OBJECTIVETo seek the methods in the prevention and cure of urinary stones in the Zhujiang valley in Guangdong province.

METHODSTwenty random urinary stones were quantitatively and morphologically analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD).

RESULTSCalcium oxalate (about 70%) was the main composition of urinary stones in the Zhujiang valley in Guangdong province; while 30% of which was uric acid stones. Most calcium oxalate stones contain phosphate; however, its content usually was less than 10%.

CONCLUSIONSCalcium oxalate, uric acid and phosphate are the main compositions of urinary stones in the Zhujiang valley in Guangdong province. The compositions and phases of urinary stones can be obtained accurately by the combination of XPS and XRD.

Adult ; Aged ; Calcium Oxalate ; analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Powder Diffraction ; Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission ; methods ; Uric Acid ; analysis ; Urinary Calculi ; chemistry ; X-Ray Diffraction ; methods

OBJECTIVE: To establish a new method to estimate injury-tool by analyzing the components of left metal particles from hammers impact on pig skin and filter paper using scanning electron microscope and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (SEM-EDX). METHODS: The pig skin and filter paper were stricken by two steel hammers. The left metal particles were examined by SEM-EDX and the results were statistically analyzed by SPSS 13.0. RESULTS: The characteristics of left particles showed stable by several impacts using one steel hammer. The left particles showed no statistical difference for impact on pig skin and filter paper. The left particles displayed a statistical difference using two hammer with different components. CONCLUSION SEM-EDX can be used to detect the left metal particles from the steel hammer and can provide a method for estimating injury-tool.
Animals ; Forensic Medicine/methods* ; Iron/analysis* ; Manganese/analysis* ; Metals/chemistry* ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning/methods* ; Models, Animal ; Skin/injuries* ; Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission/methods* ; Swine ; Wounds, Nonpenetrating/pathology*

OBJECTIVE: To establish a feasible evaluation index and method to identify composition of remaining metal particles on ferrochrome kitchen knife. METHODS: The small samples of remaining metal particles were rubbed from the knives using filter paper. The composition of remaining metal particles was detected by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (SEM-EDX) and GSR particle analysis function, using mathematical methods to calculate the ratio (relative amount) of Fe and Cr in remaining metal particles. RESULTS: The ratio (relative amount) of Fe and Cr of remaining metal particles had significant differences among most ferrochrome kitchen knives (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Using GSR particle analysis function to quantitatively detect the ratio (relative amount) of Fe and Cr of remaining metal particles on ferrochrome kitchen knife, which can establish the feasible evaluation method to estimate such injury tool.
China ; Chromium/isolation & purification* ; Forensic Medicine/methods* ; Iron/isolation & purification* ; Metals/chemistry* ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning/methods* ; Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission/methods* ; Wounds, Nonpenetrating/pathology*

OBJECTIVEThe macula lagena in birds is located at the apical end of the cochlea and contains many tiny otoliths. The macula lagena is innervated and has neural projections to the brainstem, but its physiological function is still unclear. It remains disputable that it is because otoliths in the lagena are rich in elements Fe and Zn that birds can obtain geomagnetic information for homing. To clarify this issue, we carried out a study to determine whether or not otoliths in the lagena of homing pigeons are richer in magnetic elements than those in the saccule and the utricle.

METHODSThe contents of ferromagnetic elements (Fe, Co, Ni) and other metal elements in lagenal otoliths of adult homing pigeons were precisely analyzed with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) of high sensitivity, and then they were compared with those in saccular and utricular otoliths (all the contents were normalized to Ca).

RESULTSIn adult homing pigeons, the contents of ferromagnetic elements (Fe, Co, Ni) in lagenal otoliths were less than 0.7% (normalized to Ca element) and were the same order in magnitude as those in saccular and utricular otoliths. The content of Fe in lagenal otoliths was not significantly different from that in utricular otoliths and was even lower than that in saccular otoliths. The content of Co in lagenal otoliths was lower than that in saccular otoliths and higher than that in utricular otoliths. The content of Ni in lagenal otoliths was not significantly different from that in saccular otoliths and was higher than that in utricular otoliths. The contents of other metal elements Na, Mg, K, Al, Mn and Pb in lagenal otoliths were not significantly different from those in utricular and saccular otoliths. The contents of metal elements Zn, Ba and Cu in lagenal otoliths were lower than those in saccular otoliths.

CONCLUSIONThe contents of magnetic elements in lagenal otoliths of homing pigeons are not much higher than those in utricular and saccular otoliths, which does not support the hypothesis that birds depend on high contents of Fe and Zn in lagenal otoliths for sensation of geomagnetic information. Similarities in morphology, element ingredient and element content between lagenal otoliths and utricular otoliths suggest that the two types of otolithic organs may play similar roles in sensing gravitational and acceleration signals.

