Dosimetria Física e Controle de Qualidade em Radioterapia

Radiotherapy is a multidisciplinary speciality which uses complex equipment and radiation sources for delivery of treatment, using high-energy ionizing radiation to treat cancer at several stages of complexity. Since radiation therapy is a technique which involves a precalculated radiation dose, it shall be established quality assurance programs that provide an efficient and safety treatment. The International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements (ICRU) report No. 50 has recommended dose uniformity between 5% of the prescribed dose throughout the region of interest. This is one of the most primordial points that justify the importance of a suitable attendance of the equipments quality and performance. For quality control, the medical physicist will be involved with establishing and running a Quality Control Program (QCP). He must adapt or develop the procedures of equipment acceptance and commissioning, besides verifying the use of principles and accepted protocols of national and international reports to assure the correct quality, quantity, and placement of radiation during the performance of a radiological procedure, establishing adequate protocols to ensure accurate patient dosimetry. This present work consists of a description of the activities carried through the Sectors of Radiation Therapy of the Hospital of Clinics of the Campinas State University (Unicamp), particularly in the implementation of the Quality Control Program

Controle de qualidade em radioterapia: dosimetria de fótons em acelerador linear – Mevatron MXT

The treatment of a tumor with ionizing radiation is an ongoing process with well differentiated stages. These ones include the tumor diagnosis and location, the decision on the treatment strategy, the absorbed dose planning and calculation, the treatment administration, the absorbed dose verification and the evaluation of results in short and long terms. The quality of a radiotherapy procedure is closely linked to factors that may be classified as clinical, such as the diagnosis, the tumor location, the treatment strategy chosen and the continuous treatment reassessment; dosimetric or physical, such as the uncertainty in the dose calculation, its optimization and verification, the suitability of the equipment to provide a radiation beam consistent with the treatment planning; finally, others which are related to the practical application of radiotherapy treatment and the handling of the patient. In order to analyze the radiotherapy quality, one should realize that the three aspects (medical, physical or dosimetric and practical application) should be considered in a combined way. This means that numerous actions of the radiotherapists, medical physicists and technicians in radiotherapy should be held jointly and their knowledge level will significantly affect the treatment quality. In this study, the main physical parameters used in dosimetry are defined as well as determined experimentally for a linear accelerator Mevatron - MXT. With this, it is intended to provide recommendations for the physical aspects of Quality Assurance (QA) in the radiotherapy treatments, and these will usually be applied by professionals in Medical Physics. In addition to these instructions, it is recommended that additional texts are prepared to address in detail the clinical aspects of the treatments QA

Comparação entre metodologias de controle de qualidade em mamografia digital

The best way to detect breast cancer is by screening mammography. The mammography equipments are dedicated and require a rigorous quality control in order to have a good quality image and to early detect this disease. The digital equipment is relatively new in the market and there isn’t a national rule for quality control for several types of digital detectors. This study has proposed to compare two different tests manuals for quality control provided by the manufacturers of digital mammography equipments, and also compare them to the “European guidelines for quality assurance in breast cancer screening and diagnosis “(2006). The studied equipments were: Senographe 2000D from General Electric (GE) and the Hologic Selenia Lorad. Both were digital mammography equipments, the GE unit presents an indirect digital system and the other presents a direct digital system. Physical parameters of the image have been studied, such as spatial resolution, contrast resolution, noise, signal-tonoise ratio, contrast-to-noise ratio and modulation transfer function. After that, a study of the importance of quality control and the requirement to implement a Quality Assurance Program has been done. One data collection was done to compare those manual, it was done by checking which tests are indicated and the minimum frequency which they should be conducted in accordance with each manufacturer. The tests were performed by different methodologies and the results were compared. The examined tests were: the breast entrance skin dose, mean glandular dose, contrast-to-noise ratio, signal-to-noise ratio, automatic exposure control and automatic control of density, modulation transfer function, equipment resolution, homogeneity and ghost

Processamento e qualidade higiênico-sanitária do pescado: se tiver subtitulo

The fishery products are sources of protein of high biological value and an important component in a balanced diet. However, they are highly subject to deterioration, which represents a serious risk to public health. Thus, rigorous methods are needed for quality assurance of fish in all stages of the production chain. Traditionally, the Brazilian population does not have the habit of eating fish, although the country presents a great potential for aquaculture, which is underexploited. The consumption of fish is limited by socio-economic factors. Currently, the search for food security is a global trend. Thus, it is necessary to change the profile of the consumer, by offering a competitive and safe food. In this paper, we address issues related to quality, hygiene and health of fish

Estudo para determinação da kVp em equipamentos de raios X convencional

The quality assurance control program (QACP) in clinical radiology is very important to acquire, image quality, patient dose reduction and cost for the institution. The verification of the real tension on the x ray tube, it is one of many parameters that may be determined on a QACP. This act on image quality as absorbed dose in patient. Once proved the importance of this fact, this study come up with the determination of tension to any X ray tube used on medical routine, on quick, safe and low cost manner. To reach the aim of this study, the methodology consisted on measuring expose rates (ER) using different thicknesses of copper (Cu) plates like filters and relating these results with Half Layer Value (HLV). Afterwards, the HLV was associated to real tension that was acquired with kilo voltage of peak (kVp) measurers used on clinical routine. So walking in this path, when performed the ER, on any X ray tube, it’s possible acquire the HLV and consequently the real kVp, considering measures obtained before, on the methodology of kVp estimative development

