Instrumental activation and X-ray fluorescent analysis of human bone in health and disease

For the determination of trace Cu, Zn and In in rock samples, a simple and convenient scheme of RNAA is presented. In this scheme, relatively short-lived nuclides,⁶⁴Cu,^69mZn and^116mIn are radiochemically purified immediately after the irradiation of samples. Although the sensitivity for Zn and In is lower in this scheme than that in the RNAA using⁶⁵Zn and^114mIn at a higher neutron fluence, the present radiochemical procedures are simpler and were proved to be highly effective for the determination of these elements in most terrestrial igneous rocks and meteorite samples.Present address: Canon CorporationPresent address: Nomura Research Institute.     

Production of no-carrier-added64Cu and67Cu in a reactor

Fission neutron spectrum averaged cross-sections were measured for the reactions⁶⁴Zn(n, p)⁶⁴Cu,⁶⁷Zn(n, p)⁶⁷Cu and⁶⁸Zn(n, α)⁶⁵Ni by the activation technique, using radiochemical separations and γ-spectroscopy. The preparation of⁶⁴Cu and⁶⁷Cu in a nuclear reactor was studied. The^{64, 67}Cu was separated from zinc matrix activity using anion exchange column technique.     

Computer program for processing gamma spectra in neutron activation analysis

A program based on the method of least squares and written in the ALGOL-60 code was developed for data processing in the activation analysis of biological substances. The applicability of the program was checked on synthetic mixtures of the radioisotopes⁶⁴Cu,^69mZn and⁵⁶Mn measured with a scintillation γ-spectrometer.     

Elemental analysis in liver,ascites, and blood of tumor-bearing mice

The contents of twelve minor and trace elements in liver, ascites, and blood of sarcoma-180 tumor-bearing mice were determined by instrumental neutron activation analysis at various tumor growing stages. Biological samples were irradiated by reactor neutrons and subsequently subject to direct analysis using a high-resolution HPGe -spectrometer. A statistically significant difference for the concentration of Na and Cl in all tumor samples relative to those in a normal control group is found. During the tumor growing period, concentration of Mg, K, Fe, Se, Rb, Cu, Zn, and Mn in liver and ascites of tumored mice vary with respect to the tumor size. Each elemental concentration and its biological function in the tumored mice is discussed and possible correlation to humans is analyzed.     

81mSe tracer for determination of the chemical yield in radiochemical neutron activation analysis of selenium

A radiotracer method is described for measurement of the chemical yield in radiochemical neutron activation analysis of selenium using the⁷⁵Se (120 d) induced nuclide. It is based on^81mSe (57 min) radioisotopic tracer, prepared immediately before its use in the radiochemical separation procedure, by neutron irradiation of highly enriched⁸⁰Se. The recovery of selenium is calculated from the 103 keV -peak of^81mSe in the separated selenium fraction used for quantitation of⁷⁵Se. The technique is illustrated by results for biological reference materials of good accuracy and reproducibility.     

Multielemental analysis of Brazilian milk powder and bread samples by neutron activation

The concentrations of Na, Cl, Mn, Br, Fe, Zn, Rb, Sb, Sc, Cr, Al and Mg were determined in some types of bread and in some brands of milk powder consumed in the city of São Paulo (SP—Brasil), by instrumental neutron activation analysis. Radiochemical separations were carried out by means of retention of²⁴Na on hydrated antimony pentoxide (HAP) from a 8N HCl solution, after digestion of the organic matter. It was possible in this way to determine the radioisotopes⁶⁴Cu,^69mZn and¹⁴⁰La in the effluent solution. The detection limits of the trace elements analyzed in bread and milk powder samples were determined using the Currie and Girardi criterions.From a dissertation submitted by V. A. MAIHARA to the University of São Paulo in partial fullfillment of the requirements for a Master of Science Degree in Nuclear Technology.     

Determination of trace amounts of copper and selenium in biological samples by chemical separation prior to neutron activation analysis

It was found that Cu and Se can be relatively easily and accurately determined by preconcentration of Cu and Se prior to the determination by neutron activation analysis with the short-lived IRN's (Indicator Radionuclides)⁶⁶Cu and^77mSe. The method consists of wet acid digestion followed by coprecipitation with lead tetramethylenedithiocarbamate. The precipitate was collected, irradiated and counted. The validity of the method was confirmed both by internal checks, as the measurement also by⁷⁵Se and by the use of two reference material of biological origin. The limit of detection was found to be 20 ng Se and 50 ng Cu for a 0.1 g sample.     

