Evaluation of a gamma technique for the assay of radioactive waste drums using two measurements from opposing directions

A technique using two measurements from opposing directions for the assay of the activity of radioactive waste drums, mainly consisting of organic materials, has been studied. A model for the calculation of systematic errors is given by simulating the measurement system. The calculated values are in good agreement with the experimental values. This confirms the validity of the model and proofs the good performance of this technique in practice. These results may provide guidelines for setting up a measuring system for the assay the radwaste drums.     

Preparation and first biological evaluation of novel Re-188/Tc-99m peptide conjugates with substance-P

IntroductionNew ¹⁸⁸Re and ^99mTc peptide conjugates with substance- P (SP) were prepared and biologically evaluated. The radiopharmaceuticals have been labelled with the [M≡N]²⁺ (M=^99mTc, ¹⁸⁸Re) core using a combination of π-donor tridentate and π-acceptor monodentate ancillary ligands.MethodsThe new radiopharmaceuticals have been prepared through a two-step reaction by simultaneous addition of the tridentate and monodentate ligands to a vial containing a preformed [M≡N]²⁺ core. The tridentate ligand was formed by linking two cysteine residues to the terminal arginine of the undecapeptide SP, whereas the monodentate ligand was a tertiary phosphine. The preparation of the corresponding Re-188 derivative required developing a more complex chemical procedure to obtain the [Re≡N]²⁺ core in satisfactory yields. Characterization of the resulting products was obtained by chromatographic methods. Biological evaluation was performed for both Tc-99m and Re-188 derivatives by in-vitro studies on isolated cells expressing NK1-receptors. In-vivo imaging in mice was carried out using a small-animal YAP(S)PET tomograph.ConclusionNew Tc-99m and Re-188 peptide radiopharmaceuticals with SP have been prepared in high-yield and with high-specific activity. Both Tc-99m and Re-188 peptide radioconjugates exhibit high affinity for NK1 receptors, thus giving further evidence to the empirical rule that structurally related Tc-99m and Re-188 radiopharmaceuticals exhibit identical biological properties.     

一种快速调强放射治疗直接子野优化方法

目的:调强放射治疗是治疗癌症的一种主要手段。对放射治疗计划进行优化是实现调强放射治疗的关键步骤。传统的直接子野优化方法比较耗时,为了改进此缺点,本文提出一种基于共轭梯度法的快速直接子野优化方法。方法:将多叶光栅的叶片位置和子野的权重同时纳入问题模型,将该直接子野优化问题建模为一个非线性数学优化问题。直接求解该问题比较困难,采用"分而治之"的策略,将其分解为两个较容易的子问题。第一步采用共轭梯度法来优化子野权重,第二步通过移动叶片的方法来优化子野形状,两个步骤交替进行,最终在较短时间内找到满足要求的治疗方案。结果:本文对两个临床病例:胰腺肿瘤病例和头部肿瘤进行了测试。对胰腺肿瘤病例的优化用了3 min 20 s,优化后靶区和危及器官的剂量体积直方图以及等剂量线均满足临床要求。对头部肿瘤病例的优化用了9 min 37 s,尽管该病例包含较多的勾画器官,器官分布较集中,对优化提出了较大挑战,但优化后靶区和危及器官的剂量体积直方图以及等剂量线还是能较好的满足临床要求。结论:本文提出的方法很好的解决了调强放射治疗中一个复杂的非线性优化问题,对临床两例实际病例的测试结果显示,该方法可以在较短时间内找到满足要求的治疗方案,有较好的临床实用价值。     

Electrolytic extraction of dysprosium and thermodynamic evaluation of Cu–Dy intermetallic compound in eutectic LiCl–KCl

The electrochemical reduction of dysprosium(iii) was studied on W and Cu electrodes in eutectic LiCl–KCl by transient electrochemical methods. Cyclic voltammogram and current reversal chronopotentiogram results demonstrated that dysprosium(iii) was directly reduced to dysprosium (0) on the W electrode through a single-step process with the transfer of three electrons. Electrochemical measurements on the Cu electrode showed that different Cu–Dy intermetallics are formed. Moreover, the thermodynamic properties of Cu–Dy intermetallic compounds were estimated by open circuit chronopotentiometry in a temperature range of 773–863 K. Using the linear polarization method, the exchange current density (j₀) of dysprosium in eutectic LiCl–KCl on the Cu electrode was estimated, and the temperature dependence of j₀ was studied to estimate the activation energies associated with Dy(iii)/Cu₅Dy and Dy(iii)/Cu_9/2Dy couples. In addition, potentiostatic electrolysis was conducted to extract dysprosium on the Cu electrode, and five Cu–Dy intermetallic compounds, CuDy, Cu₂Dy, Cu_9/2Dy, Cu₅Dy and Cu_0.99Dy_0.01 were identified by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectrometry. Meanwhile, the change of dysprosium(iii) concentration was monitored using inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry, and the maximum extraction efficiency of dysprosium was found to reach 99.2%.

The electrochemical reduction of dysprosium(iii) was studied on W and Cu electrodes in eutectic LiCl–KCl by transient electrochemical methods.     

Human exposure in Italy to lead,cadmium and mercury through fish and seafood product consumption from Eastern Central Atlantic Fishing Area

The presence of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb) and mercury (Hg) was investigated in fish and seafood products collected from the FAO Major Fishing Area 34, Eastern Central Atlantic. Samples were purchased from different retail outlets in Italy. Samples were selected so as to assess human exposure through diet. Metals were detected by Q-ICP-MS and Hg-AAS. All the metal concentrations detected were largely below the maximum levels (MLs) established by the European Union. The exposure assessment was undertaken by matching the concentration of Cd, Pb and total Hg in fish and other seafood products selected purposed according to Italian consumption data. The estimated weekly intakes (EWIs) for the evaluated elements related to the consumption of fish and other seafood products by the median of the Italian total population accounted for 14%, 2% and 14% of the standard tolerable weekly intake (TWI) for Cd and Hg as well as the provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) for Pb, respectively.     

