Levels Of Bi Research Articles

Population connectivity of pelagic megafauna in the Cuba-Mexico-United States triangle

The timing and extent of international crossings by billfishes, tunas, and sharks in the Cuba-Mexico-United States (U.S.) triangle was investigated using electronic tagging data from eight species that resulted in >22,000 tracking days. Transnational movements of these highly mobile marine predators were pronounced with varying levels of bi- or tri-national population connectivity displayed by each species. Billfishes and tunas moved throughout the Gulf of Mexico and all species investigated (blue marlin, white marlin, Atlantic bluefin tuna, yellowfin tuna) frequently crossed international boundaries and entered the territorial waters of Cuba and/or Mexico. Certain sharks (tiger shark, scalloped hammerhead) displayed prolonged periods of residency in U.S. waters with more limited displacements, while whale sharks and to a lesser degree shortfin mako moved through multiple jurisdictions. The spatial extent of associated movements was generally associated with their differential use of coastal and open ocean pelagic ecosystems. Species with the majority of daily positions in oceanic waters off the continental shelf showed the greatest tendency for transnational movements and typically traveled farther from initial tagging locations. Several species converged on a common seasonal movement pattern between territorial waters of the U.S. (summer) and Mexico (winter).

A Novel Synergetic Salt- and Acid-induced Ligandless Mixed Micelle Cloud Point Extraction of Ultratrace Levels of Cd, Hg, Bi, and Tl From Petrochemical Effluents Followed by ETAAS Determination

A Novel Synergetic Salt- and Acid-induced Ligandless Mixed Micelle Cloud Point Extraction of Ultratrace Levels of Cd, Hg, Bi, and Tl From Petrochemical Effluents Followed by ETAAS Determination

Polo-like kinase inhibitor volasertib marginally enhances the efficacy of the novel Fc-engineered anti-CD33 antibody BI 836858 in acute myeloid leukemia.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the second most common type of leukemia in adults. Incidence of AML increases with age with a peak incidence at 67 years. Patients older than 60 years have an unfavorable prognosis due to resistance to conventional chemotherapy. Volasertib (BI 6727) is a cell-cycle regulator targeting polo-like kinase which has been evaluated in clinical trials in AML. We evaluated effects of volasertib in primary patient samples and NK cells. At equivalent doses, volasertib is cytotoxic to AML blasts but largely spares healthy NK cells. We then evaluated the effect of volasertib treatment in combination with BI 836858 on primary AML blast samples using antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) assays. Volasertib treatment of NK cells did not impair NK function as evidenced by comparable levels of BI 836858 mediated ADCC in both volasertib-treated and control-treated NK cells. In summary, volasertib is cytotoxic to AML blasts while sparing NK cell viability and function. Higher BI 836858 mediated ADCC was observed in patient samples pretreated with volasertib. These findings provide a strong rationale to test combination of BI 836858 and volasertib in AML.

Concentration Levels, Pollution Characteristics and Potential Ecological Risk of Dust Heavy Metals in the Metropolitan Area of Beijing, China

This study aims to investigate the concentration levels, pollution characteristics and the associated potential ecological risks of the heavy metals found in dust in the metropolitan area of Beijing, China during the winter. Dust samples were collected at 49 different spatial locations of Beijing’s metropolitan area from November 2013 to January 2014, in which the concentration levels of Cd, Cr, Pb, Cu, Zn, Ni, Co, V, Bi and Mo were measured by Elan DRC II type inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Test results showed that the concentrations of dust heavy metals Pb, Cr, Cu and Zn in the urban areas (147.1 mg·kg−1, 195.9 mg·kg−1, 239.2 mg·kg−1 and 713.2 mg·kg−1) were significantly higher than those in the suburbs (91.6 mg·kg−1, 125.1 mg·kg−1, 131.9 mg·kg−1 and 514.5 mg·kg−1). Enrichment factors and the geo-accumulation index were used to describe the pollution characteristics of dust heavy metals in urban and suburban areas. Results indicated that Zn and Cu were moderately polluting in both urban and suburban areas, Cd was severely polluting in urban areas and heavily polluting in the suburbs. Furthermore, potential ecological risk assessment revealed that the degrees of ecological harm of dust heavy metals were very strong in both urban and suburban areas, but especially in urban areas. The potential ecological risk of heavy metal Cd, whose single factor of ecological damage was extremely strong, accounted for about 90% of the total ecological risk.

