PAEDIATRIC SYMPTOMATIC SEIZURES IN INDIA: UNRAVELLING VARIED ETIOLOGIES AND NEUROIMAGING PATTERNS - A MULTICENTRIC STUDY

Pediatric neuroimaging presents a unique set of challenges, primarily stemming from the intricacies of normal myelination processes occurring within the initial two years of life. This complexity is particularly pronounced in the context of pediatric epilepsy, where a substantial proportion of neuroimaging cases appears normal, especially in instances of idiopathic or provoked seizures. Nevertheless, abnormalities in neuroimaging tend to manifest in cases of acute or remote symptomatic seizures. Notably, the etiological landscape of seizures in children diverges significantly from that observed in adults, with neurodevelopmental, neurometabolic, and neuro-infectious factors emerging as predominant contributors. This multicentric study, conducted between November 2021 and November 2023, spanned diverse hospitals across various states in India. Encompassing children from birth to 12 years of age experiencing acute and remote symptomatic seizures, the study meticulously documented clinical and demographic profiles. Exclusion criteria were applied, excluding typical febrile seizures and idiopathic epilepsy syndromes to ensure a focused analysis. The study encompassed a total of 109 cases, revealing a spectrum of neuroimaging findings. Noteworthy among these were cortical malformations, including focal cortical dysplasia (12 cases), tuberous sclerosis (6 cases), polymicrogyria (3 cases), hemimegalencephaly (1 case), lissencephaly (1 case), schizencephaly (2 cases), heterotopias (3 cases), cavernous hemangioma (1 case), and AV malformation (1 case). Additionally, neoplastic lesions (6 cases), neurocysticercosis (5 cases), tuberculoma (4 cases), hippocampal sclerosis (3 cases), post-hypoxic and cerebrovascular accident gliosis (3 cases), leukodystrophies (2 cases), and non-lesional cases (58 cases) were documented. Pediatric neuroimaging in symptomatic seizures may present with normal findings, influenced by interpreter bias and the non-uniform availability of 3T MRI across different medical centers. The diverse causative factors for symptomatic seizures underscore the impact of demographic features, including the endemicity of specific infections and birth injuries, on the observed variability across medical centers. These findings underscore the imperative for a comprehensive understanding and standardization in pediatric neuroimaging practices.

Reprogramming of Molecular Switching Events in UPR Driven ER Stress: Scope for Development of Anticancer Therapeutics

The incitement of unfolded protein response (UPR) during endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress by diverse intracellular (hypoxia, nutrient deprivation, etc.) or extracellular (environmental or drug induced) stimuli is considered a major threat for perturbing cellular homeostasis leading to the aggregation of unfolded proteins inside the cell. The catastrophic UPR events emerge as a prime cellular adaptation by remodeling cancer cell signaling and restoring ER homeostasis in favor of tumor growth. The transient ER stress protects cancer cells from undergoing apoptosis, whereas the prolonged stress response further activates many cell death pathways. The present review summarizes the UPR mediated triggering of transcriptional and translational reprogramming, which will provide novel therapeutic strategies towards pro-death mechanisms rather than a cellular adaptation in tumorigenesis. Nonetheless, the current topic also points out the reprogramming of emerging molecular switching events by complex UPR-mediated signaling to trigger apoptosis. The novel agents from various natural, semi-synthetic and synthetic sources that target ER stress signaling pathway to modulate selectively the UPR phenomena with preclinical efficacy are outlined. Since major emphasis on ER stress-induced transcriptional and translational reprogramming remains to be explored, we believe that the current subject will instigate more attention from the biomedical researchers in this certain research direction.

