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Keywords = planning techniques (PT)

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12 pages, 1167 KB  
Article
Asymmetric Safety Corridors for Free-Hand S2-Alar-Iliac Screw Placement: Quantifying Direction-Specific Tolerance Around Patient-Specific Optimal Trajectories
by Se Jun Park, Dong Kyu Kim, Sun Joon Yoo, Hyun Jun Jang, Bong Ju Moon, Jeong Yoon Park, Jun Jae Shin, Sung Uk Kuh, Dong Kyu Chin, Keun Su Kim and Kyung Hyun Kim
J. Clin. Med. 2026, 15(12), 4495; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15124495 - 10 Jun 2026
Viewed by 134
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Optimal trajectories for S2-alar-iliac (S2AI) screw placement have been widely studied; however, in fluoroscopy-assisted free-hand techniques, exact reproduction is rarely achievable. This study aimed to quantify direction-specific safety margins around patient-specific optimal trajectories and to determine their relationship with pelvic parameters. Methods: [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Optimal trajectories for S2-alar-iliac (S2AI) screw placement have been widely studied; however, in fluoroscopy-assisted free-hand techniques, exact reproduction is rarely achievable. This study aimed to quantify direction-specific safety margins around patient-specific optimal trajectories and to determine their relationship with pelvic parameters. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed patients who underwent S2AI screw fixation with available preoperative and postoperative CT imaging. Pelvic parameters, including pelvic tilt (PT), sacral slope (SS), and pelvic incidence (PI), were measured. Optimal transverse and sagittal screw angles were determined using CT-based planning. Postoperative CT was used to assess actual screw trajectories and cortical violations. Direction-specific generalized estimating equation models were used to evaluate associations between trajectory deviation and screw malposition. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to determine cutoff values for safe deviation. Results: A total of 62 patients (105 screws) were included in axial analysis and 41 patients (76 screws) in sagittal analysis. PT and PI showed significant inverse correlations with both optimal transverse and sagittal angles (all p < 0.001). Greater lateral and medial deviations were significantly associated with corresponding cortical violations (OR 2.33, 95% CI 1.51–3.59; and OR 2.10, 95% CI 1.40–3.15 per degree, respectively; both p < 0.001). Inferior deviation was significantly associated with violation in the sagittal plane (OR 1.39, 95% CI 1.18–1.65 per degree; p < 0.001), whereas superior deviation was not significant. ROC analysis demonstrated asymmetric safety margins: 1.5° lateral (AUC = 0.972), 8.1° medial (AUC = 0.965), and 18.5° inferior (AUC = 0.897). Conclusions: S2AI screw placement may be conceptualized as a tolerance-based process centered on a patient-specific optimal trajectory. Safety margins are direction-dependent and asymmetric, with a narrow tolerance for lateral deviation. These findings provide practical guidance for intraoperative trajectory adjustment in free-hand techniques. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Spine Surgery Innovations: Treatments and Technologies)
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13 pages, 1805 KB  
Article
Ultra-Hypofractionated Whole-Breast Irradiation With or Without Simultaneous Integrated Boost Using Helical Tomotherapy for Early-Stage Breast Cancer: A Real-World Dosimetric and Clinical Outcome Study
by Pei-Yu Hou, Chen-Hsi Hsieh, Hsin-Pei Yeh and Eva Yu-Hsuan Chuang
Cancers 2026, 18(6), 1015; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers18061015 - 20 Mar 2026
Viewed by 738
Abstract
Background: Ultra-hypofractionated whole-breast irradiation (WBI) delivering 26 Gy in five fractions has been established as a standard of care following the FAST-Forward trial. However, real-world data addressing advanced delivery techniques and the feasibility of incorporating a simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) remain limited. [...] Read more.
Background: Ultra-hypofractionated whole-breast irradiation (WBI) delivering 26 Gy in five fractions has been established as a standard of care following the FAST-Forward trial. However, real-world data addressing advanced delivery techniques and the feasibility of incorporating a simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) remain limited. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 40 patients with early-stage breast cancer (pT1–2N0M0) treated with breast-conserving surgery, followed by ultra-hypofractionated WBI using helical tomotherapy. Patients received either WBI alone (26 Gy in five fractions) or WBI with an SIB to the tumor bed (29–30 Gy in five fractions). Dosimetric parameters for planning target volumes (PTVs) and organs at risk (OARs) were evaluated. Acute skin toxicity was assessed using CTCAE version 5.0. Results: The median patient age was 55.7 years. The mean PTV V95% was 97.8%, with excellent hotspot control (PTV V105% < 5% and V107% < 2%). For left-sided tumors, the mean heart dose was 1.67 Gy, and the ipsilateral lung V8Gy remained below 15% in all patients. Acute radiation dermatitis was limited to Grade 0–1 in all cases. At a median follow-up of 14.8 months, both local control and overall survival were 100%. Conclusions: Ultra-hypofractionated WBI delivered using helical tomotherapy, with or without SIB, demonstrates robust dosimetric quality, minimal acute toxicity, and favorable early clinical outcomes in routine clinical practice. Full article
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13 pages, 1443 KB  
Article
Radiographic Posterior Tibial Slope Measurement in Medial Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty: A Retrospective Validation Study Using Digital Volume Tomography of Tibial Resectates
by Dimitrios Tsimopoulos, Patrick Ostheim and Moritz Kaiser
J. Clin. Med. 2026, 15(6), 2095; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15062095 - 10 Mar 2026
Viewed by 598
Abstract
Background/Objective: Accurate assessment of the posterior tibial slope (PTS) is essential for optimal alignment and kinematic restoration in unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA). This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of three commonly used radiographic PTS measurement techniques—the anterior tibial cortex (ATC), tibial proximal [...] Read more.
