• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.396-403
• /
• 2008

The first ORF of the ARV S1133 S1 segment encodes the nonstructural protein p10, which is responsible for the induction of cell syncytium formation. However, p10-dependent signaling during syncytium formation is fully unknown. Here, we show that dominant negative RhoA, Rho inhibitor C3 exoenzyme, ROCK/Rho-kinase inhibitor Y-27632 and Rac1 inhibitor NSC23766 inhibit p10-mediated cell fusion. p10 over-expression is concomitant with activation and membrane translocation of RhoA and Rac1, but not cdc42. RhoA and Rac1 downstream events, including JNK phosphorylation and transcription factor AP-1 and $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation, as well as MLC expression and phosphorylation are simultaneously activated by p10. p10 point mutant T13M possessed 20% fusion-inducing ability and four p10 fusion-deficient mutants V15M, V19M, C21S and L32A reduced or lost their ability to activate RhoA and Rac1 signaling. We conclude that p10-mediated syncytium formation proceeds by utilizing RhoA and Rac1-dependent signaling.

• Progress in Medical Physics
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.123-136
• /
• 2018

The complex dose distribution and dose transfer characteristics of intensity-modulated radiotherapy increase the importance of precise beam data measurement and review in the acceptance inspection and preparation stages. In this study, we propose a process map for the introduction and installation of high-precision radiotherapy devices and present items and guidelines for risk management at the acceptance test procedure (ATP) and commissioning stages. Based on the ATP of the Varian and Elekta linear accelerators, the ATP items were checked step by step and compared with the quality assurance (QA) test items of the AAPM TG-142 described for the medical accelerator QA. Based on the commissioning procedure, dose quality control protocol, and mechanical quality control protocol presented at international conferences, step-by-step check items and commissioning guidelines were derived. The risk management items at each stage were (1) 21 ionization chamber performance test items and 9 electrometer, cable, and connector inspection items related to the dosimetry system; (2) 34 mechanical and dose-checking items during ATP, 22 multileaf collimator (MLC) items, and 36 imaging system items; and (3) 28 items in the measurement preparation stage and 32 items in the measurement stage after commissioning. Because the items presented in these guidelines are limited in terms of special treatment, items and practitioners can be modified to reflect the clinical needs of the institution. During the system installation, it is recommended that at least two clinically qualified medical physicists (CQMP) perform a double check in compliance with the two-person rule. We expect that this result will be useful as a radiation safety management tool that can prevent radiation accidents at each stage during the introduction of radiotherapy and the system installation process.

• Progress in Medical Physics
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.164-172
• /
• 2018

We evaluated the performance of various detectors for small-field dosimetry with field sizes defined by a high-definition (HD) multileaf collimator (MLC) system. For small-field dosimetry, diodes referred to as "RAZOR detectors," MOSFET detectors, and Gafchromic EBT3 films were used in this study. For field sizes less than $1{\times}1cm^2$, percent depth doses (PDDs) and lateral profiles were measured by diodes, MOSFET detectors, and films, and absolute dosimetry measurements were conducted with MOSFET detectors. For comparison purposes, the same measurements were carried out with a field size of $10{\times}10cm^2$. The dose distributions were calculated by the treatment planning system Eclipse. A comparison of the measurements with calculations yielded the percentage differences. With field sizes less than $1{\times}1cm^2$, it was shown that most of the percentage difference values were within 5% for 6-MV and 15-MV photon beams with the use of diodes. The measured lateral profiles were well matched with those calculated by Eclipse as the field sizes increased. Except for the depths of 0.5 cm and 20 cm, there was agreement in terms of the absolute dosimetry within 10% when MOSFET detectors were used. There was good agreement between the calculations and measurements conducted using diodes and EBT films. Both diode detectors and EBT3 films were found to be appropriate options for relative measurements of PDDs and for lateral profiles.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
• /
• v.43 no.6
• /
• pp.431-441
• /
• 2020

The purpose of this study was to construct a model of MVCT(Megavoltage Computed Tomography) dose calculation by using Dosimetry Check™, a program that radiation treatment dose verification, and establish a protocol that can be accumulated to the radiation treatment dose distribution. We acquired sinogram of MVCT after air scan in Fine, Normal, Coarse mode. Dosimetry Check™(DC) program can analyze only DICOM(Digital Imaging Communications in Medicine) format, however acquired sinogram is dat format. Thus, we made MVCT RC-DICOM format by using acquired sinogram. In addition, we made MVCT RP-DICOM by using principle of generating MLC(Multi-leaf Collimator) control points at half location of pitch in treatment RP-DICOM. The MVCT imaging dose in fine mode was measured by using ionization chamber, and normalized to the MVCT dose calculation model, the MVCT imaging dose of Normal, Coarse mode was calculated by using DC program. As a results, 2.08 cGy was measured by using ionization chamber in Fine mode and normalized based on the measured dose in DC program. After normalization, the result of MVCT dose calculation in Normal, Coarse mode, each mode was calculated 0.957, 0.621 cGy. Finally, the dose resulting from the process for acquisition of MVCT can be accumulated to the treatment dose distribution for dose evaluation. It is believed that this could be contribute clinically to a more realistic dose evaluation. From now on, it is considered that it will be able to provide more accurate and realistic dose information in radiation therapy planning evaluation by using Tomotherapy.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.54 no.2
• /
• pp.507-513
• /
• 2022

