• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.185-191
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• 2015

As radiation therapy is one of three major cancer treatment methods, many cancer patients get radiation therapy. Because of the invisible and scattering characteristics of radiation, it is impossible to identify the quality and the amount of radiation and secondary cancer could be induced by scattered radiation. Because of advanced technique of radiation therapy and the reasons mentioned above, quality assurance of radiotherapy machine should be performed completely. International organizations such as International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) suggest report of quality assurance to recommend united method of radiotherapy machine quality assurance. Domestic society of medical physics, however, is too small to make such a report, domestic hospitals selectively choose some of contents in global suggestions. As there are no suggestions for domestic hospitals and global suggestions are being updated, we did a survey about quality assurance for radiotherapy machine. The questionnaire is composed of possession of radiotherapy machine, items performed for quality assurance and manpower, etc. 37 of 72 hospitals answered to survey. These results could be used for making domestic standard quality assurance procedure.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.155-159
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• 2019

Radiological properties of newly introduced and existing 3-dimensional (3D) printing materials were evaluated by measuring their Hounsfield units (HUs) at varying infill densities. The six materials for 3D printing which consisted of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), a unique ABS plastic blend manufactured by Zortrax (ULTRAT), high impact polystyrene (HIPS), polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG), polylactic acid (PLA), and a thermoplastic polyester elastomer manufactured by Zortrax (FLEX) were used. We used computed tomography (CT) imaging to determine the HU values of each material, and thus assess its suitability for various applications in radiation oncology. We found that several material and infill density combinations resembled the HU values of fat, soft tissues, and lungs; however, none of the tested materials exhibited HU values similar to that of bone. These results will help researchers and clinicians develop more appropriate instruments for improving the quality of radiation therapy. Using optimized infill densities will help improve the quality of radiation therapy by producing customized instruments for each field of radiation therapy.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.367-373
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• 2021

A quality assurance of computed tomography(CT) have done seven items that were water attenuation coefficient, noise, homogeneity, spatial resolution, contrast resolution, slice thickness, artifact using by standard phantom. But there is no quality assurance items and methods for CT simulator at domestic institutions yet. Therefore the study aimed to access the CT dose index(CTDI), table tilting, image distortion, laser accuracy, table movement accuracy and CT seven items for CT simulator quality assurance. The CTDI at the center of the head phantom was 0.81 for 80 kVp, 1.55 for 100 kVp, 2.50 for 120 mm, 0.22 for 80 kVp at the center of the body phantom, 0.469 for 100 kVp, and 0.81 for 120 kVp. The table tilting was within the tolerance range of ±1.0° or less. Image distortion had 1 mm distortion in the left and right images based on the center, and the laser accuracy was measured within ±2 mm tolerance. The purpose of this study is to improve the quality assurance items suitable for the current situation in Korea in order to protect the normal tissues during the radiation treatment process and manage the CT simulator that is implemented to find the location of the tumor more clearly. In order to improve the accuracy of the CT simulator when looking at the results, the error range of each item should be small. It is hoped that the quality assurance items of the CT simulator will be improved by suggesting the quality assurance direction of the CT simulator in this study, and the results of radiation therapy will also improve.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.408-413
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• 2007

This study evaluated the sensory quality characteristics of gamma-irradiated Sujeonggwa a Korean traditional cinnamon beverage during storage, and the mutagenicity of the beverage. The minimum irradiation dose required to ensure the microbiological safety of powdered Sujeonggwa was 4.5 kGy. Sensory characteristics, and the Hunter's color value, of Sujeonggwa, deteriorated with increased irradiation doses, but no significant changes in sensory qualities were found during storage. The Ames test yielded no evidence that gamma irradiation induced mutagenicity in Sujeonggwa powder.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.111-117
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• 2012

This study was conducted to improve organoleptic quality of gamma-irradiated Tarakjuk at 10 kGy with cheeses (Camembert, Cheddar, Gouda, and Edam) and flavors (Nurungji, cream, and vanilla-cream). Overall acceptability of gamma-irradiated Tarakjuk added each camembert cheese and vanilla-cream flavor was the highest among the all samples. In the effect of sterilization method on the quality of Tarakjuk, the autoclaved samples added with Edam cheese, Gouda cheese, and vanilla-cream flavor, respectively, were showed higher score on the overall acceptability than the irradiated samples, meanwhile the irradiated samples were superior in the other samples. In case of added mixture of Edam cheese and vanilla-cream flavor, irradiated Tarakjuk with mixture was showed the most of high score on overall acceptability. In conclusion, addition of mixture of cheese and flavor to Tarakjuk may help to improve organoleptic quality of sterilized Tarakjuk by gammairradiation.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.37-42
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• 2008