Background/Objective: Accurate assessment of the posterior tibial slope (PTS) is essential for optimal alignment and kinematic restoration in unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA). This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of three commonly used radiographic PTS measurement techniques—the anterior tibial cortex (ATC), tibial proximal anatomical axis (TPAA), and posterior tibial cortex (PTC)—by comparing them with the intraoperatively achieved tibial resection slope, using digital volume tomography (DVT) of intraoperative tibial resectates as an executed resection reference. Methods: In this retrospective study, 39 patients undergoing medial UKA were analyzed. Standardized lateral knee radiographs were used to measure the complement angle β using ATC, TPAA, and PTC reference axes. Intraoperatively obtained tibial resectates were scanned using DVT to provide a high-resolution three-dimensional reference. The conventional posterior tibial slope was defined as α (PTS) = 90° − β (measured angle). Agreement and systematic bias between radiographic and DVT measurements were assessed using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests and Bland–Altman analyses. Results: The mean DVT-derived β was 86.48° ± 1.62° (α 3.52°). ATC 79.69° ± 3.14° (α 10.31°) and TPAA 82.50° ± 2.95° (α 7.50°) yielded significantly lower β values than DVT (both p < 0.0001), whereas PTC (86.24° ± 2.51°; α 3.76°) showed no significant difference (p = 0.419). Bland–Altman analyses demonstrated minimal bias for PTC (−0.25°) compared with larger negative biases for ATC (−6.79°) and TPAA (−3.99°) (negative bias indicates lower β and therefore higher conventional posterior tibial slope α). Conclusions: Among the evaluated methods, the PTC technique most accurately reflects the intraoperatively achieved tibial resection slope when benchmarked against DVT measurements. Incorporating the PTC method into preoperative planning may improve the radiographic estimation and standardization of the achieved tibial cut in UKA. Further studies should assess its impact on clinical outcomes and explore integration into automated measurement workflows. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Orthopedics)
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27 pages, 415 KB  
Review
Radiotherapy in Glioblastoma Multiforme: Evolution, Limitations, and Molecularly Guided Future
by Castalia Fernández, Raquel Ciérvide, Ana Díaz, Isabel Garrido and Felipe Couñago
Biomedicines 2025, 13(9), 2136; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines13092136 - 1 Sep 2025
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 8738
Abstract
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the most aggressive primary brain tumor in adults, has a poor prognosis due to rapid recurrence and treatment resistance. This review examines the evolution of radiotherapy (RT) for GBM management, from whole-brain RT to modern techniques like intensity-modulated RT (IMRT) [...] Read more.
