Design and Implementation of a Video-Frame Localization System for a Drifting Camera-Based Sewer Inspection System.

To reduce the cost of inspecting old sewer pipes, we have been developing a low-cost sewer inspection system that uses drifting wireless cameras to record videos of the interior of a sewer pipe while drifting. The video's data are transmitted to access points placed in utility holes and further transmitted to a video server where each video frame is linked to its capturing position so that users can identify the damaged areas. However, in small-diameter sewer pipes, locating drifting nodes over the full extent of the pipeline using Wi-Fi-based localization is difficult due to the limited reach of radio waves. In addition, there is the unavailability of a GNSS signal. We propose a function to link each video frame to a position based on linear interpolation using landmarks detected by the camera and image processing. Experiments for testing the accuracy of the localization in an underground sewer pipe showed that all utility holes were successfully detected as landmarks, and the maximum location estimation accuracy was less than 11.5% of the maximum interval of landmarks.

Clinical significance of unfavorable findings in intermediate-risk prostate cancer patients for predicting treatment outcomes after contemporary, dose-escalated multimodal radiotherapy.

PURPOSE: Few studies have documented the long-term oncological outcomes of favorable and unfavorable intermediate-risk (IR) prostate cancer patients treated via contemporary high-dose irradiation. We analyzed the ultimate clinical outcomes of such patients using the current risk sub-stratification schema. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We included 693 patients with localized IR prostate cancer treated via low-dose-rate brachytherapy (LDR-BT) with or without external beam radiation (EBRT) and with or without androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) in a single institution. Treatment outcomes (biochemical recurrence-free survival [BCRFS] and clinical progression-free survival [CPFS]) were compared according to the numbers of unfavorable findings. RESULTS: Out of the 693 IR patients, 292 (42.1%) exhibited favorable disease; the remaining 401 (57.9%) exhibited unfavorable disease. Compared with favorable IR status, unfavorable IR status was associated with shorter BCRFS and CPFS (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). Patients with two to three unfavorable factors experienced the worst oncological outcomes (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001). Although patients with one or no unfavorable factors responded similarly to LDR-BT monotherapy, this treatment modality was insufficient for preventing biochemical and clinical progression in patients with multiple unfavorable findings. CONCLUSION: Long-term treatment outcomes indicate that patients with IR disease scheduled for LDR-BT should undergo multimodal irradiation if they exhibit two or more unfavorable factors at diagnosis.

Trimodal therapy with high-dose-rate brachytherapy and hypofractionated external beam radiation combined with long-term androgen deprivation for unfavorable-risk prostate cancer.

PURPOSE: To assess the outcomes of high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy and hypofractionated external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) combined with long-term androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) in very-high-risk (VHR) versus high-risk (HR) prostate cancer (PCa), as defined in the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) criteria. METHODS: Data from 338 consecutive HR or VHR PCa patients who had undergone this tri-modal therapy between 2005 and 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. Biochemical recurrence (BCR)-free, progression-free, overall, and cancer-specific survival (BCRFS/PFS/OS/CSS) rates were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method and Wilcoxon test. Cox regression models were used to evaluate candidate prognostic factors for survival. C­indexes were used to assess model discrimination. RESULTS: Within a median follow-up of 84 months, 68 patients experienced BCR, 58 had disease progression including only 3 with local progression, 27 died of any cause, and 2 died from PCa. The 5­year BCRFS, PFS, OS, and CSS rates were 82.2% (HR 86.5%; VHR 70.0%), 90.0% (HR 94.3%; VHR 77.6%), 95.7% (HR, 97.1%; VHR, 91.8%), and 99.6% (HR, 100%; VHR, 98.0%), respectively. In multivariable analyses that adjusted for standard clinicopathologic features, the risk subclassification was associated both PFS and OS (p = 0.0003 and 0.001, respectively). Adding the risk subclassification improved the accuracy of models in predicting BCRFS, PFS, and OS. CONCLUSION: While the outcome of this trimodal approach appears favorable, VHR PCa patients had significantly worse oncological outcomes than those with HR PCa. The NCCN risk subclassification should be integrated into prognostic tools to guide risk stratification, treatment, and follow-up for unfavorable PCa patients receiving this trimodal therapy.

