• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권7호
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• pp.3211-3217
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• 2014

Background: The current study investigated the effects of Piper longumine on radio-sensitization of human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells and underlying mechanisms. Materials and Methods: Human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells were cultured in vitro and those in logarithmic growth phase were selected for experiments divided into four groups: control, X-ray exposed, Piper longumine, and Piper longumine combined with X-rays. Conogenic assays were performed to determine the radio-sensitizing effects. Cell survival curves were fitted by single-hit multi-target model and then the survival fraction (SF), average lethal dose ($D_0$), quasi-threshold dose ($D_q$) and sensitive enhancement ratio (SER) were calculated. Cell apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry (FCM). Western blot assays were employed for expression of apoptosis-related proteins (Bc1-2 and Bax) after treatment with Piper longumine and/or X-ray radiation. The intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) level was detected by FCM with a DCFH-DA probe. Results: The cloning formation capacity was decreased in the group of piperlongumine plus radiation, which displayed the values of SF2, D0, Dq significantly lower than those of radiation alone group and the sensitive enhancement ratio (SER) of D0 was1.22 and 1.29, respectively. The cell apoptosis rate was increased by the combination treatment of Piper longumine and radiation. Piper longumine increased the radiation-induced intracellular levels of ROS. Compared with the control group and individual group, the combination group demonstrated significantly decreased expression of Bcl-2 with increased Bax. Conclusions: Piper longumine at a non-cytotoxic concentration can enhance the radio-sensitivity of MDA-MB-231cells, which may be related to its regulation of apoptosis-related protein expression and the increase of intracellular ROS level, thus increasing radiation-induced apoptosis.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• 제47권3호
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• pp.111-133
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• 2022

The exciting advancement related to the "modeling of digital human" in terms of a computational phantom for radiation dose calculations has to do with the latest hype related to deep learning. The advent of deep learning or artificial intelligence (AI) technology involving convolutional neural networks has brought an unprecedented level of innovation to the field of organ segmentation. In addition, graphics processing units (GPUs) are utilized as boosters for both real-time Monte Carlo simulations and AI-based image segmentation applications. These advancements provide the feasibility of creating three-dimensional (3D) geometric details of the human anatomy from tomographic imaging and performing Monte Carlo radiation transport simulations using increasingly fast and inexpensive computers. This review first introduces the history of three types of computational human phantoms: stylized medical internal radiation dosimetry (MIRD) phantoms, voxelized tomographic phantoms, and boundary representation (BREP) deformable phantoms. Then, the development of a person-specific phantom is demonstrated by introducing AI-based organ autosegmentation technology. Next, a new development in GPU-based Monte Carlo radiation dose calculations is introduced. Examples of applying computational phantoms and a new Monte Carlo code named ARCHER (Accelerated Radiation-transport Computations in Heterogeneous EnviRonments) to problems in radiation protection, imaging, and radiotherapy are presented from research projects performed by students at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) and University of Science and Technology of China (USTC). Finally, this review discusses challenges and future research opportunities. We found that, owing to the latest computer hardware and AI technology, computational human body models are moving closer to real human anatomy structures for accurate radiation dose calculations.

• 대한방사선치료학회지
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• 제24권2호
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• pp.77-84
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• 2012

목 적: 필름평가방법을 대신하여 전자포탈영상을 이용한 기하학적 정도관리 실시간 분석 프로그램을 개발하고자 한다. 대상 및 방법: 전자포탈영상장치(Electronic Portal Image Device, EPID)가 선형가속기(CL-iX, Varian, USA)의 하부에 고정된 구조 때문에 발생되는 문제를 해결한 후 Eclipse treatment planning system (Version 8.1, Varian, USA)으로 기하학적 정도관리 항목을 생성하였다. 치료실의 4DTC (Version 10.2, Varian, USA)에서 전자포탈영상(single exposure before plan)을 생성하고 항목별로 빔을 조사하였다. Off-line review에서 전자포탈영상을 획득하고 이를 자체 개발한 기하학적 정도관리 실시간 분석 프로그램으로 평가하였다. 평가 방법으로 치료 중 오차(Intra-fraction error)는 모든 절차를 같은 날에 동일 조건으로 5회 연속 실시하여 분석하였고 치료 간 오차(Inter-fraction error)의 확인을 위해 모든 절차를 동일 조건에서 10일간 실시한 후 Iso-align$^{TM}$ quality control device를 이용한 필름평가방법과 비교하였다. 측정 및 분석 시간은 장치의 셋업에서 데이터 획득까지의 시간과 이후 분석완료까지 소요된 시간으로 구분하여 측정한 후 사용자와 수행과정의 편의성도 비교하였다. 결 과: 빛-방사선조사면 일치, 콜리메이터 회전축, 환자테이블 회전축, 갠트리 회전축 항목에서 각각 평균 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.2 mm의 치료 중 오차 값을 확인하였다. 10일간의 연속된 정도관리를 통해 치료 간 오차를 확인한 결과 항목별로 각각 평균 1.7, 1.4, 0.7, 1.1 mm의 오차 값을 얻었다. 그리고 측정 시간은 필름평가방법과 전자포탈영상을 이용한 방법에서 각각 평균 36분, 15분이 걸렸고 분석 시간은 평균 30분, 22분이 소요되었다. 결 론: 전자포탈영상을 이용하여 기하학적 정도관리를 실시할 경우 정도관리 도구로서 유용함을 알 수 있었다. 필름 미사용에 따른 비용 절감의 이점뿐만 아니라 측정 및 분석 시간도 줄일 수 있어 사용자 편의성이 커지고 필름 현상 과정 등의 생략으로 수행과정도 개선할 수 있었다. 또 자체 개발한 기하학적 정도관리 실시간 분석 프로그램으로 평가가 완료된 영상은 데이터화가 가능하여 자료의 보관이 용이해진다.

