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We hereby propose the use of stable, biocompatible, and uniformly sized polymeric micelles as high-radiotracer-payload carriers at region-of-interest with negligible background activity due to no or low offsite radiolysis. We modified glycol chitosan (GC) polymer with varying levels of palmitoylation (P) and quaternization (Q). Quaternary ammonium palmitoyl glycol chitosan (GCPQ) with a Q:P ratio of 9:35 (Q9P35GC) offers >99% biocompatibility at 10 mg mL−1. Q9P35GC micelles exhibit >99% 99mTechnetium (99mTc) radiolabeling via the stannous chloride reduction method without heat. The 99mTc-Q9P35GC micelles (65 ± 3 nm) exhibit >98% 6 h serum stability at 37 °C and 7 day of radiochemical stability at 25 °C. HepG2 cells show a higher uptake of FITC-Q9P35GC than Q13P15GC and Q20P15GC. The in vivo 24 h organ cumulated activity (MBq h) order follows: liver (234.4) > kidneys (60.95) > GIT (0.73) > spleen (88.84). The liver to organ ratio remains higher than 2.4, rendering a better contrast in the liver. The radiotracer uptake decreases significantly in fibrotic vs. normal liver, whereas a blocking study with excess Q9P35GC significantly decreases the radiotracer uptake in a healthy vs. fibrotic liver. FITC-Q9P35GC shows in vivo hepato-specific uptake. Radiotracer liver uptake profile follows reversible binding kinetics with data fitting to two-tissue compartmental (2T), and graphical Ichise multilinear analysis (MA2) with lower AIC and higher R2 values, respectively. The study concludes that 99mTc-Q9P35GC can be a robust radiotracer for noninvasive hepatocyte function assessment and diagnosis of liver fibrosis. Furthermore, its multifunctional properties enable it to be a promising platform for nanotheranostic applications.

In chemical processes it is essential that the flow in the process is accurately defined. Fluid velocity measurements are important for fluid flow quality performance in flow systems. This study focuses on determination of the volumetric flow rate and its standard (relative) deviation for calibration of conventional flow meters by using a radiotracer approach. The measurements for flow meter calibration were performed at a pilot-scale flow rig using Technetium-99 m (99mTc) as a radiotracer in the form of pertechnetate ion (99mTcO4-). The measured data were analyzed, and precision of the experimental setup was investigated under two different approaches – IAEA’s RTD software and sum approximation of raw data. For the first time, the variation of standard deviation of calculated flow rate with the injection volume and activity of the radiotracer was determined. Plug flow with axial dispersion was used to simulate the measured RTD curves and investigate the flow dynamics of the flowing water. The results of the study have shown the possibility of in situ calibration of flow meters with a relative error lower than 1 %. They also revealed a slight dependency of the precision of output results on the injection volume as well as similar results for manual and specialized RTD software data processing. U hemijskim procesima od suštinskog značaja je tačno definisan i precizan protok. Merenja brzine fluida su važna za karakterizaciju kvaliteta protoka tečnosti u sistemima. Ova studija se fokusira na određivanje zapreminskog protoka i standardnog (relativnog) odstupanja izmerenih vrednosti u cilju kalibracije konvencionalnih merača protoka korišćenjem metode radioaktivnog obeleživača. Merenja potrebna za kalibraciju merača protoka izvedena su na pilot postrojenju korišćenjem Tehnecijuma-99m (99mTc) kao radiotrejsera u obliku pertehnetatnog jona (99mTcO4-). Izmereni podaci su analizirani, a preciznost eksperimentalne postavke je ispitivana pomoću dva različita pristupa: upotrebom softvera za određivanje raspodele vremena zadržavanja (eng. residence time distribution, RTD) koga je razvila Međunarodna agencija za atomsku energiju i zbirne aproksimacije neobrađenih podataka. Po prvi put je utvrđena varijacija standardne devijacije izračunatog protoka u odnosu na zapreminu i u odnosu na aktivnost ubrizganog radioaktivnog obeleživača. Model protoka sa aksijalnom disperzijom je korišćen za simulaciju izmerenih RTD krivih i istraživanje dinamike protoka vode. Rezultati studije su pokazali mogućnost in situ kalibracije merača protoka sa relativnom greškom manjom od 1%. Takođe su pokazali malu zavisnost preciznosti izlaznih rezultata od količine ubrizganog obeleživača, kao i slične rezultate za manuelnu obradu i specijalizovanu obradu podataka upotrebom RTD softvera.

