[Implementation of the dematerialization of the patient file in the context of COVID in the ONCORAD radiotherapy units: Transition to "paperless"]. / Mise en place de la dématérialisation du dossier patient dans un contexte de COVID dans les services de radiothérapie de l'ONCORAD : passage « au sans papier ¼.

Paper patient file sharing has clearly been identified as a risk behavior for the COVID-19 virus transmission in radiotherapy units. In order to overcome this, the ONCORAD radiotherapy units worked on total dematerialization of the paper patient file, within 3 weeks. The methodology is based on a quality approch. This work has led to a convincing improvement in the management of risks a priori and a smoother patient care workflow.

Effects of S 38093, an antagonist/inverse agonist of histamine H3 receptors, in models of neuropathic pain in rats.

BACKGROUND: Histamine H3 receptors are mainly expressed on CNS neurons, particularly along the nociceptive pathways. The potential involvement of these receptors in pain processing has been suggested using H3 receptor inverse agonists. METHODS: The antinociceptive effect of S 38093, a novel inverse agonist of H3 receptors, has been evaluated in several neuropathic pain models in rat and compared with those of gabapentin and pregabalin. RESULTS: While S 38093 did not change vocalization thresholds to paw pressure in healthy rats, it exhibited a significant antihyperalgesic effect in the Streptozocin-induced diabetic (STZ) neuropathy model after acute and chronic administration and, in the chronic constriction injury (CCI) model only after chronic administration, submitted to the paw-pressure test. Acute S 38093 administration at all doses tested displayed a significant cold antiallodynic effect in a model of acute or repeated administration of oxaliplatin-induced neuropathy submitted to cold tail immersion, cold allodynia being the main side effect of oxaliplatin in patients. The effect of S 38093 increased following chronic administration (i.e. twice a day during 5 days) in the CCI and STZ models except in the oxaliplatin models where its effect was already maximal from the first administration The kinetics and size of effect of S 38093 were similar to gabapentin and/or pregabalin. Finally, the antinociceptive effect of S 38093 could be partially mediated by α2 adrenoreceptors desensitization in the locus coeruleus. CONCLUSIONS: These results highlight the interest of S 38093 to relieve neuropathic pain and warrant clinical trials especially in chemotherapeutic agent-induced neuropathic pain. SIGNIFICANCE: S 38093, a new H3 antagonist/inverse agonist, displays antiallodynic and antihyperalgesic effect in neuropathic pain, especially in oxaliplatin-induced neuropathy after chronic administration. This effect of S 38093 in neuropathic pain could be partly mediated by α2 receptors desensitization in the locus coeruleus.

In-vivo dosimetry for field sizes down to 6 × 6 mm2 in shaped beam radiosurgery with microMOSFET.

The aim of this study is to evaluate microMOSFET as in-vivo dosimeter in 6 MV shaped-beam radiosurgery for field sizes down to 6 × 6 mm2. A homemade build-up cap was developed and its use with microMOSFET was evaluated down to 6 × 6 mm2. The study with the homemade build-up cap was performed considering its influence on field size over-cover occurring at surface, achievement of the overall process of electronic equilibrium, dose deposition along beam axis and dose attenuation. An optimized calibration method has been validated using MOSFET in shaped-beam radiosurgery for field sizes from 98 × 98 down to 18 × 18 mm2. The method was detailed in a previous study and validated in irregular field shapes series measurements performed on a head phantom. The optimized calibration method was applied to microMOSFET equipped with homemade build-up cap down to 6 × 6 mm2. Using the same irregular field shapes, dose measurements were performed on head phantom. MicroMOSFET results were compared to previous MOSFET ones. Additional irregular field shapes down to 8.8 × 8.8 mm2 were studied with microMOSFET. Isocenter dose attenuation due to the homemade build-up cap over the microMOSFET was near 2% irrespective of field size. Our results suggested that microMOSFET equipped with homemade build-up cap is suitable for in-vivo dosimetry in shaped-beam radiosurgery for field sizes down to 6 × 6 mm2 and therefore that the required build-up cap dimensions to perform entrance in-vivo dosimetry in small-fields have to ensure only partial charge particle equilibrium.

An optimized calibration method for surface measurements with MOSFETs in shaped-beam radiosurgery.

