An experimental comparison of the K- and L-Auger electron spectra generated in the decays of 140Nd and 111In.

The low-energy electron spectra generated in the decay of 140Nd have been measured using a combined electrostatic spectrometer adjusted to the 4, 7, and 35 eV instrumental resolution. In order to estimate the therapeutic potential of low-energy electrons associated with the decay of 140Nd, similar experiments have been performed with 111In. Relative Auger electron intensity ratios per decay are: 111In(K-Auger)/140Nd(K-Auger)=1.47(12), 111In(L-Auger) /140Nd(L-Auger)=1.1(4), and 111In(L-Auger [2.8-7 keV])/140Nd(L-Auger [2.8-7 keV])=0.24(11). The obtained K-Auger group intensity ratios have been compared with results of calculations. The good agreement found for the experimental and estimated values indicates that such information can be also derived using available nuclear and atomic data. The relative intensity of L-Auger electrons emitted within the 2.8-7 keV interval is higher for 140Nd by a factor of about 4 compared to 111In. As the L-Auger emission is dominating relative to that of the K-Auger group, this implicates that any potential endotherapeutic strategy using 140Nd-labelled targeting vectors requires a maximum accumulation of the endoradiotherapeutical close to the cell nucleus or the DNA of the tumour cell.

Radiochemical separation of no-carrier-added 177Lu as produced via the 176Yb(n,gamma)177Yb-->177Lu process.

The 176Yb(n,gamma)177Yb-beta(-)-->177Lu process was investigated to provide no-carrier-added (nca) 177Lu. The radiochemical separation of the 177Lu from the macro-amounts of the ytterbium target based on the cementation process, i.e. the selective extraction of Yb by Na(Hg) amalgam from Cl-/CH3COO- electrolytes, followed by a final cation exchange purification. The cementation separation process provides a decontamination factor of Yb(III) of 10(4), the cation exchange purification adding a decontamination factor of > 10(2). The nca 177Lu is available in radiochemically pure form despite the chemical similarity of the lanthanides with 75 +/- 5% overall separation yield within 4-5 h. It can be used to synthesise nca 177Lu labelled radiotherapeuticals.

Production, concentration and deep purification of 111In radiochemicals.

A new method of 111In separation from a silver target irradiated with 30 MeV alpha-particles is described. The 111In isolation from Ag and Cd is based on its co-precipitation with La(OH)3. The 111In separation from La(III) has been performed by the method of ion-exchange chromatography. A multi-stage purification technique was developed that allows the production of 111In radiochemicals in which the part of impurities of di-, tri-valent metal atoms is negligible.

Development of a gamma-gamma-perturbed angular correlation one-detector method (1-PAC) for investigation of physico-chemical properties of matter.

A new method of the perturbed angular gamma-gamma-correlation (PAC) measurements was developed using one HPGe detector only (1-PAC). For quantifying the perturbation factor, the ratio R gamma 1 + gamma 2 of the summing peak composed of two cascade gamma-rays (the perturbation-affected parameter) to the summing peak composed of one gamma-ray and one X-ray (the perturbation non-affected parameter) was used. This method was demonstrated for the radionuclides 111In and 111mCd, identifying the chemical status of the radionuclides in aqueous solutions.

Production and radiochemical separation of the Auger electron emitter 140Nd.

Among the Auger electron emitters, the radiolanthanide 140Nd has some unique nuclear properties with potential for endoradiotherapeutic applications. In the present study, 140Nd was produced via the 140Ce(3He,3n) nuclear process at the FZ Jülich CV28 cyclotron, irradiating CeO2 with 3He particles of 36 MeV primary energy. Yields of about 5 MBq 140Nd per microAh were experimentally obtained. Batch yields of > 100 MBq 140Nd were reached. 140Nd was separated in 75 +/- 5% radiochemical yield using a two-step process, first by extracting the bulk of the target material according to a Ce(IV)/Nd(III) separation, then by final ion exchange purification.

[Effect of various types of sports on the anatomy of the common carotid artery and the internal jugular vein]. / Vliianie nekotorykh vidov sporta na anatomiiu obshchei sonnoi arterii i vnutrennei iaremnoi veny.

By means of ultrasonography the common carotid artery and the internal jugular vein at certain sports have been investigated. In swimmers the internal jugular vein is essentially dilated as compared to the common carotid artery. In high jumpers there is not any noticeable differences between the width of the artery and the vein. These data should be taken into account at training sportsmen. They are also important for development of investigations in the ultrasound anatomy.