Purpose: The purpose of this review Is to provide an update on novel radiation treatments for head and neck cancer Recent Findings: Despite the remarkable advances In chemotherapy and radiotherapy techniques, the management of advanced head and neck cancer remains challenging. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) Is an appealing target for novel therapies In head and neck cancer because not only EGFR activation stimulates many important signaling pathways associated with cancer development and progression, and importantly, resistance to radiation. Furthermore, EGFR overexpression Is known to be portended for a worse outcome in patients with advanced head and neck cancer. Two categories of compounds designed to abrogate EGFR signaling, such as monoclonal antibodies (Cetuxlmab) and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (ZD1839 and 051-774) have been assessed and have been most extensively studied In preclinical models and clinical trials. Additional TKIs In clinical trials include a reversible agent, Cl-1033, which blocks activation of all erbB receptors. Encouraging preclinical data for head and neck cancers resulted In rapid translation Into the clinic. Results from Initial clinical trials show rather surprisingly that only minority of patients benefited from EGFR inhibition as monotherapy or In combination with chemotherapy. In this review, we begin with a brief summary of erbB- mediated signal transduction. Subsequently, we present data on prognostic-predictive value of erbB receptor expression in HNC followed by preclinlcal and clinical data on the role of EGFR antagonists alone or in combination with radiation In the treatment of HNC. Finally, we discuss the emerging thoughts on resistance to EGFR biockade and efforts In the development of multiple-targeted therapy for combination with chemotherapy or radiation. Current challenges for investigators are to determine (1 ) who will benefit from targeted agents and which agents are most appropriate to combine with radiation and/or chemotherapy, (2) how to sequence these agents with radiation and/or cytotoxlc compounds, (3) reliable markers for patient selection and verification of effective blockade of signaling in vivo, and (4) mechanisms behind intrinsic or acquired resistance to targeted agents to facilitate rational development of multi-targeted therapy, Other molecuiar-targeted approaches In head and neck cancer were briefly described, Including angloenesis Inhibitors, farnesyl transferase inhibitors, cell cycle regulators, and gene therapy Summary: Novel targeted theraples are highly appealing in advanced head and neck cancer, and the most premising strategy to use them Is a matter of intense Investigation.
Purpose : Conventional radiation therapy Portal images gives low contrast images. The purpose of this study was to enhance image contrast of a linacgram by developing a low-cost image processing method. Materials and Methods : Chest linacgram was obtained by irradiating humanoid Phantom and scanned using Diagnostic-Pro scanner for image processing. Several types of scan method were used in scanning. These include optical density scan, histogram equalized scan, linear histogram based scan, linear histogram independent scan, linear optical density scan, logarithmic scan, and power square root scan. The histogram distribution of the scanned images were plotted and the ranges of the gray scale were compared among various scan types. The scanned images were then transformed to the gray window by pallette fitting method and the contrast of the reprocessed portal images were evaluated for image improvement. Portal images of patients were also taken at various anatomic sites and the images were processed by Gray Scale Expansion (GSE) method. The patient images were analyzed to examine the feasibility of using the GSE technique in clinic. Results :The histogram distribution showed that minimum and maximum gray scale ranges of 3192 and 21940 were obtained when the image was scanned using logarithmic method and square root method, respectively. Out of 256 gray scale, only 7 to 30
In this paper, we propose a GNSS-based RF receiver, A high precision localization architecture, and a high sensitivity localization architecture in order to solve the satellite navigation system's problem mentioned above. The GNSS-based RF receiver model should have the structure to simultaneously receive both the conventional GPS and navigation information data of future-usable Galileo. As a result, it is constructed as the multi-band which can receive at the same time Ll band (1575.42MHz) of GPS and El band (1575.42MHz), E5A band (1207.1MHz), and E4B band (1176.45MHz) of Galileo This high precision localization architecture proposes a delay lock loop with the structure of Early_early code, Early_late code, Prompt code, Late_early code, and Late_late code other than Early code, Prompt code, and Late code which a previous delay lock loop structure has. As we suggest the delay lock loop structure of 1/4chips spacing, we successfully deal with the synchronization problem with the C/A code derived from inaccuracy of the signal received from the satellite navigation system. The synchronization problem with the C/A code causes an acquisition delay time problem of the vehicle navigation system and leads to performance reduction of the receiver. In addition, as this high sensitivity localization architecture is designed as an asymmetry structure using 20 correlators, maximizes reception amplification factor, and minimizes noise, it improves a reception rate. Satellite navigation system repeatedly transmits the same C/A code 20 times. Consequently, we propose a structure which can use all of the same C/A code. Since this has an adaptive structure and can limit(offer) the number of the correlator according to the nearby environment, it can reduce unnecessary delay time of the system. With the use of this structure, we can lower the acquisition delay time and guarantee the continuity of tracking.
