• Title/Summary/Keyword: Function model

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Favorable Outcome in Elderly Asian Patients with Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Treated with Everolimus: The Osaka Urologic Oncology Group

  • Inamoto, Teruo;Azuma, Haruhito;Nonomura, Norio;Nakatani, Tatsuya;Matsuda, Tadashi;Nozawa, Masahiro;Ueda, Takeshi;Kinoshita, Hidefumi;Nishimura, Kazuo;Kanayama, Hiro-Omi;Miki, Tsuneharu;Tomita, Yoshihiko;Yoshioka, Toshiaki;Tsujihata, Masao;Uemura, Hirotsugu
    • Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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    • v.15 no.4
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    • pp.1811-1815
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    • 2014
  • Background: In clinical trials with no upper age limit, the proportion of older patients is usually small, probably reflecting the more conservative approach adopted by clinicians when treating the elderly. An exploratory analysis of elderly patients in the RECORD-1 Trial showed that patients ${\geq}$ 65 y.o. had superior median PFS than overall RECORD-1 population (5.4 months and 4.9 months, respectively). We investigated the efficacy, relative benefit and safety of Everolimus (EVE) as sequential therapy after failure of VEGFr-TKI therapy for older patients with metastatic renal cell cancer (mRCC), in daily practice. Materials and Methods: 172 consecutive IRB approved patients with mRCC (median age 65, M:F 135/37, 78% clear cell) who received salvage EVE at 39 tertiary institutions between October 2009 and August 2011 were included in this analysis. Some 31% had progressed on sunitinib, 22% on sorafenib, 1% on axitinib, 41% on sequential therapy, and 5% had received other therapy. Patients with brain metastases were not included and 95% of the patients had a ECOG (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group) performance status (PS) of 0 or 1. Previous radiotherapy was an exclusion criterion, but prior chemotherapy was permitted. Adequate organ function and hematologic parameters were mandatory. EVE administration was approved by the institutional review board at each participating institution and signed informed consent was obtained from all patients. Results: Median time of the whole cohort to last follow-up was 3.5 months (range 0.4-15.2 months). Forty four percent were continuing to take EVE at last followup. There were 86 (50%) patients ${\geq}$ 65 y.o. and 86 (50%) <65 y.o. The percentage of patients who showed PR/SD was higher in the older group than in the younger one (5.9%/61.2% vs 1.2%/46.5%, respectively). Median survival of older patients was also significantly longer (3.5 +/- 0.31 vs 3.1 +/- 0.34, hazard ratio=0.45, CI; 0.255-0.802). Analysis using Cox regression model adjusted for gender, PS, number of metastases, site of metastases, histology, smoking history and age detected an association between age and PFS (p=0.011). The frequency of adverse events in elderly patients treated with EVE was no greater than that in younger patients, although such toxicity may have had a greater impact on their quality of life. Conclusions: Older patients should not generally be excluded from accepted therapies (mTOR inhibitors after failure of VEGFr-TKI therapy) for mRCC.

Renal Expression of TonEBP and Urea Transporter in the Water-deprived Mongolian Gerbil(Meriones unguiculatus) (절수시 Mongolian Gerbil 콩팥에서 TonEBP와 Urea transporter의 발현 변화)

