• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.250-255
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• 2018

Accurate blood typing is the crucial factor for safe and successful blood transfusion and plays a very important role in organ transplantation and genetic information of forensic medicine. Microfluidic devices have been developed to overcome the limitations of the conventional blood typing methods. In this study, we demonstrate a Lamb wave-based device for simple blood typing in a sample droplet and we propose new indices for quantitative and accurate blood typing. Using Lamb wave-induced acoustic streaming in the droplet, the blood sample and the reagent can be mixed rapidly and red blood cells start to form clumps, which is agglutination. Based on the recorded image and video, the intensity of transmitted light through the sample droplet is evaluated to determine the blood type. Effect of the concentration of suspended red blood cells was evaluated and we found that 10% concentration of suspended red blood cells was suitable to observe the difference between aggregated and non-aggregated samples. Finally, sample with blood type A could be determined using anti-A reagent in our Lamb wave-based device. Our device enables simple and accurate blood typing, which can be applied to resource-limited environments.

• Mass Spectrometry Letters
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.18-26
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• 2019

We developed a bioanalytical method for simultaneous determination of nine NBOMe derivatives (25H-NBOMe, 25B-NBOMe, 25E-NBOMe, 25N-NBOMe, 25C-NBOH, 25I-NBOH, 25B-NBF, 25C-NBF, and 25I-NBF) in human plasma using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Human plasma samples were pre-treated using solid-phase extraction. Separation was achieved on a C18 column under gradient elution using a mobile phase containing 0.1% formic acid in acetonitrile and 0.1% formic acid in water at a flow rate of 0.3 mL/min. Mass detection was performed in the positive ion mode using multiple reaction monitoring. The calibration range was 1-100 ng/mL for all quantitative analytes, with a correlation coefficient greater than 0.99. The intra- and inter-day precision and accuracy varied from 0.85 to 6.92% and from 90.19 to 108.69%, respectively. The recovery ranged from 86.36 to 118.52%, and the matrix effects ranged from 27.09 to 99.72%. The stability was acceptable in various conditions. The LC-MS/MS method was validated for linearity, accuracy, precision, matrix effects, recovery and stability in accordance with the FDA guidance. The proposed method is suitable for reliable and robust routine screening and analysis of nine NBOMe derivatives in forensic field.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.102-110
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• 2023

Wastewater Based Epidemiology (WBE) provides useful information not only on the use of illegal drugs in the community, but also on the presence of hygiene and health products and infectious pathogens in sewage facilities. As a consequence of the SARS-CoV-19 virus epidemic in 2019, monitoring the status of the infection is of utmost importance. SARS-CoV-19 was also detected in sewage, and the number and trend of infections in the community suggest that the application of the WBE system would be useful and appropriate. This study introduces a pre-treatment concentration method including viruses in sewage samples. A total of seven methods which were subdivided into methods for adsorption-extraction, ultra-filtration, PEG precipitation, and ultra-centrifugation, and the results for analyzing the recovery rates were included. Meanwhile, it is necessary to pay attention to rapid detection technologies which analyze infectious pathogens at the site of sewage facilities. These can include ELISA, FTIR, SERS, and biosensor based on the detection principle, and the characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages of each were summarized herein. If rapid detection technologies and accurate quantitative analyses are further developed, the use of sewage mechanics in response to pandemic viruses is expected to expand further.

• Anatomy and Cell Biology
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.86-93
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• 2023

Age at death estimation has always been a crucial yet challenging part of identification process in forensic field. The use of human skeletons have long been explored using the principle of macro and micro-architecture change in correlation with increasing age. The clavicle is recommended as the best candidate for accurate age estimation because of its accessibility, time to maturation and minimal effect from weight. Our study applies pre-trained convolutional neural network in order to achieve the most accurate and cost effective age estimation model using clavicular bone. The total of 988 clavicles of Thai population with known age and sex were radiographed using Kodak 9000 Extra-oral Imaging System. The radiographs then went through preprocessing protocol which include region of interest selection and quality assessment. Additional samples were generated using generative adversarial network. The total clavicular images used in this study were 3,999 which were then separated into training and test set, and the test set were subsequently categorized into 7 age groups. GoogLeNet was modified at two layers and fine tuned the parameters. The highest validation accuracy was 89.02% but the test set achieved only 30% accuracy. Our results show that the use of medial clavicular radiographs has a potential in the field of age at death estimation, thus, further study is recommended.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.375-380
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• 2014

