Displaying publications 241 - 260 of 288 in total

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  1. Systematic review and meta-analysis on the classification metrics of machine learning algorithm based radiomics in hepatocellular carcinoma diagnosis
    Mohd Haniff NS, Ng KH, Kamal I, Mohd Zain N, Abdul Karim MK
    Heliyon, 2024 Aug 30;10(16):e36313.
    PMID: 39253167 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e36313
    The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to evaluate the performance of classification metrics of machine learning-driven radiomics in diagnosing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Following the PRISMA guidelines, a comprehensive search was conducted across three major scientific databases-PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Scopus-from 2018 to 2022. The search yielded a total of 436 articles pertinent to the application of machine learning and deep learning for HCC prediction. These studies collectively reflect the burgeoning interest and rapid advancements in employing artificial intelligence (AI)-driven radiomics for enhanced HCC diagnostic capabilities. After the screening process, 34 of these articles were chosen for the study. The area under curve (AUC), accuracy, specificity, and sensitivity of the proposed and basic models were assessed in each of the studies. Jamovi (version 1.1.9.0) was utilised to carry out a meta-analysis of 12 cohort studies to evaluate the classification accuracy rate. The risk of bias was estimated, and Logistic Regression was found to be the most suitable classifier for binary problems, with least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) as the feature selector. The pooled proportion for HCC prediction classification was high for all performance metrics, with an AUC value of 0.86 (95 % CI: 0.83-0.88), accuracy of 0.83 (95 % CI: 0.78-0.88), sensitivity of 0.80 (95 % CI: 0.75-0.84) and specificity of 0.84 (95 % CI: 0.80-0.88). The performance of feature selectors, classifiers, and input features in detecting HCC and related factors was evaluated and it was observed that radiomics features extracted from medical images were adequate for AI to accurately distinguish the condition. HCC based radiomics has favourable predictive performance especially with addition of clinical features that may serve as tool that support clinical decision-making.
  2. Comparison of planned and measured rectal dose in-vivo during high dose rate Cobalt-60 brachytherapy of cervical cancer
    Zaman ZK, Ung NM, Malik RA, Ho GF, Phua VC, Jamalludin Z, et al.
    Phys Med, 2014 Dec;30(8):980-4.
    PMID: 25086486 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmp.2014.07.002
    Cobalt-60 (Co-60) is a relatively new source for the application of high-dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy. Radiation dose to the rectum is often a limiting factor in achieving the full prescribed dose to the target during brachytherapy of cervical cancer. The aim of this study was to measure radiation doses to the rectum in-vivo during HDR Co-60 brachytherapy. A total of eleven HDR brachytherapy treatments of cervical cancer were recruited in this study. A series of diodes incorporated in a rectal probe was inserted into the patient's rectum during each brachytherapy procedure. Real-time measured rectal doses were compared to calculated doses by the treatment planning system (TPS). The differences between calculated and measured dose ranged from 8.5% to 41.2%. This corresponds to absolute dose differences ranging from 0.3 Gy to 1.5 Gy. A