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In vitro electrical properties for iridium oxide versus titanium nitride stimulating electrodes.

Stimulating electrode materials must be capable of supplying high-density electrical charge to effectively activate neural tissue. Platinum is the most commonly used material for neural stimulation. Two other materials have been considered: iridium oxide and titanium nitride. This study directly compared the electrical characteristics of iridium oxide and titanium nitride by fabricating silicon substrate probes that differed only in the material used to form the electrode. Electrochemical measurements indicated that iridium oxide had lower impedance and a higher charge storage capacity than titanium nitride, suggesting better performance as a stimulating electrode. Direct measurement of the electrode potential in response to a biphasic current pulse confirmed that iridium oxide uses less voltage to transfer the same amount of charge, therefore using less power. The charge injection limit for titanium nitride was 0.87 mC/cm2, contradicting other reports estimating that titanium nitride was capable of injecting 22 mC/cm2. Iridium oxide charge storage was 4 mC/cm2, which is comparable to other published values for iridium oxide. Electrode efficiency will lead to an overall more efficient and effective device.

Coated Materials, Biocompatible↗

[Place of iridium 192 implantation in irradiation of T1-T2 squamous cell carcinoma of the velopharyngeal arch].

We have reviewed the results of 165 T1 and T2 squamous cell carcinomas of the faucial arch treated by definitive irradiation including or not iridium 192 brachytherapy to ascertain whether a significant relationship exists between iridium implantation, local control, complications and survival. From March 1971 to November 1990, 58 T1 and 107 T2 (NO: 107/165; N1: 30/165; N2: 9/165; N3: 19/165) biopsy proven squamous cell carcinomas of the tonsillar region (104/165) and the soft palate and uvula (61/165) were treated in the Henri Mondor Hospital by definitive irradiation with curative intent. From 1971 to 1981 (period 1), only guide gutter technique was available, so that implants were reserved for small tumors: patients were either managed by definitive telecobaltherapy to tumor site and neck node areas (group I; n = 48; mean dose: 70 Gy; confidence interval: +/- 5.5, 5 fractions of 1.8 Gy per week) or by exclusive iridium implant (group 2; n = 11; all T1NO; 64 Gy +/- 4.8) or by a combination of external beam radiation therapy to tumor site and neck nodes areas and iridium implant (group 3; n = 40). In 1981 (period 2), a new plastic tube technique, which enables implantation of larger areas, was introduced and all patients (group 4; n = 66) were then managed by external radiation therapy (group 3 + 4: 47 Gy +/- 4.3) followed by an iridium implant (31 Gy +/- 10.5). Clinically positive neck nodes either received additional external dose with electrons or were excised. Overall 5-year survival (Kaplan Meier) was 23%, 50.5%, and 60% in groups 1, 2 and 3 + 4, respectively (p < 0.001, log rank). Five-year local control was 58%, 100%, and 91%, respectively (p < 0.001). Five-year necrosis rate was 10%, 25% and 30%, respectively (NS). Comparison of results between the two periods of the study (group 1 + 2 + 3 vs group 4) shows that these two groups are statistically comparable according to site and size of tumor and N status and that both local control (77% vs 94% at 5 years; p < 0.01) and disease free survival (56% vs 71%; p = 0.03) were improved after 1980, while there was a trend to an increase in overall survival (42% vs 53% at 5 years; p = 0.08); nodal control (86% vs 95% at 5 years) and necrosis rate (11% vs 20% at 5 years) were not modified. Multivariate analysis showed that both local control (p < 0.0001) and overall survival (p < 0.0001) were improved when tumor was implanted. We recommend then to treat T1 and T2 squamous cell carcinomas of the faucial arch by external radiation therapy to tumor site and neck areas (45 Gy/25 fractions/5 weeks) followed by a 30 Gy iridium implant and, for patients with clinically positive nodes, either a further 25-30 Gy electron beam irradiation to the nodes or neck node dissection.

Adult↗

IRIDIUM exposure increases c-fos expression in the mouse brain only at levels which likely result in tissue heating.