Thin-target excitation functions and optimization of simultaneous production of NCA copper-64 and gallium-66,67 by deuteron induced nuclear reactions on a natural zinc target

Copper-64 is a radionuclide suitable for labeling of a wide range of radiopharmaceuticals for PET imaging, as well as systemic or local radioimmunotherapy of tumors. Among the possible methods for cyclotron production of No Carrier Added (NCA) ⁶⁴Cu (⁶¹Cu), we investigated the deuteron irradiation on natural Zn target, via (d,axn) and (d,2pxn) nuclear reactions. This paper reports the preliminary results about the experimental determination and theoretical calculation of thin-target excitation functions in the energy range up to 19 MeV for ⁶¹Cu, ⁶⁴Cu, ⁶⁶Ga, ⁶⁷Ga, ⁶⁵Zn and ^69mZn. A fast selective radiochemical separation of NCA ⁶⁴Cu from Zn target and Ga radionuclides, with quality control tests is described too.     

Chemical consequences of the /n, γ/ reaction in diphenyl selenium

The products formed during thermal neutron irradiation of diphenyl selenium have been analyzed by gas chromatography. Possible reaction mechanisms are discussed to explain the principal reaction product observed. The organic yields of⁷⁵Se,⁸³Se and^81mSe formed have been determined. The retention values obtained were 9.7±2.0, 8.3±1.1 and 10.4±2.1, respectively. These low values indicate that in all three cases most of the molecules are broken after the /n, / process. No isotope effect was observed.     

Concentration of232Th,230Th and228Th in various tissues of Japanese subjects

The concentration of²³²Th,²³⁰Th and²²⁸Th in various human tissues of Japanese subjects obtained at autopsies are reported. The tissue samples were weighed, spiked with²³⁴Th tracer and ashed by acid. The solution was dried on a hot-plate. Separation of thorium radionuclides was accomplished through cation-exchange resin chromatography and electrodeposition. The concentrations of thorium isotopes were measured by -spectrometry. Thorium-232 and²³⁰Th concentrations were found to be highest in lung, followed by bone. The maximum concentration of²²⁸Th was in bone. The lowest concentrations of thorium isotopes were in muscle.     

Determination of Se,Cd, and Hg in an aquatic environment of Bombay by substoichiometric neutron activation analysis

The toxicity of Se, Cd, and Hg as environmental pollutants and the impact of these elements on the aquatic ecosystem is undisputed. The present paper reports an investigation of the concentration of Cd, Se, and Hg in an aquatic environment of a large metropolitan city like Bombay. As the toxicity of these elements manifests itself at micro and submicro levels, the very sensitive technique of neutron activation analysis was employed. A sequential substoichiometric extraction technique for the separation of radiochemically pure²⁰³Hg,⁷⁵Se, and^115–115mCd from the neutron irradiated target has also been employed.     

Simultaneous biobehavior of trace elements, Sc, Mn, Fe, Co, Zn, Se, Rb and Zr in the brain and other organs of C57BL/6N mice

The radioactive multitracer technique was applied to a study on the uptake of trace elements in normal C57BL/6N mice. Comparative uptake behavior of⁴⁶Sc,⁵⁴Mn,⁵⁹Fe,⁵⁸Co,⁶⁵Se,⁸³Rb and⁸⁸Zr tracers was examined among 11 organs (brain, cardiac muscle, lung, liver, spleen, pancreas, kidneys, bone, muscle, eyeballs and testes) and blood, and evaluated in terms of the “tissue uptake rate (the radioactivity percentage of injected dose per gram of tissue, %dose/g)”. The multitracer technique revealed reliable data demonstrating characteristic uptake of the 8 trace elements, Sc, Mn, Fe, Co, Zn, Se, Rb and Zr by the brain and other organs, as well as the distinctive features of the accumulation and retention of each element in the brain.     

Heavy metals and some other elements in medicinal plants. Determined by X-ray fluorescence analysis

Determination of Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Hg, Pb, Br, Se, Rb, Sr and Cd in the medicinal plants by radionuclide X-ray fluorescence analysis (using²³⁸Pu,²⁴¹Am/Ag and¹²⁵I) is described.     

Die Bestimmung von Submikromengen Kupfer in Reinstmetallen und Meteoriten Durch Ein Hochselektives γ,γ-Koinzidenzverfahren

Copper was determined non-destructively by neutron-activation analysis in the high purity metals Be, Bi, Pb, Se, Sn, Tl and in iron meteorite specimens down to concentrations of 40 ppb, while the minimum detectable mass for 1 g-samples as defined recently byCurrie ²⁵ was about 0.1 ppb Cu. γ,γ-coincidence counting of the annihilation radiation of⁶⁴Cu essentially improved suppression of interferences by other γ-cascade emitters. The latter was achieved by increasing the detector distances and by counting in centric and eccentric positions with respect to the detectors. Using the 180°-angle correlation of the annihilation γ-quants of⁶⁴Cu etc. an increase in selectivity—in relation to conventional coincidence methods—was achieved by a factor of about 10³. A goniometer arrangement proved to be very advantageous.      

