Efficacy of 99mTc pertechnetate and 131I radioisotope therapy in sodium/iodide symporter (NIS)-expressing neuroendocrine tumors in vivo

There is growing interest in the human sodium/iodide symporter (NIS) gene both as a molecular imaging reporter gene and as a therapeutic gene. Here, we show the feasibility of radioisotope therapy of neuroendocrine tumors. As a separate application of NIS gene transfer, we image NIS-expressing tumors with pinhole SPECT in living subjects.Biodistribution studies and in vivo therapy experiments were performed in nude mice carrying stably NIS-expressing neuroendocrine tumor xenografts following i.v. injection of (131)I and (99m)Tc pertechnetate. To show the usefulness of NIS as an imaging reporter gene, (99m)Tc pertechnetate uptake was imaged in vivo using a clinical gamma camera in combination with a custom-made single pinhole collimator, followed by SPECT/small animal MRI data coregistration.NIS-expressing neuroendocrine tumors strongly accumulated (131)I and (99m)Tc pertechnetate, as did thyroid, stomach, and salivary gland. The volume of NIS-expressing neuroendocrine tumors decreased significantly after therapeutic administration of (131)I or (99m)Tc pertechnetate, whereas control tumors continued to grow. NIS-mediated uptake of (99m)Tc pertechnetate could be imaged in vivo at high resolution with a clinical gamma camera equipped with a custom-made single pinhole collimator. High-resolution functional and morphologic information could be combined in a single three-dimensional data set by coregistration of SPECT and small animal MRI data. Lastly, we demonstrated a therapeutic effect of (99m)Tc pertechnetate on NIS-expressing neuroendocrine tumors in cell culture and, for the first time, in vivo, thought to be due to emitted Auger and conversion electrons.NIS-expressing neuroendocrine tumors efficiently concentrate radioisotopes, allowing for in vivo high-resolution small animal SPECT imaging as well as rendering possible successful radioisotope therapy of neuroendocrine tumors

Thermo-chemical Conversion of Biomass and Upgrading to Biofuel: The Thermo-Catalytic Reforming Process - A Review

Thermo‐catalytic reforming (TCR®) is a promising conversion technology for the production of liquid bio‐fuels. The process is a proven opportunity to convert biological wastes and residues into hydrogen‐rich syngas, high‐quality oil, and char without volatiles. Bio‐oil produced from TCR® has a high carbon content, low water content, low oxygen content, and a high heating value; it is therefore directly applicable as feed in boilers or as blend in dual fuel engines. A feasible opportunity for using bio‐oil in automotive combustion engines is a further upgrade step to bio‐fuel by hydrogenation. During this hydrotreatment, heterogeneous atoms like sulfur, nitrogen, and oxygen are removed or substituted with hydrogen. Fraunhofer UMSICHT already produces gasoline and diesel that comply with European fuel standards EN 228 and EN 590, using different catalysts like NiMo/Al2O3, CoMo/Al2O3, and Ru/C for hydrogenation at 643 K and a constant hydrogen pressure of 14 MPa. Various hydrocarbons and benzene derivatives are verified after hydrotreating