Effect of metallic nanoparticles on tumor growth: In vivo study.

e15650 Background: The aim of the study was to assess the effect of metallic nanoparticles on growth of transplanted ascitic tumor sarcoma 37 in mice. Methods: Nanoparticles (NP) of transition metals were experimentally developed and kindly provided us by Prof. V.B. Borodulin. Ultradispersed metallic powders (NP Cu, NP Zn, NP Fe) 30-100 nm sized were dispersed by ultrasound in 0.85% NaCl before use and daily administrated intraperitoneally to tumor-bearing mice with ascitic sarcoma 37. Injections of NP 500 µl (10 µg/ml) were performed for 4 days, and 4 days after the completion of the course mice were sacrificed. The control group received 0.85% NaCl. Ascitic fluid volume was measured and living cells were counted. Results: In all the tumor-bearing mice the progression of ascites was noted: it was maximal in controls, less in animals having received NP Fe and NP Cu, minimal – in mice after injection of NP Zn. The volume of the latter was 0.78±0.31 ml in comparison with control data: 1.79±0.66 ml (p < 0.05); it was also less than in mice after administration of NP Cu (2.16±0.68 ml) and NP Fe (3.3±1.3 ml). Similar difference was seen in the amount of tumor cells in ascitic fluid: (1.67±0.5)х106/ml after the injection of NP Zn and (27.7±2.86)х106/мл in the control group. Effect of NP Cu and NP Fe was less pronounced than of NP Zn though obvious in spite of the noted tendency of the increase of the ascitic fluid volume. The most significant changes were observed when absolute amount of living tumor cells was counted per one mouse – it was minimal after NP Zn administration (0.636±0.2)х106/ml and maximal in the control group (23.98±10.5)х106/ml), i.e. only 2.6% of tumor cells had survived after NP Zn injection. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that metallic NP were able to produce antitumor in vivo without any supplements like laser or hyperthermia: the effect was likely to depend upon the metal and was the highest in NP Zn compared to NP Cu and Fe.

Full System Decontamination (FSD) Prior to Decommissioning

Decontamination prior to decommissioning and dismantling is an internationally accepted approach. Not only does it provide for minimization of personnel dose exposure but also maximization of the material volume available for free release. Since easier dismantling techniques in lower dose areas can be applied, the licensing process is facilitated and the scheduling and budgeting effort is more reliable. The most internationally accepted approach for decontamination prior to decommissioning projects is the Full System Decontamination (FSD). FSD is defined as the chemical decontamination of the primary cooling circuit, in conjunction with the main auxiliary systems. AREVA has long-term experience with Full System Decontamination for return to service of operating nuclear power plants as well as for decommissioning after shutdown. Since 1976, AREVA has performed over 500 decontamination applications and from 1986 on, decontaminations prior to decommissioning projects which comprise virtually all nuclear power plant (NPP) designs and plant conditions: • NPP designs: HPWR, PWR, and BWR by AREVA, Westinghouse, ABB and GE; • Decontaminations performed shortly after final shutdown or several years later, and even after re-opening safe enclosure; • High alpha inventory and or low gamma/alpha ratio; • Main coolant chemistry (e.g. with and without Zn injection during operation). Fifteen decontaminations prior to decommissioning projects have been performed successfully to date. The lessons learned of each project were consequently implemented for the next project. AREVA NP has developed a fully comprehensive approach for decontamination based on the CORD® (Chemical Oxidation Reduction Decontamination) Family, applied using the in-house designed decontamination equipment AMDA® (Automatic Modular Decontamination Appliance). The Decontamination Concept for Decommissioning (DCD) will be outlined in this paper. Based on highlights of previous FSDs performed prior to decommissioning the AREVA concept for FSD and DCD will be outlined: • Application window; • Decontamination area; • Waste considerations; • Positive results for subsequent decommissioning and dismantling activities.

AREVA NP Decontamination Concept for Decommissioning: A Comprehensive Approach Based on Over 30 Years Experience

