This study investigates the effects of the neuropeptides, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and galanin, the islet hormones insulin, glucagon and somatostatin, the neurotransmitter acetyicholine (ACh), the gut hormone cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8), sodium nitroprusside (SNIP), 8-Bromo guanosine 3'5' cyclic monophosphate (8-Br cOMP) and nerve stimulation on amylase secretion and intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca 2 ]) in the isolated pancreas of normal and diabetic rats. The pattern of distribution of the islet hormones and neuropeptides in normal and diabetic rats. The results show that stimulation of isolated pancreatic segments and acinar cells with different concentrations of either glucagon, somatostatin, VIP, galanin, ACh or CCK-8 resulted in different effects on amylase secretion and [Ca 2']i Combining the islet hormones with either ACh or CCK-8 resulted in marked potentiation in amylase output and enhanced the [C2] in acinar cells. Genistein, had markedly inhibited the potentiation of the islet hormones with either ACh or CCK-8. Similarly, when rats were rendered diabetic either insulin, glucagon or somatostatin failed to potentiate the secretory response of ACh or CCK-8. The results indicate that both tyrosine kinase and cellular C2 seem to be the intracellular mediators involved with the enhanced secretory responses obtained with a combination of the islet hormones with either ACh or CCK-8. Immunohistochemiocal techniques confirm the presence of the islet hormones and neuropeptides in the endocrine and the neural elements of the pancreas. Moreover, the presence of viable pancreatic islets of Langerhans seems to be associated with the potentiation of the islet hormones with either ACh or CCK-8. The results also suggest that NO may modulate the release of the endogenous neurotransmitter(s) in response to EFS in the exocrine rat pancreas.

The widespread occurrence of thermophilous microfungi on wood is reported. Imported timber, in-service timber joinery and wood employed in colonization experiments were sampled and a list of cellulolytic fungi including thermophilous and soft rot fungi is submitted. The influence of insolation on the temperature-and moisture ranges in wood was investigated. Temperatures up to 160C above ambient were recorded as a result of insolation and data is submitted on the diurnal temperature cycle in a block of wood undergoing insolation. It is recorded that colour had no significant effect upon the moisture content of insolated wood in soil contact. Using a simple moisture gradient apparatus the surface growth and penetration of thermophilous fungi were investigated at above ambient temperatures, showing that thermophilous fungi could grow at the surface and within beech veneers at moisture levels below the 20% minimum recorded in the literature, it is considered that the biological activity of water is increased at above ambient temperatures. The effect of constant, alternating and fluctuating temperatures on the growth of microfungi was investigated. A temperature cycle simulator was devised producing a diurnal cycle similar to that occurring in insolated wood. Addition, stimulation and retardation of growth were recorded as a result of temperature alternation, whilst evidence is submitted that some thermophilous wood inhabiting-microfungi were better adapted to temperature fluctuations than mesophilic forms. Interaction studies between pairs of wood inhabiting microfungi were undertaken at above ambient temperature and under conditions of fluctuating temperature. Evidence that metabolic products influence interactions is offered, and that under âanditions of fluctuating temperature thermophilous fungi can play a significant role in ecological sequences. - Preliminary experiments into the tolerance of cellulolytic thermophilous microfungi to wood preservatives indicate that they, were more tolerant to preservatives at above ambient temperature than at 250C.