With the rapid development of wireless communication technology over the last 20 years, there has been some public concern over possible health effects of long-term, low-level radiofrequency exposure from cellular telephones. As an initial step in compiling a database for risk analysis by government agencies, the effects of 1-h exposure of mice to a 1.6-GHz radiofrequency signal, given as either a continuous wave or pulse modulated at 11 Hz with a duty cycle of 4:1 and a pulse duration of 9.2 ms IRIDIUM), on c-fos gene expression in the brain was investigated. The IRIDIUM signal is the operating frequency for a ground-to-satellite-to-ground cellular communications web which has recently become fully operational, and was named as such due to the original designed employment of the same number of low orbiting satellites as there are electrons orbiting the nucleus of an iridium atom. The expression of c-fos was not significantly elevated in the brains of mice until exposure levels exceeded six times the peak dose and 30 times the whole body average dose as maximal cellular telephone exposure limits in humans. Higher level exposure using either continuous wave (analog) or IRIDIUM signals elevated c-fos to a similar extent, suggesting no obvious pulsed modulation-specific effects. The pattern of c-fos elevation in limbic cortex and subcortex areas at higher exposure levels is most consistent with a stress response due to thermal perception coupled with restraint and/or neuron activity near thermoregulatory regions, and not consistent with any direct interaction of IRIDIUM energy with brain tissue.

Animals↗

Iridium-based electrocatalytic systems for the determination of insulin.

Two electrochemical catalytic systems for the determination of insulin were developed. The homogeneous system was based on the oxidation of insulin by chloro complexes of iridium(IV). Kinetic studies revealed that the aquation of iridium complexes activated them toward the oxidation of insulin in acidic solutions; e.g., the rate constant was equal to 25, 900, and 8,400 L mol(-1) s(-1) for the oxidation of insulin by the IrCl62-, Ir(H2O)CI5-, and Ir(H2O)2Cl4 complexes, respectively. The inertness of the iridium complexes argued for the outer-sphere mechanism of the homogeneous oxidation reaction. Electroplating of aquated iridium complexes on the glassy carbon electrode resulted in the formation of the iridium oxide (IrOx) surface film, which was used in the heterogeneous detection system for insulin. The catalytic activity of the IrOx film toward insulin oxidation was ascribed to a combination of electron-transfer mediation and oxygen transfer which was related to the acid/base chemistry of the film. The IrOx film electrode was used as an amperometric detector for flow injection analysis of insulin in pH 7.40 phosphate buffer. Linear least-squares calibration curves over the range 0.05-0.50 microM (five points) had slopes of 35.2 +/- 0.4 nA microM(-1) and correlation coefficients of 0.999. The detection limit for insulin was 20 nM using the criterion of a signal of 3 times the peak-to-peak noise. The advantageous properties of the detector based on the IrOx film are its inherent stability at physiological pH, high catalytic activity toward insulin oxidation, and simplicity of preparation.

Algorithms↗

[Radiomenolysis of the endometrium using high-dose iridium irradiation--clinical and cytologic results].

423 patients with benign recurrent uterine bleeding resistant to other therapy were treated by intracavitary radiotherapy. In all cases there was a contraindication for the operative removal of the uterus. Since 1980 radiomenolysis was performed by high-dose Iridium-192 irradiation (afterloading technique). In 94.3% of our cases with Radium-226 irradiation the bleeding could be treated successfully. Side effects of the irradiation occurred only in a minimal and neglectible percentage. In all cases irradiated with Iridium-192 the bleeding stopped after treatment. Side effects could not be observed. Therefore the intrauterine contact-irradiation therapy with high-dose Iridium-192 should be remembered in cases of uterine bleeding resistant to hormonal therapy or in cases of high risk for operation. With the afterloading device the molestation for the patients could be reduced to a minimum. By intrauterine exfoliative smear performed before and after irradiation the cytomorphologic effect of an Iridium-192 afterloading irradiation was demonstrated. The examinations showed that the cytologic findings were characteristic for the effect if ionizing radiation of the histologically unchanged, not radiosensitive, normal cylindrical epithelium. A marked cellular diathesis and augmentation of size of nuclei and plasma is a characteristic result of the irradiation with Iridium-192.

Adult↗

Synthesis of Iridium(III) Carboxamides via the Bimetallic Reaction between Cp(PMe(3))IrPh(OH) and [Cp(PMe(3))Ir(Ph)NCR](+).