The Elkington specimen of cathode copper

ABSTRACTThe specimen of cathode copper dated 1880 in the Percy Collection of the Science Museum, London was produced in the world’s first copper electrorefinery located at Pembrey in South Wales, based upon the only known application of jar-cell technology patented by James Elkington in 1869. Drill samples were taken and assayed by ICP-MS for a total of 23 impurity elements, of which 12 were considered for the study. Their average aggregate value of about 20 ppm compares very favourably with about 23 ppm for the same impurities in typical modern cathode. The average silver assay, 2.9 ppm Ag, is very low by modern standards, indicating an anode low in silver, possibly associated with low levels of Pb and Sb and relatively high levels of As and Bi. This unusual combination of anode impurities coupled with exceptional cathode purity is discussed in relation to the contemporary conditions in the Welsh copper industry.

Geochemical Characteristics of the Bismuth and Antimony Occurrence in Some Coal Seams in the Lublin Coal Basin (LCB)

AbstractThe study included 24 samples of coal with 7 cores, boreholes (7 coal seams), made by the Polish Geological Institute in Warsaw at the site of a Chelm field and 6 coal samples taken from 2 decks in the Lublin Coal mine „Bogdanka“ S.A. in LCB. Based on performed tests found generally low levels of Sb and Bi in coal. In the vertical profile of the LCB contents of Bi and Sb in coal generally increases from coal seams younger to older age. Content of Bi in coal from roof part coal seams is usually higher, and ash content in the coal content of Sb are generally lower than in the carbon of the middle part decks. The content of Bi in the lateral coal deposits is unlikely to vary, and the gap in the coal content of Bi between the sampling regions coal do not exceed 1.7 g / Mg. In contrast gap Sb content in coal on the extent LCB is from 1.7 g / Mg of 5.8 g / Mg. The biggest influence on the content of Bi and Sb in coal from the LCB is probably organic matter in which these elements are scattered and do not form their own minerals.

Melonite from Kingash and Kuskanak, Eastern Sayans, Russia, and the extent of Bi-for-Te substitution in melonite and synthetic Ni(Te,Bi)2–x

AbstractWe describe occurrences of palladoan melonite in intimate intergrowths with cobaltite-gersdorffite from the Neoproterozoic dunite-wehrlite-gabbro complexes of Kingash and Kuskanak, Eastern Sayans, Russia. The observed compositional trends of melonite are consistent with the overallvariations examined on the basis of numerous literature sources. The levels of Bi in NiTe2are normally limited to ≤0.25 Bi atoms per formula unit (apfu), under natural conditions. Greater levels (≤0.5 Bi apfu) are associated with the (Pd + Pt) enrichment in the palladoanvarieties. The telluride–sulfarsenide intergrowths probably formed at Kingash and Kuskanak late in the crystallization history of the ore zones, from microdroplets of residual melt rich in semimetals (Te, Bi, As) and noble metals (Pd and Ag), below the solidus of the enclosing gabbroicrocks and within a narrow range of temperatures (500–550°C). On the basis of our observations made on specimens of melonite and synthetic Ni(Te,Bi)2–x(x = 0.6), we infer that the limit of incorporation of Bi into a melonitetype phase is ≤0.5 Bi apfu.

