TomoTherapy Incorporated (NASDAQ: TOMO) announced that it will introduce the TomoDirect™ discrete-angle delivery mode1 for the TomoTherapy® Hi·Art® treatment system at two upcoming radiation oncology conferences. This innovative new technology allows Hi·Art system users to quickly plan and deliver advanced TomoTherapySM radiation treatments with a series of linear beam paths, rather than the existing helical path. With TomoDirect, clinicians can choose several discrete angles and the optimal modulation level required for delivery, based on specific patient therapy goals. TomoDirect will be unveiled at the annual meetings of the European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ESTRO) in Gothenburg, Sweden, Sept. 14-18, 2008, and the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO) in Boston, Mass., Sept. 21-25, 2008.
"We are excited about TomoDirect because it will greatly increase the overall flexibility and efficiency of the Hi·Art treatment system," said Fred Robertson, CEO of TomoTherapy. "Along with helical TomoTherapy delivery, TomoDirect will enhance our customers' revenue-generating opportunities, and strengthen their ability to deliver the highest quality radiation therapy to the broadest patient population."
TomoDirect was developed as a complement to helical TomoTherapy, with both utilizing the same binary multi-leaf collimator and CT-style gantry technology. The choice of which modality to use for a given case will depend on the nature of the tumor volume and surrounding organs at risk. TomoDirect is expected to provide significant time savings in both the planning and delivery phases for several clinical scenarios, including whole breast irradiation and palliative treatments.
Said TomoDirect research partner Paul Read, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of Radiation Oncology, University of Virginia: "TomoDirect will expand the spectrum of external beam radiation therapy patients who can be optimally treated with TomoTherapy's unique image-guided, intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IG-IMRT). Now, we will have an option to deliver dose via two unique and complementary delivery modes, choosing whichever provides the optimal dose distribution. Clearly, breast cancer patients will benefit from TomoDirect, and other disease sites will likely be developed for which there is clinical benefit."
Added research partner Prof. Guy Storme, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Oncologic Center at UZ Brussel, Brussels, Belgium: "Certainly, with the combination of helical and direct deliveries, TomoTherapy should offer significant benefit for a majority of breast cancer treatments. It will provide the ability to choose and apply the right modality for the best treatment. Our research is focused on providing comprehensive usage guidelines as we study and validate this new mode combination."
The TomoDirect delivery mode leverages the Hi·Art treatment system's unique design, componentry and capabilities. According to TomoTherapy co-founder Thomas "Rock" Mackie, Ph.D., Hi·Art system integration facilitates a simple, consistent treatment planning and delivery process across both modes of delivery.
"TomoDirect will use all the power of the platform that makes helical TomoTherapy the gold standard in radiation therapy," said Mackie. "The difference is that we expect treatment planning times will be dramatically reduced due to the much smaller number of beam directions used. Furthermore, for certain geometries, the ability to use only the most beneficial angles will cut delivery times significantly. With TomoDirect, routine cases can now be planned in under 10 minutes. And, importantly, users can deliver from up to 12 discrete angles, with a single turn of the key."
In addition to the added capabilities offered by TomoDirect, the Hi·Art system's treatment modes are being expanded to include a 3D conformal option, thereby meeting the full range of options needed for all clinical cases.
Concluded Robertson: "TomoTherapy has already been embraced for its superior treatment quality, especially for complex cases. The introduction of TomoDirect will fully open the door for the Hi·Art system to have a significant presence in all settings, from large academic centers to single linac centers where high patient throughput is paramount. TomoDirect will effectively increase our access to a larger percentage of the radiation therapy market opportunities."
1 TomoTherapy is planning to make TomoDirect available to radiation clinics in summer 2009. As a product pending FDA 510(k) clearance, TomoDirect is not yet available for sale in the United States.
About TomoTherapy Incorporated
TomoTherapy Incorporated has developed, markets and sells the TomoTherapy® Hi·Art® treatment system, an advanced radiation therapy system for the treatment of a wide variety of cancers. The Hi·Art treatment system combines integrated CT imaging with conformal radiation therapy to deliver sophisticated radiation treatments with speed and precision while reducing radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissue. The company's stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol TOMO. To learn more about TomoTherapy, please visit TomoTherapy.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this release regarding future products, events, expectations and other similar matters, including but not limited to statements using the terms "will", "can", "is expected to", or "should" constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements contained in this press release are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated, including but not limited to factors such as our ability to integrate acquired assets, ability to protect intellectual property, risks of interruption due to events beyond the company's control, and the other risks listed from time to time in TomoTherapy's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which by this reference are incorporated herein. These forward-looking statements represent TomoTherapy's judgments as of the date of this press release. TomoTherapy assumes no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements in this release because of new information, future events or otherwise.
©2008 TomoTherapy Incorporated. All rights reserved. TomoTherapy, TomoDirect, the TomoTherapy logo and Hi·Art are among trademarks, service marks or registered trademarks of TomoTherapy Incorporated.
Monday, August 11, 2008
antibiotic works
Antibiotics, sometimes known as antibacterials, are drugs used to treat infections caused by bacteria. These are tiny organisms, too small to see with the naked eye, that sometimes cause illness in humans. Well-known illnesses caused by bacteria include tuberculosis, salmonella, syphilis and some forms of meningitis. However many types of bacteria do not cause illness and live harmlessly on, and in, the human body.
Our immune systems, with their antibodies and special white blood cells, can usually kill harmful bacteria before they multiply enough to cause symptoms. And even when symptoms do occur, the body can often fight off the infection. But sometimes the body is overwhelmed by a bacterial infection and needs help to get rid of it. This is where antibiotics come in. The very first antibiotic was penicillin and along with a family of related antibiotics (such as ampicillin, amoxicllin and benzylpenicillin) it is still widely used to treat many common infections. Now there are several other different kinds of antibiotics. All of them are only available on prescription.
HOW DO ANTIBIOTICS WORK?
Some antibiotics, such as the penicillins, are 'bactericidal', meaning that they work by killing bacteria. They do this by interfering with the formation of the cell walls or cell contents of the bacteria. Other antibiotics are 'bacteriostatic', meaning that they work by stopping bacteria multiplying.
WHAT ARE ANTIBIOTICS FOR?
Antibiotics are usually used to treat infections caused by bacteria. They do not work against other organisms such as fungi or infectious agents such as viruses . It's important to bear this in mind if you think you have some sort of infection, because many common illnesses, particularly of the upper respiratory tract such as the common cold and sore throats, are usually caused by viruses. Overuse of antibiotics can lead to bacteria becoming resistant to them so it's important to only take them when necessary. (See this page).
Some antibiotics can be used to treat a wide range of infections and are known as 'broad-spectrum' antibiotics. Others are only effective against a few types of bacteria and are called 'narrow-spectrum' antibiotics. Some antibiotics work against aerobic bacteria, that is organisms that need oxygen to live, while others work against anaerobic bacteria, organisms that don't need oxygen. Sometimes antibiotics are given to prevent an infection occurring, for example, before certain operations. This is known as prophylactic use of antibiotics and is common before orthopaedic and bowel surgery.
SIDE EFFECTS OF ANTIBIOTICS
The most common side effects with antibiotic drugs are diarrhoea, feeling sick and being sick. Fungal infections of the mouth, digestive tract and vagina can also occur with antibiotics because they destroy the protective 'good' bacteria in the body (which help prevent overgrowth of any one organism), as well as the 'bad' ones, responsible for the infection being treated.
Rare, but more serious side effects, include the formation of kidney stones with the sulphonamides, abnormal blood clotting with some of the cephalosporins, increased sensitivity to the sun with the tetracyclines, blood disorders with trimethoprim, and deafness with erythromycin and the aminoglycosides.