Abscopal effect of radiation on multiple lung metastases of lung adenocarcinoma: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Abscopal effect is the out-of-field response to localized irradiation therapy that results in systemic antitumorigenic effects such as the regression of a tumor distant from the target site. CASE PRESENTATION: A 76-year-old woman was diagnosed with pulmonary adenocarcinoma (cT1bN0M0 stage IA), and right upper lobectomy was performed in November 2015. The pathological stage was pT1bN2M0 stage IIIA. Genomic analysis revealed an EGFR mutation. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed a programmed death-ligand 1 tumor proportion score of < 1%. The patient was under watchful observation without adjuvant chemotherapy. Multiple mediastinal and right hilar lymph node metastases were found in February 2018. Radiation therapy at a total dose of 60.0 Gy distributed in 30 fractions was performed over a period of 6 weeks. A computed tomography (CT) scan performed 6 weeks after irradiation therapy showed a reduction in lymph node metastases. However, left hilar and right supraclavicular lymph node metastases and multiple pulmonary metastases were newly observed outside of the irradiation field. A CT scan performed 6 weeks later showed a dramatic complete disappearance of the previously observed pulmonary metastases. No chemotherapy was administered during the period. CONCLUSION: This was a case of abscopal effect: irradiation of the mediastinum resulted in the disappearance of multiple pulmonary metastases in both lungs.

Efficacy of intensity-modulated radiation therapy for optic nerve sheath meningioma.

PURPOSE: The present study examined the efficacy and complications associated with intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) for optic nerve sheath meningioma (ONSM) in 15 cases and compared visual function before and after treatment. METHODS: Consecutively diagnosed patients with ONSM treated with IMRT were evaluated from 2012 to 2017. We categorized ONSM with three growth patterns (diffuse, fusiform, or globular). Visual acuity, visual fields, and optic disc findings were assessed before and after IMRT. Ocular and systemic complications were evaluated during and after treatment. RESULTS: The 15 patients selected for analysis ranged in age from 33 to 77 years. Post-treatment observation periods were 8 to 57 months. After IMRT, tumor enlargement was not detected in any eyes, and tumor reduction was seen in 2 eyes. At final post-treatment follow-up, eyes with fusiform and globular growth maintained better visual acuity compared with pre-treatment, whereas 2 of 5 eyes with diffuse growth showed reduced vision. Five eyes with no apparent optic disc abnormality maintained better visual acuity compared with pre-treatment, whereas 8 of 10 eyes with disc edema and atrophy remained stable or showed reduced vision. Improvements were seen in all 5 eyes with optic discs negative for pre-treatment abnormalities. Final post-treatment visual field abnormalities improved in 11 eyes. All adverse events identified during IMRT improved rapidly during the treatment period. CONCLUSION: IMRT for the treatment of ONSM achieved improvement and preserved visual function. In particular, early treatment with IMRT before the appearance of optic disc abnormalities can be more effective for improving visual function.

The impact of multidisciplinary approaches on the outcomes of olfactory neuroblastoma treated with postoperative radiotherapy.

BACKGROUND: We investigated the outcomes of postoperative radiation therapy for olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB) and our cross-departmental collaboration to enhance the effectiveness of cancer treatment. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 22 patients with ONB who underwent postoperative radiotherapy after tumor resection. En bloc resection was performed; pathology specimens were prepared in coronal sections; and irradiation fields were determined after discussion with radiation oncologists, head and neck surgeons, and pathologists. RESULTS: The overall survival and local control rates were 95.5% and 100%, respectively, at a median 37-month follow-up. The 3- and 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) rates were 64.4% and 56.3%, respectively. Of the 22 patients, 9 (8 Kadish C and 1 Kadish B) had disease recurrence. Of the nine patients, five had positive margins and two had closed margins; cervical lymph node recurrence occurred in six, and distant metastasis with or without cervical lymph node recurrence occurred in three. DFS analysis of risk factors showed no statistically significant differences, but positive margins were a significant recurrence factor in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The local control rate of ONB treated with postoperative radiation therapy was 100%. This may be attributed to cross-departmental cooperation between head and neck surgeons, pathologists, and radiation oncologists, which resulted in accurate matching of CT images for treatment planning with the location of the tumor and positive margins. Longer follow-up periods are required to evaluate the effectiveness of our strategy.

