Spectroscopic study of the interaction of U(VI) with transferrin and albumin for speciation of U(VI) under blood serum conditions

International audienceThe quantitative description of the interactions of uranium with blood serum components is of high relevance for a rational design of molecules suitable for in vivo chelation of uranium. We have determined the stability constants for the complexation of U(VI) with human serum transferrin and albumin by time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy and difference ultraviolet spectroscopy. Both proteins interact strongly with U(VI), forming ternary complexes with carbonate acting as a synergistic anion. Together with literature data describing the interaction of U(VI) with low molecular weight inorganic and organic serum components, the speciation of U(VI) in blood serum was calculated. In agreement with published experimental data, the model calculation shows that complexation with proteins and carbonate ion governs U(VI) speciation: 35% of U(VI) is bound to proteins and 65% to carbonate. Among the protein pool, albumin is the main protein interacting with U(VI). In addition, the results show that Ca(II) must be considered in the model as a competitive metal ion with respect to U(VI) for binding to albumin surface sites. Based on these findings several promising molecules for in vivo chelation of U-230 could be identified. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Hanging Noncalculous Gallbladder

The removal of acalculous and not acutely inflamed gall-bladder in patients with typical biliary pain remains a questionable procedure. This study was conducted to present our experience. In the period 1982- 90, 1089 cases of calculous and acalculous gallbladder disease were treated in our clinic. In this period, 27 patients were subjected to cholecystectomy because of an acalculous, non inflamed gallbladder which was elongated lying in an abnormal position with a long cystic duct. The mean duration ofsymptoms supportive of cholelithiasis, was 5 years. Oral cholecystogram and ultrasonography led to the diagnosis and other causes ofchronic abdominal pain were excluded. There were 13 lumbar, 9 pelvic and 5 iliac gallbladders, with poor function in 20 of them. During cholecystectomy, the organ was invested by peritoneum and suspended in 7 cases from a mesentery. On pathological examination mild chronic inflammation was reported in 19 cases and minimal changes in 8. The minimum follow up was one year and the maximum 9 years. Complete relief of symptoms was achieved in all the cases. In conclusion, cholecystectomy should be offered in these symptomatic "hanging" gallbladders

Investigation of para-sulfonatocalix[n]arenes [n = 6, 8] as potential chelates for 230U

International audienceLiterature reports of the efficacy of para-sulfonatocalix[6]- and calix[8]-arenes as U(VI) complexants indicated that they might be useful for in vivo chelation of the novel therapeutic alhpa-emitter 230U. We have studied the complexation of U(VI) with para-sulfonatocalix[6]arene and para-sulfonatocalix[8]arene by time resolved laser induced fluorescence spectroscopy and using competition methods with Chelex resin and 4-(2-pyridylazo)resorcinol in simplified and in biological media. New thermodynamic parameters describing the stability of U(VI)-para-sulfonatocalix[n]arene [n = 6, 8] complexes were obtained. Although the interactions are strong, the complexes do not exhibit sufficient stability to compete with carbonate ions and serum proteins for complexation of U(VI) under physiological conditions

(Im)migrants’ appropriation of culture: Reciprocal influence of personal and work contexts

Increasing internationalisation in organisations demands further research on acculturation within international business (IB). Based on triangulated qualitative data on South Asian diasporas’ food consumption in the UK and Bahraini contexts, we introduce two acculturative orientations: essentialism and boundary spanning. We contribute to literature by linking acculturative orientations with relevant drivers and resulting adoption and adaptation of cultures to offer a new perspective towards analysing (im)migrants’ appropriation of culture in personal and work settings. We push the boundary of IB research by highlighting and enriching the understanding of, and reciprocity between, social and occupational contexts that shape (im)migrants’ acculturation

VideoAnalysis4ALL: An On-line Tool for the Automatic Fragmentation and Concept-based Annotation, and the Interactive Exploration of Videos.

This paper presents the VideoAnalysis4ALL tool that supports the automatic fragmentation and concept-based annotation of videos, and the exploration of the annotated video fragments through an interactive user interface. The developed web application decomposes the video into two different granularities, namely shots and scenes, and annotates each fragment by evaluating the existence of a number (several hundreds) of high-level visual concepts in the keyframes extracted from these fragments. Through the analysis the tool enables the identification and labeling of semantically coherent video fragments, while its user interfaces allow the discovery of these fragments with the help of human-interpretable concepts. The integrated state-of-the-art video analysis technologies perform very well and, by exploiting the processing capabilities of multi-thread / multi-core architectures, reduce the time required for analysis to approximately one third of the video’s duration, thus making the analysis three times faster than real-time processing

Targeted alpha-radionuclide therapy of functionally critically located gliomas with 213Bi-DOTA-[Thi8,Met(O2)11]-substance P: a pilot trial

Purpose: Functionally critically located gliomas represent a challenging subgroup of intrinsic brain neoplasms. Standard therapeutic recommendations often cannot be applied, because radical treatment and preservation of neurological function are contrary goals. The successful targeting of gliomas with locally injected beta radiation-emitting 90Y-DOTAGA-substance P has been shown previously. However, in critically located tumours, the mean tissue range of 5mm of 90Y may seriously damage adjacent brain areas. In contrast, the alpha radiation-emitting radionuclide 213Bi with a mean tissue range of 81µm may have a more favourable toxicity profile. Therefore, we evaluated locally injected 213Bi-DOTA-substance P in patients with critically located gliomas as the primary therapeutic modality. Methods: In a pilot study, we included five patients with critically located gliomas (WHO grades II-IV). After diagnosis by biopsy, 213Bi-DOTA-substance P was locally injected, followed by serial SPECT/CT and MR imaging and blood sampling. Besides feasibility and toxicity, the functional outcome was evaluated. Results: Targeted radiopeptide therapy using 213Bi-DOTA-substance P was feasible and tolerated without additional neurological deficit. No local or systemic toxicity was observed. 213Bi-DOTA-substance P showed high retention at the target site. MR imaging was suggestive of radiation-induced necrosis and demarcation of the tumours, which was validated by subsequent resection. Conclusion: This study provides proof of concept that targeted local radiotherapy using 213Bi-DOTA-substance P is feasible and may represent an innovative and effective treatment for critically located gliomas. Primarily non-operable gliomas may become resectable with this treatment, thereby possibly improving the prognosi