title: Identification of calcifications in cardiac valves by near infrared Raman spectroscopy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this work was to detect calcification in cardiac valves using near infrared Raman spectroscopy (NIRS). A Ti:sapphire laser pumped by an argon-ion laser operating at a wavelength of 830 nm was used for excitation of the valve samples, and Raman emission was detected by an optical spectrometer with a liquid nitrogen-cooled CCD detector.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Cardiac valves are subjected to highly repetitive mechanical stresses, due to their over 40 million cardiac cycles per year. These structures may suffer cumulative lesions, complicated by the deposition of calcium phosphate, which can lead to clinically significant diseases. NIRS can provide important information about biological tissue composition and has been used for diagnosis of some types of human pathology.
  
  
  METHODS
  Samples of normal and pathologic tissues 5 mm in size were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  It was observed that the Raman spectrum of calcified cardiac valves presented different behavior when compared with normal valves. Differences were observed at the intensity of 960, 1,260, 1,452, and 1,660 cm(1) peaks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that this technique could be used to detect calcium phosphate mineral deposition in cardiac valves.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Pesquisa & Desenvolvimento (IP&D), Universidade do Vale do Paraíba - UNIVAP, Urbanova, São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rick
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.forename: Antonio Balbin
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Villaverde
authors.forename: Carlos Augusto
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Pasqualucci
authors.forename: Landulfo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Silveira
authors.forename: Aldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brugnera
authors.forename: Maricilia S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Marcos Tadeu T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Pacheco
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman