A comparison of the chemo- and radiotoxicity of thorium and uranium at different enrichment grades

Uranium and thorium are heavy metals, and all of their isotopes are radioactive, so it is impossible to study chemical effects entirely independent of the radiation effects. In the present study, we tried to compare the chemo- and radiotoxicity of both metals, taking into account deterministic radiation damages reflected by acute radiation sickness and stochastic radiation damages leading to long-term health impairments (e.g., tumor induction). We made at first a literature search on acute median lethal doses that may be expected to be caused by chemical effects, as even acute radiation sickness as a manifestation of acute radiotoxicity occurs with latency. By simulations based on the biokinetic models of the International Commission on Radiological Protection and using the Integrated Modules for Bioassay Analysis software, we determined the amounts of uranium at different enrichment grades and thorium-232 leading to a short-term red bone marrow equivalent dose of 3.5 Sv considered to cause 50% lethality in humans. Different intake pathways for incorporation were considered, and values were compared to the mean lethal doses by chemotoxicity. To assess stochastic radiotoxicity, we calculated the uranium and thorium amounts leading to a committed effective dose of 200 mSv that is often considered critical. Mean lethal values for uranium and thorium are in the same order of magnitude so that the data do not give evidence for substantial differences in acute chemical toxicity. When comparing radiotoxicity, the reference units (activity in Bq or weight in g) must always be taken into account. The mean lethal equivalent dose to the red bone marrow of 3.5 Sv is reached by lower activities of thorium compared to uranium in soluble compounds. However, for uranium as well as thorium-232, acute radiation sickness is expected only after incorporation of amounts exceeding the mean lethal doses by chemotoxicity. Thus, acute radiation sickness is not a relevant clinical issue for either metal. Concerning stochastic radiation damages, thorium-232 is more radiotoxic than uranium if incorporating the same activities. Using weight units for comparison show that for soluble compounds, thorium-232 is more radiotoxic than low-enriched uranium in the case of ingestion but even more toxic than high-enriched uranium after inhalation or intravenous administration. For insoluble compounds, the situation differs as the stochastic radiotoxicity of thorium-232 ranges between depleted and natural uranium. For acute effects, the chemotoxicity of uranium, even at high enrichment grades, as well as thorium-232 exceeds deterministic radiotoxicity. Simulations show that thorium-232 is more radiotoxic than uranium expressed in activity units. If the comparison is based on weight units, the rankings depend on the uranium enrichment grades and the route of intake.

[Al2P4]6-, [Al2As4]6-, [Ga2P4]6- und [Ga2As4]6-, Zintl-Anionen mit 1,3-Dimethylencyclobutan-Struktur / [Al2P4]6-, [Al2As4]6-, [Ga2P4]6- and [Ga2As4]6-, Zintl Anions with 1.3-Dimethylene-cyclobutane Structure

The compounds Cs6M2X4 (M = Al, Ga; X = P, As) were synthesized from stoichiometric mixtures of Cs, M and Cs4X6 in sealed Nb ampoules at 950 K. They are isotypic and crystallize in the monoclinic space group P21/c (No. 14) with Z = 4 formula units per unit cell. The anion partial structure is characterized by isolated [M2X4]6- units with relatively short distances for the terminal d(M–X) bonds corresponding to a Pauling Bond Order PBO = 1.5. The distances d(M–X) of the four-membered M2X2 rings correspond to single bonds.

The FIR spectra have been interpreted on the basis of the [M2X4]6- units with 2/m 2/m 2/m-D2h, symmetry by considering a factor group splitting. The assignment of the observed frequencies is supported by a normal coordinate analysis.

[Transcriptome analyses in renal cell carcinoma. Combination of laser microdissection and microarrays]

BACKGROUND

The objective of this study was to test the feasibility of combined laser microdissection and microarray-based expression analysis in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and to detect the most strongly deregulated genes.

METHODS

Laser microdissection of tumor areas and subsequent gene expression analysis (47,000 transcripts) was performed on snap-frozen primary tumor samples from 15 patients with clear cell RCC. Four normal kidney samples served as controls. Validation was performed for one gene with quantitative RT-PCR on additional samples.

RESULTS

Isolation of intact RNA from microdissected tissue was successful; 179 transcripts were significantly deregulated by a factor of 5 or more. Upregulation of FABP7 was confirmed by quantitative RT-PCR.

CONCLUSION

In RCC the combination of laser microdissection and subsequent microarray analysis provides reliable data from precisely defined material. This is an optimal starting point for the development of novel therapeutic and diagnostic options.

High-resolution record of Northern Hemisphere climate extending into the last interglacial period

Two deep ice cores from central Greenland, drilled in the 1990s, have played a key role in climate reconstructions of the Northern Hemisphere, but the oldest sections of the cores were disturbed in chronology owing to ice folding near the bedrock. Here we present an undisturbed climate record from a North Greenland ice core, which extends back to 123,000 years before the present, within the last interglacial period. The oxygen isotopes in the ice imply that climate was stable during the last interglacial period, with temperatures 5 degrees C warmer than today. We find unexpectedly large temperature differences between our new record from northern Greenland and the undisturbed sections of the cores from central Greenland, suggesting that the extent of ice in the Northern Hemisphere modulated the latitudinal temperature gradients in Greenland. This record shows a slow decline in temperatures that marked the initiation of the last glacial period. Our record reveals a hitherto unrecognized warm period initiated by an abrupt climate warming about 115,000 years ago, before glacial conditions were fully developed. This event does not appear to have an immediate Antarctic counterpart, suggesting that the climate see-saw between the hemispheres (which dominated the last glacial period) was not operating at this time.