AKT is indispensable for coordinating Par-4/JNK cross talk in p21 downmodulation during ER stress

The double-edged role of p21 to command survival and apoptosis is emerging. The current investigation highlights ER stress-mediated JNK activation that plausibly triggers cell death by attenuating endogenous p21 level. Here, we demonstrated that ER stress activator 3-AWA diminishes the p21 levels in cancer cells by averting the senescent phenotype to commence G2/M arrest. In essence, the deceleration in p21 level occurs through ER stress/JNK/Caspase-3 axis via activation/induction of proapoptotic Par-4 and inhibition of AKT. The molecular dynamics studies identified important interactions, which may be responsible for the AKT inhibition and efficacy of 3-AWA towards AKT binding pocket. Interestingly, the p21 deceleration was rescued by incubating the cells with 3-AWA in the presence of an ER stress inhibitor, Salubrinal. Furthermore, we demonstrated that p21 expression decreases solitarily in Par-4^+/+ MEFs; albeit, ER stress-induced JNK activation was observed in both Par-4^+/+ and Par-4^−/− MEFs. Par-4 knockdown or overexpression studies established that ectopic Par-4 along with ER stress are not sufficient to downregulate p21 in PC-3 cells but are adequate for DU-145 cells and that the ER stress inflicted activation of JNK, inhibition of AKT and Par-4 induction are all crucial to p21 downmodulation by 3-AWA. By using isogenic cell lines, such as HCT-116 p53^+/+ and HCT-116 p53^−/−, we found that deceleration in p21 expression due to ER stress is p53 independent. Moreover, in orthotopic carcinogen-induced rat colorectal carcinoma model, we found that 3-AWA inhibits colorectal tumor growth and formation of colorectal polyps at a tolerable dose, similar to the first-line drug for colorectal cancer-5-fluorouracil.

Donor-Derived Exosomes With Lung Self-Antigens in Human Lung Allograft Rejection

The immunological role of exosomes in allograft rejection remains unknown. We sought to determine whether exosomes are induced during lung allograft rejection and to define the antigenic compositions of HLA, lung-associated self-antigens (SAgs) and microRNAs (miRNAs). Exosomes were isolated from sera and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from 30 lung transplant recipients (LTxRs) who were stable or who had acute rejection (AR) or bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS). Exosomes were defined by flow cytometry for CD63 and western blotting for annexin V SAgs, collagen V (Col-V) and Kα1 tubulin were examined by electron microscopy; miRNAs were profiled by a miRNA array. Donor HLA and SAgs were detected on exosomes from LTxRs with AR and BOS but not from stable LTxRs. Exosomes expressing Col-V were isolated from sera from LTxRs 3 mo before AR and 6 mo before BOS diagnosis, suggesting that exosomes with SAgs may be a noninvasive rejection biomarker. Exosomes isolated from LTxRs with AR or BOS also contained immunoregulatory miRNAs. We concluded that exosomes expressing donor HLA, SAgs and immunoregulatory miRNAs are present in the circulation and local site after human lung transplantation and play an important role in the immune pathogenesis of acute allograft rejection and BOS.

Long-Term Persistence of Donor Alveolar Macrophages in Human Lung Transplant Recipients That Influences Donor-Specific Immune Responses

Steady-state alveolar macrophages (AMs) are long-lived lung-resident macrophages with sentinel function. Evidence suggests that AM precursors originate during embryogenesis and populate lungs without replenishment by circulating leukocytes. However, their presence and persistence are unclear following human lung transplantation (LTx). Our goal was to examine donor AM longevity and evaluate whether AMs of recipient origin seed the transplanted lungs. Origin of AMs was accessed using donor-recipient HLA mismatches. We demonstrate that 94-100% of AMs present in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) were donor derived and, importantly, AMs of recipient origin were not detected. Further, analysis of BAL cells up to 3.5 years post-LTx revealed that the majority of AMs (>87%) was donor derived. Elicitation of de novo donor-specific antibody (DSA) is a major post-LTx complication and a risk factor for development of chronic rejection. The donor AMs responded to anti-HLA framework antibody (Ab) with secretion of inflammatory cytokines. Further, in an experimental murine model, we demonstrate that adoptive transfer of allogeneic AMs stimulated humoral and cellular immune responses to alloantigen and lung-associated self-antigens and led to bronchiolar obstruction. Therefore, donor-derived AMs play an essential role in the DSA-induced inflammatory cascade leading to obliterative airway disease of the transplanted lungs.