Life-Shortening Effect of Chronic Low-Dose-Rate Irradiation in Calorie-Restricted Mice.

Calorie restriction is known to influence several physiological processes and to alleviate the late effects of radiation exposure such as neoplasm induction and life shortening. However, earlier related studies were limited to acute radiation exposure. Therefore, in this study we examined the influence of chronic low-dose-rate irradiation on lifespan. Young male B6C3F1/Jcl mice were divided randomly into two groups, which were fed either a low-calorie (65 kcal/ week) or high-calorie (95 kcal/week) diet. The latter is comparable to ad libitum feeding. The animals in the irradiated group were continuously exposed to gamma rays for 400 days at 20 mGy/day, resulting in a total dose of 8 Gy. Exposure and calorie restriction were initiated at 8 weeks of age and the diets were maintained for life. The life-shortening effects from chronic whole-body irradiation were compared between the groups. Body weights were reduced in calorie-restricted mice irrespective of radiation treatment. Radiation induced a shortened median lifespan in both groups, but to a greater extent in the calorie-restricted mice. These results suggest that calorie restriction may sensitize mice to chronic low-dose-rate radiation exposure to produce a life-shortening effect rather than alleviating the effects of radiation.

Alteration of development and gene expression induced by in ovo-nanoinjection of 3-hydroxybenzo[c]phenanthrene into Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) embryos.

Benzo[c]phenanthrene (BcP) is a highly toxic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs) found throughout the environment. In fish, it is metabolized to 3-hydroxybenzo[c]phenanthrene (3-OHBcP). In the present study, we observed the effects of 1nM 3-OHBcP on the development and gene expression of Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) embryos. Embryos were nanoinjected with the chemical after fertilization. Survival, developmental stage, and heart rate of the embryos were observed, and gene expression differences were quantified by messenger RNA sequencing (mRNA-Seq). The exposure to 1nM 3-OHBcP accelerated the development of medaka embryos on the 1st, 4th, and 6th days post fertilization (dpf), and increased heart rates significantly on the 5th dpf. Physical development differences of exposed medaka embryos were consistent with the gene expression profiles of the mRNA-Seq results for the 3rd dpf, which show that the expression of 780 genes differed significantly between the solvent control and 1nM 3-OHBcP exposure groups. The obvious expression changes in the exposure group were found for genes involved in organ formation (eye, muscle, heart), energy supply (ATPase and ATP synthase), and stress-response (heat shock protein genes). The acceleration of development and increased heart rate, which were consistent with the changes in mRNA expression, suggested that 3-OHBcP affects the development of medaka embryos. The observation on the developmental stages and heart beat, in ovo-nanoinjection and mRNA-Seq may be efficient tools to evaluate the effects of chemicals on embryos.

Variability of treatment planning of seed implantation: A Japanese multicenter simulation study.

PURPOSE: This multicenter study was conducted to evaluate the current variability of treatment planning of seed implantation in Japanese centers and the feasibility of two virtual trials. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Two types of contour data were sent to 12 radiation oncologists with a request letter that asked them to make treatment plans on the data in the same manner as in their own practice. Five of the 12 radiation oncologists were asked to participate in the two virtual trials in which the D90 (dose to the hottest 90% of prostate volume) was 1) required to be set at just 180 Gy and 2) increased as much as possible without violating other limitations. RESULTS: A relatively high dose with a small deviation was irradiated to the prostate in Japanese centers (mean D90 = 188 Gy; SD = 10 Gy). In the virtual trials, all five physicians could achieve 180 Gy for the D90 with a very small deviation, although the urethral dose showed relatively large deviations. Dose escalation without increase of urethral dose or V150 was difficult, although the rectum could be spared by most of the physicians. CONCLUSION: Our study showed a relatively high dose with a small deviation was prescribed to the prostate in Japanese centers. Consolidated protocols such as D90 = 180 Gy could be available for future trials. Meanwhile, our study suggested that some cautions might be needed for urethral dose and the V150, even when a relatively low D90 was requested.