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the most aggressive primary brain tumor in adults, has a poor prognosis due to rapid recurrence and treatment resistance. This review examines the evolution of radiotherapy (RT) for GBM management, from whole-brain RT to modern techniques like intensity-modulated RT (IMRT) and volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT), guided by 2023 European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO)-European Association of Neuro-Oncology (EANO) and 2025 American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) recommendations. The standard Stupp protocol (60 Gy/30 fractions with temozolomide [TMZ]) improves overall survival (OS) to 14.6 months, with greater benefits in O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT)-methylated tumors (21.7 months). Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) extend median overall survival (mOS) to 31.6 months in MGMT-methylated patients and 20.9 months overall in supratentorial GBM (EF-14 trial). However, 80–90% of recurrences occur within 2 cm of the irradiated field due to tumor infiltration and radioresistance driven by epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) amplification, phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) mutations, cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A/B (CDKN2A/B) deletions, tumor hypoxia, and tumor stem cells. Pseudoprogression, distinguished using Response Assessment in Neuro-Oncology (RANO) criteria and positron emission tomography (PET), complicates response evaluation. Targeted therapies (e.g., bevacizumab; PARP inhibitors) and immunotherapies (e.g., pembrolizumab; oncolytic viruses), alongside advanced imaging (multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging [MRI], amino acid PET), support personalized RT. Ongoing trials evaluating reirradiation, hypofractionation, stereotactic radiosurgery, neoadjuvant therapies, proton therapy (PT), boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT), and AI-driven planning aim to enhance efficacy for GBM IDH-wildtype, but phase III trials are needed to improve survival and quality of life. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Glioblastoma: From Pathophysiology to Novel Therapeutic Approaches)
13 pages, 1609 KB  
Article
A Decision-Making Method for Photon/Proton Selection for Nasopharyngeal Cancer Based on Dose Prediction and NTCP
by Guiyuan Li, Xinyuan Chen, Jialin Ding, Linyi Shen, Mengyang Li, Junlin Yi and Jianrong Dai
Cancers 2025, 17(16), 2620; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17162620 - 11 Aug 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1599
Abstract
Introduction: Decision-making regarding radiotherapy techniques for patients with nasopharyngeal cancer requires a comparison of photon and proton plans generated using planning software, which requires time and expertise. We developed a fully automated decision tool to select patients for proton therapy that predicts [...] Read more.
Introduction: Decision-making regarding radiotherapy techniques for patients with nasopharyngeal cancer requires a comparison of photon and proton plans generated using planning software, which requires time and expertise. We developed a fully automated decision tool to select patients for proton therapy that predicts proton therapy (XT) and photon therapy (PT) dose distributions using only patient CT image data, predicts xerostomia and dysphagia probability using predicted critical organ mean doses, and makes decisions based on the Netherlands’ National Indication Protocol Proton therapy (NIPP) to select patients likely to benefit from proton therapy. Methods: This study used 48 nasopharyngeal patients treated at the Cancer Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. We manually generated a photon plan and a proton plan for each patient. Based on this dose distribution, photon and proton dose prediction models were trained using deep learning (DL) models. We used the NIPP model to measure xerostomia levels 2 and 3, dysphagia levels 2 and 3, and decisions were made according to the thresholds given by this protocol. Results: The predicted doses for both photon and proton groups were comparable to those for manual plan (MP). The Mean Absolute Error (MAE) for each organ at risk in the photon and proton plans did not exceed 5% and showed a good performance of the dose prediction model. For proton, the normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) of xerostomia and dysphagia performed well, p > 0.05. There was no statistically significant difference. For photon, the NTCP of dysphagia performed well, p > 0.05. For xerostomia p < 0.05 but the absolute deviation was 0.85% and 0.75%, which would not have a great impact on the prediction result. Among the 48 patients’ decisions, 3 were wrong, and the correct rate was 93.8%. The area under curve (AUC) of operating characteristic curve (ROC) was 0.86, showing the good performance of the decision-making tool in this study. Conclusions: The decision tool based on DL and NTCP models can accurately select nasopharyngeal cancer patients who will benefit from proton therapy. The time spent generating comparison plans is reduced and the diagnostic efficiency of doctors is improved, and the tool can be shared with centers that do not have proton expertise. Trial registration: This study was a retrospective study, so it was exempt from registration. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Proton Therapy of Cancer Treatment)
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18 pages, 2580 KB  
Article
Application of the Deep Inspiration Breath-Hold Technique in Proton Therapy for Mediastinal Lymphomas: Initial Experience
by Magdalena Garbacz, Tomasz Skóra, Anna Cepiga, Gabriela Foltyńska, Jan Gajewski, Eleonora Góra, Dominika Kędzierska-Pardel, Wiktor Komenda, Dawid Krzempek, Emilia Krzywonos, Tomasz Mikołajski, Antoni Ruciński, Karolina Sobkowicz, Urszula Sowa, Agnieszka Wochnik, Kamil Kisielewicz and Renata Kopeć
Cancers 2025, 17(12), 1985; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17121985 - 14 Jun 2025
Viewed by 1387
Abstract
Background: This work presents the procedures and application of the deep inspiration breath-hold (DIBH) technique for mediastinal lymphoma patients at a proton therapy (PT) center. It also discusses the implementation and validation of the surface-guided radiotherapy (SGRT) protocol in terms of positioning accuracy. [...] Read more.