Reaction of Cp(PMe(3))IrPh(OH) (1) with nitriles is undetectably slow in benzene solution at room temperature. However, in the presence of Cp(PMe(3))IrPh(OTf) (2) (OTf = O(3)SCF(3)), the reaction is strongly catalyzed, leading to iridium(III) carboxamides Cp(PMe(3))IrPh[NHC(O)R] (6a-d) [R = C(6)H(4)CH(3) (6a), C(6)H(5) (6b), C(6)H(4)CF(3) (6c), CH(3) (6d)]. We propose that these transformations occur by initial displacement of the trifluoromethanesulfonate ("triflate") anion of 2 by a molecule of nitrile, leading to a nitrile-substituted iridium cation, [Cp(PMe(3))IrPh(NCR)](+) (10). Following this, the nucleophilic hydroxide group of 1 attacks the (activated) nitrile molecule bound in 10, leading (after proton transfer) to the iridium carboxamide complex. In the case of nitriles possessing hydrogens alpha to the cyano group, competitive loss of one of these protons is observed, leading to iridium C-bound cyanoenolates such as Cp(PMe(3))(Ph)Ir(CH(2)CN) (7). Protonolysis of carboxamides 6a-d with HCl yields Cp(PMe(3))IrPh(Cl) (9) and the free amides. A pronounced solvent effect is observed when the reaction between 1 and nitriles catalyzed by 2 is carried out in THF solution. The basic hydroxide ligand of 1 induces an overall dehydration/cyclization reaction of the coordinated aromatic nitrile. For example, the reaction of 1 with p-trifluorotolunitrile and a catalytic amount of 2 leads to the formation of 6c, water, [Ph(PMe(3))Ir[C(5)Me(4)CH(2)C(C(6)H(4)CF(3))N]] (12), and [Ph(PMe(3))Ir(C(5)Me(4)CH(2)C(C(6)H(4)CF(3))NH)]OTf (13). A mechanism to explain the formation of both 12 and 13 and the role each compound plays in the formation of the iridium carboxamides is proposed.

Journal Article↗

Syntheses, structures, and reactivities of mono- and dinuclear iridium thiolato complexes containing nitrosyl ligands.

Reactions of the iridium(III) nitrosyl complex [Ir(NO)Cl2(PPh3)2] (1) with hydrosulfide and arenethiolate anions afforded the square-pyramidal iridium(III) complex [Ir(NO)(SH)2(PPh3)2] (2) with a bent nitrosyl ligand and a series of the square-planar iridium(I) complexes [Ir(NO)(SAr)2(PPh3)] (3a, Ar = C6H2Me3-2,4,6 (Mes); 3b, Ar = C6H3Me2-2,6 (Xy); 3c, Ar = C6H2Pri3-2,4,6) containing a linear nitrosyl ligand, respectively. Complex 1 also reacted with alkanethiolate anions or alkanethiols to give the thiolato-bridged diiridium complexes [Ir(NO)(mu-SPri)(SPri)(PPh3)]2 (4) and [Ir(NO)(mu-SBut)(PPh3)]2 (5). Complex 4 contains two square-pyramidal iridium(III) centers with a bent nitrosyl ligand, whereas 5 contains two tetrahedral iridium(0) centers with a linear nitrosyl ligand and has an Ir-Ir bond. Upon treatment with benzoyl chloride, 3a and 3b were converted into the (diaryl disulfide)- and thiolato-bridged dichlorodiiridium(III) complexes [[IrCl(mu-SC6HnMe4-nCH2)(PPh3)]2(mu-ArSSAr)] (6a, Ar = Mes, n = 2; 6b, Ar = Xy, n = 3) accompanied by a loss of the nitrosyl ligands and cleavage of a C-H bond in an ortho methyl group of the thiolato ligands. Similar treatment of 4 gave the dichlorodiiridium complex [Ir(NO)(PPh3)(mu-SPri)3IrCl2(PPh3)] (7), which has an octahedral dichloroiridium(III) center and a distorted trigonal-bipyramidal Ir(I) atom with a linear nitrosyl ligand. The detailed structures of 3a, 4, 5, 6a, and 7 have been determined by X-ray crystallography.

Journal Article↗

Highly phosphorescent bis-cyclometalated iridium complexes: synthesis, photophysical characterization, and use in organic light emitting diodes.