Sometimes, particularly in older people, antibiotic treatment can cause a type of colitis (inflamed bowel) leading to severe diarrhoea. Penicillins, cephalosporins and erythromycin can all cause this problem but it is most common with clindamycin, an antibiotic usually reserved for serious infections. If you develop diarrhoea while taking an antibiotic, immediately contact your doctor.
Some people are allergic to antibiotics, particularly penicillins, and can develop Side effects such as a rash, swelling of the face and tongue, and difficulty breathing when they take them. Always tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have had an allergic reaction to an antibiotic; sometimes the reaction can be serious or even fatal. This is called an anaphylactic reaction.
USE ANTIBIOTICS WITH CARE IF ...
You should use an antibiotic with care if you have reduced liver or kidney function. You should avoid using any antibiotic to which you have previously had an allergic reaction.
TELL YOUR DOCTOR OR PHARMACIST IF YOU ARE PREGNANT OR BREASTFEEDING BEFORE TAKING ANY ANTIBIOTIC.
INTERACTIONS WITH OTHER MEDICINES
Do not take any other medicines or herbal remedies with an antibiotic, including those you have bought without a prescription, before talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
-- Certain antibiotics (e.g. penicillins, cephalosporins) can reduce the effectiveness of oral contraceptives. If you have diarrhoea or vomiting while taking an antibiotic, the absorption of the pill can be disrupted. In either case, you should take additional contraceptive precautions while you are taking the antibiotic.
-- There are a number of important interactions between antibiotics and other medicines so it's important to tell which your doctor or pharmacist about any other medicines you are taking.
HOW TO USE AN ANTIBIOTIC
Antibiotics are usually taken orally but can also be given by injection, or applied to the affected part of the body such as the skin, eyes or ears. The drugs begin to tackle most infections within a few hours. It is vital to take the whole course of treatment to prevent recurrence of the infection. Sometimes bacteria become 'resistant' to an antibiotic you have been taking, meaning that the drug will no longer work. Resistance tends to occur when the bacterial infection responsible for the symptoms is not completely cured, even if the symptoms have cleared up. Some of the residual bacteria, having been exposed to, but not killed by, the antibiotic are more likely to grow into an infection that can survive that particular antibiotic. This explains why finishing the course of antibiotics, even if you feel better, is important.
Certain antibiotics should not be taken with certain foods and drinks. Some antibiotics are best taken when there is no food in your stomach, usually an hour before meals or two hours after - make sure you follow the instructions on the dispensing label. Do not drink alcohol if you are taking metronidazole. Do not take tetracyclines with dairy products, as these can reduce the absorption of this type of antibiotic.
COMMON ANTIBIOTICS
Our immune systems, with their antibodies and special white blood cells, can usually kill harmful bacteria before they multiply enough to cause symptoms. And even when symptoms do occur, the body can often fight off the infection. But sometimes the body is overwhelmed by a bacterial infection and needs help to get rid of it. This is where antibiotics come in. The very first antibiotic was penicillin and along with a family of related antibiotics (such as ampicillin, amoxicllin and benzylpenicillin) it is still widely used to treat many common infections. Now there are several other different kinds of antibiotics. All of them are only available on prescription.
HOW DO ANTIBIOTICS WORK?
Some antibiotics, such as the penicillins, are 'bactericidal', meaning that they work by killing bacteria. They do this by interfering with the formation of the cell walls or cell contents of the bacteria. Other antibiotics are 'bacteriostatic', meaning that they work by stopping bacteria multiplying.
WHAT ARE ANTIBIOTICS FOR?
Antibiotics are usually used to treat infections caused by bacteria. They do not work against other organisms such as fungi or infectious agents such as viruses . It's important to bear this in mind if you think you have some sort of infection, because many common illnesses, particularly of the upper respiratory tract such as the common cold and sore throats, are usually caused by viruses. Overuse of antibiotics can lead to bacteria becoming resistant to them so it's important to only take them when necessary. (See this page).
