Status report of the first AMS laboratory in the Czech Republic at the Nuclear Physics Institute, Řež.

The first accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) laboratory in the Czech Republic has been established and put into routine operation in February 2022. Here we briefly describe the facilities available, namely a 300 kV multi-isotope low-energy AMS system (MILEA) capable of determination Be, C, Al, Ca, I, isotopes of U, especially U, Pu and other actinoids, and accessories for C measurements, which include a gas interface system, a preparative gas chromatography system for compound-specific radiocarbon dating analysis, and an isotope-ratio mass spectrometer. The first results achieved for separation and measurement of the above radionuclides (except for Ca) are also reported, with the main focus on C measurements.

The Removal of Pertechnetate from Aqueous Solution by Synthetic Hydroxyapatite: The Role of Reduction Reagents and Organic Ligands.

The use of knowledge from technetium radiochemistry (even from nuclear medicine applications) allows us to select an sorbent for Tc radionuclide sorption, which is hydroxyapatite. Using radioisotope indication, the TcO₄ sorption process on synthetic hydroxyapatite was studied by the batch method in the presence of SnCl and FeSO reducing agents. The complexing organic ligands' effect on the TcO₄ sorption under reducing conditions was investigated.

Isotherm, Kinetic, and Selectivity Studies for the Removal of Ba and Cs from Aqueous Solution Using Turkish Perlite.

The efficiency of 133Ba and 137Cs removal from aqueous solution is vital to mitigate ecological concerns over spreading these radionuclides in the environment. The present work focused on the use of Turkish perlite for the sorptive removal of 133Ba and 137Cs from aqueous solution by the radioindicator method. Perlite was characterized by XRF, XRD, FTIR, SEM−EDX, and BET analyses.

Ion-Imprinted Polymers: Synthesis, Characterization, and Adsorption of Radionuclides.

Growing concern over the hazardous effect of radionuclides on the environment is driving research on mitigation and deposition strategies for radioactive waste management. Currently, there are many techniques used for radionuclides separation from the environment such as ion exchange, solvent extraction, chemical precipitation and adsorption. Adsorbents are the leading area of research and many useful materials are being discovered in this category of radionuclide ion separation.

Pertechnetate/Perrhenate Surface Complexation on Bamboo Engineered Biochar.

The work deals with the evaluation of biochar samples prepared from Phyllostachys Viridiglaucescens bamboo. This evaluation consists of the characterization of prepared materials' structural properties, batch and dynamic sorption experiments, and potentiometric titrations. The batch technique was focused on obtaining basic sorption data of ⁸⁸ᵐTcO₄⁻ on biochar samples including influence of pH, contact time, and Freundlich isotherm.

Emulgels Containing Carbopol 934P and Different Vegetable Oils for Topical Propolis Delivery: Bioadhesion, Drug Release Profile, and Ex Vivo Skin Permeation Studies.

Topical administration can enable a more efficient therapy based on the improved bioavailability and patient compliance. Wounds and infections can lead to modifications of skin physiology and body protective function. Propolis (PRP) is utilized for skin protection and treatment.

Surface Complexation Models of Pertechnetate on Biochar/Montmorillonite Composite-Batch and Dynamic Sorption Study.

The study summarizes the results of monitoring the properties of two types of sorbents, BC1 (biochar sample 1) and BC2a (biochar sample 2), prepared by pyrolysis of bamboo biomass (BC1) and as its composite with montmorillonite K10 (BC2a). The main goal was to study their applicability to the Tc (VII) separation from liquid wastes, using NHReO as a carrier. The research was focused on determining the sorbents surface properties (by XRF (X-ray fluorescence) method and potentiometric titration in order to determine the properties of surface groups-Chemical Equilibrium Model (CEM) and Ion Exchange Model (IExM) models were applied here).

Metal ion-promoted cleavage of nucleoside diphosphosugars: a model for reactions of phosphodiester bonds in carbohydrates.

Cleavage of five different nucleoside diphosphosugars has been studied in the presence of Cu(2+) and Zn(2+) complexes. The results show that metal ion catalysts promote the cleavage via intramolecular transesterification whenever a neighbouring HO group can adopt a cis-orientation with respect to the phosphate. The HO group attacks the phosphate and two monophosphate products are formed.

Multiple sclerosis is associated with psoriasis. A case-control study.

Background: MS and psoriasis are both autoimmune diseases putatively mediated mainly by T cells.

Objective: We conducted a case control study to investigate whether patients with MS have a high rate of comorbid psoriasis.

Methods: The cohort consisted of 214 consecutive MS patients and a control group of 192 consecutive patients with headache.

Strokes after cardiac surgery: mostly right hemispheric ischemic with mild residual damage.

Objective: Since cardiac surgery is now performed on patients with high risk for cerebrovascular disease, we studied the clinical findings and medium term outcome of patients with acute stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA) after cardiac surgery.

Methods: All consecutive patients with acute stroke/TIA after cardiac surgery were prospectively observed during a 19 month period. Follow-up was between 3 months and 21 months.

Topiramate in the treatment of refractory chronic daily headache. An open trial.

Chronic daily headache (CDH) is a debilitating disorder that becomes a treatment challenge in patients refractory to the treatment. We hereby report our experience with topiramate treatment in patients with refractory CDH. The study design was a prospective, protocol-based follow-up and retrospective analysis of headache diaries.

Neuronal-binding antibodies from patients with antiphospholipid syndrome induce cognitive deficits following intrathecal passive transfer.

Antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) have been suggested to play a role in causing cognitive and behavioral impairments. In the present study we investigated the pathogenic potential of aPL by intracerebro-ventricular (ICV) administration of immunoglobulins (IgG) from patients with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). IgG, purified from the sera of four APS patients, was tested for binding to normal mouse brain by immunohistological staining.

Recurrent toxic delirium in a patient treated with SSRIs: is old age a risk factor?

We present the case of a 71-year-old female suffering from bipolar affective disorder type 2 and an old lacunar brain infarct who, under the combined treatment of fluoxetine for depression and low dose trazodone for the accompanying insomnia, developed a toxic delirium. The subject presented with mental state changes (confusion and agitation), hyperreflexia, diaphoresis, nausea, vomiting, fever, and a general tonic-clonic seizure which developed soon after an increase in the trazodone dose. One year prior to the above episode, she was hospitalized for a transient episode of agitated confusion while being treated with fluvoxamine for depression, alprazolam and brotazolam for the accompanying anxiety and insomnia.

Changes in expression of lymphocyte amyloid precursor protein mRNA isoforms in normal aging and Alzheimer's disease.

We measured, by employing a quantitative reverse-transcriptase PCR procedure, the relative (to beta-actin) levels of amyloid precursor protein APP751 and APP770 mRNA isoforms in lymphocytes obtained from 64 cognitively intact subjects ranging in ages from 20 to 91 years and in 19 patients with sporadic Alzheimer's disease. A positive correlation was observed between the relative lymphocyte APP751 mRNA levels and subject age for the cognitively intact cohort. No difference in lymphocyte APP751 mRNA levels was observed between Alzheimer's disease patients and their age-matched controls (> 55 years of age).