When X-ray energy above 8 MV is used, photoneutrons are generated by the photonuclear reaction, which activates the components of linear accelerator (linac). Safely managing the radioactive material, when disposing linac or replacing components, is difficult, as the standards for the radioactive material management are not clear in Korea. We surveyed the management status of radioactive components occurred from medical linacs in Korea. And we also measured the activation of each part of the discarded Elekta linac using a survey meter and portable High Purity Germanium (HPGe) detector. We found that most medical institutions did not perform radiation measurements when disposing of radioactive components. The radioactive material was either stored within the institution or collected by the manufacturer. The surface dose rate measurements showed that the parts with high surface dose rates were target, primary collimator, and multileaf collimator (MLC). ⁶⁰Co nuclide was detected in most parts, whereas for the target, ⁶⁰Co and ¹⁸⁴Re nuclides were detected. Results suggest that most institutions in Korea did not have the regulations for disposing radioactive waste from linac or the management procedures and standards were unclear. Further studies are underway to evaluate short-lived radionuclides and to lay the foundation for radioactive waste management from medical linacs.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.60 no.5
• /
• pp.327-338
• /
• 2022

This study determined the recent status and trend of Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PcP) in the non-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (non-HIV-PcP) and HIV (HIV-PcP) infected populations using data from the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service (HIRA) and the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). SaTScan and Join-point were used for statistical analyses. Non-HIV-PcP cases showed an upward trend during the study period from 2010 to 2021, with the largest number in 2021 (551 cases). The upward trend was similar until 2020 after adjusting for the population. Seoul had the highest number of cases (1,597) in the non-HIV-PcP group, which was the same after adjusting for the population (162 cases/1,000,000). It was followed by Jeju-do (89 cases/1,000,000). The most likely cluster (MLC) for the non-HIV-PCP group was Seoul (Relative Risk (RR)=4.59, Log Likelihood Ratio (LLR)=825.531), followed by Jeju-do (RR=1.59, LLR=5.431). An upward trend was observed among the non-HIV-PcP group in the Jeju-do/Jeollanam-do/Jeollabuk-do/Gyeongsangnam-do/Busan/Daejeon/Daegu/Ulsan joint cluster (29.02%, LLR=11.638, P<0.001) located in the southern part of Korea. Both women and men in the non-HIV groups showed an overall upward trend of PcP during the study period. Men in the 60-69 age group had the highest annual percentage change (APC 41.8) during 2014-2019. In contrast, the HIV groups showed a falling trend of PcP recently. Men in the 60-69 age group had the most decrease (APC -17.6) during 2018-2021. This study provides an analytic basis for health measures and a nationwide epidemiological surveillance system for the management of PcP.

• KIPS Transactions on Computer and Communication Systems
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.1-8
• /
• 2023

It is impossible to overwrite on an already allocated page in SSDs, so whenever a write operation occurs a page replacement with a clean page is required. To resolve this problem, SSDs have an internal flash translation layer called FTL that maps logical pages managed by a file system of operating system to currently allocated physical pages. SSD pages discarded due to write operations must be recycled through initialization, but since the number of initialization times is limited the FTL provides a caching function to reduce the number of writes in addition to the page mapping function, which is a core function. In this study, we focus on the FTL cache methodologies reducing the number of page writes and analyze the related algorithms, and propose a write-only cache strategy. As a result of experimenting with the write-only cache using a simulator, it showed an improvement of up to 29%.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.107-113
• /
• 2015

