OBJECTIVES: To establish a rapid and nondestructive identification method for human body fluid stains and non-biological stains using three-dimensional fluorescence spectroscopy. METHODS: The collected three-dimensional fluorescence spectrum data of human saliva, 3% blood, coffee and Fanta^® stains were processed with dimensionality reduction. After wavelet transform, spectral denoising and feature extraction, the classification formula was established. The Fisher discriminant was used for spectrum matching and recognition to establish the analysis method to distinguish stain types. RESULTS: According to the results of data training and comparison, all the recognition accuracies of Fanta^®, coffee, saliva and blood were more than 91.39%. Among them, saliva reached 100% recognition accuracy. CONCLUSIONS Three-dimensional fluorescence spectroscopy is a potential method for rapid and nondestructive identification of biological and non-biological stains.
Humans ; Forensic Medicine/methods* ; Coloring Agents/analysis* ; Coffee ; Spectrometry, Fluorescence ; Body Fluids/chemistry*

Adolescent ; Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Benzenesulfonates ; analysis ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Dietary Exposure ; analysis ; Food Coloring Agents ; analysis ; Food Safety ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Risk Assessment ; Young Adult

Because the red and bright color of corolla is the main indicator for the quality assessment of good safflower,the dyed safflower is sometimes found at the herbal market,what is influence on this herb quality and efficacy. A total of 127 safflower samples was therefore collected from different cultivating areas and herbal markets in China to develop a rapid method to identify the dyed safflower. Near-infrared spectroscopy(NIRS) combined with characteristic identification,high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC),principal component analysis(PCA) and partial least squares regression analysis(PLS) were employed to differentiate safflower from dyed safflower samples,and further quantify the levels of the 6 dyes,i.e. tartrazine,carmine,sunset yellow,azorubine,acid red 73 and orange Ⅱ in the dyed safflower. The results indicated that the 50 safflower samples and 77 dyed safflower samples were located at different regions in PCA cluster diagram by NIR spectra. Tartrazine,carmineand and sunset yellow were found in the 77 dyed safflower samples with the amounts of 0. 60-3. 66,0. 11-1. 37,0. 10-0. 71 mg·g-1,respectively. It indicated that the three dyes were the common and main dyes in the dyed safflower. However,azorubine,acid red 73 and orange Ⅱ were not detected in all herb samples. A total of 62 dyed safflower samples were chosen as calibration samples to develop the model for estimating the amount of dyes in dyed safflower. The estimating accuracy was verified by another 15 dyed safflower samples. The values of tartrazine,carmine and sunset yellow in dyed safflower samples were compared between the NIRS and HPLC methods. Each value of mean absolute difference(MAD) was less than 5%. The correlation coefficients of tartrazine,carmineand and sunset yellow were 0. 970,0. 975,0. 971,respectively. It indicated the data quantified by NIRS and HPLC were consistence. It is concluded that NIRS can not only differentiate safflower from dyed safflower,but also quantify the amount of the dyes. NIRS is suitable for rapidly identify the quality of safflower.
Azo Compounds ; Benzenesulfonates ; Carmine ; Carthamus tinctorius ; chemistry ; China ; Coloring Agents ; analysis ; Naphthalenesulfonates ; Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared ; Tartrazine

Mixed stains is the common biological sample in sexual crime cases. Its analysis and DNA profiles interpretation are one of the difficulties in forensic examination. The current genetic marking of mixed stain detection mainly rely on capillary electrophoresis （CE） separation technology, and the analysis methods of the results are mainly inclusion rate and likelihood methods. Because CE has limited resolution and is not able to exploit the efficacy of each genetic marker, its ability to split mixed stain is limited. In recent years, the emerging massively parallel sequencing （MPS） technique not only can obtain the base sequence information of genetic markers, but also is capable of detecting multiple genetic markers simultaneously, and thus derives new analytical methods, bringing new opportunities for forensic detection and analysis of mixed stain. This paper intends to review the application prospects of conventional mixed stain analyses and MPS technique, therefore to provide references for later research and practice.
Coloring Agents ; DNA Fingerprinting ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

