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To explore the relationship between whole-body taurine status and function, the taurine concentration in plasma and platelets was measured and evaluated in terms of ex vivo collagen-induced platelet aggregation in taurine-depleted cats and taurine-supplemented humans. Taurine status exerted a significant effect on platelet aggregability. Platelets from taurine-depleted cats were twice as sensitive to aggregation as platelets from cats receiving taurine. On the other hand, platelets from humans with normal taurine status increased resistance to aggregation by 30-70% when supplemented with taurine at 400 or 1600 mg/d, respectively. Decreased platelet aggregability was associated with increased platelet taurine and glutathione concentrations and decreased thromboxane release on aggregation. These data indicate that taurine in vivo stabilizes platelets against aggregation such that during taurine depletion platelets become overly sensitive whereas during supplementation their tendency to aggregate is depressed.

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Purpose: To propose a method to reduce tumor motion excursion by applying natural abdominal compression in prone position. The goal is twofold: evaluate changes in tumor motion amplitude and investigate changes in 4D image quality in prone vs. supine positioning. Method: Patients underwent supine and prone 4D scanning; ten image datasets were reconstructed in each case using time‐based (“phase”) sorting. Breathing patterns from supine and prone scans were compared in terms of overall pattern and amplitude. Tumor volumes were calculated and the coordinates of their centroids were used to estimate changes in motion amplitude. Breathing files were further processed to compute the probabilities of finding the target at ten equally spaced locations between the extreme locations of the respiratory pattern; the most probable location was identified. The time sorted dataset that best matched this most probable location was identified. Results: In prone positioning the breathing pattern was more consistent over time and the tumor motion amplitude decreased considerably. Tumor volumes were more consistent in the prone scan, owing to reduced artifacts (a consequence of reduced motion amplitude). In addition, changes in the respiratory p.d.f. have been observed. The visual inspection of the images confirmed residual artifacts in the 4D image datasets. The most accurate dataset was the one corresponding to the most probable location. Conclusions: Tumor motion amplitude is reduced in prone position and the respiratory pattern is more regular over time, thus providing potential for more accurate image datasets. However, the amount of time spent at a given excursion anatomy of interest (which can deviate significantly from the “full‐exhale” dataset, especially for irregular breathing patterns).