linear relationship was observed between calculated and measured doses with linear regression R(2) value of 0.88, indicating close association between the measured and calculated doses. In general, absorbed doses for the rectum as calculated by TPS were observed to be higher than the doses measured using the diode probe. In-vivo dosimetry is an important quality assurance method for HDR brachytherapy of cervical cancer. It provides information that can contribute to the reduction of errors and discrepancies in dose delivery. Our study has shown that in-vivo dosimetry is feasible and can be performed to estimate the dose to the rectum during HDR brachytherapy using Co-60.
  3. Differentiation between benign and malignant breast lesions using quantitative diffusion-weighted sequence on 3 T MRI
    Tan SL, Rahmat K, Rozalli FI, Mohd-Shah MN, Aziz YF, Yip CH, et al.
    Clin Radiol, 2014 Jan;69(1):63-71.
    PMID: 24156797 DOI: 10.1016/j.crad.2013.08.007
    To investigate the capability and diagnostic accuracy of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in differentiating benign from malignant breast lesions using 3 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
  4. Production and first use of 153SmCl3-ion exchange resin capsule formulation for assessing gastrointestinal motility
    Yeong CH, Abdullah BJ, Ng KH, Chung LY, Goh KL, Sarji SA, et al.
    Appl Radiat Isot, 2012 Mar;70(3):450-5.
    PMID: 22178699 DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2011.11.056
    We produced an enteric-coated gelatine capsule containing neutron-activated (153)Sm-labelled resin beads for use in gastrointestinal motility studies. In vitro test in simulated gastrointestinal environment and in vivo study on volunteers were performed. Scintigraphic images were acquired from ten volunteers over 24h while blood and urine samples were collected to monitor the presence of (153)Sm. All the capsules remained intact in stomach. This proved to be a safe and practical oral capsule formulation for whole gut transit scintigraphy.
  5. Neutron-activated ¹⁵³Sm-ion-exchange resin as a tracer for gastrointestinal scintigraphy
    Yeong CH, Abdullah BJ, Ng KH, Chung LY, Goh KL, Sarji SA, et al.
    Nucl Med Commun, 2011 Dec;32(12):1256-60.
    PMID: 21934547 DOI: 10.1097/MNM.0b013e32834b3ac8
    Nuclear medicine techniques are well established for the investigation of gastrointestinal (GI) motility and transit. Ion-exchange resins radiolabelled with ⁹⁹mTc and ¹¹¹In are widely used as nonabsorbable radiopharmaceutical markers, with ¹¹¹In being preferred for whole-gut transit studies. This radionuclide, however, is not produced in many countries and may be expensive when obtained through international shipment. This study describes the use of neutron-activated ¹⁵³Sm-resin as an alternative tracer for use in GI scintigraphic investigation. A measure of 50 mg of stable samarium-152 chloride (¹⁵²SmCl₃) was incorporated into 100 mg of cation-exchange resin and irradiated in a neutron flux of 1 × 10¹³ cm⁻² s⁻¹ for 100 s to achieve an activity of 5 MBq after 66 h. Aliquots of ¹¹¹In-radiolabelled resin (5 MBq) were prepared for comparison of labelling and stability. Radiolabelling efficiencies were obtained by washing resin with distilled water, and the activity lost was measured. The radiolabelled resins were immersed in simulated gastric and intestinal fluid environments, and the retention of ¹⁵³Sm³⁺ and ¹¹¹In³⁺ was measured over a 24 h period. At 66 h after production, 91.15 ± 12.42% of ¹⁵³Sm was bound to the resin after washing in distilled water, whereas radiolabelling with ¹¹¹In achieved 99.96 ± 0.02% efficiency. Both radiolabelled resins demonstrated almost 100% stability in simulated intestinal fluid and >90% stability in artificial gastric juice over 24 h. The performance of neutron-activated ¹⁵³Sm-resin is similar to that of ¹¹¹In-resin and can be used as an alternative tracer for GI transit studies when In is not available.