Characteristics of InGaAsBi with various lattice mismatches on InP substrate

To develop bismuth-containing infrared optoelectronic devices, InGaAsBi/InP films with different lattice mismatches have been investigated. The lattice mismatch was tailored by changing the Bi content in conjunction with the In content simultaneously. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that alloy lattice constants have been extended positively by incorporation of Bi into the crystal lattice. Electrical and optical characteristics were investigated by Hall-effect, optical absorption and photoluminescence measurements. A bandgap shrinking of about 56.4 meV/Bi% was deduced by X-ray diffraction and optical absorption measurements. From the excitation dependent photoluminescence measurement at 10 K, the donor-acceptor pair emissions were inferred for samples containing moderate and high levels of Bi. The temperature dependence of the PL peak energy is as small as 0.06 meV/K in In0.5Ga0.5As0.987Bi0.013, which is fairly low compared with that of In0.5Ga0.5As.

Reference values of hair toxic trace elements content in occupationally non-exposed Russian population

A total of 5908 occupationally non-exposed adults (4384 women and 1524 men) living in Moscow and Moscow region were involved in the current investigation. Hair Al, As, Be, Bi, Cd, Hg, Li, Ni, Pb, Sn, and Sr content was estimated by inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry using NexION 300D. Men are characterized by significantly higher hair Al, As, Cd, Hg, Li, and Pb content. At the same time, hair levels of Bi, Ni, Sn, and Sr were significantly higher in women. Consequently, the reference ranges were estimated for male, female, and general cohort as coverage intervals in accordance with IUPAC recommendations.

Micro-XRF analysis of silver coins from medieval Poland

X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis has become a standard method in archaeological science due to its non-invasive and non-destructive nature. This technique has extensively been used for the study of numismatic collections since the data derived from it can be correlated with manufacturing processes, provenance of raw materials, and geographical distribution of ancient mints. A group of 71 silver coins of the first Piasts: Boleslaus the Brave (996–1025) and Mieszko II Lambert (1025–1034) belonging to the collections of the National Museum in Krakow have been characterized using micro-XRF spectrometry. This is the most numerous collection of their coins representing nearly 30% of all known coins from these rulers. The research has focused on evaluating the use of this technique as a screening tool for elemental surface characterization of the alloys. Surveyed coins are mainly constituted by Ag, Cu and Pb along with trace levels of Fe, Ni, Zn, Au, Hg, Bi, and Br. Quantitative analyses have revealed Ag contents in the 81.6–97.5% range for all the evaluated coins. This study had the goal of providing information about the elemental composition of these objects, which will serve to enhance the existing knowledge about geographical and chronological diversification of Polish numismatic collections.

Ion pair based dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction for the preconcentration of ultra-trace levels of bismuth(iii) and its determination by electrothermal atomic absorption spectroscopy

An efficient ion pair based dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction method was used for the preconcentration of ultra-trace levels of Bi(iii) prior to its determination by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry.

Trace elements in cocoa solids and chocolate: An ICPMS study

The concentrations of eight trace elements: lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), cobalt (Co), arsenic (As), bismuth (Bi) and molybdenum (Mo), in chocolate, cocoa beans and products were studied by ICPMS. The study examined chocolate samples from different brands and countries with different concentrations of cocoa solids from each brand. The samples were digested and filtered to remove lipids and indium was used as an internal standard to correct matrix effects. A linear correlation was found between the level of several trace elements in chocolate and the cocoa solids content. Significant levels of Bi and As were found in the cocoa bean shells but not in the cocoa bean and chocolate. This may be attributed to environmental contamination. The presence of other elements was attributed to the manufacturing processes of cocoa and chocolate products. Children, who are big consumers of chocolates, may be at risk of exceeding the daily limit of lead; whereas one 10 g cube of dark chocolate may contain as much as 20% of the daily lead oral limit. Moreover chocolate may not be the only source of lead in their nutrition. For adults there is almost no risk of exceeding daily limits for trace metals ingestion because their digestive absorption of metals is very poor.

