A study of the effect of scanning center on the performance of organ dose modulation in head CT / 中华放射医学与防护杂志

Objective:To investigate the effect of different scanning centers on eye lens dose, image quality, and the dose reduction rate when using the organ dose modulation (ODM) technique in head CT.Methods:The porus acusticus externus of the head phantom was considered the scanning isocenter. The ODM was initiated and the spiral scans were performed at the scanning centers with the height of porus acusticus externus and its upper and lower 2, 4, and 6 cm, respectively. The scanning range was from the top of the head to the base of the head. Three thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLD) were placed on the surface of two eyes at each scan and the average measurement value was regarded as the radiation dose to the eye lens. The volume CT dose index (CTDI vol) and dose length product (DLP) were recorded. The scans were repeated with no ODM and the dose reduction rates at each scanning center were calculated. The regions of interest (ROI) in each group of images with ODM were drawn and the noise (SD), signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were evaluated. Results:Compared with the isocenter, the maximum change rates of CTDI vol and DLP in each scanning center were 2.46% and 2.43%, respectively. The eye lens dose increased as the scanning centre moving upwars (i.e. the bed dropping) by 39.02% at the position of 6 cm above the isocenter and decreased by 35.91% at the position of 6 cm below the isocenter. With the seven groups of scanning centers, the reduction rates of CTDI vol and DLP caused by ODM were 7.95%-8.61%, 7.91%-8.61% respectively, and the difference in the reduction rate of each dose value was not statistically significant( P>0.05). The reduction rate for eye lens dose ranged from 18.09% to 26.14%, with the highest reduction rate at the position of 4 cm above the isocentre and the second rate at the isocentre (24.73%). The difference in the rate of reduction at each scanning center was statistically significant( t=0.13, P<0.05). As the scanning center moved up, the SD of the eye region decreased and the SNR increased, and the highest CNR at the isocentre was 239.79. The SD and SNR of the brain parenchyma region were 6.85-7.96 and 3.08-4.19 respectively, and the highest CNR at the isocentre was 244.79. Conclusions:When ODM technique is used in head CT, the scan centre has a significant effect on the eye lens dose and image quality. Meanwhile, the reduction rate of the eye lens dose caused by ODM is also affected. Therefore, porus acusticus externus is recommended as the scanning center in head CT.

Radiation dosimetric study of patients and professionals in an intervention procedure based on PBU-60 anthropomorphic phantom / 中国辐射卫生

Objective Based on the anthropomorphic phantom experiment and Monte Carlo simulation, the patients’ skin dose, professionals’ dose, and spatial distribution of DSA (Digital Subtraction Angiography) radiation field in an intervention procedure, was performed, in order to provide the basis for the inference of patients’ skin injury and professionals’ radiation protection in intervention procedure. Methods In the simulation experiment, a PBU-60 anthropomorphic phantom was used as the patient and the skin dose of patient’s abdomen was measured by TLD (Thermoluminescence Dosimeters). X-ray and gamma radiation dosimeter (AT1121) was applied to measure the spatial distribution of DSA radiation field, which was verified using Monte Carlo software MCNP meanwhile. Furthermore, the radiation dosimetry of operative staffs at different stations and under different protection conditions was studied experimentally. Results The experimental measurements showed that the maximum skin dose of patients every 5-minute fluoroscopy was 18.62 mGy under the irradiation of PA in an abdominal interventional procedure. The results of Monte Carlo simulation and measurement experiments showed that the spatial distribution of DSA radiation fieldis similar to the butterfly distribution, which is related to distance and angle. The experimental results showed that the dose rate decreases exponentially with the increase of lead equivalent. Conclusion It is very significant to carry out skin dose measurementof patients during interventional surgery and follow-up patients with high dose after surgery. In interventional surgery, doctors should try to avoid the station of high dose rate. However, it is necessary to strengthen the radiation protection of the operator and the first assistant. Under the dual protections of bedside lead protective equipment and personal protective equipment, the exposure dose of intervention personnel can be significantly reduced.

