99m-Technetium galactosyl human serum albumin scanning to evaluate liver function after stereotactic body radiotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma: A case report

The primary choice among treatment options for liver malignancies is surgery. However, if surgery cannot be performed, Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) may be effective. 99m-technetium galactosyl human serum albumin (GSA) single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging is useful for the assessment of liver function before surgery. We report the case of a 77-year-old man who had undergone SBRT for hepatocellular carcinoma of the left lobe of the liver 2 years previously. Follow-up revealed a 15-mm hepatocellular carcinoma at the edge of the right lobe of the liver. 99m-technetium GSA SPECT was performed before SBRT to confirm that there was no accumulation in the left lobe and to ensure that there was good function of the right lobe. Three months after SBRT, the tumor had responded, and decreases in GSA accumulation were observed in line with the radiation beam. Because hepatocellular carcinoma often relapses, it is important to assess the anatomic site of liver dysfunction before and after radiation. This case demonstrates that 99m-technetium GSA SPECT is useful for this purpose

Scores of Child–Pugh Classification Impact Overall Survival After Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy for Primary and Metastatic Liver Tumors

BackgroundStereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) delivers high-dose radiation to tumor tissues in few fractions, thereby reducing radiation damage to at-risk organs. There are more potential effects of SBRT owing to the higher biological equivalent dose delivered. Herein, we retrospectively analyzed its effectiveness and toxicity at our institution.MethodsData from patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC; n = 10) and liver metastases (n = 10) who underwent SBRT (total dose of 30–50 Gy in 5–10 fractions) between 2013 and 2016 were analyzed. Adverse events were recorded at the end of RT, 6 months after treatment, or upon death. Overall survival (OS) was calculated according to the biological effective dose (BED α/β = 10) and liver function (Child–Pugh [CP] classification 5 or 6 vs. 7 or 8) after SBRT, using Kaplan–Meier analyses.ResultsOf the 20 patients, 6 declined the CP classification score after SBRT; grade 3 adverse events were not seen in any patient. A higher OS rate was seen in patients receiving a higher BED and in those with better CP classification after SBRT. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis yielded a median OS of 401 days and 1- and 2-year OS of 45% and 15%, respectively.ConclusionThe higher BED was significantly associated with tumor control, and there were no differences in the tumor control rate between HCC and metastatic tumors. Changes in CP scores after SBRT also affected the survival rate. Good liver function may permit multiple rounds of SBRT

Electrophoretic variants of blood proteins in Japanese VI. Transferrin

A multiplicity of transferrin variants have been detected in the course of the biochemical aspect of the study of the genetic effects of atomic bombs. Variants obtained from the studies of 19,770 individuals in Hiroshima and Nagasaki were compared by polyacrylamide slab gel electrophoresis using three kinds of buffer systems with different pH values and thin layer polyacrylamide gel isoelectric focusing. The variants were compared on the basis of their relative mobilities and isoelectric points; seven types of fast-moving variant (B-variant) and nine types of slow-moving variant (D-variant) were detected, involving a total of 154 and 273 individuals, respectively. All the variants were identified as genetic variants by family studies. No variant differend inaallele frequency between the two cities. The variants detected in this study were compared with variants detected in residents of Mie district (another Japanese population), Caucasoids, American blacks, and Amerindians. Six additional types of B-variant and four additional types of D-variant, which had not been detected in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, were identified.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/41593/1/10038_2005_Article_BF01876469.pd

Stereotactic body radiation therapy to the spine: contouring the cauda equina instead of the spinal cord is more practical as the organ at risk