Many neurodegenerative diseases are neuropathologically characterized by neuronal loss, gliosis, and the deposition of misfolded proteins such as β-amyloid (Aβ) plaques and tau tangles in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In postmortem AD brains, reactive astrocytes and activated microglia are observed surrounding Aβ plaques and tau tangles. These activated glial cells secrete pro-inflammatory cytokines and reactive oxygen species, which may contribute to neurodegeneration. Therefore, in vivo imaging of glial response by positron emission tomography (PET) combined with Aβ and tau PET would provide new insights to better understand the disease process, as well as aid in the differential diagnosis, and monitoring glial response disease-specific therapeutics. There are two promising targets proposed for imaging reactive astrogliosis: monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B) and imidazoline2 binding site (I2BS), which are predominantly expressed in the mitochondrial membranes of astrocytes and are upregulated in various neurodegenerative conditions. PET tracers targeting these two MAO-B and I2BS have been evaluated in humans. [18F]THK-5351, which was originally designed to target tau aggregates in AD, showed high affinity for MAO-B and clearly visualized reactive astrocytes in progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). However, the lack of selectivity of [18F]THK-5351 binding to both MAO-B and tau, severely limits its clinical utility as a biomarker. Recently, [18F]SMBT-1 was developed as a selective and reversible MAO-B PET tracer via compound optimization of [18F]THK-5351. In this review, we summarize the strategy underlying molecular imaging of reactive astrogliosis and clinical studies using MAO-B and I2BS PET tracers.

Tumor associated macrophages (TAM) are key players in the cancer microenvironment. Molecular imaging modalities such as MRI and PET can be used to track and monitor TAM dynamics in tumors non-invasively, based on specific uptake and quantification of MRI-detectable nanoparticles or PET-detectable radiotracers. Particular molecular signatures can be leveraged to target anti-inflammatory TAM, which support tumor growth, and pro-inflammatory TAM, which suppress tumor growth. In addition, TAM-directed imaging probes can be designed to include immune modulating properties, thereby leading to combined diagnostic and therapeutic (theranostic) effects. In this review, we will discuss the complementary role of TAM-directed radiotracers and iron oxide nanoparticles for monitoring cancer immunotherapies with PET and MRI technologies. In addition, we will outline how TAM-directed imaging and therapy is interdependent and can be connected towards improved clinical outcomes.

Purpose Imaging of PARP expression has emerged as valuable strategy for prediction of tumor malignancy. While [18F]PARPi and [18F]FTT are already in clinical translation, both suffer from mainly hepatobiliary clearance hampering their use for detection of abdominal lesions, e.g., liver metastases. Our novel radiotracer [18F]FPyPARP aims to bridge this gap with a higher renal clearance and an easily translatable synthesis route for potential clinical application. Methods We developed a less lipophilic variant of [18F]PARPi by exchange of the fluorobenzoyl residue with a fluoronicotinoyl group and automated the radiosyntheses of the three radiotracers. We then conducted a comparative side-by-side study of [18F]PARPi, [18F]FPyPARP, and [18F]FTT in NOD.CB17-Prkdcscid/J mice bearing HCC1937 xenografts to assess xenograft uptake and pharmacokinetics focusing on excretion pathways. Results Together with decent uptake of all three radiotracers in the xenografts (tumor-to-blood ratios 3.41 ± 0.83, 3.99 ± 0.99, and 2.46 ± 0.35, respectively, for [18F]PARPi, [18F]FPyPARP, and [18F]FTT), a partial shift from hepatobiliary to renal clearance of [18F]FPyPARP was observed, whereas [18F]PARPi and [18F]FTT show almost exclusive hepatobiliary clearance. Conclusion These findings imply that [18F]FPyPARP is an alternative to [18F]PARPi and [18F]FTT for PET imaging of PARP enzymes. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00259-021-05436-7.

Radiopharmaceuticals are used in the diagnosis and management of various diseases. There are several reports of adverse reactions related to the use of radiopharmaceuticals, though it is not as common as conventional drugs. Adverse reactions related to radiopharmaceuticals have been not widely reported and documented. In this review, we have tried to summarize the adverse reactions associated with some of the commonly used radiopharmaceuticals.