  6. Fulltext Neutron Activated Samarium-153 Microparticles for Transarterial Radioembolization of Liver Tumour with Post-Procedure Imaging Capabilities
    Hashikin NA, Yeong CH, Abdullah BJ, Ng KH, Chung LY, Dahalan R, et al.
    PLoS One, 2015;10(9):e0138106.
    PMID: 26382059 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0138106
    Samarium-153 (153Sm) styrene divinylbenzene microparticles were developed as a surrogate for Yttrium-90 (90Y) microspheres in liver radioembolization therapy. Unlike the pure beta emitter 90Y, 153Sm possess both therapeutic beta and diagnostic gamma radiations, making it possible for post-procedure imaging following therapy.
  7. Fulltext On the Use of Optically Stimulated Luminescent Dosimeter for Surface Dose Measurement during Radiotherapy
    Yusof FH, Ung NM, Wong JH, Jong WL, Ath V, Phua VC, et al.
    PLoS One, 2015;10(6):e0128544.
    PMID: 26052690 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0128544
    This study was carried out to investigate the suitability of using the optically stimulated luminescence dosimeter (OSLD) in measuring surface dose during radiotherapy. The water equivalent depth (WED) of the OSLD was first determined by comparing the surface dose measured using the OSLD with the percentage depth dose at the buildup region measured using a Markus ionization chamber. Surface doses were measured on a solid water phantom using the OSLD and compared against the Markus ionization chamber and Gafchromic EBT3 film measurements. The effect of incident beam angles on surface dose was also studied. The OSLD was subsequently used to measure surface dose during tangential breast radiotherapy treatments in a phantom study and in the clinical measurement of 10 patients. Surface dose to the treated breast or chest wall, and on the contralateral breast were measured. The WED of the OSLD was found to be at 0.4 mm. For surface dose measurement on a solid water phantom, the Markus ionization chamber measured 15.95% for 6 MV photon beam and 12.64% for 10 MV photon beam followed by EBT3 film (23.79% and 17.14%) and OSLD (37.77% and 25.38%). Surface dose increased with the increase of the incident beam angle. For phantom and patient breast surface dose measurement, the response of the OSLD was higher than EBT3 film. The in-vivo measurements were also compared with the treatment planning system predicted dose. The OSLD measured higher dose values compared to dose at the surface (Hp(0.0)) by a factor of 2.37 for 6 MV and 2.01 for 10 MV photon beams, respectively. The measurement of absorbed dose at the skin depth of 0.4 mm by the OSLD can still be a useful tool to assess radiation effects on the skin dermis layer. This knowledge can be used to prevent and manage potential acute skin reaction and late skin toxicity from radiotherapy treatments.
  8. Real-time eye lens dose monitoring during cerebral angiography procedures
    Safari MJ, Wong JH, Kadir KA, Thorpe NK, Cutajar DL, Petasecca M, et al.
    Eur Radiol, 2016 Jan;26(1):79-86.
    PMID: 26002131 DOI: 10.1007/s00330-015-3818-9
    OBJECTIVES: To develop a real-time dose-monitoring system to measure the patient's eye lens dose during neuro-interventional procedures.

    METHODS: Radiation dose received at left outer canthus (LOC) and left eyelid (LE) were measured using Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor dosimeters on 35 patients who underwent diagnostic or cerebral embolization procedures.

    RESULTS: The radiation dose received at the LOC region was significantly higher than the dose received by the LE. The maximum eye lens dose of 1492 mGy was measured at LOC region for an AVM case, followed by 907 mGy for an aneurysm case and 665 mGy for a diagnostic angiography procedure. Strong correlations (shown as R(2)) were observed between kerma-area-product and measured eye doses (LOC: 0.78, LE: 0.68). Lateral and frontal air-kerma showed strong correlations with measured dose at LOC (AKL: 0.93, AKF: 0.78) and a weak correlation with measured dose at LE. A moderate correlation was observed between fluoroscopic time and dose measured at LE and LOC regions.

    CONCLUSIONS: The MOSkin dose-monitoring system represents a new tool enabling real-time monitoring of eye lens dose during neuro-interventional procedures. This system can provide interventionalists with information needed to adjust the clinical procedure to control the patient's dose.

    KEY POINTS: Real-time patient dose monitoring helps interventionalists to monitor doses. Strong correlation was observed between kerma-area-product and measured eye doses. Radiation dose at left outer canthus was higher than at left eyelid.

  9. Induction of labour with prostaglandin E2 and amniotomy--a multicentre, three dose schedule study in 1533 patients
    Karim SM, Lim SM, Ilancheran A, Ratnam SS, Ang LT, Ng KH, et al.
    Ann Acad Med Singap, 1982 Oct;11(4):503-7.
    PMID: 7165271
    Prostaglandin E2 administered orally and combined with amniotomy was used for induction of labour at or near term in 1533 patients. The study was carried out as a collaborative project between the University Departments of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in Singapore, Medan (Indonesia) and Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia). The overall success rates for Medan, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore were 95.6%, 88.1% and 84.7% respectively.
  10. Facile synthesis of CaFe2O4 for visible light driven treatment of polluting palm oil mill effluent: Photokinetic and scavenging study
    Charles A, Khan MR, Ng KH, Wu TY, Lim JW, Wongsakulphasatch S, et al.
    Sci Total Environ, 2019 Apr 15;661:522-530.
    PMID: 30682605 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.01.195
    In this paper, a facile synthesis method for CaFe2O4 is introduced that produces a catalyst capable of significant photocatalytic degradation of POME under visible light irradiation. The co-precipitation method was used to produce two catalysts at calcination temperatures of 550 °C and 700 °C dubbed CP550 and CP700. CP550 demonstrated the maximum COD removal of 69.0% at 0.75 g/L catalyst loading after 8 h of visible light irradiation which dropped to 61.0% after three consecutive cycles. SEM images indicated that the higher calcination temperature of CP700 led to annealing which reduced the pore volume (0.025 cm3/g) and pore diameter (10.3 nm) while simultaneously creating a smoother and more spherical surface with lower SBET (9.73 m2/g). In comparison, CP550 had a rough hair-like surface with higher SBET (27.28 m2/g) and pore volume (0.077 cm3/g) as evidenced by BET analysis. XRD data indicated the presence of CaFe5O7 in the CP550 composition which was not present in CP700. The presence of Wustite-like FeO structures in CaFe5O7 are likely the cause for lower photoluminescence intensity profile and hence better charge separation of CP550 as these structures in CaFe2O4 have been known to increase resistivity and electron localization. The COD removal of CP550 dropped from 69.0% to just 7.0% upon adding a small quantity of isopropanol into the reaction mixture indicating hydroxyl radicals as the primary reactive oxidative species.
  11. Personalized administration of contrast medium with high delivery rate in low tube voltage coronary computed tomography angiography
    Tan SK, Ng KH, Yeong CH, Raja Aman RRA, Mohamed Sani F, Abdul Aziz YF, et al.
    Quant Imaging Med Surg, 2019 Apr;9(4):552-564.
    PMID: 31143647 DOI: 10.21037/qims.2019.03.13
    Background: High delivery rate is an important factor in optimizing contrast medium administration in coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA). A personalized contrast volume calculation algorithm incorporating high iodine delivery rate (IDR) can reduce total iodine dose (TID) and produce optimal vessel contrast enhancement (VCE) in low tube voltage CCTA. In this study, we developed and validated an algorithm for calculating the volume of contrast medium delivered at a high rate for patients undergoing retrospectively ECG-gated CCTA with low tube voltage protocol.

    Methods: The algorithm for an IDR of 2.22 gI·s-1 was developed based on the relationship between VCE and contrast volume in 141 patients; test bolus parameters and characteristics in 75 patients; and, tube voltage in a phantom study. The algorithm was retrospectively tested in 45 patients who underwent retrospectively ECG-gated CCTA with a 100 kVp protocol. Image quality, TID and radiation dose exposure were compared with those produced using the 120 kVp and routine contrast protocols.

    Results: Age, sex, body surface area (BSA) and peak contrast enhancement (PCE) were significant predictors for VCE (P<0.05). A strong linear correlation was observed between VCE and contrast volume (r=0.97, P<0.05). The 100-to-120 kVp contrast enhancement conversion factor (Ec) was calculated at 0.81. Optimal VCE (250 to 450 HU) and diagnostic image quality were obtained with significant reductions in TID (32.1%) and radiation dose (38.5%) when using 100 kVp and personalized contrast volume calculation algorithm compared with 120 kVp and routine contrast protocols (P<0.05).

    Conclusions: The proposed algorithm could significantly reduce TID and radiation exposure while maintaining optimal VCE and image quality in CCTA with 100 kVp protocol.