Implantação da ISO 9001:2008: estudo de caso em empresado setor de construção civil

In Brazil , the construction industry is on an upward trend, mainly by the housing shortage , and yet there are few builders that take a Quality Management System ( QMS ) to improve the quality of its services and processes . The ISO 9001 standards are guidelines for an effective QMS and this certificate is recognized worldwide as a seal of quality standard. This paper will describe and analyze the implementation of a QMS in a small construction company of Guaratinguetá - SP, identifying best practices and major difficulties , besides proposing preparatory recommendations for other companies that seek the ISO 9000 certification. Access to company’s data made the nonconformities and the customer satisfaction research analysis possible, and a questionnaire and unstructured interviews allowed a deeper understanding of the situation. Despite this ISO 9000 QMS not being fully implemented, the company has already conquered some improvements in document control, project planning, process traceability and established focus on customer

Controle de qualidade e levantamento radiométrico em aparelho de Raios-X médico convencional

Along with the advance of technology, in terms of the expansion of medical exams that uses the ionizing radiation for diagnosis, there is also the concern about quality control for maintaining quality in radiographic imaging and for delivering low dose to the patient. Based on the Federal Order 453 of the Secretariat of Health Surveillance, which takes account of the practical and justification of individual medical exposures, the optimization of radiological protection, limitation of individual dose, and the prevention of accidents, were done through this paper radiodiagnostic tests on medical equipment in order to accept it or not, according to SVS-453. Along with the help and support of P&R Consulting and Medical Physics Marilia, SP, were made Quality Control and Radiometric Control in equipment from various cities across the state of São Paulo. The equipment discussed in this work is classified as conventional X-ray. According to the Federal Order SVS-453, the quality control in the program of quality assurance should include the following minimum set of constancy tests, with following minimum frequency: biennial tests for representative values of dose given to the patients of radiography and CT performed in the service; annual tests for accuracy of the indicator tube voltage (kVp), accuracy of exposure time, half-value layer, aligning the central axis of the beam of x-ray tube, performance (mGy / mA.min.m²), linearity of the rate of kerma on air with the mAs, reproducibility of the kerma on air rates, reproducibility of the automatic exposure, focal spot size, integrity of accessories and clothing for individual protection; semiannually for collimation system accuracy; weekly for temperature processing system and sensitometry processing system. For the room Radiometric Survey it was done a sketch...(Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Recomendações para criação e gerenciamento de um sistema da qualidade em empresas de autopeças

This paper addresses the difficulties and best practices of a quality system of an automotive parts company. In it will be discussed the features and benefits of the proper use of a system of management and quality assurance. It emphasizes the proper use of tools and methodologies that aim improving the quality of processes and products. It also has some guidance information given by the standards of quality which helps the implementation of the quality system and the standards are important because it attests to the quality of companies. So, this work has as objective to guide the creation and management of the quality system in auto parts companies, which seek an increase in the quality of products and processes, it also helps to certify companies in the current quality standard for the sector, ISO TS 16949, and thus increases the competitiveness of companies in this market. As result, this paper resumes good practices, difficulties and key steps for creating and managing a quality system

Hemoglobin I-Philadelphia [alpha 16 (A14) LYS→GLU] heterozygote among blood donors from Brazil

We describe a heterozygous case of Hb I-Philadelphia [alpha 16 (A14) LYS-->GLU] in a blood donor from the Acre State Blood Bank, in the Brazilian Amazon region. We confirmed the mutation by electrophoretic and chromatographic methods and by DNA sequencing. A literature search showed that this is the first description of this alpha globin mutant in a Brazilian Caucasian group. We also emphasize the importance of the hemoglobin study in blood donors for the purpose of the genetic counseling and quality assurance of the blood to be transfused. Screening tests for hemoglobin mutants are also important for gathering anthropological information about the Brazilian population.

Método de quantificação da capacidade antioxidante total sérica: padronização e validação para espécie ovina

Pós-graduação em Ciência Animal - FMVA

Uso da espectroscopia do infravermelho próximo (NIR) como método não destrutivo para a discriminação de aguardentes de cana-de-açúcar produzidas no Estado de São Paulo e Minas Gerais, e predição do teor de etanol

Pós-graduação em Alimentos e Nutrição - FCFAR

Pilot Studies for Development of an HIV Subtype Panel for Surveillance of Global Diversity