B Cell-Activating Transcription Factor Plays a Critical Role in the Pathogenesis of Anti-Major Histocompatibility Complex-Induced Obliterative Airway Disease

Antibodies (Abs) against major histocompatibility complex (MHC) results in T helper-17 (Th17)-mediated immunity against lung self-antigens (SAgs), K-α1 tubulin and collagen V and obliterative airway disease (OAD). Because B cell-activating transcription factor (BATF) controls Th17 and autoimmunity, we proposed that BATF may play a critical role in OAD. Anti-H2K(b) was administered intrabronchially into Batf (-/-) and C57BL/6 mice. Histopathology of the lungs on days 30 and 45 after Ab administration to Batf (-/-) mice resulted in decreased cellular infiltration, epithelial metaplasia, fibrosis, and obstruction. There was lack of Abs to SAgs, reduction of Sag-specific interleukin (IL)-17 T cells, IL-6, IL-23, IL-17, IL-1β, fibroblast growth factor-6, and CXCL12 and decreased Janus kinase 2, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), and retinoid-related orphan receptor γT. Further, micro-RNA (miR)-301a, a regulator of Th17, was reduced in Batf (-/-) mice in contrast to upregulation of miR-301a and downregulation of protein inhibitor of activated STAT3 (PIAS3) in anti-MHC-induced OAD animals. We also demonstrate an increase in miR-301a in the bronchoalveolar lavage cells from lung transplant recipients with Abs to human leukocyte antigen. This was accompanied by reduction in PIAS3 mRNA. Therefore, we conclude that BATF plays a critical role in the immune responses to SAgs and pathogenesis of anti-MHC-induced rejection. Targeting BATF should be considered for preventing chronic rejection after human lung transplantation.

Dysregulated MicroRNA Expression and Chronic Lung Allograft Rejection in Recipients With Antibodies to Donor HLA

The pathogenesis of chronic rejection, Bronchiolitis Obliterans Syndrome (BOS) following lung transplantation (LT) is poorly understood. We hypothesized that development of antibodies to HLA (DSA) is associated with dysregulation of microRNA (miRNA) that predisposes BOS. Towards this, miRNA profiling of mononuclear cells from 10 stable LT (DSA(-) BOS(-) ), 10 LT with DSA(+) BOS(-) (DSA group) and 10 LT with DSA(+) BOS(+) (BOS group) were performed. Prediction by mirPath indicated that differential miRNAs in DSA(+) BOS(-) compared to stable are significantly up-regulated (relative fold >2, p < 0.05) for TGF-β and B cell receptor signal pathways. A total of seventy-four miRNAs were up-regulated and six miRNAs were down regulated in LT with DSA(+) BOS(+) when compared to stable (relative fold >2, p < 0.05). There was also significant enrichment of cell cycle and gap junction pathways. An inverse correlation between expression of two key miRNAs and their target genes were observed: miR-369-5p and miR-548d were down regulated in DSA(+) LT while their gene targets in TGF-β signal pathways were up-regulated. In addition, miR-628-5p and miR-134 were down regulated and their target genes (B cell development) were up-regulated. Therefore, we conclude that alloimmunity induced changes in miRNAs affecting the TGF-β and B cell receptor signal pathways play important roles in BOS development.

Effect of fly ash application on soil microbial response and heavy metal accumulation in soil and rice plant

