bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Exposure to hexachlorobenzene during pregnancy increases the risk of overweight in children aged 6 years
Authors: Smink Agnes , Ribas‐Fito Nuria , Garcia Raquel , Torrent Maties , Mendez Michelle A , Grimalt Joan O , Sunyer Jordi 
Published: July 2008

AbstractAim: To determine whether prenatal exposure to hexachlorobenzene (HCB) has potential adverse effects on child's weight and body mass index (BMI) in a general population with no local pollution sources.Methods: Starting from mid 1997, all mothers presenting for antenatal exposure in Menorca were recruited. Subsequently, 482 children were enrolled. HCB was measured in cord blood. Weight and height were measured at birth and at age 6.5 years.Results: Children with HCB levels higher than 1.03 ng/mL in cord blood were 1.14 kg (0.38) heavier and had a higher BMI (β= 0.80 (0.34)) than children with HCB levels lower than 0.46 ng/mL. No statistically significant associations were found in height. Children in the higher exposure group of HCB had an increased risk of 2.5 and 3.0 of being overweight and obese. Children from normalweight mothers also presented an increased risk of having higher BMI with increasing concentrations of HCB in cord serum.Conclusion: Prenatal exposure to HCB is associated with an increase in BMI and weight at age 6.5 years. Further studies with larger samples and longer follow‐up are needed to confirm these results.
THE EFFECT OF NISIN AND BOVINE LACTOFERRIN ON THE MICROBIOLOGICAL QUALITY OF TURKISH‐STYLE MEATBALL (TEKIRDAĞ KÖFTE)
Authors: COLAK HILAL , HAMPIKYAN HAMPARSUN , BINGOL ENVER BARIS , AKSU HARUN 
Published: July 2008

ABSTRACT Tekirdağ köfte, a Turkish‐style meatball, is one of the most popular ground meat products in Turkey. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different nisin and lactoferrin (Lf) concentrations and their combinations on the microbiological quality of Turkish‐style meatball (Tekirdağ köfte). For this purpose, the meatball dough was divided into six equal groups, and each of the groups was treated separately with different nisin and/or Lf concentrations (0, 100 and 200 µg/g). Analyses were performed on each meatball group at 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 10 and 12 days for microbiological parameters (total mesophilic aerobic bacteria, lactic acid bacteria, coliforms, Escherichia coli, total staphylococcae, Staphylococcus aureus, total psychrophilic bacteria, Pseudomonas spp., sulfite‐reducing anaerobic bacteria, and yeast and mold) and physicochemical analyses (pH, water activity and moisture). Treatment with Lf alone and its combination with nisin significantly reduced (P < 0.05) the total aerobic bacteria, coliform, E. coli, total psychrophilic bacteria, Pseudomonas spp., and yeast and mold counts in meatballs. The largest reduction in these counts occurred on the meatballs treated with a mixture of Lf (200 µg/g) and nisin (100 µg/g). This combination prolonged the refrigerated shelf life of naturally contaminated Turkish‐style meatballs to 10 days compared to 3 days for nontreated control.PRACTICAL APPLICATIONSMeatballs are prepared from ground meat in Turkey. Studies have shown that total bacteria, coliform, and yeast and mold counts were usually high in meatball samples in Turkey, and these products were also usually contaminated with pathogenic bacteria. Therefore, this product mostly poses a risk to consumer health and has a short shelf life (about 3–4 days). In order to control the growth of spoilage microorganisms, the use of natural antimicrobial preservatives has been preferred in the food industry. For this purpose, nisin and lactoferrin were preferred in this study. Although there are many reports on the use of nisin to inhibit pathogenic bacteria, especially Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus in food, research on the antimicrobial activity of lactoferrin in food systems is limited.According to the results of our study, treatment with lactoferrin alone and its combination with nisin significantly reduced spoilage bacteria counts and extended the refrigerated shelf life of Turkish‐style meatballs. Therefore, the use of these natural compounds in meatballs may be useful for consumer health, and may also be a practical application for the producer because of the short shelf life of this product.
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND MICROBIOLOGICAL QUALITY OF THE BONAB KEBABS SOLD IN TABRIZ MARKET
Authors: NEMATI M. , GHORBANPOUR H. , RAZAVIEH S.V. , HOSEINI M. 
Published: July 2008

