Fabrication and evaluation of bilateral Helmholtz radiofrequency coil for thermo-stable breast image with reduced artifacts

PURPOSE: The positron emission tomography (PET)-magnetic resonance (MR) system is a newly emerging technique that yields hybrid images with high-resolution anatomical and metabolic information. With PET-MR imaging, a definitive diagnosis of breast abnormalities will be possible with high spatial accuracy and images will be acquired for the optimal fusion of anatomic locations. Therefore, we propose a PET-compatible two-channel breast MR coil with minimal disturbance to image acquisition which can be used for simultaneous PET-MR imaging in patients with breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For coil design and construction, the conductor loops of the Helmholtz coil were tuned, matched, and subdivided with nonmagnetic components. Element values were optimized with an electromagnetic field simulation. Images were acquired on a GE 600 PET-computed tomography (CT) and GE 3.0 T MR system. For this study, we used the T1-weighted image (volunteer; repetition time (TR), 694 ms; echo time (TE), 9.6 ms) and T2-weighted image (phantom; TR, 8742 ms; TE, 104 ms) with the fast spin-echo sequence. RESULTS: The results of measuring image factors with the proposed radiofrequency (RF) coil and standard conventional RF coil were as follows: signal-to-noise ratio (breast; 207.7 vs. 175.2), percent image uniformity (phantom; 89.22%-91.27% vs. 94.63%-94.77%), and Hounsfield units (phantom; -4.51 vs. 2.38). CONCLUSIONS: Our study focused on the feasibility of proposed two-channel Helmholtz loops (by minimizing metallic components and soldering) for PET-MR imaging and found the comparable image quality to the standard conventional coil. We believe our work will help significantly to improve image quality with the development of a less metallic breast MR coil

Customers\u27 perception of the attributes of different formats of menu labeling: a comparison between Korea and the U.S

Background/objectives: This study compared the perception of customers from Korea and the U.S. on the attributes of different formats of menu labeling The specific objectives were 1) to compare the customers\u27 perceived usefulness, ease-of-understanding, clarity, and attractiveness of different formats of menu labeling between Korea and the U.S.; and 2) to compare the customers\u27 use intention to different formats of menu labeling between Korea and the U.S. Subjects/methods: A survey was conducted in Korea and the U.S. The participants were allocated randomly to view 1 of the 7 restaurant menus that varied according to the following types of menu labeling formats: (type 1) kcal format, (type 2) traffic-light format, (type 3) percent daily intake (%DI) format, (type 4) kcal + traffic-light format, (type 5) kcal + %DI format, (type 6) traffic-light + %DI format, and (type 7) kcal + traffic-light + %DI format. A total of 279 Koreans and 347 Americans were entered in the analysis. An independent t-test and 1-way analysis of variance were performed. Results: Koreans rated type 4 format (kcal + traffic light) the highest for usefulness and attractiveness. In contrast, Americans rated type 7 (kcal + traffic light + %DI) the highest for usefulness, ease-of-understanding, attractiveness, and clarity. Significant differences were found in the customers\u27 perceived attributes to menu labeling between Korea and the U.S. Americans perceived higher for all the 4 attributes of menu labeling than Koreans. Conclusions: The study is unique in identifying the differences in the attributes of different formats of menu labeling between Korea and the U.S. Americans rated the most complicated type of menu labeling as the highest perception for the attributes, and showed a higher use intention of menu labeling than Koreans. This study contributes to academia and industry for practicing menu labeling in different countries using different formats

Therapeutic Effect of Recombinant Human Epidermal Growth Factor (RhEGF) on Mucositis in Patients Undergoing Radiotherapy, With or Without Chemotherapy, for Head And Neck Cancer A Double-blind Placebo-controlled Prospective Phase 2 Multi-institutional Clinical Trial