Fly ash (FA), a byproduct of coal combustion in thermal power plants, has been considered as a problematic solid waste and its safe disposal is a cause of concern. Several studies proposed that FA can be used as a soil additive; however its effect on microbial response, soil enzymatic activities and heavy metal accumulation in soil and grain of rice (cv. Naveen) to fly ash (FA) application was studied in a pot experiment during dry season 2011 in an Inceptisol. Fly ash was applied at a rate of zero per cent (FS), five per cent (FA5), ten per cent (FA10), twenty per cent (FA20), 40 per cent (FA40) and 100 per cent (FA100) on soil volume basis with nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) (40:20:20mg N:P:Kkg(-1) soil) with six replications. Heavy metals contents in soil and plant parts were analysed after harvest of crop. On the other hand, microbial population and soil enzymatic activities were analysed at panicle initiation stage (PI, 65 days after transplanting) of rice. There was no significant change in the concentration of zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), cadmium (Cd) and chromium (Cr) with application of fly ash up to FA10. However, at FA100 there was significant increase of all metals concentration in soil than other treatments. Microorganisms differed in their response to the rate of FA application. Population of both fungi and actinomycetes decreased with the application of fly ash, while aerobic heterotrophic bacterial population did not change significantly up to FA40. On the other hand, total microbial activity measured in terms of Fluorescein diacetate (FDA) assay, and denitrifiers showed an increased trend up to FA40. However, activities of both alkaline and acid phosphatase were decreased with the application of FA. Application of FA at lower levels (ten to twenty per cent on soil volume basis) in soil enhanced micronutrients content, microbial activities and crop yield.

Influenza Virus Infections

Influenza, commonly known as flu, is a contagious, febrile viral disease. Common symptoms are chills, fever, sore throat, coughing, sneezing, muscle pains, headache, myalgia, etc. Influenza viruses (IVs) belonging to orthomyxovirus group are of three types (types A, B, and C). IVs are enveloped, segmented, negative-stranded RNA viruses containing eight distinct RNA segments (types A and B) and seven RNA segments (type C). Only type A viruses exhibit different subtypes. Currently, 18 hemagglutination (HA) subtypes (H1 to H18) and 11 neuraminidase (NA) subtypes (N1 to N11) are known in humans and other warm-blooded animals. Flu outbreaks occur as annual epidemics in fall and winter and infrequently, as worldwide pandemics. Annual epidemics are caused by antigenic drift due to mutations in HA and NA antigens, whereas pandemics are caused by antigenic shift due to genetic reassortment among different subtype viruses. The first pandemic of the twenty-first century, declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2009, was caused by an H1N1 virus, derived from quadruple reassortment among swine, avian, and human IVs. Currently, two types of antiinfluenza drugs, based on either blocking the M2 proton channel (amantadine and rimantadine) or inhibiting NA (oseltamivir or Tamiflu by Roche and zanamivir or Relanza by GlaxoSmithKline) are available. The virus is commonly spread by aerosol droplets and by fingertips. Therefore, washing hands and avoiding contact with infected persons are the first lines of defense. Indoor living and closeness of people in an enclosed environment in winter facilitate virus transmission leading to epidemics. Annual vaccination is the best preventative measure. Currently, two types of vaccines (subunit vaccine by injection and live attenuated vaccine by nasal spray) are available and recommended by WHO and Centers for Disease Control.

Morphology of the superior gluteal nerve: a study in adult human cadavers

The superior gluteal nerve (SGN) arises from the sacral plexus and enters the gluteal region above the piriformis where it divides into superior and an inferior branches. Former ends in the gluteus medius and occasionally gluteus minimus whereas latter supplies gluteus medius and minimus and ends in tensor fascia latae. Variations, relations, branching pattern and length of the SGN were reported in earlier studies. The present study was conducted to establish preliminary data on the length and branching pattern of the SGN and its relations with the neighbouring bony landmarks. Twenty two lower extremities were examined in 22 male and 13 female formalin fixed cadavers. Tip of the greater trochanter was determined as the point of reference. Statistical analysis was done using student's T test. Present study will help orthopedicians performing total hip replacement through lateral and transgluteal approaches (Tab. 3, Fig. 4, Ref. 19).

