• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.357-366
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• 1998

Brachytherapy is an essential part of radiotherapy for uterine cervical cancer. The low dose rate (LDR) regimen has been the major technique of intracavitary therapy for cervical cancer. However, there has been an expansion in the last 20 years of high dose rate (HDR) machines using Ir-192 sources. Since 1979, HDR brachytherapy has been used for the treatment of uterine cervical cancer in Korea. The number of institutions employing HDR has been increasing, while the number of low dose rate system has been constant. In 1995, there was a total 27 HDR brachytherapy units installed and 1258 cases of patients with cervical cancer were treated with HDR Most common regimens of HDR brachytherapy are total dose of 30-39 Gy at point A with 10-13 fractions in three fractions per week. 24-32 Gy with 6-8 fractions in two fractions per week, and 30-35 Gy with 6-7 fractions in two fractions per week. The average fractionation regimen of HDR brachytherapy is about 8 fractions of 4.1 Gy each to Point A. In Korea, treatment results for HDR brachytherapy are comparable with the LDR series and appears to be a safe and effective alternative to LDR therapy for the treatment of cervical carcinoma. Studies from the major centers report the five-year survival rate of cervical cancer as. 78-86$\%$ for Stage 1, 68-85$\%$ for stage 11, and 38-56$\%$ for Stage III. World-wide questionnaire study and Japanese questionnaire survey of multiple institutions showed no survival difference in any stages and dose-rate effect ratio (HDR/LDR) was calculated to be 0.54 to 0.58. However the optimum treatment doses and fractionation schemes appropriate to generate clinical results comparable to conventional LDR schemes have yet to be standardized. In conclusion, HDR intracavitary radiotherapy is increasingly practiced in Korea and an effective treatment modality for cervical cancer. To determine the optimum radiotherapy dose and fractionation schedule, a nation-wide prospective study is necessary in Korea. In addition, standardization of HDR application (clinical, computer algorithms, and dosimetric aspects) is necessary.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.149-157
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• 1998

An analysis has been performed to estimate the additional number of workers and the additional collective dose in man-cSv which would be required, nuclear industry-wide as a result of reducing individual dose limit. This analysis can be extended to the reduction in the dose limits recommended by ICRP Publ.60 and BEIR V report as well as the proposed dose limits by regulatory authorities. An industry-wide database was employed in the analysis based on a summary of industry-wide occupational radiation exposure compiled by the Korea Radioisotope Association. Correlation model was employed to compute the affects of setting specific annual individual dose limits. In this study, we have addressed worker non-productivity while in the radiation environment on a parametric or 'sensitivity analysis' basis. This alleviates the need for developing such data underlying a summation of many individual tasks at many nuclear facilities. It has the advantage that very low non-productivity assumptions can readily be defended as conservative, in that it is difficult to approach such low worker non-productivity factors even in the best of environments in any industry. On a per facility basis, for calendar year 1997, the number of workers required would be increased from 231 workers to 269 workers and collective man-cSv dose would be also increased by approximately fourteen percent if the individual dose limit was reduced to 2 cSv/y and an individual worker non-productivity fraction of 0.1 is assumed.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.202-207
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• 2002

To establish the seed treatment method of the gamma radiation for germination enhancement of bottle gourd(Lagenaria siceraria Standl.) and pumpkin(Cucurbita ficifolia Bouche), seeds were irradiated with the dose of 1$\sim$20 Gy of the gamma radiation. The germination rate in irradiated group was higher than that of the control, depending on seed condition. In the case of bottle gourd, the germination rate of 70$\sim$80% germinative seed was increased at 4$\sim$20 Gy irradiated groups. Especially, it was the highest at 4 Gy irradiated group. The germination rate of 80$\sim$90% germinative seed was the highest at 4 Gy irradiated group. The germination rate of 70$\sim$80% and 80$\sim$90% germinative seed at 4 days after sowing was increased 66% and 26% at 4 Gy irradiated group, respectively. In the case of pumpkin, the germination rate of 70$\sim$80% and 80$\sim$90% germinative seed was increased at 2 Gy and 8 Gy irradiated group, respectively. Effect of the low-dose gamma radiation on the early growth was enhanced depending on their germination enhancement. Especially, it was the highest at 2 Gy irradiated group of 70$\sim$80% germinative seed of pumpkin. Catalase activity of bottle gourd was increased at 4 Gy irradiated group. Catalase and peroxidase activity of pumpkin were increased at 2 Gy and 8 Gy irradiated group. These results suggest that the germination, early growth and physiological activity of bottle gourd and pumpkin seeds could be promoted by the low dose gamma radiation.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.11-14
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• 2012