Background: This work presents the procedures and application of the deep inspiration breath-hold (DIBH) technique for mediastinal lymphoma patients at a proton therapy (PT) center. It also discusses the implementation and validation of the surface-guided radiotherapy (SGRT) protocol in terms of positioning accuracy. Methods: This study included six lymphoma patients. Dedicated computed tomography (CT) protocols and a treatment workflow based on international guidelines were developed. Clinical data from the treatment planning system (TPS) were used to assess the difference between DIBH and free-breathing irradiation. Additionally, data from an optical patient positioning system and kilovoltage (kV) imaging system were used to estimate positioning shifts. The new CT protocol reduced the volume CT dose index by over six times compared with the standard protocol. Results: The DIBH method decreased the mean dose to the heart and lungs by up to 7.02 Gy(RBE) and 0.83 Gy(RBE), respectively. The median magnitude of patient setup errors and repeatability in DIBH positioning was 0.4 cm and 0.18 cm (mean for males and females) for the SGRT protocol. The kV imaging showed a setup error of over 0.3 cm for both groups. Conclusions: Despite the small size of the patient cohort, the relatively large number of individual positioning sessions enabled the detection of statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) in certain areas between male and female patients; however, no significant difference in the displacement vector magnitude was observed. DIBH treatment with SGRT offers high reproducibility for patient positioning. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Research on Radioresistant Tumors)
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12 pages, 628 KB  
Article
Impact of Nerve-Sparing Techniques on Prostate-Specific Antigen Persistence Following Robot-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy: A Multivariable Analysis of Clinical and Pathological Predictors
by Lorenzo Spirito, Carmine Sciorio, Lorenzo Romano, Antonio Di Girolamo, Antonio Ruffo, Giuseppe Romeo, Felice Crocetto, Luigi Napolitano, Marco Stizzo, Francesco Bottone, Carmelo Quattrone and Vittorio Imperatore
Diagnostics 2025, 15(8), 987; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics15080987 - 13 Apr 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2360
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) persistence, defined as a postoperative PSA level ≥ 0.1 ng/mL measured within 4–8 weeks after radical prostatectomy (RP), predicts biochemical recurrence (BCR) and adverse oncological outcomes. The influence of nerve-sparing (NS) surgical techniques on PSA persistence remains debated, especially [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) persistence, defined as a postoperative PSA level ≥ 0.1 ng/mL measured within 4–8 weeks after radical prostatectomy (RP), predicts biochemical recurrence (BCR) and adverse oncological outcomes. The influence of nerve-sparing (NS) surgical techniques on PSA persistence remains debated, especially among patients with high-risk pathological features. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of NS techniques on PSA persistence following robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP), considering tumor characteristics, surgical parameters, and patient-specific factors. Methods: A retrospective cohort analysis was performed on 779 patients who underwent RARP at a single institution between January 2002 and December 2015. The inclusion criteria consisted of histologically confirmed prostate cancer with available preoperative and postoperative data, including PSA measurements taken 4–8 weeks after surgery. PSA persistence served as the primary outcome. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, univariate and multivariable logistic regression models to identify predictors of PSA persistence, and Spearman’s correlation along with the Kruskal–Wallis H test to evaluate associations. Results: Of the 779 patients included, 55% underwent NS surgery (51% unilateral, 49% bilateral). The mean preoperative PSA was 11.85 ng/mL (SD: 7.63), while the mean postoperative PSA was 0.70 ng/mL (SD: 4.42). An elevated postoperative PSA was associated with a larger tumor size (r = 0.1285, p < 0.001), advanced pathological stages (χ2 = 45.10, p = 3.79 × 10−9), and higher Gleason scores (χ2 = 24.74, p = 1.57 × 10−4). NS surgery correlated with a lower postoperative PSA (mean: 0.20 ng/mL) compared to non-NS procedures (mean: 0.65 ng/mL), with slight differences between unilateral (mean: 0.30 ng/mL) and bilateral (mean: 0.35 ng/mL) NS approaches. Multivariable regression analysis identified advanced pathological stage (coefficient = 1.16, p = 0.04) as an independent predictor of PSA persistence, while NS techniques had no significant independent effect (coefficient = −0.01, p = 0.99). Conclusions: Nerve-sparing surgical techniques do not independently predict PSA persistence after RARP when adjusting for tumor-related factors and confounders. Advanced pathological stage, particularly stage pT3b, primarily determines PSA persistence. These findings highlight the necessity of personalized surgical planning informed by preoperative imaging and patient-centered decision making to optimize oncological and functional outcomes. Full article
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21 pages, 13254 KB  
Article
The Role of LEM in Mine Slope Safety: A Pre- and Post-Blast Perspective
by Refky Adi Nata, Gaofeng Ren, Yongxiang Ge, Ahmad Fadhly, Fadhilah Muzer, M. Fajar Ramadhan and Verra Syahmer
Safety 2024, 10(4), 101; https://doi.org/10.3390/safety10040101 - 3 Dec 2024
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2879
Abstract
Slopes are formed as a result of mining operations. These slopes are classified as artificial slopes. Improper planning of slopes can lead to instability and potentially trigger landslides. PT. Allied Indo Coal Jaya employs the open-pit mining method in its coal mining operations. [...] Read more.
