Evaluating the Efficacy of Machine Performance Checks as an Alternative to Winston-Lutz Quality Assurance Testing in the TrueBeam Linear Accelerator with HyperArc.

HyperArc is a preferred technique for treating brain metastases, employing a single isocenter for multiple lesions. Geometrical isocentricity in the TrueBeam linear accelerator with HyperArc is crucial. We evaluated machine performance checks (MPCs) as an alternative to the Winston-Lutz (WL) test to verify the treatment isocenter. Between January and July 2023, we assessed 53 data points using MPC and Winston-Lutz tests. The isocenter size obtained from the MPC and its sum, including the rotation-induced couch shift, were compared with the maximum total delta value from the Winston-Lutz test. The maximum total delta was 0.68 ± 0.10 mm, while the isocenter size was 0.28 ± 0.02 mm. The sum of the isocenter size and rotation-induced couch shift measured by MPC was 0.61 ± 0.03 mm. During the Winston-Lutz test (without couch rotation), the maximum total delta value was 0.56 ± 0.13 mm. A t-test analysis revealed a significant difference in the isocenter size averages between the Winston-Lutz and MPC outcomes, whereas the Pearson's correlation coefficient yielded no correlation. Our study highlights the necessity for separate MPC and Winston-Lutz tests for isocenter verification. Therefore, the Winston-Lutz test should precede stereotactic radiosurgery for isocenter verification.

Preparation of tofacitinib sustained-release tablets using hot melt extrusion technology.

This study aimed to develop a tablet that shows a drug release profile similar to the tofacitinib sustained-release tablet (Xeljanz XR®; OROS™) using hot melt extrusion technology. Tofacitinib citrate was selected as the drug. HPMCAS, HPMCP, and Kollidon VA64 were used as thermoplastic polymers to prepare a hot-melt extrudate. The extrudate was obtained from a twin screw extruder and pelletizer. The granules were compressed using a single punch press machine and then coated. TGA, DSC, XRD, FT-IR, and SEM were performed on the hot melt extrudate to understand its physicochemical properties. Dissolution tests were performed using the paddle method (USP Apparatus II). The results showed that the crystallinity state of tofacitinib changed to amorphous after the hot melt extrusion process; however, no chemical change was observed. The drug release profile was similar to that of Xeljanz XR®, which has an initial lag time owing to its OROS™ formulation; a coating process was performed to obtain a similar drug release profile. The lag time was controlled by adjusting the thickness of the coating layer. Moreover, the extrudate size and compression force during tableting did not significantly affect drug release. In conclusion, the new tofacitinib sustained-release tablet prepared using hot melt extrusion showed a drug release behavior similar to that of Xeljanz XR®.

Fabrication of 3D printed head phantom using plaster mixed with polylactic acid powder for patient-specific QA in intensity-modulated radiotherapy.

This study aimed to fabricate a heterogeneous phantom replicating the commercial Rando phantom by mixing plaster powder and polylactic acid (PLA) powder. Producing a heterogeneous phantom using Plaster and PLA is cheaper because it can be easily obtained in the commercial market. Additionally, patient-specific Quality Assurance can be easily performed because the phantom can be produced based on the patient's CT image. PLA has been well studied in the field of radiation therapy and was found to be safe and effective. To match the mean Hounsfield unit (HU) values of the Rando phantom, the bone tissue was changed using plaster and 0-35% PLA powder until an appropriate HU value was obtained, and soft tissue was changed using the PLA infill value until an appropriate HU value was obtained. Bone tissue (200 HU or higher), soft issue (- 500 to 200 HU), and air cavity (less than - 500 HU) were modeled based on the HU values on the computed tomography (CT) image. The bone tissue was modeled as a cavity, and after three-dimensional (3D) printing, a solution containing a mixture of plaster and PLA powder was poured. To evaluate the bone implementation of the phantom obtained by the mixture of plaster and PLA powder, the HU profile of the CT images of the 3D-printed phantom using only PLA and the Rando phantom printed using only PLA was evaluated. The mean HU value for soft tissue in the Rando phantom (- 22.5 HU) showed the greatest similarity to the result obtained with an infill value of 82% (- 20 HU). The mean HU value for bone tissue (669 HU) showed the greatest similarity to the value obtained with 15% PLA powder (680 HU). Thus, for the phantom composed of plaster mixed with PLA powder, soft tissue was fabricated using a 3D printer with an infill value of 82%, and bone tissue was fabricated with a mixture containing 15% PLA powder. In the HU profile, this phantom showed a mean difference of 61 HU for soft tissue and 109 HU for bone tissue in comparison with the Rando phantom. The ratio of PLA powder and plaster can be adjusted to achieve an HU value similar to bone tissue. A simple combination of PLA powder and plaster enabled the creation of a custom phantom that showed similarities to the Rando phantom in both soft tissue and bone tissue.