ABSTRACT The objective of this research was to determine chemical composition and microbiological quality of the Bonab kebabs sold in the Tabriz market. In the chemical analysis, pH, moisture, protein, fat and salt contents, as well as some minerals such as Na, K, Fe and Cu were determined both for raw and cooked samples. The samples were examined for aerobic plate count (APC), coliforms, mold and yeast, Clostridium perfringens and Salmonella spp. to observe the hygienic quality of the Bonab kebabs. The results of the chemical analysis showed 5.99–6.45 pH, 66.23–56.94% of moisture, 14.3–19.59% of protein, 14.05–18.58% of fat, 2.06–2.72% of ash and 1.27–1.96% of salt values for the raw–cooked samples, respectively. The results for minerals were (mg/100 g): 0.72–1.06 Fe, 0.21–0.27 Cu, 573–745 Na and 616–913 K. The microbiological analysis showed 6.75–3.22 cfu/g APC, 5.30–1.69 cfu/g coliforms, 3.36–0 cfu/g Clostridium and 4.53–3.39 cfu/g mold and yeast for the raw–cooked samples, respectively. In conclusion, it could be proposed from the data that the Bonab kebabs sold in Tabriz market had acceptable nutritional value and hygienic quality, but future inspections are necessary for the hygenic quality of places which prepare these foods.PRACTICAL APPLICATIONSA wide range of ready‐to‐eat foods have been reported as a source of foodborne diseases in different countries. Because of lack of information on the incidence of foodborne diseases related to Bonab kebabs and absence of microbiological standards for this food product, the survey reported here was undertaken to explore populations and profiles of microorganisms on raw and cooked kebabs. Data reported for the first time from this study could be used to inform kebab producers and consumers of the potentially associated microbial hazards and adequate means for food protection.
Epidemiological factors associated with treated incidence of first‐episode non‐affective psychosis in Cantabria: insights from the Clinical Programme on Early Phases of Psychosis
Authors: Pelayo‐Terán José M. , Pérez‐Iglesias Rocío , Ramírez‐Bonilla MariLuz , González‐Blanch César , Martínez‐García Obdulia , Pardo‐García Gema , Rodríguez‐Sánchez José M. , Roiz‐Santiáñez Roberto , Tordesillas‐Gutiérrez Diana , Mata Ignacio , Vázquez‐Barquero José Luis , Crespo‐Facorro Benedicto 
Published: July 2008

AbstractAim: The aim of the study was to analyse the treated incidence of schizophrenia in Cantabria (Northern Spain) and the sociodemographic risk factors associated with the illness onset.Methods: Data were obtained from patients included in the Cantabria's Clinical Programme on First‐Episode Psychosis (schizophrenia spectrum DSM‐IV diagnosis) from 2001 to 2005, from the Cantabria first‐episode schizophrenia study (carried out between 1988 and 1989) and from the 2001 Spanish census.Results: Annual incidence was 1.38 per 10 000 inhabitants in the risk‐ageperiod. Identified risk factors were male gender (relative risk (RR): 1.61), age 15–25 years (RR: 3.48), unemployment (RR: 2.82), single status (RR: 5.88), low educational level (RR: 4.38), urban environment (RR: 1.62) and cannabis consumption (odds ratio: 12.83). The incidence in females was significantly lower than the one obtained 15 years ago.Conclusions: The reported factors suggest that underlying biological and social factors modulate the risk of psychosis. This balance operates differently in males and females.
SU‐EE‐A2‐06: An Integrated Software Platform for Treatment Documentation and Outcome Analysis for Stereotactic Radiosurgery and Hypo‐Fractionated Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy
Authors: Liu D , Jin J , Ryu S , Siddiqui F , Movsas B , Chetty I 
Published: July 2008

Purpose: Outcome analysis is an important and challenging task in radiation oncology. We have developed an integrated software platform that facilitates evaluation of outcomes for patients treated with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and hypo‐fractionated stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT). Method and Materials: An outcomes‐study database was designed, under IRB‐approval, to store medical information of patients who undergo SRS or SBRT. The outcomes‐study database is integrated with a record‐and‐verify system (ARIA, Varian Medical Systems) and with an in‐house developed hospital database. A software package with GUI was developed using Visual Studio. Net (Microsoft, USA) to evaluate treatment plans. Biological dose models including TCP, EUD (Niemierko's model), NTCP (Lyman, Fdam, relative seriality models, etc.) as well as biologically effective doses are determined from dose distributions and DVHs, automatically imported from the treatment planning systems. Patient clinical data (from physician on‐treatment and followup visits) and image data (including planning CT scans and followup CT scans) are imported for outcomes analysis. Results: Thus far approximately 700 SRS/SBRT patients medical records have been populated into the outcomes database. The database contains all medical information, including demographic, social, diagnostic, treatment and follow‐up information. As it is linked to the hospital database, treatment information encompasses multi‐disciplinary‐based treatments including surgery and chemotherapy. The web‐based interface enables access and information management remotely. The calculation of biological dose indices provides useful means to correlate dose distributions with clinical outcome with respect to tumor control and healthy tissue complications assessed from followup physical examinations as well as image data used to inspect possible recurrent disease or radiation‐induced damage. Conclusion: The goal of the database is to study the various factors of significance related to the outcomes of patients treated with SRS and SBRT, using non‐standard, hypo‐fractionated RT doses. Parameters specific to biological dose models will be updated using maximum likelihood analysis.Acknowledgement: NIH‐R01CA106770.
SU‐GG‐J‐38: Assessment of Conebeam CT Image Quality in the Presence of An Electromagnetic Tracking System
Authors: Santanam L , Esthappan J , Noel C , Mutic S , Goddu S , Parikh P , Low D 
Published: July 2008

Purpose: A novel electromagnetic tracking system is being used for real‐time tracking during treatment delivery. On board cone‐beam CT imaging is routinely being used for real‐time imaging and localization. Concurrent use of these two modalities might prove beneficial for correlating imaging and tracking information. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of the presence of the electromagnetic tracking system on the CBCT image quality. Method and Materials: A commercial CT performance phantom (Catphan, Phantom Laboratory, Salem, NY) containing various image quality assessment tools was imaged using a kilovoltage on‐board cone‐beam CT system (Varian Medical Systems, Palo Alto). An electromagnetic tracking system (Calypso® 4D Localization System, Calypso Medical, Seattle, WA) uses an electromagnetic array for tracking transponder positions. The imaging quality assessment phantom was imaged with and without the electromagnetic tracking system in place. To quantify the effect on the image quality, the CT number accuracy, spatial integrity, image uniformity, high and low contrast resolution were compared. Results: CT number accuracy, spatial linearity and high contrast resolution were unaffected by the presence of the array. The visibility of the 1% cylindrical low contrast resolution targets was 15 mm and 7 mm for with and without the array respectively. The inherent streaking artifacts degraded the low contrast image quality significantly.Conclusion: Presence of an electromagnetic array significantly degrades CBCT low contrast resolution while other image performance parameters are minimally affected. For imaging human anatomy, algorithms to improve image quality may need to be developed. Conflict of Interest: This work is supported in part from a grant from Calypso Medical Systems.
SU‐GG‐J‐115: Investigating the Utility of Dose‐Functional Histograms in Risk Assessment of Thoracic Radiotherapy
Authors: Trofimov A , Gansemer C , Sharp G , Bortfeld T , Choi N 
Published: July 2008

Purpose: Dose‐volume histograms (DVH) are commonly used for quality appraisal of treatment plans. However, since each volume of interest is treated as functionally and histologically uniform, the DVH reflects no information about the underlying anatomy. This simplification, while often reasonable, is excessive when applied to the lung. It has been frequently suggested that weighting dose distributions in thorax according to the relative functional integrity of the irradiated regions may provide better information for risk assessment of pneumonitis. We investigate the utility of dose‐density‐corrected histograms, and other potential dose‐functional metrics, in treatment plan evaluation, risk assessment of the treatment complications, and clinical decision‐making. Method and Materials: In the first approximation, the tissue density, estimated from CT data, can serve as a surrogate measure of lung perfusion, ventilation, or both. Potentially, the dose‐function histograms may be created based on more direct measurements of lung perfusion: e.g., with SPECT, helical CT with IV‐contrast, while ventilation may be estimated from point density changes between the extreme phases in respiratory‐correlated CT. For this study, clinical lung IMRT plans were analyzed using in‐house software, and DVH were compared to histograms corrected for tissue density (standard CT) and tissue‐density variations (respiratory‐correlated CT). Results: Generally, the DVH and density‐corrected histograms differ wherever density variations are present within the volumes of interest: e.g., in radiotherapy of tumors in the lung, paranasal sinuses. Substantial changes in certain histogram metrics were observed, e.g., the relative difference of over 20% between the dose to 60% of volume (D60) and that to 60% of the lung mass. Conclusion: The adjustments to the shape of the histogram, resulting from density‐correlated weighting of the dose, will result in a different data binning in the outcome analysis, which may, in its turn, lead to refinements in the risk assessment models.Supported by NIH grants R01‐CA103904, RO1‐CA118200.
SU‐GG‐T‐168: Measurement Errors Associated with Linear Accelerator Commissioning Data
Authors: Fox C , Sun J , Simon T , Simon W , Palta J , Liu C 
Published: July 2008

Purpose: Linear accelerator (LINAC) commissioning employs 3‐D water phantoms (WP) to accurately assess LINAC dosimetric characteristics. The accuracy of the treatment planning system (TPS) modeling is based on the collected data. This investigation aims to assess the errors associated with the collection of commissioning data. Method and Materials: Possible sources of error within 3‐D WP measurements that were assessed are water tank mechanics, data acquisition, and chamber aspects. WP scanning software, mechanical measurements, and infra‐red motion tracking cameras were used to evaluate the mechanical performance of the WP. Continuous motion and point by point measurements were compared for a variety of standard detectors. Minor field size variations were scaled to the nominal field size for TPS import purposes using two methods, 1) geometric scaling of the whole profile or 2) geometric scaling of 80% of the field width. The detector orientation effects were evaluated for profiles and percentage depth dose. Results: WP positional accuracy and reproducibility was within 0.4mm and mechanical hysteresis within 0.46mm. The collection method impacted the results obtained for small detectors (<0.01cc) with the point measurement technique resulting in reduced noise level. However, the time scale increased considerably with the point by point technique. For field width scaling the 80% scaling method showed improved results compared to scaling the whole profile. The detector orientation showed variations in the build up region for small detectors and small variations were observed for penumbral widths of profile measurements. Conclusion: Error sources in data collection have been identified and quantified in this work. Detailed error analysis of experimental set up is presented.This work supported in part with Federal funds from the National Cancer Institute, Contract No HHSN261200522014C, and by Sun Nuclear Corporation.
SU‐GG‐T‐342: Dosimetric Characteristic of 137‐Cs Sources Used in Afterloading Selectron System by Monte Carlo Method
Authors: Hosseinabad M Tavakoli , Hoseinpour F 
Published: July 2008

Purpose: In brachytherapy, for effective treatment planning it is necessary to know the accurate source dosimetric information such as air kerma strength, exposure rate constant, dose rate constant and redial dose distribution. Usual method to determine these factors is TLD dosimetry but now a day more accurate method is the Monte Carlo simulation method, which have widely used in determining of Brachytherapy sources dosimetric factors. The aim of this research is determining of dose distribution of sources configuration used in interacavitary LDR Selectron brachytherapy by Monte Carlo simulation method. Method and Materials: Simulation has been performed for stainless‐steel encapsulated source in 2.5 mm in diameter. Six different combinations of sources were simulated and each combination was put into different applicator. MCNP4C (Monte Carlo N‐Particle version 4C) was used for Monte Carlo simulation. Cylindrical layer tally volumes were used to score dose (using the MCNP *f4 tally) radially outward from sources. MCNP tally f6 was used to score kerma in air. Cutoff energy for electrons and photon were taken at 10 KeV to reduce variation. The number of history was taken 1 million for calculating air kerma strength and exposure rate constant and 0.1 million for calculating dose rate constant and redial dose distribution. Results and conclusion: Maximum air kerma strength is obtained for the combination with fourteen active sources and found to be 919.3 μGym2h−1 while its minimum value was 133.9 μGym2h−1 for the case with two active sources. Maximum and minimum dose rate constant of 3.3 cGyh−1mCi−1 and 2.05 cGyh−1mCi−1 obtained for the combination with two and eight or fourteen active sources, respectively.Key Words: , Brachytherapy, Redial dose; Dose rate constant, Monte Carlo simulation.
SU‐GG‐T‐465: Sequential Optimization Script to Generate HDR‐Like Dose Distribution for Hypofractionated Prostate Treatment with CyberKnife System
Authors: Lessard E 
Published: July 2008

