Search

Aims: The number of Proton Therapy (PT) facilities is still limited worldwide, and the access to treatment could be characterized by patients’ logistic and economic challenges. Aim of the present survey is to assess the support provided to patients undergoing PT across Europe. Methods: Through a personnel contact, an online questionnaire (62 multiple-choice and open-ended questions) via Microsoft Forms was administered to 10 European PT centers. The questionnaire consisted of 62 questions divided into 6 sections: i) personal data; ii) general information on clinical activity; iii) fractionation, concurrent systemic treatments and technical aspects of PT facility; iv) indication to PT and reimbursement policies; v) economic and/ or logistic support to patients vi) participants agreement on statements related to the possible limitation of access to PT. A qualitative analysis was performed and reported. Results: From March to May 2022 all ten involved centers filled the survey. Nine centers treat from 100 to 500 patients per year. Paediatric patients accounted for 10–30%, 30–50% and 50–70% of the entire cohort for 7, 2 and 1 center, respectively. The most frequent tumours treated in adult population were brain tumours, sarcomas and head and neck carcinomas; in all centers, the mean duration of PT is longer than 3 weeks. In 80% of cases, the treatment reimbursement for PT is supplied by the respective country’s Health National System (HNS). HNS also provides economic support to patients in 70% of centers, while logistic and meal support is provided in 20% and 40% of centers, respectively. PT facilities offer economic and/or logistic support in 90% of the cases. Logistic support for parents of pediatric patients is provided by HNS only in one-third of centers. Overall, 70% of re- spondents agree that geographic challenges could limit a patient’s access to proton facilities and 60% believe that additional support should be given to patients referred for PT care.

A low-resolution path-length-multiplexed scattering angle diverse optical coherence tomography (PM-SAD-OCT) is constructed to investigate the scattering properties of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL). Low-resolution PM-SAD-OCT retinal images acquired from a healthy human subject show the variation of RNFL scattering properties at retinal locations around the optic nerve head. The results are consistent with known retinal ganglion cell neural anatomy and principles of light scattering. Application of PM-SAD-OCT may provide potentially valuable diagnostic information for clinical retinal imaging.

Background: Several attempts to increase the locoregional control in locally advanced lung cancer including concurrent chemotherapy, accelerated fractionation and dose escalation have been made during the last years. As the EGFR directed antibody cetuximab has shown activity concurrent with radiotherapy in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, as well as in stage IV NSCLC combined with chemotherapy, we wanted to investigate radiotherapy with concurrent cetuximab in locally advanced NSCLC, a tumour type often over expressing the EGF-receptor. Methods: Between February 2006 and August 2007 75 patients in stage Ill NSCLC with good performance status (PS 0 or 1) and adequate lung function (FEV1 > 1.0) were enrolled in this phase II study at eight institutions. Treatment consisted of 2 cycles of induction chemotherapy, docetaxel 75 mg/m(2) and cisplatin 75 mg/m(2) with 3 weeks interval. An initial dose of cetuximab 400 mg/m(2) was given before start of 3D-CRT to 68 Gy with 2 Gy per fraction in 7 weeks concurrent with weekly cetuximab 250 mg/m(2). Toxicity was scored weekly during radiotherapy (CTC 3.0), and after treatment the patients were followed every third month with CT-scans, toxicity scoring and QLQ. Results: Seventy-one patients were eligible for analysis as four were incorrectly enrolled. Histology: adenocarcinoma 49%, squamous cell carcinoma 39% and other NSCLC 12%. The majority had PS 0 (62.5%), median age 62.2 (42-81), 50% were women and 37% had a pre-treatment weight loss > 5%. Toxicity: esophagitis grade 1-2: 72%; grade 3:1.4%. Hypersensitivity reactions grade 3-4: 5.6%. Febrile neutropenia grade 3-4: 15.4%. Skin reactions grade 1-2: 74%; grade 3: 4.2%. Diarrhoea grade 1-2: 38%; grade 3: 11.3%. Pneumonitis grade 1-2: 26.8%; grade 3: 4.2%; grade 5:1.4%. The median follow-up was 39 months for patients alive and the median survival was 17 months with a 1-, 2- and 3-year OS of 66%, 37% and 29% respectively. Until now local or regional failure has

