| 1. |
- Jönsson, Lena M, et al.
(författare)
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A dosimetry model for the small intestine incorporating intestinal wall activity and cross-doses.
- 2002
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Ingår i: Journal of Nuclear Medicine. - 0161-5505. ; 43:12, s. 1657-1664
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Current internal radiation dosimetry models for the small intestine, and for most walled organs, lack the ability to account for the activity uptake in the intestinal wall. In existing models the cross-dose from nearby loops of the small intestine is not taken into consideration. The aim of this investigation was to develop a general model for calculating the absorbed dose to the radiation-sensitive cells in the small intestinal mucosa from radionuclides located in the small intestinal wall or contents. Methods: A model was developed for calculation of the self-dose and cross-dose from activity in the intestinal wall or contents. The small intestine was modeled as a cylinder with 2 different wall thicknesses and with an infinite length. Calculations were performed for various mucus thicknesses. S values were calculated using the EGS4 Monte Carlo simulation package with the PRESTA algorithm and the simulation results were integrated over the depth of the radiosensitive cells. The cross-organ dose was calculated by summing the dose contributions from other intestinal segments. Calculations of S values for self-dose and cross-dose were made for monoenergetic electrons, 0.050–10 MeV, and for the radionuclides 99mTc, 111In, 131I, 67Ga, 90Y, and 211At. Results: The self-dose S value from activity located in the small intestinal wall is considerably greater than the S values for self-dose from the contents and the cross-dose from wall and contents except for high electron energies. For all radionuclides investigated and for electrons 0.10–0.20 MeV and 8–10 MeV in energy, the cross-dose from activity in the contents is higher than the self-dose from the contents. The mucus thickness affects the S value when the activity is located in the contents. Conclusion: A dosimetric model for the small intestine was developed that takes into consideration the localization of the radiopharmaceutical in the intestinal wall or in the contents. It also calculates the contribution from self-dose and cross-dose. With this model, more accurate calculations of absorbed dose to radiation-sensitive cells in the intestine are possible.
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| 3. |
- André, Ingemar, et al.
(författare)
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The role of electrostatic interactions in calmodulin-peptide complex formation
- 2004
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Ingår i: Biophysical Journal. - : Elsevier BV. - 1542-0086 .- 0006-3495. ; 87:3, s. 1929-1938
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The complex between calmodulin and the calmodulin-binding portion of smMLCKp has been studied. Electrostatic interactions have been anticipated to be important in this system where a strongly negative protein binds a peptide with high positive charge. Electrostatic interactions were probed by varying the pH in the range from 4 to 11 and by charge deletions in CaM and smMLCKp. The change in net charge of CaM from similar to-5 at pH 4.5 to -15 at pH 7.5 leaves the binding constant virtually unchanged. The affinity was also unaffected by mutations in CaM and charge substitutions in the peptide. The insensitivity of the binding constant to pH may seem surprising, but it is a consequence of the high charge on both protein and peptide. At low pH it is further attenuated by a charge regulation mechanism. That is, the protein releases a number of protons when binding the positively charged peptide. We speculate that the role of electrostatic interactions is to discriminate against unbound proteins rather than to increase the affinity for any particular target protein.
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| 4. |
- Anundi, Helena, et al.
