5 degrees C, was obtained near the phase-transition temperature.
(C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3641983]“
“Aims: Diffuse and extensive involvement of the scalp/skull by malignancy mandates holo-cranial radiotherapy with the GS-9973 aim to deliver homogeneous doses to the planning target volume (PTV) while minimising the dose to surrounding organs at risk (OARs). Previously described techniques result in significant heterogeneity, suboptimal coverage or poor conformity and need complicated beam matching. Here we report our preliminary experience of planning and delivery of brain-sparing holo-cranial radiotherapy with helical tomotherapy.
Materials and methods: Three patients with extensive involvement of the scalp/skull by malignancy were planned and treated with image-guided
intensity-modulated selleck chemical radiation therapy on helical tomotherapy. The plan evaluation was carried out using standardised dose metrics.
Results: Helical tomotherapy achieved highly conformal and homogeneous dose distributions with substantial OAR sparing in all three patients. The volume of PTV receiving >= 95% of prescribed dose (V(95%)) was >= 98% in all three patients. The mean (standard deviation) homogeneity index and conformity index was 0.046 (0.006) and 0.783 (0.035), respectively. The mean dose to the brain parenchyma outside the PTV was 17.32 Gy (74%), 28.76 Gy (63.9%) and 26.7 Gy (59.3%) for the three patients. The mean (standard deviation) monitor units and beam-on
time was 6939 (985) and 8.10 (1.137) min, respectively. Overall the treatment was very well tolerated with no significant acute toxicity. Early follow-up evaluation revealed a good clinicoradiological response and the absence of local disease progression with no significant sequelae, implying successful application of the treatment paradigm.
Conclusion: Helical tomotherapy is ideally suited for brain-sparing holo-cranial radiotherapy with its exceptional ability of tangential beam delivery resulting in highly conformal and homogenous dose distribution across large, complex target volumes with substantial OAR sparing. (C) 2010 The Royal College of Radiologists. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“The aim of this study was to evaluate Selleck SB203580 stress responses evoked by 2 alternative methods for performing the following processing procedures: 1) teeth resection-clipping vs. grinding; 2) tail docking cold vs. hot clipping; 3) identification-ear notch vs. tag; 4) iron administration-injection vs. oral; 5) castration-cords cut vs. torn. Eight to 10 litters of 8-, 2-, and 3-d-old piglets were assigned to each procedure. Within each litter, 2 piglets were assigned to 1 of 4 possible procedures: the 2 alternative methods, a sham procedure, and a sham procedure plus blood sampling.