High-resolution shallow marine seismic surveys have been carried out for the resources exploration, engineering applications and Quaternary mapping. To improve the resolution of subsurface structure image, multichannel digital technique has been applied. The quality of the image depends on the vertical and horizontal resolution and signal to noise (S/N) ratio which are associated with the data acquisition parameters such as sample interval, common midpoint (CMP) interval and CMP fold. To understand the effect of the acquisition parameters, a test survey was carried out off Yeosu and the acquired data were analyzed. A 30
Implantable flexible sensor using polymer/metal multilayer processing technique for telemetrical real-time blood pressure monitoring is presented. The realized sensor is mechanically flexible, which can be less invasively implanted and attached on the outside of blood vessel to monitor the variation of blood pressure. Therefore, unlike conventional detecting methods which install sensor on the inside of vessel, the suggested monitoring method can monitor the relative blood pressure without injuring blood vessel. The major factor of sudden death of adults is a disease of artery like angina pectoris and myocardial infarction. A disease of circulatory system resulted from vessel occlusion by plaque can be preventable and treatable early through continuous blood pressure monitoring. The procedure of suggested new method for monitoring variation of blood pressure is as follows. First, integrated sensor is attached to the outer wall of blood vessel. Second, it detects mechanical contraction and expansion of blood vessel. And then, reader antenna recognizes it using telemetrical method as the relative variation of blood pressure. There are not any active devices in the sensor system; therefore, the transmission of energy and signal depends on the principle of mutual inductance between internal antenna of LC resonator and external antenna of reader. To confirm the feasibility of the sensing mechanism, in vitro experiment using silicone rubber tubing and blood is practiced. First of all, pressure is applied to the silicone tubing which is filled by blood. Then the shift of resonant frequency with the change of applied pressure is measured. The frequency of 2.4 MHz is varied while the applied pressure is changed from 0 to 213.3 kPa. Therefore, the sensitivity of implantable blood pressure is 11.25 kHz/kPa.
In geophysical field surveys, commercial equipments often fail to resolve the subsurface target or even sometimes fail to be applied because they do not fit to the various field situations or the physical properties of the medium or target. We developed a geophysical measurement system, which can be easily adapted for the various field situations and targets. The system based on PXI with A/D converter and some stand alone equipment such as Network Analyzer was applied to borehole radar survey, borehole sonic measurement and electromagnetic noise measurement. The system for borehole radar survey consists of PXI, Network Analyzer, dipole antennas, GPIB interface is used for PXI to control Network Analyzer. The system for borehole sonic measurement consists of PXI, 24 Bit A/D converter, high voltage pulse generator, transmitting and receiving piezoelectric sensors. The electromagnetic noise measurement system consists of PXI, 24 Bit A/D converter, 2 horizontal component electric field sensors and 2 horizontal and 1 vertical component magnetic filed sensors. The borehole radar system has been successfully applied to detect the width of the artificial tunnel through which the borehole pass and to image buried steel pipe, while the commercial borehole radar equipment failed. The borehole sonic system was tested to detect the width of artificial tunnel and showed a reasonable result. The characteristic of electromagnetic noise was grasped at an urban area with the data from the electromagnetic noise measurement system. The system is also applied to characterize the signal distortion by induction between the electric cables in resistivity survey. The system can be applied various geophysical problems with a simple modification of the system and sensors.
The wall shear stress in the vicinity of end-to end anastomoses under steady flow conditions was measured using a flush-mounted hot-film anemometer(FMHFA) probe. The experimental measurements were in good agreement with numerical results except in flow with low Reynolds numbers. The wall shear stress increased proximal to the anastomosis in flow from the Penrose tubing (simulating an artery) to the PTFE: graft. In flow from the PTFE graft to the Penrose tubing, low wall shear stress was observed distal to the anastomosis. Abnormal distributions of wall shear stress in the vicinity of the anastomosis, resulting from the compliance mismatch between the graft and the host artery, might be an important factor of ANFH formation and the graft failure. The present study suggests a correlation between regions of the low wall shear stress and the development of anastomotic neointimal fibrous hyperplasia(ANPH) in end-to-end anastomoses. 30523 T00401030523 ^x Air pressure decay(APD) rate and ultrafiltration rate(UFR) tests were performed on new and saline rinsed dialyzers as well as those roused in patients several times. C-DAK 4000 (Cordis Dow) and CF IS-11 (Baxter Travenol) reused dialyzers obtained from the dialysis clinic were used in the present study. The new dialyzers exhibited a relatively flat APD, whereas saline rinsed and reused dialyzers showed considerable amount of decay. C-DAH dialyzers had a larger APD(11.70
The wall shear stress in the vicinity of end-to end anastomoses under steady flow conditions was measured using a flush-mounted hot-film anemometer(FMHFA) probe. The experimental measurements were in good agreement with numerical results except in flow with low Reynolds numbers. The wall shear stress increased proximal to the anastomosis in flow from the Penrose tubing (simulating an artery) to the PTFE: graft. In flow from the PTFE graft to the Penrose tubing, low wall shear stress was observed distal to the anastomosis. Abnormal distributions of wall shear stress in the vicinity of the anastomosis, resulting from the compliance mismatch between the graft and the host artery, might be an important factor of ANFH formation and the graft failure. The present study suggests a correlation between regions of the low wall shear stress and the development of anastomotic neointimal fibrous hyperplasia(ANPH) in end-to-end anastomoses. 30523 T00401030523 ^x Air pressure decay(APD) rate and ultrafiltration rate(UFR) tests were performed on new and saline rinsed dialyzers as well as those roused in patients several times. C-DAK 4000 (Cordis Dow) and CF IS-11 (Baxter Travenol) reused dialyzers obtained from the dialysis clinic were used in the present study. The new dialyzers exhibited a relatively flat APD, whereas saline rinsed and reused dialyzers showed considerable amount of decay. C-DAH dialyzers had a larger APD(11.70