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NEWSCIENCENEWSCIENCENEWSCIENCE displaying the output thereof, whereby patterns of output related to the presence of said gene or said pathological state are displayed for interpretation. Suitably, the X-rays used are derived from synchrotron radiation or other monochromatic X-ray sources, providing X-rays within the energy range of 5.0 to 25.0 keV. In practice, a single hair is taken from adjacent to the scalp or other areas such as the pubic area of a person. The sample is washed in distilled water and dried under normal conditions (temperature 20 degrees Celsius, and atmospheric pressure), and then cut into approximately 30-mm lengths. the suited to fibre X-ray diffraction displaying the output thereof, ring is operated at 25 GeV with a analysis, and the ultrastructure of whereby patterns of output related beam current of 145 mA. A 0.15-nm human hair has been previously to the presence of said gene or said wavelength was used at this facility. determined from high-intensity pathological state are displayed for The X-ray patterns are recorded on synchrotron radiation scattering interpretation. imaging plates. Exposure time for data combined with results from Suitably, the X-rays used are the hair sample is suitably between physical swelling and stretching derived from synchrotron radiation five seconds and five minutes using experiments... or other monochromatic X-ray synchrotron sources, but may be Low-angle fibre X-ray diffraction sources, providing X-rays within the days or weeks using other X-ray along with appropriate analysis will energy range of 5.0 to 25.0 keV. sources. yield the molecular structure of any In practice, a single hair is taken Preferably, the exposure time is material in which there is a regular from adjacent to the scalp or other approximately 60 seconds on array of molecules. Hair is such a areas such as the pubic area of a second-generation synchrotron material, characterised by regular person. The sample is washed in sources and 20 seconds on third- arrays of alpha-keratin. Studies distilled water and dried under generation synchrotron sources. using synchrotron radiation have not normal conditions (temperature 20 Sample to imaging plate distances only yielded the structure of alpha- degrees Celsius, and atmospheric are approximately 20 mm to 3,000 keratin per se and that of the specific pressure), and then cut into mm. Suitably, 400-mm are used... alpha-keratin in hair but have also approximately 30-mm lengths. revealed and identified the Discussion molecular changes that occur in 9 9 9 Although the number of human hair in insulin-dependent ...fibre X-ray diffraction samples investigated so far is in diabetes. studies using synchrotron total over 400, the reproducibility It has now been surprisingly of the results is most found that fibre X-ray diffraction radiation can reveal clear encouraging. The flexibility of studies using synchrotron and consistent changes in this technique—and the fact radiation can reveal clear and that, using synchrotron sources, consistent changes in the the ultrastructure of hair each sample takes seconds to nvstucueottaetem es] fromm breast cancer Mave oon mite According to a first aspect of patients. use as a rapid and accurate he present invention, there is diagnostic tool for breast cancer, provided a method for detecting prostate cancer and Alzheimer's he presence of a gene responsible The specimen is mounted ina cell, disease. or a pathological state, or the under sufficient tension to maintain It should be clear that the present pathological state itself, in a patient alignment. The cell is then placed invention will find wide applicability comprising exposing at least one ona low-angle diffractometer sothat in the medical field, particularly in air to fibre X-ray diffraction and the sample is normal to the beam. the area devoted to detecting the detecting changes in he The space between the sample and propensity of a subject to breast ultrastructure of the hair. the imaging plate is evacuated so as_ cancer, prostate cancer and According to a second aspect of to minimise absorption losses and Alzheimer's disease. oo he present invention, there is air scattering. (Source: http://tinyurl.com/3hycgjn) provided an instrument for detecting The X-ray diffraction experiments he presence of a gene responsible are carried out using a About the Author: or a pathological state, or the monochromatic X-ray source, such Adjunct Professor Veronica James, pathological state itself, using a hair as a low-angle synchrotron facility, OAM, based on Queensland’s Gold sample, comprising: an X-ray source for example at B115, Photon Factory, Coast, is attached to the Australian producing a beam of X-ray radiation, Tsukuba, or the like, with an X-ray National University’s Research School a sample stage for positioning said wavelength ranging between 0.06 of Chemistry. She has been air sample within said beam, a_ and 0.20 nanometres (nm). researching breast cancer since the detector to detect the scattering of An incident flux at the specimen of 1980s. Professor James has an Order said X-ray beam caused by said hair approximately 8.0 times 10" of Australia medal for her services to sample, and a display means photons/second can be generated the deaf. To contact Professor James, associated with said detector for when the Photon Factory storage email veronica.james@anu.edu.au. ring is operated at 25 GeV with a beam current of 145 mA. A 0.15-nm wavelength was used at this facility. The X-ray patterns are recorded on imaging plates. Exposure time for the hair sample is suitably between five seconds and five minutes using synchrotron sources, but may be days or weeks using other X-ray sources. Preferably, the exposure time is approximately 60 seconds on second-generation synchrotron sources and 20 seconds on third- generation synchrotron sources. Sample to imaging plate distances are approximately 20 mm to 3,000 mm. Suitably, 400-mm are used... or on the of and consistent changes in the ultrastructure of hair patients. The specimen is mounted in a cell, under sufficient tension to maintain alignment. The cell is then placed ona low-angle diffractometer so that the sample is normal to the beam. The space between the sample and the imaging plate is evacuated so as to minimise absorption losses and air scattering. The X-ray diffraction experiments are carried out using a monochromatic X-ray source, such as a low-angle synchrotron facility, for example at BI15, Photon Factory, Tsukuba, or the like, with an X-ray wavelength ranging between 0.06 and 0.20 nanometres (nm). An incident flux at the specimen of approximately 8.0 times 10" photons/second can be generated when the Photon Factory storage About the Author: Adjunct Professor Veronica James, OAM, based on Queensland’s Gold Coast, is attached to the Australian National University’s Research School of Chemistry. She has been researching breast cancer since the 1980s. Professor James has an Order of Australia medal for her services to the deaf. To contact Professor James, email veronica.james@anu.edu.au. out are 52 * NEXUS ..fibre X-ray diffraction studies using synchrotron radiation can reveal clear from breast cancer OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 20I1 www.nexusmagazine.com