This study aimed to conduct measurement uncertainty assessment of a new method for determination of Sudan colorants (Sudan I, II, III and IV) in food by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Samples were extracted with organic solvents (hexane, 20% acetone) and first purified by magnesium trisilicate (2MgO·3SiO2). The Sudan colorants (Sudan I-IV) were also initially separated on C8 by gradient elution using acetonitrile and 0.1% (v/v) formic acid aqueous solution as the mobile phases and detected with diode-array detector (DAD). The uncertainty of mathematical model of Sudan I, II, III and IV is based on EURACHEM guidelines. The sources and components of uncertainty were calculated. The experiment gave a good linear relationship over the concentration from 0.4 to 4.0 μg/mL and spiked recoveries were from 74.0% to 97.5%. The limits of determination (LOD) were 48, 61, 36, 58 μg/kg for the four analytes, respectively. The total uncertainty of Sudan colorants (Sudan I, II, III and IV) was 810±30.8, 790±28.4, 750±27.0, 730±50.0 μg/kg, respectively. The recovery uncertainty was the most significant factor contributing to the total uncertainty. The developed method is simple, rapid, and highly sensitive. It can be used for the determination of trace Sudan dyes in food samples. The sources of uncertainty have been identified and uncertainty components have been simplified and considered.
Azo Compounds ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Food Analysis ; methods ; Food Coloring Agents ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Limit of Detection ; Magnesium Silicates ; chemistry ; Naphthols ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

BACKGROUND: There is increasing interest in hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) expressing "stemness"-related markers, as they have been associated with aggressive behavior and poor prognosis. In this study, we investigated the usefulness of Sal-like protein 4 (SALL4), a recently proposed candidate marker of "stemness." METHODS: Immunohistochemical stains were performed for SALL4, K19, and epithelial cellular adhesion molecule (EpCAM) on tissue microarrays constructed from 190 surgically resected HCCs, and the results were correlated with the clinicopathological features and patient survival data. RESULTS: Nuclear SALL4 expression was observed in 39/190 HCCs (20.5%), while K19 and EpCAM were expressed in 30 (15.9%) and 92 (48.7%) HCCs, respectively. The nuclear expression was generally weak, punctate or clumped. SALL4 expression was significantly associated with a poor overall survival compared to SALL4-negative HCCs (p = .014) compared to SALL4-negative HCCs. On multivariate analysis adjusted for tumor size, multiplicity, vascular invasion, and pathological tumor stage, SALL4 remained as a significant independent predictor of decreased overall survival (p= .004). SALL4 expression was positively correlated with EpCAM expression (p = .013) but not with K19 expression. HCCs that expressed both SALL4 and EpCAM were associated with significantly decreased overall survival, compared to those cases which were negative for both of these markers (p = .031). CONCLUSIONS: Although SALL4 expression was not significantly correlated with other clinicopathological parameters suggestive of tumor aggressiveness, SALL4 expression was an independent predictor of poor overall survival in human HCCs, and was also positively correlated with EpCAM expression.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Coloring Agents ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Multivariate Analysis ; Prognosis*

Oestrogen is essential for maintaining bone mass, and it has been demonstrated to induce osteoblast proliferation and bone formation. In this study, complementary DNA (cDNA) microarrays were used to identify and study the expression of novel genes that may be involved in MC3T3-E1 cells' response to 17-β estradiol. MC3T3-E1 cells were inoculated in minimum essential media alpha (α-MEM) cell culture supplemented with 17-β estradiol at different concentrations and for different time periods. MC3T3-E1 cells treated with 10⁻⁸ mol⋅L⁻¹ 17-β estradiol for 5 days exhibited the highest proliferation and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity; thus, this group was chosen for microarray analysis. The harvested RNA was used for microarray hybridisation and subsequent real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to validate the expression levels for selected genes. The microarray results were analysed using both functional and pathway analysis. In this study, microarray analysis detected 5403 differentially expressed genes, of which 1996 genes were upregulated and 3407 genes were downregulated, 1553 different functional classifications were identified by gene ontology (GO) analysis and 53 different pathways were involved based on pathway analysis. Among the differentially expressed genes, a portion not previously reported to be associated with the osteoblast response to oestrogen was identified. These findings clearly demonstrate that the expression of genes related to osteoblast proliferation, cell differentiation, collagens and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β)-related cytokines increases, while the expression of genes related to apoptosis and osteoclast differentiation decreases, following the exposure of MC3T3-E1 cells to α-MEM supplemented with 17-β estradiol. Microarray analysis with functional gene classification is critical for a complete understanding of complementary intracellular processes. This microarray analysis provides large-scale gene expression data that require further confirmatory studies.
3T3 Cells ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; drug effects ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; genetics ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; genetics ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; genetics ; Collagen ; drug effects ; genetics ; Coloring Agents ; Cytokines ; drug effects ; genetics ; Estradiol ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Estrogens ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Mice ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Osteoblasts ; drug effects ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; genetics ; Tetrazolium Salts ; Thiazoles ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; drug effects ; genetics