Les méthodes actuelles d’analyse pour rechercher des xénobiotiques et/ou leurs métabolites dans les liquides biologiques peuvent dans certaines occasions manquer de sensibilité. Ainsi, il est souvent difficile de mettre en évidence les substances utilisées par des agresseurs pour commettre des actes délictuels sur leurs victimes (vols ou encore viols), parce que ces substances administrées en très faibles quantités ont généralement des demi-vies courtes, ou que les recherches de ces substances se font plusieurs jours après l’agression. De même dans le cadre de l’exposition aux polluants de l’environnement et particulièrement aux hydrocarbures aromatiques polycycliques, il est difficile de mettre en évidence l’importance de l’exposition de salariés ou encore de la population générale à ces composés. Dans le cadre de la soumission chimique, l’utilisation de la chromatographie en phase liquide couplée à la spectrométrie de masse en tandem (MS / MS) permet d’obtenir une sensibilité suffisante notamment en mode MRM pour détecter des substances ou leurs métabolites dans les liquides biologiques de victimes. L’utilisation de la même technologie permet de rechercher les métabolites hydroxylés des hydrocarbures aromatiques polycycliques. Les objectifs du travail ont été de montrer l’applicabilité de la spectrométrie de masse dans deux domaines. Le premier se rapporte à la soumission chimique, domaine dans lequel après avoir rappelé, les définitions, la prévalence des cas de soumission chimique en Europe et dans les pays anglophones, la liste des substances psychoactives incriminées, les difficultés couramment rencontrées lors des investigations et les recommandations pour améliorer la détection des substances aux niveau des analyses toxicologiques, est rapporté un cas de soumission chimique par le diéthylamide de l'acide lysergique ou LSD, par mise en évidence de ce composé et de son métabolite principal par UPLC-MS/MS. Au cours du travail sur la mise en évidence des substances de la soumission chimique, nous avions préparé les extraits biologiques en mélangeant des extraits effectués à pH acide et alcalin et en ionisant les molécules en mode électrospray négatif et positif. Il est vite apparu que certaines molécules avaient une limite de détection trop élevée. Nous avons alors développé une méthode spécifique pour ces molécules afin d’améliorer leur détection. Le second domaine d’application a été la mise en évidence des métabolites hydroxylés des hydrocarbures aromatiques polycycliques. Dans un premiers temps, nous avons réalisé une revue générale de ces substances polluantes de l’environnement, puis nous avons validé par chromatographie liquide de haute performance couplée à la spectrométrie de masse une méthode qui permet d’identifier et de doser ces métabolites dans l’urine de sujets exposés ou non à ces HAP. / Les méthodes actuelles d’analyse pour rechercher des xénobiotiques et/ou leurs métabolites dans les liquides biologiques peuvent dans certaines occasions manquer de sensibilité. Ainsi, il est souvent difficile de mettre en évidence les substances utilisées par des agresseurs pour commettre des actes délictuels sur leurs victimes (vols ou encore viols), parce que ces substances administrées en très faibles quantités ont généralement des demi-vies courtes, ou que les recherches de ces substances se font plusieurs jours après l’agression. De même dans le cadre de l’exposition aux polluants de l’environnement et particulièrement aux hydrocarbures aromatiques polycycliques, il est difficile de mettre en évidence l’importance de l’exposition de salariés ou encore de la population générale à ces composés. Dans le cadre de la soumission chimique, l’utilisation de la chromatographie en phase liquide couplée à la spectrométrie de masse en tandem (MS / MS) permet d’obtenir une sensibilité suffisante notamment en mode MRM pour détecter des substances ou leurs métabolites dans les liquides biologiques de victimes. L’utilisation de la même technologie permet de rechercher les métabolites hydroxylés des hydrocarbures aromatiques polycycliques. Les objectifs du travail ont été de montrer l’applicabilité de la spectrométrie de masse dans deux domaines. Le premier se rapporte à la soumission chimique, domaine dans lequel après avoir rappelé, les définitions, la prévalence des cas de soumission chimique en Europe et dans les pays anglophones, la liste des substances psychoactives incriminées, les difficultés couramment rencontrées lors des investigations et les recommandations pour améliorer la détection des substances aux niveau des analyses toxicologiques, est rapporté un cas de soumission chimique par le diéthylamide de l'acide lysergique ou LSD, par mise en évidence de ce composé et de son métabolite principal par UPLC-MS/MS. Au cours du travail sur la mise en évidence des substances de la soumission chimique, nous avions préparé les extraits biologiques en mélangeant des extraits effectués à pH acide et alcalin et en ionisant les molécules en mode électrospray négatif et positif. Il est vite apparu que certaines molécules avaient une limite de détection trop élevée. Nous avons alors développé une méthode spécifique pour ces molécules afin d’améliorer leur détection. Le second domaine d’application a été la mise en évidence des métabolites hydroxylés des hydrocarbures aromatiques polycycliques. Dans un premiers temps, nous avons réalisé une revue générale de ces substances polluantes de l’environnement, puis nous avons validé par chromatographie liquide de haute performance couplée à la spectrométrie de masse une méthode qui permet d’identifier et de doser ces métabolites dans l’urine de sujets exposés ou non à ces HAP