Some antibiotics can be used to treat a wide range of infections and are known as 'broad-spectrum' antibiotics. Others are only effective against a few types of bacteria and are called 'narrow-spectrum' antibiotics. Some antibiotics work against aerobic bacteria, that is organisms that need oxygen to live, while others work against anaerobic bacteria, organisms that don't need oxygen. Sometimes antibiotics are given to prevent an infection occurring, for example, before certain operations. This is known as prophylactic use of antibiotics and is common before orthopaedic and bowel surgery.
SIDE EFFECTS OF ANTIBIOTICS
The most common side effects with antibiotic drugs are diarrhoea, feeling sick and being sick. Fungal infections of the mouth, digestive tract and vagina can also occur with antibiotics because they destroy the protective 'good' bacteria in the body (which help prevent overgrowth of any one organism), as well as the 'bad' ones, responsible for the infection being treated.
Rare, but more serious side effects, include the formation of kidney stones with the sulphonamides, abnormal blood clotting with some of the cephalosporins, increased sensitivity to the sun with the tetracyclines, blood disorders with trimethoprim, and deafness with erythromycin and the aminoglycosides.
Sometimes, particularly in older people, antibiotic treatment can cause a type of colitis (inflamed bowel) leading to severe diarrhoea. Penicillins, cephalosporins and erythromycin can all cause this problem but it is most common with clindamycin, an antibiotic usually reserved for serious infections. If you develop diarrhoea while taking an antibiotic, immediately contact your doctor.
Some people are allergic to antibiotics, particularly penicillins, and can develop Side effects such as a rash, swelling of the face and tongue, and difficulty breathing when they take them. Always tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have had an allergic reaction to an antibiotic; sometimes the reaction can be serious or even fatal. This is called an anaphylactic reaction.
USE ANTIBIOTICS WITH CARE IF ...
You should use an antibiotic with care if you have reduced liver or kidney function. You should avoid using any antibiotic to which you have previously had an allergic reaction.
TELL YOUR DOCTOR OR PHARMACIST IF YOU ARE PREGNANT OR BREASTFEEDING BEFORE TAKING ANY ANTIBIOTIC.
INTERACTIONS WITH OTHER MEDICINES
Do not take any other medicines or herbal remedies with an antibiotic, including those you have bought without a prescription, before talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
-- Certain antibiotics (e.g. penicillins, cephalosporins) can reduce the effectiveness of oral contraceptives. If you have diarrhoea or vomiting while taking an antibiotic, the absorption of the pill can be disrupted. In either case, you should take additional contraceptive precautions while you are taking the antibiotic.
-- There are a number of important interactions between antibiotics and other medicines so it's important to tell which your doctor or pharmacist about any other medicines you are taking.
HOW TO USE AN ANTIBIOTIC
Antibiotics are usually taken orally but can also be given by injection, or applied to the affected part of the body such as the skin, eyes or ears. The drugs begin to tackle most infections within a few hours. It is vital to take the whole course of treatment to prevent recurrence of the infection. Sometimes bacteria become 'resistant' to an antibiotic you have been taking, meaning that the drug will no longer work. Resistance tends to occur when the bacterial infection responsible for the symptoms is not completely cured, even if the symptoms have cleared up. Some of the residual bacteria, having been exposed to, but not killed by, the antibiotic are more likely to grow into an infection that can survive that particular antibiotic. This explains why finishing the course of antibiotics, even if you feel better, is important.
Certain antibiotics should not be taken with certain foods and drinks. Some antibiotics are best taken when there is no food in your stomach, usually an hour before meals or two hours after - make sure you follow the instructions on the dispensing label. Do not drink alcohol if you are taking metronidazole. Do not take tetracyclines with dairy products, as these can reduce the absorption of this type of antibiotic.
COMMON ANTIBIOTICS
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