Characterisation and dissolution of depleted uranium aerosols produced during impacts of kinetic energy penetrators against a tank.

Aerosols produced during impacts of depleted uranium (DU) penetrators against the glacis (sloping armour) and the turret of a tank were sampled. The concentration and size distribution were determined. Activity median aerodynamic diameters were 1 microm (geometric standard deviation, sigma(g) = 3.

[Efficiency of etidronic acid in the case of cutaneous radiocontamination by actinid elements: in vitro evaluation].

Ethane 1 hydroxy 1.1. biphosphonate (EHBP) is a medicine named Didronel, which inhibits bone resorption in the case of Paget's disease.

Contamination and decontamination of rat and human skin with plutonium and uranium, studied with a Franz's chamber.

Purpose: Our work offers a new method of assessing human skin radiocontamination and of appraising its treatment. This in vitro technique stems from methods used in skin pharmacology.

Materials And Methods: Franz's diffusion chambers, which help maintain the physiological condition of a skin biopsy, are used to study how 233U and 239Pu, added to a 0.

[Percutaneous absorption of metallic cations: uranium particulates].

Washing is usually used to reduce the risk of a skin contamination. Skin biopsies were used and contaminations were realised with 1) soluble radioactive calcium 2) insoluble particles of uranium. The result obtained with different wash liquids are presented here.

[Reduction of renal uranium uptake by acetazolamide: the importance of urinary elimination of bicarbonate].

Acetazolamide was compared with bicarbonate for the treatment of contamination with uranium. Uranium was injected peritoneally in rats, and its distribution was investigated. Acetazolamide was three times more efficient than bicarbonate in reducing the renal content of uranium.

[Thorium: analysis and dosimetry of thorium welding electrodes].

The use of thoriated tungsten electrodes may be at the origin of a potential hazard for the personnel involved in the use of electrodes, as well as the general population. To assess this hazard, the electrode radioactivity measurements by alpha and beta counting has been conducted. The radioelements were identified by alpha and gamma spectromety.

[Thorium a radioactive element in current use: physical-chemical properties and biological processing].

The radioactive properties and physicochemistry of thorium were studied and correlations drawn between thorium and element sof the titanium group, lanthanides and plutonium. It appears that the behavior of Th4+ and Pu4+ are similar, particularly their distribution pattern on bone surfaces. Chelating agents are reviewed and the structure of metal chelates indicated.

Topological structure activity analysis of diphosphonates in the elimination of radionuclides from body.

The effectiveness of a series of diphosphonates in the elimination of radionuclides from rat was analyzed by means of topological structure and activity relations. It is possible to compute some numbers or indexes characteristic of the topological structure of a molecule. The Wiener Index which measures the ramification of a molecule has been chosen.

[Modeling of cutaneous radio-contamination: effects of washings by soap and by solutions of DTPA].

Some neutral chirurgical soap, a solution of diethylen penta acetic acid (DTPA) at 1% and a solution at 25% of monocalcic trisodium salt of DTPA in serum have been studied on models of cutaneous contamination. Cesium 137 (137Cs) and Plutonium 239 (239Pu) have been used for the contamination. This research gives a protocol for external cutaneous decontamination which could be used in reception units for radiocontaminated wounded.

Modulation of leucocyte activation in the early phase of the rabbit burn injury.

Previous studies in burned patients have shown an early enhanced polymorphonuclear leucocyte (PMN) generating capacity for superoxide radical (O2.-), for the arachidonic acid (AA) lipoxygenase metabolite leukotriene B4 (LTB4) and for platelet activating factor-acether (PAF). These findings have been confirmed on a burn injury rabbit model.

Biological behaviour of Pu administered to animals as Pu-standard LICAM(C) complex: therapeutical attempts to decrease Pu kidney burden.

The biological fate of plutonium (Pu) introduced as a Pu-standard LICAM(C) complex was investigated in male rats of two strains, in male and female mice and in the baboon. We observed that, whatever the animal species or the entry route, this complex was deposited rapidly in the kidney. In addition, more of the complex accumulated in the rat (16% of injected radioactivity) than in either the mouse (7%) or baboon (5%).

[Effect of irradiation on the in vivo and in vitro subcellular distribution of radiostrontium in rat liver].

Hepatic mitochondrial strontium uptake is enhanced in whole body irradiated rats. Effect is observed on animals but not on irradiated organ slices. It is likely that a hypophyso - adrenal axis hormone plays a role in changes observed in vivo.

Titration of total binding sites for growth hormone in rabbit liver. Quantitative modifications of these sites during pregnancy.

The present work outlines various kinetic parameters of the interaction between bGH (bovine growth hormone) and a receptor located on the membranes of rabbit liver. A dissociation procedure, which strips the hormone off its receptor has been worked out, by varying MgCl2 concentrations and times of contact; exposure to 4 M MgCl2 for 15--30 min was found optimal for dissociation, without denaturing the receptor, as shown by the possibility of rebinding the hormone to the desaturated membranes. This method has been applied to titrate growth hormone receptors in rabbit liver, during pregnancy and lactation.