The continued global spread and evolution of HIV diversity pose significant challenges to diagnostics and vaccine strategies. NIAID partnered with the FDA, WRAIR, academia, and industry to form a Viral Panel Working Group to design and prepare a panel of well-characterized current and diverse HIV isolates. Plasma samples that had screened positive for HIV infection and had evidence of recently acquired infection were donated by blood centers in North and South America, Europe, and Africa. A total of 80 plasma samples were tested by quantitative nucleic acid tests, p24 antigen, EIA, and Western blot to assign a Fiebig stage indicative of approximate time from initial infection. Evaluation of viral load using FDA-cleared assays showed excellent concordance when subtype B virus was tested, but lower correlations for subtype C. Plasma samples were cocultivated with phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from normal donors to generate 30 viral isolates (50-80% success rate for samples with viral load >10,000 copies/ml), which were then expanded to 10(7)-10(9) virus copies per ml. Analysis of env sequences showed that sequences derived from cultured PBMCs were not distinguishable from those obtained from the original plasma. The pilot collection includes 30 isolates representing subtypes B, C, B/F, CRF04_cpx, and CRF02_AG. These studies will serve as a basis for the development of a comprehensive panel of highly characterized viral isolates that reflects the current dynamic and complex HIV epidemic, and will be made available through the External Quality Assurance Program Oversight Laboratory (EQAPOL).

The Time-Of-Flight detector of ALICE at LHC: construction, test and commissioning with cosmic rays

The Time-Of-Flight (TOF) detector of ALICE is designed to identify charged particles produced in Pb--Pb collisions at the LHC to address the physics of strongly-interacting matter and the Quark-Gluon Plasma (QGP). The detector is based on the Multigap Resistive Plate Chamber (MRPC) technology which guarantees the excellent performance required for a large time-of-flight array. The construction and installation of the apparatus in the experimental site have been completed and the detector is presently fully operative. All the steps which led to the construction of the TOF detector were strictly followed by a set of quality assurance procedures to enable high and uniform performance and eventually the detector has been commissioned with cosmic rays. This work aims at giving a detailed overview of the ALICE TOF detector, also focusing on the tests performed during the construction phase. The first data-taking experience and the first results obtained with cosmic rays during the commissioning phase are presented as well and allow to confirm the readiness state of the TOF detector for LHC collisions.

Resonanzionisations-Massenspektrometrie mit gepulsten und kontinuierlichen Lasern an Plutonium

Zusammenfassung Zur Weiterentwicklung derResonanzionisations-Massenspektrometrie (RIMS) für dieUltra-Spurenanalyse von Plutonium wurde im Rahmen dieserArbeit eine neue RIMS-Apparatur konzipiert und aufgebaut.Erstmals wurden bei der spektroskopischen Untersuchung vonPlutonium schmalbandige kontinuierliche Laser verwendet. Eswurdenumfangreiche Messreihen durchgeführt, um denResonanzionisationsprozess von Plutonium mit kontinuierlichenLasern zuspezifizieren und möglichst effiziente Anregungsleitern für dieResonanzionisation zu ermitteln. Ein maßgeblicherBestandteil derExperimente war in diesem Zusammenhang die Untersuchung vonautoionisierenden Zuständen. Für die zwei bestenAnregungsleiternwurden Sättigungsintensitäten, Linienbreiten sowieHyperfeinstruktur- und Isotopeneffekte vermessen. Mit denErkenntnissen aus diesen Voruntersuchungen konnten genaueIsotopenverhältnisbestimmungen durchgeführt werden. DieEffizienzdes Gesamtsystems wurde mit Hilfe von synthetischen Probenbestimmt. Alle Messungen wurden wegen der hohen Aktivität undRadiotoxizität von Plutonium mit vergleichsweise geringenTeilchenzahlen durchgeführt. Unterschiedliche Laserionisationsverfahren mit kontinuierlicheroder/und gepulster Laseranregung wurden hinsichtlich ihrerrelativen Effizienz und Selektivität direkt miteinanderverglichen. Weiterhin wurde ein sehr effizientes drei-Stufen, zwei-FarbenAnregungsschema für die gepulste Resonanzionisation vonPlutoniumuntersucht, welches u. a. auf einem Zwei-Photonenübergang ineinenautoionisierenden Zustand beruht. Schließlich wurden mit demetablierten RIMS-Verfahren eine Vielzahl von Umweltmessungendurchgeführt und es wurde an der Weiterentwicklung und derQualitätssicherung des Verfahrens gearbeitet.

Performance evaluation of detectors for digital radiography

To date the hospital radiological workflow is completing a transition from analog to digital technology. Since the X-rays digital detection technologies have become mature, hospitals are trading on the natural devices turnover to replace the conventional screen film devices with digital ones. The transition process is complex and involves not just the equipment replacement but also new arrangements for image transmission, display (and reporting) and storage. This work is focused on 2D digital detector’s characterization with a concern to specific clinical application; the systems features linked to the image quality are analyzed to assess the clinical performances, the conversion efficiency, and the minimum dose necessary to get an acceptable image. The first section overviews the digital detector technologies focusing on the recent and promising technological developments. The second section contains a description of the characterization methods considered in this thesis categorized in physical, psychophysical and clinical; theory, models and procedures are described as well. The third section contains a set of characterizations performed on new equipments that appears to be some of the most advanced technologies available to date. The fourth section deals with some procedures and schemes employed for quality assurance programs.