• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.32-38
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• 2019

Purpose: The objective of this study is to evaluate the geometrical accuracy of a patient-specific bolus based on a three-dimensional (3D) printed mold and casting method. Materials and Methods: Three breast cancer patients undergoing treatment for a superficial region were scanned using computed tomography (CT) and a designed bolus structure through a treatment planning system (TPS). For the fabrication of patient-specific bolus, we cast harmless certified silicone into 3D printed molds. The produced bolus was also imaged using CT under the same conditions as the patient CT to acquire its geometrical shape. We compared the shapes of the produced bolus with the planned bolus structure from the TPS by measuring the average distance between two structures after a surface registration. Results and Conclusions: The result of the average difference in distance was within 1 mm and, as the worst case, the absolute difference did not exceed ${\pm}2mm$. The result of the geometric difference in the cross-section profile of each bolus was approximately 1 mm, which is a similar property of the average difference in distance. This discrepancy was negligible in affecting the dose reduction. The proposed fabrication of patient-specific bolus is useful for radiation therapy in the treatment of superficial regions, particularly those with an irregular shape.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.355-369
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• 2022

Objective: To evaluate the completeness of the reporting of systematic reviews and meta-analyses published in a general radiology journal using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines. Materials and Methods: Twenty-four articles (systematic review and meta-analysis, n = 18; systematic review only, n = 6) published between August 2009 and September 2021 in the Korean Journal of Radiology were analyzed. Completeness of the reporting of main texts and abstracts were evaluated using the PRISMA 2020 statement. For each item in the statement, the proportion of studies that met the guidelines' recommendation was calculated and items that were satisfied by fewer than 80% of the studies were identified. The review process was conducted by two independent reviewers. Results: Of the 42 items (including sub-items) in the PRISMA 2020 statement for main text, 24 were satisfied by fewer than 80% of the included articles. The 24 items were grouped into eight domains: 1) assessment of the eligibility of potential articles, 2) assessment of the risk of bias, 3) synthesis of results, 4) additional analysis of study heterogeneity, 5) assessment of non-reporting bias, 6) assessment of the certainty of evidence, 7) provision of limitations of the study, and 8) additional information, such as protocol registration. Of the 12 items in the abstract checklists, eight were incorporated in fewer than 80% of the included publications. Conclusion: Several items included in the PRISMA 2020 checklist were overlooked in systematic review and meta-analysis articles published in the Korean Journal of Radiology. Based on these results, we suggest a double-check list for improving the quality of systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Authors and reviewers should familiarize themselves with the PRISMA 2020 statement and check whether the recommended items are fully satisfied prior to publication.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.54-61
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• 2007

[ $\underline{Purpose}$ ]: The purpose of this study is to develop a practical method for determining accurate marker positions for prostate cancer radiotherapy using CT images and kV x-ray images obtained from the use of the on- board imager (OBI). $\underline{Materials\;and\;Methods}$: Three gold seed markers were implanted into the reference position inside a prostate gland by a urologist. Multiple digital image processing techniques were used to determine seed marker position and the center-of-mass (COM) technique was employed to determine a representative reference seed marker position. A setup discrepancy can be estimated by comparing a computed $COM_{OBI}$ with the reference $COM_{CT}$. A proposed algorithm was applied to a seed phantom and to four prostate cancer patients with seed implants treated in our clinic. $\underline{Results}$: In the phantom study, the calculated $COM_{CT}$ and $COM_{OBI}$ agreed with $COM_{actual}$ within a millimeter. The algorithm also could localize each seed marker correctly and calculated $COM_{CT}$ and $COM_{OBI}$ for all CT and kV x-ray image sets, respectively. Discrepancies of setup errors between 2D-2D matching results using the OBI application and results using the proposed algorithm were less than one millimeter for each axis. The setup error of each patient was in the range of $0.1{\pm}2.7{\sim}1.8{\pm}6.6\;mm$ in the AP direction, $0.8{\pm}1.6{\sim}2.0{\pm}2.7\;mm$ in the SI direction and $-0.9{\pm}1.5{\sim}2.8{\pm}3.0\;mm$ in the lateral direction, even though the setup error was quite patient dependent. $\underline{Conclusion}$: As it took less than 10 seconds to evaluate a setup discrepancy, it can be helpful to reduce the setup correction time while minimizing subjective factors that may be user dependent. However, the on-line correction process should be integrated into the treatment machine control system for a more reliable procedure.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.10
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• pp.6141-6145
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• 2013

