• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.25-29
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• 2008

Purpose: To monitor the changes of location of prostate gland using DIPS and to examine the adjustment and proton beam therapy depending on the movement of prostate gland in proton beam therapy for prostate gland in which a fiducial gold marker was inserted. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted in ten patients with prostate cancer who received proton beam therapy since April of 2008. To monitor the change of prostate location, three fiducial gold markers were inserted prior to the treatment. To minimize the movement of prostate gland, patients were recommended to urinate prior to the treatment, to intake a certain amount of water and to concomitantly undergo rectal balloon. In these patients, the set-up position was identical to that for a CT-simulation. The PA (posterior-anterior) and lateral images were obtained using both DIPS (digital image positioning system) and a plain radiography, and they were compared between the two imaging modalities. Thus, the changes of the location of fiducial gold marker were assessed based on three coordinates (x, y, z) and then adjusted. This was followed by proton beam therapy. Results: Images which were taken using a plain radiography were compared with those which were taken using DIPS. In ten patients, according to a reference bony marker, the mean changes of the location of fiducial gold marker based on an iso-center were X-axis: $\pm$0.116 cm, Y-axis: $\pm$0.19 cm and Z-axis: $\pm$0.176 cm. These ten patients showed a difference in the changes of location of prostate gland and it ranged between RT: 0.04 cm and RT: 0.24 cm on the X-axis; between Inf: 0.03 cm and Sup: 0.42 cm on the Y-axis; and Post: 0.05 cm and Ant: 0.35 cm on the Z-axis. Conclusion: To minimize the movement of prostate gland, as the pre-treatment prior to the treatment. In all the patients, however, three fiducial gold markers showed a daily variation which were inserted in the prostate gland. Based on the above data, Thus, the requirement of gold marker matching system depending on the daily variation in the proton beam therapy for which more accurate establishment of target was confirmed. It is assumed that an accurate effect of proton beam therapy would be enhanced by adjusting the target-center depending on the location change of prostate gland using DIPS which was used in the current study.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.51-58
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• 2001

Synchrotron radiation (SR) has several advantages over convetional x-rays, including its phase, collimation, and high flux. A synchrotron radiation beamline 5C1 at Pohang Light Source (PLS) was recently built for imaging applications. We have shown that a SR imaging system is useful in imaging microscopic structures. SR with broad-band energy spectrum were adjusted to an object by Si wafers and their energy were approximately ranging from 6 keV to 30 keV. SR were passed through an object and finally transformed into visible lights by CdWO$_4$ scintillator screen. The visible lights which were reflected at an angle of 90 degrees by gold plated mirror were detected by a CCD camera and the image data were acquired using image acquisition system. A high-resolution phantom, capacitor, adult tooth, child tooth, cancerous breast tissue, and mouse lumbar vertebra were imaged with SR imaging system. The Objects were rotated within the field of view of the CCD detector, and their projection image data were obtained at 250 steps over 180 degrees rotation. Image reconstructions were carried out in a PC by using IDLTM(Research systems, Inc., US) program. The spatial resolution of the images acquired by the SR imaging system was measured with a high-resolution chart manufactured for several micrometer resolution. The specimens were also imaged with conventional x-ray radiography system to compare the image quality of radiography obtained with the SR imaging system. The results showed more structural details and high contrast images with SR imaging system than conventional x-ray radiography system. The SR imaging system may have a potential for imaging in biological researches, material applications, and clinical radiography.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.196-210
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• 2024

Background: In January 2018, revised elderly fixed outpatient copayment for the elderly were implemented. When people ages 65 years and older receive outpatient treatment at clinic-level medical institutions (clinic, dental clinic, Korean medicine clinic), with medical expenses exceeding 15,000 won but not exceeding 25,000 won, their copayment rates have decreased differentially from 30%. This study aimed to examine the changes of health utilization of elderly after revised elderly fixed outpatient copayment. Methods: We used Korea health panel data from 2016 to 2018. The time period is divided into before and after the revised elderly fixed outpatient copayment. We conducted Poisson segmented regression to estimate the changes in outpatient utilization and inpatient utilization and conducted segmented regression to estimate the changes in medical expenses. Results: Immediately after the revised policy, the number of clinic and Korean medicine outpatient visits of medical expenses under 15,000 won decreased. But the number of clinic outpatient visits in the range of 15,000 to 20,000 won and Korean medicine clinic in the range of 20,000 to 25,000 won increased. Copayment in outpatient temporarily decreased. The inpatient admission rates and total medical expenses temporarily decreased but increased again. Conclusion: We confirmed the temporary increase in outpatient utilization in the medical expense segment with reduced copayment rates. And a temporary decrease in medical expenses followed by an increase again. To reduce the burden of medical expense among elderly in the long run, efforts to establish chronic disease management policies aimed at preventing disease occurrence and deterioration in advance need to continue.