[Evaluation of absorbed dose from kilovoltage cone-beam computed tomography by radiotherapy planning system: influence on the radiation therapy for prostate cancer].

Image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT) is increasingly being used in modern radiation therapy, and it is now possible to verify a patient's position using kilo-voltage cone-beam computed tomography (kV-CBCT). However, if kV-CBCT is used frequently, the dose absorbed by the body cannot be disregarded. A number of studies have been made on the absorbed dose of kV-CBCT, in which absorbed dose measurements were made using a computed tomography dose index (CTDI) or a thermoluminescent dosimeter (TLD). Other methods include comparison of the absorbed dose between a kV-CBCT and other modalities. These techniques are now in common use. However, dose distribution within the patient varies with the patient's size, posture and the part of the body to which radiation therapy is applied. The chief purpose of this study was to evaluate the dose distribution of kV-CBCT by employing a radiotherapy planning system (RTPS); a secondary aim was to examine the influence of a dose of kV-CBCT radiation when used to treat prostate cancer. The beam data of an on-board imager (OBI) was registered in the RTPS, after which modeling was performed. The radiation dosimetry was arranged by the dosimeter in an elliptical phantom. Rotational radiation treatment was used to obtain the dose distribution of the kV-CBCT within the patient, and the patient dose was evaluated based on the simulation of the dose distribution. In radiation therapy for prostate cancer, if kV-CBCT was applied daily, the dose increment within the planning target volume (PTV) and the organ in question was about 1 Gy.

[History of Japanese Committee for Anatomical Nomenclature].

This paper records a history of the Japanese Committee of Anatomical Nomenclature since 1990, as a supplement to the previous report (1991), explains a progressing of the edition of Japanese medical terms by the Japanese Association of Medical Sciences and the Ministry of Education, Sciences and Culture, and points out of some problems on terms in Japanese.

[Comparison of anatomical terms from Basle nomina anatomica to Terminologia anatomica--terms of general anatomy].

This paper compared and considered terms of general anatomy from the Basle Nomina Anatomica (1895) to the Terminologia Anatomica (1998), together with the Jena Nomina Anatomica (1935). Some differences are found in ideas of the BNA-NA3, NA4-6 and TA. It was noticed after the NA4, that the "coronalis" was used for the site and the "frontalis" for the direction in head, that the term of line and plane was reasonably rearranged, and that some terms were omitted from the part of human body and moved to the systemic anatomy in head and trunk and to the region in limbs.

The insertions of the cruropedal muscles and implications for the locomotor evolution in primates.

We examined gross-anatomically the cruropedal muscles, which control the toe movements, in some species of insectivores, rodents and primates including humans, with a focus on the phylogenetic developments of these muscles including the distribution patterns of the tendons to the toes. Morphological changes corresponding to the phylogenetic advancement from primitive terrestrial mammals to arboreal primates were found in the short extensors and flexors, presumably in association with the enhancement of independent digital mobility. In contrast, the changes which correspond to the acquisition of terrestrial bipedality in humans were identified in the development of extensors and flexors which govern the first toe, as well as in establishment of the peroneus tertius that dorsi-flexes the talocrural joint.

Aging of metacarpal density at midshaft and proximal end.

Aging of bone density of the second metacarpal at midshaft (compact bone) and the proximal end (trabecular bone) was compared in 114 men and 115 women, 30-98 years of age. The microdensitometric (MD) pattern of the bone at both sites, area (Σ GS) and midheight (GSmid), were measured in standardized aluminun equivalents (SAE). In both sexes, Σ GS and GSmid showed a greater deviation at the proximal end than at midshaft. There was a significant correlation between both sites for each parameter. Pattern area was significantly greater at the proximal end than at midshaft(P ⩽ 0.01), but the relation was reversed for GSmid. At both sites, Σ GS and GSmid decreased gradually with age in both sexes, especially after 69 years in women. Each parameter showed a significant negative linear regression with age at both sites in women and at midshaft in men. In both sexes, the slope of the regression curve of Σ GS with age was significantly steeper at the proximal end than at midshaft. In women, the estimated rate of decline was 0.90% and 0.56% for Σ GS, and 1.20% and 0.73% for GSmid per year at the proximal end and midshaft, respectively. The bone density loss with age may be slightly greater in trabecular than in compact bone. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.