Background: The objective of the study was to determine the knowledge, attitude and behaviors of the practicing dentists regarding tobacco cessation counseling (TCC) in Chhattisgarh state and also the barriers that prevent them from doing so. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted among dental practitioners of Raipur district, Chhattisgarh state (India). The sampling frame was registration with the State Dental Council and practicing in Raipur district. A questionnaire was personally administered and the practitioners were given explanations regarding how to complete it. Only descriptive statistics were calculated (SPSS version 16 for Windows). Results: Based on the responding dentists' self reports, 76% were not confident in TCC, 48% did not assume TCC to be their responsibility, 17% considered that it might have a negative impact on their clinical practice, whereas 24% considered it might take away precious time from their practice, 25% considered TCC by dentists to be effective to a considerable extent and 80% considered TCC activities are not effective due to lack of formal training, 69% considered dental clinics as an appropriate place for TCC but 82% thought there must be separate TCC centre and 100% of the dentists wanted TCC training to be a part of practice and that it should be included in dental curriculum. Some 95% of them were of the view that tobacco products should be banned in India and 86% responded that health professionals must refrain from tobacco habits so to act as role models for society. Conclusions: Dental professionals must expand their armamentarium to include TCC strategies in their clinical practice. The dental institutions should include TCC in the curriculum and the dental professionals at the primary and the community health care level should also be trained in TCC to treat tobacco dependence.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.203-212
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• 2016

Dose differences between three-dimensional (3D) and four-dimensional (4D) doses could be varied according to the geometrical relationship between a planning target volume (PTV) and an organ at risk (OAR). The purpose of this study is to evaluate the correlation between the overlap volume histogram (OVH), which quantitatively shows the geometrical relationship between the PTV and OAR, and the dose differences. 4D computed tomography (4DCT) images were acquired for 10 liver cancer patients. Internal target volume-based treatment planning was performed. A 3D dose was calculated on a reference phase (end-exhalation). A 4D dose was accumulated using deformation vector fields between the reference and other phase images of 4DCT from deformable image registration, and dose differences between the 3D and 4D doses were calculated. An OVH between the PTV and selected OAR (duodenum) was calculated and quantified on the basis of specific overlap volumes that corresponded to 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50% of the OAR volume overlapped with the expanded PTV. Statistical analysis was performed to verify the correlation with the OVH and dose difference for the OAR. The minimum mean dose difference was 0.50 Gy from case 3, and the maximum mean dose difference was 4.96 Gy from case 2. The calculated range of the correlation coefficients between the OVH and dose difference was from -0.720 to -0.712, and the R-square range for regression analysis was from 0.506 to 0.518 (p-value <0.05). However, when the 10% overlap volume was applied in the six cases that had OVH value ${\leq}2$, the average percent mean dose differences were $34.80{\pm}12.42%$. Cases with quantified OVH values of 2 or more had mean dose differences of $29.16{\pm}11.36%$. In conclusion, no significant statistical correlation was found between the OVH and dose differences. However, it was confirmed that a higher difference between the 3D and 4D doses could occur in cases that have smaller OVH value.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.161-169
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• 2016

Purpose : To quantify the inter-fractional variation in prostate displacement and their dosimetric effects for prostate cancer treatment. Materials and Methods : A total of 176 daily cone-beam CT (CBCT) sets acquired for 6 prostate cancer patients treated with volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) were retrospectively reviewed. For each patient, the planning CT (pCT) was registered to each daily CBCT by aligning the bony anatomy. The prostate, rectum, and bladder were delineated on daily CBCT, and the contours of these organs in the pCT were copied to the daily CBCT. The concordance of prostate displacement, deformation, and size variation between pCT and daily CBCT was evaluated using the Dice similarity coefficient (DSC). Results : The mean volume of prostate was 37.2 cm3 in the initial pCT, and the variation was around ${\pm}5%$ during the entire course of treatment for all patients. The mean DSC was 89.9%, ranging from 70% to 100% for prostate displacement. Although the volume change of bladder and rectum per treatment fraction did not show any correlation with the value of DSC (r=-0.084, p=0.268 and r=-0.162, p=0.032, respectively), a decrease in the DSC value was observed with increasing volume change of the bladder and rectum (r=-0.230,p=0.049 and r=-0.240,p=0.020, respectively). Conclusion : Consistency of the volume of the bladder and rectum cannot guarantee the accuracy of the treatment. Our results suggest that patient setup with the registration between the pCT and daily CBCT should be considered aligning soft tissue.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.99-106
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• 2007