Purpose : The measurement of skin dose is very important that treatment of breast cancer. On account of the cold or hot dose as compared with prescription dose, it is necessary to analyse the skin dose occurring during the various plan of the breast cancer treatment. At our hospital, we want to apply various analyses using a diversity of dosimeters to the breast cancer treatment. Subjectss and Methods : In the study, the anthropomorphic phantom is used to find out the dose difference of the skin(draining site), scar and others occurring from the tangential treatment plan of breast cancer. We took computed tomography scan of the anthropomorphic phantom and made plans for the treatment planing using open and wedge, Field-in-Field, Dose fluence. Using these, we made a comparative analysis of the dose date points by using the Eclipse. For the dose comparison, we place the anthropomorphic phantom in the treatment room and compared the measurement results by using the TLD and MOSFET on the dose data points. Results : On the central point of treatment planing basis, the upward and downward skin dose measured by the MOSFET was the highest when the fluence was used. The skin dose of inner and outer was distinguished from the figure(5.7% ~ 10.3%) when the measurements were fulfilled by using TLD and MOSFET. The other side of breast dose was the lowest in the open beam, on the other hand, is highest in the Dose fluence plan. In the different kinds of treatment, the dose deviation of inner and outer was the highest, and so this was the same with the TLD and MOSFET measurement case. The outer deviation was highest in the TLD, and the Inner'was highest in the MOSFET. Conclusion : Skin dose in relation to the treatment plan was the highest in the planing using the fluence technique in general and it was supposed that the high dose had been caused by the movement of the MLC. There's some differences among the all the treatment planning, but the sites such as IM node occurring the lack of dose, scar, drain site are needed pay close attention. Using the treatment planning of dose fluence is good to compensate the lack of dose, but It increases the dose of the selective range rather than the overall dose. Therefore, choosing the radiotherapy technique is desirable in the lights of the age and performance of the patient.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.87-95
• /
• 2015

Purpose : This study presents the usefulness assessment of secondary shield for the lens exposure dose reduction during radiation treatment of peripheral orbit. Materials and Methods : We accomplished IMRT treatment plan similar with a real one through the computed treatment planning system after CT simulation using human phantom. For the secondary shield, we used Pb plate (thickness 3mm, diameter 25mm) and 3 mm tungsten eye-shield block. And we compared lens dose using OSLD between on TPS and on simulation. Also, we irradiated 200 MU(6 MV, SPD(Source to Phantom Distance)=100 cm, $F{\cdot}S\;5{\times}5cm$) on a 5cm acrylic phantom using the secondary shielding material of same condition, 3mm Pb and tungsten eye-shield block. And we carried out the same experiment using 8cm Pb block to limit effect of leakage & transmitted radiation out of irradiation field. We attached OSLD with a 1cm away from the field at the side of phantom and applied a 3mm bolus equivalent to the thickness of eyelid. Results : Using human phantom, the Lens dose on IMRT treatment plan is 315.9cGy and the real measurement value is 216.7cGy. And after secondary shield using 3mm Pb plate and tungsten eye-shield block, each lens dose is 234.3, 224.1 cGy. The result of a experiment using acrylic phantom, each value is 5.24, 5.42 and 5.39 cGy in case of no block, 3mm Pb plate and tungsten eye-shield block. Applying O.S.B out of the field, each value is 1.79, 2.00 and 2.02 cGy in case of no block, 3mm Pb plate and tungsten eye-shield block. Conclusion : When secondary shielding material is used to protect critical organ while irradiating photon, high atomic number material (like metal) that is near by critical organ can be cause of dose increase according to treatment region and beam direction because head leakage and collimator & MLC transmitted radiation are exist even if it's out of the field. The attempt of secondary shield for the decrease of exposure dose was meaningful, but untested attempt can have a reverse effect. So, a preliminary inspection through Q.A must be necessary.

• Progress in Medical Physics
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.193-200
• /
• 2015

The aim of this study is to present commissioning results of the ViewRay system. We verified safety functions of the ViewRay system. For imaging system, we acquired signal to noise ratio (SNR) and image uniformity. In addition, we checked spatial integrity of the image. Couch movement accuracy and coincidence of isocenters (radiation therapy system, imaging system and virtual isocneter) was verified. Accuracy of MLC positioing was checked. We performed reference dosimetry according to American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) Task Group 51 (TG-51) in water phantom for head 1 and 3. The deviations between measurements and calculation of percent depth dose (PDD) and output factor were evaluated. Finally, we performed gamma evaluations with a total of 8 IMRT plans as an end-to-end (E2E) test of the system. Every safety system of ViewRay operated properly. The values of SNR and Uniformity met the tolerance level. Every point within 10 cm and 17.5 cm radii about the isocenter showed deviations less than 1 mm and 2 mm, respectively. The average couch movement errors in transverse (x), longitudinal (y) and vertical (z) directions were 0.2 mm, 0.1 mm and 0.2 mm, respectively. The deviations between radiation isocenter and virtual isocenter in x, y and z directions were 0 mm, 0 mm and 0.3 mm, respectively. Those between virtual isocenter and imaging isocenter were 0.6 mm, 0.5 mm and 0.2 mm, respectively. The average MLC positioning errors were less than 0.6 mm. The deviations of output, PDDs between mesured vs. BJR supplement 25, PDDs between measured and calculated and output factors of each head were less than 0.5%, 1%, 1% and 2%, respectively. For E2E test, average gamma passing rate with 3%/3 mm criterion was $99.9%{\pm}0.1%$.