Focused ultrasound (FUS) is a minimally-invasive technology used for treatment of many diseases, including diseases related to the colon, uterus, prostate, and brain. Although it has been mainly used for ablative procedures, the ability of FUS to open the blood-brain barrier (BBB) presents a promising new application. However, the mechanism of BBB opening by FUS remains unclear. This review focuses on the use of FUS to open the BBB for enhancing drug delivery and investigating how Positron Emission Tomography (PET) provides insight into the underlying mechanism.

International audience; Radioisotopes have been used in earth and environmental sciences for over 150 years and provide unique tools to study environmental processes in great detail from a cellular level through to an oceanic basin scale. These nuclear techniques have been employed to understand coastal and marine ecosystems via laboratory and field studies to understand how aquatic organisms respond to environmental stressors including temperature, pH, nutrients, metals, organic anthropogenic compounds and biological toxins. Global marine issues, such as ocean warming, deoxygenation, plastic pollution, ocean acidification, increased duration and intensity of toxic harmful algal blooms (HABs), and coastal contamination are all impacting marine environments, thereby imposing various environmental and economic risks. Being able to reliably assess the health of coastal and marine ecosystems, and how they may respond to future disturbances, can provide vital information for society in the sustainable management of their marine environments. This paper summarises the historical use of radiotracers in these systems, describes how existing techniques of radioecological tracing can be developed for specific current environmental issues and provides information on emerging issues that would benefit from current and new radiotracer methods. Current challenges with using radioecological tracers and opportunities are highlighted as well as opportunities to maximise the uptake of these methods to greatly increase the ability of environmental managers to conduct evidence-based management of coastal and marine ecosystems

[Tc-99m][TcN-DBODC(5) is the lead candidate of a class of cationic complexes proposed as myocardial imaging agents (MPIAs). Phase I clinical studies showed that its clinical properties were comparable to those of the commercially available agents. Thus, modification of [Tc-99m]TcN-DBODC(5), directed to obtain an ideal myocardial imaging without interference from the adjacent organ activities, is desirable. This work describes the pharmacological and pharmacokinetic development of four new complexes of general formula [Tc-99m][Tc(N)(DASD)(PNPn)](+), [Tc-99m]TcN-DASD(n) (DASD = 1,4-dioxa-8-azaspiro[4,5]decandithiocarbamate; PNPn = bisphosphinoamine), proposed as improved MPIAs. Among the tested compounds, [Tc-99m]TcN-DASD(5) and [Tc-99m]TcN-DASD(7) showed enhanced heart uptake compared with the gold standards, with a rapid liver washout and superior heart-to-liver ratio. These features might shorten the duration of imaging procedures below 30 min, consenting the early acquisition of high-quality images. In addition, mechanistic studies were performed in cellulo by using human drug-sensitive and drug-resistant cancer cell lines, obtaining results which might be conveniently applied to tumor imaging.

Cadmium is a serious environmental pollutant and its uptake by plant represents a serious health risk. Uptake, accumulation as well as sensitivity of soybean plants to metals have been shown to vary with genotype, while the dynamics of this uptake has rarely been studied. Here we studied the uptake and accumulation of Cd2+ ions in different parts of soybean plants of four cultivars Moravians, Gallec, Kent and Cardiff. The plants at early developmental stage were immersed in Hoagland nutrient solution in the presence or absence of 50 mg.L−1 and the isotope of 109Cd2+ to monitor its accumulation continuously at 24 h intervals for 10 days. Our results showed that the uptake rate varied among the cultivars, being the highest in roots of the cv. Moravians and the lowest in the cv. Gallec. We also observed a non-even distribution of radioactivity within the entire plants of individual cultivars. The most of Cd2+ isotope was translocated into primary leaves and leaves in the cvs. Kent and Moravians; on the contrary, relatively less in the cvs. Cardiff and Gallec. The results were fitted with genetic potential, growth as well as defense parameters such as proline accumulation. Combining uptake dynamics and biochemical data are indicative for different tolerance strategies of soybeans.