This study investigated the effects of green tea powder (GTP) on the quality characteristics of Yukwa during storage, to improve shelf-stability and sensory quality. The crude lipid contents of Yukwa decreased with increasing levels of GTP, but significant changes in moisture contents were not found. 'The blowhole size and expansion rate of Yukwa decreased with increases in GTP. The hardness of Yukwa samples with over 2% (w/v) GTP significantly increased, but no notable changes in hardness during storage were found. Sensory evaluation tests indicated that all sensory characteristics decreased with increasing GTP levels, but there was no significant difference in overall acceptability between Yukwa samples with 1% (w/v) GTP and control. Antioxidant activity increased as the concentration of GTP increased 'The results indicate that addition of 1% (w/v) G1P yielded optimal quality of Yukwa during storage.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2018

Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) has been considered the most successful development in radiation oncology since the introduction of computed tomography into treatment planning that enabled three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy in 1980s. More than three decades have passed since the concept of inverse planning was first introduced in 1982, and IMRT has become the most important and common modality in radiation therapy. This review will present developments in inverse IMRT treatment planning and IMRT delivery using multileaf collimators, along with the associated key concepts. Other relevant issues and future perspectives are also presented.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.21-29
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this master's thesis is to utilize basic data in order to improve the quality of life of cancer patients who received radiation therapy after analysing related factors that influence patient's quality of life and obtaining information about physical, mental problems of patients. Materials and Methods: By using a structured questionnaire about various characteristics and forms of support, I carried out a survey targeting 107 patients that experienced radiation therapy at a university hospital in the Daejeon metropolitan area from July 15 to August 15, 2010 and analysed the factors influencing quality of life. Results: In case of pain due to disease, 65.15 and painless 81.87 showed a high grade quality of life. As body weight decreases, the quality of life become lower. When the grade of quality of life according to economic characteristics was compared, all items except treatment period showed a difference (P=0.000). When the score of social support, family support, medical support and self-esteem was low, the mark of quality of life showed respectively 61.71, 68.77, 71.31, and 69.39 on the basis of 128 points. When the score of support form was high, the mark of quality of life showed 90.47, 83.29, 90.40, and 90.36 (P<0.05). When analyzing the correlation between social support, family support, medical support and self-esteem and the degree of quality of life, social support was 0.768, family support 0.596, medical support 0.434, self-esteem 0.516. They indicated the correlation of meaningful quantity statistically (P<0.01). The factors that improved the quality of life were married state, having a job and painless status. As monthly income increases, the quality of life was also much improved (P<0.05). Among the factors related to quality of life, social support and medical support and higher self-esteem scores of the quality of life score increased 0.979 point, 0.508 points and 1.667 point, respectively. Conclusion: In conclusion, the quality of life of cancer patients that received radiation treatment is related to social support, medical support and self esteem. Self-esteem is an important factor that influenced quality of life, so if government offers works that doesn't affect patient's health, they are a useful method that maximize self-esteem and lessen their financial burden at the same time. Along with these policies, the developments of the attention of medical and the program for cancer patient's family are needed for the purpose of improving quality of life of cancer patients. Lastly, medical team, patients and family have to cooperate in harmony to overcome difficulties of cancer patients.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.51-55
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• 2013

When the X-ray energy is high, the X-ray penetrates the object and decrease the contrast of imaging, and when the X-ray energy is low, the X-ray increases the contrast of imaging but it is to be absorbed into the object, which in the long run increases patient's radiation exposure level. Therefore, appropriate X-ray energy is an essential element affecting the imaging quality and radiation exposure level. This study simulated the energy spectrums according to the target materials of mammography, and compared qualities of phantom imaging for the management of radiolographic quality and patient's radiation exposure level with the introduction of the mammography that employs diversified radiation quality by using new anode materials.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.59-71
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• 2015

The goal of quality assurance (QA) is to minimize systematic errors in order to maintain the quality of a certain process. Statistical process control (SPC) has been utilized for QA in radiation therapy field since 2005 and is changing QA paradigm. Its purpose is to maintain a process within the given control limits while monitoring of error trends such as variation or dispersion. SPC can be applied to all QA aspects of radiotherapy; however, a medical physicist should have enough knowledge about the application of SPC to QC/QA procedures. In this paper, the author introduce a concept of SPC and review some previously reported studies those used SPC for QA in radiation therapy.