Comparison of radiochemical purity control methods for 99Tcm radiopharmaceuticals used in hospital radiopharmacies

The free fraction of pertechnetate in 99Tcm radiopharmaceuticals has to be tested for quality control reasons in line with the European Pharmacopoeia. Such quality control is often performed by miniaturized chromatographic methods. There are several recommended methods in the literature for quality control of the same radiopharmaceuticals, though it is unlikely that all methods are equivalent. Some of these methods were compared, taking into account different parameters (spot size, time required, analytical artifacts, true separation and shape of the chromatographic peaks, ease of handling), to verify the best method for the control of each radiopharmaceutical. It would appear that instant thin layer chromatography silica gel is the best support for these miniaturized methods, using MEK as solvent to check DTPA, DMSA, gluconate, pyrophosphate, medronate and phytate; NaCl 20% solution is the best solvent for IDA derivatives, human albumin and albumin particles (microspheres, macroaggregates).     

Community life support training: does it attract the right people?

We first performed autogenous bone grafting for lesions of the hallux sesamoid in 1984. During the next 9 years, 21 patients (11 men and 10 women with an average age of 34 and 32 years, respectively) underwent this surgical procedure for symptomatic tibial hallux sesamoid non-unions. Successful bony union was achieved in all but two patients. The majority of patients obtained concomitant relief of preoperative symptomatology and returned to their preinjury level of activity. We believe that this procedure serves as an alternative to hallux sesamoid excision in selected cases.     

A genetic algorithm for multiple molecular sequence alignment

MOTIVATION: Multiple molecular sequence alignment is among the most important and most challenging tasks in computational biology. The currently used alignment techniques are characterized by great computational complexity, which prevents their wider use. This research is aimed at developing a new technique for efficient multiple sequence alignment. APPROACH: The new method is based on genetic algorithms. Genetic algorithms are stochastic approaches for efficient and robust searching. By converting biomolecular sequence alignment into a problem of searching for optimal or near-optimal points in an 'alignment space', a genetic algorithm can be used to find good alignments very efficiently. RESULTS: Experiments on real data sets have shown that the average computing time of this technique may be two or three orders lower than that of a technique based on pairwise dynamic programming, while the alignment qualities are very similar. AVAILABILITY: A C program on UNIX has been written to implement the technique. It is available on request from the authors.     

A new erasing method for a single-voltage long-endurance flashmemory

A new method to erase a standard (double-poly, stacked-gate NOR-type) flash cell is proposed. The method, still using the tunneling mechanism to extract electrons from the floating gate, is based on the concept of keeping the electric field constant during the whole erasing operation. The new method has two main advantages with respect to the conventional one: (1) it does not depend on the supply voltage variation and (2) it allows a better reliability in terms of endurance-induced stress. Results have shown that flash device performances are greatly improved in terms of stability and endurance reliability up to one million cycles     

往复式压缩机管道的防振设计

分析了往复式压缩机管道产生振动的原因及影响因素,提出解决管道振动的方法及对策。     

Treatment of the sequelae of enucleation by septal chondro-mucosal composite graft. Report of 21 cases]

Enucleation frequently and progressively causes an enophtalmus and atrophia of the inferior eyelid, thereby leading to a height deficiency. Buccal mucous grafts give rise to phenomena such as secondary retraction. This may have complex and painful post-operative outcomes. However, when a septal chondromucous graft is performed, the height in the inferior palpebral part becomes more aesthetic, more retentive and quickly allows the wearing of a more voluminous prosthesis. Thus, the notinable enophtalmus can be corrected and the aesthetic quality of the looking is substantially restored. The authors report this surgical procedure and the results obtained with 21 patients which appear to be particularly promising.     

Solution structure of a DNA duplex containing the exocyclic lesion 3,N4-etheno-2'-deoxycytidine opposite 2'-deoxyguanosine

Vinyl chloride reacts with cellular DNA producing 3,N4-etheno-2'-deoxycytidine (epsilonC) along with other exocyclic adducts. The solution structure of an oligodeoxynucleotide duplex containing an epsilonC.dG base pair was determined by high-resolution NMR spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulations. NMR data indicated that the duplex adopts a right-handed helical structure having all residues in anti orientation around the glycosylic torsion angle. The epsilonC adduct has a sugar pucker in the C3'-endo/C4'-exo region while the rest of the residues are in the C2'-endo/C3'-exo range. NOE interactions established Watson-Crick alignments for canonical base pairs of the duplex. The imino proton of the lesion-containing base pair resonated as a sharp signal that was resistant to water exchange, suggesting hydrogen bonding. Restrained molecular dynamics simulations generated three-dimensional models in excellent agreement with the spectroscopic data. The refined structures are slightly bent at the lesion site without major perturbations of the sugar-phosphate backbone. The adduct is displaced and shifted toward the major groove of the helix while its partner on the complementary strand remains stacked. The epsilonC(anti).dG(anti) base pair alignment is sheared and stabilized by the formation of hydrogen bonds. The biological implications of structures of epsilonC-containing DNA duplexes are discussed.     

Accuracy of using computed tomography to identify pedicle screw placement in cadaveric human lumbar spine

STUDY DESIGN: Utility of using computed tomography to predict pedicle screw misplacement. OBJECTIVE: This study defines the sensitivity and specificity of predicting pedicle screw placement by experienced clinicians using a CT scan image. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: In clinical and research settings, the method most commonly used to evaluate pedicle screws placement has been computed tomography. However, no current literature describes the accuracy of this method of evaluating screw placement. METHOD: Cobalt-chrome and titanium alloy pedicle screws of identical size were placed in six cadaveric human lumbar spine. Wide laminectomy was performed to allow complete visualization of the pedicles. Three consecutive lumbar levels were instrumented in each spine, giving 36 pedicle screw placements to identify. The instrumented spines were imaged, and four orthopaedic spine surgeons and a musculoskeletal radiologist were asked to read the images to identify the accuracy of screw placement within the pedicles. RESULTS: The sensitivity rate of identifying a misplaced screw was 67 +/- 6% for cobalt-chrome screws compared with 86 +/- 5% for titanium screws (P < 0.005). The specificity rates of radiographic diagnosis of misplaced pedicle screws were 66 +/- 10% for cobalt-chrome screws and 88 +/- 8% for titanium screws (P < 0.005). Similarly, a statistically significant difference was found in the sensitivity rates of identifying screws placed correctly in the pedicle: 70 +/- 10% for cobalt-chrome screws versus 89 +/- 8% for titanium screws (P < 0.005). Overall accuracy rates were 68 +/- 7% for cobalt chrome screws versus 87 +/- 3% for titanium screws (P < 0.002). CONCLUSION: Reliance on the computed tomography scan data alone in determining accuracy of pedicle screws can lead to inaccuracies in both clinical and research conditions.