  • Park, Yong-Deok;Kim, Sung-Joong;Jung, Ju-Young
    • Applied Microscopy
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    • v.37 no.4
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    • pp.271-280
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    • 2007
  • Tonicity-responsive enhancer binding protein(TonEBP) is a transcriptional factor essential in the function and development of the renal medulla. TonEBP plays a critical role in protecting renal medullary cells from the deleterious effect of hypertonicity. TonEBP is a key regulator of urinary concentration via stimulation of transcription of urea transporter(UT) in a manner independent of vasopressin. UT in the renal inner medulla is important for the conservation of body water due to its role in the urine concentrating mechanism. Mongolian gerbil(Meriones unguiculatus) has been as an model animal for studying the neurological disease such as stroke and epilepsy because of the congenital incomplete in Willis circle, as well as the investigation of water metabolism because of the long time-survival in the condition of water-deprived desert condition, compared with other species animal. In this study, we divide 3 groups of which each group include the 5 animals. In the study of 7 or 14 days water restricted condition, we investigated the TonEBP and UT-A by using a immunohistochemistry in the kidney. In the normal kidney, the distribution of TonEBP is generally localized on nuclei of inner medullary cells. Nuclear distribution of TonEBP is generally increased throughout the medulla in 7 and 14 days dehydrated group compared with control group. Increased nuclear localization was particularly dramatic in thin limbs. In control groups, UT-A was expressed in inner stripe of outer medulla(ISOM) and inner medulla(IM). UT-A was present in the terminal part of the short-loop of descending thin limbs (DTL) in ISOM and also present in the inner medullary collecting duct(IMCD), where the intensity of it gradually increased toward the papillary tip. In the dehydrated kidney, UT-A immunoreactivity was increased in the short-loop of DTL in ISOM and in the long-loop of DTL in the initial part of IM, where was expressed moderate positive reaction in the normal kidney. Also it was up regulated in the IMCD in initial & middle part of IM. However UT-A down regulated in the IMCD, where the intensity of it gradually decreased toward the papillary tip. These findings suggest that increased levels of TonEBP in medulla and UT-A in shot-loop of DTL and IMCD play a important role for maintain fluid balance in the water-deprived mongolian gerbil kidney.

The Study on the Measure to Improve the Event Place Guarding Operation System (행사장경호 운용시스템 개선방안에 관한 연구)

  • Lee, Sang-Chul;Kim, Tae-Min
    • Korean Security Journal
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    • no.11
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    • pp.203-226
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    • 2006
  • A highly sophisticated expertise and systematic and integrated management of security operation are essential for a crowded stadium. a special object of security guarding. Nonetheless, the recent incident in a singing concert hall reveals the overall problem like the lacking safety management system. lacking deployment of professional security personnel, absence of safety manuals and safety measures, as well as the lack of professionalism of private sector security companies. In this study, we presented three categories that needed improvement, like the legal and institutional improvement, improvement of policy and improvement of operation which are required to set up the model to operate the optimal private sector security duties. For the revision of law and institution for a better and more desirable method, we discussed the revision of related laws and regulations pursuant to the security operation at places where events are held, including the revision of law on security guarding work, regulation on common housing management, uniformity of security guarding, and law on performance. For the improvement of policies, we discussed the introduction of security consultants, strengthening the security instructor system, expansion of relevant organizations, establishment of mutual cooperation, privatization of profitable events, improvement of awareness about the security activities provided by private sector, policy for the professionalism of private security operation, expansion of security exhibition and seminar. For the improvement of operation. we discussed professional security techniques. such as the technique of security consulting, the application of CPTED technique, the technique for the integration of system, the method of operation, the establishment of a system to support public security operations and volunteers, establishment of a manual for security guarding performance, modernization and high tech-oriented equipment, organization of security guarding entity in which the industry, academic society and government participates together.

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Influence of Micrometeorological Elements on Evapotranspiration in Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Crop Canopy (포장(圃場)에서 벼 군락(群落)의 미기상(微氣象) 요소(要素)들이 증발산량(蒸發散量)에 미치는 영향(影響))

