氟对山羊成骨细胞增殖分化及钙化功能的调节

为探讨氟化物对反刍动物骨骼代谢的影响及对成骨细胞的作用机理,以初生山羊股骨骨膜为材料,采用半消化组织块培养法分离成骨细胞,进行传代培养,并通过形态观察、扫描电镜、碱性磷酸酶(AKP)和矿化结节染色进行鉴定。通过噻唑蓝(MTT)染色、AKP活性测定和钙化结节计数,研究不同浓度的氟对山羊成骨细胞增殖、分化及钙化的影响。结果表明,加氟48 h和96 h后,1.0×10-7~1.0×10-5mol/L氟可促进成骨细胞增殖,其中1.0×10-7及1.0×10-6mol/L氟与对照组差异极显著(P<0.01),高浓度氟(1.0×10-3mol/L)则抑制成骨细胞增殖(P<0.01);而1.0×10-4及5.0×10-4mol/L氟作用48 h对成骨细胞增殖无影响,作用96 h转而抑制成骨细胞增殖(P<0.01)。1.0×10-7~1.0×10-5mol/L氟能显著增强成骨细胞AKP活性及钙化能力(P<0.01),但氟浓度高于5.0×10-4mol/L时,AKP活性及钙化能力明显下降(P<0.01)。证实,低剂量氟能促进体外培养的山羊成骨细胞增殖分化及钙化,高剂量的氟则表现抑制作用。     

亚硒酸钠对禽流感灭活疫苗免疫效果的促进作用

在禽流感病毒 (AIV)H9N2油乳剂灭活疫苗中分别按每头份疫苗加亚硒酸钠 0、0 .0 5、0 .10、0 .2 0、0 .4 0mg ,分别免疫 7日龄AIV疫苗非免疫鸡。免疫后不同时间 ,各含亚硒酸钠疫苗组鸡的HI抗体水平均高于不含硒疫苗组 ,以含亚硒酸钠 0 .2 0mg/头份组鸡的抗体上升快、达高峰值时间早、维持高抗体水平时间长。经对免疫鸡的红细胞免疫花环 (RBC C3bRR)促进率及抑制率测定 ,表明亚硒酸钠能显著提高试验鸡的红细胞免疫花环促进率 ,而红细胞免疫花环抑制率变化各组差异不明显 ,以含亚硒酸钠 0 .2 0mg/头份组的作用最好。     

红外光谱法用于安钠咖中咖啡因和苯甲酸钠快速定性和定量分析

目的建立安钠咖样品中咖啡因和苯甲酸钠快速定性和定量分析的红外光谱方法。方法采用高纯度咖啡因和苯甲酸钠混合制样的方法制备定性和定量建模样品,通过分析混合样品的红外光谱图,确定安钠咖样品中咖啡因和苯甲酸钠的特征吸收峰。采用偏最小二乘法(partial least squares,PLS)建立红外光谱定量模型。结果通过分析17个咖啡因和苯甲酸钠混合样品(咖啡因纯度范围10%~80%)的红外光谱图,确定了咖啡因的特征吸收峰为1698、1650、1237、972、743、609cm-1;苯甲酸钠的特征吸收峰为1596、1548、1406、845、708、679cm-1。将所有特征吸收峰均检出作为阳性判断依据时,48个安钠咖缴获样品中咖啡因和苯甲酸钠的阳性检出率均为100%。咖啡因PLS定量模型的线性范围为10%~80%,决定系数(R2)为99.9%,交叉验证均方差(root mean square error of cross validation,RMSECV)为0.68%,预测均方差(root mean square error of prediction,RMSEP)为0.91%;苯甲酸钠PLS定量模型的线性范围为20%~90%,R2为99.9%,RMSECV为0.91%,RMSEP为1.11%。配对样本t检验结果显示,高效液相色谱法和红外光谱法的测定结果差异无统计学意义。采用所建立的红外定量方法分析48个安钠咖缴获样品,咖啡因的纯度为27.6%~63.1%,苯甲酸钠的纯度为36.9%~72.3%。结论采用红外光谱法对安钠咖样品中的咖啡因和苯甲酸钠进行快速定性和定量分析,可提高检验鉴定效率、降低检验成本。     

丙酸钠和丙酮酸钠对体外培养牛肝细胞内丙酮酸羟化酶基因mRNA水平的影响

在成功构建牛肝细胞培养模型和PC基因DNA竞争模板的基础上,采用竞争RT-PCR方法检测了丙酸钠和丙酮酸钠对体外培养新生牛单层肝细胞PC基因mRNA丰度的影响。结果,随着丙酸钠浓度的升高,PC基因mRNA水平呈上升趋势,PC基因mRNA对丙酸钠的耐受范围较广;随着丙酮酸钠浓度的升高PC基因mRNA水平呈先上升后下降的趋势。结果表明,肝细胞内PC基因mRNA的表达水平受丙酮酸钠浓度的调控,在一定范围内丙酮酸钠对PC基因mRNA的转录具有促进作用,而浓度过高时则起抑制作用。     

GHB free acid: I. Solution formation studies and spectroscopic characterization by 1HNMR and FT-IR