Determination of Bismuth Traces by HG–ICP–OES After Separation by Cloud Point Extraction Using Thiourea and Iodide Mixture

We developed a highly sensitive and selective cloud point extraction methodology for the preconcentration of trace levels of Bi(III) prior to Bi analysis by hydride generation inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (HG–ICP–OES). Bismuth (III) ions were extracted as ternary mixed iodo/thiourea complexes, at pH 1.0. This extraction was mediated by micelles of non-ionic surfactant (Triton X-114). The optimal extraction and reaction conditions, i.e., pH, reagent and surfactant concentrations, temperature, incubation and centrifuge times, were evaluated and optimized. Under the optimized conditions, linearity was obeyed in the range of 0.10–15 ng mL−1 of Bi(III) with detection limits of 0.01 and 0.20 ng mL−1 and preconcentration factors of 500. We examined the matrix effects associated with selected onium complex forming cations [e.g., Cd(II), Hg(II), Pd(II), Fe(III), Ag(I), Pt(IV)] and anions, which may accompany the analyte. The developed method was successfully used to determine the Bi(III) concentrations of synthetic mixtures, and samples of real water, soil, urine, ash coal, pure metals and ointment.

A Discriminant Analysis of Trace Elements in Scalp Hair of Healthy Controls and Stage-IIIB Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) Patients

Our work aimed at extending the search for the trace elements (TE) abnormalities in patients with lung cancer and in healthy controls who smoke, and also for evidence of a possible association between lung cancer and TE. The analysis of the hair from patients with Stage-IIIB non-small cell lung cancer (group 1) and healthy controls (group 2) were analyzed using the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry technique in order to obtain information on the correlation between the lung cancer patients and healthy controls. Sixty-seven one-hair samples in group 1 were individually collected before chemoradiotherapy. For comparison, 74 hair samples were collected from group 2. In group 1, the trace elements present at the highest levels were measured to be Ca, Zn, Sn, Na and Mg, respectively, and they were quantified as 68.2, 53.2, 33.9, 23.3, and 28.9μg.kg(-1), respectively. In group 2, the trace elements present at the highest levels were Zn, Mg, Ca, Fe, and Se, respectively, and they were quantified as 109.7, 31.9, 30.8, 25.0, and 20.1μg.kg(-1). In group 1, the highest levels of Ca, Sn, and Na were 2.03, 1.06, and 1.01 times higher, respectively, compared with group 2. In group 2, Zn, Mg, Fe, and Se were 2, 1.01, 2.7, and 1.6 times higher, respectively, compared with group 1. When the levels of trace elements were compared between groups 1 and 2 using Student's t test, the levels of Ag, Au, Be, Bi, Ca, Cd, Ce, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ga, Hg, K, Ni, Rb, Rh, Sb, Sc, Ti, V, and Zn were found to be statistically different (p < 0.05). According to Pearson's correlation, the most powerful correlation was found for Cr-As (r = 0.858) couple in group 1 (r = 0.745) and for Mn-Cr couple in group 2. The factors obtained according to converted matrix were observed to be as follows: for group 1, first factor, ten variables (Cd, Li, Cs, Ag, Rb, Pd, Ga, Zn, Al, and K); second factor, seven variables (Cr, As, Sn, Co, Ca, Rh, and Fe) and third factor, four variables (Mn, Au, Cu, and Hg). Within the first factor that best describes the overall change, the most important variables are Cd and Li, respectively the first and the second factors. Group 2 contained the following: first factors, six variables, Cr, Mn, Al, Ba, Rb, and Pb; second factor, eight variables, Co, As, Sn, Cd, Hg, Cs, Ca, and Ce; third factor, five variables Na, Ga, Be, B, and Sr; and fourth factor, two variables K and Ag. First, second, third, and fourth factors explain the 36% of the overall change. Within the first factor that best described the overall change, the most important variables were Cr and Mn. In this analysis, we observed that the group 2 trace elements accumulated were heavy metals and that the control group showed both heavy metals and macroelements required for the body. The average trace elements levels in the two groups were evaluated. In addition, the general role of trace elements in the lung carcinogenic processes was discussed. The study revealed that the carcinogenic processes are significantly affecting the trace elements and the trace elements distribution in the hair of lung cancer patients compared with the healthy controls. It was revealed that there was a relation between lung cancer and trace elements, especially heavy metals. Our findings suggest that the heavy metals accumulated in the body may pose a high risk for lung cancer development.

