BACKGROUND FDG-PET/CT imaging has an emerging role in staging and treatment planning of various tumor locations and a number of literature studies show that also the carcinoma of the anal canal may benefit from this diagnostic approach. We analyzed the potential impact of FDG-PET/CT in stage definition and target volume delineation of patients affected by carcinoma of the anal canal and candida...

Monoclonal antibodies (MAb) specific for citrus tristeza virus (CTV) were obtained from hybrid cells produced by fusion of a non-secreting myeloma cell line with spleen cells from BALB/c mice immunized with isolate T-308 of CTV. Three MAb were characterized for their immunoglobulin isotype and their titres in cell culture and ascites fluids. Each MAb was conjugated with alkaline phosphatase and...

BACKGROUND Recurrence rates following radiotherapy for prostate cancer in the post-operative adjuvant or salvage setting remain substantial. Previous work from our institution demonstrated that published prostate bed CTV guidelines frequently do not cover the pre-operative MRI defined prostate. Inadequate target delineation may contribute to the high recurrence rates, but increasing target volu...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Brachytherapy (BT) plays a crucial role in the management of invasive cervix cancer from stage I to IV. Intracavitary techniques are based on afterloading devices, with different types of applicators. CT and/or MRI compatible applicators allow a sectional image based approach with a better assessment of gross tumour volume (GTV) and definition and delineation of target vo...

A transient expression vector based on Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) is unusually stable. Because of its stability it is being considered for use in the field to control Huanglongbing (HLB), which is caused by Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas) and vectored by Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri. In the absence of effective control strategies for CLas, emphasis has been on control of D. ...

The large RNA genome of Citrus tristeza virus (CTV; ca. 20 kb) contains 12 open reading frames, with the 3'-terminal one corresponding to a protein of 209 amino acids (p23) that is expressed from an abundant subgenomic RNA. p23, an RNA-binding protein with a putative zinc-finger domain and some basic motifs, is unique to CTV because no homologs have been found in other closteroviruses, includin...

To investigate the feasibility of image-based intracavitary brachytherapy (IBICBT) for uterine cervical cancer, we evaluated the dose-volume histograms (DVHs) for the tumor and organs at risk (OARs) and compared results from the IBICBT plan and the standard Manchester system (Manchester plan) in eight patients as a simulation experiment. We performed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and compute...

OBJECTS To introduce a new method for generating the clinical target volume (CTV) from gross tumor volume (GTV) using the geodesic distance calculation for glioma. METHODS One glioblastoma patient was enrolled. The GTV and natural barriers were contoured on each slice of the computer tomography (CT) simulation images. Then, a graphic processing unit based on a parallel Euclidean distance tran...

Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) (genus Closterovirus, family Closteroviridae) causes some of the more important viral diseases of citrus worldwide. The ability to map disease-inducing determinants of CTV is needed to develop better diagnostic and disease control procedures. A distinctive phenotype of some isolates of CTV is the ability to induce seedling yellows (SY) in sour orange, lemon and grape...

BACKGROUND Two potencies of gelatin capsules containing Lactobacillus crispatus CTV-05 were evaluated for safety and vaginal colonization in 90 young women. METHODS Sexually active females aged 14-21 years were randomized to receive either 10(6)- or 10(8)-cfu CTV-05 capsules inserted intravaginally twice daily for 3 days. At enrollment and at 4 weekly follow-up visits, behavioral and demograp...