In forensic evidence, gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) has frequently been encountered in one of its salt forms (gamma-hydroxybutyrate), but has also been encountered in its free acid form (GHB). Owing to the physical properties, encounters of the free acid have been largely restricted to forensic exhibits comprising aqueous solutions, such as acidic beverages that have been "spiked" or formulated with GHB salts or gamma-butyrolactone (GBL). The analysis of GHB free acid presents particular difficulties including the potential for altering the original proportions of GHB free acid, GHB carboxylate, and GBL in the course of analysis, and discrimination between GHB free acid and carboxylate forms. In this work, the formation of GHB free acid in aqueous solutions (water and/or D2O) was studied as a function of solution pH. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1HNMR) and Fourier-transform infrared spectrometry (FT-IR) measurements were obtained on freshly prepared mixtures of NaGHB and HCl stock solutions representing a series of points along the GHB titration curve. Both 1HNMR and FT-IR were shown to track the changing proportions of GHB free acid and carboxylate forms as a function of pH, while simultaneously monitoring for the formation of the lactone (GBL). The results were consistent with acid-base conversion behavior for a carboxylic acid. 1HNMR was shown to provide an ideal means for analysis of aqueous-based GHB/GBL forensic exhibits based on simple dilution of the neat liquid exhibit, without altering the original proportions of GHB free acid, carboxylate, and GBL in the samples.     

Appearance of chemical burns resulting from the washing of a deceased body with bleach

The authors report on a case of postmortem washing of a body with bleach. An adult female victim was found nude in an alleyway with both hands removed in the City of Westminster, CO. Cause of death was attributed to severe blunt force trauma to the head. The victim had been dumped in the alleyway within 7 h of discovery. Evidence discovered at the crime scene and autopsy indicated that the murder and subsequent washing of the body with bleach occurred at a secondary location(s). The victim was wet to the touch, presenting a strong odor of bleach. Several "ribbon"-like burn patterns were observed on the victim's back and upper thighs. These burn marks were replicated by dowsing a deceased pig with an over-the-counter concentration of bleach.     

A novel chitosan/tripolyphosphate/L‐lysine conjugates for latent fingerprints detection and enhancement

Most chemical and physical methods employed in visualizing latent marks have shown detrimental effects on human health and, therefore, some research groups have directed their attention to the utilization of various (bio)polymers with the aforementioned purpose. Although chitosan is widely used in medicine, pharmacy, food, and drug delivery systems, there are very few studies that address this biopolymer utilization in forensic applications, such as the detection of latent fingerprints. We used chitosan crosslinked with sodium tripolyphosphate and conjugated with L‐lysine to enhance the visualization of latent fingerprints, due to its ability to interact with fingerprint sweat residues. These conjugates were prepared using different (w/w) amounts of chitosan and tripolyphosphate (6/1; 4/1; 1/1; 1/4; and 1/6), and those with the most promising results (i.e., 6/1 formulation) were investigated in detail. Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR) spectroscopy confirmed interactions between components of the systems. Optical microscopy and scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis showed that prepared powder formulations were uniform in size and confirmed that chitosan/tripolyphosphate/lysine conjugates bind easily to the sweat and lipid residues present in the latent fingerprints. The testing of prepared conjugates demonstrated the potential of these systems as bio‐based powder substitution for commercially available powders.     

Implementation and Optimization of the Sodium‐Rhodizonate Method for Chemographic Shooting Distance Estimation

In shooting incident investigations where it is important to estimate the shooting distance, the sodium‐rhodizonate coloring method has been used for the visualization of GSR patterns extensively. This publication describes the optimization of this method by the use of a heated press for the transfer of GSR traces on garments, as well as variation of a number of other important process parameters. Our final aim for this project was to prepare a formal validation of the coloring method as prerequisite for its inclusion into the scope of ISO17025‐certified methods in the GSR Laboratory. A number of important factors and process parameters were identified, such as buffer composition and pH, type of textile used as a substrate and resolution of the documentation of the results. Results were tested using a synthetic proficiency test. Our optimized method has been found to be a very effective technique for visualization of macroscopic GSR traces.     

Comparison of Rehydration Techniques for Fingerprinting the Deceased after Mummification

Postmortem decay causes fingertip decomposition, desiccation, shriveling, and rigidity, reducing the possibility of obtaining sufficiently clear fingerprints for identification. In this study, five rehydration solutions (ammonium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, potassium hydroxide, urea, and warm water) followed by three fingerprint recording methods (photograph, inking roll, and dusting tape) were investigated to process mummified fingertips from an unidentified cadaver. The results show that sodium carbonate treatment is the most effective for minutiae restoration, followed by ammonium hydroxide treatment. This study also demonstrates that even those fingertips that previously failed in urea solution, 1% potassium hydroxide solution, and warm water treatment could be further improved with sodium carbonate solution to obtain qualified minutiae for fingerprint matching. The optimal procedure is rehydrating the desiccated fingertips with sodium carbonate solution for 24 h followed by dusting the finger and transferring the print to adhesive tape.     

Forensic applications of sodium rhodizonate and hydrochloric acid: a new histological technique for detection of gunshot residues

Demonstration of the presence of lead residues deriving from gunshot in skin and underlying tissues is essential for the correct forensic analysis of numerous legal cases. Optical microscopy remains the fastest, cheapest diagnostic technique, even though its sensitivity and specificity are poor because of the scarce quantity of histological tissue that can be examined and possible environmental lead pollution. To confirm the presence of lead from gunshot residues, we applied to histological sections of human skin a technique proposed by Owens and George in 1991 for macroscopic detection of lead on the clothing of shooting victims, involving a reaction with sodium rhodizonate and subsequent confirmation by color change on application of HCl. Our results demonstrate the technical possibility of using this macroscopic technique even on histological samples and support the need for further studies on a larger series of cases correlated with the type of ammunition and firing distance.