Atherosclerosis is a well-known disease leading to cardiovascular events, including myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke. These conditions lead to a high mortality rate, which explains the interest in their prevention, early detection, and treatment. Molecular imaging is able to shed light on the basic pathophysiological processes, such as inflammation, that cause the progression and instability of plaque. The most common radiotracers used in clinical practice can detect increased energy metabolism (FDG), macrophage number (somatostatin receptor imaging), the intensity of cell proliferation in the area (labeled choline), and microcalcifications (fluoride imaging). These radiopharmaceuticals, especially FDG and labeled sodium fluoride, can predict cardiovascular events. The limitations of molecular imaging in atherosclerosis include low uptake of highly specific tracers, possible overlap with other diseases of the vessel wall, and specific features of certain tracers’ physiological distribution. A common protocol for patient preparation, data acquisition, and quantification is needed in the area of atherosclerosis imaging research.

Many modern therapeutic approaches are based on precise diagnostic evidence, where imaging procedures play an essential role. To date, in the diagnostic field, a plethora of agents have been investigated to increase the selectivity and sensitivity of diagnosis. However, the most common drawbacks of conventional imaging agents reside in their non-specificity, short imaging time, instability, and toxicity. Moreover, routinely used diagnostic agents have low molecular weights and consequently a rapid clearance and renal excretion, and this represents a limitation if long-lasting imaging analyses are to be conducted. Thus, the development of new agents for in vivo diagnostics requires not only a deep knowledge of the physical principles of the imaging techniques and of the physiopathological aspects of the disease but also of the relative pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical requirements. In this scenario, skills in pharmaceutical technology have become highly indispensable in order to respond to these needs. This review specifically aims to collect examples of newly developed diagnostic agents connoting the importance of an appropriate formulation study for the realization of effective products. Within the context of pharmaceutical technology research in Italy, several groups have developed and patented promising agents for fluorescence and radioactive imaging, the most relevant of which are described hereafter.

Research on the adenosine receptors has been supported by the continuous discovery of new chemical probes characterized by more and more affinity and selectivity for the single adenosine receptor subtypes (A1, A2A, A2B and A3 adenosine receptors). Furthermore, the development of new techniques for the detection of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) requires new specific probes. In fact, if in the past radioligands were the most important GPCR probes for detection, compound screening and diagnostic purposes, nowadays, increasing importance is given to fluorescent and covalent ligands. In fact, advances in techniques such as fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) and fluorescent polarization, as well as new applications in flow cytometry and different fluorescence-based microscopic techniques, are at the origin of the extensive research of new fluorescent ligands for these receptors. The resurgence of covalent ligands is due in part to a change in the common thinking in the medicinal chemistry community that a covalent drug is necessarily more toxic than a reversible one, and in part to the useful application of covalent ligands in GPCR structural biology. In this review, an updated collection of available chemical probes targeting adenosine receptors is reported.

Biodynamic modeling was used to investigate the uptake and bioaccumulation of arsenic and silver from water and food by two Hydropsychid caddisfly larvae: Hydropsyche siltalai and Hydropsyche pellucidula. Radiotracer techniques determined the uptake rate constants of arsenic and silver from water, and assimilation efficiencies from food, and their subsequent loss rate constants after accumulation from either route. The uptake rate constants (±SE) of As and Ag from solution were 0.021±0.005 and 0.350±0.049Lg(-1)day(-1), respectively, for H. siltalai, and 0.435±0.054 and 0.277±0.021Lg(-1)day(-1), respectively, for H. pellucidula in moderately hard synthetic water at 10°C. The assimilation efficiencies (±SE) of As and Ag from radiolabeled ingested food were 46.0±7.7% and 75.7±3.6%, respectively, for H. siltalai, and 61.0±4.2% and 52.6±8.6%, respectively, for H. pellucidula. Ag, but not As, AEs were significantly different between species. The AE of Ag differed from the AE of As in H. siltalai, but not in H. pellucidula. Mean efflux rate constants after accumulation of metals from solution or food ranged from 0.039 to 0.190day(-1). The efflux rate constants of As and Ag accumulated from solution were significantly lower than those of As and Ag assimilated from ingested food in both species. Experimentally derived ku and ke values were then used to predict As and Ag tissue concentrations in hydropsychids collected from 13 UK sites, including metal-contaminated streams in Cornwall. Arsenic and silver concentrations in environmental water and food (suspended particles) samples were measured. Biodynamic models successfully predicted accumulated As and Ag concentrations in resident H. siltalai and H. pellucidula at each site. The models also showed that more than 95% of accumulated As and almost 100% of accumulated Ag in H. siltalai and H. pellucidula are derived from ingested food rather than from water.