Acoustic Maculae ; cytology ; Analysis of Variance ; Animals ; Columbidae ; anatomy & histology ; Elements ; Female ; Magnetics ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; methods ; Otolithic Membrane ; chemistry ; ultrastructure ; Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission ; methods

OBJECTIVE: Using microbeam X-ray fluorescence (Micro-XRF) analyzer for determination of acid-resistant silicic particles in lung, and to explore its potential application in diagnosis of drowning. METHODS: Thirty two white rabbits were divided randomly into drowning group (n=12), post-mortem immersion group (n=10) and control group (n=10). Lungs and water sample were collected for determination of area concentration of acid-resistant silicic particles using Micro-XRF method. RESULTS: The area concentration of acid-resistant silicic particles for the drowning water sample was 4.4 mm2/mL. For the lungs of drowning group, the post-mortem immersion group and the control group, the determined average values were (25.30 +/- 10.95) mm2/g, (1.68 +/- 0.63) mm2/g and (1.65 +/- 0.85) mm2/g, respectively, with a statistically significant difference between the drowning group and the other two groups. CONCLUSION The area concentration of acid-resistant silicic particles in lungs may be used as an indicator of drowning. The method is highly sensitive and rapid. It provides a potential application in drowning diagnosis.
Animals ; Drowning/diagnosis* ; Female ; Fluorescence ; Forensic Pathology/methods* ; Fresh Water/analysis* ; Lung/chemistry* ; Male ; Rabbits ; Silicon/analysis* ; Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission/methods*

Microbeam X-ray fluorescence (micro-XRF) spectrometry has been raised as an analytical technique of microbeam during the recent years. With its advantages of high sensitivity, small sample requirement, high testing accuracy and non-destruction, the technique is widely utilized in forensic science. This review bases on recent researches at home and abroad, describes its applications including identification of gunshot residue, visualization of fingerprints, discrimination of drug source, production process, and other material evidences of analysis in crime scene. Thanks to the advances in technology, intelligent and portable micro-XRF equipment has appeared to be applied. It is believed that it may be more popular and frequent in administration of forensic science in the near future.
Bone and Bones/chemistry* ; Crime ; Dental Enamel/chemistry* ; Dermatoglyphics ; Drowning/diagnosis* ; Forensic Medicine/methods* ; Humans ; Limit of Detection ; Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission/methods* ; Zinc/analysis*

Nonthermal atmospheric plasma has been studied for its many biomedical effects, such as tooth bleaching, wound healing, and coagulation. In this study, the effects of dentinal tubules occlusion were investigated using fluoride-carboxymethyl cellulose (F-CMC) gel, nano-sized hydroxyapatite (n-HA), and nonthermal atmospheric plasma. Human dentin specimens were divided to 5 groups (group C, HA, HAF, HAP, and HAFP). Group HA was treated with n-HA, group HAF was treated with n-HA after a F-CMC gel application, group HAP was treated with n-HA after a plasma treatment and group HAFP was treated with n-HA after a plasma and F-CMC gel treatment. The occlusion of dentinal tubules was investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS), which shows Ca/P ratio. In the EDS results, a higher Ca/P ratio was shown in the groups including n-HA than in the control group. The specimens of group HAP and HAFP had a higher Ca/P ratio in retentivity. In the SEM results, there was not a significant difference in the amount of times applied. Therefore, this study suggests F-CMC gel and n-HA treatment using nonthermal atmospheric plasma will be a new treatment method for decreasing hypersensitivity.
Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium ; Cellulose ; Dentin Sensitivity ; Dentin ; Durapatite ; Fluorides ; Humans ; Hydroxyapatites ; Hypersensitivity ; Methods ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Plasma Gases ; Plasma ; Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission ; Tooth Bleaching ; Wound Healing

Microarc oxidation (MAO) has become a promising technique for the surface modification of implants. Therefore, the aims of this study were to further quantitatively and qualitatively evaluate the osteointegration abilities of MAO-treated and smooth surface (SF) implants in vivo and to investigate the areas in which the superiority of MAO-treated implants are displayed. In a rabbit model, a comprehensive histomorphological, osteogenic, mineralizational, and integrative assessment was performed using light microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, confocal laser scanning microscopy, and radiographic analyses. Compared with the SF groups, the MAO-treated groups exhibited more active contact osteogenesis, as well as distant osteogenesis, under fluorescence examination, the mineral apposition rate was found to be greater for all of the MAO-treated implants, and the osteointegration index (OI) value was greater in the MAO-treated groups at different times. In conclusion, the calcium-rich amorphous layer created by MAO provided a better environment for osteointegration, with more active contact osteogenesis, a more rapid mineral apposition rate and greater OI values.
Animals ; Bone-Implant Interface ; physiology ; Dental Implantation, Endosseous ; methods ; Dental Implants ; Femur ; surgery ; Implants, Experimental ; Materials Testing ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Models, Animal ; Osseointegration ; physiology ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Rabbits ; Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission ; Surface Properties ; Titanium