Slopes are formed as a result of mining operations. These slopes are classified as artificial slopes. Improper planning of slopes can lead to instability and potentially trigger landslides. PT. Allied Indo Coal Jaya employs the open-pit mining method in its coal mining operations. Slopes are naturally formed in open-pit mines. Additionally, PT. Allied Indo Coal Jaya utilizes blasting for rock demolition. Therefore, it is crucial to assess the impact of blasting activities on slope stability. This study investigates the influence of blasting on slope stability in coal mines using the limit equilibrium method (LEM). The study evaluates the effects of factors such as ground vibration, blast distance, and blast hole count on the factor of safety (FoS) of slopes. The limit equilibrium method (Fellenius, Bishop, Janbu, Spencer, and Morgenstern-Price) is employed to determine the factor of safety. The factor of safety is modeled using RocScience SLIDE version 6.0 in this study. The factor of safety (FoS) is defined as the ratio of the stabilizing force to the destabilizing force acting on the slope. This study also models the influence of ground vibration, distance, and total number of blast holes on the factor-of-safety (FoS) value. The results indicate that the slope remains stable both pre- and post-blasting, with an overall FoS value greater than 1 for the five slopes examined using various limit equilibrium method (LEM) techniques. However, the FoS value decreased prior to blasting due to the impact of ground vibration and blast distance. It is evident that the ground vibration (PPA) increases with the number of blast holes. The amount of ground vibration decreases as the number of blast holes increases. An increased number of blast holes leads to a decrease in the FoS value. The observed decline in slope FoS values and the increase in PPAs is attributable to the growing number of blast holes. The type of explosive, along with its power and rate of detonation, influences the amount of energy produced, which in turn affects the degree of ground vibration. The findings indicate that the slopes remain stable (FoS > 1) both before and after blasting, although blasting slightly reduces the FoS. The study reveals that as the number of blast holes increases, both ground vibration (PPA) and the reduction in FoS increase, underscoring the effects of explosive power and detonation rate on slope stability. Full article
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27 pages, 2484 KB  
Review
A Survey on Penetration Path Planning in Automated Penetration Testing
by Ziyang Chen, Fei Kang, Xiaobing Xiong and Hui Shu
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(18), 8355; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14188355 - 17 Sep 2024
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 7210
Abstract
Penetration Testing (PT) is an effective proactive security technique that simulates hacker attacks to identify vulnerabilities in networks or systems. However, traditional PT relies on specialized experience and costs extraordinary time and effort. With the advancement of artificial intelligence technologies, automated PT has [...] Read more.
Penetration Testing (PT) is an effective proactive security technique that simulates hacker attacks to identify vulnerabilities in networks or systems. However, traditional PT relies on specialized experience and costs extraordinary time and effort. With the advancement of artificial intelligence technologies, automated PT has emerged as a promising solution, attracting attention from researchers increasingly. In automated PT, penetration path planning is a core task that involves selecting the optimal attack paths to maximize the overall efficiency and success rate of the testing process. Recent years have seen significant progress in the field of penetration path planning, with diverse methods being proposed. This survey aims to comprehensively examine and summarize the research findings in this domain. Our work first outlines the background and challenges of penetration path planning and establishes the framework for research methods. It then provides a detailed analysis of existing studies from three key aspects: penetration path planning models, penetration path planning methods, and simulation environments. Finally, this survey offers insights into the future development trends of penetration path planning in PT. This paper aims to provide comprehensive references for academia and industry, promoting further research and application of automated PT path planning methods. Full article
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18 pages, 949 KB  
Review
General Treatments Promoting Independent Living in Parkinson’s Patients and Physical Therapy Approaches for Improving Gait—A Comprehensive Review
by Dae-Hwan Lee, Bong-Sik Woo, Yong-Hwa Park and Jung-Ho Lee
Medicina 2024, 60(5), 711; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina60050711 - 25 Apr 2024
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 12201
Abstract
This study delves into the multifaceted approaches to treating Parkinson’s disease (PD), a neurodegenerative disorder primarily affecting motor function but also manifesting in a variety of symptoms that vary greatly among individuals. The complexity of PD symptoms necessitates a comprehensive treatment strategy that [...] Read more.
