• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.52 no.8
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• pp.1807-1816
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• 2020

In this work, a Gaussian Process (Kriging) approach is proposed to provide efficient dose mapping for complex radiation fields using limited number of responses. Given a few response measurements (or simulation data points), the proposed approach can help the analyst in completing a map of the radiation dose field with a 95% confidence interval, efficiently. Two case studies are used to validate the proposed approach. The First case study is based on experimental dose measurements to build the dose map in a radiation field induced by a D-D neutron generator. The second, is a simulation case study where the proposed approach is used to mimic Monte Carlo dose predictions in the radiation field using a limited number of MCNP simulations. Given the low computational cost of constructing Gaussian Process (GP) models, results indicate that the GP model can reasonably map the dose in the radiation field given a limited number of data measurements. Both case studies are performed on the nuclear engineering radiation laboratories at the University of Sharjah.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.54-60
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• 2017

This study was designed to measure transit dose with an electronic portal imaging device (EPID) in eight patients treated with intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), and to verify the accuracy of dose delivery to patients. The calculated dose map of the treatment planning system (TPS) was compared with the EPID based dose measured on the same plane with a gamma index method. The plan for each patient was verified prior to treatment with a diode array (MapCHECK) and portal dose image prediction (PDIP). To simulate possible patient positioning errors during treatment, outcomes were evaluated after an anthropomorphic phantom was displaced 5 and 10 mm in various directions. Based on 3%/3 mm criteria, the $mean{\pm}SD$ passing rates of MapCHECK, PDIP (pre-treatment QA) for 47 IMRT were $99.8{\pm}0.1%$, $99.0{\pm}0.7%$, and, respectively. Besides, passing rates using transit dosimetry was $90.0{\pm}1.5%$ for the same condition. Setup errors of 5 and 10 mm reduced the mean passing rates by 1.3% and 3.0% (inferior to superior), 2.2% and 4.3% (superior to inferior), 5.9% and 10.9% (left to right), and 8.9% and 16.3% (right to left), respectively. These findings suggest that the transit dose-based IMRT verification method using EPID, in which the transit dose from patients is compared with the dose map calculated from the TPS, may be useful in verifying various errors including setup and/or patient positioning error, inhomogeneity and target motions.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.241-248
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) on hair growth promotion of magnesium ascorbyl phosphate (MAP) for the treatment of alopecia. Aqueous solutions of MAP 7.5% with or without MSM 1%, 5% or 10% were prepared and applied onto the depilated back skin of the male mice once a day for 20 days. The degree of hair growth was evaluated by visual scoring using hair growth quantification scale (0-5, 0 being initial state and 5 being complete hair growth). In vitro transdermal penetration and intradermal retention studies of MAP were performed with Franz diffusion cell using hairless mice skin. Hair growth in the group treated with the aqueous solution containing MAP 7.5% and MSM 10% was comparable to or better than the result in the group treated with minoxidil 5% solution. Hair growth promotion of MAP was dose-dependently increased by the presence of MSM used in combination with MAP 7.5% solution. The in vitro transdermal penetration of the MAP was decreased in proportion to the concentration of MSM. However, intradermal retention of MAP was profoundly and dose-proportionally increased as a function of MSM concentration, reaching 802 ${\mu}g/cm^2$ in the presence of MSM 10% (200-fold increase). The effect of MSM on hair growth promotion of MAP was dose-proportional to the concentration of MSM due to the enhanced intradermal retention of MAP in the presence of MSM. Therefore, topical application of MAP together with MSM appears to be useful for the treatment of alopecia.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.65-71
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• 2014

