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We have developed standard-free methods for PIXE analysis of hair, nail, urine and serum, and they have widely been applied to studies on human exposure to some toxic elements caused by pollution in many countries. Although these samples are known to be quite suited for evaluating human exposure to toxic elements, there is a case where it is required to quantitatively analyze other samples taken from people. We have examined sweat, saliva, snivel and tear, which are expected to be useful for estimating concentration of various elements in a human body. However, sufficient quantities of them are difficult to be taken from a human body and it is required to establish standard-free methods for these samples. In the present work, standard-free methods for sweat and saliva were established and its accuracy and reproducibility are confirmed. It becomes possible to quantitatively analyze only a drop of sweat and saliva by means of this method. For snivel and tear, potassium concentration is obtained by the internal-standard method for a small-spot sample and the conversion coefficient required for the standard-free method was evaluated. It is found that analyses of these samples give us useful information about some specific elements. As the standard-free methods are free from dryness of samples, which becomes a serious problem in the case where the internal-standard method is applied, it is expected to give more essential information about elemental concentration in a human body.

We have measured fluorine concentration in samples taken from humans, such as sweat, saliva, snivel and tear in addition to hair, nail and urine, together with those of other elements by means of a three-detector measuring system. Fluorine has been known as one of the most toxic elements as well as arsenic, lead, mercury and cadmium which contaminate environment over the wide area. This system allowed us to discuss about fluorine concentration related to other elements'. A standard-free method established by us has been applied to quantitative analyses of these samples. By means of these methods, quantitative analysis becomes possible for samples of less than 1mg or 1μl and it is quite suited to tear, snivel and sweat. As one of the conclusion, sweat, snivel and tear give useful information in addition to the samples which have been traditionally analyzed. It is found that titanium concentration in a body is well estimated by analyses of sweat, snivel and saliva, arsenic concentration can be estimated by sweat analysis in addition to urine analysis, and nickel is well evaluated by sweat and tear. In this way, it is required to estimate elemental concentration in a human body by measuring various clinical samples. Especially, correlation between fluorine and arsenic is found in a few bio-medical samples.

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A new noninvasive glucose sensor is developed based on Co₃O₄ particles (Co₃O₄ NPs), which are synthesized by a single-step hydrothermal method with uniform structure and size. The electrochemical measurements reveal that the device exhibits outstanding performance for glucose detection, achieving a maximal sensitivity of 2495.79$\mu$A mM${}^{-1}$ cm${}^{-2}$ with a high $R^2$ of 0.99575, a ultra-low detection limit of 9.3nM with a signal-to-noise of 3 and linear range up to 3mM. The noninvasive glucose sensor can respond swiftly and selectively due to the high electrocatalytic activity of Co₃O₄ NPs. The sensor also shows its high sensitivity and selectivity in detecting glucose levels in human blood serum and saliva sample, confirming the application potential of Co₃O₄ NPs in noninvasive detection of glucose.

Objective: The aim of this study is finding an optimal and convenient aging marker.

Method: The information of participants’ occupation, family background, life style, physical condition, etc. was obtained by a self-administered questionnaire. Spot urine and saliva samples were collected during the early morning after fasting overnight. 8-hydroxydeoxygunaosine (8-OHdG), 8-iso-prostaglandin F2$\alpha$ (8-isoPGF2$\alpha$), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPPs), malondialdehyde (MDA), and dehydroepian drosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) were measured by ELISA.

Results: Around 112 non-smokers (males/females $=$ 61/51; mean age $=$ 44.9 years) were eligible and analyzed in this study. The mean urinary 8-OHdG level was $33.2\pm 1.75$ (ng/mmol, creatinine) and mean 8-isoPGF2$\alpha$ level was $364.97\pm 40.32$ (pg/mmoL, creatinine). In saliva, the mean level of AOPPs, MDA, and DHEA-S was $189.37\pm 19.81$ ($\mathrm{\mu }$mol/L), $1.7\pm 0.1$ ($\mathrm{\mu }$mol/L) and $2.96\pm 0.15$ (ng/mL), respectively. After analysis in multiple regression model, urinary 8-OHdG was influenced by age and tea consumption ($p<0.01$); urinary 8-isoPGF2$\alpha$ level was correlated with gender ($p<0.01$); salivary DHEA-S was related to gender ($p<0.05$) and marital status ($p<0.01$); AOPPs and MDA in saliva presented no relationships with those factors.

Conclusion: Among healthy non-smokers, urinary 8-OHdG is the best aging biomarker comparing to other markers.

Dental diseases in the elderly are usually chronic and often complicated by general illness and medications. An alternate approach to study geriatric dental disease is proposed. Relating oral diseases to systemic functional systems with TCM theory provide a more holistic view of both local and general pathological factors. Cross-referring TCM theory with modern research show evidence that dental diseases are in close association with general condition. Saliva is found to be an importance interface between systemic functions and oral environment. It can serves as an indicator or diagnostic aid for many systemic conditions.