Calculation of water equivalent diameter based on anteroposterior localizer CT images / 南方医科大学学报

To explore a method for calculating water equivalent diameter () based on localizer CT images for calculation of the size specific dose estimates (SSDE).GE Revolution CT and LightSpeed VCT were used to scan CT dose index phantoms 16 cm and 32 cm in diameter at the tube voltages of 80, 100 and 120 kV to obtain the axial image and anteroposterior localizer radiograph. According to the definition of CT Hounsfield unit, the axial images were used to calculate the conversion factors that convert the phantom thickness to water equivalent thickness. The gray value of the localizer radiograph and the water equivalent thickness were calibrated with a linear equation, and the parameters of the calibration were used to calculate the water equivalent thickness. The method was verified using 2 CT dose index phantoms and in 22 patients undergoing chest and abdominal CT examination.Comparison of the water equivalent diameter () based on the localizer radiograph and axial image of the 2 phantoms showed that the percentage difference between from the axial images and from the localizer radiograph was below 3%. The trend of variations with location in the two methods was sonsistent. The difference in in intermediate region of interest between the axial image and the localizer radiograph from the 22 patients was below 6.6%. With the mean in the ROI, the maximum percentage difference was 7.5%.Calibration of the gray value of the localizer radiograph and the water equivalent thickness using the axial image and localizer radiograph of CT dose index phantoms allows quick calculation of the SSDE based on the parameters of calibration.

Berberine regulates gut microbiota and Th17/Treg balance in sleep deprived rats / 基础医学与临床

Objective To investigate the effect of berberine on gut microbiota and T helper cell 17 (Th17), regulatory T cell (Treg) cell in sleep deprived rats.Methods SD rats were randomized into control group, model group, low-dose and high-dose group (BBR1 and BBR2, 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg, administrated orally).Sleep deprived rat model was established by the small-platforms-over-water method.The number of bacteria in rectum content of rat was detected.The ratio of Th17/Treg was evaluated by flow cytometry.The expression of interleukin 17 (IL-17), RAR-related orphan receptor (ROR) C, and Forkhead Box Protein P3 (Foxp3) mRNA was evaluated.Results The counting of Clostridium perfringens was elevated (P<0.05), the amount of other microbiota decreased (P<0.05), Th17/Treg ratio(P<0.05), IL-17 and RORC expression enhanced (P<0.05), Foxp3 expression decreased (P<0.05) in the gut of model rats.In contrast, treatment with berberine inhibited the proliferation of Clostridium perfringens(P<0.05), and promoted the growth of other microbiota (P<0.05), and dampened Th17/Treg ratio (P<0.05), regressed IL-17 and RORC expression, augmented Foxp3 expression.Conclusions Various doses of berberine can counteract gut microbiota imbalance and Th17/Treg imbalance induced by sleep deprivation.

Analysis of the evolution of esophageal tumor volume in radiotherapy process using a mathematical model / 生物医学工程学杂志

The volume change of tumor during radiotherapy processes indirectly reflects the short-term efficacy and the quality of radiotherapy planning. We analyzed clinical data of radiotherapy using a mathematical model in our study. First, we selected eight esophageal carcinoma patients with only using 3DRT and conventional dose fractionation schemes. And then we observed and measured the change of tumor volume during the radiotherapy. Based on the LQ model, repopulation and re-oxygenation in 4Rs, and the kinetics of doomed tumor disintegration, we established the mathematical model of tumor evolution in radiotherapy. And then we used the model to analyze the clinical trial data about esophageal carcinoma with radiotherapy. It was proved that the results of the model almost coincided with the clinical trial data. According to the analysis results, we could get the related radiobiology parameters to estimate biological effective dose and repopulation of patients. The mathematical model could provide reference for assessment of prognosis and further scheme of treatment.

Mathematical model of tumor evolution in radiotherapy / 生物医学工程学杂志

The schemes of dose fractionation play an important role in tumor radiotherapy. We used mathematical methods to describe the process of tumor cells evolution during radiotherapy, trying to find how the schemes of dose fractionation affect tumor cells. In clinical radiobiology, linear-quadratic (LQ) model is frequently used to describe radiation effects of tumor cells. We integrated LQ model with effect of oxygen, and with the phenomenon of repopulation and reoxygenation in the theory of radiation biology. While we considered the disappearing progress of doomed cells in tumor, we established the mathematical model of tumor evolution in radiotherapy. We simulated some common treatment schedules, and studied the change role of tumor cells during radiotherapy. These results can serve for the optimization of dose fractionation scheme based on tumor radiobiological characteristics.