A series of vasopressin receptor V1a ligands have been synthesized for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. The lead compound (1S,5R)-1 ((4-(1H-indol-3-yl)-3-methoxyphenyl) ((1S,5R)-1,3,3-trimethyl-6-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-6-yl)methanone) and its F-ethyl analog 6c exhibited the best combination of high binding affinity and optimal lipophilicity within the series. (1S,5R)-1 was radiolabeled with 11C for PET studies. [11CH3](1S,5R)-1 readily entered the mouse (4.7% ID/g tissue) and prairie vole brains (∼2% ID/g tissue) and specifically (30-34%) labeled V1a receptor. The common animal anesthetic Propofol significantly blocked the brain uptake of [11CH3](1S,5R)-1 in the mouse brain, whereas anesthetics Ketamine and Saffan increased the uptake variability. Future PET imaging studies with V1a radiotracers in non-human primates should be performed in awake animals or using anesthetics that do not affect the V1a receptor.

During the past decades, extensive efforts have been made to expand the knowledge of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). However, clinical translation of this research, in terms of earlier diagnosis and improved therapy, remains challenging. Since more than 30% of motor neurons are lost when symptoms become clinically apparent, techniques allowing non-invasive, in vivo detection of motor neuron degeneration are needed in the early, pre-symptomatic disease stage. Furthermore, it has become apparent that non-motor signs play an important role in the disease and there is an overlap with cognitive disorders, such as frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Radionuclide imaging, such as positron emission tomography (PET) and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), form an attractive approach to quantitatively monitor the ongoing neurodegenerative processes. Although [18F]-FDG has been recently proposed as a potential biomarker for ALS, active targeting of the underlying pathologic molecular processes is likely to unravel further valuable disease information and may help to decipher the pathogenesis of ALS. In this review, we provide an overview of radiotracers that have already been applied in ALS and discuss possible novel targets for in vivo imaging of various pathogenic processes underlying ALS onset and progression.

Colorectal cancer is the third most commonly occurring cancer in men and the second most commonly occurring cancer in women worldwide. We have recently reported that curcuminoid complexes labelled with gallium-68 have demonstrated preferential uptake in HT29 colorectal cancer and K562 lymphoma cell lines compared to normal human lymphocytes. In the present study, we report a new gallium-68-labelled curcumin derivative (68Ga-DOTA-C21) and its initial validation as marker for early detection of colorectal cancer. The precursor and non-radioactive complexes were synthesized and deeply characterized by analytical methods then the curcuminoid was radiolabelled with gallium-68. The in vitro stability, cell uptake, internalization and efflux properties of the probe were studied in HT29 cells, and the in vivo targeting ability and biodistribution were investigated in mice bearing HT29 subcutaneous tumour model. 68Ga-DOTA-C21 exhibits decent stability (57 &plusmn, 3% after 120 min of incubation) in physiological media and a curcumin-mediated cellular accumulation in colorectal cancer cell line (121 &plusmn, 4 KBq of radiotracer per mg of protein within 60 min of incubation). In HT29 tumour-bearing mice, the tumour uptake of 68Ga-DOTA-C21 is 3.57 &plusmn, 0.3% of the injected dose per gram of tissue after 90 min post injection with a tumour to muscle ratio of 2.2 &plusmn, 0.2. High amount of activity (12.73 &plusmn, 1.9% ID/g) is recorded in blood and significant uptake of the radiotracer occurs in the intestine (13.56 &plusmn, 3.3% ID/g), lungs (8.42 &plusmn, 0.8% ID/g), liver (5.81 &plusmn, 0.5% ID/g) and heart (4.70 &plusmn, 0.4% ID/g). Further studies are needed to understand the mechanism of accumulation and clearance, however, 68Ga-DOTA-C21 provides a productive base-structure to develop further radiotracers for imaging of colorectal cancer.

