Curtisharmon1440

PURPOSE To investigate a method to classify tissues types for synthetic CT generation using MRI for treatment planning in abdominal radiotherapy. see more METHODS An institutional review board approved volunteer study was performed on a 3T MRI scanner. In-phase, fat and water images were acquired for five volunteers with breath-hold using an mDixon pulse sequence. A method to classify different tissue types for synthetic CT generation in the abdomen was developed. Three tissue clusters (fat, high-density tissue, and spine/air/lungs) were generated using a fuzzy-c means clustering algorithm. The third cluster was further segmented into three sub-clusters that represented spine, air, and lungs. Therefore, five segments were automatically generated. To evaluate segmentation accuracy using the method, the five segments were manually contoured on MRI images as the ground truth, and the volume ratio, Dice coefficient, and Hausdorff distance metric were calculated. The dosimetric effect of segmentation accuracy was evaluatedplied Clinical Medical Physics published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of American Association of Physicists in Medicine.AIM To understand the relationship between scores on two standardized measures of cognition, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and the cognitive subscale of the Functional Independence Measure (FIMCog), and whether these scores can predict functional outcomes in rehabilitation. METHODS Retrospective data analysis was conducted on all inpatients admitted to a general rehabilitation unit within a 6-month period (N = 477). The average age of patients was 74 years. The Functional Independence Measure (FIM) was completed for all patients on admission and discharge. The MoCA was administered to patients on clinical suspicion of cognitive impairment. The MoCA was completed with 116 patients. Cognitive status was assessed using FIMCog and MoCA. The motor subscale of FIM was used to assess functional status in calculating the motor Rehabilitation Functional Gain (mRFG) and motor Rehabilitation Functional Efficiency (mRFE) scores. Discharge destination was also used as an outcome measure. RESULTS There was a moderate correlation between FIMCog and MoCA scores on admission (r = 0.49, P  less then  0.001). Higher FIMCog and MoCA scores were associated with higher mRFG and mRFE scores. There was an indication that patients with higher MoCA scores were more likely to be discharged to a private residence (adjusted odds ratio 1.11; 95% confidence interval 0.99, 1.25, P = 0.072). Cut-off points of less then 25 on the MoCA (sensitivity 88.9%, specificity 48.9%), and less then 29 on the FIMCog (sensitivity 77.8%, specificity 53.3%) predicted those patients who were less likely to discharge to a private residence. CONCLUSIONS FIMCog and MoCA scores on admission were moderately correlated, and strongly correlated with functional rehabilitation outcomes. The FIMCog and MoCA had moderately high utility in predicting discharge destination. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2020; •• ••-••. © 2020 Japan Geriatrics Society.PURPOSE Prescription practice in SRS plans for brain tumors differs significantly for different modalities. In this retrospective study, the strategies to optimize SRS plans for brain tumors with volumetric arc therapy (VMAT) were presented. METHODS Fifty clinically treated cases were stratified by the maximum target size into two groups (≥ 2 cm in 25 cases and less then 2 cm but ≥1 cm in 25 cases), which were optimized using traditional LINAC MLC-based approaches with the average prescription isodose line (P-IDL) of (91.4 ± 0.6)%. Four to five plans have been created for each case with variation of the P-IDL from 65% to 90%. The optimization strategies to select an optimal P-IDL, to use tuning structures within the target and beyond as well as to use NTO (normal tissue objectives), were applied to all new plans. RESULTS The optimal P-IDL was found to be around 75%. After applying the new optimization strategies with an average P-IDL of 74.8%, the mean modified gradient index (mGI) and V12 were reduced by 25to treatment planning for multiple brain and liver tumors where sparing the tissue peripheral to the target is critical. © 2020 The Authors. Journal of Applied Clinical Medical Physics published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of American Association of Physicists in Medicine.Short Message Service (SMS)-delivered behaviour change interventions are frequently used to support weight management. This systematic review examines the effectiveness of SMS-delivered behaviour change interventions for weight management. Electronic databases were searched for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing SMS-delivered adult weight management interventions to control groups, published between 1990 and 2018. Weight change was examined using random effects meta-analyses at intervention cessation and postintervention follow-up. Subgroup analyses examined intervention duration, SMS frequency, theory use, SMS interactivity, and SMS tailoring. Fifteen studies met inclusion criteria (2705 participants). For weight loss interventions (n = 12, 1977 participants), the mean difference in weight change was -2.28 kg (95% confidence interval [CI] -3.17 to -1.36 kg). No studies reported postintervention follow-up. For weight loss maintenance interventions (n = 3, 728 participants), the mean difference in weight change was -0.68 kg (95% CI, -1.31 to -0.05 kg), and postintervention follow-up (n = 2, 498 participants) effects were -0.57 kg (95% CI, -1.67 to 0.53 kg). No subgroup differences were found. SMS-delivered behaviour change interventions for weight loss led to significant small to moderate weight loss and weight loss maintenance compared with control groups. Evidence on long-term effects is limited. SMS-delivered behaviour change interventions are a potentially effective and scalable intervention option for obesity treatment. © 2020 World Obesity Federation.PURPOSE We investigated the effectiveness, safety and compliance of Zheng's Supine Rehabilitation Exercise (ZSRE) as a rehabilitation programme among elderly patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). PATIENTS AND METHODS About 82 elderly patients with AECOPD were divided into a rehabilitation group and control group on their admission day, and both groups received routine medical treatment. Patients in the rehabilitation group started ZSRE on the second day of admission and continued until 8 weeks after discharge. RESULTS At the 9th week after discharge, the COPD Assessment Test (CAT), 6-minute walking distance (6MWD) and Modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale (mMRC) in the rehabilitation group were all significantly better than those in the control group (P  less then  0.01; P  less then  0.01; and P  less then  0.05, respectively). In the rehabilitation group, the CAT and 6MWD were significantly improved in the 9th week after discharge as compared with those at admission or discharge, and mMRC was significantly improved at the 9th week after discharge as compared with that at admission (all P  less then  0.