Arsenic, Antimony, and Bismuth Uptake and Accumulation by Plants in an Old Antimony Mine, China

Arsenic (As), antimony (Sb), and bismuth (Bi) are metalloids that share similar chemical properties, the objective of this study was to characterize the uptake and accumulation of these metalloids by plants colonized on heavy contaminated sites in an old Sb mine. Sixty-five plant samples from seven species as well as the associated soil samples were collected at ten sites of Xikuangshan (XKS), Hunan province, China. Concentrations of As, Sb, and Bi in plants and soils were measured. As, Sb, and Bi were found to be evidently elevated due to the long history and intensive mining and smelting activities; the respective ranges for the levels of As, Sb, and Bi at the sites were 40.02-400.2mgkg(-1) As, 610-54,221mgkg(-1) Sb, and n.d. to 1,672mgkg(-1) Bi. No correlation was found between As and Sb at the sites, while Bi was found to be positively correlated with As whereas negative with Sb at the sites. In general, the contents in the plants in XKS were in the order of As > Sb > Bi, and the contents of As was positively correlated with Sb and Bi in plants. The highest contents of As and Sb recorded was 607.8mgkg(-1) As in Pteris vittata and 90.98mgkg(-1) Sb in Hippochcaete ramosissima, while the highest Bi content as 2.877mgkg(-1) Bi was measured in Buddleja davidii. Bioconcentration factors defined as the ratios of metalloids in shoots of plants to those in soils for various plants were lower than 1. The results showed plants colonized at the heavy contaminated sites in XKS had great tolerance to As, Sb, and Bi, and demonstrated similarities in plant uptake and accumulation of these three elements.

Nature of gold mineralisation in the Walhalla Goldfield, southeast Australia

The Walhalla-Woods Point Goldfield in southeast Australia is characterised by large gold deposits associated with a Late Devonian dyke swarm. The setting of this goldfield is unique because unlike the major gold deposits in Victoria, it occurs close to the eastern margin of the Western Lachlan Orogen, and highlights the disparities between the evolving phases of orogenic gold mineralisation in the Western Lachlan Orogen, and the contrasts between sediment hosted, dyke-associated and dyke-hosted gold mineralisation. This study integrates existing and new data from renewed mapping of the geology and geochemistry of three gold deposits near the township of Walhalla, in the historically important yet under-explored and under-researched Walhalla-Woods Point Goldfield. The ten highest yielding deposits within the goldfield are either hosted within, or adjacent to, intrusions of the Woods Point Dyke Swarm. This is due to the greater chemical reactivity of the calc-alkaline dykes, and the greater rheological contrast between the dykes and surrounding low-grade metasedimentary units, which allowed for the formation of dyke-hosted quartz breccia veins that are consistently favourable sites for gold mineralisation in the Walhalla Goldfield. This is in contrast to historical production, which concentrated on visible gold within the shear zone-hosted laminated quartz veins. Gold and As assay results have highlighted the increased levels of invisible gold disseminated along dyke margins in proximity to shear zones and quartz reefs. The high-yielding gold deposits hosted wholly by the dyke intrusions of the Woods Point Dyke Swarm are orogenic gold deposits, as they are not associated with elevated levels of Bi, W, As, Mb, Te and Sb, typical of intrusion-related gold deposits.

