Periodontitis and Oral Bacteria Related to Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Case-Control Study.

Introduction And Aims: This study compared periodontal status and oral bacteria between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and healthy controls (HCs), and examined the influence of oral bacteria on the association between periodontitis and RA.

Methods: In total, 85 patients with RA and 119 HCs were enrolled. The oral microflora DNA test was used to quantify the oral bacterial species detected in gingival crevicular fluid.

Evaluation of the MVCT-based radiomic features as prognostic factor in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Megavoltage computed tomography (MVCT) images acquired during each radiotherapy session may be useful for delta radiomics. However, no studies have examined whether the MVCT-based radiomics has prognostic power. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the prognostic power of the MVCT-based radiomics for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients.

Phase I trial of myeloablative conditioning with 3-day total marrow and lymphoid irradiation for leukemia.

This prospective phase I trial aimed to determine the recommended dose of 3-day total marrow and lymphoid irradiation (TMLI) for a myeloablative conditioning regimen by increasing the dose per fraction. The primary end-point of this single-institution dose escalation study was the recommended TMLI dose based on the frequency of dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) ≤100 days posthematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT); a 3 + 3 design was used to evaluate the safety of TMLI. Three dose levels of TMLI (14/16/18 Gy in six fractions over 3 days) were set.

Functional Impairment and Periodontitis in Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Background: This study explored the association of functional impairment due to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and RA disease activity with periodontal disease in patients with RA.

Methods: Ninety-three patients with RA were included. Their RA functional status was assessed using the Steinbrocker classification.

Association Between the Extent of Periodontal Inflammation and the Severity of Rheumatoid Arthritis in Japanese Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Objective: Periodontal inflammation can affect the progression of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and RA drugs may influence the periodontal condition of patients with RA. We examined whether the association between periodontal inflammation and the severity of RA is influenced by RA medication.

Methods: This cross-sectional study recruited 98 Japanese patients with RA from an orthopaedic clinic.

Relationship between Tooth Loss and the Medications Used for the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis in Japanese Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: There is limited information regarding the association between tooth loss and the medications used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Here, we examined the association between tooth loss, disease severity, and drug treatment regimens in RA patients.

Method: This study recruited 94 Japanese patients with RA.

Evaluation of multi-institutional end-to-end testing for post-operative spine stereotactic body radiation therapy.

Background And Purpose: Post-operative spine stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) represents a significant challenge as there are many restrictions on beam geometry to avoid metal hardware as it surrounds the target volume. In this study, an international multi-institutional end-to-end test using an in-house spine phantom was developed and executed. The aim was to evaluate the impact of titanium spine hardware on planned and delivered dose for post-operative spine SBRT.

Evaluation of the effect of user-guided deformable image registration of thoracic images on registration accuracy among users.

User-guided deformable image registration (DIR) has allowed users to actively participate in the DIR process and is expected to improve DIR accuracy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the time required for and effect of user-guided DIR on registration accuracy for thoracic images among users. In this study, 4-dimensional computed tomographic images of 10 thoracic cancer patients were used.

Energy dependence of a radiophotoluminescent glass dosimeter for HDR Ir brachytherapy source.

Purpose: We determined correction factors for absorbed dose energy dependence and intrinsic energy dependence for measurements of absorbed dose to water around an Ir source using a radiophotoluminescent glass dosimeter (RPLD) calibrated with a 4-MV photon beam.

Methods: The ratio of the absorbed dose to the water and the average absorbed dose to RPLD for the Ir beam relative to the same ratio in a 4 MV photon beam defines the absorbed dose energy dependence and was determined at distances of 2-10 cm (at intervals of 1 cm) from the Ir source in a water phantom using the egs_chamber user code. The RPLD was calibrated to measure absorbed dose to water, D , in a 4 MV photon beam using an ionization chamber, which was also used to measure absorbed dose to water, D , in a water phantom using the Ir source.

Influence of plaque control on the relationship between rheumatoid arthritis and periodontal health status among Japanese rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Background: Functional disability of the finger joints in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients could affect their oral hygiene and periodontal status because of poor plaque control. We examined the influence of plaque control on the relationship between the severity of RA and periodontal status in RA patients.

Methods: This study recruited 89 Japanese RA patients who reported no difficulty in performing oral hygiene.

Impact of a commercially available model-based dose calculation algorithm on treatment planning of high-dose-rate brachytherapy in patients with cervical cancer.

We evaluated the impact of model-based dose calculation algorithms (MBDCAs) on high-dose-rate brachytherapy (HDR-BT) treatment planning for patients with cervical cancer. Seven patients with cervical cancer treated using HDR-BT were studied. Tandem and ovoid applicators were used in four patients, a vaginal cylinder in one, and interstitial needles in the remaining two patients.

Field-size correction factors of a radiophotoluminescent glass dosimeter for small-field and intensity-modulated radiation therapy beams.

Purpose: We evaluated the energy responses of a radiophotoluminescent glass dosimeter (RPLD) to variations in small-field and intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) conditions using experimental measurements and Monte Carlo simulation.

Methods: Several sizes of the jaw and multileaf collimator fields and various plan-class IMRT-beam measurements were performed using the RPLD and an ionization chamber. The field-size correction factor for the RPLD was determined for 6- and 10-MV x rays.

Changes in deviation of absorbed dose to water among users by chamber calibration shift.

Purpose: The JSMP01 dosimetry protocol had adopted the provisional Co calibration coefficient [Formula: see text], namely, the product of exposure calibration coefficient N and conversion coefficient k . After that, the absorbed dose to water D  standard was established, and the JSMP12 protocol adopted the [Formula: see text] calibration. In this study, the influence of the calibration shift on the measurement of D among users was analyzed.

Quantitative analysis of in-air output ratio.

Output factor (Scp) is one of the important factors required to calculate monitor unit (MU), and is divided into two components: phantom scatter factor (Sp) and in-air output ratio (Sc). Generally, Sc for arbitrary fields are calculated using several methods based on Sc determined by the absorbed dose measurement for several square fields. However, there are calculation errors when the treatment field has a large aspect ratio and the opening of upper and lower collimator are exchanged.

Evaluation of beam hardening and photon scatter by brass compensator for IMRT.

When a brass compensator is set in a treatment beam, beam hardening may take place. This variation of the energy spectrum may affect the accuracy of dose calculation by a treatment planning system and the results of dose measurement of brass compensator intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). In addition, when X-rays pass the compensator, scattered photons are generated within the compensator.