Decontamination prior to Decommissioning and Dismantlement is imperative. Not only does it provide for minimization of personnel dose exposure but also maximization of the material volume available for free release. Since easier dismantling techniques in lower dose areas can be applied, the licensing process is facilitated and the scheduling and budgeting effort is more reliable. The most internationally accepted approach for Decontamination prior to Decommissioning projects is the Full System Decontamination (FSD). FSD is defined as the chemical decontamination of the primary cooling circuit, in conjunction with the main auxiliary systems. AREVA NP has long-term experience with Full System Decontamination for return to service of operating nuclear power plants as well as for decommissioning after shutdown. Since 1976, AREVA NP has performed over 500 decontamination applications and, from 1986, Decontaminations prior to Decommissioning projects which comprise virtually all NPP designs and plant conditions were performed: • NPP designs: HPWR, PWR, and BWR by AREVA, Westinghouse, ABB and GE; • Decontaminations performed shortly after final shutdown or several years later, and even after re-opening Safe Enclosure; • High Alpha inventory and or low gamma/alpha ratio; • Main Coolant chemistry (e.g., with and without Zn injection during operation). Fifteen Decontaminations prior to Decommissioning Projects have been performed successfully to date and the sixteenth FSD is now in the detailed engineering phase and is scheduled to commence late 2010. AREVA NP has developed a fully comprehensive approach for decontamination based on the CORD® (Chemical Oxidation Reduction Decontamination) Family, applied using the in-house designed decontamination equipment AMDA™ (Automatic Modular Decontamination Appliance). Based on the vast experience of AREVA NP in the field of decontamination, the Decontamination Concept for Decommissioning was developed. This concept ensures that the decontamination is tailored to the given boundaries and desired goals to ensure the best results with the lowest waste generation. This includes lower source term by oxide film, thus corrosion product, removal; controlled base metal attack to remove embedded activity; increased gamma/alpha ratios; and alpha contamination removal. This paper will describe the AREVA NP Decontamination Concept for Decommissioning (DCD) and present highlights of previous FSDs performed prior to decommissioning using the CORD/AMDA technology.

Features of Design and Results of Function Tests at Tomari Unit 3

Tomari Unit 3 is not APWR but many advanced and latest technologies such as integrated I&C system including advanced main control board, advanced steam turbine and zinc injection are introduced into it. These three technologies are the fist application in Japan or in the world. Advanced main control board consists of large display panel, operator console and shift supervisor console and improved alarm system is introduced into it. Operator’s mental workload and human error probability is each improved 27% and 59% by introducing advanced main control board. Also maintainability and construction cost is improved by introducing integrated I&C system. MTTR is less than 30 minutes. 54-inch last blade in LP turbine, 3-dimensional hydraulic design blade, integral shroud blade and advanced bearing are applied to advanced steam turbine. Improvement of turbine efficiency by introducing 54-inch and 3-dimensional hydraulic design blade is evaluated to be approximately 0.3%. Vibration amplitude of bearings in turbine-generator during HFT was very small due to advanced bearing. Zinc injection was started from HFT for the first time in the world. Measured zinc consumption is consistent with anticipated. According to result of Zn injection during HFT, radiation sources are approximately 10–20% reduced in comparison with no injection.

Cold-induced expression of the metallothionein-1 gene in brown adipose tissue of rats

Heat production by brown adipose tissue (BAT) is important for thermoregulation in a cold environment. During thermogenesis, oxygen utilization increases, with an associated rise in free radical generation. Our objective was to investigate the expression of metallothionein (MT), which is thought to have an antioxidant role in BAT of rates transferred from 25 to 6 degrees C for 6 or 24 h or maintained at 25 degrees C throughout the study (control group). For comparison, MT expression was also measured in white adipose tissue (WAT), liver, and kidney. MT-1 mRNA and 18S rRNA were measured by Northern blotting using specific digoxigenin-labeled antisense oligonucleotide probes with chemiluminescence detection, and MT-1 protein was determined by radioimmunoassay. MT-1 mRNA in BAT increased after 6 h, and the mRNA level after 24 h was equivalent to that in liver 6 h after injection of rats with 10 mg Zn/kg. By 24 h, liver and kidney MT-1 protein had increased relative to the controls by 3- and 1.4-fold, respectively, but in BAT the relative induction was 16-fold. Zn injection did not affect BAT MT-1. As with MT-1 protein, Zn in BAT increased only after 24-h cold exposure. WAT MT-1 was not affected by any treatment. It is concluded that could exposure induces MT-1 in BAT, but in contrast to other tissues induction may be independent of Zn.

Effect of zinc injection on Zn binding in cytosols of several tissues of kids

1. An experiment was conducted with goat kids to determine the effect of zinc injection on Zn binding in cytosols of several tissues of kids.2. Following the Zn load, plasma Zn increased for 8 h then decreased. Zn injection significantly increased the Zn contents of the liver and kidney.3. Injection of Zn into kids stimulated the production of Zn in a fraction with an apparent molecular weight of approximately 10000 in the cytosols of the liver, kidney and small intestinal mucosa. It is suggested that these fractions probably correspond to metallothioneins, Rumen papilla did not synthesize Zn-containing protein in response to an acute administration of Zn.4. Zn injection significantly decreased the Cu content of the liver and affected the distribution of Cu in hepatic cytosol fraction, suggesting an interaction between these two elements.5. The volume of bile collected in the gall bladder and its Zn content were markedly increased by Zn injection, suggesting that bile is one of the Zn excretion routes in kids.