Blood loss in spinal tumour surgery and surgery for metastatic spinal disease: a meta-analysis

There is currently no consensus about the mean volume of blood lost during spinal tumour surgery and surgery for metastatic spinal disease. We conducted a systematic review of papers published in the English language between 31 January 1992 and 31 January 2012. Only papers that clearly presented blood loss data in spinal surgery for metastatic disease were included. The random effects model was used to obtain the pooled estimate of mean blood loss. We selected 18 papers, including six case series, ten retrospective reviews and two prospective studies. Altogether, there were 760 patients who had undergone spinal tumour surgery and surgery for metastatic spinal disease. The pooled estimate of peri-operative blood loss was 2180 ml (95% confidence interval 1805 to 2554) with catastrophic blood loss as high as 5000 ml, which is rare. Aside from two studies that reported large amounts of mean blood loss (> 5500 ml), the resulting funnel plot suggested an absence of publication bias. This was confirmed by Egger's test, which did not show any small-study effects (p = 0.119). However, there was strong evidence of heterogeneity between studies (I(2) = 90%; p < 0.001). Spinal surgery for metastatic disease is associated with significant blood loss and the possibility of catastrophic blood loss. There is a need to establish standardised methods of calculating and reporting this blood loss. Analysis should include assessment by area of the spine, primary pathology and nature of surgery so that the amount of blood loss can be predicted. Consideration should be given to autotransfusion in these patients.

Ovarian development in Wistar rat treated prenatally with single dose diisobutyl phthalate

Phthalates are a class of industrial compounds with an array of toxicological properties used in day to day life. Diisobutyl phthalate on (DIBP) is used as an additive to keep the plastics soft or flexible (plasticizer) in nitrocellulose plastic, nail polish, explosives, lacquer manufacturing etc. Although DIBP exposure in humans is generally low, people in adhesive industries and pharmaceutical industries are exposed to higher levels. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of single dose of DIBP on developing ovary of Wistar rat. One hundred and eight adult pregnant Wistar rats were divided into control and experimental groups. Rats in experimental group were given DIBP on day 10, 12 and 14 of gestation at 0.375, 0.75 and 1.25 ml/kg body weight dose intraperitoneally in a single dose. Sections of ovaries collected on day 21 of gestation were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and examined and Masson's trichrome histologically. Sections belonging to the control group showed the presence of oocytes in clusters separated by thin fibrous septa. Degeneration oocytes, empty follicles surrounded by follicular cells without gonocytes in the center were observed in ovarian stroma. Blood vessels in the ovarian stroma were prominent and congested. Around a bunch of follicles total architectural disarray was observed although on special staining fibrosis was not evident. As pregnant women are constantly exposed, effect of DIBP on ovary of a developing fetus would denote the long term consequence in future generations (Fig. 5, Ref. 39).

Sphingosine kinase 1 regulates the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and nitric oxide in activated microglia

Microglial activation has been implicated as one of the causative factors for neuroinflammation in various neurodegenerative diseases. The sphingolipid metabolic pathway plays an important role in inflammation, cell proliferation, survival, chemotaxis, and immunity in peripheral macrophages. In this study, we demonstrate that sphingosine kinase1 (SphK1), a key enzyme of the sphingolipid metabolic pathway, and its receptors are expressed in the mouse BV2 microglial cells and SphK1 alters the expression and production of proinflammatory cytokines and nitric oxide in microglia treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). LPS treatment increased the SphK1 mRNA and protein expression in microglia as revealed by the RT-PCR, Western blot and immunofluorescence. Suppression of SphK1 by its inhibitor, N, N Dimethylsphingosine (DMS), or siRNA resulted in decreased mRNA expression of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, and iNOS and release of TNF-alpha and nitric oxide (NO) in LPS-activated microglia. Moreover, addition of sphingosine 1 phosphate (S1P), a breakdown product of sphingolipid metabolism, increased the expression levels of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta and iNOS and production of TNF-alpha and NO in activated microglia. Hence to summarize, suppression of SphK1 in activated microglia inhibits the production of proinflammatory cytokines and NO and the addition of exogenous S1P to activated microglia enhances their inflammatory responses. Since the chronic proinflammatory cytokine production by microglia has been implicated in neuroinflammation, modulation of SphK1 and S1P in microglia could be looked upon as a future potential therapeutic method in the control of neuroinflammation in neurodegenerative diseases.

