Intracellular localization of samarium in the lactating mammary gland cells: ultrastructural and microanalytical study

The frequent use of some rare earths in the medical and industrial domains make us worry about their intracellular behavior into the body. Reason for which we have investigated the subcellular localization of one of these elements, the samarium, in the mammary gland of lactating female wistar rats using two very sensitive methods of observation and microanalysis, the transmission electron microscopy and the secondary ion mass spectrometry. The ultrastructural study showed the presence of electron dense deposits in the lactating mammary glandular epithelial cell lysosomes of the samarium-treated rats, but no loaded lysosomes were observed in those of control rats. The microanalytical study allowed both the identification of the chemical species present in those deposits as samarium isotopes ((152) Sm(+)) and the cartography of its distribution. Our results confirm the previous ones showing that lysosomes of the glandular epithelial cells are the site of the intracellular concentration of foreign elements such as gallium. The intralysosomal deposits observed in the mammary glandular cells of the samarium-treated rats are similar in their form and density to those observed with the same element in other varieties of cells, such as liver, bone marrow, and spleen cells. Our ultrastructural and microanalytical results and those obtained in previous studies allow deducing that the intralysosomal deposits are very probably composed of an insoluble samarium phosphate salt.     

Homonuclear Decoupling of 1H Dipolar Interactions in Solids by means of Heteronuclear Recoupling

Line narrowing has been traditionally achieved in solid-state ¹H NMR spectroscopy by applying pulse sequences that combine multiple-pulse operations with magic-angle spinning (MAS), to effectively average out the dipole dipole homonuclear Hamiltonian. The present study explores a new alternative that departs from the usual concept of directly acting on the strongly coupled spins with radiofrequency pulses; instead, we seek to achieve a net homonuclear dipolar decoupling in solids by exploring the reintroduction of MAS-averaged heteronuclear dipolar couplings between the ¹H nuclei and directly bonded ¹³C or ¹⁵N nuclei. This recoupling anti-recoupling (RaR) scheme thus relies on the recoupling of the dipolar interaction with heteronuclear spins, which, under fast MAS, will exceed the strength and will not commute with the homonuclear ¹H ¹H coupling one is intending to average out. Subsequent removal (“antiRecoupling”) of these heteronuclear interactions can lead to narrowed ¹H resonances, without ever pulsing on the aforementioned channel. The line-narrowing properties of RaR are illustrated with numerical simulations and with experiments on model organic solids.     

Percutaneous nephrostomy in utero for bilateral foetal hydronephrosis

Left percutaneous nephrostomy was performed in a 30-week foetus with bilateral hydronephrosis due to abnormal pyelo-ureteral junction. Puncture of the pelvis and insertion of a 5 cm long F8 Malecot catheter were carried out under ultrasonography. The end of the catheter was left free in the amniotic fluid. Drainage was perfect during 3 weeks, until the skin of the foetus grew over the end of the catheter. At 34 weeks, a much longer catheter was introduced, but it was dislodged from the kidney within 48 hours. Vaginal delivery was induced at 37 weeks, giving birth to a normal male child. On the 4th day after birth the catheter was removed and resection-anastomosis of the left pyelo-ureteral junction was performed.     

Role of parietal and principal gastric mucosa cells in the phenomenon of concentration of aluminum and indium

The subcellular behavior of aluminum and indium, used in medical and industrial fields, was studied in the gastric mucosa and the liver after their intragastric administration to rats, using, two of the most sensitive methods of observation and microanalysis, the transmission electron microscopy, and the secondary ion mass spectrometry. The ultrastructural study showed the presence of electron dense deposits, in the lysosomes of parietal and principal gastric mucosa cells but no loaded lysosomes were observed in the different studied hepatic territories. The microanalytical study allowed the identification of the chemical species present in those deposits as aluminum or indium isotopes and the cartography of their distribution. No modification was observed in control rats tissues. In comparison to previous studies describing the mechanism of aluminum concentration in the gastric mucosa and showing that this element was concentrated in the lysosomes of fundic and antral human gastric mucosa, our study provided additional informations about the types of cells involved in the phenomenon of concentration of aluminum and indium, which are the parietal and the principal cells of the gastric mucosa. Our study demonstrated that these cells have the ability to concentrate selectively aluminum and indium in their lysosomes, as a defensive reaction against intoxication by foreign elements.     

Uptake of fluoride from aqueous solution on nano-sized hydroxyapatite: examination of a fluoridated surface layer

Hydroxyapatite (Ca(10)(PO(4))(6)(OH)(2), HAP), both as a synthetic material and as a constituent of bone char, can serve as an effective and relatively inexpensive filter material for fluoride (F(-)) removal from drinking water in low-income countries. Fluoride uptake on HAP can occur through different mechanisms, which are, in principle, influenced by solution composition. Suspensions of HAP (2 g L(-1)) were equilibrated under controlled pH conditions (pH 6.5, 7.3, 9.5) at 25 °C for 28 d after the addition of different F(-) concentrations (0.5-7.0 mM). The reacted HAP solids were examined with Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), and Nano Secondary Ion Mass Spectroscopy (NanoSIMS). Fluoride uptake on HAP was dependent on pH, with the highest capacity at pH 6.5; the lowest uptake was found at pH 9.5. Under all experimental conditions, the thermodynamically stable mineral phase was fluorapatite, (Ca(10)(PO(4))(6)F(2), FAP). Fluoride uptake capacity was quantified on the basis of FTIR and XPS analysis, which was consistent with F(-) uptake from solution. The results of XPS and NanoSIMS analyses indicate that a fluoridated surface layer with a thickness of several nanometers is formed on nanosized HAP.     

Coherent low-energy electron diffraction on individual nanometer sized objects

Today's structural biology techniques require averaging over millions of molecules to obtain detailed structural information. Derivation of the molecular structure from a scattering experiment with just one single 3D-molecule imposes major challenges. Coherent and damage-free radiation is needed to ensure sufficient elastic scattering events before destroying the molecule and a means to solve the phase problem is wanted. We have devised such a scheme using coherent low-energy electrons shaped into a collimated beam by an electrostatic microlens. Initial experiments using a carbon nanotube sample demonstrate the feasibility of coherent low-energy electron diffraction on an individual nanometer-sized object.     

A transparent,solvent-free laminated top electrode for perovskite solar cells

A simple lamination process of the top electrode for perovskite solar cells is demonstrated. The laminate electrode consists of a transparent and conductive plastic/metal mesh substrate, coated with an adhesive mixture of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate), PEDOT:PSS, and sorbitol. The laminate electrode showed a high degree of transparency of 85%. Best cell performance was achieved for laminate electrodes prepared with a sorbitol concentration of ~30 wt% per milliliter PEDOT:PSS dispersion, and using a pre-annealing temperature of 120°C for 10 min before lamination. Thereby, perovskite solar cells with stabilized power conversion efficiencies of (7.6 ± 1.0)% were obtained which corresponds to 80% of the reference devices with reflective opaque gold electrodes.