Clinical performance of FractionLab in patient-specific quality assurance for intensity-modulated radiotherapy: a retrospective study.

BACKGRUOUND: This study was aimed at comparing and analyzing the results of FractionLab (Varian/Mobius Medical System) with those of portal dosimetry that uses an electronic portal imaging device. Portal dosimetry is extensively used for patient-specific quality assurance (QA) in intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). METHODS: The study includes 29 patients who underwent IMRT on a Novalis-Tx linear accelerator (Varian Medical System and BrainLAB) between June 2019 and March 2021. We analyzed the multileaf collimator (MLC) DynaLog files generated after portal dosimetry to evaluate the same condition using FractionLab. The results of the recently launched FractionLab at various gamma indices (0.1%/0.1 mm-1%/1 mm) are analyzed and compared with those of portal dosimetry (3%/3 mm). RESULTS: The average gamma passing rates of portal dosimetry (3%/3 mm) and FractionLab are 98.1 (95.5%-100%) and 97.5% (92.3%-99.7%) at 0.6%/0.6 mm, respectively. The results of portal dosimetry (3%/3 mm) are statistically comparable with the QA results of FractionLab (0.6%/0.6 mm-0.9%/0.9 mm). CONCLUSION: This paper presents the clinical performance of FractionLab by the comparison of the QA results of FractionLab using portal dosimetry with various gamma indexes when performing patient-specific QA in IMRT treatment. Further, the appropriate gamma index when performing patient-specific QA with FractionLab is provided.

An approach to incorporate multiple forms of iodine in radiological consequence analysis.

Interest is increasing in the radiological consequences of a release of aerosol and gaseous iodine, especially after the Fukushima accident and also because of new interpretations of the results of recent severe accident experiments. This work provides a brief review of the history of iodine chemistry in containment and suggests an approach to include gaseous iodine, namely in the forms of elemental iodine and organic iodide, in consequence analyses using the MACCS code. As dry deposition is an important characteristic to distinguish each chemical form of iodine when performing a consequence analysis, the mechanisms and mathematical formulas expressing dry deposition are also investigated. The proposed approach is demonstrated by performing consequence analyses with a unit release of 131I, with the resulting trends of concentration and dose for the different chemical forms of iodine presented and discussed. For the same amount of iodine release, there is a higher surface deposition of elemental iodine (I2) because it has a higher dry deposition velocity, while the air concentration of a representative organic iodide (CH3I) is higher due to its lower dry deposition velocity, which means a lower depletion of the air concentration. Despite elemental iodine having a lower air concentration, its higher dose coefficients for the inhalation pathway compensates for this when calculating doses. Further, inhaled doses increase when considering resuspension inhalation for extended durations of exposure. The approach proposed in this study is expected to be used flexibly to perform consequence analyses incorporating both aerosol and gaseous forms of iodine.

Fabrication of electrically conductive nickel-silver bimetallic particles via polydopamine coating.

Inspired by adhesive proteins excreted by marine mussels, dopamine can act as a versatile surface modification agent for various organic and inorganic materials. By using adhesive polydopamine (PDA) as an intermediate layer, a simple and novel method for fabricating nickel-PDA-silver (Ni-PDA-Ag) bimetallic composite particles was developed. Ni-PDA-Ag bimetallic particles were fabricated by dispersing Ni particles in an aqueous dopamine solution followed by electroless Ag plating on the prepared Ni-PDA particles. A PDA layer with nano-meter thickness was deposited spontaneously on the surface of the Ni particles by oxidative self-polymerization of dopamine under alkaline conditions. Electroless Ag plating on the prepared Ni-PDA particles was carried out in the presence of a glucose solution as a reducing agent. Ni-PDA particles and Ni-PDA-Ag composite particles with a PDA intermediate layer were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), field-emission transmission electron microscopy (FE-TEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). In addition, the electrical conductivity of as-prepared composite particles was evaluated by a 4-point probe. The PDA layer deposited on the surface of Ni was confirmed by XPS spectra, FT-IR spectroscopy, and FE-TEM. FE-SEM images demonstrated that Ag nanoparticles were successfully plated on the PDA layer-coated Ni particles after the electroless Ag plating process. XRD patterns also confirmed the presence of Ag in a metallic state. In addition, the sheet resistance of as-prepared composite particles showed a tendency to decrease with increasing AgNO3 concentration.

Development of an environmental radiation analysis research capability in the UAE.

The UAE has started a nuclear energy program with the aim of having its first four units on-line between 2017 and 2020 and it is important that the country has an environmental radiation analysis capability to support this program. Khalifa University is therefore implementing a research laboratory to support both experimental analysis and radionuclide transport modeling in the aquatic and terrestrial environment. This paper outlines the development of this capability as well as the work in progress and planned for the future.