• 대한방사선기술학회지:방사선기술과학
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• 제39권3호
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• pp.399-406
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• 2016

비전리-방사선의 일종인 근적외선은 비침습적이고, 비전리성을 가지며, 생체 내 높은 투과성을 가지는 전자기파로, 진단을 위한 의료영상분야에 전 세계적으로 관심이 증가하여 그 활용 가능성이 활발히 연구되어지고 있다. 그러나 현재 국내에서 근적외선 의료영상의 활용은 극히 제한되어 있으며, 큰 관심을 가지고 있지 못하여, 새롭게 형성되는 근적외선 기반 의료영상 분야의 방사선사의 대응 역량의 강화가 필요시 된다. 본 연구에서는 근적외선의 특징 및 영상화 원리를 간략히 소개하고, 이를 이용한 최신의 연구 주제 및 세계적인 연구 동향을 소개함으로서 국내 방사선사의 역량을 강화하고자 한다. 특히, 임상적 활용 가능성이 매우 높은 상처 및 당뇨발등의 연구 주제에 대해서 소개하여, 이 분야의 발전을 가속화 시키는데 기여하고자 한다.

• 한국의학물리학회지:의학물리
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• 제20권2호
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• pp.51-61
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• 2009

컴프턴 카메라는 컴프턴 산란현상의 기하학적 해석을 통해 감마선원의 3차원적 위치분포를 고정된 위치에서 찾아내는 신개념의 감마선 영상장치이다. 기존의 감마선 영상장치에서는 필수적으로 사용되는 기계적 집속기를 사용하지 않기 때문에 높은 영상 감도를 제공할 수 있으며, 다중 추적자 기능을 제공한다는 장점이 있어 차세대 감마선 영상장치로서 주목을 받고 있다. 본 연구에서는 Geant4 몬테칼로 전산모사 툴키트를 이용하여 사용자 친화형의 컴프턴 카메라 시뮬레이터를 개발하였다. 시뮬레이터의 정확성을 검증하기 위하여 한양대학교에서 개발 중인 이중 산란형 컴프턴 카메라의 실험 결과와 비교하였다. 영상 해상도의 경우 선원의 에너지가 높아짐에 따라 해상도가 향상되는 동일한 경향을 보였으나, 시뮬레이터 결과에서 약 1 mm 정도 우수하게 평가되었다. 영상 감도의 경우 실험에서 2~3배 정도 높게 평가되었다. 이러한 결과들은 우연 동시반응에 기인한 것으로, 실험에서 획득한 유효반응들은 전산모사와는 달리 우연한 동시계수에의한 데이터가 상당수 포함되어 있기 때문에 영상 해상도는 상대적으로 저조하고, 영상 감도는 높게 나타난 것으로 판단된다. 개발된 시뮬레이터를 이용하여 새로운 구조의 컴프턴 카메라에 대한 성능을 평가하였다. 단일 산란형 컴프턴 카메라의 경우 산란부를 다층 구조로 개발할 때 4대의 산란부 검출기를 사용하는 것이 최상의 성능을 보이는 것으로 평가되었고, 그 이상 사용할 경우 성능이 오히려 저하됨을 확인하였다.

• 한국의학물리학회지:의학물리
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• 제8권2호
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• pp.59-65
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• 1997

전자포탈영상장치 (EPID)를 이용하여 의료용 선형가속기의 기하학적인 요소를 성능 평가할 수 있도록 고안하였다. light field와 radiation field 의 일치, 콜리메이터 회전축, 갠트리 회전축 크기 등을 측정하였다. EPID에서 수집한 영상정보를 이용하여 radiation-light field 일치여 부를 1mm 이내의 정밀도를 갖고 평가하였으며, 콜리메이터, 갠트리 회전축 역시 4개의 방사선 방향에 대한 영상을 중첩시켜서 중첩된 영상이 이루는 교점을 분석하여 구할 수 있었다. 이 방법으로 선형가속기의 기하학적인 QC/QA를 객관적이고 정량적으로 시행할 수 있었다.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• 제29권4호
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• pp.269-276
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• 2011