This study aims at analysing the latitudinal variability of both the yearly and seasonal pattern of Be-7 surface activity concentrations, at addressing the impact of tropopause height (TPH) on Be-7 distribution and at evaluating the time lag between TPH and Be-7 at European level. With this aim, weekly Be-7 and daily TPH data at 17 sampling stations during 10 yr (2001-2010) are analysed. Be-7 shows a clear increasing tendency in the period and generally tends to increase with decreasing latitude. The seasonal pattern generally shows maxima during the warm period and minima during the cold one. The seasonal variogram analysis points out a good spatial correlation for TPH data while a weaker one is observed for Be-7, having TPH a larger influence on Be-7 during summer. The influence of TPH on Be-7 exhibits a large spatial variability, with a clear gap between south and north in the area of the polar front jet. The results identify the presence of two main groups, in particular separating between stations located in northern Europe (50 degrees N and higher) and stations in southern Europe (south of 50 degrees N). A similar behaviour for stations located in the same geographical area is also observed when looking at the day of maximum impact of TPH on Be-7 concentrations. The results suggest that Be-7 concentrations respond in different time ranges to changes in the TPH, observing seasonal differences in each group. These results represent the first European approach to the understanding of the TPH impact on Be-7 concentrations at surface levels.

Soil sodium, while toxic to most plants at high concentrations, can be beneficial at low concentrations, particularly when potassium is limiting. However, little is known about Na(+) uptake in this 'high-affinity' range. New information is provided here with an insight into the transport characteristics, mechanism, and ecological significance of this phenomenon. High-affinity Na(+) and K(+) fluxes were investigated using the short-lived radiotracers (24)Na and (42)K, under an extensive range of measuring conditions (variations in external sodium, and in nutritional and pharmacological agents). This work was supported by electrophysiological, compartmental, and growth analyses. Na(+) uptake was extremely sensitive to all treatments, displaying properties of high-affinity K(+) transporters, K(+) channels, animal Na(+) channels, and non-selective cation channels. K(+), NH(4)(+), and Ca(2+) suppressed Na(+) transport biphasically, yielding IC(50) values of 30, 10, and

International audience; To assess the long-term safety of a geological carbon dioxide storage site, the confining properties of the rocks sealing an underground reservoir (caprocks) and their evolution inthe presence of CO2 must be characterized. The present study consists in the measurement of the transport parameters of dissolved CO2 through low permeability carbonate-rich caprocks. The properties of interest are the effective permeability and the diffusion coefficients of carbon dioxide dissolution products in water. The impact of carbon dioxide has been evaluated when altering rock samples by diffusion of a CO2-saturated brine under reservoir thermodynamic conditions, and by comparison of the pre- and post-alteration measured values. Permeability was measured by a gas-tracing method and, to study diffusion, radioactive isotopes of carbon (14C) and hydrogen (3H) were used. Despite a porosity increase observed for all the studied samples, the low values of transport parameters, measured initially, were also measured after alteration, showing a non-catastrophic alteration of the material.

Myocardial perfusion imaging is important for the management of patients with suspected or known coronary artery disease. Nuclear cardiology is the most widely used noninvasive approach for the assessment of myocardial perfusion. The available single-photon emission CT (SPECT) flow agents are characterized by a rapid myocardial extraction and by a cardiac uptake proportional to blood flow. In addition, different positron emission tomography (PET) tracers may be used for the absolute quantitative measurement of myocardial blood flow and coronary flow reserve. However, the available SPECT and PET tracers for myocardial perfusion imaging have some limitations that must be considered to maximize their clinical applications and there is still a well-recognized need for the development of new perfusion tracers with more ideal properties. This review illustrates the current status and the future perspectives of blood flow tracers for SPECT and PET myocardial perfusion imaging.

The interaction of sodium and potassium ions in the context of the primary entry of Na(+) into plant cells, and the subsequent development of sodium toxicity, has been the subject of much recent attention. In the present study, the technique of compartmental analysis with the radiotracers (42)K(+) and (24)Na(+) was applied in intact seedlings of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) to test the hypothesis that elevated levels of K(+) in the growth medium will reduce both rapid, futile Na(+) cycling at the plasma membrane, and Na(+) build-up in the cytosol of root cells, under saline conditions (100 mM NaCl). We reject this hypothesis, showing that, over a wide (400-fold) range of K(+) supply, K(+) neither reduces the primary fluxes of Na(+) at the root plasma membrane nor suppresses Na(+) accumulation in the cytosol. By contrast, 100 mM NaCl suppressed the cytosolic K(+) pool by 47-73%, and also substantially decreased low-affinity K(+) transport across the plasma membrane. We confirm that the cytosolic [K(+)]:[Na(+)] ratio is a poor predictor of growth performance under saline conditions, while a good correlation is seen between growth and the tissue ratios of the two ions. The data provide insight into the mechanisms that mediate the toxic influx of sodium across the root plasma membrane under salinity stress, demonstrating that, in the glycophyte barley, K(+) and Na(+) are unlikely to share a common low-affinity pathway for entry into the plant cell.

