Technology and Health Care - Volume 30, issue 6

Authors: He, Dong-Cheng | Zhu, Zhi-Jian | Zhang, Xiao-Ye | Zhang, Yan | Hong, Jun | Shi, Ting-Ting | Han, Ji-Hua

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer is a common gynecological cancer among women worldwide. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of 6 MV and 10 MV volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) photon beams on the target volume (TV) planning and critical organs in cases of cervical cancer. METHODS: Fifty patients with carcinoma of the cervix who underwent radiotherapy were selected. The transverse diameter (T) of the cross section of the upper edge of the sacroiliac joint on computerized tomography (CT) images of the patients was measured, and the mean value was calculated as 34 cm. All patients were divided into two …groups: Group A (T < 34 cm) and Group B (T > 34 cm). The VMAT plans were generated using 6 MV and 10 MV plans separately. The prescription dose was 47.5 Gy, and the daily dose was 1.9 Gy. RESULTS: In Group A, the planning target volume (PTV) dose assessment parameters of 6 MV and 10 MV plans and their homogeneity and conformity indices were not statistically significantly different. A significant difference was observed between the 6 MV and 10 MV plans for the PTV dose assessment parameters and the homogeneity index of the plans for Group B. The monitor units (MUs) of the 10 MV plans were lower than in the 6 MV plans in both Groups A and B, and the difference was statistically significant. The assessment parameter V 40 Gy of both the rectum and bladder in the 6 MV plans was smaller than the corresponding parameter in the 10 MV plans in Group A; in Group B, the assessment parameter V 50 Gy of the rectum in the 10 MV plans was smaller than in the 6 MV plans. CONCLUSION: When T < 34 cm, 6 MV energy is more suitable for the external irradiation of cervical cancer. When T > 34 cm, 10 MV energy is more suitable for cervical cancer radiotherapy. Therefore, 10 MV should be considered for patients with a large abdominal size. Show more

Keywords: Volumetric-modulated arc therapy, cervical cancer, transverse diameter, 6 MV, 10 MV

DOI: 10.3233/THC-213617

Citation: Technology and Health Care, vol. 30, no. 6, pp. 1515-1523, 2022

Authors: Fu, Wen-Sheng | Song, Yi-Cun | Wu, Bao-Ai | Qu, Chen-Huan | Zhao, Jin-Feng

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Children with cerebral palsy (CP) have disorders of posture and movement and which can limit physical activities such as walking OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) combined with robot-assisted gait training (RAGT) on walking ability in children with CP and clarify the most effective degree of weight reduction. METHODS: Sixty CP children were recruited and randomly allocated into four different groups. The control group received conventional physical therapy (n = 15), and task groups performed VR combined with RAGT with 15% (Group A, …n = 15) /30% (Group B, n = 15) /45% (Group C, n = 15) weight loss. All participants were given 50 min of therapy per session four times a week for 12 weeks and were assessed pre-and post-test with the surface electromyography (EMG), the Modified Ashworth Scale, the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) dimension E and D, and Six-Minute Walking Test (6-MWT). RESULTS: All indicators had improved significantly in each group after the intervention (P < 0.05). The result of our study demonstrated that the more effective impacts of VR combined with RAGT on walking ability compared to the control group (P < 0.05), and 30% of weight loss had the best improvement in CP children (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: VR combined RAGT can effectively improve walking ability in children with CP, especially when the weight loss is 30%. Show more

Keywords: Virtual reality, robot-assisted gait, cerebral palsy, walking ability

DOI: 10.3233/THC-212821

Citation: Technology and Health Care, vol. 30, no. 6, pp. 1525-1533, 2022

Authors: Owida, Hamza Abu | Al-Nabulsi, Jamal | Ma’touq, Jumana | Al-Naami, Bassam | Alnaimat, Feras

Article Type: Short Communication

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Drawing blood from the fingertips for glucose testing is painful and likely to cause tissue damage over time. Earlobes are an alternative site for glucose measurement. OBJECTIVE: This work aims to validate the earlobe as an alternate test site for blood glucose testing by demonstrating valid and reliable statistically significant differences between the earlobes and standard reference sites. METHODS: Blood glucose concentrations from 50 volunteers were measured and statistically analysed from the reference sites (forearm and fingertip) and earlobe. The analysis included: 1) one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), 2) regression analysis, 3) …Bland Altman analysis, and 4) Clarke Error Grid analysis. RESULTS: The results indicated that there is no statistically significant difference between the three blood glucose-testing methods. For the forearm-earlobe and fingertip-earlobe, all measurements were grouped around the mean of 3.7 ± 1.96 SD and 2.96± 1.96 SD, respectively. Error grid analysis showed > 97% of all earlobe and references measurements fell in Zones A and B and were in the clinically acceptable level. CONCLUSIONS: The results have shown that the earlobe is a valid substitute for blood glucose measurements. Show more

Keywords: Blood glucose testing, earlobe, fingertip, forearm, descriptive statistical analyses

DOI: 10.3233/THC-220033

Citation: Technology and Health Care, vol. 30, no. 6, pp. 1535-1541, 2022