The synthesis and photophysical study of a family of cyclometalated iridium(III) complexes are reported. The iridium complexes have two cyclometalated (C(**)N) ligands and a single monoanionic, bidentate ancillary ligand (LX), i.e., C(**)N2Ir(LX). The C(**)N ligands can be any of a wide variety of organometallic ligands. The LX ligands used for this study were all beta-diketonates, with the major emphasis placed on acetylacetonate (acac) complexes. The majority of the C(**)N2Ir(acac) complexes phosphoresce with high quantum efficiencies (solution quantum yields, 0.1-0.6), and microsecond lifetimes (e.g., 1-14 micros). The strongly allowed phosphorescence in these complexes is the result of significant spin-orbit coupling of the Ir center. The lowest energy (emissive) excited state in these C(**)N2Ir(acac) complexes is a mixture of (3)MLCT and (3)(pi-pi) states. By choosing the appropriate C(**)N ligand, C(**)N2Ir(acac) complexes can be prepared which emit in any color from green to red. Simple, systematic changes in the C(**)N ligands, which lead to bathochromic shifts of the free ligands, lead to similar bathochromic shifts in the Ir complexes of the same ligands, consistent with "C(**)N2Ir"-centered emission. Three of the C(**)N2Ir(acac) complexes were used as dopants for organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs). The three Ir complexes, i.e., bis(2-phenylpyridinato-N,C2')iridium(acetylacetonate) [ppy2Ir(acac)], bis(2-phenyl benzothiozolato-N,C2')iridium(acetylacetonate) [bt2Ir(acac)], and bis(2-(2'-benzothienyl)pyridinato-N,C3')iridium(acetylacetonate) [btp2Ir(acac)], were doped into the emissive region of multilayer, vapor-deposited OLEDs. The ppy2Ir(acac)-, bt2Ir(acac)-, and btp2Ir(acac)-based OLEDs give green, yellow, and red electroluminescence, respectively, with very similar current-voltage characteristics. The OLEDs give high external quantum efficiencies, ranging from 6 to 12.3%, with the ppy2Ir(acac) giving the highest efficiency (12.3%, 38 lm/W, >50 Cd/A). The btp2Ir(acac)-based device gives saturated red emission with a quantum efficiency of 6.5% and a luminance efficiency of 2.2 lm/W. These C(**)N2Ir(acac)-doped OLEDs show some of the highest efficiencies reported for organic light emitting diodes. The high efficiencies result from efficient trapping and radiative relaxation of the singlet and triplet excitons formed in the electroluminescent process.

Journal Article↗

Meteoric smoke fallout over the Holocene epoch revealed by iridium and platinum in Greenland ice.

An iridium anomaly at the Cretaceous/Tertiary boundary layer has been attributed to an extraterrestrial body that struck the Earth some 65 million years ago. It has been suggested that, during this event, the carrier of iridium was probably a micrometre-sized silicate-enclosed aggregate or the nanophase material of the vaporized impactor. But the fate of platinum-group elements (such as iridium) that regularly enter the atmosphere via ablating meteoroids remains largely unknown. Here we report a record of iridium and platinum fluxes on a climatic-cycle timescale, back to 128,000 years ago, from a Greenland ice core. We find that unexpectedly constant fallout of extraterrestrial matter to Greenland occurred during the Holocene, whereas a greatly enhanced input of terrestrial iridium and platinum masked the cosmic flux in the dust-laden atmosphere of the last glacial age. We suggest that nanometre-sized meteoric smoke particles, formed from the recondensation of ablated meteoroids in the atmosphere at altitudes >70 kilometres, are transported into the winter polar vortices by the mesospheric meridional circulation and are preferentially deposited in the polar ice caps. This implies an average global fallout of 14 +/- 5 kilotons per year of meteoric smoke during the Holocene.

Journal Article↗

Preparation of five- and six-coordinate aryl(hydrido) iridium(III) complexes from benzene and functionalized arenes by C-H activation.