  • Kim, Jong-Wook;Kang, Byeung-Hoa;Lee, Jeong-Taek;Yun, Seong-Ho;Im, Jeong-Nam
    • Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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    • v.25 no.3
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    • pp.231-241
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    • 1992
  • To study the relationships between major micrometeorological elements and their influences on evapotranspiration(ET) in the canopy of two rice cultivars, Daecheongbyo and Samgangbyo, synoptic meteorological factors, micrometeorological elements and ET from the canopy and biomass production were observed at various growth stages in the paddy field of Suwon Weather Forcast Office in 1989. ET from the rice community was highly correlated with the following factors in order of pan evaporation>air temperature>leaf temperature>solar radiation>sunshine duration>difference in vapor pressure depicit(VPD)>water temperature. ET observed showed higher correlation with the evaporation from small pan than that from Class A pan. Varietal difference would be noted in the relationships between ET in Samgangbyo canopy and the evaporations observed from the pans, with which closer a correlation was found in Samgangbyo than in Daecheongbyo. The ratio of canopy ET to the evaporation from Class A pan was maintained over 1.0 through the growth stages with the maximum of 1.9 at the late August. The evaporation observed from Class A pan was amounted to 71.9% of that from small pan. ET was better correlated with solar radiation than with net radiation which reached about 66% of solar radiation. Maximum temperature showed higher correlation with ET than mean air temperature, and also wind speed of 1m above ground revealed positive correlation. The relative humidity, however, had no correlation with the exception of ET in rainy days. A regression model developed to estimate ET as a function of meteorological elements being described with $R^2$ of 0.607 as : $ET=-5.3594+0.7005Pan\;A+0.1926T_{mean}+0.0878_{sol}+0.025RH$.

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Cloning and Transcription Analysis of Sporulation Gene (spo5) in Schizosaccharomyces pombe (Schizosaccharomyces bombe 포자형성 유전자(spo5)의 Cloning 및 전사조절)

  • 김동주
    • The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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    • v.15 no.2
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    • pp.112-118
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    • 2002
  • Sporulation in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe has been regarded as an important model of cellular development and differentiation. S. pombe cells proliferate by mitosis and binary fission on growth medium. Deprivation of nutrients especially nitrogen sources, causes the cessation of mitosis and initiates sexual reproduction by matting between two sexually compatible cell types. Meiosis is then followed in a diploid cell in the absence of nitrogen source. DNA fragment complemented with the mutations of sporulation gene was isolated from the S. pombe gene library constructed in the vector, pDB 248' and designated as pDB(spo5)1. We futher analyzed six recombinant plasmids, pDB(spo5)2, pDB(spo5)3, pDB(spo5)4, pDB(spo5)5, pDB (spo5)6, pDB(spo5)7 and found each of these plasmids is able to rescue the spo5-2, spo5-3, spo5-4, spo5-5, spo5-6, spo5-7 mutations, respectively. Mapping of the integrated plasmid into the homologous site of the S. pombe chromosomes demonstrated that pDB(spo5)1, and pDB(spu5)Rl contained the spo5 gene. Transcripts of spo5 gene were analyzed by Northern hybridization. Two transcripts of 3.2 kb and 2.5kb were detected with 5kb Hind Ⅲ fragment containing a part of the spo5 gene as a probe. The small mRNA(2.5kb) appeared only when a wild-type strain was cultured in the absence of nitrogen source in which condition the large mRNA (3.2kb) was produced constitutively. Appearance of a 2.5kb spo5-mRNA depends upon the function of the meil, mei2 and mei3 genes.

A study on correlation of teaching efficiency and satisfaction of clinical training in Daegu (임상실습교육의 교수효율성과 임상실습만족도에 관한 상관성 연구 (대구지역을 중심으로))