Uptake of waterborne Cd, Co, Mn and Zn was determined in laboratory experiments using radiotracer techniques (Cd-109, Co-57, Mn-54 and Zn-65). Labelled Zn was mainly accumulated in the digestive gland (65%) and Co in kidneys (81%); Cd and Mn were similarly distributed in digestive gland and gills. In a complementary field study, Ag, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, and Zn were analysed in scallops collected at two stations showing different contamination levels. Digestive gland and kidneys displayed the highest concentrations. Ag, As, Cd, and Fe differed in soft tissues from the two stations, suggesting that Comptopallium radula could be a valuable local biomonitor species for these elements. Low Mn and Zn concentrations found in kidneys suggest that their content in calcium-phosphate concretions differs from the other pectinids. Preliminary risk considerations suggest that As would be the only element potentially leading to exposure of concern for seafood consumers. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The already reported 1-in.2 field of view mini gamma camera known since 1998 with the name of Imaging Probe (IP), has been used for sentinel node localization by a medical equipe that, though trained by the group of nuclear physicians of the University “La Sapienza” who first conceived and used this detector, has used IP in its own Hospital to: (1) gain experience for future use during operations—a cooperative work on IP radio guided orthopaedic operations has already started working, and (2) to start with IP multicenter trials. In six patients with breast cancer, who underwent lymphoscintigraphy for sentinel node biopsy, sentinel node was checked and located with IP and non-imaging Neoprobe 2000 CdTe (Zn) probe, independent of location by means of large field of view Anger camera. Operators who used Neoprobe and IP were blinded to each other and not aware of the results of Anger camera imaging. Anger camera, as well as IP and neoprobe detected 7 nodes in 6 pts. Detection time was 2′, 06″ SD 26″ with IP and 2′, 18″ SD 47″ with neoprobe 2000. The most difficult to find node required 2 min and 56 s—inside sd—for IP detection and 3 min and 45 s with neoprobe. Subjective impression of being sure of having detected sentinel node was: absolutely sure on 7/7 nodes with IP and on 5/7 nodes with neoprobe.

A method for synthesis of radiolabelled silver nanoparticles is reported. The method is based on proton activation of silver metal powder, enriched in 107Ag, with a 30.7 MeV proton beam. At this proton energy 105gAg is efficiently created, mainly via the 107Ag(p,3n)105Cd → 105gAg reaction. 105gAg has a half-life of 41.29 days and emits easily detectable gamma radiation on decay to 105Pd. This makes it very useful as a tracing radionuclide for experiments over several weeks or months. Following activation and a period to allow short-lived radionuclides to decay, the powder was dissolved in concentrated nitric acid in order to form silver nitrate (AgNO3), which was used to synthesise radiolabelled silver nanoparticles via the process of sodium borohydride reduction. For comparison, non-radioactive silver nanoparticles were synthesised using commercially supplied AgNO3 in order to check if the use of irradiated Ag powder as a starting material would alter in any way the final nanoparticle characteristics. Both nanoparticle types were characterised using dynamic light scattering, zeta-potential and X-ray diffraction measurements, while additionally the non-radioactive samples were analysed by transmission electron microscopy and UV–Vis spectrometry. A hydrodynamic diameter of about 16 nm was determined for both radiolabelled and non-radioactive nanoparticles, while the electron microscopy on the non-radioactive samples indicated that the physical size of the metal NPs was (7.3 ± 1.4) nm., This study has been partially supported by the European Commission’s 7th Framework Programme project QualityNano under the contract agreement SP4-CAPACITIES- 2010-262163.