This study delves into the multifaceted approaches to treating Parkinson’s disease (PD), a neurodegenerative disorder primarily affecting motor function but also manifesting in a variety of symptoms that vary greatly among individuals. The complexity of PD symptoms necessitates a comprehensive treatment strategy that integrates surgical interventions, pharmacotherapy, and physical therapy to tailor to the unique needs of each patient. Surgical options, such as deep brain stimulation (DBS), have been pivotal for patients not responding adequately to medication, offering significant symptom relief. Pharmacotherapy remains a cornerstone of PD management, utilizing drugs like levodopa, dopamine agonists, and others to manage symptoms and, in some cases, slow down disease progression. However, these treatments often lead to complications over time, such as motor fluctuations and dyskinesias, highlighting the need for precise dosage adjustments and sometimes combination therapies to optimize patient outcomes. Physical therapy plays a critical role in addressing the motor symptoms of PD, including bradykinesia, muscle rigidity, tremors, postural instability, and akinesia. PT techniques are tailored to improve mobility, balance, strength, and overall quality of life. Strategies such as gait and balance training, strengthening exercises, stretching, and functional training are employed to mitigate symptoms and enhance functional independence. Specialized approaches like proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF), the Bobath concept, and the use of assistive devices are also integral to the rehabilitation process, aimed at improving patients’ ability to perform daily activities and reducing the risk of falls. Innovations in technology have introduced robotic-assisted gait training (RAGT) and other assistive devices, offering new possibilities for patient care. These tools provide targeted support and feedback, allowing for more intensive and personalized rehabilitation sessions. Despite these advancements, high costs and accessibility issues remain challenges that need addressing. The inclusion of exercise and activity beyond structured PT sessions is encouraged, with evidence suggesting that regular physical activity can have neuroprotective effects, potentially slowing disease progression. Activities such as treadmill walking, cycling, and aquatic exercises not only improve physical symptoms but also contribute to emotional well-being and social interactions. In conclusion, treating PD requires a holistic approach that combines medical, surgical, and therapeutic strategies. While there is no cure, the goal is to maximize patients’ functional abilities and quality of life through personalized treatment plans. This integrated approach, along with ongoing research and development of new therapies, offers hope for improving the management of PD and the lives of those affected by this challenging disease. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Neurology)
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15 pages, 36503 KB  
Article
Robotic-Assisted Epicardial Hybrid Ablation and Left Appendage Closure in Persistent Atrial Fibrillation: First European Experience
by Alfonso Agnino, Laura Giroletti, Ascanio Graniero, Piersilvio Gerometta, Matteo Parrinello, Giovanni Albano, Eduardo Celentano, Ernesto Cristiano, Giuseppe Nasso and Natasja M. S. de Groot
J. Clin. Med. 2024, 13(6), 1563; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13061563 - 8 Mar 2024
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3318
Abstract
Background: Pulmonary vein isolation is currently considered to be the gold standard for ablating paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. However, its efficacy is limited in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation. The convergent procedure has emerged as a hybrid ablation. This study aims, for the first [...] Read more.
Background: Pulmonary vein isolation is currently considered to be the gold standard for ablating paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. However, its efficacy is limited in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation. The convergent procedure has emerged as a hybrid ablation. This study aims, for the first time in the literature, to introduce a hybrid approach that includes epicardial ablation with cutting-edge robotic technology and subsequent electrophysiological study to verify and an endocardial ablation to complete the ablation lines. Methods: We present 18 cases of robotic-assisted epicardial hybrid ablation performed between April and December 2023 on patients with long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation (mean age: 64 ± 5 years; mean duration: 4 ± 2 years). All of the procedures were performed at “Humanitas Gavazzeni Hospital”, Bergamo, Italy. Robot-assisted epicardial ablation performed using the “Epi-Sense AtriCure” device was guided by monitoring electrogram morphology and point-by-point impedance drop. This approach also included left atrial appendage occlusion and the disconnection of the ligament of Marshall. An electrophysiological study and endocardial ablation were planned three months after the procedure. Results: The procedure was successfully executed in all patients with no major complications and a mean operative time of 142 ± 22 min. None of the cases required conversion to full sternotomy or minithoracotomy. The procedure was performed in all cases without extracorporeal circulation and on a beating heart. Fifteen patients (83%) were extubated in the operating room. The length of stay in the intensive care unit was less than 24 h. Acute restoration of sinus rhythm was achieved in 12 out of the 18 patients (67%); the median duration of their hospital stay was two days. In the electrophysiological study, seven pts had sinus rhythm, two had atrial fibrillation, and one patient developed atrial flutter at 3-month follow-up. Patients underwent transcatheter ablation to complete the lesion set and, at the time of discharge, were all in sinus rhythm. Conclusions: In our initial experience, surgical atrial fibrillation ablation consisting of a unilateral thoracoscopic technique facilitated by a robotic platform and continuous EGM monitoring has proven to be safe and feasible. For the electrophysiological study at 3 months, completing the gaps in the surgical ablation lines could improve the clinical results of the technique in terms of sinus rhythm stability. However, mid- and long-term follow-up is required to demonstrate this. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Progress and Challenges in Clinical Cardiac Surgery)
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14 pages, 1862 KB  
Article
Discrepancy between Tumor Size Assessed by Full-Field Digital Mammography or Ultrasonography (cT) and Pathology (pT) in a Multicenter Series of Breast Metaplastic Carcinoma Patients
by Mirosława Püsküllüoğlu, Katarzyna Świderska, Aleksandra Konieczna, Wojciech Rudnicki, Renata Pacholczak-Madej, Michał Kunkiel, Aleksandra Grela-Wojewoda, Anna Mucha-Małecka, Jerzy W. Mituś, Ewa Stobiecka, Janusz Ryś, Michał Jarząb and Marek Ziobro
Cancers 2024, 16(1), 188; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers16010188 - 30 Dec 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2704
Abstract
Metaplastic breast cancer (BC-Mp) presents diagnostic and therapeutic complexities, with scant literature available. Correct assessment of tumor size by ultrasound (US) and full-field digital mammography (FFDM) is crucial for treatment planning. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on databases encompassing records of [...] Read more.
