ORIGINAL_ARTICLE
Medium-Term Stability of the Photon Beam Energy of An Elekta CompactTM Linear Accelerator Based on Daily Measurements of Beam Quality Factor
Introduction In this study, we aimed to assess the medium-term energy stability of a 6MV Elekta CompactTM linear accelerator. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first published article to evaluate this linear accelerator in terms of energy stability. As well as investigating the stability of the linear accelerator energy over a period of several weeks, the results will be useful for estimation of the required tolerance values for the beam quality factor (BQF) of the PTW QUICKCHECK weblineTM (QCW) daily checking device. Materials and Methods Over a 13 week period of routine clinical service, 52 daily readings of BQF were taken and then analyzed for a 10×10 cm2 field. Results No decreasing or increasing trend in BQF was observed over the study period. The mean BQF value was estimated at 5.4483 with a standard deviation (SD) of 0.0459 (0.8%). The mean value was only 0.1% different from the baseline value. Conclusion The results of this medium-term stability study of the Elekta Compact linear accelerator energy showed that 96.2% of the observed BQF values were within ±1.3% of the baseline value. This can be considered to be within the recommended tolerance for linear accelerator photon beam energy. If an approach of applying ±3 SD is taken, the tolerance level for BQF may be suggested to be set at ±2.5%. However, further research is required to establish a relationship between BQF value and the actual changes in beam energy and penetrative quality.
https://ijmp.mums.ac.ir/article_6835_4b7b15ee54de46f3acddad280506bca3.pdf
2015-12-01
230
234
10.22038/ijmp.2016.6835
Radiotherapy
Linear Accelerator
Quality Control
Photons
Beam
energy
Mohammad Amin
Mosleh-Shirazi
amosleh@sums.ac.ir
1
Physics Unit, Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology, Namazi Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran 2- Ionizing and Non-ionizing Radiation Protection Research Center, School of Paramedical Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
AUTHOR
Saeed
Rahimi
2
Department of Medical Physics and Engineering, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
LEAD_AUTHOR
Sareh
Karbasi
karbasi59@yahoo.com
3
Physics Unit, Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology, Namazi Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
AUTHOR
ORIGINAL_ARTICLE
Assessment of the Preventive Effect of Pilocarpine on Radiotherapy-Induced Xerostomia in Patients with Head and Neck Cancers
Introduction Xerostomia is one of side-effects of radiotherapy for head and neck cancers. No definitive method has been proposed for the treatment of this condition. However, pilocarpine is considered effective for the management of chronic xerostomia. The purpose of the present study was to assess the preventive effect of pilocarpine. Materials and Methods This study was performed on 34 patients with head and neck cancers, undergoing radiation therapy (5000 cGy). The patients were randomly divided into two groups. The case group was administered 16 drops of pilocarpine (2%) eye drops per day, while the control group received normal saline; the treatment plan continued for four weeks. Unstimulated whole saliva flow rate was measured at four stages: two weeks before radiotherapy (baseline), the first day of radiotherapy, and two and four weeks after the initiation of radiotherapy. Results At baseline and the first day of radiotherapy, no significant differences were observed in the amount of saliva between the case and control groups (PConclusion According to the findings, pilocarpine was found to be effective for the prevention of xerostomia. Moreover, it could restrain the decline in the amount of saliva and reduce the rate of xerostomia.