Retaining or improving periodontal ligament (PDL) function is crucial for restoring periodontal defects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the physiological effects of low-power laser irradiation (LPLI) on the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of human PDL (hPDL) cells. Cultured hPDL cells were irradiated (660 nm) daily with doses of 0, 1, 2 or 4 J⋅cm(-2). Cell proliferation was evaluated by the 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, and the effect of LPLI on osteogenic differentiation was assessed by Alizarin Red S staining and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity. Additionally, osteogenic marker gene expression was confirmed by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Our data showed that LPLI at a dose of 2 J⋅cm(-2) significantly promoted hPDL cell proliferation at days 3 and 5. In addition, LPLI at energy doses of 2 and 4 J⋅cm(-2) showed potential osteogenic capacity, as it stimulated ALP activity, calcium deposition, and osteogenic gene expression. We also showed that cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) is a critical regulator of the LPLI-mediated effects on hPDL cells. This study shows that LPLI can promote the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of hPDL cells. These results suggest the potential use of LPLI in clinical applications for periodontal tissue regeneration.
Adenine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Adenylyl Cyclase Inhibitors ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; analysis ; genetics ; radiation effects ; Anthraquinones ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 ; genetics ; Calcium ; metabolism ; radiation effects ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Differentiation ; radiation effects ; Cell Line ; Cell Proliferation ; radiation effects ; Coloring Agents ; Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit ; genetics ; Cyclic AMP ; antagonists & inhibitors ; radiation effects ; Gene Expression ; radiation effects ; Humans ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; analysis ; Lasers, Semiconductor ; Low-Level Light Therapy ; instrumentation ; Osteocalcin ; genetics ; Osteogenesis ; genetics ; radiation effects ; Periodontal Ligament ; cytology ; radiation effects ; Radiation Dosage ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Tetrazolium Salts ; Thiazoles

BACKGROUND: Warts are caused by human papilloma viruses (HPVs) infection. Clinically, warts sometimes may be persistent and are recalcitrant to treatments for months or even years. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between clinical findings, HPV infection and L1 capsid protein. METHODS: Fifty-six samples from patients with cutaneous warts were used in this study. HPV DNA chip analysis and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were performed for detecting the HPV types. Immunohistochemical stains were done for detecting the expressions of HPV L1 capsid protein. RESULTS: We found different types of HPV infection in warts, as follows; 17 cases of HPV2, 15 cases of HPV27, 8 cases of HPV1, 7 cases of HPV16, 6 cases of HPV4, 5 cases of HPV5, 5 cases of HPV6, 4 cases of HPV11, 3 cases of HPV3 and 3 cases of HPV10. Infection with only one HPV type was identified in 50.0% (28/56) of the investigated samples, whereas concomitant infection with two and three viral types was present in 19.6% (11/56) and 10.7% (6/56) of the cases, respectively. The incidence of concomitant HPV infections found in common warts was significantly more frequent than other clinical types of cutaneous warts. L1 capsid protein was expressed in all of the cutaneous warts. CONCLUSION: Concomitant HPV infections are common in cutaneous warts especially, common warts though the L1 capsid protein were present in all four clinical types. Further studies should be performed to clarify the relationship of recalcitrant to treatment and concomitant HPV infections in cutaneous warts.
Capsid ; Capsid Proteins ; Coloring Agents ; Humans ; Incidence ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Papilloma ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Warts

Automation ; Breast Neoplasms ; chemistry ; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast ; chemistry ; Coloring Agents ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Reagent Kits, Diagnostic ; Receptor, ErbB-2 ; analysis ; Staining and Labeling