Attempts to chemically investigate element 112

Two experiments aiming at the chemical investigation of element 112 produced in the heavy ion induced nuclear fusion reaction of 48Ca with 238U were performed at the Gesellschaft für Schwerionenforschung (GSI), Darmstadt, Germany. Both experiments were designed to determine the adsorption enthalpy of element 112 on a gold surface using a thermochromatography setup. The temperature range covered in the thermochromatography experiments allowed the adsorption of Hg at about 35 °C and of Rn at about -180 °C. Reports from the Flerov Laboratory for Nuclear Reactions (FLNR), Dubna, Russia claim production of a 5-min spontaneous fission (SF) activity assigned to 283112 for the 238U(48Ca,3n) 283112 reaction. Hence, Experiment I was designed to detect spontaneously fissioning (SF) isotopes of element 112 with half-lives (t 1/2) longer than about 20 s. 11 high-energy events were detected. 7 events exhibit a deposition pattern resembling a chromatographic peak in the vicinity of Rn deposition. However, the energy of the events observed in Experiment I was lower than expected for a SF-decay of 283112. Therefore, these events could not be unambiguously attributed to the decay of 283112. In contradiction with earlier publications newer reports from FLNR Dubna claim that 283112 decays by α-particle emission (E α = 9.5 MeV) with t 1/2 = 4 s followed by a SF-decay of 279Ds (t 1/2 = 0.2 s). Therefore, Experiment II was designed to be sensitive to both claimed decay properties of 283112. However, during this experiment neither short α-SF correlations nor SF coincidences were detected. The conclusion is that 283112 was not unambiguously detected, neither in Experiment I nor in Experiment II.

Extraction separation of No-carrier-added astatine from bismuth target

Alpha particle activation of natural Bi2O3 results in the formation of astatine radionuclides. A simple and rapid separation method of astatine is presented from the bulk target matrix bismuth by employing liquid-liquid extraction (LLX) method using methylisobutylketone (MIBK) and hydrochloric acid. Back extraction of astatine was performed by ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) solution at pH 10.

Separation of carrier-free cerium radionuclides from different target matrix produced by heavy ion beams

Heavy ion activation of natural Sb2O3 with 78 MeV 16O6+ results in the formation of carrier-free praseodymium isotopes, 133,135Pr, and their corresponding decay products 133,135Ce, in the matrix. Also irradiation with ~ 90 MeV 19F7+ beam leads to the production of carrier-free neodymium isotopes, 135-138Nd, which decay out to 135-138Ce via 135-138Pr. Another way for the production of carrier-free 135Ce radionuclide is to irradiate CsNO3 target with 7Li3+ beam of energy 44 MeV. The shorter lived radionuclides of cerium decay out and a radiochemical procedure has been developed for the separation of carrier-free radionuclides from the bulk target matrix antimony and caesium through liquid-liquid extraction (LLX) using Aliquat 336 (tricaprylmethylammonium chloride), and di-(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid (HDEHP) as extractants.

Nucleic acid probes in periodontal diagnosis

Periodontal Disease is considered as an infection caused by a variety of microorganisms. Considering the vast range of microbial species involved in the causation of periodontal diseases, a specific diagnostic procedure, to identify the various organisms involved is a major necessity. A number of diagnostic procedures, including microbiological and immunological have been utilized in the diagnosis of periodontal disease. The DNA probe technology provides both a sensitive and specific assay and also alleviates concern for transport of the fastidious microorganisms in clinical samples, fulfills the need for a specific and rapid test, that does not require the preservation of viable microorganisms. DNA probes are now being used to identify the various putative pathogen's including; A. actinomycetemcomitans, P. gingivalis, P. intermedia, B. forsythus, etc. Besides DNA probes have also been proven an advantage over the various other available procedures in periodontal diagnosis.