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the efficacy of topically applied human recombinant epidermal growth factor (rhEGF) for the treatment of oral mucositis induced by radiotherapy (RT), with or without chemotherapy, in patients with head and neck cancer. METHODS: Patients receiving definitive chemoradiotherapy, definitive RT, or postoperative RT to the oral cavity or oropharynx were recruited from 6 institutions and enrolled in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2 trial. Patients were assigned to a placebo group or to 1 of 3 EGF-treatment groups (10, 50, or 100 mu g/mL doses, delivered in a spray, twice daily). The grade of mucositis was evaluated using the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) scoring criteria. Responders to EGF were defined as having an RTOG grade of 2 or lower at the fourth- or fifth-week examinations during RT, but an enduring RTOG grade 2 for 2 weeks was an exception. RESULTS: Of the 113 patients included in the study, 28 received placebo and 29 received EGF at 10 mu g/mL, 29 at 50 mu g/mL, and 27 at 100 mu g/mL. EGF significantly reduced the incidence of severe oral mucositis at the primary endpoint (a 64% response was observed with SO mu g/mL EGF vs a 37% response in the control group; P = .0246). CONCLUSIONS: The EGF oral spray may have potential benefit for oral mucositis in patients undergoing RT for head and neck cancer. Phase 3 studies are ongoing to confirm these results. Cancer 2009;115:3699-708. (C) 2009 American Cancer Society.This study was supported by a grant from the National R&D Program for Cancer Central, Ministry of Health, Welfare and Family Affairs, Republic of Korea (0620270).Lee KK, 2008, INT J RADIAT ONCOL, V71, P1230, DOI 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2008.03.041Lee SW, 2007, INT J RADIAT ONCOL, V67, P1172, DOI 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2006.10.038Hong JP, 2006, ANN PLAS SURG, V56, P394, DOI 10.1097/01.sap.0000198731.12407.0cBuentzel J, 2006, INT J RADIAT ONCOL, V64, P684, DOI 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2005.08.005Fung K, 2005, INT J RADIAT ONCOL, V63, P1395, DOI 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2005.05.004Masucci G, 2005, MED ONCOL, V22, P247Fowler JF, 2003, RADIOTHER ONCOL, V69, P161, DOI 10.1016/S0167-8140(03)00231-7Garden AS, 2003, SEMIN RADIAT ONCOL, V13, P267, DOI 10.1016/S1053-4296(03)00028-6Dorr W, 2002, INT J RADIAT ONCOL, V52, P911Dorr W, 2001, RADIOTHER ONCOL, V61, P223Sutherland SE, 2001, INT J RADIAT ONCOL, V49, P917Vokes EE, 2000, SEMIN ONCOL, V27, P34Trotti A, 2000, INT J RADIAT ONCOL, V47, P1Carter DL, 1999, HEAD NECK-J SCI SPEC, V21, P760Plevova P, 1999, ORAL ONCOL, V35, P453Kaanders JHAM, 1999, RADIOTHER ONCOL, V50, P247Cengiz M, 1999, J CLIN GASTROENTEROL, V28, P40Sonis ST, 1998, ORAL ONCOL, V34, P39Epstein JB, 1997, ORAL ONCOL, V33, P359Dische S, 1997, RADIOTHER ONCOL, V44, P123Alden ME, 1996, RADIOLOGY, V201, P675Lefebvre JL, 1996, J NATL CANCER I, V88, P890Teo PML, 1996, BRIT J RADIOL, V69, P241DORR W, 1995, RADIOTHER ONCOL, V37, P100GIRDLER NM, 1995, AM J CLIN ONCOL-CANC, V18, P403DORR W, 1994, INT J RADIAT BIOL, V66, P157PROCACCINO F, 1994, GASTROENTEROLOGY, V107, P12INO M, 1993, ACTA OTO-LARYNGOL, P126WOLF GT, 1991, NEW ENGL J MED, V324, P1685NOGUCHI S, 1991, AM J PHYSIOL, V260, pE620BARKER G, 1991, ORAL SURG ORAL MED O, V71, P288DORR W, 1991, VIRCHOWS ARCH B, V60, P287CHRISTEN RD, 1990, J CLIN INVEST, V86, P1632WEAVER LT, 1990, GASTROENTEROLOGY, V98, P828EPSTEIN JB, 1989, INT J RADIAT ONCOL, V16, P1571WATERFIELD MD, 1989, LANCET 0603, P1243THESLEFF I, 1988, LIFE SCI, V43, P13OLSEN PS, 1986, GUT, V27, P1443KAMATA N, 1986, CANCER RES, V46, P1648KIM JH, 1986, AM J CLIN ONCOL-CANC, V9, P132COHEN S, 1983, CANCER, V51, P1787IMAI Y, 1982, CANCER RES, V42, P4394BARNES DW, 1982, J CELL BIOL, V93, P1GILL GN, 1981, NATURE, V293, P305PARSONS JT, 1980, INT J RADIAT ONCOL, V6, P1645STEIDLER NE, 1980, ARCH ORAL BIOL, V25, P37CARPENTER G, 1980, SCIENCE, V210, P198GRESIK EW, 1979, AM J ANAT, V156, P83HEITZ PU, 1978, GUT, V19, P408GREGORY H, 1975, NATURE, V257, P325SAVAGE CR, 1972, J BIOL CHEM, V247, P7612COHEN S, 1962, J BIOL CHEM, V237, P1555

Customers' perception of the attributes of different formats of menu labeling: a comparison between Korea and the U.S