Bevacizumab is thought to normalize tumor vasculature and restore the blood-brain barrier, decreasing enhancement and peritumoral edema. Conventional measurements of tumor response rely upon dimensions of enhancing tumor. After bevacizumab treatment, glioblastomas are more prone to progress as nonenhancing tumor. The RANO (Response Assessment in Neuro-Oncology) criteria for glioma response use fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR)/T2 hyperintensity as a surrogate for nonenhancing tumor; however, nonenhancing tumor can be difficult to differentiate from other causes of FLAIR/T2 hyperintensity (e.g., radiation-induced gliosis). Due to these difficulties, recent efforts have been directed toward identifying new biomarkers that either predict treatment response or accurately measure response of both enhancing and nonenhancing tumor shortly after treatment initiation. This will allow for earlier treatment decisions, saving patients from the adverse effects of ineffective therapies while allowing them to try alternative therapies sooner. An active area of research is the use of physiologic imaging, which can potentially detect treatment effects before changes in tumor size are evident.

In this paper, we showed that Cerenkov radiation (CR) escaping from the surface of small living animals injected with (18)F-FDG can be detected with optical imaging techniques. (18)F decays by emitting positrons with a maximum energy of 0.635 MeV; such positrons, when travelling into tissues faster than the speed of light in the same medium, are responsible of CR emission. A detailed model of the CR spectrum considering the positron energy spectrum was developed in order to quantify the amount of light emission. The results presented in this work were obtained using a commercial optical imager equipped with charged coupled detectors (CCD). Our data open the door to optical imaging (OI) in vivo of the glucose metabolism, at least in pre-clinical research. We found that the heart and bladder can be clearly identified in the animal body reflecting the accumulation of the (18)F-FDG. Moreover, we describe two different methods based on the spectral analysis of the CR that can be used to estimate the depth of the source inside the animal. We conclude that (18)F-FDG can be employed as it is as a bimodal tracer for positron emission tomography (PET) and OI techniques. Our results are encouraging, suggesting that it could be possible to apply the proposed approach not only to beta(+) but also to pure beta(-) emitters.

Five salt marsh sediment cores from different parts of the Venice Lagoon were studied to determine their depositional history and its relationship with the environmental changes occurred during the past approximately 100 years. X-radiographs of the cores show no disturbance related to particle mixing. Accretion rates were calculated using a constant flux model applied to excess (210)Pb distributions in the cores. The record of (137)Cs fluxes to the sites, determined from (137)Cs profiles and the (210)Pb chronologies, shows inputs from the global fallout of (137)Cs in the late 1950s to early 1960s and the Chernobyl accident in 1986. Average accretion rates in the cores are comparable to the long-term average rate of mean sea level rise in the Venice Lagoon ( approximately 0.25 cm y(-1)) except for a core collected in a marsh presumably affected by inputs from the Dese River. Short-term variations in accretion rate are correlated with the cumulative frequency of flooding, as determined by records of Acqua Alta, in four of the five cores, suggesting that variations in the phenomena causing flooding (such as wind patterns, storm frequency and NAO) are short-term driving forces for variations in marsh accretion rate.

The synthesis of new radiotracers to diagnose earlier Alzheimer's disease by Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is a rapidly growing field. Inisitol derivatives, which show aggregative properties to amyloid plaques, have been chosen as scaffold to create and synthesize new radiolabelled compounds for a early diagnostic. Four types of radiotracers have been designed. The first one is the scyllo-inositol in which one hydroxyl group is replaced by a fluorine-18. The second and third generations are inositols in myo and scyllo configurations where the fluorine-18 atom is carried by an alkyl chain. The structure of inositols is then preserved. Finally for the last generation, the alkyl chain bearing the fluorine-18 is introduced via an ether linkage. The synthesis of this type of molecules allows the incorporation of a longer spacer., La synthèse de nouveaux radiotraceurs permettant un diagnostic précoce de la maladie d'Alzheimer par imagerie par tomographie de Positron (TEP) est en plein essor. Des dérivés d'inositols, ayant montré des propriétés d'agrégation vis-à-vis des plaques amyloïdes, ont été choisis comme plateforme, afin de concevoir et de synthétiser de nouveaux traceurs pour cette maladie. Quatre générations de radiotraceurs ont été conçues. La première génération est le scyllo-inisitol dont un des hydroxyles est remplacé par un fluor-18. Les secondes et troisièmes générations correspondent à des inositols de configuration myo et scyllo sur lesquels est accroché un bras-espaceur carboné de 1 à 3 atomes de carbone portant le fluor-18. Ceci permettra de conserver la structure de l'inositol. La dernière génération correspond à un inositol sur lequel le bras carboné portant le fluor est additionné par création d'un lien de type éther. La synthèse de cette famille de molécules permet ainsi d'obtenir un bras plus long.