MR-Guided Radiotherapy for Rectal Cancer: Current Perspective on Organ Preservation

Online MRI-guided radiotherapy (MRgRT) is one of the most recent technological advances in radiotherapy. MRgRT permits the visualization of tumorous and healthy tissue while the patient is on the treatment table and online daily plan adaptations following the observed anatomical changes. In the context of rectal cancer, online MRgRT is a very promising modality due to the pronounced geographical variability of tumor tissues and the surrounding healthy tissues. This current paper will discuss the possible applications of online MRgRT, in particular, in terms of radiotherapy dose escalation and response prediction in organ preservation approaches for rectal cancer.

TIME MANAGEMENT AS A TOOL OF OPTIMIZATION OF PROCUREMENT MANAGERS’ WORK

In the article the issues of optimizing the work of procurement managers are considered. Procurement is one of the most important processes in the activity of any enterprise. Timely and correctly organized process of supply of raw and materials ensures rhythmic and balanced operation of the enterprises. The absence of failures in the activity of enterprise is the result of properly organized work of managers, clearly defined plans for their work, lists of tasks and goals. Daily application of methods, techniques and technologies of time-management in the work of procurement managers is the main condition of their effectiveness. The author determined that today time-management is a philosophy of activity of managers. The provisions of time-management ensure the effective achievement of the goals of each individual manager and the enterprise as a whole. In the article the definition of «time-management», which are by various authors proposed, are generalized. On the base of these definitions the provisions of the functional purpose of time-management are defined. These provisions are: clear systematization and structuring of the list of tasks, reasonable goal setting, time rationing, coordination of tasks in time and space, time reservation, creation of favorable conditions for minimizing of time loss. In the article the algorithm of time-management is developed. This algorithm is a sequence of steps in each of which managers must make decisions about structuring tasks for the current period. The main questions of the algorithm are the priority and urgency of each task. The basis of the algorithm is a clear definition of the functional responsibilities and tasks of the procurement manager. At each phase of the manager's work (planning, organization, motivation, control) a set of different methods, tools and technologies of time-management can be used. The set of methods of time-management in the context of each function of the manager is clearly defined and generalized by the author. The practical value of the research is the proposition of the daily plan of the procurement manager in accordance with the provisions of time-management

The Role of Daily Adaptive Stereotactic MR-Guided Radiotherapy for Renal Cell Cancer

Novel magnetic-resonance-guided radiotherapy (MRgRT) permits real-time soft-tissue visualization, respiratory-gated delivery with minimal safety margins, and time-consuming daily plan re-optimisation. We report on early clinical outcomes of MRgRT and routine plan re-optimization for large primary renal cell cancer (RCC). Thirty-six patients were treated with MRgRT in 40 Gy/5 fractions. Prior to each fraction, re-contouring of tumor and normal organs on a pretreatment MR-scan allowed daily plan re-optimization. Treatment-induced toxicity and radiological responses were scored, which was followed by an offline analysis to evaluate the need for such daily re-optimization in 180 fractions. Mean age and tumor diameter were 78.1 years and 5.6 cm, respectively. All patients completed MRgRT with an average fraction duration of 45 min. Local control (LC) and overall survival rates at one year were 95.2% and 91.2%. No grade ≥3 toxicity was reported. Plans without re-optimization met institutional radiotherapy constraints in 83.9% of 180 fractions. Thus, daily plan re-optimization was required for only a minority of patients, who can be identified upfront by a higher volume of normal organs receiving 25 Gy in baseline plans. In conclusion, stereotactic MRgRT for large primary RCC showed low toxicity and high LC, while daily plan re-optimization was required only in a minority of patients.

Mobile Applications for Training Plan Using Android Devices: A Systematic Review and a Taxonomy Proposal

Fitness and physical exercise are preferred in the pursuit of healthier and active lifestyles. The number of mobile applications aiming to replace or complement a personal trainer is increasing. However, this also raises questions about the reliability, integrity, and even safety of the information provided by such applications. In this study, we review mobile applications that serve as virtual personal trainers. We present a systematic review of 36 related mobile applications, updated between 2017 and 2020, classifying them according to their characteristics. The selection criteria considers the following combination of keywords: “workout”, “personal trainer”, “physical activity”, “fitness”, “gymnasium”, and “daily plan”. Based on the analysis of the identified mobile applications, we propose a new taxonomy and present detailed guidelines on creating mobile applications for personalised workouts. Finally, we investigated how can mobile applications promote health and well-being of users and whether the identified applications are used in any scientific studies.