  • Kim, Jeong-Sook;Jung, Young-Hae
    • Journal of Technologic Dentistry
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    • v.28 no.1
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    • pp.121-142
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    • 2006
  • Collecting materials for study on teaching efficiency and satisfaction of clinical training, it changes. Dental technology's educational procedure to many ways of a prospect. In a circumstance that needed higher level of education, this study is aimed on realizing an importance of clinical training through the various materials that previously carried out and offering basic knowledge to take better clinical training for the students. Study results below 1. This Investigation conducted on 123 of sophomores(70.3%) and 52 of juniors(29.7%) who have been taken clinical training, and men's proportion(51.45%)is a bit higher than girls(48.6%). The 64% of respondents taken largest proportion were 20 to 24 years old. As 67.9% of respondents attended daytime school and 30.3% of them attended nighttime one, their school time shows a little difference. In a question about relation ship, one answered "Harmonious" took largest proportion by 72.6% during training, and about the degree of satisfaction of campus life who answered "normal" were the most with 59.4%. 2. About the reason choosing dental technology as a major, 41.1% taken the most answered "due to the specialized job", "Getting job easily" was second with 26.9%, and third was "recommended from around" with 18.3%. 50.3% of the respondents answered "normal" about the Satisfaction of their major, student marked in grade "B" most with 51.4% 3. In a investigation result about clinical training statues and preference, most(72.6%) choose place less than 10 for clinical training, and 60.6% of them resided own home. About their commuting time from home to training place, 44% was under 30min, 40% took time 30-60min. It shows students prefer shotter distance in terms of choosing training place. 4. Each part manager took large proportion as a clinical trainer with 33.7%, Training curriculum reform and developing method were most answer as a improvement measure after completing training with 30%. 5. The average of total score about clinical training was 3.15 of 5. In the detailed question, 'satisfaction of clinical training' got 3.38 as a highest score, the lowest score was 2.86 that is about satisfaction of clinical training period. The average score about efficiency of study was 2.86 and in detailed question, 'a Role model' got 3.26 as a highest score and participation of student got 3.05 as a lowest score. 6. The result of T-test to see the difference of the satisfaction according to the general character and clinic training condition between teaching efficiency is that the degree of satisfaction of clinical training showed statistical significance only in the degree of satisfaction of campus life(p<0.05), and teaching efficiency has a statistical significance with their age, grade, and satisfaction of campus life (p<0.05). 7. The relation between of teaching efficiency of clinical training and satisfaction of clinical training of dental technologic student has a statistical meaning in significance leveler 0.01. Now, therefore we suggest following based on these result. 1. To elevate satisfaction of clinical training, it agentry needs development of consistent clinical training curriculum. 2. To grasp the satisfaction and requirement, in needs to measure anxiousness and satisfactory degree after completing training 3. To train efficiently and evaluate efficiency over the teaching activities, it needs to develop measuring tools for teaching efficiency in terms of teacher's important rules in a clinical training. 4. Strengthen the relations with the study developing and managing curriculum gathering theoretical knowledge and practice. And make an effort to apply to their students. 5. Let the trainee take a class setting a belief, sense of value, function and obtain behavior by making the students comfort over clinical training as increasing teaching efficiency.

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A Study on the Comparison of the Backfill Loads Obtained by the Marston-Spangler에s Theory and by the Finite Element Analysis for the Metal-Polyethylene Composite Pipes (금속-폴리에틸렌 복합관에 대해서 Marston-Spagler이론과 유한요소해석에 의해 구해진 뒤채움하중의 비교에 관한 연구)

  • 정진호
    • Geotechnical Engineering
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    • v.14 no.5
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    • pp.89-110
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    • 1998
  • Variations of backfill load on the metal-polyethylene composite( MPC ) pipes buried in various trenches backfill afterward were investigated in this paper. The backfill loads obtained by the finite element method( FBM ) were compared with those calculated by the well-known MarstonBpangler(M-5) theory. The reliability of the finite element analysis used in this study was examined by an inaitu best for the buried pipe. The backfill lords and deflections on the real-size pipe buried on-site were measured while increasing the backfill height. In addition, further investigations were made for the variations of the backfill loads as a function of several important parameters such as the backfill soil type, bach. height$(\leq4.0m)$, diameter of the pipe$(B.$1.0m)$, and trench width($\leq 3.0 B_c$). It is confirmed that the M-S theory predicts reasonably well the backfill loafs of the MPC of the M-S backfill coils be 0.13 and 0.15 for the SC and SM coils in the D unman soil model, respectively. The load ratio, Wu-s/WwgM for a narrow trench varies negligibly with the back(111 height but fiends to increase for a wide trench. The ratio increases with increasing diameter of the pipe for a narrow trench while decreasing for a wide trench. It is also found that the ratio generally decreases as the degree of compaction increases and BM soil exhibits larger load ratio than that of SC soil.