  12. Oncological safety and postoperative complications in oncoplastic breast surgery among Asian women: A single institutional review
    Teoh LY, Lai LL, Hanim Aa A, Teh MS, Jamaris S, Yahya A, et al.
    Breast J, 2020 11;26(11):2208-2212.
    PMID: 32996224 DOI: 10.1111/tbj.14060
    Oncoplastic breast surgery (OBS) improves margin clearance and produces good esthetic outcome in breast cancer treatment. This study evaluates the complications and outcome of OBS in a multiracial patient cohort. Data of 421 patients between 2011 and 2018 were analyzed. The majority were Malays (41.8%), followed by Chinese (39.7%) and Indians (16.8%). Low local complications were noted, with no significant differences in disease-free survival (P = .927) and overall survival (P = .719) between low and high OBS levels. Shared decision-making in offering OBS for Asian women has potential to become a practical option in breast cancer treatment.
  13. Stiffness and Anisotropy Effect on Shear Wave Elastography: A Phantom and in Vivo Renal Study
    Leong SS, Wong JHD, Md Shah MN, Vijayananthan A, Jalalonmuhali M, Mohd Sharif NH, et al.
    Ultrasound Med Biol, 2020 01;46(1):34-45.
    PMID: 31594681 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2019.08.011
    Tissue elasticity is related to the pathologic state of kidneys and can be measured using shear wave elastography (SWE). However, SWE quantification has not been rigorously validated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of SWE-measured stiffness and the effect of tissue anisotropy on SWE measurements. Point SWE (pSWE), 2-D SWE and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) were used to measure stiffness and evaluate the effect of tissue anisotropy on the measurements. SWE and DMA were performed on phantoms of different gelatin concentrations. In the tissue anisotropy study, SWE and DMA were performed on the outer cortex of sheep kidneys. In the in vivo study, 15 patients with different levels of interstitial fibrosis were recruited for pSWE measurements. Another 10 healthy volunteers were recruited for tissue anisotropy studies. SWE imaging revealed a non-linear increase with gelatin concentration. There was a significant correlation between pSWE and 2-D SWE, leading to the establishment of a linear regression equation between the two SWE ultrasound measurements. In the anisotropy study, the median difference in stiffness between shear waves oriented at 0° and 90° towards the pyramid axis was significant. In the in vivo study, there was a strong positive linear correlation between pSWE and the percentage of interstitial fibrosis. There was a significant difference in the Young's modulus (YM) between severities of fibrosis. The mean YM values were lower in control patients than in patients with mild, moderate and severe fibrosis. YM values were also significantly higher when shear waves were oriented at 0° toward the pyramid axis. Tissue stiffness and anisotropy affects SWE measurements. These factors should be recognized before applying SWE for the interpretation of measured values.
  14. Fulltext Characterization of MOSkin detector for in vivo skin dose measurement during megavoltage radiotherapy
    Jong WL, Wong JH, Ung NM, Ng KH, Ho GF, Cutajar DL, et al.
    J Appl Clin Med Phys, 2014 Sep 08;15(5):4869.
    PMID: 25207573 DOI: 10.1120/jacmp.v15i5.4869
    In vivo dosimetry is important during radiotherapy to ensure the accuracy of the dose delivered to the treatment volume. A dosimeter should be characterized based on its application before it is used for in vivo dosimetry. In this study, we characterize a new MOSFET-based detector, the MOSkin detector, on surface for in vivo skin dosimetry. The advantages of the MOSkin detector are its water equivalent depth of measurement of 0.07 mm, small physical size with submicron dosimetric volume, and the ability to provide real-time readout. A MOSkin detector was calibrated and the reproducibility, linearity, and response over a large dose range to different threshold voltages were determined. Surface dose on solid water phantom was measured using MOSkin detector and compared with Markus ionization chamber and GAFCHROMIC EBT2 film measurements. Dependence in the response of the MOSkin detector on the surface of solid water phantom was also tested for different (i) source to surface distances (SSDs); (ii) field sizes; (iii) surface dose; (iv) radiation incident angles; and (v) wedges. The MOSkin detector showed excellent reproducibility and linearity for dose range of 50 cGy to 300 cGy. The MOSkin detector showed reliable response to different SSDs, field sizes, surface, radiation incident angles, and wedges. The MOSkin detector is suitable for in vivo skin dosimetry.
  15. Marrow Fat Content and Composition in β-Thalassemia: A Study using 1 H-MRS
    Ismail UN, Azlan CA, Khairullah S, Azman RR, Omar NF, Md Shah MN, et al.
    J Magn Reson Imaging, 2021 01;53(1):190-198.
    PMID: 33237616 DOI: 10.1002/jmri.27294
    BACKGROUND: β-thalassemia is a genetic disease that causes abnormal production of red blood cells (ineffective erythropoiesis, IE). IE is a condition known to change bone marrow composition.

    PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of IE on the marrow fat content and fat unsaturation levels in the proximal femur using 1 H-MRS.

    STUDY TYPE: Prospective.

    SUBJECTS: Twenty-three subjects were included in this study, seven control and 16 β-thalassemia subjects.

    FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE: 3.0T; stimulated echo acquisition Mode (STEAM); magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) sequence.

