Cherenkov Light Emission in Pure Cherenkov Emitters for Prompt Gamma Imaging.

Proton range verification (PRV) in proton therapy by means of prompt-gamma detection is a promising but challenging approach. High count rates, energies ranging between 1 MeV and 7 MeV, and a strong background complicate the detection of such particles. In this work, the Cherenkov light generated by prompt-gammas in the pure Cherenkov emitters TlBr, TlCl and PbF2 was studied. Cherenkov light in these crystals can provide a very fast timing signal with the potential to achieve very high count rates and to discern between prompt-gammas and background signals. Crystals of 1×1 cm2 and thicknesses of 1 cm, 2 cm, 3 cm and 4 cm were simulated. Different photodetector configurations were studied for 2.3 MeV, 4.4 MeV, and 6.1 MeV prompt-gammas. TlCl achieved the greatest number of detected Cherenkov photons for all energies, detector dimensions, and photodetector efficiency modeling. For the highest prompt-gamma energy simulated, TlCl yielded approximately 250 Cherenkov detected photons, using a hypothetical high-performance photodetector. Results show the crystal blocks of 1 cm × 1 cm × 1 cm have greater prompt-gamma detection efficiency per volume and a comparable average number of detected Cherenkov photons per event.

SU-E-J-174: ITV Variations as a Function of CT Geometry and Scan Time : A Simulation Study Using Patient Data.

PURPOSE: The internal target volume (ITV) accounts for uncertainties in tumor position and shape and is defined from images acquired with 4DCT. In this work, the locations of gold fiducial markers implanted in lung tumors of seven patients are used to represent tumor motion and investigate the role of the CT scanner geometry and scan duration on ITV definition. METHODS: All of the simulations are geometric simulations performed in MATLAB (The Mathworks, Nattick,MA) and variations in image reconstruction are not considered. The CT scanner geometries simulated include a 4-slice CT scanner (with an axial field of view of 10 mm) and an 'ideal' CT scanner geometry that covers all potential tumor positions in the same bed position (axial field of view of 100 mm). The scan durations were varied from 6 seconds per bed position to 30 seconds per bed position. For all of the simulations, the tumor was modeled as a sphere of diameter 25 mm. The ITVs were compared by calculating the mean ITV for each patient and scan parameters. RESULTS: For all of the patients, the mean ITV increased as the scan duration increased. The maximum increase in mean ITV was 25%. CONCLUSIONS: This work highlights the potential benefit of modified CT protocols to determine the ITV. One example of a modified protocol would be to increase the scan duration (to decrease ITV uncertainties) while decreasing the mA of the scanner (to avoid giving extra radiation dose). The largest factor influencing the ITV is the scan duration (and not the scanner geometry).

SU-E-J-126: Generation of Fluoroscopic 3D Images Using Single X-Ray Projections on Realistic Modified XCAT Phantom Data.

PURPOSE: To simulate the process of generating fluoroscopic 3D treatment images from 4DCT and measured 2D x-ray projections using a realistic modified XCAT phantom based on measured patient 3D tumor trajectories. METHODS: First, the existing XCAT phantom is adapted to incorporate measured patient lung tumor trajectories. Realistic diaphragm and chest wall motion are automatically generated based on input tumor motion and position, producing synchronized, realistic motion in the phantom. Based on 4DCT generated with the XCAT phantom, we derive patient-specific motion models that are used to generate 3D fluoroscopic images. Patient-specific models are created in two steps: first, the displacement vector fields (DVFs) are obtained through deformable image registration of each phase of 4DCT with respect to a reference image (typically peak-exhale). Each phase is registered to the reference image to obtain (n-1) DVFs. Second, the most salient characteristics in the DVFs are captured in a compact representation through principal component analysis (PCA). Since PCA is a linear decomposition method, all the DVFs can be represented as linear combinations of eigenvectors. Fluoroscopic 3D images are obtained using the projection image to determine optimal weights for the eigenvectors. These weights are determined through iterative optimization of a cost function relating the projection image to the 3D image via the PCA lung motion model and a projection operator. Constructing fluoroscopic 3D images is thus reduced to finding optimal weights for the eigenvectors. RESULTS: Fluoroscopic 3D treatment images were generated using the modified XCAT phantom. The average relative error of the reconstructed image over 30 sec is 0.0457 HU and the standard deviation is 0.0063. CONCLUSIONS: The XCAT phantom was modified to produce realistic images by incorporating patient tumor trajectories. The modified XCAT phantom can be used to simulate the process of generating fluoroscopic 3D treatment images from 4DCT and 2D x-ray projections.

Skeletal development and formation of osteoclast-like cells from in situ progenitors in fetal mouse metatarsals cultured in chemically defined medium.

An in vitro model system is described, using metatarsal explants from 15-day mouse embryos (E15) cultured in serumless chemically defined medium, to study fetal skeletal development with particular emphasis on de novo osteoclast formation. The normal pattern of growth and differentiation observed in vitro, assessed by ultrastructure and morphometry, demonstrate a permissive local environment which replicates physiologic temporal and spatial relationships which exist in vivo. The population of committed osteoclast progenitors present in E15 metatarsals form osteoclasts and precursors which have cytochemical and ultrastructural features, as well as kinetics of formation, that are similar to that which occurs in vivo. The responsiveness of osteoclast formation to the effects of added 1,25(OH)2D3 illustrates that controlled manipulation enables one to exploit the system for investigating the role of cytokines, growth factors and osteotropic hormones in skeletal development and osteoclast ontogeny.

Modulation of rat pancreatic muscarinic cholinergic receptors by caerulein.

To evaluate the modulation of pancreatic muscarinic receptors in two states of pancreatic growth, hypertrophy and hyperplasia, caerulein, a cholecystokinin analog, (1 microgram/kg) was administered thrice daily for 2 and 4 days to adult rats. After 2 days of treatment, pancreatic hypertrophy was well established as evidenced by increases in pancreatic weight, cellular mass and protein content. Using an increase in DNA content as an index of hyperplasia, we demonstrated that pancreatic hyperplasia occurred only after 4 days of caerulein treatment. Caerulein increased the concentration of muscarinic receptors per DNA in pancreatic homogenate by 57% over control value after 2 days of treatment without modification of the receptor affinity for the ligand QNB. This increase involved mainly receptors in the low affinity state for carbamylcholine and their concentration returned to control levels after 4 days of treatment. The functional capacity of the acini was significantly increased after 2 days of caerulein as amylase release (U/mg DNA) was significantly increased but the sensitivity of these acini to carbamylcholine was significantly decreased. After 4 days of caerulein, the functional capacity has returned towards control values but the sensitivity to carbamylcholine remained decreased. The increase in muscarinic receptor concentration could be ascribed to a general increase in cellular proteins, as part of the hypertrophic effect of caerulein. This specific effect would also explain the increased functional secretory capacity of the caerulein-treated acini but the decreased sensitivity to carbamylcholine probably resulted in changes at a postreceptor loci since the affinities of the muscarinic receptors for carbamylcholine remained unaffected.