Metaplastic breast cancer (BC-Mp) presents diagnostic and therapeutic complexities, with scant literature available. Correct assessment of tumor size by ultrasound (US) and full-field digital mammography (FFDM) is crucial for treatment planning. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on databases encompassing records of BC patients (2012–2022) at the National Research Institutes of Oncology (Warsaw, Gliwice and Krakow Branches). Inclusion criteria comprised confirmed diagnosis in postsurgical pathology reports with tumor size details (pT) and availability of tumor size from preoperative US and/or FFDM. Patients subjected to neoadjuvant systemic treatment were excluded. Demographics and clinicopathological data were gathered. Results: Forty-five females were included. A total of 86.7% were triple-negative. The median age was 66 years (range: 33–89). The median pT was 41.63 mm (6–130), and eight patients were N-positive. Median tumor size assessed by US and FFDM was 31.81 mm (9–100) and 34.14 mm (0–120), respectively. Neither technique demonstrated superiority (p > 0.05), but they both underestimated the tumor size (p = 0.002 for US and p = 0.018 for FFDM). Smaller tumors (pT1-2) were statistically more accurately assessed by any technique (p < 0.001). Only pT correlated with overall survival. Conclusion: The risk of underestimation in tumor size assessment with US and FFDM has to be taken into consideration while planning surgical procedures for BC-Mp. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Breast Cancer Imaging: Current Trends and Future Direction)
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13 pages, 2771 KB  
Article
More than Five Decades of Proton Therapy: A Bibliometric Overview of the Scientific Literature
by Maria Giulia Vincini, Mattia Zaffaroni, Marco Schwarz, Giulia Marvaso, Federico Mastroleo, Stefania Volpe, Luca Bergamaschi, Giovanni Carlo Mazzola, Giulia Corrao, Roberto Orecchia, Barbara Alicja Jereczek-Fossa and Daniela Alterio
Cancers 2023, 15(23), 5545; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers15235545 - 23 Nov 2023
Cited by 21 | Viewed by 4092
Abstract
Background: The therapeutic potential of proton therapy (PT) was first recognized in 1946 by Robert Wilson, and nowadays, over 100 proton centers are in operation worldwide, and more than 60 are under construction or planned. Bibliometric data can be used to perform a [...] Read more.
Background: The therapeutic potential of proton therapy (PT) was first recognized in 1946 by Robert Wilson, and nowadays, over 100 proton centers are in operation worldwide, and more than 60 are under construction or planned. Bibliometric data can be used to perform a structured analysis of large amounts of scientific data to provide new insights, e.g., to assess the growth and development of the field and to identify research trends and hot topics. The aim of this study is to provide a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of the current status and trends in scientific literature in the PT field. Methods: The literature on PT until the 31st December 2022 in the Scopus database was searched, including the following keywords: proton AND radiotherapy AND cancer/tumor in title, abstract, and/or keywords. The open-source R Studio’s Bibliometrix package and Biblioshiny software (version 2.0) were used to perform the analysis. Results: A total of 7335 documents, mainly articles (n = 4794, 65%) and reviews (n = 1527, 21%), were collected from 1946 to 2022 from 1054 sources and 21,696 authors. Of these, roughly 84% (n = 6167) were produced in the last 15 years (2008–2022), in which the mean annual growth rate was 13%. Considering the corresponding author’s country, 79 countries contributed to the literature; the USA was the top contributor, with 2765 (38%) documents, of whom 84% were single-country publications (SCP), followed by Germany and Japan, with 535 and 531 documents of whom 66% and 93% were SCP. Considering the themes subanalysis (2002–2022), a total of 7192 documents were analyzed; among all keywords used by authors, the top three were radiotherapy (n = 1394, 21% of documents), intensity-modulated radiotherapy (n = 301, 5%), and prostate cancer (n = 301, 5%). Among disease types, prostate cancer is followed by chordoma, head and neck, and breast cancer. The change in trend themes demonstrated the fast evolution of hotspots in PT; among the most recent trends, the appearance of flash, radiomics, relative biological effectiveness (RBE), and linear energy transfer (LET) deserve to be highlighted. Conclusions: The results of the present bibliometric analysis showed that PT is an active and rapidly increasing field of research. Themes of the published works encompass the main aspects of its application in clinical practice, such as the comparison with the actual photon-based standard of care technique and the continuing technological advances. This analysis gives an overview of past scientific production and, most importantly, provides a useful point of view on the future directions of the research activities. Full article
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24 pages, 1871 KB  
Article
Public Transport Modeling for Commuting in Cities with Different Development Levels Using Extended Theory of Planned Behavior
by Bircan Arslannur and Ahmet Tortum
Sustainability 2023, 15(15), 11931; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151511931 - 3 Aug 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3763
Abstract
Reducing the use of private vehicles and promoting public transportation (PT) have always been the primary policy objectives of transport authorities. This study aims to model the factors affecting intentions and behaviors of employees to use PT for their commutes by creating an [...] Read more.