Background: Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) is recognized as a curative treatment for oligometastasis. The spinal cord becomes the cauda equina at the lumbar level, and the nerves are located dorsally. Recently, a consensus has been reached that the cauda equina should be contoured as an organ at risk (OAR). Here, we examined the separate contouring benefits for the spinal canal versus the cauda equina only as the OAR. Materials and methods: A medical physicist designed a simulation plan for 10 patients with isolated lumbar metastasis. The OAR was set with three contours: the whole spinal canal, cauda equina only, and cauda equina with bilateral nerve roots. The prescribed dose for the planning target volume (PTV) was 30 Gy/3 fx. Results: For the constrained QAR doses, D90 and D95 were statistically significant due to the different OAR contouring. The maximum dose (Dmax) was increased to the spinal canal when the cauda equina max was set to ≤ 20 Gy, but dose hotspots were observed in most cases in the medullary area. The Dmax and PTV coverage were negatively correlated for the cauda equina and the spinal canal if Dmax was set to ≤ 20 Gy for both. Conclusions: A portion of the spinal fluid is also included when the spinal canal is set as the OAR. Thus, the PTV coverage rate will be poor if the tumor is in contact with the spinal canal. However, the PTV coverage rate increases if only the cauda equina is set as the OAR

Required muscle mass for preventing lifestyle-related diseases in Japanese women

Research articl

The Formation of the Image of Merlin Today in the Nineteenth and Early Twentieth Centuries

EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Chiyoko Tanaka

This book explores the work of Japanese artist Chiyoko Tanaka. Tanaka's work is informed by the environment of Kyoto, ancient capital of Japan, where she lives and works. Tanaka's intimacy with nature gives her an awareness of the tempo of nature, which forms the basis of her work

Tomakomai Ccs Demonstration Project - Achievements and Future Outlook

The Tomakomai CCS Demonstration Project is being conducted over a nine-year period from JFY* 2012 to 2020. The original plan comprised a four years construction, three years CO2 injection and two years post-injection monitoring period, aiming to establish CCS technology for practical use by around 2020. The main objectives and tasks of the project were; 1) demonstrate a full-chain CCS system from capture to storage, 2) demonstrate that the CCS system is safe and reliable, 3) remove concerns about earthquakes by the data collected (As Japan is an earthquake-prone country, removing concerns regarding earthquakes by establishing that natural earthquakes will not affect the CO2 stored, and conversely that the CO2 injection will not induce perceptible tremors is vital), 4) enhance the understanding of CCS through information disclosure and public engagement activities and, 5) acquire operational technology as well as strive towards practical implementation. The project achieved the following results. 1) The operation of a full chain CCS system from capture to storage was conducted successfully, and the target of 300,000 tonnes of CO2 injection was achieved in November 2019. 2) No micro-seismicity or natural earthquakes attributable to CO2 injection were detected in the vicinity of the injection area. 3) The time-lapse monitor seismic surveys showed clear anomalies reflecting the evolution of the CO2 plume. 4) No abnormalities suggesting seepage of injected CO2 into the ocean have been detected in the marine environmental survey. 5) 2018 Hokkaido Eastern Iburi Earthquake of moment magnitude (Mw) 6.6 did not affect the CO2 stored. 6) The public outreach program has been largely successful, with no major opposition to the project. Information disclosure and diligent efforts to secure the understanding of local stakeholders were of utmost importance. As a future step, the Japanese government plans to implement a CCU demonstration project making efficient use of the Tomakomai facilities and CO2 ship transportation. JCCS is presently supporting a feasibility study being conducted by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). (*JFY denotes April of calendar year to following March

Prediction of Physical Activity Intensity with Accelerometry in Young Children

Background: An algorithm for the classification of ambulatory and non-ambulatory activities using the ratio of unfiltered to filtered synthetic acceleration measured with a triaxial accelerometer and predictive models for physical activity intensity (METs) in adults and in elementary school children has been developed. The purpose of the present study was to derive predictive equations for METs with a similar algorithm in young children. Methods: Thirty-seven healthy Japanese children (four- to six-years old) participated in this study. The five non-ambulatory activities including low-intensity activities, and five ambulatory activities were selected. The raw accelerations using a triaxial accelerometer and energy expenditure by indirect calorimetry using the Douglas bag method during each activity were collected. Results: For non-ambulatory activities, especially light-intensity non-ambulatory activities, linear regression equations with a predetermined intercept (0.9) or quadratic equations were a better fit than the linear regression. The equations were different from those for adults and elementary school children. On the other hand, the ratios of unfiltered to filtered synthetic acceleration in non-ambulatory activities were different from those in ambulatory activities, as in adults and elementary school children. Conclusions: Our calibration model for young children could accurately predict intensity of physical activity including low-intensity non-ambulatory activities