https://ijmp.mums.ac.ir/article_6836_8c47e323345186f22f8d9cbde0d2e71c.pdf
2015-12-01
235
241
10.22038/ijmp.2016.6836
Head and neck neoplasms
Pilocarpine
Radiotherapy
Saliva
Xerostomia
Mohammad Hasan
Akhavan Karbasi
gole_yakh85@yahoo.com
1
Department of Oral Medicine, School of Dentistry, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
AUTHOR
Hassan
Zarghani
hmedicalphysics@gmail.com
2
Department of Radiology, Birjand University of Medical Science, Birjand, Iran
AUTHOR
Seyed Ali
Akhavan
3
Radiotherapist, Ramezanzadeh Radiotherapy Center, Yazd, Iran
AUTHOR
Nastaran
Donyadide
n.donyadide@gmail.com
4
Department of Oral Medicine, School of Dentistry, Sharekord University of Medical Sciences, Sharekord, Iran
LEAD_AUTHOR
Pejman
Shamshiry
5
School of Dentistry, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
AUTHOR
ORIGINAL_ARTICLE
A Model of Time-dependent Biodistribution of 153Sm-Maltolate Complex and Free 153Sm Cation Using Compartmental Analysis
Introduction Compartmental analysis allows the mathematical separation of tissues and organs to determine activity concentration in each point of interest. Biodistribution studies on humans are costly and complicated, whereas such assessments can be easily performed on rodents. In this study, we aimed to develop a pharmacokinetic model of 153Sm-maltolate complex as a novel therapeutic agent and free 153Sm cation in normal rats using compartmental analysis to evaluate the behavior of this complex. Materials and Methods We developed a physiologically-based pharmacokinetic model for scaling up the activity concentration in each organ with respect to time. In the mathematical model, physiological parameters including organ volume, blood flow rate, and vascular permeability were used. The compartments (organs) were connected anatomically, which allowed the use of scale-up techniques to predict new complex distribution in each body organ. Results The concentration of 153Sm-maltolate complex and free 153Sm cation in various organs was measured at different time intervals. The time-dependent behavior of the biodistribution of these two radiotracers was modeled, using compartmental analysis; the detected behaviors were drawn as a function of time. Conclusion The variation in radiopharmaceutical concentration in organs of interest could be described by summing seven to nine exponential terms, which approximated the experimental data with a precision of > 1% in comparison with the original data from animal studies.
https://ijmp.mums.ac.ir/article_6837_a8cb507a5cacbbbbdedc9a61aaccc82d.pdf
2015-12-01
242
250
10.22038/ijmp.2016.6837
Biodistribution
Modeling
Compartmental Analysis
Samarium- 153
Maltolate
Amir
Hakimi
amir.hakimi@aut.ac.ir
1
Health Physics and Dosimetry Laboratory, Department of Energy Engineering and Physics, Amir Kabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
LEAD_AUTHOR
Amir Reza
Jalilian
jalilain@yahoo.cpm
2
Nuclear Science Research School, Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute, Tehran, Iran
AUTHOR
Ali
Ghanbarzadeh
3
Department of Medical Radiation Engineering, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
AUTHOR
Hamed
Rezaee Jam
4
Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
AUTHOR
ORIGINAL_ARTICLE
A Hybrid Neural Network Approach for Kinematic Modeling of a Novel 6-UPS Parallel Human-Like Mastication Robot
Introduction we aimed to introduce a 6-universal-prismatic-spherical (UPS) parallel mechanism for the human jaw motion and theoretically evaluate its kinematic problem. We proposed a strategy to provide a fast and accurate solution to the kinematic problem. The proposed strategy could accelerate the process of solution-finding for the direct kinematic problem by reducing the number of required iterations in order to reach the desired accuracy level. Materials and Methods To overcome the direct kinematic problem, an artificial neural network and third-order Newton-Raphson algorithm were combined to provide an improved hybrid method. In this method, approximate solution was presented for the direct kinematic problem by the neural network. This solution could be considered as the initial guess for the third-order Newton-Raphson algorithm to provide an answer with the desired level of accuracy. Results The results showed that the proposed combination could help find a approximate solution and reduce the execution time for the direct kinematic problem, The results showed that muscular actuations showed periodic behaviors, and the maximum length variation of temporalis muscle was larger than that of masseter and pterygoid muscles. By reducing the processing time for solving the direct kinematic problem, more time could be devoted to control calculations.. In this method, for relatively high levels of accuracy, the number of iterations and computational time decreased by 90% and 34%, respectively, compared to the conventional Newton method. Conclusion The present analysis could allow researchers to characterize and study the mastication process by specifying different chewing patterns (e.g., muscle displacements).