A Varian Portal Dosimetry system was compared to an isocentrically mounted MapCHECK 2 diode array for volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) QA. A Varian TrueBeam STx with an aS-1000 digital imaging panel was used to acquire VMAT QA images for 13 plans using four photon energies (6, 8, 10 and 15 MV). The EPID-based QA images were compared to the Portal Dose Image Prediction calculated in the Varian Eclipse treatment planning system (TPS). An isocentrically mounted Sun Nuclear MapCHECK 2 diode array with 5 cm water-equivalent buildup was also used for the VMAT QAs and the measurements were compared to a composite dose plane from the Eclipse TPS. A ${\gamma}$ test was implemented in the Sun Nuclear Patient software with 10% threshold and absolute comparison at 1%/1 mm (dose difference/distance-to-agreement), 2%/2 mm, and 3%/3 mm criteria for both QA methods. The two-tailed paired Student's t-test was employed to analyze the statistical significance at 95% confidence level. The average ${\gamma}$ passing rates were greater than 95% at 3%/3 mm using both methods for all four energies. The differences in the average passing rates between the two methods were within 1.7% and 1.6% of each other when analyzed at 2%/2 mm and 3%/3 mm, respectively. The EPID passing rates were somewhat better than the MapCHECK 2 when analyzed at 1%/1 mm; the difference was lower for 8 MV and 10 MV. However, the differences were not statistically significant for all criteria and energies (p-values >0.05). The EPID-based QA showed large off-axis over-response and dependence of ${\gamma}$ passing rate on energy, while the MapCHECK 2 was susceptible to the MLC tongue-and-groove effect. The two fluence-based QA techniques can be an alternative tool of VMAT QA to each other, if the limitations of each QA method (mechanical sag, detector response, and detector alignment) are carefully considered.

• Proceedings of the Korean Radioactive Waste Society Conference
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• 2017.10a
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• pp.325-326
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• 2017

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.103-109
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• 1981

In order to determine the dose-response relationship of ethanol on blood pressure and renal function, 2 doses of ethanol were intubated into albino rats. For a direct measurement of arterial blood pressure, a polyethylene catheter(PE 10) was implanted in the abdominal aorta, and the other end of the catheter was pulled out of the back of the neck. The experiment was conducted after the rats recovered from the surgery. After emptying their bladders, the rats were placed in a metabolism cage. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) was measured and arterial blood samples were collected through the catheter. Following the collection of the control urine sample, 1 ml of 10 g% (low dose), or 30 g% (high dose) of ethanol/100 g BW was intubated. 1 ml of water/100 g BW was intubated into the control group. MAP and blood samples were taken every hour, and urine samples were collected every 90 min for 3 hours. Blood alcohol concentrations reached a peak at 1 hour (low dose: $105.0{\pm}7.5$, high dose: $214.7{\pm}20.2\;mg%$) and decreased linearly thereafter. Following alcohol ingestion, MAP began to decrease at 15 min and remained at a significantly low level thoughout the 3 hours experimental period(low dose: $112{\pm}2{\rightarrow}102{\pm}4$, high dose: $117{\pm}2{\rightarrow}100{\pm}8\;mmHg$). Urine Flow increased markedly during the first 90 min of ethanol ingestion (low dose: $0.88{\pm}0.20{\rightarrow}1.04{\pm}0.22$, high dose: $0.56{\pm}0.11{\rightarrow}1.35{\pm}0.18\;ml/1.5\;hr$) and decreased during the second 90 min period(low dose: $0.25{\pm}0.06$, high dose: $0.22{\pm}0.06\;ml/1.5\;hr$). Urine flow of the control group decreased gradually during the experiment $(0.88{\pm}0.10{\longrightarrow}0.59{\pm}0.09{\rightarrow}0.45{\pm}0.09\;ml/1.5\;hr)$. These results indicate that the blood-pressure-lowering and diuretic effects of ethanol are dose-related: higher doses of ethanol produce a greater decrease in blood pressure and greater diuresis.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.151-159
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• 2021