Nowadays MOSFET dosimeters are widely used for dose verification in radiotherapy procedures. Although their sensitive area satisfies size requirements for small field dosimetry, their use in radiosurgery has rarely been reported. The aim of this study is to propose and optimize a calibration method to perform surface measurements in 6 MV shaped-beam radiosurgery for field sizes down to 18 × 18 mm(2). The effect of different parameters such as recovery time between 2 readings, batch uniformity and build-up cap attenuation was studied. Batch uniformity was found to be within 2% and isocenter dose attenuation due to the build-up cap over the MOSFET was near 2% irrespective of field size. Two sets of sensitivity coefficients (SC) were determined for TN-502RD MOSFET dosimeters using experimental and calculated calibration; the latter being developed using an inverse square law model. Validation measurements were performed on a realistic head phantom in irregular fields. MOSFET dose values obtained by applying either measured or calculated SC were compared. For calibration, optimal results were obtained for an inter-measurement time lapse of 5 min. We also found that fitting the SC values with the inverse square law reduced the number of measurements required for calibration. The study demonstrated that combining inverse square law and Sterling-Worthley formula resulted in an underestimation of up to 4% of the dose measured by MOSFETs for complex beam geometries. With the inverse square law, it is possible to reduce the number of measurements required for calibration for multiple field-SSD combinations. Our results suggested that MOSFETs are suitable sensors for dosimetry when used at the surface in shaped-beam radiosurgery down to 18 × 18 mm(2).

Interest in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery among otorhinolaryngologists: a survey in The Netherlands.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the interest of Dutch otorhinolaryngologists in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery (FPRS). METHODS: We conducted a 22-question survey among otorhinolaryngology physicians and residents concerning their experience with and interest in FPRS. The response rate was 71% (335/475; 275 physicians and 60 residents). RESULTS: Most respondents associated FPRS with rhinoplasty, otoplasty, and the reconstruction of skin cancer defects. Of the physicians, 81% said that 1% to 33% of their practice involves FPRS; 62% were satisfied with this percentage, whereas 36% would like it to be higher. Approximately 70% of physicians regarded their training in FPRS as insufficient, although most (70%) had taken supplementary courses. Moreover, 73% of the otorhinolaryngology physicians and 72% of all respondents said that FPRS should be taught during and after residency, with a preference for hands-on courses. Finally, 84% of all respondents thought that FPRS should be part of the field of otorhinolaryngology, whereas 48% thought that it should become a subspecialty. CONCLUSION: There is interest in integrating FPRS training into the Dutch otorhinolaryngology residency program, as it is in the United States.

European Community research on environmental mutagenesis and carcinogenesis.

Within the 12 Member States of the European Community (EC), environmental policy is now formulated primarily at Community level. As a result, the EC has important regulatory responsibilities for the protection of workers, consumers, and the general public from risks that may arise from environmental chemicals, foremost among them potential carcinogens and mutagens. An important part of EC environmental research and development is intended to provide a scientific basis for these regulations as well as increasing understanding of the basic mechanisms involved in environmental carcinogenesis and mutagenesis. This paper contains a brief introduction to EC environment policy and research, followed by an overview of EC chemicals control activities that are of particular relevance to the research and development program. Community-level research on environmental mutagenesis and carcinogenesis is then reviewed in some detail, including the achievements of recent projects, the scientific content of the current program, and perspectives for the future.

The detection and assessment of the aneugenic potential of environmental chemicals: the European Community Aneuploidy Project.

Within the framework of its' Environment Research and Development Programme, the European Communities (EC) Directorate General (DG) XII has supported a research project aimed at developing and validating assay systems for the detection and evaluation of chemicals capable of inducing numerical chromosome changes such as aneuploidy and polyploidy. A range of test chemicals were selected, which include a core set comprising; colchicine, econazole nitrate, chloral hydrate, hydroquinone, diazepam, thiabendazole, cadmium chloride, thimerosol, pyrimethamine and vinblastine sulphate. These test chemicals were used to evaluate the ability of test systems ranging from tubulin polymerisation, fungal cultures, cultured mammalian cells and intact rodents to detect chemical aneugens and to assess the significance of such activity to exposed human populations.