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The Influence of Attachment Type on the Distribution of Occlusal Force in Implant Supported Overdentures (하악 임플란트 오버덴쳐에서 어태치먼트 종류에 따른 응력분포)

  • Sung, Chai-Ryun;Cho, In-Ho
    • Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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    • v.25 no.4
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    • pp.375-390
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    • 2009
  • Statement of problem: Implant supported overdenture is accepted widely as a way to restore edentulous ridge providing better retention and support of dentures. Various types of attachment for overdenture have been developed. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of attachment type in implant overdentures on the biomechanical stress distribution in the surrounding bone, prosthesis and interface between implant and bone. Material and methods: Finite element analysis method was used. Average CT image of mandibular body(Digital $Korea^{(R)}$, KISTI, Korea) was used to produce a mandibular model. Overdentures were placed instead of mandibular teeth and 2mm of mucosa was inserted between the overdenture and mandible. Two implants($USII^{(R)}$, Osstem, Korea) were placed at both cuspid area and 4 types of overdenture were fabricated ; ball and socket, Locator, magnet and bar type. Load was applied on the from second premolar to second molar tooth area. 6 times of finite element analyses were performed according to the direction of the force $90^{\circ}$, $45^{\circ}$, $0^{\circ}$ and unilateral or bilateral force applied. The stress at interface between implants and bone, and prosthesis and the bone around implants ware compared using von Mises stress. The results were explained with color coded graphs based on the equivalent stress to distinguish the force distribution pattern and the site of maximum stress concentration. Results: Unilateral loading showed that connection area between implant fixture and bar generated maximum stress in bar type overdentures. Bar type produced 100 Mpa which means the most among 4 types of attachments. Bilateral loading, however, showed that bar type was more stable than other implants(magnet, ball and socket). 26 Mpa of bar type was about a half of other types on overdenture under $90^{\circ}$ bilateral loading. Conclusions: In any directions of stress, bar type was proved to be the most vulnerable type in both implants and overdentures. Interface stress did not show any significant difference in stress distribution pattern.

A Study on the Impact of Employee's Person-Environment Fit and Information Systems Acceptance Factors on Performance: The Mediating Role of Social Capital (조직구성원의 개인-환경적합성과 정보시스템 수용요인이 성과에 미치는 영향에 관한 연구: 사회자본의 매개역할)