Background: Computed tomography (CT) is one of the crucial diagnostic tools in modern medicine. However, careful monitoring of radiation dose for CT patients is essential since the procedure involves ionizing radiation, a known carcinogen. Materials and Methods: The most desirable CT dose descriptor for risk analysis is the organ absorbed dose. A variety of CT organ dose calculators currently available were reviewed in this article. Results and Discussion: Key common elements included in CT dose calculators were discussed and compared, such as computational human phantoms, CT scanner models, organ dose database, effective dose calculation methods, tube current modulation modeling, and user interface platforms. Conclusion: It is envisioned that more research needs to be conducted to more accurately map CT coverage on computational human phantoms, to automatically segment organs and tissues for patient-specific dose calculations, and to accurately estimate radiation dose in the cone beam computed tomography process during image-guided radiation therapy.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.9 no.7
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• pp.449-457
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• 2015

In this study, to evaluate the usefulness of the treatment plan of tomotherapy and volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) in the radiotherapy for prostate cancer, the absorbed dose, dose volume histogram (DVH), treatment efficiency, and the results of dose verification accuracy using MapCHECK2 were compared and analyzed. Of the prostate cancer patients who underwent tomotherapy treatment in the Radiologic Oncology of H University Hospital between July 2014 and December 2014, 12 patients were randomly selected. As a result of analyzing the absorbed dose and DVH, both radiologic treatment plans showed slight differences in the treatment of the cancer tissues and the bladder, but the difference was in the error range of -5% to +3%, and did not exceed the side effect guideline or the tolerance dose limit. VMAT showed higher treatment efficiency than tomotherapy with a 2.5 times shorter treatment time and a 10.3 times less monitor unit (MU). Both showed 95% or higher dose accuracy satisfying the standard. VMAT showed 2.3% higher efficiency than tomotherapy. In both tomotherapy and VMAT, appropriate doses were absorbed for cancer tissues, and did not exceed the tolerance dose for normal tissues showing no significant difference in dose distribution. However, considering the shorter treatment time, lower total MU, and better treatment efficiency and dose verification accuracy, VMAT may be more useful than tomotherapy in cancer treatments.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.104-111
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• 2019

Purpose: Online magnetic resonance-guided adaptive radiotherapy (MRgART), an emerging technique, is used to address the change in anatomical structures, such as treatment target region, during the treatment period. However, the electron density map used for dose calculation differs from that for daily treatment, owing to the variation in organ location and, notably, air pockets. In this study, we evaluate the dosimetric effect of electron density override on air pockets during online ART for pancreatic cancer cases. Methods: Five pancreatic cancer patients, who were treated with MRgART at the Seoul National University Hospital, were enrolled in the study. Intensity modulated radiation therapy plans were generated for each patient with 60Co beams on a ViewrayTM system, with a 45 Gy prescription dose for stereotactic body radiation therapy. During the treatment, the electron density map was modified based on the daily MR image. We recalculated the dose distribution on the plan, and the dosimetric parameters were obtained from the dose volume histograms of the planning target volume (PTV) and organs at risk. Results: The average dose difference in the PTV was 0.86Gy, and the observed difference at the maximum dose was up to 2.07 Gy. The variation in air pockets during treatment resulted in an under- or overdose in the PTV. Conclusions: We recommend the re-contouring of the air pockets to deliver an accurate radiation dose to the target in MRgART, even though it is a time-consuming method.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.286-290
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• 2017

Multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa are highly dangerous nosocomial pathogens, cause the symptoms of skin infections, pressure sores, sepsis, blood stream and wound infections. Unfortunately, these pathogens are immune to the most common antibiotics, such as, carbapenem, aminoglycoside and fluoroquinolone. Therefore, it is imperative that new and effective antibiotics be developed. In the present study, the antimicrobial effects of Aloe vera MAP (modified Aloe polysaccharide) on Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli and Enterobacter aerogenes, and clinical Pseudomonas aeruginosa and clinical Acinetobacter baumannii were comprehensibly investigated. Prior to the growth inhibition effect measurement and antibiotic disc diffusion assay on gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria and selected multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii, antimicrobial resistance screening was performed for the multidrug-resistant bacteria obtained from clinical isolates. The results for showed the Aloe vera MAP had a concentration-dependent effect on all of examined bacteria, particularly on Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant experiments were also performed dose dependently effects to confirm the beneficial physiological effects of Aloe vera MAP.