KETO[(18)F]FDG -VAP-P1: In vivo studies of a potential PET radiotracer for diagnosis of inflammation

The biodistribution of radiotracer peptide KETO[¹⁸F]FDG-VAP-P1 was evaluated by ex vivo radiation count in organs and in vivo PET imaging of healthy mice. The peptide was quickly eliminated by the kidneys. The local inflammation caused by a sterile polyurethane sponge was evaluated by PET images. In addition, dosimetry estimates of KETO[¹⁸F]FDG-VAP-P1 tracer are determined for mice using Monte Carlo simulations. Thus, the results of this study indicate that KETO[¹⁸F]FDG-VAP-P1 is a potential radiotracer for inflammation imaging.

Bio-electrical stimulation process on degradation of Phenanthrene from aqueous solution using a novel anode modified with carbon cloth: Operational performance, microbial activity and energy

Phenanthrene as the hazardous PAHs-component are extensively detected in industrial wastewater. However, the impacts of bioelectrostimulation process on Phenanthrene degradation in aerobic reactors remained unclear. Here, a novel bioelectrostimulation process equipped with carbon cloth as electrodes was developed to investigate the removal efficiency of Phenanthrene and ATPase enzyme activity in the synthetic wastewater. The results obtained from the present study indicated that a complete Phenanthrene degradation (100%) can be achieved using microbial electrostimulation systems steel mesh coated with carbon cloth (MES-CC) as anode under optimal operational conditions (electrical current: 4 mA, HA concentration: 15 mg L^-1) within 18 h. The conductive carbon cloth provides a biofilm carrier to easily transfer the electrons between electrodes and microbial communities. In addition, the highest ATPase enzyme activity (5176 U) was observed when the aerobic MES-CC reactors were operated with electrical current 4 mA. Furthermore, the COD removal efficiency in MES-CC increased from 49% to 96% when the C: N ratio decreased from 20 to 5. The highest value of V_max in MES-CC for suspended and attached growth were determined to be 2.87 and 0.54 g COD g^-1 biomass. Overall, the results demonstrated that MES equipped with carbon cloth and continuous electrical current mode has good potential for efficient Phenanthrene wastewater treatment.

Establishing baseline trace metals in marine bivalves in China and worldwide: Meta-analysis and modeling approach

Bivalves are extensively employed as biomonitors of coastal pollution, but the comparability among different species and geographic environments needs to be further scrutinized. The present study conducted a meta-analysis of trace metals (Ag, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Ti, and Zn) in the soft tissues of three groups of marine bivalves (oysters, mussels, and clams) collected from China and worldwide. By conducting cumulative frequency distribution analysis of metal distribution, we modeled the 5% cumulative values as the bio-baseline metal concentrations in these bivalves. We further modeled their potential baseline concentrations using a well-developed biokinetic model. The baseline concentrations of Cd, Cu, and Zn in the tissue-specific Environmental Quality Standards (EQSs) for China were 0.99, 34.5, and 340 μg/g dw in oysters, 0.38, 4.32, and 49.6 μg/g dw in mussels, and 0.35, 3.02, 51.4 μg/g dw in clams, respectively. Of the 8 metals examined in this study, the calculated baseline concentrations of Ag, Cr, Cd, Cu and Zn in the oysters were 3.7-48, 2.7-3.6, 2.6-2.8, 8.0-11.4, 6.6-6.8 times higher than those in the mussels and clams, and only Ti showed comparable baseline concentrations among the three bivalves (8.43-9.67 μg/g dw). These data strongly suggested the inter-group as well as inter-metal difference in the baseline metal concentrations in marine bivalves. Further, the potential baseline concentrations of Cd and Cu predicted by the biokinetic model were comparable to those modeled by the probability frequency distribution. Combined statistical frequency analysis and biokinetic modeling therefore provided an innovative method to establish the baseline metal concentrations in bivalves and the tissue-specific EQSs, which are now urgently needed for coastal management, biomonitoring, and geochemical records in the world.

Production, quality control and pharmacokinetic studies of Ho-EDTMP for therapeutic applications

¹⁶⁶Ho-EDTMP is a major therapeutic agent which is widely used in bone palliation therapy. In this study, a ¹⁶⁶Ho-EDTMP complex was prepared successfully using an in-house synthesized EDTMP ligand and ¹⁶⁶HoCl₃. Ho-166 chloride was obtained by thermal neutron irradiation (1 × 10¹³ ncm⁻²s⁻¹) of natural Ho(NO₃)₃ samples (specific activity = 3–5 GBq/mg), dissolved in acidic media. The radiochemical purity of ¹⁶⁶Ho-EDTMP was checked by ITLC (>99%) and stability studies in presence of human serum and final preparation were performed. The biodistribution of ¹⁶⁶Ho-EDTMP and ¹⁶⁶HoCl₃ in wild-type rats was checked by scarification. SPECT imaging of ¹⁶⁶Ho-EDTMP was also performed in wild-type rats. A comparative accumulation study for ¹⁶⁶Ho-EDTMP and ¹⁶⁶HoCl₃ was performed for vital organs up to 48h. Significant bone accumulation (>70%) of the tracer in 48h was observed.