The reaction of the in situ generated cyclooctene iridium(I) derivative trans-[IrCl(C8H14)(PiPr3)2] with benzene at 80 degrees C gave a mixture of the five-coordinate dihydrido and hydrido(phenyl) iridium(III) complexes [IrH2(Cl)(PiPr3)2] 2 and [IrH(C6H5)(Cl)(PiPr3)2] 3 in the ratio of about 1 : 2. The chloro- and fluoro-substituted arenes C6H5X (X = Cl, F), C6H4F2 and C6H4F(CH3) reacted also by C-H activation to afford the corresponding aryl(hydrido) iridium(III) derivatives [IrH(C6H4X)(Cl)(PiPr3)2] 7, 8, [IrH(C6H3F2)(Cl)(PiPr3)2] 9-11 and [IrH[C6H3F(CH3)](Cl)(PiPr3)2] 12, 13, respectively. The formation of isomeric mixtures had been detected by 1H, 13C, 19F and 31P NMR spectroscopy. Treatment of 3 and 7-13 with CO gave the octahedral carbonyl iridium(III) complexes [IrH(C6H3XX')(Cl)(CO)(PiPr3)2] 5, 14-20 without the elimination of the arene. The reactions of trans-[IrCl(C8H14)(PiPr3)2] with aryl ketones C6H5C(O)R (R = Me, Ph), aryl ketoximes C6H5C(NOH)R (R = Me, Ph) and benzaloxime C6H5C(NOH)H resulted in the formation of six-coordinate aryl(hydrido) iridium(III) compounds 21-25 with the aryl ligand coordinated in a bidentate kappa2-C,O or kappa2-C,N fashion. With C6H5C(O)NH2 as the substrate, the two isomers [IrH[kappa2-N,O-NHC(O)C6H5](Cl)(PiPr3)2] 26 and [IrH[kappa2-C,O-C6H4C(O)NH2](Cl)(PiPr3)2] 27 were prepared stepwise. Treatment of trans-[IrCl(C8H14)(PiPr3)2] with benzoic acid gave the benzoato(hydrido) complex [IrH[kappa2-O,O-O2CC6H5](Cl)(PiPr3)2] 29 which did not rearrange to the kappa2-C,O isomer.

Journal Article↗

A novel platinum-iridium, potentially gamma radioactive stent: evaluation in a porcine model.

In-stent restenosis (ISR) is a major problem within stented arteries. Surface treatment of stents with platinum and gold were found to have the maximum charge with least neointima formation (NF). This study was designed to evaluate platinum (maximum electrical charge) as a material to make stents to reduce NF. Iridium was added to make an alloy suitable for stent manufacture, with the potential to make the stent radioactive. We implanted the novel platinum-iridium (PI) stent in 10 porcine coronaries and compared to the Palmaz-Schatz (PS) stent implanted in 8 coronary arteries. Six weeks after implantation, angiography of the stented vessel was performed before sacrifice. The coronaries were perfusion-fixed and stained, and vessel parameters were analyzed by computer-aided histomorphometry. The thrombus formation and the inflammatory response was less in the PI stent (0.04 +/- 0.1 vs. 0.24 +/- 0.2, P = 0.005; and 1.1 +/- 0.5 vs. 2.4 +/- 0.3, P < 0.001). The NF from PI-stented arteries was smaller in size than the PS controls (1.9 +/- 0.6 mm(2) vs. 2.4 +/- 0.4 mm(2), P = 0.06). However, PI stents presented with higher recoil than the PS stent (16% vs. 5%, P < 0.001). Platinum-iridium is a highly biocompatible material with high performance, low inflammatory response with small NF. This stent does not lead to thrombus formation and has the potential (due to the presence of iridium) to be irradiated to form a gamma radioactive stent. Cathet. Cardiovasc. Intervent. 51:364-368, 2000.

Animals↗

Episcleral iridium-192 wire therapy for choroidal melanomas.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectivity of high-dose episcleral iridium-192 wires in the treatment of choroidal melanoma. METHODS AND MATERIALS: In 1983, the Departments of Radiation Oncology and Ophthalmology at the Clínica Puerta de Hierro, Madrid, Spain, initiated a clinical study using removable episcleral iridium-192 wires in the treatment of choroidal melanoma. Sixty-six evaluable patients were treated from January 1983 through July 1992. Two patients had a small sized tumor (3%), 28 had a medium sized tumor (42%), and 36 patients had a large tumor (54%). The mean follow-up was 40 months (6-118 months). The dose to the apex of the tumor ranged from 66 to 97 Gy (mean 76.6 Gy), and the doses at 2 mm depth ranged from 77 to 433 Gy (mean 200 Gy). RESULTS: Tumor regression or stabilization was observed in 53 of the 66 patients (90%). Visual acuity improved following treatment in 5 out of 54 patients (9%), remaining unchanged in 30 out of 54 (56%), and decreased in 19 out of 54 (35%) patients. The remaining seven patients had undergone enucleation. Late complications have been documented in 20 out of 66 patients (30%), including 6 patients in whom enucleation was required because of radiation-related complications. The probability of survival and survival free of local progression was 93% at 5 years and 79% at 10 years. The probability of retaining the treated eye is 82% after the fifth year posttreatment. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of choroidal melanomas with episcleral iridium-192 wires is as effective as treatment with other radioactive applications. We feel that our results using iridium-192 wires are comparable to the other methods. However, we think that our technique is simple to implement, relatively inexpensive, and well tolerated.