Fotossensibilização em ovinos associada à ingestão de Brachiaria brizantha no estado do Pará

Foram estudados dois surtos e realizado um experimento de fotossensibilização associada à ingestão por Brachiaria brizantha em ovinos mestiços de Santa Inês e Dorper, com idade variando de dois a três meses, em uma fazenda no município de Santa Luzia do Pará. Esses animais foram mantidos desde o nascimento até aproximadamente dois meses de idade, em apriscos suspensos do chão, recebendo capim-elefante roxo (Pennisetum purpureum cv. roxo), concentrado, sal mineral e água ad libitum. Após esse período foram introduzidos em um piquete de B. brizantha. Na ocasião dos surtos e do experimento a fazenda foi visitada para observação dos dados epidemiológicos, avaliação clínica dos animais, colheita de amostras de sangue para dosagem de GGT, AST, BD, BI, BT, ureia e creatinina e colheita de pastagem para pesquisa de Pithomyces chartarum e saponinas. Também foi realizada necropsia com colheita de material para estudo histológico. O surto 01 ocorreu na época de escassez de chuva, com taxa de morbidade e letalidade de 43,4% e 81,6%, respectivamente. O surto 02 aconteceu no início da época chuvosa, com taxas de morbidade e letalidade de 16,3% e 76,9%, respectivamente. Em ambos os surtos o capim encontrava-se com massa residual reduzida e senescente. Dos 50 animais do experimento, 10 receberam 200ml de fluido ruminal retirado de ovelhas mães do mesmo lote, a primeira administração foi feita um dia antes da introdução desses animais na pastagem, e mais duas subsequentes com intervalo de uma semana. Após 15 dias de pastejo, os animais começaram a apresentar inquietação, procura por sombra, edema nas orelhas, mucosas amareladas, apatia, anorexia e desprendimento da pele seguido por formação de crostas em algumas áreas do corpo. Tanto os animais dos surtos quanto do experimento apresentaram aumento nos níveis de GGT, AST, BD, BI, BT, ureia e creatinina. Os valores de ureia e GGT dos animais que receberam fluido ruminal e dos que não receberam foram semelhantes, já os valores de creatinina, AST e bilirrubinas foram menores nos animais que receberam fluido ruminal em comparação aos que não receberam. Foram determinados dois tipos de saponinas nas amostras de B. brizantha dos surtos e do experimento, a metilprotodioscina e a protodioscina. O nível de saponina no surto 01 e 02 foi 0,92% e 0,88%, respectivamente. Os níveis de saponinas no experimento variaram de 1,13% a 1,62%. A quantidade de Pithomyces chartarum, tanto nos surtos quanto no experimento, foi insignificante. Na necropsia foi verificada icterícia generalizada, fígado com consistência aumentada de coloração amarelada e com padrão lobular acentuado. Nos rins foi observada coloração amarelo-esverdeado e aumento de tamanho. As alterações histológicas ocorreram principalmente no fígado e consistiram de leve proliferação das vias biliares nos espaços porta, presença de hepatócitos binucleados, presença de macrófagos espumosos, necrose incipiente de hepatócitos isolados, colangite, presença de cristais em macrófagos e hepatócitos.

Optimization of methods to assess levels of As, Bi, Sb and Se in airborne particulate matter by FI-HG-ICP OES

A study was undertaken to assess the level of selected trace elements namely, As, Bi, Sb and Se in airborne particulate matter collected on ash-free glass-fibre filters from urban and industrial areas of Argentina. For sample digestion, a simple acid treatment with HCl + HF is proposed with the aim to minimize contamination and reduce sample treatment steps. A flow injection-hydride generation system in combination with inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry was used. While, Se and Bi could be determined directly from the digest, As and Sb needed a pre-reduction with KI, and H3BO3 to avoid the interference of F− ions that may cause losses via volatile compounds such as AsF3 and Sb(V) complexes. Limits of detection (3σ) of 0.3 ng m−3 for As; 0.09 ng m−3 for Bi, and 0.1 ng m−3 for Sb and Se were achieved. Precision resulted in better than 6.1% accuracy for all the elements determined. Accuracy test was assessed by means of the certified reference material, NIST 1648 (urban particulate matter).

