Abstract: An evaluating method includes an evaluating step of evaluating a relative pharmacological action of a combination of an immune checkpoint inhibitor and an anticancer drug as a combination drug compared with a pharmacological action of an immune checkpoint inhibitor alone in a subject to be evaluated, using (i) a concentration value of at least one metabolite among Glu, Arg, Orn, Cit, His, Val, Phe, Tyr, Met, Pro, Asn, Leu, Lys, Thr, Ile, Gln, Ala, Ser, a-ABA, Trp, Gly, AnthA, hKyn, hTrp, Kyn, KynA, NP, QA, and XA in blood of the subject to be evaluated, or (ii) a value of a formula in the absence of use of an anticancer drug as a combination drug and a value of the formula in the presence of the use that are calculated using the concentration value and the formula including an explanatory variable to be substituted with the concentration value and an explanatory variable on the presence or absence of the use.

Abstract: A radiation tomography system is provided that includes a control unit to control a data collection system to acquire first data by scanning a first scan region centered on a first position in a body axis direction of a subject in synchronization with heartbeats, and second data by scanning a second scan region adjacent to the first scan region and centered on a second position in the body axis direction in synchronization with the heartbeats. A reconstructing unit is provided to reconstruct an image of a slice between the first position and second positions using the first and second data. The reconstructing unit determines a view-angle-range-based use rate for the first data and a view-angle-range-based use rate for the second data according to the position of the slice relative to the first and second positions.

Abstract: To reduce variability in a result of correction by beam-hardening correction in a radiation tomographic image: There is provided an image processing apparatus comprising: a first-index obtaining component configured to obtain, for each individual subregion in a beam-hardening correction-processed image representing a body region including a bone part and a soft part, a first index indicating how much beam hardening due to the bone part affects the subregion based on pixel values at a plurality of positions surrounding the subregion and a distance from the subregion; a determining component configured to determine an amount of correction on a pixel value for the subregion using the first index for the subregion; and a pixel-value correcting component configured to correct the pixel value of the subregion according to the amount of correction on the subregion.

Abstract: To reduce streak-like artifacts more in a radiation tomographic image: There is provided an image producing apparatus comprising: a processing component configured to, in scan data acquired by a radiation CT scan, apply suppression processing with which noise components are suppressed to a high noise level portion having a radiation detection level lower than a specified threshold, and apply enhancement processing with which noise components are enhanced to a low noise level portion having a radiation detection level equal to or higher than the specified threshold; and a reconstructing component configured to reconstruct an image based on the scan data subjected to the processing by the processing component.

Abstract: [Problem] To further reduce artifacts of a reconstructed image.

Abstract: To detect motion in a subject, particularly, local rapid motion, during radiation tomographic imaging.

Abstract: A radiation tomographic imaging apparatus is characterized in comprising: a first reconstructing section for reconstructing a plurality of temporally different first radiation tomographic images for a required slice position; an information-on-movement acquiring section for acquiring information on movement of a body part in a subject based on the plurality of first radiation tomographic images; an information creating section for creating a motion profile MP indicating a temporal change of the information on movement; an identifying section for identifying a time Ts when motion of the body part in the subject stops based on the motion profile MP; and a second reconstructing section for reconstructing a second radiation tomographic image for the subject at the time Ts.

Abstract: To reduce, in an image obtained in cardiac-gated imaging by a radiation tomography apparatus, boundary artifacts while suppressing degradation of spatial resolution. There is provided a radiation tomography apparatus comprising: control means for controlling a data collection system to acquire first data by scanning a first scan region centering on a first position in a body axis direction of a subject in synchronization with heartbeats, and second data by scanning a second scan region adjacent to the first scan region and centering on a second position in the body axis direction in synchronization with the heartbeats; and reconstructing means for reconstructing an image of a slice between the first position and second position using the first and second data, the reconstructing means determining a view-angle-range-based use rate for the first data and a view-angle-range-based use rate for the second data according to a position of the slice relative to the first and second positions.

Abstract: An image producing apparatus comprising a reconstructing unit configured to use a first reconstruction filter to reconstruct an image based on projection data collected by a scan on a subject to be imaged using a radiation source and a detector; a difference-calculating unit configured to calculate a difference between two images based on said projection data, said two images being reconstructed using second and third reconstruction filters respectively having spatial frequency characteristics such that degrees of enhancement in a mid-/low-frequency region are substantially identical to each other and degrees of enhancement in a high-frequency region are different from each other; and an image production unit configured to produce an image having reduced aliasing artifacts using said image reconstructed using said first reconstruction filter, and said difference.

Abstract: To detect motion in a subject, particularly, local rapid motion, during radiation tomographic imaging.

Abstract: [Problem] To further reduce artifacts of a reconstructed image.

