Rapid Standardized CT-Based Method to Determine Lean Body Mass SUV for PET-A Significant Improvement Over Prediction Equations.

Unlabelled: In F-fluorodeoxyglucose (F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) studies, maximum standardized uptake value (SUV) is the parameter commonly used to provide a measurement of the metabolic activity of a tumor. SUV normalized by body mass is affected by the proportions of body fat and lean tissue, which present high variability in patients with cancer. SUV corrected by lean body mass (LBM), denoted as SUL, is recommended to provide more accurate, consistent, and reproducible SUV results; however, LBM is frequently estimated rather than measured.

Determination of Ir-192 micrselectron-V2 HDR/PDR dwell position reproducibility using a slit camera.

Purpose: To examine the limits of dwell position reproducibility of an ELEKTA microSelectron-V2 HDR/PDR remote afterloader.

Methods And Materials: The variability in source dwell position of an ELEKTA Microselectron mHDR - V2 HDR/PDR Microselectron was assessed using a slit camera. 100 consecutive extensions each of the source were made to positions of 1200 mm and 1470 mm and the variations in dwell position were observed.

Bortezomib retreatment for relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma in real-world clinical practice.

Aims: Studies have shown that bortezomib retreatment is effective in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (MM). The observational, prospective electronic VELCADE OBservational Study (eVOBS) study assessed bortezomib-based therapies for patients with MM in everyday practice. Here, we report on those patients receiving retreatment with bortezomib.

Bortezomib-based therapy for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma in real-world medical practice.

Objective: The efficacy and safety of bortezomib-based therapy for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) in clinical trials may differ from the oncology practice experience. The electronic VELCADE OBservational Study was designed to prospectively evaluate bortezomib for multiple myeloma (MM) in real-world medical practice.

Method: Patients scheduled to receive intravenous bortezomib for MM were eligible.

Economic burden of relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma: Results from an international trial.

Objective: The direct cost of relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) is documented; indirect costs are being explored. Healthcare payers seek cost-offsets from therapies that improve clinical outcomes but challenge budgets; employers seek lower absenteeism and better productivity. Study goals were to: (i) identify direct and indirect economic factors of RRMM, and (ii) explore longitudinal relationships between clinical, economic, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) assessments.

The influence of baseline characteristics and disease stage on health-related quality of life in multiple myeloma: findings from six randomized controlled trials.

This descriptive, cross-sectional analysis evaluated the impact of baseline characteristics on health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) at different stages of multiple myeloma (MM). The bortezomib clinical-trial programme evaluated HR-QoL early and consistently, producing a large multi-study dataset. Baseline data, captured using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) quality-of-life questionnaire (QLQ-C30), were pooled from six bortezomib randomized trials conducted in different disease-stage categories: 'New' (previously untreated; n = 753), 'Early' (1-3 prior therapies; n = 1569) and 'Late' (≥4 prior therapies; n = 239) disease.

Deriving health utility values from a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of siltuximab in subjects with multicentric Castleman's disease.

Purpose: To estimate health utility values, explore predictors of utility values, and estimate the quality-adjusted life years (Q.A.L.

Chest X-ray Artifact Caused by Bilateral 99mTc-Antimony Trisulfite Injection for Sentinel Node Imaging in a Patient With Breast Cancer.

A 52-year-old woman diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma of both breasts had a chest x-ray for preoperative assessment. A striking artifact was noted by the x-ray technologist, who, as a result, became very concerned about radiation exposure from the patient. The patient had undergone bilateral sentinel lymph node injections in the nuclear medicine department with Tc-antimony trisulfite colloid just 2 hours before the chest x-ray.

Bortezomib, thalidomide and dexamethasone, with or without cyclophosphamide, for patients with previously untreated multiple myeloma: 5-year follow-up.