Phase I/II Study of BI 2536, An Intravenous Polo-Like Kinase-1 (Plk-1) Inhibitor, in Elderly Patients with Relapsed or Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML): First Results of a Multi-Center Trial

Elderly patients with refractory or relapsed AML have a dismal prognosis and new treatments are needed for this patient population. BI 2536 is a potent and selective inhibitor of Plk-1, which plays a crucial role in the regulation of mitosis. BI 2536 demonstrated strong anti-proliferative effects on AML cells in vitro and in vivo xenograft models and is the first specific Plk-1 inhibitor in clinical testing. Here, we present preliminary results of a Phase I/II study of single-agent BI 2536 therapy in patients 60 years of age or older with relapsed or refractory AML. Three administration schedules were tested: BI 2536 was given as an intravenous 1h-infusion on day 1 (schedule A), on days 1, 2, and 3 (schedule B), or on days 1 and 8 (schedule C) in 3-week cycles, respectively. In the phase I part, the 3+3 dose escalation design was used to evaluate the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) in AML patients. Dose escalation started at the respective MTD as previously determined in solid tumor patients. The phase II part consisted of extension cohorts at the MTD to further investigate safety and efficacy. The following dose levels of BI 2536 were evaluated: 200, 250, 300, 350, and 400 mg in schedule A; 50 and 60 mg in schedule B; 100, 150, 200, and 225 mg in schedule C. Initially, only schedule A and B were tested. As the blast reduction was only of short duration, we decided to discontinue schedule B after the 60 mg dose level and to introduce schedule C to shorten the interval between drug administrations. Currently, 60 evaluable patients (33 males, 27 females) have been treated: median age 68.5 years (range 61 – 82); ECOG score from 59 patients: 0: 10, 1: 32, 2: 17; secondary AML in 31 (53%) of 58 patients; complex karyotype in 7 (14%) of 49 patients; median number of previous therapies = 4 (range 1 – 13); in 50 patients, data on best response to previous therapies were available: CR = 25, PR = 4, no change = 17, PD = 4. In total, 119 cycles of trial treatment were administered in 60 patients (median = 1, range 1 – 7). The most frequent drug-related AEs were thrombocytopenia (21%), alopecia, anemia, and neutropenia (each 18%), nausea (15%), constipation, cough, fatigue, infection, leukopenia, and mucosal inflammation (each 12%). Dose limiting toxicities occurred in 8 patients and included neutropenic fever (3 cases), sepsis, pneumonia/sepsis, intracranial bleeding/hyphema, somnolence/coma and anal thrombosis. The MTD was determined at 350 mg in schedule A and at 200 mg in schedule C. No MTD was determined for schedule B. A greater than 50% reduction of blasts in the peripheral blood was seen in 17 of 36 evaluable patients after treatment with BI 2536; however, the effect on blast counts was only transient in most patients. Of 58 patients evaluable for response, one patient achieved a CR, one a CRi, and one a PR. Twenty-one patients had temporarily stable blood values, 31 progressed after the first cycle. In 3 patients, the response was indeterminate. The 24 patients who achieved remission or did not progress after the first cycle received a median of 3 treatment cycles (range 1 – 7). Dose-dependent pharmacodynamic activity was demonstrated by flowcytometric and immunocytochemical analysis of the bone marrow before and after BI 2536 administration. Pharmacokinetic data will be reported at the meeting. In conclusion, BI 2536 as single agent therapy is well tolerated and can be administered at higher doses in relapsed or refractory AML than in solid tumors. BI 2536 demonstrated clinical activity in patients with relapsed and treatment refractory AML.

Site-selective luminescence of Bi 3+ in the YBO 3 host under vacuum ultraviolet excitation at low temperature

(Y 0.99Bi 0.01)BO 3 phosphor was prepared and its luminescent properties were investigated using the synchrotron radiation instrument in this paper. Site-selective luminescence of Bi 3+ in the YBO 3 host was demonstrated by exciting/monitoring with different wavelengths at low temperature in this research. At the same time, the energy transfer between the centers of Bi 3+ ions occupying different symmetric sites was observed. The excited energy levels of Bi 3+ were identified through assigning the emission and excitation spectra. The paths and mechanism of energy transfer between the centers of Bi 3+ occupying different symmetric sites were discussed finally.