https://ijmp.mums.ac.ir/article_6838_f41d25095439dc2b6bb47b4665307b0d.pdf
2015-12-01
251
261
10.22038/ijmp.2016.6838
Kinematic Problem
Mastication Robot
Neural Networks
Newton-Raphson Method
Hadi
Kalani
hadi.kalani@yahoo.com
1
Center of Excellence on Soft Computing and Intelligent Information Processing (SCIIP) Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
AUTHOR
Alireza
Akbarzadeh
ali_akbarzadeh@um.ac.ir
2
Center of Excellence on Soft Computing and Intelligent Information Processing (SCIIP) Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
LEAD_AUTHOR
Sahar
Moghimi
s.moghimi@um.ac.ir
3
Center of Excellence on Soft Computing and Intelligent Information Processing (SCIIP) Department of Electrical Engineering, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
AUTHOR
ORIGINAL_ARTICLE
Experimental Evaluation of Depth Dose by Exit Surface Diode Dosimeters for Off-Axis Wedged Fields in Radiation Therapy
Introduction Evaluation of the delivered dose of externally wedged photon beams by external diode dosimeters during the treatment process requires the estimation of exit surface dose correction factors in various wedge angles and field sizes. Materials and Methods A system of absorbed dose evaluation, using p-type diode dosimeters placed on the exit surface of a phantom, was characterized for externally wedged photons with the maximum square field size. The values of wedge correction factor on the exit surface of the polystyrene phantom were determined for 60Co and 6 MV photons. Then, the wedge correction factors were estimated at desirable depths. Results Based on the findings, the deviation of off-axis wedge correction factors of the exit surface wedged fields from the central axis factor may be as large as ±10% at the evaluated depths. The results showed that the absorbed dose at each depth of patient tissue could be estimated by applying an accurate exit wedge correction factor for that particular depth, with negligible probable errors (below 1.5%). Conclusion In case positioning a diode dosimeter on the patient’s entrance surface of a phantom of patients is troublesome, the diode dosimeter can be placed on the exit surface in order to evaluate the absorbed dose for externally wedged photons. Based on the findings, exit dose correction factors for wedged beams cannot be discarded; in fact, these factors are variable at different directions of externally wedged beams.
https://ijmp.mums.ac.ir/article_6839_2e78cdc22ed718d5a96547c205cecd58.pdf
2015-12-01
262
270
10.22038/ijmp.2016.6839
Absorbed Dose
Diode Dosimeter
Wedge
Field Size
Radiation Therapy
Alireza
Mohammadkarim
alireza_mokm@yahoo.com
1
Department of Medical Radiation Engineering, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran Ph.D student, Department of Medical Physics, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
AUTHOR
Hasan Ali
Nedaie
2
Department of Radiotherapy, Oncology and Medical Physics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
LEAD_AUTHOR
Mahmoud
Allahverdi
alahverdi@sina.tums.ac.ir
3
Department of Medical Physics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
AUTHOR
Mahbod
Esfehani
md_esfahani@yahoo.com
4
Department of Radiation Oncology, Cancer Institute of Iran, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
AUTHOR
Alireza
Shirazi
shirazia@sina.tums.ac.ir
5
Department of Medical Physics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
AUTHOR
Ghazale
Geraily
ghazalegraily@yahoo.com
6
Department of Medical Physics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
AUTHOR
ORIGINAL_ARTICLE
Determination of Radionuclide Concentrations in Tea Samples Cultivated in Guilan Province, Iran
Introduction Foodstuffs are known to contain natural and artificial radionuclides. Determination of radionuclide concentration is of great significance for the protection of human health. The main objective of the present study was the quantification of radionuclides in tea samples, cultivated in Guilan Province in North of Iran. Materials and Methods The activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th, 40K, and 137Cs in 18 tea samples were measured, using a gamma spectrometry system. In addition, radium equivalent index (Raeq) and radiation hazard index (HI) were calculated. ANOVA test was used for the statistical analysis of the data Results The concentration of 137Cs was below the minimum detectable activity (MDA). The concentrations of 226Ra and 232Th ranged from < MDA to 0.042 and < MDA to 0.037 Bq/kg respectively. The mean concentration of 40K was 410±15 Bq/kg. Based on the findings, the concentration of 40K was significantly higher than other radionuclides (P<0.01). Also, the mean Raeq value was estimated at 31.8±1.2 Bq/kg, and HI in the samples ranged from 0.075 to 0.093. Conclusion According to the findings, the activity level of radionuclides in tea samples was found to be within the acceptable range and therefore, non-threatening to public health.