Purpose: The patient's position and anatomy during the treatment course little bit varies to some extend due to setup uncertainties and organ motions. These factors could affected to not only the dose coverage of the gross tumor but over dosage of normal tissue. Setup uncertainties and organ motions can be minimized by precise patient positioning and rigid immobilization device but some anatomical site such as prostate, the internal organ motion due to physiological processes are challenge. In planning procedure, the clinical target volume is a little bit enlarged to create a planning target volume that accounts for setup uncertainties and organ motion as well. These uncertainties lead to differences between the calculated dose by treatment planning system and the actually delivered dose. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the differences of interfractional displacement of organ and GTV based on the tomoimages. Materials and Methods: Over the course of 3 months, 3 patients, those who has applied rectal balloon, treated for prostatic cancer patient's tomoimage were studied. During the treatment sessions 26 tomoimages per patient, Total 76 tomoimages were collected. Tomoimage had been taken everyday after initial setup with lead marker attached on the patient's skin center to comparing with C-T simulation images. Tomoimage was taken after rectal balloon inflated with 60 cc of air for prostate gland immobilization for daily treatment just before treatment and it was used routinely in each case. The intrarectal balloon was inserted to a depth of 6 cm from the anal verge. MVCT image was taken with 5 mm slice thickness after the intrarectal balloon in place and inflated. For this study, lead balls are used to guide the registration between the MVCT and CT simulation images. There are three image fusion methods in the tomotherapy, bone technique, bone/tissue technique, and full image technique. We used all this 3 methods to analysis the setup errors. Initially, image fusions were based on the visual alignment of lead ball, CT anatomy and CT simulation contours and then the radiation therapist registered the MVCT images with the CT simulation images based on the bone based, rectal balloon based and GTV based respectively and registered image was compared with each others. The average and standard deviation of each X, Y, Z and rotation from the initial planning center was calculated for each patient. The image fusions were based on the visual alignment of lead ball, CT anatomy and CT simulation contours. Results: There was a significant difference in the mean variations of the rectal balloon among the methods. Statistical results based on the bone fusion shows that maximum x-direction shift was 8 mm and 4.2 mm to the y-direction. It was statistically significant (P=<0.0001) in balloon based fusion, maximum X and Y shift was 6 mm, 16mm respectively. One patient's result was more than 16 mm shift and that was derived from the rectal expansions due to the bowl gas and stool. GTV based fusion results ranging from 2.7 to 6.6 mm to the x-direction and 4.3$\sim$7.8 mm to the y-direction respectively. We have checked rotational error in this study but there are no significant differences among fusion methods and the result was 0.37$\pm$0.36 in bone based fusion and 0.34$\pm$0.38 in GTV based fusion.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.8
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• pp.3625-3628
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• 2014

