18F-FDG labelling of hematopoietic stem cells: Dynamic study of bone marrow homing by PET-CT imaging and impact on cell functionality.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: After transplantation, cord blood (CB) hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) are able to home to the bone marrow niche and to reconstitute the hematopoietic system. PET-CT imaging may be a useful method to monitor this parameter in different conditions. The aim of our study was to set up an efficient method for HSPC radiolabelling with [18F] fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) and to follow early HSPC homing through PET-CT in mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Purified CB HSPCs were radiolabelled with 18F-FDG at 37° C with various conditions of cell concentration, incubation time and radioactivity concentration in order to define the in vitro condition that allows both sufficient 18F-FDG uptake to get high quality PET imaging, and preservation of HSPC viability and functional properties during 3h after radiolabelling. Then, 24h after 2.25Gy irradiation, eight NOD-scid/γc-/- mice were injected with 18F-FDG-labelled HSPCs, the biodistribution of which was followed using micro-PET-CT. RESULTS: The optimal incubation time was 45min with a stability of 48.3%±12.8% after 180min. The radio-uptake rate we obtained was 7.2%±1.7% with an activity of 5.6±2.1 MBq. Three hours after radiolabelling, viability was 96.7%±3.4%. Fifteen hours after radiolabelling, cell viability was 64.0%±2.3%, migration ability diminished from 51.0%±23.6% to 12.0%±9.1%, clonogenic capacity was null, and long-term engraftment in NSG mice also decreased compared to unlabelled cells. Micro-PET-CT experiments showed an accumulation of radiolabelled HSPCs for 2.5h after injection in the bone marrow and a slight elution of 18F-FDG. CONCLUSION: The activity of the obtained 18F-FDG-labelled HSPCs was sufficient to perform the micro-PET-CT imaging. Although the radiolabelling had a significant toxicity on HSPCs 15h after labelling, this technique allowed monitoring the beginning of HSPC homing into the bone marrow.

[Extravasation of radiopharmaceuticals: preventive measures and management recommended by SoFRa (Société Française de Radiopharmacie)]. / Extravasation des médicaments radiopharmaceutiques : mesures préventives et prise en charge recommandées par la SoFRa (Société française de radiopharmacie).

Radiopharmaceuticals extravasation is rare but may have serious clinical issues. Because no specific recommendations are being proposed to date, the goals of our working group created within the French Society of Radiopharmacy are to determine preventive measures and to establish a pragmatic management of extravasation of these drugs. Our preventive measures are to recognize the symptoms (erythema, venous discoloration, swelling), to know the risk factors (which are related to radiopharmaceutical, patient, site of injection, injection technique) and severity (from erythema to skin necrosis, depending on the radionuclide) and how to avoid them (training and awareness of staff, choice of injection site, route of drug administration test, use of a catheter for administration of therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals). Management should be immediate. It can be facilitated by a specific emergency kit. General measures recommended are the immediate cessation of injection, aspiration of fluid extravasation, delimitation of the extravasated area with an indelible pen, informing the doctor. Specific measures taking into account the radiotoxicity of the radionuclide and the type of radiopharmaceutical were also established. The patient should be informed by the doctor about the risks and how to take care of. Traceability of the incident must be ensured. A multidisciplinary reflexion is essential to manage the extravasation as early and effectively as possible.

[Stable iodine as a prophylaxis therapy following exposure to radioactive iodines: pharmacological and pharmaceutical characteristics]. / Iode stable et prévention de la contamination par les iodes radioactifs : données pharmacologiques et pharmaceutiques.

More or less rapid radio-induction of thyroidian cancers is the main pathological consequence of an accidental exposure to ingested or inhaled radioactive iodines following a nuclear power plant accident. The prophylactic administration of potassium iodine in a single oral dose has to be practiced as soon as possible after the nuclear accident. The efficacy of this therapy depends on pharmacokinetics of radioidines. Iodines are rapidly and completely absorbed as iodides. The radioactive iodines, mainly iodine 131, concentrate in the thyroid gland because of a carrier-mediated transport by the Na-I symporter. Administration of stable iodine results in the symporter blockade, which limits the uptake of radioactive iodines by the thyroid and the duration of the internal irradiation. This irradiation will never exceed 3days if the therapy is started between 6h before the accidental exposure and 1h after. The pharmacist asked to dispense the tablets of stable iodine has a important place because, besides his advices on the optimal modalities of taking stable iodine and the risks of unwanted effects, he extend these advices to information on the radioactive risk and on measures of civil and sanitary protection.

Finite element modeling of the temperature rise due to the propagation of ultrasonic waves in viscoelastic materials and experimental validation.