Abstract: To reduce streak-like artifacts more in a radiation tomographic image: There is provided an image producing apparatus comprising: a processing component configured to, in scan data acquired by a radiation CT scan, apply suppression processing with which noise components are suppressed to a high noise level portion having a radiation detection level lower than a specified threshold, and apply enhancement processing with which noise components are enhanced to a low noise level portion having a radiation detection level equal to or higher than the specified threshold; and a reconstructing component configured to reconstruct an image based on the scan data subjected to the processing by the processing component.

Abstract: To reduce variability in a result of correction by beam-hardening correction in a radiation tomographic image: There is provided an image processing apparatus comprising: a first-index obtaining component configured to obtain, for each individual subregion in a beam-hardening correction-processed image representing a body region including a bone part and a soft part, a first index indicating how much beam hardening due to the bone part affects the subregion based on pixel values at a plurality of positions surrounding the subregion and a distance from the subregion; a determining component configured to determine an amount of correction on a pixel value for the subregion using the first index for the subregion; and a pixel-value correcting component configured to correct the pixel value of the subregion according to the amount of correction on the subregion.

Abstract: Provided is a heater controlling unit that includes: a power factor correction circuit configured to convert a first alternating-current voltage supplied from a power supply into a direct-current voltage; an inverter configured to generate a second alternating-current voltage from the direct-current voltage converted by the power factor correction circuit; and a heater to which the second alternating-current voltage generated by the inverter is applied.

Abstract: An image generating method is provided. The method includes performing a rearrangement process and an interpolation process on fan beam projection data, the fan beam projection data acquired by a scan that includes rotating a radiation source and a detector having a plurality of detecting elements arranged in a channel direction, wherein the interpolation process generates equally-spaced parallel beam projection data in which channel-direction intervals are equal therebetween, and wherein the interpolation process is performed with respect to a plurality of view directions. The method further includes performing a back-projection process on the equally-spaced parallel beam projection data to thereby reconstruct an image, wherein the channel-direction intervals between the equally-spaced parallel beam projection data are smaller than a reference interval obtained by dividing an interval between the detecting elements in the channel direction by a projection enlargement rate.

Abstract: Provided is a heater controlling unit that includes: a power factor correction circuit configured to convert a first alternating-current voltage supplied from a power supply into a direct-current voltage; an inverter configured to generate a second alternating-current voltage from the direct-current voltage converted by the power factor correction circuit; and a heater to which the second alternating-current voltage generated by the inverter is applied.

Abstract: An image producing method is provided. The method includes acquiring regular-interval parallel-beam projection data whose intervals in a channel direction are the same and parallel to each other in a plurality of view directions by applying interpolation processing in a view direction, rearrangement processing, and interpolation processing in the channel direction to fan-beam projection data, and reconstructing an image by applying back projection processing to the acquired regular-interval parallel-beam projection data, wherein the interpolation processing in the view direction includes interpolation processing which is performed along a curve or a first straight line made by deforming or rotating a second straight line parallel to the view direction so as to be proximate to a trajectory drawn by dots corresponding to a desired position in a Scan Field Of View region on a sinogram of the collected fan-beam projection data in the plurality of views.

Abstract: An image producing apparatus comprising a reconstructing unit configured to use a first reconstruction filter to reconstruct an image based on projection data collected by a scan on a subject to be imaged using a radiation source and a detector; a difference-calculating unit configured to calculate a difference between two images based on said projection data, said two images being reconstructed using second and third reconstruction filters respectively having spatial frequency characteristics such that degrees of enhancement in a mid-/low-frequency region are substantially identical to each other and degrees of enhancement in a high-frequency region are different from each other; and an image production unit configured to produce an image having reduced aliasing artifacts using said image reconstructed using said first reconstruction filter, and said difference.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus is provided. The image processing apparatus includes an acquiring device configured to acquire a typical pixel value corresponding to a noted region in an image, a calculating device configured to calculated index values of variances in pixel values in the noted region or in both the noted region and a region adjacent to the noted region, a first enhancement degree determination device configured to determine an enhancement degree according to the acquired typical pixel value and each of the calculated index values, and an image processing device configured to perform high-frequency enhancement processing on the noted region, based on the enhancement degree determined by the first enhancement degree determination device.

Abstract: An image producing method is provided. The method includes acquiring regular-interval parallel-beam projection data whose intervals in a channel direction are the same and parallel to each other in a plurality of view directions by applying interpolation processing in a view direction, rearrangement processing, and interpolation processing in the channel direction to fan-beam projection data, and reconstructing an image by applying back projection processing to the acquired regular-interval parallel-beam projection data, wherein the interpolation processing in the view direction includes interpolation processing which is performed along a curve or a first straight line made by deforming or rotating a second straight line parallel to the view direction so as to be proximate to a trajectory drawn by dots corresponding to a desired position in a Scan Field Of View region on a sinogram of the collected fan-beam projection data in the plurality of views.