Purpose: Anisotropic Analytical Algorithm (AAA) provides more accurate dose calculation regarding impact on scatter and tissue inhomogeneity in comparison to Pencil Beam Convolution (PBC) algorithm. This study tries to analyze the difference of dose distribution according to PBC algorithm and dose calculation algorithm of AAA on breast cancer tangential plan. Materials and Methods: Computerized medical care plan using Eclipse treatment planning system (version 8.9, VARIAN, USA) has been established for the 10 breast cancer patients using 6 MV energy of Linac (CL-6EX, VARIAN, USA). After treatment plan of Conventional Radiation Therapy plan (Conventional plan) and Field-in-Field Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy plan (FiF plan) using PBC algorithm has been established, MU has been fixed, implemented dose calculation after changing it to AAA, and compared and analyzed treatment plan using Dose Volume Histogram (DVH). Results: Firstly, as a result of evaluating PBC algorithm of Conventional plan and the difference according to AAA, the average difference of CI value on target volume has been highly estimated by 0.295 on PBC algorithm and as a result of evaluating dose of lung, $V_{47Gy}$ and $V_{45Gy}$ has been highly evaluated by 5.83% and 4.04% each, Mean dose, $V_{20Gy}$, $V_{5Gy}$, $V_{3Gy}$ has been highly evaluated 0.6%, 0.29%, 6.35%, 10.23% each on AAA. Secondly, in case of FiF plan, the average difference of CI value on target volume has been highly evaluated on PBC algorithm by 0.165, and dose on ipsilateral lung, $V_{47Gy}$, $V_{45Gy}$, Mean dose has been highly evaluated 6.17%, 3.80%, 0.15% each on PBC algorithm, $V_{20Gy}$, $V_{5Gy}$, $V_{3Gy}$ has been highly evaluated 0.14%, 4.07%, 4.35% each on AAA. Conclusion: When calculating with AAA on breast cancer tangential plan, compared to PBC algorithm, Conformity on target volume of Conventional plan, FiF plan has been less evaluated by 0.295, 0.165 each. For the reason that dose of high dose region of ipsilateral lung has been showed little amount, and dose of low dose region has been showed much amount, features according to dose calculation algorithm need to be considered when we evaluate dose for the lungs.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.292-302
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• 2012

The patient dose in advanced radiotherapy techniques is an important issue. These methods should be evaluated to reduce the dose in diagnostic imaging for radiotherapy. Especially, the Computed Tomography in radiotherapy has been used widely; hence the CT was evaluated for dose and image in this study. The evaluations for dose and image were done in equal condition due to compare the dose and image simultaneously. Furthermore, the possibility of dose and image evaluations by using the Monte Carlo simulation MCNPX was confirmed. We made the iterative reconstruction for low dose CT image to elevate image quality with Maximum Likelihood Expectation Maximization; MLEM. The system we developed is expected to be used not only to reduce the patient dose in radiotherapy, also to evaluate the overall factors of image modalities in industrial research.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.171-180
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• 1992

The precise role of radiotherapy for low grade gliomas including the optimal radiation dose and timing of treatment remains unclear. The information given by a retrosepctive analysis may be useful in the design of prospective randomized studies looking at radiation dose and time of surgical and radiotherapeutic treatment. The records of 56 patients (M:F = 29:27) with histologically verified cerebral low grade gliomas (47 cases of grade 1 or 2 astrocytomas and 9 oligodendrogliomas) diagnosed between 1979 and 1989 were retrospectively reviewed. The extent of surgical tumor removal was gross total or radical subtotal in 38 patients ($68\%$) and partial or biopsy only in the remaining 18 patients ($32\%$). Postooperative radiation therapy was given to 36 patients ($64\%$) of the total 56 patients with minimum dose of 5000 cGy (range=1250 to 7220 cGy). The 5-and 10-year survival rates for the total 56 patients were $44\%$ and $32\%$ respectively with a median survival of 4.1 years. According to the histologic grade the 5- and 10-year survivals were $52\%$ and $35\%$ for the 24 patients respectively with grade I astrocytomas compared to $20\%$ and $10\%$ for the 23 patients with grade II astrocytomas. Survival of oligodendroglioma patients was greater than those with astrocytoma ($65\%$ vs $36\%$ at 5 years), and the difference was also remarkable in the long term period of follow up ($54\%$ vs $23\%$ at 10 years). Those who received high-dose radiation therapy ($\geq$5400 cGy) had significant better survival than those who received low-dose radiation (< 5400cGy) or surgery alone (p<0.05). The 5- and 10-year survival rates were, respectively $59\%$ and $46\%$ for the 23 patients receiving high-dose radiation, $36\%$ and $24\%$ for the 13 patients receiving low-dose radiation, and $35\%$ and $26\%$ for the 20 patients with surgery alone. Survival rates by the extent of surgical resection were similar at 5 years ($46\%$ vs $41\%$), but long term survival was quite different (p<0.01) between total/subtotal resection and partial resection/biopsy ($41\%$ and $12\%$, resepctively). Previously published studies have identified important prognostic factors in these tumor: age, extent of surgery, grade, performance status, and duration of symptoms. But in our cases statistical analysis revealed that grade I histology (p<0.025) and young age (p<0.001) were the most significant good prognostic variables.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.329-336
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of low-dose CT (LDCT) for emphysema compared with high-resolution CT (HRCT). Measurements of radiation dose and noise were repeated 3 times in same exposure condition which was similar with obtaining HRCT and LDCT images. We analysed reading results of 146 subjects. Six images per participants selected for emphysema grading. Emphysema was graded for all 6 zones on the left and right sides of the lungs by the consensus reading of two chest radiologists using a 4-point scale. Between the HRCT and LDCT images, diagnostic differences and agreements for emphysema were analyzed by McNemar's and unweighted kappa tests, and radiation doses and noise by a Mann-Whitney U-test, using the SPSS 19.0 program. Radiation dose from HRCT was significantly higher than that of LDCT, but the noise was significantly lower in HRCT than in LDCT. Diagnostic agreement for emphysema between HRCT and LDCT images was excellent (k-value=0.88). Emphysema grading scores were not significantly different between HRCT and LDCT images for all six lung zones. Emphysema grading scores from LDCT images were significantly correlated with increased scores on HRCT images (r=0.599, p < 0.001). Considering the tradeoff between radiation dose and image noise, LDCT could be used as the gold standard method instead of HRCT for emphysema detection and grading.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.245-249
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• 1999

