Meta-analysis of psychosocial interventions on survival time in patients with cancer.

OBJECTIVE: This study was to evaluate the effects of psychosocial interventions on survival in adult patients with cancer. METHOD: MEDLINE via PubMed, Cochrane Library CENTRAL, CINAHL, and Korean electronic databases (September 2014) were searched. Methodological quality was assessed using Cochrane's Risk of Bias for randomized studies. The RevMan 5.3 program of the Cochrane library was used for data analysis. RESULTS: Fifteen randomized controlled trials met the inclusion criteria, with a total of 2940 participants. Overall, psychosocial interventions was not associated with better survival (HR = .83, 95% CI [.68, 1.10], p = .06, I(2) = 64%). In subgroup analysis, based on six trials with 1448 subjects, psychoeducational interventions for cancer patients with non-metastatic at intervention implementation resulted in a 41% reduction in the risk of dying of cancer (HR = .59, 95% CI [.49, .71], p < .001, I(2) = 0%). For psychoeducational intervention, significant survival benefit were found when health staff delivered the intervention and at a follow-up time of more than 10 years. CONCLUSIONS: Use of psychoeducational interventions for cancer patients at early stage appeared to have beneficial effects on survival, preferably for delivering of health staff. However, conduct of further psychosocial studies with adequate power will lead to better understanding of the effects of treatments on survival outcome.

Calibration of the KRISS reference ionization chamber for certification of ²²²Rn gaseous sources.

A primary measurement system for gaseous (222)Rn based on the defined solid angle counting method has recently been constructed at KRISS and the reference ionization chamber used to measure the activities of gamma-emitting single radionuclides was adopted as a secondary standard for gaseous (222)Rn. A 20 mL flame-sealed glass ampoule source from the primary measurement system was used to calibrate the ionization chamber for (222)Rn. The (222)Rn efficiency of the ionization chamber was compared with that calculated by using a photon energy-dependent efficiency curve and that measured by using a standard (226)Ra solution. From the comparisons we draw the conclusion that the reference ionization chamber for gamma-emitting radionuclides can be a suitable secondary measurement system for gaseous (222)Rn sources.

18F half-life measurement using a high-purity germanium detector.

The half-life of (18)F has been measured using HPGe detectors with a (137)Cs reference source. The counting ratio of 511 keV γ-rays from (18)F to 622 keV γ-rays from (137)Cs was fitted for the half-life with a weighted least-square method. Uncertainties due to the systematic effects arising from the measurement of a high activity (18)F source were studied in detail. The half-life of (18)F was found to be (109.72±0.19) min. The result is in a good agreement with the recommended value of (109.728±0.019) min evaluated at the Laborotaire National Henri Becquerel (LNHB).

Development of the primary measurement standard for gaseous radon-222 activity.

The Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS) has developed a primary system for the activity standardization of gaseous radon-222, based on the defined solid angle counting method. The size of adsorbed radon is determined by a Cyclone Storage Phosphor System, and a buffer chamber is introduced between the measurement chamber and the source for the purpose of gas purification. The measured activity of gaseous radon-222 and its associated measurement uncertainty obtained using the system are presented.

Standardization of 125I and 238Pu.

A simple distance-variable detection table on which two detectors can be mounted and moved back and forth facing each other centred on a sample source has been constructed for photon-photon and alpha-photon coincidence counting for 125I and 238Pu, respectively. Two NaI(Tl) detectors were used for the standardization of 125I. A Si detector and an NaI(Tl) detector were employed for the standardization of 238Pu. The NaI(Tl) detectors have a very thin aluminium window for measuring low-energy photons from 125I and 238Pu while the Si-detector is a usable-in-air ion-implanted detector for alpha particles from 238Pu. A thin collodion film was used for 238Pu samples, whereas a thick polyester film was used for 125I samples to prevent 125I from leaking from the sample. The key comparison result of 125I showed good agreement, and the result of 238Pu was also compared with that of liquid scintillation counting.