First events from the CNGS neutrino beam detected in the OPERA experiment

The OPERA neutrino detector at the underground Gran Sasso Laboratory (LNGS) was designed to perform the first detection of neutrino oscillations in appearance mode, through the study of nu_mu to nu_tau oscillations. The apparatus consists of a lead/emulsion-film target complemented by electronic detectors. It is placed in the high-energy, long-baseline CERN to LNGS beam (CNGS) 730 km away from the neutrino source. In August 2006 a first run with CNGS neutrinos was successfully conducted. A first sample of neutrino events was collected, statistically consistent with the integrated beam intensity. After a brief description of the beam and of the various sub-detectors, we report on the achievement of this milestone, presenting the first data and some analysis results.Comment: Submitted to the New Journal of Physic

Transanal endoscopic microsurgery for the treatment of selected patients with distal rectal cancer: 15 Years experience

Background: Local therapy for early rectal cancer is a valid alternative to the classical radical operation, which has a higher morbidity and mortality rate. The use of high-dose preoperative radiation appears to enhance the options for sphincter-saving surgery even for T2-T3 rectal cancer patients with effective local control. The authors report their experience with transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) used to manage selected cases of distal rectal cancer without evidence of nodal or distant metastasis (N0-M0). Methods: The study enrolled 196 patients with rectal cancer (51 T1, 84 T2, and 61 T3). All the patients staged preoperatively as T2 and T3 underwent preoperative high-dose radiotherapy, and since 1997, patients younger than 70 years in good general condition also have undergone preoperative chemotherapy. Results: Minor complications were observed in 17 patients (8.6%) and major complications in only 3 patients (1.5%). The definitive histology was 33 pT0 (17%), 73 pT1 (37%), 66 pT2 (34%), and 24 pT3 (12%). Eight patients (5 pT2 and 3 pT3) experienced local recurrence (4.1%). The rectal cancer-specific survival rate at the end of the follow-up period was 100% for pT1, 90% for pT2, and 77% for pT3 patients. Conclusions: Patients with T1 cancer and favorable histologic features may undergo local excision alone, whereas those with T2 and T3 rectal cancer require preoperative radiochemotherapy. The results in the authors' experience after TEM appear not to be substantially different in terms of local recurrence and survival rate from those described for conventional surgery. © 2008 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

An application of visibile human database in radiotherapy: tutorial for image guided externalradiotherapy (TIGER) Radiother Oncol. PMID: 15028403Luogo e data di pubblicazione: ELSEVIER SCI IRELAND LTD, CLARE, IRELAND, 2004

Abstract: Background and purpose: Three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy and intensity modulated radiotherapy allow accurate dose delivery on target volumes. Due to the different background among specialists involved in target volume definition, the contouring emerges as one of the most questionable steps in treatment planning procedures. A software tool devoted to contouring training, named tutorial for image guided external radiotherapy ('TIGER'), based on the Visible Human Project images data-set, is described. Materials and methods: TIGER is addressed to facilitate the learning of axial anatomical images, to promote the training and reproducibility in contouring process, to allow the availability of a tool to enhance the 'drill and practice' approach in training programs. TIGER includes three different environments: Anatomic tutorial devoted to facilitate a self-learning approach to axial body sections; Contouring tutorial addressed to practice contouring process of anatomical structures and to undergo a test program prepared by tutors; Teacher's tools to offer to tutors the opportunity to insert new outlines in TIGER-database, according to local needs or conventions, and to use them in tutorial programs. TIGER-database is grouped in six main anatomical sections: head and neck, male thorax, female thorax, abdomen, male pelvis, and female pelvis. Overall 432 corresponding CT-VH images and 1189 contours of 134 different anatomical structures and lymphatic drainage areas are available. The access to the TIGER software is allowed by ESTRO web site (http://www.estro.be). Conclusions: TIGER provides an interactive human anatomy cross-sectional oriented source to facilitate the interpretation of CT scan images usually contoured in daily practice. It offers a drill tool to facilitate the learning of a reproducible contouring procedur