  • Heo, Myung-Sook;Cheon, Myun-Joong
    • Asia pacific journal of information systems
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    • v.19 no.2
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    • pp.1-42
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    • 2009
  • In a knowledge-based society, a firm's intellectual capital represents the wealth of ideas and ability to innovate, which are indispensable elements for the future growth. Therefore, the intellectual capital is evidently recognized as the most valuable asset in the organization. Considered as intangible asset, intellectual capital is the basis based on which firms can foster their sustainable competitive advantage. One of the essential components of the intellectual capital is a social capital, indicating the firm's individual members' ability to build a firm's social networks. As such, social capital is a powerful concept necessary for understanding the emergence, growth, and functioning of network linkages. The more social capital a firm is equipped with, the more successfully it can establish new social networks. By providing a shared context for social interactions, social capital facilitates the creation of new linkages in the organizational setting. This concept of "person-environment fit" has long been prevalent in the management literature. The fit is grounded in the interaction theory of behavior. The interaction perspective has a fairly long theoretical tradition, beginning with proposition that behavior is a function of the person and environment. This view asserts that neither personal characteristics nor the situation alone adequately explains the variance in behavioral and attitudinal variables. Instead, the interaction of personal and situational variables accounts for the greatest variance. Accordingly, the person-environment fit is defined as the degree of congruence or match between personal and situational variables in producing significant selected outcomes. In addition, information systems acceptance factors enable organizations to build large electronic communities with huge knowledge resources. For example, the Intranet helps to build knowledge-based communities, which in turn increases employee communication and collaboration. It is vital since through active communication and collaborative efforts can employees build common basis for shared understandings that evolve into stronger relationships embedded with trust. To this aim, the electronic communication network allows the formation of social network to be more viable to rapid mobilization and assimilation of knowledge assets in the organizations. The purpose of this study is to investigate: (1) the impact of person-environment fit(person-job fit, person-person fit, person-group fit, person-organization fit) on social capital(network ties, trust, norm, shared language); (2) the impact of information systems acceptance factors(availability, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use) on social capital; (3) the impact of social capital on personal performance(work performance, work satisfaction); and (4) the mediating role of social capital between person-environment fit and personal performance. In general, social capital is defined as the aggregated actual or collective potential resources which lead to the possession of a durable network. The concept of social capital was originally developed by sociologists for their analysis in social context. Recently, it has become an increasingly popular jargon used in the management literature in describing organizational phenomena outside the realm of transaction costs. Since both environmental factors and information systems acceptance factors affect the network of employee's relationships, this study proposes that these two factors have significant influence on the social capital of employees. The person-environment fit basically refers to the alignment between characteristics of people and their environments, thereby resulting in positive outcomes for both individuals and organizations. In addition, the information systems acceptance factors have rather direct influences on the social network of employees. Based on such theoretical framework, namely person-environment fit and social capital theory, we develop our research model and hypotheses. The results of data analysis, based on 458 employee cases are as follow: Firstly, both person-environment fit(person-job fit, person-person fit, person-group fit, person-organization fit) and information systems acceptance factors(availability perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use) significantly influence social capital(network ties, norm, shared language). In addition, person-environment fit is a stronger factor influencing social capital than information systems acceptance factors. Secondly, social capital is a significant factor in both work satisfaction and work performance. Finally, social capital partly plays a mediating role between person-environment fit and personal performance. Our findings suggest that it is vital for firms to understand the importance of environmental factors affecting social capital of employees and accordingly identify the importance of information systems acceptance factors in building formal and informal relationships of employees. Firms also need to reflect their recognition of the importance of social capital's mediating role in boosting personal performance. Some limitations arisen in the course of the research and suggestions for future research directions are also discussed.

Study on Tumor Control Probability and Normal Tissue Complication Probability in 3D Conformal Radiotherapy (방사선 입체조형치료에 대한 종양치유확율과 정상조직손상확율에 관한 연구)

  • 추성실
    • Progress in Medical Physics
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    • v.9 no.4
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    • pp.227-245
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    • 1998
  • A most appropriate model of 3-D conformal radiotherapy has been induced by clinical evaluation and animal study, and therapeutic gains were evaluated by numerical equation of tumor control probability(TCP) and normal tissue complication probability (NTCP). The radiation dose to the tumor and the adjacent normal organs was accurately evaluated and compared using the dose volume histogram(DVH). The TCP and NTCP was derived from the distribution of given dosage and irradiated volume, and these numbers were used as the biological index for the assessment of the treatment effects. Ten patients with liver disease have been evaluated and 3 dogs were sacrificed for this study. Based on the 3-D images of the tumor and adjacent organs, the optimum radiation dose and the projection direction which could maximize the radiation effect while minimizing the effects to the adjacent organs could be decided. 3). The most effective collimation for the normal adjacent organs was made through the beams eye view with the use of multileaf collimator. When the dose was increased from 50Gy to 70Gy, the TCP for the conventional 2-port radiation and the 5-port multidimensional therapy was 0.982 and 0.995 respectively, while the NTCP was 0.725 and 0.142 respectively, suggesting that the 3-D conformal radiotherapy might be the appropriate therapy to apply sufficient radiation dose to the tumor while minimizing the damages to the normal areas of the liver. Positive correlation was observed between the NTCP and the actual complication of the normal liver in the animal study. The present study suggest that the use of 3-D conformal radiotherapy and the application of the mathematical models of TCP and NTCP may provide the improvements in the treatment of hepatoma with enhanced results.

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