Background: To evaluate the incidence, diagnosis and management of GTN among 28 centers in Turkey. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was designed to include GTN patients attending 28 centers in the 10-year period between January 2003 and May 2013. Demographical characteristics of the patients, histopathological diagnosis, the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) anatomical and prognostic scores, use of single-agent and multi-agent chemotherapy, surgical interventions and prognosis were evaluated. Results: From 2003-2013, there were 1,173,235 deliveries and 456 GTN cases at the 28 centers. The incidence was calculated to be 0.38 per 1,000 deliveries. According to the evaluated data of 364 patients, the median age at diagnosis was 31 years (range, 15-59 years). A histopathological diagnosis was present for 45.1% of the patients, and invasive mole, choriocarcinoma and PSTTs were diagnosed in 22.3% (n=81), 18.1% (n=66) and 4.7% (n=17) of the patients, respectively. Regarding final prognosis, 352 (96.7%) of the patients had remission, and 7 (1.9%) had persistence, whereas the disease was mortal for 5 (1.4%) of the patients. Conclusions: Because of the differences between countries, it is important to provide national registration systems and special clinics for the accurate diagnosis and treatment of GTN.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.139-142
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to develop a system of clinical application of reconstructed dose that includes dose reconstruction, reconstructed dose registration between fractions of treatment, and dose-volume-histogram generation and to demonstrate the system on a deformable prostate phantom. To achieve this purpose, a deformable prostate phantom was embedded into a 20 cm-deep and 40 cm-wide water phantom. The phantom was CT scanned and the anatomical models of prostate, seminal vesicles, and rectum were contoured. A coplanar 4-field intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) plan was used for this study. Organ deformation was simulated by inserting a "transrectal" balloon containing 20 ml of water. A new CT scan was obtained and the deformed structures were contoured. Dose responses in phantoms and electronic portal imaging device (EPID) were calculated by using the XVMC Monte Carlo code. The IMRT plan was delivered to the two phantoms and integrated EPID images were respectively acquired. Dose reconstruction was performed on these images using the calculated responses. The deformed phantom was registered to the original phantom using an in-house developed software based on the Demons algorithm. The transfer matrix for each voxel was obtained and used to correlate the two sets of the reconstructed dose to generate a cumulative reconstructed dose on the original phantom. Forwardly calculated planning dose in the original phantom was compared to the cumulative reconstructed dose from EPID in the original phantom. The prescribed 200 cGy isodose lines showed little difference with respect to the "prostate" and "seminal vesicles", but appreciable difference (3%) was observed at the dose level greater than 210 cGy. In the rectum, the reconstructed dose showed lower volume coverage by a few percent than the plan dose in the dose range of 150 to 200 cGy. Through this study, the system of clinical application of reconstructed dose was successfully developed and demonstrated. The organ deformation simulated in this study resulted in small but observable dose changes in the target and critical structure.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.246-259
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• 2000

The purpose of this study was to assess the provided home health care services and to evaluate the patient's satisfaction level of received home health care services. Well trained two home health care nurses interviewed with 138 respondents who received home health care by Keimyung University Hospital from January 1st to August 31st 1999. The results were summarized as follows : 1) Among 138 respondents, $55.8\%$ were mail and $44.2\%$ were female and $70.3\%$ of them were over sixty years old. Respondents main family care givers were spouse$(53.6\%)$, daughters and sons$(36.2\%)$ and parents$(7.2\%)$. 2) $60.2\%$ of cancer patients received home health care services, $23.3\%$ of cerebral­cardiovascular patients, $7.5\%$ of endocrine disorder patients, $2.3\%$ of those who have indwelling foley catheter patients, $1.5\%$ of those who have respiratory problems and others$(5.2\%)$. 3) $88.1\%$ of respondents were satisfied with the number of home visits they received. $50.5\%$ of respondents' were received 1 to 3 times of home visits by home health care nurse per month. $48.6\%$ of respondents answered they were introduced by attending doctors or nurses to home health care services. $55.8\%$ of respondents answered registration to home health care services was simple and easy. $97.4\%$ of respondents answered home health care payment system was adequate. $64.9\%$ of respondents answered the cost of home health care per visit was adequate and comfortable. 4) Health education, counselling, physical assessment was provided to most of the patients. Those who suffered with cerebral-cardiovascular disease was needed hands on direct care most of all. The least home health care service provided was medication. 5) The satisfaction measurement tool was composed with 13 items and 3 score scale. The mean score of satisfaction on provided home health care services was 2.67 out of 3. Among 13 items. 'home health care service was kind enough' was highest(2.84). 'nurse use precise word to understand and communicate'. 'nurse gave home visiting notice ahead of time and kept the home visiting promise on time' was 2.83. 'whenever I need home health care nurse I can give a call and meet the nurse' was lowest 2.41. Special Home Health care programs such as comprehensive hospice care programs for elders over sixty years old should be organized. Adequate and standardized home health care payment system should be developed as soon as possible. In korean family situation. when family members are getting sick and stay at home. family members were taking care of the patients. special program such as counselling family members are needed.