Purpose: To determine the incidence, risk factors, and clinical characteristics of pelvic insufficiency fracture (PIF) in patients with cervical cancer. Materials and Methods: Between July 2004 and August 2009, 235 patients with non-metastatic cervical cancer were treated with definitive chemoradiation or postoperative radiotherapy. Among 235 patients, 117 (49.8%) underwent the first positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) within 1 year after radiotherapy. The median radiation dose was 55 Gy (range, 45 to 60 Gy). Medical charts and imaging studies, including PET/CT, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), CT. bone scintigraphy were reviewed to evaluate the patients with PIF. Results: Among 235 patients, 16 developed PIF. The 5-year detection rate of PIF was 9.5%. The 5-year detection rate of PIF in patients who underwent the first PET/CT within a year was 15.6%. The median time to development of PIF was 12.5 months (range, 5 to 30 months). The sites of fracture included 12 sacroiliac joints, 3 pubic rami, 3 iliac bones, and 1 femoral neck. Eleven of 16 patients having PIF complained of hip pain requiring medications. One patient required hospitalization for pain control. The significant risk factors of PIF were old age, body mass index less than 23, bone mineral density less than -3.5 SD, and the first PET/CT within a year after radiotherapy. Radiation dose and concurrent chemotherapy had no impact on PIF rate. Conclusion: PIFs were not rare after pelvic radiotherapy in cervical cancer patients in the era of PET/CT. Timely diagnosis and management of PIF can improve quality of life in patients with cervical cancer, in addition to reducing unnecessary medical expenses.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• 제34권1호
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• pp.64-75
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• 2016

Purpose: In order to evaluate the relationship between the dose to the liver parenchyma and focal liver reaction (FLR) after stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR), we suggest a novel method using a three-dimensional dose distribution and change in signal intensity of gadoxetate disodium-gadolinium ethoxybenzyl diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA)-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) hepatobiliary phase images. Materials and Methods: In our method, change of the signal intensity between the pretreatment and follow-up hepatobiliary phase images of Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI was calculated and then threshold dose (TD) for developing FLR was obtained from correlation of dose with the change of the signal intensity. For validation of the method, TDs for six patients, who had been treated for liver cancer with SABR with 45-60 Gy in 3 fractions, were calculated using the method, and we evaluated concordance between volume enclosed by isodose of TD by the method and volume identified as FLR by a physician. Results: The dose to normal liver was correlated with change in signal intensity between pretreatment and follow-up MRI with a median $R^2$ of 0.935 (range, 0.748 to 0.985). The median TD by the method was 23.5 Gy (range, 18.3 to 39.4 Gy). The median value of concordance was 84.5% (range, 44.7% to 95.9%). Conclusion: Our method is capable of providing a quantitative evaluation of the relationship between dose and intensity changes on follow-up MRI, as well as determining individual TD for developing FLR. We expect our method to provide better information about the individual relationship between dose and FLR in radiotherapy for liver cancer.

• 방사선산업학회지
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• 제6권2호
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• pp.139-145
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• 2012

Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) have led to the development of a new field in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases such as cancer. An efficient synthesis of gold nanoparticles within the range of 8~57 nm was established by ${\gamma}-ray$ irradiation. The good point of a radiation-based method is the production of gold nanoparticles with a higher concentration and narrower size distribution compared with conventional methods. The size of gold nanoparticles was controlled using two methods. : (i) varying the ${\gamma}-ray$ irradiation dose of 10 to 25 kGy and (ii) varying the concentration of $HAuCl_4$ solution from 4 to 40 mM. In addition, the GNPs were radiolabeled using $[^{125}I]NaI$ in a simple and fast manner with high yields. The produced gold nanoparticles were characterized using a transmission electron microscopy (TEM), a UV-visible spectrophotometer, and a radio-TLC imaging scanner. From these results, these radiolabeled GNPs can be applicable for a radioisotope tag of biomolecules.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제56권1호
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• pp.301-308
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• 2024

Ceramic materials are being explored as alternatives to toxic lead sheets for radiation shielding due to their favorable properties like durability, thermal stability, and aesthetic appeal. However, crafting effective ceramics for radiation shielding entails complex processes, raising production costs. To investigate local viability, this study evaluated Malaysian ceramic tiles for shielding in diagnostic X-ray rooms. Different ceramics in terms of density and thickness were selected from local manufacturers. Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) and X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) characterized ceramic compositions, while Monte Carlo Particle and Heavy Ion Transport code System (MC PHITS) simulations determined Linear Attenuation Coefficient (LAC), Half-value Layer (HVL), Mass Attenuation Coefficient (MAC), and Mean Free Path (MFP) within the 40-150 kV energy range. Comparative analysis between MC PHITS simulations and real setups was conducted. The C3-S9 ceramic sample, known for homogeneous full-color structure, showcased superior shielding attributes, attributed to its high density and iron content. Notably, energy levels considerably impacted radiation penetration. Overall, C3-S9 demonstrated strong shielding performance, underlining Malaysia's potential ceramic tile resources for X-ray room radiation shielding.