This follow-up extension of a randomised phase II study assessed differences in long-term outcomes between bortezomib-thalidomide-dexamethasone (VTD) and VTD-cyclophosphamide (VTDC) induction therapy in multiple myeloma. Newly diagnosed patients (n = 98) were randomised 1:1 to intravenous bortezomib (1·3 mg/m(2); days 1, 4, 8, 11), thalidomide (100 mg; days 1-21), and dexamethasone (40 mg; days 1-4, 9-12), with/without cyclophosphamide (400 mg/m(2); days 1, 8), for four 21-day cycles before stem-cell mobilisation/transplantation. After a median follow-up of 64·8 months, median time-to-next therapy was 51·8 and 47·9 months with VTD and VTDC, respectively.

Clinical characteristics and healthcare utilization of patients with multicentric Castleman disease.

Multicentric Castleman disease (MCD) is a rare lymphoproliferative disease. Little is known about how patient clinical features and healthcare utilization varies by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) status and disease subtype. Data of MCD patients identified between 2000 and 2009 were collected from medical records at two United States treatment centres.

Clinical epidemiology and treatment patterns of patients with multicentric Castleman disease: results from two US treatment centres.

Multicentric Castleman disease (MCD) is a rare lymphoproliferative disease with little known about its epidemiology or treatment modalities. Clinical and demographic data of MCD patients identified between 2000 and 2009 were collected from medical records at two United States (US) MCD referral centres. ZIP codes identified patient residences; prevalence and incidence were estimated based on catchment areas.

First demonstration of intrafractional tumor-tracked irradiation using 2D phantom MR images on a prototype linac-MR.

Purpose: To demonstrate intrafractional MR tumor tracking using a prototype linac-MR by delivering radiation to a moving target undergoing simulated tumor motions.

Methods: A prototype linac-MR at the Cross Cancer Institute was used for intrafractional MR imaging and simultaneous beam delivery. A Varian 52-leaf MK-II multileaf collimator (MLC) was used for beam collimation.

Randomized phase II study of bortezomib, thalidomide, and dexamethasone with or without cyclophosphamide as induction therapy in previously untreated multiple myeloma.

Purpose: Bortezomib-thalidomide-dexamethasone (VTD) is an effective induction therapy in multiple myeloma (MM). This phase II, noncomparative study sought to determine whether addition of cyclophosphamide to this regimen (VTDC) could further increase efficacy without compromising safety.

Patients And Methods: Patients age 18 to 70 years with previously untreated, measurable MM, who were eligible for high-dose chemotherapy-autologous stem-cell transplantation (HDCT-ASCT), were randomly assigned to bortezomib 1.

An artificial neural network (ANN)-based lung-tumor motion predictor for intrafractional MR tumor tracking.

Purpose: To address practical issues of implementing artificial neural networks (ANN) for lung-tumor motion prediction in MRI-based intrafractional lung-tumor tracking.

Methods: A feedforward four-layered ANN structure is used to predict future tumor positions. A back-propagation algorithm is used for ANN learning.

An evaluation of the Clarity 3D ultrasound system for prostate localization.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the accuracy and precision of the Clarity 3D ultrasound system to track prostate gland positional variations due to setup error and organ motion. Seventeen patients (n = 17) undergoing radical external beam radiation therapy for localized prostate cancer were studied. Subsequent to initial reference ultrasound and planning CT scans, each patient underwent seven repeat weekly tracking CT and ultrasound (US) scans during the course of treatment.

Content development for the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Multiple Myeloma (FACT-MM): use of qualitative and quantitative methods for scale construction.

Context: Multiple myeloma (MM) is a common hematologic malignancy and is associated with symptom burden and impairments in health-related quality of life (HRQL).

Objectives: To develop a disease-specific, patient-reported outcome (PRO) measure for the assessment of HRQL among patients with MM as part of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy (FACT) measurement system.

Methods: HRQL concerns and symptoms associated with MM were tabulated based on a literature review, and 52 candidate PRO items were identified.

Health-related quality of life in elderly, newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients treated with VMP vs. MP: results from the VISTA trial.

Objectives: The phase 3 VISTA study (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00111319) in transplant-ineligible myeloma patients demonstrated superior efficacy with bortezomib-melphalan-prednisone (VMP; nine 6-wk cycles) vs. melphalan-prednisone (MP) but also increased toxicity.