Brachytherapy↗

Iridium-192 implantation for node-negative carcinoma of the penis: the Cookridge Hospital experience.

Carcinoma of the penis is a rare tumour of the male urogenital tract, which may be treated by using several modalities. We present a single-centre experience of iridium-192 implantation. From 1980 to 1997, 31 patients with node-negative penile cancer were treated with an iridium-192 implant to the penis. A retrospective analysis of the case notes was made. Survival curves were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method. The median age at treatment was 61.5 years. Twenty-seven patients presented with Jackson Stage I disease and four with Stage II disease. They were treated with an iridium-192 implant to the penis after biopsy (n = 25) or tumour excision (n = 6), with a 'watch and wait' policy for inguinal nodes. Four patients did not complete their implantation treatment and had additional external beam radiotherapy. The median follow-up was 61.5 months. The primary tumour was controlled in 25 of 31 patients (80.6%) by the implant. In all but one patient with primary relapse, surgical salvage was successful, although one patient died of septicaemia 3 weeks after surgery. Nodes were the initial site of relapse in seven patients, with associated relapse in the primary in one. The actuarial 5-year survival rates were as follows: overall survival 69.0 %, disease-specific survival (corrected for intercurrent deaths) 85.4%, relapse-free survival 57.8% and local relapse-free survival 75.6%. One patient underwent amputation for necrosis and 11 of 25 patients (44%) who achieved penile conservation required dilatation for urethral stenosis. In conclusion, iridium-192 implantation is a successful method of treatment for penile cancer in terms of local control, with preservation of function in the majority of patients. In those who do relapse at the primary site, surgical salvage is usually possible.

Adult↗

Electrodeposited iridium oxide for neural stimulation and recording electrodes.

Iridium oxide films formed by electrodeposition onto noniridium metal substrates are compared with activated iridium oxide films (AIROFs) as a low impedance, high charge capacity coating for neural stimulation and recording electrodes. The electrodeposited iridium oxide films (EIROFs) were deposited on Au, Pt, PtIr, and 316 LVM stainless steel substrates from a solution of IrCl4, oxalic acid, and K2CO3. A deposition protocol involving 50 potential sweeps at 50 mV/s between limits of 0.0 V and 0.55 V (versus Ag AgCl) followed by potential pulsing between the same limits produced adherent films with a charge storage capacity of >25 mC/cm2. Characterization by cyclic voltammetry and impedance spectroscopy revealed no differences in the electrochemical behavior of EIROF on non-Ir substrates and AIROF. The mechanical stability of the oxides was evaluated by ultrasonication in distilled water followed by dehydration and rehydration. Stability under charge injection was evaluated using 200 micros, 5.9 A/cm2 (1.2 mC/cm2) cathodal pulses. Loss of iridium oxide charge capacity was comparable for AIROFs and the EIROFs, ranging from 1% to 8% of the capacity immediately after activation or deposition. The EIROFs were deposited and evaluated on silicon microprobe electrodes and on metallized polyimide electrodes being developed for neural recording and stimulation applications.

Electric Capacitance↗

Three-year results of treatment for prostate cancer with low-dose rate temporary iridium-192 brachytherapy.

