Development of an automated method for in-house production of sodium F-fluoride for injection: process validation as a step toward routine clinical application.

Background: Sodium F-fluoride for injection can be easily cyclotron-produced and purified, as a simple inorganic salt, by adsorption/desorption onto an anion-exchange cartridge and then dispensed for clinical use. Since the clinical demand for this radiopharmaceutical is constantly increasing, this study aimed to design and develop a simple, fully automated method for the in-house, rapid, and efficient processing and dispensing of injectable solutions of Sodium F-fluoride without the need of a synthesis module and disposable kit, but using only the dispensing unit.

Results: A new simple method for the efficient routine production of injectable solutions of [F]NaF was developed through a straightforward modification of the commercial dispenser Clio (Comecer S.

Evaluation of factors with potential influence on [F]FDG radiochemical synthesis yield.

[F]FDG radiopharmaceutical production is performed with automatic synthesis modules, which enables to carry out the production process safely, reliably and reproducibly. This study aimed to investigate the factors which may influence and give inconsistent radiochemical synthesis yield, as well as common pitfalls in the synthesis process which can occur. We evaluated more than 500 batches in the overall study.

Productivity and firm exit during the COVID-19 crisis: cross-country evidence.

This paper examines whether the economic crisis induced by the COVID-19 pandemic exhibits a Schumpeterian "cleansing" of less productive firms. Using firm-level data collected for 34 economies up to 18 months into the crisis, the study finds that less productive firms have a higher probability of permanently closing during the crisis, suggesting that the process of cleansing out unproductive activities is occurring. The paper also uncovers strong and negative relationships of firm exit with digital presence and with innovation.