This study was carried out to investigate the influence of artificial acid rain on the growth of soybean irradiated with the low dose gamma radiation. The growth patterns of Hwangkumkong and Bangsakong were not dependent on the acid rain treatment and the period of seed storage but the radiation dose. In Hwangkumkong, the optimal irradiation dose for the growth promotion was lower in the acid rain treatment group than the control group. The symptom of acid rain damage appeared broadly around pH 2.20, were higher in Hwangkumkong than in Bangsakong, and were more effective in the seeds of 1997 than 1995. But the damage symptom of Bangsakong was not dependent on the acid rain treatment and the irradiation of gamma radiaiton.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.27-38
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• 1993

To investigate relationships between image guality and exposure dose, Chest X-ray films were evaluated for the following points:how much scattered radiation can affect reduction in image quality and can be permissible diagnostically? For this purpose using a test charts and Burger's phantoms. The visual evaluation of their X-ray films and the measurements of scattered radiation were carried out. The dose of scattered radiation ranging from 20 to 25% was found to be for nothing in any diagnostic obstacle. In this range, surface doses were low of 17, 21, and $25{\mu}Gy$ for The thickness of the chest of 15, 20 and 25 cm respectively. Comparison of these high voltage X-ray films with low voltage ones showed a surface dose rate of 1:11.7. Therefore, X-ray quality, photosensitive materials(film and screen) and grid should be selected very carefully for the purpose of reduction in exposure dose.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.225-231
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• 2003

Up-front irradiation technique as 3-dimensional conformation, or intensity modulation has kept large proportion of brain tumors from being complicated with acute radiation reactions in the normal tissue during or shortly after radiotherapy. For years, we've cannot help but counting on 2-D vertex beam technique to reduce acute reactions in the brain tumor patients because we're not equipped with 3-dimensional planning system. We analyzed its advantages and limitations in the clinical application. From 1998 to 2001, vertex or oblique vertex beams were applied to 35 patients with primary brain tumor and 25 among them were eligible for this analysis. Vertex(V) plans were optimized on the reconstructed coronal planes. As the control, we took the bilateral opposed techniques(BL) otherwise being applied. We compared the volumes included in 105% to 50% isodose lines of each plan. We also measured the radiation dose at various extracranial sites with TLD. With vertex techniques, we reduced the irradiated volumes of contralateral hemisphere and prevented middle ear effusion at contralateral side. But the low dose volume increased outside 100%; the ratio of V to BL in irradiated volume included in 100%, 80%, 50% was 0.55+/-0.10, 0.61+/-0.10, and 1.22+/-0.21, respectively. The hot area within 100% isodose line almost disappeared with vertex plan; the ratio of V to BL in irradiated volume included in 103%, 105%, 108% was 0.14+/-0.14, 0.05./-0.17, 0.00, respectively. The dose distribution within 100% isodose line became more homogeneous; the ratio of volume included in 103% and 105% to 100% was 0.62+/-0.14 and 0.26+/-0.16 in BL whereas was 0.16+/-0.16 and 0.02+/-0.04 in V. With the vertex techniques, extracranial dose increased up to $1{\sim}3%$ of maximum dose in the head and neck region except submandibular area where dose ranged 1 to 21%. From this data, vertex beam technique was quite effective in reduction of unnecessary irradiation to the contralateral hemispheres, integral dose, obtaining dose homogeneity in the clinical target. But it was associated with volume increment of low dose area in the brain and irradiation toward the head and neck region otherwise being not irradiated at all. Thus, this 2-D vertex technique can be a useful quasi-conformal method before getting 3-D apparatus.