Reducing the use of private vehicles and promoting public transportation (PT) have always been the primary policy objectives of transport authorities. This study aims to model the factors affecting intentions and behaviors of employees to use PT for their commutes by creating an extended theory of planned behavior (ETPB). The ETPB model’s applicability was evaluated using the Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Model (PLS-SEM) technique on a total of 2048 employees in three distinct cities. Then, the Multigroup analysis (MGA) method was used to compare various cities, and demographic variables such as age, education, gender, household income, and walking time to nearest PT stop. The analysis revealed that attitude, perceived norm, and personal agency have a statistically positive influence on employees’ intention to use PT. Moreover, behavioral capability, intention, and habit have a positive effect on PT use, whereas environmental constraints have a negative effect. The results of the MGA analysis revealed significant differences between regions, particularly in terms of environmental factors, intention, and habit. Similarly, the article describes disparities that have emerged according to other demographic variables. The findings imply that interventions by decision makers have the potential to alter the mode of transportation chosen for commuting. Full article
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10 pages, 2555 KB  
Case Report
Artificial Intelligence-Based Hyper Accuracy Three-Dimensional (HA3D®) Models in Surgical Planning of Challenging Robotic Nephron-Sparing Surgery: A Case Report and Snapshot of the State-of-the-Art with Possible Future Implications
by Michele Di Dio, Simona Barbuto, Claudio Bisegna, Andrea Bellin, Mario Boccia, Daniele Amparore, Paolo Verri, Giovanni Busacca, Michele Sica, Sabrina De Cillis, Federico Piramide, Vincenzo Zaccone, Alberto Piana, Stefano Alba, Gabriele Volpi, Cristian Fiori, Francesco Porpiglia and Enrico Checcucci
Diagnostics 2023, 13(14), 2320; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics13142320 - 10 Jul 2023
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3173
Abstract
Recently, 3D models (3DM) gained popularity in urology, especially in nephron-sparing interventions (NSI). Up to now, the application of artificial intelligence (AI) techniques alone does not allow us to obtain a 3DM adequate to plan a robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN). Integration of AI [...] Read more.
Recently, 3D models (3DM) gained popularity in urology, especially in nephron-sparing interventions (NSI). Up to now, the application of artificial intelligence (AI) techniques alone does not allow us to obtain a 3DM adequate to plan a robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN). Integration of AI with computer vision algorithms seems promising as it allows to speed up the process. Herein, we present a 3DM realized with the integration of AI and a computer vision approach (CVA), displaying the utility of AI-based Hyper Accuracy Three-dimensional (HA3D®) models in preoperative planning and intraoperative decision-making process of challenging robotic NSI. A 54-year-old Caucasian female with no past medical history was referred to the urologist for incidental detection of the right renal mass. Preoperative contrast-enhanced abdominal CT confirmed a 35 × 25 mm lesion on the anterior surface of the upper pole (PADUA 7), with no signs of distant metastasis. CT images in DICOM format were processed to obtain a HA3D® model. RAPN was performed using Da Vinci Xi surgical system in a three-arm configuration. The enucleation strategy was achieved after selective clamping of the tumor-feeding artery. Overall operative time was 85 min (14 min of warm ischemia time). No intra-, peri- and post-operative complications were recorded. Histopathological examination revealed a ccRCC (stage pT1aNxMx). AI is breaking new ground in medical image analysis panorama, with enormous potential in organ/tissue classification and segmentation, thus obtaining 3DM automatically and repetitively. Realized with the integration of AI and CVA, the results of our 3DM were accurate as demonstrated during NSI, proving the potentialities of this approach for HA3D® models’ reconstruction. Full article
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