This study examined the incidence rates of cancer cases (averages for 2006-2010) and relationships with environmental radioactivity levels. Soil and water samples were collected from provincial and district centers of Van city and the outdoor gamma doses were determined using a portable gamma scintillation detector. Gross alpha and beta, (226)Ra, (232)Th, and (40)K activities were measured in both tap water and soil samples. Although high rates of stomach and esophagus cancers have been reported previously in Van the underlying reasons have not hitherto been defined. Incidences of cancers were highest in the Gurpmar (326.0) and Ozalp (377.1) counties (p<0.001). As to the results of the gross alpha and gross beta radioactivity measurements in the drinking water, these two counties also had high beta radionuclide levels: Gurpmar ($140mBq/dm^3$) and Ozalp ($206mBq/dm^3$). Even if within the normal range, a relation between the higher rate of the incidence of stomach and esophagus cancers with that of the higher rate of beta radionuclide activity was clear. On Spearman correlation analysis, the relation between higher beta radionuclide levels and cancer incidence was found to be statistically significant (p<0.01). According to the results of the analysis, Van residents receive an average 1.86 mSv/y annual dose from outdoor gamma radiation, ingestion of radionuclides in the drinking water, and indoor $^{222}Rn$ activity. Moreover, gross alpha and beta activities were found to be extremely high in all of the lakes around the city of Van, Turkey. Further investigations with long-term detailed environmental radiation measurements are needed regarding the relationship between cancer cases and environmental radioactivity in the city of Van.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2011

We described an estimation of measurement uncertainty in quantitative analysis of 11-nor-9-carboxy-${\Delta}^9$-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC-COOH), the metabolite of ${\Delta}^9$-tetrahydrocannabinol, in hair samples by using the bead-assisted liquid-liquid extraction and gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric (GC-NCI-MS/MS) detection. Traceability of measurement was established through the use of reference materials, calibrated volumetric tubes, volume measuring devices, and measuring instruments. The analytical results were compared and the different contributions to the uncertainty were evaluated. Inter-day variation was performed by using statistical analysis of several indicative factors. Measurement uncertainty associated with the analyte in real forensic hair samples were estimated using QC data. The major factor of contribution to combined standard uncertainty was inter-day repeatability, while those associated with preparation of analytical standard and also sample of weight were insignificant considering the degree of contribution. Relative uncertainty of relative extended standard uncertainty divided into the measured concentration of the analyte was 17% in a hair sample. The uncertainty of result evaluation will be invaluable to improve quality of the analysis.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.326-332
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• 2021

Swabs are useful and common sampling tools in various research fields, such as medicine, ecology, biotechnology, forensic medicine, and pollutant monitoring systems. Collection reagents are one of the essential components in sampling. It is important to develop a sample collection kit and designate an appropriate storage temperature because samples need to be stored for a long time. The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of three collection reagents and three storage temperatures on the recovery of living bacteria without media. We selected Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus as representative environmental bacteria. Distilled water (DW), phosphate buffered saline (PBS), and Tris-EDTA (TE) buffer were used as collection reagents and stored at 22℃, 4℃, and -70℃ after sampling. The results of using each collection reagent and storage temperature on the bacteria were compared using relative light units (RLU) and the number of colony forming units (CFU). When using -70℃ storage temperature and the TE buffer, the number of living bacteria and the RLU values remained constant. It is therefore recommended that the sample be stored at -70℃ immediately after collection and a TE buffer solution be used as the collection reagent.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.35-47
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• 2019

In this study, high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) was employed to detect 26 antidiabetic compounds in adulterated dietary supplements using a simple, selective method. The work presented herein may help prevent incidents related to food adulteration and restrict the illegal food market. The best separation was obtained on a Shiseido Capcell Pak(R) C18 MG-II ($2.0mm{\times}100mm$, $3{\mu}m$), which improved the peak shape and MS detection sensitivity of the target compounds. A gradient elution system composed of 0.1 % (v/v) formic acid in distilled water and methanol at a flow rate of 0.3 mL/min for 18 min was utilized. A triple quadrupole mass spectrometer with an electrospray ionization source operated in the positive or negative mode was employed as the detector. The developed method was validated as follows: specificity was confirmed in the multiple reaction monitoring mode using the precursor and product ion pairs. For solid samples, LOD ranged from 0.16 to 20.00 ng/mL and LOQ ranged from 0.50 to 60.00 ng/mL, and for liquid samples, LOD ranged from 0.16 to 20.00 ng/mL and LOQ ranged from 0.50 to 60.00 ng/mL. Satisfactory linearity was obtained from calibration curves, with $R^2$ > 0.99. Both intra and inter-day precision were less than 13.19 %. Accuracies ranged from 80.69 to 118.81 % (intra/inter-day), with a stability of less than 14.88 %. Mean recovery was found to be 80.6-119.0 % and less than 13.4 % RSD. Using the validated method, glibenclamide and pioglitazone were simultaneously determined in one capsule at concentrations of 1.52 and 0.53 mg (per capsule), respectively.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.1-16
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• 2006