基于笔形束散射核的非均匀模体透射平面散射线分析

目的:利用蒙特卡罗方法分析透射平面上散射光子的物理性质以及非均匀模体厚度对散射核的影响,为基于电子射野影像设备（EPID）的在体剂量验证研究提供基础。方法:利用EGSnrc建立笔形束散射核模型,并模拟获得X射线穿过非均匀模体（水肺水/水骨水模体）以及相应等效厚度水模后30 cm处透射平面上的多种散射线能量注量分布,并分析水肺水/水骨水模体与其等效厚度水模体在散射线能量注量分布上的差异。结果:散射核中一阶康普顿散射线最大能量注量在1×10-4 MeV·cm-2数量级,当离轴距离为8~12 cm时下降至最大值的一半,而散射核中其它散射线能量注量最大值在1×10-5 MeV·cm-2数量级附近或以下。对于水肺水/水骨水模体,散射核能量注量相对偏差变化为±1.2%~±11.5%,且随模体非均匀层厚度增大而增大。结论:散射核中一阶康普顿散射线占比最大,同时也贡献了大部分能量注量相对偏差,在通过散射核来重建非均匀模体后EPID平面上的射线分布时,应着重考虑一阶康普顿散射线对重建结果的影响,并对其进行有效的修正。     

Labeling of ceftriaxone for infective inflammation imaging using 99mTc eluted from 99Mo/99mTc generator based on zirconium molybdate

Zirconium molybdate gel was prepared by mixing ⁹⁹Mo, produced from ⁹⁸Mo(n,γ) reaction and Zr solutions in nitrate media with excess H₂O₂, and used as the base material for ⁹⁹Mo/^99mTc generator. The prepared generator showed a good performance. ^99mTc eluted from the prepared generator passed the quality control tests with specifications meeting the requirements of European and US Pharmacopeias. The ^99mTc eluate was used for labeling of cephalosporin analogue, ceftriaxone, which was then assessed for infection imaging in a mouse model. ^99mTc-ceftriaxone was prepared at pH 9 with a radiochemical yield of 95±2% by adding ^99mTc to 30 mg ceftriaxone in the presence of 50 μg SnCl₂·2H₂O. Biodistribution studies in mice were carried out using experimentally induced infection in the left thigh using E. coli. Both thighs of the mice were dissected and counted to evaluate the ratio of bacterial infected thigh/contralateral thigh. ^99mTc-ceftriaxone showed high uptake in the infectious lesion (T/NT =5.6±0.6 at 4 h post injection). The abscess to normal muscle ratio indicated that ^99mTc-ceftriaxone could be used for infection imaging. Besides, in vitro studies showed that ^99mTc-ceftriaxone can differentiate between bacterial infection and sterile inflammation.     

A validation of computational phantoms from photographic images for patient-tailored whole body counting

This study attempted to validate a new method for patient-tailored efficiency calibration. Digital calibration with Monte Carlo simulations was used to substitute the lack of precision limitation due to the limited number of experimental phantoms in whole body counting calibration for internal dosimetry. The validity of this approach was examined by comparing the simulation results to the measured values from actual measurements using family BOMAB phantoms. The computational voxel phantoms were constructed by a reconstruction technique using AP and lateral photographic images of the BOMAB phantoms, instead of using the given specifications provided with BOMAB phantoms. Although discrepancies to a certain degree between the computational simulation and measured efficiencies do exist, the results support the new approach of being an alternative to family BOMAB phantoms.     

Characterization of “γ-Eye”: a Low-Cost Benchtop Mouse-Sized Gamma Camera for Dynamic and Static Imaging Studies

Purpose

Several preclinical imaging systems are commercially available, but their purchase and maintenance costs make them unaffordable for the majority of small- and medium-sized groups. Taking into account the needs of average users, we developed “γ-eye”, a mouse-sized, benchtop γ-camera suitable for in vivo scintigraphic imaging.

Procedures

The γ-eye is based on two position-sensitive photomultiplier tubes, coupled to a CsI(Na) pixelated scintillator and a low-energy lead collimator with parallel hexagonal holes.

Results

The spatial resolution of the system is 2 mm at 0 mm. The energy resolution is 26 % at 140 keV and the maximum recorded sensitivity 210 cps/MBq. The system was evaluated in a proof-of-concept animal study, using three different clinical Tc-99m-labeled radiopharmaceuticals. Phantom and animal studies demonstrate its ability to provide semiquantitative results even for short scans.

Conclusions

Systems’ performance, dimensions, and cost make γ-eye a unique solution for efficient whole-body mouse nuclear imaging.

     

Characteristics of focusing high-energy heavy ion microbeam system at the JAEA AVF cyclotron

Ion optical analysis was made for a new focusing high-energy heavy ion microbeam system connected to the AVF cyclotron (K=110) at the accelerator facility, TIARA of JAEA Takasaki. The focusing performance of the microbeam system was estimated from both the calculation up to third-order term using TRANSPORT code and the measurement of beam resolution with the secondary electron imaging. As a result, a minimum beam size was evaluated at 0.56 and 0.62 μm in FWHM for the X and Y directions, respectively. The high-energy heavy ion microbeam system seemed to have been established as designed by the calculation with the TRANSPORT code, because it was confirmed that the calculation results was fairly reproduced by the measurement result.