Correlation of maximum dose in PTV and the need for in-hospital supportive care during radiotherapy for H and N cancer patients

Context: An objective conformal radiotherapy treatment planning criteria that can predict severity of early effects of radiotherapy would be quite useful in reducing the side effects of radiotherapy thereby improving quality of life for head and neck cancer patients. Aim of Study: Retrospective study aimed at correlating the maximum dose in planning target volume (PTV) with early effects of radiation. Materials and Methods: Patients with squamous cell carcinoma of H and N region who received radical radiotherapy and concomitant chemotherapy were retrospectively analyzed for maximum dose in PTV and the requirement of gap during radiotherapy or else hospitalization for supportive care during or up to 1 month after completion of radical radiotherapy. Results: Of a total of 23 patients, 8 patients (34.7%) required a gap of 2–14 days during their treatment. Twelve patients (52.1%) required hospitalization for 1–4 days and 4 patients (17.3%) required hospitalization for supportive care after completion of radiotherapy. The maximum dose in PTV ranged from 105.1% to 132.8% with an average of 112.68%. Subgroup analysis revealed a nonsignificant highest maximum dose of 114.72% in subset of patients requiring gap during radiotherapy (n= 8). Conclusion: It was concluded that maximum dose in PTV is a useful predictor of need for inhospital supportive care

Study of Acute Toxicity Different Extraction Parts of Aconitum sinomontanum Nakai on Mice / 中国中医药信息杂志

Objective To compare the toxicity of different extraction parts of Aconitum sinomontanum Nakai;To screen out"toxic sections"of Aconitum sinomontanum Nakai; To provide references for further study on toxicity components of Aconitum sinomontanum Nakai. Methods Systematic solvent method was used to extract the 95% ethanol extracts of Aconitum sinomontanum Nakai,and six different extraction fractions(petroleum ether,chloroform, ethyl acetate, butanol, alcohol and water) were obtained. Median lethal dose (LD50) and maximum dose method were used to conduct comparative study on acute toxicity of different extraction parts of Aconitum sinomontanum Nakai. Results Chloroform, water and butanol extractions in LD50of Aconitum sinomontanum Nakai were 89.65, 1805.40 and 24 409.41 mg/kg, and 95% confidence limits were 76.39~108.41, 1521.60~2240.00 and 20 422.54~24 246.95, respectively. The maximum dose of petroleum ether, ethyl acetate and alcohol extractions were 2686.01, 3108.13 and 28 376.21 mg/kg, respectively. Conclusion The maximum toxicity is the extracted section of chloroform, and the minimal toxicity is the extracted section of ethanol.

Study on Acute Toxicity of Xiaobai Capsules in Mice / 中国药师

Objective: To study the acute toxicity of Xiaobai capsules in mice after intragastric administration .Methods: The mice were randomly divided into two groups , the treatment group and the control group .The treatment group was given Xiaobai cap-sules by gavage, 3 times daily.The acute toxicity was recorded, and the median lethal dose (LD50) and the maximum dose were deter-mined.Results:The maximum daily dose of Xiaobai capsules was 141.6 g· kg-1(equivalent to 211.3 times of the clinical dose).At the dose, the mice showed no toxicity without death in 14 days or changes in organs after the dissection .Conclusion:Xiaobai capsules have very low acute toxicity in mice after intragastric administration with high security .

An immediately accessible database for information regarding ingestion timing and maximum dose setting: Development and applications to address inquiries to clarify doubts concerning prescription / 医薬品情報学

<b>Objective: </b>Optimizing the time of ingestion and avoiding overdose are important aspects of medication therapy.  However, seeking explanations for selecting the time of ingestion and maximum dose for a certain drug is time consuming.  The aim of this study is to develop a database (DB) that enables a rapid search of the basis for the time of ingestion and maximum dose setting.<br><b>Methods: </b>The basis for the time of ingestion and maximum dose setting were surveyed for 38 and 184 drugs, respectively.  Package inserts, interview forms, and other documents preserved in our department were surveyed, and this was followed by an inquiry of the staff of pharmaceutical companies.  Standard responses to a prescription with incorrect timing or dosage were determined and included into a DB together with information whose quality was dissected.  The efficiency of DB was evaluated: the time taken to obtain information and consistency of inquiries to clarify doubts concerning prescription with the use of DB and without the use DB were compared.<br><b>Results: </b>The information of newer drugs, but not of the older drugs, were easily obtained without the need to inquire the staff of the pharmaceutical companies.  Operation of the DB was convenient and was acceptable for most pharmacists working in our department.  The DB markedly reduced the time taken to obtain information.  Further, with the aid of DB, the consistency in the responses to inquiries to clarify doubts concerning a pharmacist’s recommendation was remarkably increased.<br><b>Conclusion: </b>The DB developed in the present study may contribute to the improvement of not only the efficiency but also the quality of dispensation.

Consideration of Surface Dose and Depth of Maximum Dose Using Various Detectors for High Energy X-rays / 대한방사선종양학회지

PURPOSE: It is difficult to exactly determine the surface dose and the dose distribution in buildup region of high energy X-rays by using the conventional ion chamber. The aim of this study is to evaluate the accuracy of widely used dosimetry systems to measure the surface dose and the depth of maximum dose (dmax). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We measured the percent depth dose (PDD) from the surface to the dmax in either a water phantom or in a solid water phantom using TLD-100 chips, thimble type ion chamber, diode detector, diamond detector and Markus parallel plate ion chamber for 6 MV and 15 MV X-rays, 10 10 cm2, at SSD=100 cm. We analysed the surface dose and the dmax. In order to verify the accuracy of the TLD data, we executed the Monte Carlo simulation for 6 MV X-ray beams. RESULTS: The surface doses in 6 MV and 15 MV X-rays were 29.31% and 23.36% for Markus parallel plate ion chamber, 37.17% and 24.01% for TLD, 34.87% and 24.06% for diamond detector, 38.13% and 27.8% for diode detector, and 47.92% and 36.01% for thimble type ion chamber, respectively. In Monte Carlo simulation for 6 MV X-rays, the surface dose was 36.22%, which is similar to the 37.17% of the TLD measurement data. The dmax in 6 MV and 15 MV X-rays was 14~16 mm and 27~29 mm, respectively. There was no significant difference in the dmax among the detectors. CONCLUSION: There was a remarkable difference in the surface dose among the detectors. The Markus parallel plate chamber showed the most accurate result. The surface dose of the thimble ion chamber was 10% higher than that of other detectors. We suggest that the correction should be made when the surface dose of the thimble ion chamber is used for the treatment planning for the superficial tumors. All the detectors used in our study showed no difference in the dmax.