    ASSESSMENT: Multiecho MRS scans were performed in four regions of the proximal left femur of each subject, that is, diaphysis, femoral neck, femoral head, and greater trochanter. The examined regions were grouped into red (diaphysis and femoral neck) and yellow marrow regions (femoral head and greater trochanter).

    STATISTICAL TESTS: The Jonckheere-Terpstra test was used to evaluate the impact of increasing disease severity on bone marrow fat fraction (BMFF), marrow conversion index, and fat unsaturation index (UI). Pairwise comparison analysis was performed when a significant trend (P 

  16. Leadership and mentoring in medical physics: The experience of a medical physics international mentoring program
    Santos JC, Goulart LF, Giansante L, Lin YH, Sirico ACA, Ng AH, et al.
    Phys Med, 2020 Aug;76:337-344.
    PMID: 32759035 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmp.2020.07.023
    Mentoring aims to improve careers and create benefits for the participants' personal and professional lives. Mentoring can be an individual or a shared experience for a group, while the mentor's role remains the same in both models. Mentors should increase confidence, teach, inspire, and set examples, helping the mentees to mould their path, contributing to the pursuit of their personal and professional goals. This study aims to report on the experience of early-career medical physics professionals and postgraduate students participating in a global mentoring program and to assess the impact of this activity on their professional development. The objectives of this mentoring program are to develop leadership roles among young medical physicists and to provide guidance and support. An online questionnaire was administered to the mentee participants. The analysis of their responses is reported in this work and the current status of the programme was examined using a SWOT analysis. In general, the mentoring experience had a positive impact on the mentees. The mentors were found especially helpful in the decision-making situations and in other conflicts that may arise with career development. Additionally, the mentees felt that mentoring contributed to the development of leadership skills required for the job market and assist in personal development. This paper concludes that participation of young medical physicists in a mentoring group program is beneficial to their career and therefore should be encouraged.
  17. Shear wave elastography accurately detects chronic changes in renal histopathology
    Leong SS, Wong JHD, Md Shah MN, Vijayananthan A, Jalalonmuhali M, Chow TK, et al.
    Nephrology (Carlton), 2021 Jan;26(1):38-45.
    PMID: 33058334 DOI: 10.1111/nep.13805
    AIM: Renal biopsy is the gold standard for the histological characterization of chronic kidney disease (CKD), of which renal fibrosis is a dominant component, affecting its stiffness. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between kidney stiffness obtained by shear wave elastography (SWE) and renal histological fibrosis.

    METHODS: Shear wave elastography assessments were performed in 75 CKD patients who underwent renal biopsy. The SWE-derived estimates of the tissue Young's modulus (YM), given as kilopascals (kPa), were measured. YM was correlated to patients' renal histological scores, broadly categorized into glomerular, tubulointerstitial and vascular scores.

    RESULTS: Young's modulus correlates significantly with tubulointerstitial score (ρ = 0.442, P 

