Trends in radiation dose for low grade gliomas across the United States

Journal of Neuro-Oncology - Adjuvant radiation is often used in patients with low grade gliomas with high-risk characteristics with a recommended dose of 45–54 Gy. We used the...     

Non-linear Wave Propagation and Safety Standards for Diagnostic Ultrasound Devices

Safety standards for clinical diagnostic ultrasonic devices were developed for use in relatively low-frequency systems (1–10 MHz), under the assumption that non-linear effects would be negligible. This article reviews ways in which neglecting non-linear wave propagation affects the measurements and calculations required to comply with safety standards and U.S. Food and Drug Administration guidance that recognizes these standards. An attempt is made to evaluate whether ignoring non-linear effects could result in significant error in the exposure quantities defined in these standards at either low or high frequencies, based on published literature. This article maintains that although non-linear effects have been considered in some parts of safety standards related to hydrophone requirements, the coverage is inadequate, especially for modern equipment with high working frequencies. A new approach is required to assess the magnitude of thermal heating for recently developed high-frequency systems to incorporate non-linear effects. In contrast, the current approach for evaluating the risk of cavitation can be used after appropriate modifications.     

Developing a national undergraduate standardized curriculum for future healthcare professionals on “Making Every Contact Count” for chronic disease prevention in the Republic of Ireland

ABSTRACT

This report describes the development of the first national undergraduate interprofessional standardized curriculum in chronic disease prevention for healthcare professionals in the Republic of Ireland. This project brought together for the first time all higher education institutions nationwide in a novel collaboration with the national health service i.e. the Health Service Executive (HSE), to develop a standardized national curriculum for undergraduate health care professions. The curriculum sits within the framework of Making Every Contact Count, the goal of which is to re-orientate health services to embed the ethos of prevention through lifestyle behavior change as part of the routine care of health professionals. The core focus of Making Every Contact Count is chronic disease prevention, targeting four main lifestyle risk factors for chronic disease; tobacco use, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity and unhealthy eating. Making Every Contact Count is a key component of Healthy Ireland, the Irish national framework for health and wellbeing. The aim of the curriculum is to prepare newly qualified health professionals with the skills needed to support patients to achieve lifestyle behavior change delivered as part of routine clinical care.