https://ijmp.mums.ac.ir/article_6842_d3b375ec8e39392388d2b05b6d70782d.pdf
2015-12-01
271
277
10.22038/ijmp.2016.6842
Radionuclide
Tea
gamma spectrometry
Zahra
Poursharif
poursharif_kh@yahoo.com
1
Department of Food Science & Technology, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
AUTHOR
Ali
Ebrahiminia
2
Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
LEAD_AUTHOR
Mohsen
Asadinezhad
asadinejad_m@yahoo.com
3
Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
AUTHOR
Abolfazl
Nickfarjam
nickfarjam6262@gmail.com
4
Department of Medical Physics, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
AUTHOR
Abolghasem
Haeri
haeri80@gmail.com
5
Radiological Protection Department, Nuclear science & technology research institute, Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, Tehran, Iran
AUTHOR
Karim
Khoshgard
khoshgardk@gmail.com
6
Department of Medical Physics& Medical Engineering, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
AUTHOR
ORIGINAL_ARTICLE
Calculation of the Dose of Samarium-153-Ethylene Diamine Tetramethylene Phosphonate (153Sm-EDTMP) as a Radiopharmaceutical for Pain Relief of bone Metastasis
Introduction One of the important applications of nuclear physics in medicine is the use of radioactive elements as radiopharmaceuticals. Metastatic bone disease is the most common form of malignant bone tumors. Samarium-153-ethylene diamine tetramethylene phosphonate (153Sm-EDTMP) as a radiopharmaceutical is used for pain palliation. This radiopharmaceutical usually emits beta particles, which have a high uptake in bone tissues. The purpose of this study was to calculate the radiation dose distribution of 153Sm-EDTMP in bone and other tissues, using MCNPX Monte Carlo code in the particle transport model. Materials and Methods Dose delivery to the bone was simulated by seeking radiopharmaceuticals on the bone surface. The phantom model had a simple cylindrical geometry and included bone, bone marrow, and soft tissue. Results The simulation results showed that a significant amount of radiation dose was delivered to the bone by the use of this radiopharmaceutical. Conclusion Thebone acted as a fine protective shield against rays for the bone marrow. Therefore, the trivial absorbed dose by the bone marrow caused less damage to bone-making cells. Also, the high absorbed dose of the bone could destroy cancer cells and relieve the pain in the bone.
https://ijmp.mums.ac.ir/article_6843_a6f303bd2548a02062cded40a4159984.pdf
2015-12-01
278
283
10.22038/ijmp.2016.6843
Dose Distribution
MCNPX Code
153Sm-EDTMP
Fatemeh
Razghandi
1
Department of Physics, School of Sciences, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
AUTHOR
Reza
Izadi
izadi@um.ac.ir
2
Department of Physics, School of Sciences, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
AUTHOR
Ali
Mowlavi
amolavi@ictp.it, amwolavi@hsu.ac.ir
3
Department of Physics, Hakim Sabzevari University, Sabzevar, Iran International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Associate and Federation Schemes, Medical Physics Field, Trieste, Italy
LEAD_AUTHOR
ORIGINAL_ARTICLE
Evaluation of Organ and Effective Doses to Patients Arising From Some Common X-Ray Examinations by PCXMC Program in Sabzevar, Iran
Introduction The purpose of this study was to estimate organ and effective doses in patients undergoing some common X-ray examinations in Sabzevar, Iran. The effective dose is one of the best parameters for describing the amount of radiation dose received by a patient undergoing any diagnostic X-ray examination. The public dose from X-ray examinations depends on various factors, and its contribution to the overall public dose from medical applications widely varies in different societies; however, in Iran, limited data is available on this subject. Materials and Methods In the present study, we aimed to estimate organ and effective doses arising from some common X-ray examinations on patients. Organ and effective doses were calculated by employing PCXMC program, based on Monte Carlo method. Results The mean effective doses in this study were compared with similar findings reported in previous research. The applied methods in different studies are the main factors, which influence the effective dose values. Conclusion Radiation doses to radiosensitive organs such as the ovaries, testicles, and thyroid may induce harmful effects, e.g., cancer and genetic effects. Therefore, we should try to maintain the organ doses as low as possible.
https://ijmp.mums.ac.ir/article_6844_db8506c85cb96f8ef54e2afe8c6ee1ce.pdf
2015-12-01
284
291
10.22038/ijmp.2016.6844
Effective Dose
organ dose
PCXMC program
Radiography
Radiation Effects
Hasan
Zarghani
1
Medical Physics Department, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
AUTHOR
Mohammad Taghi
Bahreyni Toossi
bahreynimt@mums.ac.ir
2
Medical Physics Department, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
LEAD_AUTHOR