(författare)
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Air and biological monitoring of solvent exposure during grafitti removal
- 2000
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Ingår i: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0340-0131 .- 1432-1246. ; 73:8, s. 561-569
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: The principal aim of the study was to estimate the level of exposure to organic solvents of graffiti removers, and to identify the chemicals used in different cleaning agents. A secondary objective was to inform about the toxicity of various products and to optimise working procedures.METHODS: Exposure to organic solvents was determined by active air sampling and biological monitoring among 38 graffiti removers during an 8-h work shift in the Stockholm underground system. The air samples and biological samples were analysed by gas chromatography. Exposure to organic solvents was also assessed by a questionnaire and interviews.RESULTS: Solvents identified were N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP), dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether (DPGME), propylene glycol monomethyl ether (PGME), diethylene glycol monoethyl ether (DEGEE), toluene, xylene, pseudocumene, hemimellitine, mesitylene, ethylbenzene, limonene, nonane, decane, undecane, hexandecane and gamma-butyrolactone. The 8-h average exposures [time-weighted average (TWA)] were below 20% of the Swedish permissible exposure limit value (PEL) for all solvents identified. In poorly ventilated spaces, e.g. in elevators etc., the short-term exposures exceeded occasionally the Swedish short-term exposure limit values (STEL). The blood and urine concentrations of NMP and its metabolites were low. Glycol ethers and their metabolites (2-methoxypropionic acid (MPA), ethoxy acetic acid (EAA), butoxy acetic acid (BAA), and 2-(2-methoxyethoxy) acetic acid (MEAA)) were found in low concentrations in urine. There were significant correlation between the concentrations of NMP in air and levels of NMP and its metabolites in blood and urine. The use of personal protective equipment, i.e. gloves and respirators, was generally high.CONCLUSIONS: Many different cleaning agents were used. The average exposure to solvents was low, but some working tasks included relatively high short-term exposure. To prevent adverse health effects, it is important to inform workers about the health risks and to restrict the use of the most toxic chemicals. Furthermore, it is important to develop good working procedures and to encourage the use of personal protection equipment.
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| 8. |
- Breidegard, Björn, et al.
(författare)
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Raytracing in the compensation of the peripheral optics of the eye
- 2000
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Ingår i: Historielärarnas Förenings Årsskrift. - 0439-2434.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Abstract Background: Many people with a visual impairment have only peripheral vision. However, there is limited knowledge of the peripheral optics of the eye and only some measurements are available in this field. Methods: We simulated the paths of peripheral rays through the eye by means of raytracing. Five programs were compared. The OSLO raytracing software proved to be not only the best one in these circumstances but we also found it very well suited to our purpose. Remaining uncertainties are entirely due to a lack of input data about the peripheral part of the optical system of the eye. We designed compensatory optics on the basis of the test results. Results: Lenses have been manufactured in accordance with the calculations made by the program for angles of incidence of 20, 40, and 60 degrees. The lenses are high compensation astigmatic lenses. The results of perimeter examinations of changes in peripheral vision using attachment optics were inconclusive, while tests of the lenses as attachments in front of a fundus camera produced successful preliminary results. Conclusion: The next step is to test peripheral vision compensatory optics in traffic situations (driving simulator). At the same time attempts are being made to find methods and instruments for measuring the peripheral optics of the eye. Keywords: astigmatism, central scotoma, raytracing, macula degeneration, peripheral vision.
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| 10. |
- Broukhno, Andrei, et al.
(författare)
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Polyampholyte-induced repulsion between charged surfaces: Monte Carlo simulation studies
- 2002
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Ingår i: Langmuir. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 0743-7463 .- 1520-5827. ; 18:16, s. 6429-6436
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The force between two planar charged surfaces in the presence of polyampholytes (PAs) is investigated as a function of the surface separation. The model system contains PA molecules with zero net charge adsorbing onto the charged surfaces from a dilute surrounding solution without salt. We compare the results obtained on three levels of approximation: (i) polyampholytes moving in the mean field due to the counterions, i.e., in the Poisson-Boltzmann field, (ii) PAs in a self-consistent field generated by both counterions and PA monomers, and (iii) with all interactions treated explicitly. Either the amount of PA is kept constant for varying slit widths or chemical equilibrium with a bulk solution is considered. The PA adsorption and the surface force are found to strongly depend on the charge sequence along the chain. That is, polyampholytes with alternating charges do not adsorb, and their effect on the force is similar to that of neutral polymers. For PAs with long blocks oppositely-charged to the surfaces, however, the adsorption is more favorable and the monomer distribution for these blocks resembles that of polyelectrolytes. The counterions are in this case efficiently displaced from the surfaces, which leads to a significant extension of the electric double layer. Thus, our main conclusion is that adsorbing polyampholytes always increase the double layer repulsion between planar charged surfaces, and, the major cause for this phenomenon is the counterion redistribution. Yet, PA chains are capable of establishing "bridges" at short surface separations, but the resulting attraction can only slightly reduce the repulsive net pressure. The simplest approximation (i) is in principle only valid in the limit of zero PA density. At a finite concentration, it is sufficient, though essential, to include a linear correction to the Poisson-Boltzmann solution in order to accurately predict the interfacial force or the amount of PA in the slit at chemical equilibrium.
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