The first quality assurance process for validating dose-volume histogram data involving brachytherapy procedures in radiation therapy is presented. The process is demonstrated using both low dose-rate and high dose-rate radionuclide sources. A rectangular cuboid was contoured in five commercially available brachytherapy treatment planning systems. A single radioactive source commissioned for QA...

BACKGROUND Scattered radiation can be assessed by in vivo dosimetry. Thyroid tissue is sensitive to radiation, even at doses <10 cGy. This study compared the scattered dose to the thyroid measured by thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs) and the estimated one by treatment planning system (TPS). METHODS During radiotherapy to sites other than the thyroid of 16 children and adolescents, seventy-t...

Analytical and experimental studies conducted at the NASA Langley Research Center for investigating integrated cryogenic propellant tank systems for a Reusable Launch Vehicle are described. The cryogenic tanks are investigated as an integrated tank system. An integrated tank system includes the tank wall, cryogenic insulation, Thermal Protection System (TPS) attachment sub-structure, and TPS. A...

Men with either chronic or temporary urinary retention symptoms are common patients treated in a urology practice. Both indwelling and intermittent catheterization are widely used to treat this condition. These approaches are associated with significant complications including infection and reduced quality-of-life. Infection is a target for quality improvement and cost reduction strategies in m...

Monte Carlo (MC) methods are increasingly being utilized to support several aspects of commissioning and clinical operation of ion beam therapy facilities. In this contribution two emerging areas of MC applications are outlined. The value of MC modeling to promote accurate treatment planning is addressed via examples of application of the FLUKA code to proton and carbon ion therapy at the Heide...

Antibody-secreting cells are generated in regional lymphoid tissues and traffic as plasmablasts (PBs) via lymph and blood to target sites for local immunity. We used multiparameter flow cytometry to define PB trafficking programs (TPs, combinations of adhesion molecules and chemoattractant receptors) and their imprinting in patients in response to localized infection or immune insults. TPs enri...

Since the 1980s, several important quality management systems, or programs, such as ISO 9000, TQM, Six-Sigma program, Reengineering, and Toyota production system (or lean production), have been launched. Most of these quality imperatives have been widely adopted by industries around the world. All the firms expect good results from the implementation of these quality programs. But the prerequis...

Radiotherapy is a tumor treatment process using high dose of radiation. Hence, it is essential that radiotherapy is carefully planned with a Treatment Planning System (TPS). The first step in TPS is delineation that aims to get a better picture of the tumor and the target volume value. This research investigated volume target delineation for brain tumor against the MRI image of the head in axia...

BACKGROUND Radiotherapy plays an important role in the management of most malignant and many benign primary central nervous system (CNS) tumors. Radiotherapy affects both tumor cells and uninvolved normal cells; so, it is important to estimate absorbed dose to organs at risk in this kind of treatment. The aim of this study was to determine the absorbed dose to chiasma, lens, optic nerve, retina...