HbA1c predicts length of stay in patients admitted for coronary artery bypass surgery

Diabetes mellitus is associated with coronary artery disease, and diabetic patients are frequently referred for coronary bypass graft surgery. It is well known that HbA1c, which reflects long-term glycemic control, is related to diabetic morbidity and mortality. It is not known whether HbA1c is related to postoperative length of stay among patients who undergo coronary artery bypass surgery. The authors evaluated 135 patients who underwent bypass surgery at the Westchester Medical Center (Valhalla, NY). HbA1c was measured in all patients preoperatively; a value of 7% or greater was used as a threshold for uncontrolled hyperglycemia. A postoperative length of stay of 6 days or more was used as the cutoff for an extended length of stay. Linear regression was used to assess the relationship between HbA1c, adjusted for age, and length of stay in days. Logistic regression, with length of stay a binary variable <6, > or =6 days, was used to assess the accuracy of HbA1c <7%, > or =7%, adjusted for age, in predicting length of stay. An HbA1c of 7% or greater was found to be a strong predictor of a length of stay of 6 days or longer. These data suggest that HbA1c can be used as a surrogate marker for cardiac and noncardiac morbidity that prolongs hospitalization after coronary artery bypass surgery.

Alternative methods for the production of carrier-free (66,67)Ga

Heavy ion activation of natural cobalt foil with 52 MeV 11B4+ and 73 MeV 12C6+ results in the formation of carrier-free (66,67)Ge and (66,67)As radionuclides, respectively, along with their corresponding decay products, (66,67)Ga in the matrix. The carrier free gallium radionuclides have been separated from the bulk target matrix cobalt by employing liquid-liquid extraction method using TOA as liquid anion exchanger.

Multitracer techniques: applications in chemical and life sciences

The scope and approaches of the "multitracer technique" have briefly been reviewed. The various aspects of the "multitracer technique" include, the methods of accelerator production of "multitracers" and their separation, the application of this technique in the study of adsorption of metal ions on solid surfaces and in the study of distribution of trace elements in plants and animals.

Enamel matrix derivative in periodontal reconstructive surgery. A new approach in periodontal regeneration

True periodontal regeneration is the goal of any periodontal regenerative techniques. Cementum formation is a key event in the development of root and supporting periodontium. Due to its distribution, acellular cementum is the type most affected by early to moderate periodontitis. Studies over the past twenty years demonstrated that, enamel matrix proteins from the root sheath are involved in the formation of acellular, during tooth development. Thus the adjunctive use of enamel matrix derivatives in conjunction with regenerative periodontal surgery could possibly lead to true periodontal regeneration. The purpose of this article is to review the use of enamel matrix derivative in true periodontal regeneration.

Production and separation of carrier-free 145,146Eu from a CsNO3 target using a 16O beam

Carrier free europium isotopes 145,146Eu have been produced by irradiating a CsNO3 target with an 80 MeV 16O beam. Radiochemical separation of the produced europium isotopes from the bulk target matrix of CsNO3 have effectively been done using HDEHP, the liquid cation exchanger.

Separation of carrier-free hafnium and lutetium radionuclides produced in 16O activated terbium metal target

Charged particle activation with approximately 88 MeV 16O7+ beam on natural terbium metal foil leads to the production of the short lived carrier-free radioisotopes 170,171Ta and their corresponding daughter products 170,171Hf and 170,171Lu in the target matrix. Liquid-liquid extraction with HDEHP diluted in cyclohexane was carried out for the separation of 170,171Hf and 170,171Lu from the bulk terbium in an aqueous HCl medium.

Separation of carrier-free ytterbium and thulium produced in 80 MeV 12C6+ irradiated gadolinium foil target by liquid-liquid extraction with HDEHP

Heavy ion activation of natural gadolinium foil with 80 MeV 12C6+ results in the formation of carrier-free ytterbium isotopes, 165,166,167Yb and their corresponding decay products, 165,166,167Tm, in the matrix. Carrier-free ytterbium and thulium isotopes have been separated quantitatively from the bulk target matrix gadolinium by employing di-(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid (HDEHP) as a liquid cation exchanger.