The ultrasound stimulated thermography method is usually used to detect the temperature rise at a defect position. The temperature rise can be due to the friction between the edges of the defect and/or the plastic deformation around the defect. This paper presents another aspect of the method when the ultrasounds are propagating in a viscoelastic anisotropic material, such as polymers or fiber-reinforced polymers. The attenuation of the waves produces a distributed temperature field. Therefore, even a defect that does not produce some heat can be detected, the ultrasonic field is modified. A finite element model is used for computing the temperature field and for predicting the possibility for an infrared camera of detecting the temperature rise and its modification due to a defect. The model computes the stress and displacement fields associated with the propagation and the loss of energy. Then the heat equation is solved with this loss as a source of heating. An experiment is done with a sonotrode that excites a PVC plate. The ultrasonic displacement at the top of the plate is measured with a laser velocimeter and introduced in the model. Finally, the model result is compared to the image produced by the camera.

The sensitivity of surface guided modes to the bond quality between a concrete block and a composite plate.

Ultrasonic modes guided along the surface of a concrete block covered by a composite plate are investigated. First of all, the propagation phenomenon is studied by predicting the dispersion curves for various modes supposed to exist in this structure. Then, focus is made on a specific mode expected to be sensitive to the quality of the bond between the concrete and the composite, according to its through-thickness displacement field. Its dispersion curve is re-plotted for various states of this bond, which is modelled as a thin layer with varying properties. Limit cases corresponding to total disbond and perfect bond are considered. Experiments are then made on two composite-concrete assemblies for these two extreme cases using a contact PZT transmitter and an air-coupled receiver system. The phase velocities are in good agreement with the predicted dispersion curves, thus showing the potential of the ultrasonic guided mode to control the quality of bonds in such structures.

Prediction and measurement of nonpropagating Lamb modes at the free end of a plate when the fundamental antisymmetric mode A0 is incident.

Reflection of Lamb waves when the fundamental mode A0 is incident at the free end of a plate is studied, in order to identify the extent to which the generation of nonpropagating modes influences the field local to the end of the plate. Semi-analytical predictions, finite element simulations, and experimental measurements are presented for frequencies below the A2 cutoff. First it is shown, for frequencies below the A1 cutoff, that reflection of the A0 mode is accompanied by a delay in phase, and that there is significant additional motion due to nonpropagating modes within about five plate thicknesses of the end. The extend of this additional motion in the vicinity of the end of the plate is demonstrated by subtracting the contribution of the propagating modes from the displacement field. The wave field at frequencies above the A1 cutoff is more complex because the A1 as well as the A0 propagating modes are present at the end of the plate. Nevertheless, it has still been possible, using semi-analytical predictions and finite element simulations, to demonstrate the additional motion due to the nonpropagating modes.

Acoustic waves generated by pulsed microwaves in viscoelastic rods: modeling and experimental verification.

The acoustic wave generation in a specimen irradiated by a pulsed microwave is predicted theoretically. The specimen is a viscoelastic rod inserted into a wave guide. The model is based on Maxwell's equations, heat equation and thermoviscoelasticity theory. Computations show the presence of temperature oscillations due to the electromagnetic interferences in the irradiated rod if its electromagnetic absorption is low. An experimental method to infer indirectly the detailed behavior of microwave-generated acoustic waves in polymer rods, including the influence of electromagnetic wave reflection at the rod ends, is presented. The method consists of measuring the oscillations in the particle acceleration detected at the end of the rod that are induced by variations in the polymer rod length. The oscillations are caused by changing electromagnetic standing-wave conditions within the rod. It is found that these oscillations are in agreement in period, amplitude, and phase, with independent values of the complex dielectric constant and complex acoustic slowness of the polyvinyl chloride samples used in the study.

Air-coupled measurement of plane wave, ultrasonic plate transmission for characterising anisotropic, viscoelastic materials

Electrostatic, air-coupled, ultrasonic transducers are used to generate and detect plane waves in viscoelastic, isotropic or anisotropic solid plates. The through-transmitted field is measured and compared to numerical predictions. An inversion scheme is then applied for identifying the values of the complex Cij which are representative of the viscoelasticity properties of the materials. The issue of this work is a contact-free, ultrasonic technique for material characterisation.

The effects of viscoelasticity on the reflection and transmission of ultrasonic waves by an orthotropic plate.

In this paper both theoretical and experimental investigations on the reflection and transmission of an incident plane wave by immersed viscoelastic orthotropic plates are presented. Taking the anisotropy of the layer into account the reflection and transmission coefficients are expressed in terms of nine complex elastic constants. In agreement with the Snell's laws, any waves generated in the layer are bulk heterogeneous plane waves. Using a method already described in the isotropic case, the reflection and transmission coefficients are obtained as a function of the reflection and refraction coefficients of bulk heterogeneous plane waves at the two single solid/liquid interfaces, which limit the plate. In this way, these coefficients can be easily expanded in Debye's series. In addition, for many incident and azimuthal angles, the calculations are compared with trial results on a composite made of unidirectional carbon fibers and epoxy matrix. Finally, by the measurement of the variation of attenuation versus the frequency, a linear model permits the computations in a large frequency range. Conclusions are carried out regarding the use of the LLW method in the inverse problem to recover elastic constants of composite materials.