Simultaneous measurement of the trace elements Al, As, B, Be, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Rb, Se, Sr, and Zn in human serum and their reference ranges by ICP-MS

The goal of this article was to establish reference ranges of the concentration of trace elements in human serum and to compare these results with those reported by other authors. We describe the sample preparation and measurement conditions that allow the rapid, precise, and accurate determination of Al, As, B, Be, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Rb, Se, Sr, and Zn in human serum samples (n=110) by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Accuracy and precision were determined by analyzing three reconstituted reference serum samples by comparison with other methods and by the standard addition procedure. The advantages of the ICP-MS method include short time of analysis of the elements mentioned, low detection limit, high precision, and high accuracy. Disadventages include a high risk of contamination due to the presence of some of the elements of interest in the environment, the relatively delicate sample handling, and the high cost of the equipmen

Concentration of 17 trace elements in serum and whole blood of plains viscachas (Lagostomus maximus) by ICP-MS, their reference ranges, and their relation to cataract

The reference ranges of the trace elements Al, As, Be, B, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Li, Rb, Se, Sr, and Zn were determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) in sera of a group of free-ranging plains viscachas of the pampa grasslands of Argentina. The values were compared with those of a small group of captive plains viscachas of the Zurich Zoo with diabetes and bilateral cataracts. In addition, a method for digestion of whole-blood samples is described for the trace element determination. Significant differences in the concentration of trace elements in the two groups of animals are discussed. No correlation was found between the levels of selenium and of other trace elements compared to the formation of cataract

Einfluss des Anbausystems auf Ertrag und Gesundheit von Winterweizen

In a long-term trial in central Switzerland, yield and health of winter wheat was examined under organic, extensive and intensive management. In the organic cropping system, soil was ploughed and fertilised with cattle dung. In the extensive system, soil was cultivated ploughless and dung was supplemented by mineral fertiliser. Herbicides were used, but no growth regulators or fungicides. In the intensive system, soil was ploughed and manure was based on cattle dung and mineral fertiliser with 20 % more nitrogen than in the extensive system. For plant protection, herbicides, growth regulators and fungicides were used. In the period from 2004 to 2007, average winter wheat yields of the intensive and the extensive crop management system exceeded those of the organic production by 21.3 % and 5.5 % respectively. This was probably due to the higher level of fertilisation and plant protection. In 2007, a year with frequent rain during the summer, the infestation of grains with Microdochium nivale and Fusarium graminearum was lowest in the organic wheat. In consequence, its germination capacity was higher and the deoxynivalenol content was lower compared with the other systems. The increased grain infestation with F. graminearum and the higher deoxynivalenol content of wheat grains in the extensive system can be explained by the ploughless tillage, with straw from the previous maize crop remaining on the soil surface

Einfluss von Phytophthora infestans auf den Kartoffelertrag in Abhängigkeit von der Nährstoffversorgung und optimierten Kupferapplikationen

Late blight, caused by Phytophthora infestans is commonly thought to be the factor most limiting yield in organic potato production. However, because there is no fully effective fungicide available to control late blight, there are virtually no yield loss data available for organic farming conditions. In large-scale experiments covering 2-6 ha from 2000-2002, late blight assessments were conducted throughout the season in small sections throughout the field. The same sections were harvested, resulting in between 400 and 700 data points per experiment and year. In a second set of experiments, from 2002-2004, the interactive effects of N-availability in the soil, climatic conditions and late blight were studied in the presence and absence of copper fungicides for the mid-early main-crop potato variety Nicola. Again, late blight and yield assessments were conducted within defined sections in the field resulting in about 100 data points per experiment. In 2005 and 2006, new copper products with minimal copper contents (157g Cu/ha and applica-tion) and optimised applications using the model Bio-PhytoPRE were integrated. Depending on year and variety, between 0 and 40% of the variation in yield could be explained through late blight severity. Copper fungicides in most cases did slow down epidemics somewhat adding an average of 3 days to the growth duration. However, only 26% of the variation in yield could be attributed to disease reductions. A multi-variate model including disease reduction, growth duration and temperature sum, and soil mineral N contents for the years 2002-2004 (FINCKH et al., 2006) could explain 61% of the observed variation in yield. However, the model failed when N-supply was extremely high. In 2005-2006, without the forecasting model, copper had no significant effect on dis-ease in plots with low nutrient availability while minimised applications combined with the forecasting model resulted in more reliable disease reductions even under low nutrient conditions. A reduction of the current maximally allowed Copper inputs from 3 kg to 1.5 kg per ha and year should thus be considered. Overall yield gains through copper applications were only 10% on average. The economic usefulness of copper applications needs to be scrutinised before recommending its use. The implications of the results on the management of organic potatoes will be discussed

