Chain length dependence of anomalous swelling in multilamellar lipid vesicles

Using small-angle X-ray scattering, the repeat distance vs. temperature is measured for a homologous series of multilamellar vesicles of lecithins with varying acyl chain length in excess water condition around the lipid main transition. A systematic chain length dependence is found which is in accordance with a bending rigidity renormalization and critical unbinding of the lamellae close to the transition, as previously suggested in Hønger et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 72, 3911 (1994)]

Feasibility of dose painting using volumetric modulated arc optimization and delivery

PURPOSE: Dose painting strategies are limited by optimization algorithms in treatment planning systems and physical constraints of the beam delivery. We investigate dose conformity using the RapidArc optimizer and beam delivery technique. Furthermore, robustness of the plans with respect to positioning uncertainties are evaluated. METHODS: A head&neck cancer patient underwent a [(61)Cu]Cu-ATSM PET/CT-scan. PET-SUVs were converted to prescribed dose with a base dose of 60Gy, and target mean dose 90Gy. The voxel-based prescription was converted into 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 discrete prescription levels. Optimization was performed in Eclipse, varying the following parameters: MLC leaf width (5mm and 2.5mm), number of arcs (1 and 2) and collimator rotation (0, 15, 30 and 45 degrees). Dose conformity was evaluated using quality volume histograms (QVHs), and relative volumes receiving within ±5% of prescribed dose (Q(0.95–1.05)). Deliverability was tested using a Delta4 phantom. Robustness was tested by shifting the isocenter 1mm and 2mm in all directions, and recalculating the dose. RESULTS: Good conformity was obtained using MLC leaf width 2.5mm, two arcs, and collimators 45/315 degrees, with Q(0.95–1.05)=92.8%, 91.6%, 89.7% and 84.6%. Using only one arc or increasing the MLC leaf width had a small deteriorating effect of 2–5%. Small changes in collimator angle gave small changes, but large changes in collimator angle gave a larger decrease in plan conformity; for angles of 15 and 0 degrees (two arcs, 2.5 mm leaf width), Q(0.95–1.05) decreased by up to 15%. Consistency between planned and delivered dose was good, with ~90% of gamma values <1. For 1mm shift, Q(0.95–1.05) was decreased by 5–15%, while for 2mm shift, Q(0.95–1.05) was decreased to 55–60%. CONCLUSIONS: Results demonstrate feasibility of planning of prescription doses with multiple levels for dose painting using RapidArc, and plans were deliverable. Robustness to positional error was low

The effect of different lung densities on the accuracy of various radiotherapy dose calculation methods: Implications for tumour coverage

Purpose: To evaluate against Monte-Carlo the performance of various dose calculations algorithms regarding lung turnout coverage in stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) conditions. Materials and methods: Dose distributions in virtual lung phantoms have been calculated using four commercial Treatment Planning System (TPS) algorithms and one Monte Carlo (MC) system (EGSnrc). We compared the performance of the algorithms in calculating the target dose for different degrees of lung inflation. The phantoms had a cubic 'body' and 'lung' and a central 2-cm diameter spherical 'tumour' (the body and turnout have unit density). The lung tissue was assigned five densities (rho(lung)): 0.01, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4 and 1 g/cm(3). Four-field treatment plans were calculated with 6- and 18 MV narrow beams for each value of rho(lung). We considered the Pencil Beam Convolution (PBCEl) and the Analytical Anisotropic Algorithm (AAA(ECl)) from Varian Eclipse and the Pencil Beam Convolution (PBCOMP) and the Collapsed Cone Convolution (CCCOMP) algorithms from Oncentra MasterPlan. Results: When changing rho(lung) from 0.4 to 0.1 g/cm(3), the MC median target dose decreased from 89.2% to 74.9% for 6 MV and from 83.3% to 61.6% for 18 MV (of dose maximum in the homogenous case at both energies), while for both PB algorithms the median target dose was virtually independent of lung density. Conclusions: Both PB algorithms overestimated the target dose, the overestimation increasing as rho(lung) decreased. Concerning target dose, the AAA(ECl) and CCCOMP algorithms appear to be adequate alternatives to MC. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. Radiotherapy and oncology 91 (2009) 405-41