AIMS This study presents and evaluates the impact of a new lowest-dose fluoroscopy protocol (Siemens AG), especially designed for electrophysiology (EP) procedures, on X-ray dose levels. METHODS AND RESULTS From October 2014 to March 2015, 140 patients underwent an EP study on an Artis zee angiography system. The standard low-dose protocol was operated at 23 nGy (fluoroscopy) and at 120 nGy (...

Epidemiological studies on cancer morbidity/mortality from low-dose radiation sometimes produce apparently statistically significant findings. The degrees of significance, however, are often quite low, and the results are possibly confounded by effects, such as lifestyle-related factors, which may have a strong impact on cancer morbidity/mortality and thus result in false-positives. Here, we di...

More than 400 breast patients (primarily symptomatic) have been examined with ultrasound alone and in combination with low-dose mammography. Symptomatic pregnant women and young patients with palpable masses were examined with ultrasound alone. In young, dense breasts, ultrasound was found to surpass mammography in the differential diagnosis of both cystic and solid masses. In older patients, t...

PURPOSE This study investigated the effect of an eight-week community-based strength and balance exercise group for children with cerebral palsy (CP). METHOD Ten children with CP participated in the study (8-15 years; six male; GMFCS I = 6, II = 4; five diplegia; five hemiplegia). Muscle strength was assessed using dynamometry and functional strength tests (seated throw, distance jump, vertic...

BACKGROUND It remains unknown as to whether the antipsychotic dose needed for the acute-phase treatment of schizophrenia is also necessary for relapse prevention. AIM To compare the efficacy between standard dose [(World Health Organization daily defined dose (DDD)] vs low dose (≥50% to <1 DDD) or very low dose (<50% DDD) for relapse prevention in schizophrenia. DATA SOURCE Double-blind, ra...

Despite progress toward understanding the correlates of protective T cell immunity in HIV infection, the optimal approach to Ag delivery by vaccination remains uncertain. We characterized two immunodominant CD8 T cell populations generated in response to immunization of BALB/c mice with a replication-deficient adenovirus serotype 5 vector expressing the HIV-derived Gag and Pol proteins at equiv...

Pulsed-dose-rate (PDR) brachytherapy is a recent brachytherapy modality combining the radiobiological advantages of low-dose-rate (LDR) brachytherapy with increased possibilities of dose optimization and radiation safety. However, treatment duration remains protracted, as the prescribed dose is typically delivered through pulses that do not exceed 0.5 Gy/h for critical organs. It is frequently ...

OBJECTIVE We investigated the efficacy and tolerability of ziprasidone combined with divalproex to determine the relationship between the initial dose of ziprasidone and the treatment effect among Korean patients with acute bipolar manic or mixed disorders. METHODS This study was a 6-week, open-label, prospective investigation of Korean patients with an acute manic or mixed episode of bipolar...

PURPOSE Steroids may play a role in preventing the early recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) after radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA). However, optimal doses and route of steroid delivery have not yet been determined. This study evaluated the effect of two different doses of a single bolus injection of steroids on AF recurrence after RFCA. MATERIALS AND METHODS Of 448 consecutive AF p...