Background: Several attempts to increase the locoregional control in locally advanced lung cancer including concurrent chemotherapy, accelerated fractionation and dose escalation have been made during the last years. As the EGFR directed antibody cetuximab has shown activity concurrent with radiotherapy in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, as well as in stage IV NSCLC combined with chemotherapy, we wanted to investigate radiotherapy with concurrent cetuximab in locally advanced NSCLC, a tumour type often over expressing the EGF-receptor. Methods: Between February 2006 and August 2007 75 patients in stage Ill NSCLC with good performance status (PS 0 or 1) and adequate lung function (FEV1 andgt; 1.0) were enrolled in this phase II study at eight institutions. Treatment consisted of 2 cycles of induction chemotherapy, docetaxel 75 mg/m(2) and cisplatin 75 mg/m(2) with 3 weeks interval. An initial dose of cetuximab 400 mg/m(2) was given before start of 3D-CRT to 68 Gy with 2 Gy per fraction in 7 weeks concurrent with weekly cetuximab 250 mg/m(2). Toxicity was scored weekly during radiotherapy (CTC 3.0), and after treatment the patients were followed every third month with CT-scans, toxicity scoring and QLQ. Results: Seventy-one patients were eligible for analysis as four were incorrectly enrolled. Histology: adenocarcinoma 49%, squamous cell carcinoma 39% and other NSCLC 12%. The majority had PS 0 (62.5%), median age 62.2 (42-81), 50% were women and 37% had a pre-treatment weight loss andgt; 5%. Toxicity: esophagitis grade 1-2: 72%; grade 3:1.4%. Hypersensitivity reactions grade 3-4: 5.6%. Febrile neutropenia grade 3-4: 15.4%. Skin reactions grade 1-2: 74%; grade 3: 4.2%. Diarrhoea grade 1-2: 38%; grade 3: 11.3%. Pneumonitis grade 1-2: 26.8%; grade 3: 4.2%; grade 5:1.4%. The median follow-up was 39 months for patients alive and the median survival was 17 months with a 1-, 2- and 3-year OS of 66%, 37% and 29% respectively. Until now local or regional failure

The purpose of this research was determine the injury threshold to the endothelium of the eye upon exposure to 35 GHz microwave radiation. The criterion for injury was defined as a statistically significant increase in mean cell area of the endothelial cell of the cornea. The experiments were conducted at the microwave radiation facility at Brooks AFB, TX. Four cats were each exposed to 10 mW/cm2 for 2 hours/day on alternative days, over a period of 2 weeks, for a total of 6 exposures per cat (12 hours of total exposure per cat). When the digitized images of the endothelial cells, obtained by noncontact specular microscopy, were examined and compared to that of control cats, no change in mean cell area of the endothelium of the exposed eye was detected. Four additional cats were exposed to 100 mW/cm2 for 2 hours per day on alternative days over a period of 2 weeks for a total of 12 hours of exposure per cat. In a like manner the digitized images of the endothelial cells were compared to those of control cats. No changes in the mean cell size of the endothelial cells were detected, either inunediately or up to 2 weeks after the last exposure. The original protocol was to increase the energy deposition to the eye to 500 and 1000 mW/cm2 and subsequently determine the threshold of damage to the endothelium of the eye. We were unable to increase the energy deposition to the cat because a focusing lens for the microwave generator is still being developed for the radiofrequency (RF) facility at Brooks Air Force Base. The dosimetry conducted on site indicated that the cats would receive too much overall RF radiation to allow us to attribute damage to the endothelium of the eye solely to the microwave effects upon the cornea. Therefore, the threshold of damage to the endothelium of the cornea induced by RF radiation, as evaluated by change in mean cell area of the endothe

The pulsed power demands of the current generation of controlled thermonuclear fusion experiments have prompted a great interest in reliable, low cost, pulsed power systems. The Energy Storage Group at the University of Texas at Austin was created in response to this need and has worked for the past three years in developing inertial energy storage systems. 0.5 and 5 megajoule homopolar motor-generators have been designed, built and tested at the University of Texas and design studies have been completed for several systems ranging in size up to 63 gigajoules. The performance of the two laboratory machines and the potential applications which have been investigated are discussed.