Radiochemical determination of technetium-99

The radiochemistry of technetium-99 is reviewed and the different measurement techniques are compared. Experimental results on sorption of technetium on two different types of ion exchange resins using^99mTc and^95mTc as chemical yield tracers are presented. Spectra calibrations of liquid scintillation counter using^95mTc as chemical yield tracer of⁹⁹Tc are discussed.     

Depth distribution of239,240Pu and137Cs in soils of South Korea

Depth distribution of^239,240Pu and¹³⁷Cs in the soils of South Korea have been studied. The average accumulated depositions were estimated roughly to be 54.8±32.1 Bq·m^–2 for^239,240Pu, 1.6±1.0 Bq· ·m^–2 for²³⁸Pu and 1982.8±929.1 Bq·m^–2 for¹³⁷Cs. The activity ratios of^239,240Pu/¹³⁷Cs in soils were found to be in the narrow range of 0.0153 to 0.0364 with a mean value of 0.0230±0.006. The concentrations of^239,240Pu and¹³⁷Cs in soils decrease exponentially with increasing the soil depth. A significant correlation was found between the concentration of^239,240Pu and that of¹³⁷Cs. The activity ratios of^239,240Pu/¹³⁷Cs tend to increase slightly with increasing soil depth.     

Ultratrace characterization of AlSiCu sputter targets for Th,U and 35 other elements by neutron activation analysis

Instrumental and radiochemical neutron activation analysis has been applied to a comprehensive trace characterization of AlSiCu sputter targets. By instrumental neutron activation analysis via long-lived indicator radionuclides, up to 33 elements were assayed with detection limits between 0.01 and 200 ng·g^–1. The high activity of⁶⁴Cu and²⁴Na produced from the matrix significantly limits the instrumental performance via short- and medium-lived indicator dionuclides. For this reason, a radiochemical separation was developed based on adsorption of²⁴Na on hydrated antimony pentoxide and extraction of⁶⁴Cu by diethylammonium diethyldithiocarbamate from HCl medium. By this radiochemical method, As, Ga, K, La, Mn, Mo, Re, Sb, U and W could be assayed via medium-lived radionuclides and the achievable limits of detection were between 0.1 and 25 ng·g^–1. Further improvement of detection limits for U and Th was achieved by a selective radiochemical separation of²³⁹Np and²³³Pa on a Dowex 1×8 column in HF and HF/NH₄F medium providing limits of detection for U and Th of 0.06 and 0.02 ng·g^–1, respectively. These techniques were applied to the analysis of two AlSiCu sputter target materials. Results are compared with those of glow discharge mass spectrometry.     

Radionuclide concentrations in two sewage treatment plants on Western Lake Ontario,Canada

Radionuclide concentrations in digester sludge and effluent samples from Hamilton and Dundas sewage treatment plants, located at the western tip of Lake Ontario, have been determined by high-resolution γ-ray spectrometry. The radionuclides⁵¹Cr,⁷⁵Se and¹³¹I, which are used in nuclear medicine procedures, were found in sludge samples. Very low concentrations of⁵¹Cr, entering Lake Ontario through the Hamilton plant effluent discharge, have little effect on lake water quality.     

Studies on the incorporation of Se in the presence of glutathione and the distribution of Zn,Co, Fe,Rb and Cs in mice by instrumental neutron activation analysis

The contents of Se, Fe, Co, Zn and Rb in several organs of Swiss mice were determined by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) after injections with seleno-methionine (Se-Met) and glutathione (GSH). Se was accumulated in all examined organs and significant effects of the treatment with GSH on the distribution of Se were observed. An increase of Zn (or Se) content in blood after injection with Se-Met (or Zn²⁺ ions) was observed.     

Brain regional uptake of radioactive Sc, Mn, Zn, Se, Rb and Zr tracers into normal mice during aging

Radioactive multitracer technique was applied to study the brain regional uptake of trace elements by the normal mice during aging. The brain regional radioactivities of ⁴⁶Sc, ⁵⁴Mn, ⁶⁵Zn, ⁷⁵Se, ⁸³Rb and ⁸⁸Zr were measured 48 hours after intraperitoneal injection of a solution in normal mice aged 6 to 52 weeks to evaluate the brain regional (corpus striatum, cerebellum, cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and pons and medulla) uptakes. The radioactive distributions of ⁴⁶Sc, ⁵⁴Mn and ⁸⁸Zr tracers were variable and region-specific in the brain, while those of ⁶⁵Zn, ⁷⁵Se and ⁸³Rb tracers were comparable among all regions of interest. The brain regional uptakes of all tracers slightly increased with age from 10 to 28 weeks, and then remained constant during aging after 28 weeks. These uptake variations may be involved in the functional degenerative process of the blood-brain barrier during aging.