Background/objectives: This study compared the perception of customers from Korea and the U.S. on the attributes of different formats of menu labeling The specific objectives were 1) to compare the customers' perceived usefulness, ease-of-understanding, clarity, and attractiveness of different formats of menu labeling between Korea and the U.S.; and 2) to compare the customers' use intention to different formats of menu labeling between Korea and the U.S. Subjects/methods: A survey was conducted in Korea and the U.S. The participants were allocated randomly to view 1 of the 7 restaurant menus that varied according to the following types of menu labeling formats: (type 1) kcal format, (type 2) traffic-light format, (type 3) percent daily intake (%DI) format, (type 4) kcal + traffic-light format, (type 5) kcal + %DI format, (type 6) traffic-light + %DI format, and (type 7) kcal + traffic-light + %DI format. A total of 279 Koreans and 347 Americans were entered in the analysis. An independent t-test and 1-way analysis of variance were performed. Results: Koreans rated type 4 format (kcal + traffic light) the highest for usefulness and attractiveness. In contrast, Americans rated type 7 (kcal + traffic light + %DI) the highest for usefulness, ease-of-understanding, attractiveness, and clarity. Significant differences were found in the customers' perceived attributes to menu labeling between Korea and the U.S. Americans perceived higher for all the 4 attributes of menu labeling than Koreans. Conclusions: The study is unique in identifying the differences in the attributes of different formats of menu labeling between Korea and the U.S. Americans rated the most complicated type of menu labeling as the highest perception for the attributes, and showed a higher use intention of menu labeling than Koreans. This study contributes to academia and industry for practicing menu labeling in different countries using different formats.This article is published as Bosselman R, Choi HM, Lee KS, Kim E, Cha J, Jeong JY, Jo M, Ham S. Customers' perception of the attributes of different formats of menu labeling: a comparison between Korea and the U.S. Nutr Res Pract. 2020 Jun;14(3):286-297. doi: 10.4162/nrp.2020.14.3.286. </p

Comparison of college students' behavior toward nutrition information communication between Korea and the US

Background/objectives: The expansion of menu labeling to restaurants has created a need to study customers' behavior toward nutrition information. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to compare college students' behavior toward nutrition information communication between Korea and the US. This study consisted of three objectives: 1) to compare the frequency of usage as well as degree of trust regarding smartphone-based communication channels in the acquisition of nutrition information among college students between Korea and the US, 2) to compare knowledge-sharing behavior related to nutrition information among college students between Korea and the US, and 3) to identify the role of country in the process of knowledge-sharing behavior. Subjects/methods: A survey was distributed via the web to college students in Korea and the US. Data were collected in the 2nd week of March 2017. Completed responses were collected from 423 Koreans and 280 Americans. Differences between Koreans and Americans were evaluated for statistical significance using a t-test. In order to verify the effects of knowledge self-efficacy and transactive memory capability on knowledge-sharing behavior related to nutrition information, a regression analysis was performed. Results: Significant differences were found in the frequency of usage as well as degree of trust in communication channels related to nutrition information between Korean and American college students. While knowledge self-efficacy and tractive memory capability had positive effects on knowledge-sharing behavior related to nutrition information, country had a significant effect on the process. Conclusions: This study is the first to compare customer behavior toward nutrition information acquisition and sharing between Korea and the US. Comparative research on nutrition information revealed differences among the different countries. Therefore, this study contributes to the body of knowledge on the nutrition information research, in particular, by providing a comparison study between countries.This article is published as Kim CS, Bosselman R, Choi HM, Lee KS, Kim E, Moon H, Jang YJ, Ham S. Comparison of college students' behavior toward nutrition information communication between Korea and the US. Nutr Res Pract. 2020 Aug;14(4):401-411. doi: 10.4162/nrp.2020.14.4.401. </p

Chemoradiotherapy versus surgery followed by postoperative radiotherapy in tonsil cancer: Korean Radiation Oncology Group (KROG) study

Abstract Background Treatment of tonsil cancer, a subset of oropahryngeal cancer, varies between surgery and radiotherapy. Well-designed studies in tonsil cancer have been rare and it is still controversial which treatment is optimal. This study aimed to assess the outcome and failure patterns in tonsil cancer patients treated with either approaches. Methods We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 586 patients with tonsil cancer, treated between 1998 and 2010 at 16 hospitals in Korea. Two hundred and one patients received radiotherapy and chemotherapy (CRT), while 385 patients received surgery followed by radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy (SRT). Compared with the SRT group, patients receiving CRT were older, with more advanced T stage and received higher radiotherapy dose given by intensity modulation techniques. Overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), locoregional recurrence-free survival (LRRFS), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), and clinicopathologic factors were analyzed. Results At follow-up, the 5-year OS, DFS, LRRFS and DMFS rates in the CRT group were 82, 78, 89, and 94%, respectively, and in the SRT group were 81, 73, 87, and 89%, respectively. Old age, current smoking, poor performance status, advanced T stage, nodal involvement, and induction chemotherapy were associated with poor OS. Induction chemotherapy had a negative prognostic impact on OS in both treatment groups (p = 0.001 and p = 0.033 in the CRT and SRT groups, respectively). Conclusions In our multicenter, retrospective study of tonsil cancer patients, the combined use of radiotherapy and chemotherapy resulted in comparable oncologic outcome to surgery followed by postoperative radiotherapy, despite higher-risk patients having been treated with the definitive radiotherapy. Induction chemotherapy approaches combined with either surgery or definitive radiotherapy were associated with unfavorable outcomes