Innovatory production of radioisotopes 117mSn, 186Re and 188Re for laboratory tests and the future application in nuclear medicine

In this work, innovatory production of three radioisotopes 117mSn, 186Re and 188Re, which can be used in nuclear medicine, is described. The natural tin and rhenium targets were irradiated by a high-energy 20 MV X-ray therapeutic beam from a medical linear accelerator. Additionally, the targets were in the photoneutron field. The radioisotopes were obtained in photonuclear and neutron reactions. A special lead-PMMA system was used to increase the slowed-down neutron flux in the target volume. The specific activities of 117mSn, 186Re and 188Re are 11 kBq/g, 2.6 MBq/g and 0.26 MBq/g in the saturation state, respectively. The produced amounts of the radioisotopes of tin and rhenium are sufficient for various laboratory tests in nuclear medicine

Histoplasmosis Cluster, Golf Course, Canada

We report a cluster of 4 cases of acute histoplasmosis (1 culture proven and 3 with positive serology, of which 2 were symptomatic) associated with exposure to soil during a golf course renovation. Patients in western Canada with compatible symptoms should be tested for histoplasmosis, regardless of their travel or exposure history

Determination of mechanical properties swine tendons for xenogenic transplantations

W pracy przedstawiono wyniki badań doświadczalnych przeprowadzonych na ścięgnach przednich kończyn świńskich. Badania przeprowadzono przy użyciu maszyny wytrzymałościowej MTS Insight. W ramach badań wyznaczono wartości modułu Younga, naprężeń oraz odkształceń ścięgien palców przednich jako preparatów do zastosowań ksenogenicznych.In this paper it was presented the results of experimental investigations, performed on the swine tendons samples dissected from anterior limbs. The main aim of investigations was to determine the mechanical properties of swine tendons for xenogenic applications. The tests were carried out with the use of MTS Insight static machine. It was determined the Young's modulus values and also the stress and strains of tendons that occurs during the static tensile test

Influence of a shape of gold nanoparticles on the dose enhancement in the wide range of gold mass concentration for high-energy X-ray beams from a medical linac

AimThis work is focused on the Monte Carlo microdosimetric calculations taking into account the influence of the AuNPs’ shape, size and mass concentration on the radiation dose enhancement for the high-energy 6 MV and 18 MV X-ray therapeutic beams from a medical linac.BackgroundDue to a high atomic number and the photoelectric effect, gold nanoparticles can significantly enhance doses of ionizing radiation. However, this enhancement depends upon several parameters, such as, inter alia, nanoparticles’ shape etc.MethodThe simulated system was composed of the therapeutic beam, a water phantom with the target volume (with and without AuNPs) located at the depth of the maximum dose, i.e. at 1.5 cm for the 6 MV beam and at 3.5 cm for the 18 MV one. In the study the GEANT4 code was used because it makes it possible to get a very short step of simulation which is required in case of simulating the radiation interactions with nanostructures.ResultsThe dependence between the dose increase and the mass concentration of gold was determined and described by a simple mathematical formula for three different shapes of gold nanoparticles — two nanorods of different sizes and a flat 2D structure. The dose increase with the saturation occurring with the increasing mass concentration of gold was observed.ConclusionsIt was found that relatively large cylindrical gold nanoparticles can limit the increase of the dose absorbed in the target volume much more than the large 2D gold nanostructure

Influence of a shape of gold nanoparticles on the dose enhancement in the wide range of gold mass concentration for high-energy X-ray beams from a medical linac

AIM: This work is focused on the Monte Carlo microdosimetric calculations taking into account the influence of the AuNPs’ shape, size and mass concentration on the radiation dose enhancement for the high-energy 6 MV and 18 MV X-ray therapeutic beams from a medical linac. BACKGROUND: Due to a high atomic number and the photoelectric effect, gold nanoparticles can significantly enhance doses of ionizing radiation. However, this enhancement depends upon several parameters, such as, inter alia, nanoparticles’ shape etc. METHOD: The simulated system was composed of the therapeutic beam, a water phantom with the target volume (with and without AuNPs) located at the depth of the maximum dose, i.e. at 1.5 cm for the 6 MV beam and at 3.5 cm for the 18 MV one. In the study the GEANT4 code was used because it makes it possible to get a very short step of simulation which is required in case of simulating the radiation interactions with nanostructures. RESULTS: The dependence between the dose increase and the mass concentration of gold was determined and described by a simple mathematical formula for three different shapes of gold nanoparticles — two nanorods of different sizes and a flat 2D structure. The dose increase with the saturation occurring with the increasing mass concentration of gold was observed. CONCLUSIONS: It was found that relatively large cylindrical gold nanoparticles can limit the increase of the dose absorbed in the target volume much more than the large 2D gold nanostructure