title: X-ray fluorescence analysis of muscles in scoliosis.
abstract: X-ray fluorescence spectrometry was used to determine calcium, copper, and zinc concentrations in paraspinal and gluteal muscles obtained during spinal surgery from patients with scoliosis. Samples of 1-3 mg were sufficient to demonstrate that calcium was higher in idiopathic than in other forms of scoliosis or in normal control muscles. It is suggested that a calcium-related neuromuscular defect could be an important factor in the genesis of idiopathic scoliosis.
mesh_terms: D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis; D003300:Copper / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D009132:Muscles / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D012600:Scoliosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission; D015032:Zinc / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D003300:Copper; D015032:Zinc; D002118:Calcium