Orientadores: Darcy de Oliveira Tosello, Eduardo Daruge Junior / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Odontologia de Piracicaba / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-14T14:56:03Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Carvalho_MarcusViniciusRibeiro_M.pdf: 1052288 bytes, checksum: 9fdde3751d280df9a5fc0e80e4e068d2 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009 / Resumo: O procedimento necroscópico realizado no Instituto Médico Legal (IML) é cercado de riscos biológicos dos quais precisam ser identificados e estudados para se produzir conhecimentos que justifique a utilização de medidas de biossegurança. O objetivo do trabalho é avaliar a existência do agente etiológico HIV em cadáveres, no intuito de determinar se a pesquisa necroscópica é fator de risco de transmissão para a equipe. O estudo ocorreu na área de Odontologia Legal e Deontologia da FOP-UNICAMP e no SML de Volta Redonda - RJ onde realizou-se a coleta de sangue da câmara atrial cardíaca de 50 cadáveres que deram entrada no período de 18 de maio a 26 de junho de 2009. O procedimento para análise imunológica foi feito pelo teste rápido de HIV e pelo ensaio imunoenzimático (ELISA). Das 50 amostras coletadas, nove foram inadequadas para o teste. E das 41 amostras testadas houve um único resultado positivo para HIV no teste ELISA e no teste rápido. Há riscos de contaminação pelo HIV para a equipe do IML nos procedimentos de necropsia, desde que não se respeitem às diretrizes de biossegurança para os atos operatórios. Tendo este trabalho detectado a presença do HIV em 2,4% das amostras efetivamente examinadas. / Abstract: The carried through autopsy procedure in the Institute of Forensic Medicine (IML) is surrounded biological risks which need to be identified and studied to produce knowledge that justifies the use of biosecurity measures. The objective of this study is to evaluate the existence of the agent HIV in cadavers in order to determine whether the research necroscopic is a risk factor for transmission to the team. The study took place in the area of forensic dentistry and ethics of FOP-UNICAMP and SML Volta Redonda - RJ which held the blood collection chamber atrial rate of 50 corpses received in the period from May 18 to June 26 2009. The procedure for the immunological analysis was done by the rapid test for HIV and by enzyme immunoassay (ELISA). Of the 50 samples, nine were inadequate for testing. And of the 41 samples tested there was a single positive result for HIV ELISA and rapid test. There are risks of HIV infection to the staff of IML in autopsy procedures, provided they do not comply with the biosafety guidelines for surgical procedures. Having this work detected the presence of HIV in 2.4% of the samples actually tested. / Mestrado / Odontologia Legal e Deontologia / Mestre em Biologia Buco-Dental

Following cultural anthropological inquiry, this dissertation examines the adoption of shamanic healing techniques into Western medicine and the resultant hybrid modality of health care fostered by two disparate healing traditions. As the U.S. populace increasingly turns to alternative forms of healing in conjunction with, or in lieu of, conventional Western medicine, shamanic healing has been added to the list of recognized non-conventional therapies. Shamanism, once prevalent throughout most of the world in various cultural forms, is purported to be the oldest healing modality, dating back to the Upper Paleolithic in Siberia. Historical excoriation and extermination from religious and political dogma have plagued shamanic cultures for centuries while their healing practices have been rebuked by Western concepts emergent from the Scientific Revolution—whereupon the Cartesian Split and a corporeal view of the body transformed the field of medicine. In the United States, over the last decade, a new and growing subculture of health care practitioners, including “Western” educated medical practitioners, is seeking out shamanic training for personal and professional development. This study examines how the adoption of a healing paradigm borne out of indigenous cultures oriented toward communal living and local economies is adapted to a Western culture steeped in individualism, commercialization, and commodification. Through surveys, interviews, and ethnographic research, the investigator provides numerous examples and analysis of the practice of shamanic healing techniques in medical clinics, health care centers, and hospitals. In particular, this study will focus on the shamanic training of health care practitioners, their motivations, the manner in which they incorporate shamanic healing techniques into their treatment protocols, as well as patient/colleague/administrative responses and institutional barriers. A comparative analysis provides discussion on both the metamorphosis of shamanic healing traditions appropriated within a biomedical framework as well as the influence of spiritually-based healing practices upon the established medical culture in the United States today. Through the lens of highlighted individual experiences, the investigator offers insight into an emerging hybrid healing modality embedded in cultural contrasts that also serves as a catalyst for the renegotiation of the meaning of healing.

Distinguishing between burnt human and non-human bone fragments using macroscopic methods has proved challenging and it was seen in the literature review that the previous research did not all come to the same conclusions. The aim of the research was to determine if, using histological methods, it was possible to distinguish between burned human and nonhuman bone fragments. A literature review was compiled to provide an overview of the anatomy of bones, morphological characteristics of bone, general bone histology, a comparison between human and non-human bones and the effect of temperature on bones. Bones of five different species (human, baboon, wildebeest, pig and cow) were burned in a muffle furnace for twenty minutes at either 600ᵒC or 800ᵒC. Following the burning procedure, thin ground bone sections of the burned and unburned bone specimens were prepared for microscopic analysis and the minimum canal diameter, maximum canal diameter, minimum Haversian system diameter, maximum Haversian system diameter, area of canal, and area of the Haversian system were measured. A comparative analysis was then done across species and temperature. A total of 523 osteons in unburned bone and 147 in the burned bone samples were analysed. ANOVA testing found overall significance (p < 0.0001) for all parameters measured, which suggests that temperature does affect the size of microstructures. Most parameter sizes increased with an increase in temperature. A greater increase was seen at 600 degrees than 800 degrees. Qualitatively, carbonation within the burned bone, made the measurement of parameters difficult in some samples. Human bone can easily be differentiated from pig, cow or wildebeest bone due to no or very few osteons present. Pig bone consisted almost entirely of plexiform bone, while the cow and wildebeest presented with only a few osteons in some parts of the bone. Human and baboon bone appeared similar on a microscopic level. The study revealed that temperature did not, in general, hamper the ability to differentiate between burned human and non-human bone, but it did impact on the number of measurable data points for each parameter.