Purpose: To develop a Sequential Optimization script that generates HDR‐like dose distribution for hypofractionated prostate treatment with CyberKnife® Robotic Radiosurgery System and evaluate its consistency over different patients. Method and Materials: Sequential Optimization is the latest optimization algorithm available for CyberKnife treatment planning. The optimization is performed sequentially, as a series of individual optimization steps. Each step corresponds to a specific clinical objective. First, dose constraints to organs at risk are defined that cannot be violated by during the optimization. Additional constraints are defined to the maximum Monitor Units for each beam, for each robot position, and for the entire treatment plan. Then the objectives of each optimization step are specified. The result of each step represents the optimal value for this objective that is achievable within the existing constraints. Each result is retained as an additional constraint for all subsequent steps. In this manner the treatment plan is built up one clinical objective at a time, with a gradual improvement observed at each step. A sequence of optimization steps (script) was created that generates HDR‐like dose distribution for prostate treatment delivering 38 Gy in 4 fractions. Treatment plans were generated with the same script and with the Iris Variable Aperture Collimator for 10 prostates. Results: Prostate volumes ranged from 25–70 cc. Prostate V100, V125 and V150 are ∼95%, 50% and 15%. Urethra Dmax and D10 are <4560 and 4180 cGy. Rectal wall Dmax and D10 are <3800 and 2560 cGy. Bladder Dmax and D10 are <4560 and 4180 cGy. The number of beams is less than 250. Conclusion: A script was created that consistently reproduces dose distribution similar to an HDR treatment. It was demonstrated that a script can be defined for particular clinical case and used as a starting point reducing planning time.Research sponsored by Accuray Incorporated.
MO‐A‐342‐01: Activity Quantitation and Dose Estimation From Nuclear Medicine Imaging
Authors: Williams L 
Published: July 2008

Because of resistance to chemotherapy and multiple sites of disease, internal emitters are being more frequently used in treating advanced cancer patients. This radiotherapy is predicated upon injection of beta‐ or alpha‐labeled antibodies and other agents that target tumor markers. Most clinical success has occurred in the case of B‐cell lymphoma and hepatic lesions. For associated treatment planning, estimate of radiation dose (D) to tumors and normal tissues requires application of the equality where S is a rectangular matrix and Ã is a set of total decays for each source tissue. While S may be determined via Monte Carlo (MC) methods, Ã requires that the observer integrate time‐activity curves for each source. Quantitation of activity at depth in patients has been a continuing problem in nuclear medicine. Multiple methods have been developed ranging from direct counting (surface lesions), through geometric mean estimates (GM) to hybrid techniques (SPECT/CT) involving nuclear and CT scans. In the last strategy, attenuation may be taken directly from the CT data set. Quantitative SPECT (QSPECT) studies typically involve such hybrid imaging techniques and correct for attenuation, scatter, collimator geometry and partial volume effects. Accuracy of these methods, as measured by phantom studies, varies from +/−; 30% (GM) to as little as +/− 5% for QSPECT. While PET/CT may also be considered, the limited number of positron emitters causes this application to be more problematic. Time considerations make extensive use of QSPECT difficult. Standard clinical procedure follows Koral et al (Cancer Biother Radiopharm. 2000; 15; 347–355) in combining GM at the requisite multiple time points with an overlap of QSPECT at one time point. The latter study is then used to normalize the geometric mean values and improve quantitation of activity. Finally, we must note that two types of dose estimate are being done: phantom (Type I) and patient‐specific (Type II). In the former case, a standard geometry is applied assuming; e.g., the OLINDA program. Here, the patient or volunteer activity integral must be corrected for relative mass differences between phantom and patient. With Type II, the patient's own organ geometry is used to generate an S matrix. This may be done directly with MC techniques or a phantom value may be corrected by the target organ mass differences between the phantom and patient. If these corrections are not made, errors in S may be on the order of several‐fold. Uncertainty in resultant D values is estimated by combining errors in S and Ã.Educational Objectives:1. Know how to estimate internal emitter doses via .2. Understand various methods to quantify activity at depth in patients.3. Realize that both phantom and patient dose estimates are needed.4. Understand the size of errors involved in dose estimation.