Highly Selective Optical Sensor Eu (TTA)3 Phen Embedded in Poly Methylmethacrylate for Assessment of Total Prostate Specific Antigen Tumor Marker in Male Serum Suffering Prostate Diseases.

A low-cost, simple, and highly selective method was used for the assessment of total prostate specific antigen (tPSA) in the serum of prostate cancer patients. This method is based on quenching the intensity of luminescence displayed by the optical sensor Eu (TTA)3 phen/poly methylmethacrylate (PMMA) thin membrane or film upon adding different concentrations of tPSA. The luminescent optical sensor was synthesized and characterized through absorption, emission, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and x-ray diffraction (XRD), and is tailored to present red luminescence at 614 nm upon excitation at 395 nm in water. The fabricated sensor fluorescence intensity is quenched in the presence of tPSA in aqueous media. The fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) is the main mechanism by which the sensor performs. The sensor was successfully utilized to estimate tPSA in the serum of patients suffering prostate cancer in a time and cost effective way. The statistical results of the method were satisfactory with 0.0469 ng mL-1 as a detection limit and 0.99 as a correlation coefficient.

Characterization and radiological impacts assessment of scale TENORM waste produced from oil and natural gas production in Egypt.

This study aims to identify the analytical and radiological characterization of scale TENORM waste produced from oil and natural gas productions in the western desert in Egypt and evaluates their radiological impacts. The mean activity concentration of 238U, 226Ra, 210Pb, 228Ra, 224Ra, and 40K measured in scale TENORM samples is 660 ± 63, 1979 ± 435, 1399 ± 211, 645 ± 104, 794 ± 116, and 556 ± 86 Bq/kg, respectively. Radiological hazard parameters (Raeq, Hex, Hin, etc.) were estimated form the scale TENORM waste sample. All the calculated hazard parameters were found greater than the permissible and recommended safe levels. So the exposure to radiations released from the accumulation of the petroleum scale TENORM waste may cause health risks to the operators and who inhale radioactive radon gases and/or ingest contaminants by radiotoxic nuclides of U, Th, Ra, and Pb. Also, the risks may be extended to the near and/or the general environment.

Determination of Diquat Residues in Potato Using Reversed-Phase Liquid Chromatography with Tandem Mass Spectrometry.

A simple, modified quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe procedure was developed for the determination of diquat in potato using reversed-phase LC coupled with tandem MS (MS/MS) in a total run time of 10 min. Different sample preparation parameters (pH modifier type, sample size, and elevated temperature) were tested and optimized. Potato sample was extracted with acetonitrile in the presence of ammonium hydroxide at 80°C. Phase separation was obtained by shaking the extract with magnesium sulfate and sodium chloride, and analysis was done using LC-MS/MS. Matrix-matched standard calculations were used to compensate for matrix-induced suppression in LC-MS/MS determination. The precision and trueness of the method were determined from recovery experiments on five replicates of spiked blank potato samples at 0.01, 0.05, and 0.1 mg/kg. The range of the obtained recoveries was 74-110%, with RSD values <5% for all the concentrations.