  18. Systematic investigation on the validity of partition model dosimetry for90Y radioembolization using Monte Carlo simulation
    Hashikin NAA, Yeong CH, Guatelli S, Abdullah BJJ, Ng KH, Malaroda A, et al.
    Phys Med Biol, 2017 Aug 22;62(18):7342-7356.
    PMID: 28686171 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6560/aa7e5b
    We aimed to investigate the validity of the partition model (PM) in estimating the absorbed doses to liver tumour ([Formula: see text]), normal liver tissue ([Formula: see text]) and lungs ([Formula: see text]), when cross-fire irradiations between these compartments are being considered. MIRD-5 phantom incorporated with various treatment parameters, i.e. tumour involvement (TI), tumour-to-normal liver uptake ratio (T/N) and lung shunting (LS), were simulated using the Geant4 Monte Carlo (MC) toolkit. 108track histories were generated for each combination of the three parameters to obtain the absorbed dose per activity uptake in each compartment ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], and [Formula: see text]). The administered activities, A were estimated using PM, so as to achieve either limiting doses to normal liver, [Formula: see text] or lungs, [Formula: see text] (70 or 30 Gy, respectively). Using these administered activities, the activity uptake in each compartment ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], and [Formula: see text]) was estimated and multiplied with the absorbed dose per activity uptake attained using the MC simulations, to obtain the actual dose received by each compartment. PM overestimated [Formula: see text] by 11.7% in all cases, due to the escaped particles from the lungs. [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] by MC were largely affected by T/N, which were not considered by PM due to cross-fire exclusion at the tumour-normal liver boundary. These have resulted in the overestimation of [Formula: see text] by up to 8% and underestimation of [Formula: see text] by as high as  -78%, by PM. When [Formula: see text] was estimated via PM, the MC simulations showed significantly higher [Formula: see text] for cases with higher T/N, and LS  ⩽  10%. All [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] by MC were overestimated by PM, thus [Formula: see text] were never exceeded. PM leads to inaccurate dose estimations due to the exclusion of cross-fire irradiation, i.e. between the tumour and normal liver tissue. Caution should be taken for cases with higher TI and T/N, and lower LS, as they contribute to major underestimation of [Formula: see text]. For [Formula: see text], a different correction factor for dose calculation may be used for improved accuracy.
  19. Medical physics aspects of Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy practice in Malaysia
    Hizam NDA, Ung NM, Jong WL, Zin HM, Rahman ATA, Loh JPY, et al.
    Phys Med, 2019 Nov;67:34-39.
    PMID: 31655398 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmp.2019.10.023
    PURPOSE: Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT) has changed the practice of radiotherapy since its implementation in the 1990s. The purpose of this study is to review current practice of IMRT in Malaysia.

    METHODS: A survey on medical physics aspects of IMRT is conducted on radiotherapy departments across Malaysia to assess the usage, experience and QA in IMRT, which is done for the first time in this country. A set of questionnaires was designed and sent to the physicist in charge for their responses. The questionnaire consisted of four sections; (i) Experience and qualification of medical physicists, (ii) CT simulation techniques (iii) Treatment planning and treatment unit, (iv) IMRT process, delivery and QA procedure.

    RESULTS: A total of 26 responses were collected, representing 26 departments out of 33 radiotherapy departments in operation across Malaysia (79% response rate). Results showed that the medical physics aspects of IMRT practice in Malaysia are homogenous, with some variations in certain areas of practices. Thirteen centres (52%) performed measurement-based QA using 2D array detector and analysed using gamma index criteria of 3%, 3 mm with variation confidence range. In relation to the IMRT delivery, 44% of Malaysia's physicist takes more than 8 h to plan a head and neck case compared to the UK study possibly due to the lack of professional training.

    CONCLUSIONS: This survey provides a picture of medical physics aspects of IMRT in Malaysia where the results/data can be used by radiotherapy departments to benchmark their local policies and practice.

  20. Biomass-derived carbon-based and silica-based materials for catalytic and adsorptive applications- An update since 2010
    Chen K, Ng KH, Cheng CK, Cheng YW, Chong CC, Vo DN, et al.
    Chemosphere, 2022 Jan;287(Pt 2):132222.
    PMID: 34826917 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.132222
    Biomass, which defined as plant- or animal-based materials, is intriguing tremendous scientific attentions due to its renewable attribute in serving energy security. Amongst, the plant-based biomasses, particularly those that co-generated in the agriculture activities, are commonly regarded as fuel for burning, which overlooked their hidden potentials for high-end applications. Organically, the plant-based biomass constitutes of lignocellulose components, which can be served as promising precursors for functionalized carbon materials. Meanwhile, its inorganic counterpart made up of various minerals, with Si being the most concerned one. With the advancement of biomass technologies and material synthesis in recent years, numerous attempts were endeavoured to obtain valorised products from biomass. Particularly, syntheses of catalytic and adsorptive materials are actively researched in the field of biomass reutilization. Herein, our work systematically summarized the advancements of biomass-materials for these applications in recent 10 years (2010-2020), with a special focus on the carbon-based and Si-based catalytic/adsorptive materials. Significantly, the deriving steps, inclusive of both pre-treatment and post-treatment of such materials, are incorporated in the discussion, alongside with their significances revealed too. The performance of the as-obtained materials in the respective application is systematically correlated to their physicochemical properties, hence providing valuable insights to the readers. Challenges and promising directions to be explored are raised too at the end of the review, aiming to advocate better-usage of biomass while offering great opportunities to sustain catalysis and adsorption in the industrial scale.
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