In South Africa, little is known about the presence of drugs in infant cases admitted for post-mortem medico-legal examinations,as toxicological investigations are not routinely performed. It was hypothesised that drugs would be detected in sudden and unexpected death ofinfant (SUDI) cases admitted to Salt River Mortuary (SRM), as infantsform a vulnerable population. Biological samples (blood, vitreous humour, urine and hair) were collected from 30 infants who were admitted as SUDIcasesto Salt River Mortuary,Cape Town,between 28 May 2019 and 17 October 2019. Samples were screened for at least 750 common drugs using a SCIEX X500R QTOF. Demographic variables, social circumstances and clinical historywere recorded from the medico-legal case folder. Of the 30 SUDI cases, drugs were detected in 25 (83 %) cases, with acetaminophen (61 %) and caffeine (54 %) being most prevalent. Methaqualone (32 %) and methamphetamine (11 %),two commonly abused drugs in the Western Cape,werealsoidentified, with the former only present in hair. There were significantly more drugs detected in hair samples compared to the other samples (p < 0.0001). Therefore, while challenging in its interpretation, hair analyses provideda wealth of information concerningpossiblelonger-termdrug exposure in infants.This was particularly valuable inrevealingmethaqualoneexposure, which may have otherwise gone undetected, and which may indicate an environment of neglect. While the cause of death in most cases was natural (infectious causes) (63 %), next-of-kin seldom declared that their infant exhibited symptoms of illness orthat medication was administeredprior to death. Therefore, theresults of this study illustrate the valueof toxicological testing in SUDIcases at SRM, as well as the need to analyse multiple samples. This study provides empirical data to motivate for the SUDI investigation protocolatSRM toinclude routine toxicological analysis. This is anticipated toadd value to the medico-legal investigation as well as add social value to the lives of siblings who may also be at risk for neglect.

The large number of unidentified, decomposed and skeletonised remains found in South Africa (SA) necessitates relevant and reliable methods to assist in victim identification. Ancestry estimation from unknown skeletal remains is essential when reconstructing a demographic profile of a missing person. In the SA population, estimating ancestry is problematic as standards developed internationally rarely apply to the local, biologically heterogenous population. Craniofacial morphology is known to be ancestrally distinct and studies are yet to explore shape and size variation in the zygomatic bone of the SA population. The aim of this study was to assess ancestral variation in zygomatic shape and size in a SA population using three-dimensional geometric morphometric analyses. A sample of 158 individuals were analysed from Bantu-speaking (BA), European (EA) and Mixed Ancestral (MA) South African groups. Males were larger in size than females, but no size differences were observed between ancestral groups. Significant shape differences were observed between ancestral groups, while none were observed between males and females. BA and MA individuals had narrower, shorter and more anteriorly projecting zygomas than EA individuals. The zygoma was shown to accurately distinguish EA (84%) from BA (81%), and MA (80%) from EA (68%) individuals, but unreliably distinguished BA (60%) from MA (66%) individuals. This is likely correlated to the historical peopling of SA and historical forced racial classification. Age-related changes and antemortem tooth loss did not confound the ancestral variation in size, despite minor changes in zygomatic shape being associated with these two factors. These confounders did not impact ancestry estimation accuracies, further suggesting a minor impact on overall zygomatic shape. Furthermore, the patterning of ancestral variation in the zygoma revealed the need for further research to distinguish between the biologically heterogenous ancestral groups in SA.

A retrospective study of deaths attributable to anaphylaxis at the Salt River Forensic Pathology Laboratory was undertaken, with a view to determine if eosinophilia was present in tissue samples of the spleen, in accordance with previously published research. Suitable cases of non-anaphylactic death were used as controls. Use was made of two commonly available fabric dyes as alternative stains to the traditional Haematoxylin -Eosin ["H&E"].

The aim of this project is to develop a single quantification method for certain benzodiazepines, opiates and antidepressants in whole blood, serum and urine by LC-MS/M5 and to consequently validate the analytical method for official use in the Division of Pharmacology at the University of Cape Town.