Page 161 - 00. Complete Version - Progress Report IPEN 2014-2016

Nuclear Science and Technology | Progress Report 161

the restorers of cultural heritage objects. The pared to the procedures used in convention-
tomography along with the other important al clinical practice. Specifically, in this study,
neutron imaging techniques such as the one a portable X-ray spectrometer with Ag X-ray
of “real-time” to investigate dynamic process- mini-tube has been employed for evaluation
es of liquids, to evaluate water distribution of inorganic elements in whole blood in mice
into Hydrogen fuel cells (proton exchange species with Muscular Dystrophy. This dis-
membranes - P.E.M.), positioning of rubber ease is characterized by presenting an irre-
o’rings into metal devices, evaluation of ad- versible progressive degeneration of skeletal
hesive distribution in several kind of materi- muscle. This happens because this disorder is
als and others, demonstrate the wide appli- caused by a mutation located in humans on
cation of the neutron imaging techniques in the X chromosome, i.e., considering that the
several research fields, which are available at female has two X chromosomes and the male
IPEN-CNEN/SP. only one, males are affected while in females
both chromosomes must be mutated to be af-
Radiation Spectroscopy and fected, so the incidence is significantly lower.

Spectrometry laboratory For this reason, most females are the DMD
carriers. Currently, no effective treatment is
The Radiation Spectroscopy and Spectrome- available and the muscular dystrophy research
try laboratory (LEER) at IPEN focuses its activ- progress depends on animal models. Usually
ities in measurement of radiations applied the conventional procedures for clinical tests
to health and environment areas. Analysis are performed in serum using samples of 0.5
of biological materials in humans and ani- to 1.0 mL. However, when the biological ma-
mal models were performed to obtain refer- terial is scarce (case of small size animal mod-
ence values for use in diagnosis of different el, i.e. mice), the possibility to use whole blood
pathologies. These data are relevant to both became a fascinating alternative for clinical
veterinary medicine and to public health ar- practice: the Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluo-
eas. These investigations are performed us- rescence (EDFRX) analyses can be done using
ing Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA) and X 50 μL (the total body blood in mice is around
-Ray Florescence (XRF) analytic techniques. In 1.0 mL). In this study, we investigated whole
this period, several investigations in veterinary blood samples of three dystrophic mice strains:
and sport medicine, immunology, genetic and Dmdmdx/J, SJL/J and A/J. This alternative pro-
nutritional fields were performed in collabo- cedure was capable, in a few minutes, to de-
ration with several Research Center: Institu- termine inorganic elements of clinical rele-
to Butantan, UNISA, UNICAMP, IFUSP, UFF, FEI, vance (such as: Ca, Cl, K, Fe, P) in whole blood
IQSC-USP, CEGH-IBC and HU/USP. The follow- without chemical digestion using direct and
ing studies were conducted: non-destructive analysis. The knowledge of
the elemental composition in whole blood of
Whole blood differences of inorganic these animal models may help to identify the
elements in dystrophic animal models physiologic difference among them. Moreover,
these data can also be useful for biochemistry
The use of alternative analytical techniques to analyses contributing to studying in more de-
investigate specific electrolytes in body fluids tails the anomalies caused by DMD.
has increased in past years with the goal of
adding advantages and simplifications, com- Blood elements concentration in