Preliminary evaluations of the environmental impact for the production of 99Mo by fusion neutrons

AbstractENEA is developing an accelerator-driven 14 MeV neutron source exploiting the deuterium–tritium fusion reaction to produce 99Mo medical radioisotope as an alternative production route not based on fission reactors. It is expected that, during normal operation, a number of radionuclides, generated by means of neutron irradiation on the raw material (natural Molybdenum), will be produced and managed. The present manuscript, as foreseen by national law, discusses a hypothetical scenario to test the environmental screening models, in turn evaluating the mechanisms and parameters which affect and control the path of liquid effluents potentially released during normal operation of the facility. The aim is to estimate the amount of radioactivity to be operated and the fraction potentially discharged in this hypothetical scenario, so as to ensure that the radioactive material can be managed without any risk for the population and the environment, according to national regulations and thoroughly fulfilling the international guidelines

Intraductal prostate cancer: An aggressive subset of prostate cancers? Immunophenotypic evaluation

Introduction: The presence of intraductal prostate cancer in a sample is often associated with large tumor volume, an advanced stage of the disease, a high Gleason score and an increased risk of recurrence, and resistance to androgen suppression and chemotherapy, which are also correlated with reduced progression-free survival and with postoperative, biochemical relapse. Methods: The aim of our study was to investigate whether carbonic anhydrase IX (CA IX) is upregulated in prostate cancer and to investigate ERG and EZH2 as potential markers for cancer aggression in aggressive acinar disease with intraductal component prostate cancer. The series consisted of 79 cases of prostate cancer. Immunohistochemical staining was performed for EZH2 ERG and CA IX. Results: The results of this study underline the fact that EZH2 protein expression is a powerful predictor of PSA relapse in prostate cancer and that this effect is stronger in ERG-positive cancers than in ERG-negative cancers. Evident EZH2 nuclear expression was found in prostatic tumor, proposing increased EZH2 expression important for the spread of prostate cancer. Conclusions: The relationship to tumor phenotype and prognosis was more considerable in ERG-positive tumors than in ERG-negative tumors. EZH2 has gained great interest as a target for epigenetic cancer therapy. Although prostate cancer is a hypoxic tumor, it does not express CA IX and cannot be used as an endogenous marker for hypoxia. © 2022 Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications. All rights reserved

[18F]Choline PET/CT and stereotactic body radiotherapy on treatment decision making of oligometastatic prostate cancer patients: Preliminary results

Background: A new entity of patients with recurrent prostate cancer limited to a small number of active metastatic lesions is having growing interest: the oligometastatic patients. Patients with oligometastatic disease could eventually be managed by treating all the active lesions with local therapy, i.e. either surgery or ablative stereotactic body radiotherapy. This study aims to assess the impact of [18F]Choline ([18F]FMCH) PET/CT and the use stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) in patients (pts) with oligometastatic prostate cancer (PCa). Methods: Twenty-nine pts with oligometastatic PCa (≤3 synchronous active lesions detected with [18F]FMCHPET/CT) were treated with repeated salvage SBRT until disease progression (development of > three active synchronous metastases). Primary endpoint was systemic therapy-free survival measured from the baseline [18F]FMCHPET/CT. Results: A total of 45 lesions were treated with SBRT. After a median follow-up of 11.5 months (range 3-40 months), 20 pts were still in the study and did not receive any systemic therapy. Nine pts started systemic therapy, and the median time of the primary endpoint was 39.7 months (CI 12.20-62.14 months). No grade 3 or 4 toxicity was recorded. Conclusions: Repeated salvage [18F]FMCHPET/CT-guided SBRT is well tolerated and could defer the beginning of systemic therapy in selected patients with oligometastatic PCa

Xenubi - jogo sobre propriedades periódicas (em português)

Xenubi é um jogo digital; • Xenubi é um jogo que permite apenas uma pessoa jogar por vez, e sempre ela escolhe a propriedade. • Em Xenubi, o jogador vê a localização dos elementos, tanto o seu elemento quanto o do computador, na tabela. A posição dos elementos reflete a quantificação de cada uma das propriedades periódicas. • Xenubi tem uma identidade visual, cujo conceito está apoiado no ambiente do estudante, explorando o estereótipo de um relacionamento conturbado com a Química.SWF versão 8 Estes são arquivos gerados pelo Adobe Flash a partir de arquivos .fla, mas que não podem ser editados. Para acessá-los, vocês precisa ter o plugin shockwave instalado para o seu navegador. FLA versão 8 Estes são arquivos do Adobe Flash. Atenção para a possibilidade de precisar de uma versão atualizada do programa para poder abrir este arquivo. O Adobe Flash não é um software livre, e não pode ser usado de forma gratuita.JogoXenubi deve ser usado para explorar as propriedades periódicas. Pode ser usado como atividade extra-classe ou no laboratório de informática

Development and in vitro in vivo testing of mucoadhesive buccal patches releasing benzydamine and lidocaine

Mucoadhesive patches releasing topical drugs in the oral cavity at a slow, predetermined rate may present distinct advantages over traditional dosage forms such as mouthwashes, oral gels and lozenges. The present study was concerned with the preparation and evaluation of mucoadhesive buccal patches for controlled release of benzydamine (BNZ) and lidocaine (LDC). The drugs were used as hydrochlorides, or, to reduce their solubility and improve their release characteristics, as salts with pectin or polyacrylic acid. A LDC-tannic acid complex was also prepared and tested. After an initial screening of mucoadhesive polymers, tamarind gum (TG), a polysaccharide obtained from the seeds of Tamarindus indica, was selected as the adhesive component. In vitro tests, carried out on a cell line of human buccal epithelial origin, indicated a very low sensitivity for TG. The patches, prepared by compressing appropriate mixtures containing the drug salts/complexes, lactose and TG, were tested in vitro for mucoadhesion and drug release, and in vivo on human volunteers for retention and release of BNZ. The devices containing the salts of BNZ with pectin and polyacrylic acid, and the complex of LDC with tannic acid showed zero-order release kinetics in vitro. The patches adhered for over 8 h to the upper gums of the volunteers, and were perfectly tolerated. BNZ hydrochloride was released in vivo and in vitro with practically identical profiles

Xenubi - jogo sobre propriedades periódicas (em português)

Xenubi é um jogo digital; • Xenubi é um jogo que permite apenas uma pessoa jogar por vez, e sempre ela escolhe a propriedade. • Em Xenubi, o jogador vê a localização dos elementos, tanto o seu elemento quanto o do computador, na tabela. A posição dos elementos reflete a quantificação de cada uma das propriedades periódicas. • Xenubi tem uma identidade visual, cujo conceito está apoiado no ambiente do estudante, explorando o estereótipo de um relacionamento conturbado com a Química.SWF versão 8 Estes são arquivos gerados pelo Adobe Flash a partir de arquivos .fla, mas que não podem ser editados. Para acessá-los, vocês precisa ter o plugin shockwave instalado para o seu navegador. FLA versão 8 Estes são arquivos do Adobe Flash. Atenção para a possibilidade de precisar de uma versão atualizada do programa para poder abrir este arquivo. O Adobe Flash não é um software livre, e não pode ser usado de forma gratuita.JogoXenubi deve ser usado para explorar as propriedades periódicas. Pode ser usado como atividade extra-classe ou no laboratório de informática