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• We devised a new dose metric (f(0)CB w) for cone-beam CT dosimetry. • The f(0)CB w method adopted new measurement positions of a cylindrical phantom. • The f(0)CB w method can estimate the average phantom dose within 4.1% error. • The f(0)CB w method is more suitable than the conventional CTDI w method. • The results of this study would be useful for the future of CBCT dosimetry. The conventional weighted computed tomography dose index (CTDI w) may not be suitable for cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) dosimetry because a cross-sectional dose distribution is angularly inhomogeneous owing to partial angle irradiations. This study was conducted to develop a new dose metric (f(0)CB w) for CBCT dosimetry to determine a more accurate average dose in the central cross-sectional plane of a cylindrical phantom using Monte Carlo simulations. First, cross-sectional dose distributions of cylindrical polymethyl methacrylate phantoms over a wide range of phantom diameters (8–40 cm) were calculated for various CBCT scan protocols. Then, by obtaining linear least-squares fits of the full datasets of the cross-sectional dose distributions, the optimal radial positions, which represented measurement positions for the average phantom dose, were determined. Finally, the f(0)CB w method was developed by averaging point doses at the optimal radial positions of the phantoms. To demonstrate its validity, the relative differences between the average doses and each dose index value were estimated for the devised f(0)CB w , conventional CTDI w , and Haba's CTDI w methods, respectively. The relative differences between the average doses and each dose index value were within 4.1%, 16.7%, and 11.9% for the devised, conventional CTDI w , and Haba's CTDI w methods, respectively. The devised f(0)CB w value was calculated by averaging four "point doses" at 90° intervals and the optimal radial positions of the cylindrical phantom. The devised method can estimate the average dose more accurately than the previously developed CTDI w methods for CBCT dosimetry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We developed conversion coefficients to estimate organ doses for CBCT scanners. • The conversion coefficients were derived from the appropriate peak dose indices. • The organ doses were well estimated with a 14% error across various CBCT scanners. Organ dose evaluation is important for optimizing cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scan protocols. However, an evaluation method for various CBCT scanners is yet to be established. In this study, we developed scanner-independent conversion coefficients to estimate organ doses using appropriate peak dose (f(0)) indices. This study included various scanners (angiography scanners and linear accelerators) and protocols for the head and body (thorax, abdomen, and pelvis) scan regions. f(0) was measured at five conventional positions (center position (f(0) c) and four peripheral positions (f(0) p) at 90° intervals) in the CT dose index (CTDI) phantom. To identify appropriate measurement positions for organ dose estimation, various f(0) indices were considered. Organ doses were measured by using optically stimulated luminescence dosimeters positioned in an anthropomorphic phantom. Thereafter, the conversion coefficients were calculated from each obtained f(0) value and organ or tissue dose using a linear fit for all scanners, and the coefficient of variation (CV) of the conversion coefficients was calculated for each organ or tissue. The f(0) index with the minimum CV value was proposed as the appropriate index. The appropriate f(0) index was determined as f(0) c for the body region and a maximum of four f(0) p values for the head region. Using the proposed conversion coefficients based on the appropriate f(0) index, the organ/tissue doses were well estimated with a mean error of 14.2% across all scanners and scan regions. The proposed scanner-independent coefficients are useful for organ dose evaluation using CBCT scanners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to clarify the activated regions in the human brain caused by low‐level clenching and tooth separation, with emphasis on their differences. Methods: For functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), echo planar and T1‐weighted images were obtained using a 3T MRI apparatus. Six healthy volunteers clenched with 10% and 40% of the maximum bite force as vertical stimulation (Task 1), and 10 volunteers bit at 60, 120, and 180 s after the insertion of a brass contact gage as horizontal stimulation together with vertical stimulation (Task 2) were included in this study. Results: At 10% clenching, the supplementary motor area, frontal association cortex, and cerebellum were activated, whereas the primary sensorimotor cortex and temporal association cortex were added to the activated regions at 40% clenching. In addition to the activated regions in Task 1, the parietal association cortex, thalamus, hippocampus, putamen, and islet were also activated during biting after the insertion of the brass gage. Conclusion: The hypothalamic area was confirmed to be activated due to biting with the gage in addition to the regions activated in low‐level clenching. Brain fMRI might provide useful information to clarify the relationship between various intraoral stimulations and brain activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Patient dose estimation in X-ray computed tomography (CT) is generally performed by Monte Carlo simulation of photon interactions within anthropomorphic or cylindrical phantoms. An accurate Monte Carlo simulation requires an understanding of the effects of the bow-tie filter equipped in a CT scanner, i.e. the change of X-ray energy and air kerma along the fan-beam arc of the CT scanner. To measure the effective energy and air kerma distributions, we devised a pin-photodiode array utilizing eight channels of X-ray sensors arranged at regular intervals along the fan-beam arc of the CT scanner. Methods Each X-ray sensor consisted of two plate type of pin silicon photodiodes in tandem – front and rear photodiodes – and of a lead collimator, which only allowed X-rays to impinge vertically to the silicon surface of the photodiodes. The effective energy of the X-rays was calculated from the ratio of the output voltages of the photodiodes and the dose was calculated from the output voltage of the front photodiode using the energy and dose calibration curves respectively. Results The pin-photodiode array allowed the calculation of X-ray effective energies and relative doses, at eight points simultaneously along the fan-beam arc of a CT scanner during a single rotation of the scanner. Conclusions The fan-beam energy and air kerma distributions of CT scanners can be effectively measured using this pin-photodiode array. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate regional brain activity during jaw clenching with natural teeth and with two types of occlusal splints using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).Methods: Sixteen healthy volunteers were enrolled in this study. Blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) fMRI signals were compared under three conditions: during clenching with natural teeth, with a soft splint, and with a hard splint. For each condition, 30-second jaw clenching followed a 60-second rest, and was repeated three times, with intervening 30-second rests. SPM 8 was used for the fMRI analysis.Results: Blood oxygenation level-dependent signals during clenching with natural teeth increased in BA44, 45, and the cerebellum. Blood oxygenation level-dependent signals increased in those areas and in BA17, 18 during clenching with a soft splint. Use of the hard splint increased the BOLD signals in BA6 and BA20, 37 in addition to the areas previously mentioned. Blood oxygenation level-dependent signals in the left BA6, the left BA20, 37, and the right BA44, 45 were significantly higher during clenching with a hard splint than with natural teeth. These regions are associated with motor coordination, memory, and cognition, respectively.Conclusion: Jaw clenching with a hard splint caused activity in the widest brain regions, including the associated area with motor coordination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]