Evaluation of a lung tumor autocontouring algorithm for intrafractional tumor tracking using low-field MRI: a phantom study.

Purpose: The first aim of this study is to investigate the feasibility of online autocontouring of tumor in low field MR images (0.2 and 0.5 T) by means of a phantom and simulation study for tumor-tracking in linac-MR systems.

Association between patient unconscious or not alert conditions and cardiac arrest or high-acuity outcomes within the Medical Priority Dispatch System "Falls" protocol.

Introduction: Falls are one of the most common types of complaints received by 9-1-1 emergency medical dispatch centers. They can be accidental or may be caused by underlying medical problems. Though "not alert" falls patients with severe outcomes mostly are "hot" transported to the hospital, some of these cases may be due to other acute medical events (cardiac, respiratory, circulatory, or neurological), which may not always be apparent to the emergency medical dispatcher (EMD) during call processing.

Temporal lung tumor volume changes in small-cell lung cancer patients undergoing chemoradiotherapy.

Purpose: Small-cell lung cancer is considered to be relatively chemosensitive and radiosensitive. Small-cell tumor volume changes during concurrent chemoradiotherapy have not been quantified. The purpose of this work is to quantify small-cell lung tumor volume variations in limited-stage patients undergoing chemoradiotherapy.

Impact of systemic lupus erythematosus on health, family, and work: the patient perspective.

Objective: Qualitative research among patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) can identify aspects of the disease relevant to clinical research and practice. A phenomenological, mixed-method approach was used to investigate these disease-driven health issues.

Methods: A convenience sample of patients with SLE from Los Angeles County, California was recruited from a private, community-based rheumatology practice for participation in focus groups and interviews.

Virtual Simulation of Bone Metastases by a Dedicated Palliative Radiation Therapist: A Retrospective Comparison Pilot Study.

Purpose: In interdisciplinary teams, members may take on responsibilities usually performed by others to enhance patient care. In the Rapid Access Palliative Radiotherapy Program, a dedicated radiation therapist (MRT[T]) participates in clinical assessments, team conferences, patient education, simulation, treatment delivery, and follow-up. The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility of virtual simulation performed by an MRT(T) experienced in treating bone metastases within this specialized clinic.

The burden of autoimmune disease: a comparison of prevalence ratios in patients with psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis.

Background: Current research has confirmed that many inflammatory autoimmune (AI) diseases are due to derangements in multiple cytokine pathways. Some of these cytokines appear to play comparable key roles across diseases, suggesting that a similar underlying systemic inflammatory cascade could be responsible for various disease states. A recent study supports the hypothesis of a common cytokine-based pathology by showing that having one AI disease significantly increased the risk of having another AI disease.

A Comparison of the Renal Cell Carcinoma-Symptom Index (RCC-SI) and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Kidney Symptom Index (FKSI).

The development and validation of measures that provide disease-specific, patient-reported outcomes have become increasingly relevant in the care of cancer patients, especially for assessing symptoms from the patient's perspective. Recently, two patient symptom questionnaires were developed for kidney cancer patients, the Renal Cell Carcinoma-Symptom Index (RCC-SI) and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Kidney Symptom Index (FKSI). This article describes the development of the revised FKSI scale (FKSI-19) and reconciles its use with the RCC-SI.

Inhomogeneity correction and the analytic anisotropic algorithm.

The ability of the analytic anisotropic algorithm (AAA), a superposition- convolution algorithm implemented in the Eclipse (Varian Medical Systems, Palo Alto, CA) treatment planning system (TPS), to accurately account for the presence of inhomogeneities in simple geometries is examined. The goal of 2% accuracy, as set out by the American Association of Physicists in Medicine Task Group 65, serves as a useful benchmark against which to evaluate the inhomogeneity correction capabilities of this treatment planning algorithm. A planar geometry phantom consisting of upper and lower layers of Solid Water (Gammex rmi, Middleton, WI) separated by a heterogeneity region of variable thickness, is modeled within the Eclipse TPS.