AIM: To report the 3-year treatment results of definitive irradiation by using a temporary interstitial implant with low-dose rate iridium-192 with or without external beam radiotherapy in the treatment of localized prostate cancer. METHODS: One-hundred and forty-three patients with pathologically defined prostate carcinoma were treated from December 1997 to April 2003. The patients were classified into a low-risk group (T2, PSA 20 ng/mL or Gleason score>or=7). Low-risk patients were treated with low-dose-rate iridium brachytherapy as monotherapy delivering 70 Gy. High-risk patients were treated with the combination of brachytherapy and external beam radiotherapy delivering 40 Gy and 36 Gy, respectively. Kaplan-Meier estimates of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) progression-free survival rate were analysed. To assess the treatment quality in different periods, PSA progression-free survival rates in late era (year of 2000 and after) and in early era (before 2000) were compared. Morbidity was graded according to the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group grading scale. RESULTS: One hundred and nineteen patients were analysed, of which 86 patients underwent monotherapy with an iridium implant, and 33 were treated with the combination of external beam radiotherapy. Twenty-four patients were excluded from the analysis because the classification of risk group did not suit the criteria. The total (n=119) PSA progression-free survival rate at 3 years was 80.3%. The PSA progression-free survival rate at 3 years for the monotherapy group (n=86) and the combination therapy group (n=33) were 78.2% and 86.9%, respectively. There were 23 patients who were followed for more than 36 to 63 months, and, during this period, only 1 patient who received the monotherapy was diagnosed as PSA failure at 50 months. The 3-year PSA progression-free survival rate of monotherapy in late era was significantly higher than that in early era; however, no significant difference was seen in the combination treatment. Morbidity for the combination treatment was low; however, for the monotherapy, three patients developed severe rectal ulcers, and colostomies were made. CONCLUSIONS: The PSA progression-free survival rate after low-dose rate iridium-192 brachytherapy with or without external beam radiotherapy can be satisfactory and longer follow up is necessary to compare the efficacy of other treatments.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Scattering effects on the dosimetry of iridium-192.

Dosimetry calculations for iridium-192 sources generally assume that a sufficient medium surrounds both the iridium source(s) and the point of calculation so that full scattering conditions exist. In several clinical applications the iridium sources may be anatomically located so that the full scattering requirement is not satisfied. To assess the magnitude of this problem, relative measurements were made with a small ionization chamber in phantoms near air and lung-equivalent interfaces. Dose reduction caused by decreasing the volume of scattering material near these interfaces was then evaluated for a few clinical applications. The results show that reductions on the order of 8% may be expected at the interface with minimal dose reduction within the volume of the implant itself. In addition, the results indicate the verification of source strength of iridium sources in phantom require phantom dimensions determined by the source-chamber separation distance.

Brachytherapy↗

Disposable amperometric sensor for neurotransmitters based on screen-printed electrodes modified with a thin iridium oxide film.

Potential cycling in the range from -0.2 to +1.2 V is used for the electrodeposition of hydrous iridium oxide films onto a screen-printed electrode from a saturated solution of alkaline iridium(III) solution. The iridium oxide redox couple shows a stable and obvious reversible redox, with the formal potential being pH dependent in the range 1-14. The properties, stability and electrochemical properties of iridium oxide films were investigated by cyclic voltammetry. A modified electrode showed excellent catalytic activity toward the oxidation of neurotransmitters (catecholamines) over a wide pH range (2-8). The electrocatalytic behavior is further exploited as a sensitive detection scheme for adrenaline and dopamine by hydrodynamic amperometry. Under the optimized conditions, the calibration curves are linear in the concentration range 0.1-70 and 0.1-15 microM for dopamine and adrenaline determination, respectively. The detection limit and sensitivity are 30 nM and 30 nA/microM for adrenaline and 15 nM and 80 nA/microM for dopamine. Finally, the analytical performance of the modified electrode was demonstrated for the elimination of interference by uric acid in catecholamines determination when present in a 1000-fold concentration excess.

Biosensing Techniques↗

A new osmium-191 leads to iridium-191m generator.

A new osmium-191 leads to iridium-191m generator suitable for first-pass radionuclide angiocardiography has been developed. This generator system allows repeated elutions of 4.96-sec iridium-191m from its 15.4-day Os- 191 parent. The Os-191 is loaded on an anion-exchange column (AGMP-1) and Ir- 191m eluted with 0.9% NaCl at pH 1. Each elution (0.6 to 1 ml) of the generator yields about 7 to 10% Ir-191m and gives 0.003-0.008% of Os-191 breakthrough. Toxicity studies of the generator eluate carried out in animals support the safety of using iridium-191m in humans. The long shelf-life of the generator (approximately equal to 2 wk) will allow medical centers to use Ir- 191m for routine clinical diagnosis. Iridium-191m obtained by this method should find additional useful applications in nuclear medicine.

Animals↗