Lutetium-labelled peptides for therapy of neuroendocrine tumours

Treatment with radiolabelled somatostatin analogues is a promising new tool in the management of patients with inoperable or metastasized neuroendocrine tumours. Symptomatic improvement may occur with 177Lu-labelled somatostatin analogues that have been used for peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT). The results obtained with 177Lu-[DOTA0,Tyr3]octreotate (DOTATATE) are very encouraging in terms of tumour regression. Dosimetry studies with 177Lu-DOTATATE as well as the limited side effects with additional cycles of 177Lu-DOTATATE suggest that more cycles of 177Lu-DOTATATE can be safely given. Also, if kidney-protective agents are used, the side effects of this therapy are few and mild and less than those from the use of 90Y-[DOTA0,Tyr3]octreotide (DOTATOC). Besides objective tumour responses, the median progression-free survival is more than 40 months. The patients' self-assessed quality of life increases significantly after treatment with 177Lu-DOTATATE. Lastly, compared to historical controls, there is a benefit in overall survival of several years from the time of diagnosis in patients treated with 177Lu-DOTATATE. These findings compare favourably with the limited number of alternative therapeutic approaches. If more widespread use of PRRT can be guaranteed, such therapy may well become the therapy of first choice in patients with metastasized or inoperable neuroendocrine tumours

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray study of haem-binding protein from the bloodsucking insect Rhodnius prolixus

Rhodnius haem-binding protein (RHBP) from the bloodsucking insect Rhodnius prolixus, a 15 kDa protein, has been crystallized using polyethylene glycol as a precipitant. X-ray diffraction data have been collected at a synchrotron source. The crystals belong to the space group P4(1(3))2(1)2, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 64.98, c = 210.68 Angstrom, and diffract beyond 2.6 Angstrom resolution.57686086

Joint EANM/SNMMI procedure guideline for the use of 177Lu-labeled PSMA-targeted radioligand-therapy (177Lu-PSMA-RLT)

Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is expressed by the majority of clinically significant prostate adenocarcinomas, and patients with target-positive disease can easily be identified by PSMA PET imaging. Promising results with PSMA-targeted radiopharmaceutical therapy have already been obtained in early-phase studies using various combinations of targeting molecules and radiolabels. Definitive evidence of the safety and efficacy of [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 in combination with standard-of-care has been demonstrated in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, whose disease had progressed after or during at least one taxane regimen and at least one novel androgen-axis drug. Preliminary data suggest that 177Lu-PSMA-radioligand therapy (RLT) also has high potential in additional clinical situations. Hence, the radiopharmaceuticals [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 and [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-I&T are currently being evaluated in ongoing phase 3 trials. The purpose of this guideline is to assist nuclear medicine personnel, to select patients with highest potential to benefit from 177Lu-PSMA-RLT, to perform the procedure in accordance with current best practice, and to prepare for possible side effects and their clinical management. We also provide expert advice, to identify those clinical situations which may justify the off-label use of [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 or other emerging ligands on an individual patient basis

Discrete Kinetic Models from Funneled Energy Landscape Simulations

A general method for facilitating the interpretation of computer simulations of protein folding with minimally frustrated energy landscapes is detailed and applied to a designed ankyrin repeat protein (4ANK). In the method, groups of residues are assigned to foldons and these foldons are used to map the conformational space of the protein onto a set of discrete macrobasins. The free energies of the individual macrobasins are then calculated, informing practical kinetic analysis. Two simple assumptions about the universality of the rate for downhill transitions between macrobasins and the natural local connectivity between macrobasins lead to a scheme for predicting overall folding and unfolding rates, generating chevron plots under varying thermodynamic conditions, and inferring dominant kinetic folding pathways. To illustrate the approach, free energies of macrobasins were calculated from biased simulations of a non-additive structure-based model using two structurally motivated foldon definitions at the full and half ankyrin repeat resolutions. The calculated chevrons have features consistent with those measured in stopped flow chemical denaturation experiments. The dominant inferred folding pathway has an “inside-out”, nucleation-propagation like character