The most important progress in diagnostic sciences is the increased sensitivity and specificity in diagnostic procedures due to the development of micromethodologies and increasing availability of immunological and molecular biological reagents. The technological advances led to consider the diagnostic use of saliva for an array of analytes and DNA source. The purpose of the present study was to compare DNA from saliva with those from blood and buccal swab, to evaluate diagnostic and forensic application of saliva, to investigate the changes of genomic DNA in saliva according to the storage temperature and period of saliva samples, and to evaluate the integrity of the DNA from saliva stored under various storage conditions by PCR analysis. Peripheral venous blood, unstimulated whole saliva, stimulated whole saliva, and buccal swab were obtained from healthy 10 subjects (mean age: $29.9{\pm}9.8$ years) and genomic DNA was extracted using commercial kit. For the study of effects of various storage conditions on genomic DNA from saliva, stimulated whole saliva were obtained from healthy 20 subjects (mean age: $32.3{\pm}6.6$ years). After making aliquots from fresh saliva, they were stored at room temperature, $4^{\circ}C$, $-20^{\circ}C$, and $-70^{\circ}C$. Saliva samples after lyophilization and dry-out procedure were stored at room temperature. After 1, 3, and 5 months, the same experiment was performed to investigate the changes in genomic DNA in saliva samples. In case of saliva aliquots stored at room temperature and dry-out samples, the results in 2 weeks were also included. Integrity of DNA from saliva stored under various storage conditions was also evaluated by PCR amplification analysis of $\beta$-globin gene fragments (989-bp). The results were as follows: 1. Concentration of genomic DNA extracted from saliva was lower than that from blood (p<0.05), but there were no significant differences among various types of saliva samples. Purities of genomic DNA extracted from stimulated whole saliva and lyophilized one were significantly higher than that from blood (p<0.05). Purity of genomic DNA extracted from buccal swab was lower than those from various types of saliva samples (p<0.05). 2. Concentration of genomic DNA from saliva stored at room temperature showed gradual reduction after 1 month, and decreased significantly in 3 and 5 months (p<0.05, p<0.01, respectively). Purities of DNA from saliva stored for 3 and 5 months showed significant differences with those of fresh saliva and stored saliva for 1 month (p<0.05). 3. In the case of saliva stored at $4^{\circ}C$ and $-20^{\circ}C$, there were no significant changes of concentration of genomic DNA in 3 months. Concentration of DNA decreased significantly in 5 months (p<0.05). 4. There were no significant differences of concentration of genomic DNA from saliva stored at $-70^{\circ}C$ and from lyophilized one according to storage period. Concentration of DNA showed decreasing tendency in 5 months. 5. Concentration of genomic DNA immediately extracted from saliva dried on Petri dish were 60% compared with that of fresh saliva. Concentration of DNA from saliva stored at room temperature after dry-out showed rapid reduction within 2 weeks (p<0.05). 6. Amplification of $\beta$-globin gene using PCR was successful in all lyophilized saliva stored for 5 months. At the time of 1 month, $\beta$-globin gene was successfully amplified in all saliva samples stored at $-20^{\circ}C$ and $-70^{\circ}C$, and in some saliva samples stored at $4^{\circ}C$. $\beta$-globin gene was failed to amplify in saliva stored at room temperature and dry-out saliva.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.377-393
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• 2001

In order to study the closure stage of cranial sutures and its correlations with age, the ectocranial closure stage of coronal suture, sagittal suture, and lambdoidal suture of 67 skulls was measured. Among the skulls kept at the department of anatomy, college of medicine, Yonsei University, the ones with ages identified were used for this study. These measurements of suture closure were conducted by 4 examiners independently. The sutures were further divided by Frederic's method into 16 suture parts. The closure stages were classified by five stages of Broca-Ribbe. The following results were obtained: 1. The inter-observer reliability among 4 examiners showed high intraclass correlation coefficient of over 0.75(mean : 0.856) in all suture parts. Therefore, the determination of closure stage wasn't influenced by the subjective view of each examiner. 2. In all suture parts, the closure stage increased proportionally with age.(p<0.01) In terms of each suture part, the S2 part of sagittal suture showed the highest correlation(68.1%) while the L1-R part of lambdoidal suture showed the lowest correlation(51.3%). In addition, in terms of suture types, the correlation with age decreased in the order of sagittal suture(60.0%), coronal suture(57.7%), and lambdoidal suture (55.7%). In general, the average value of suture closure stages had 57.8% correlation with age(p<0.01). 3. The most frequent suture closure stage according to age group was '0' for ages below 30, '0' and '1' for ages within the 30's, '1' and '2' for ages within the 40's, and '2' for ages within the 50's. With older age groups, the frequency of '3' and '4' increased, and the suture closure stage increased proportionally with age. 4. The mean age by closure stage of each suture were within the 40's for the closure stage of '1', within the 50's for the closure stage of '2', and from 50's through 60's for the closure stage of '3'. The standard deviation was over 10 for all closure stages. In addition, at the same suture closure stage, the mean age according to the coronal suture was higher than the ages according to the sagittal suture or lambdoidal suture. Especially, C1-R, C1-L, C2-R, and C2-L parts showed the highest age when at the same suture closure stage. 5. The values appropriate for age estimations using suture closure stages of 16 suture parts were calculated, and a calculator for age estimation ($R^2=0.6944$, p<0.01) by ectocranial suture closure stage for Koreans is presented. From the above results, the method of using the closure stage of sutures of the skull to estimate age can be useful in individual identification of forensic science. Further extensive and accurate research using larger samples would be worthy of study.