviral vector. Parental and transduced cells were seeded at in six-well tissue culture plates and were irradiated with 10, 50, 100 and 200 Gy. Secretion of both recombinant proteins into culture was analyzed before and 24, 48, 72, 96 h and 6, 7, 10 and 12 days following irradiation. At the same time adherent cells were enumerated, evaluated for viability and proliferation. At 24, 48, 72 and 96 h postirradiation specific IL-6 and sIL-6R mRNA levels were analyzed.Irradiation of gene modified cells inhibited their proliferation in the dose dependant manner. Dose of 50 Gy sufficiently affected cell proliferation, however, for safety reasons we decided to use the dose of 100 Gy for vaccine preparation. Irradiation did not inhibit secretion of IL-6 and sIL-6R. In contrary, on a per cell basis it significantly increased their secretion which lasted 12 days postirradiation. Interestingly, we did not observe dose or time dependent differences in specific mRNA cellular levels suggesting that increased secretion of both proteins is regulated not on the transcriptional but rather on the posttranscriptional level. Taking all these facts into account we concluded that irradiation of tumor cells may provide an effective and safe approach for gene-modified vaccine preparation