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The asymmetric deformation of a laser beam reflected from the surface of a droplet on a slide was observed. The degree of deformation of the beam profile in the incident plane is related to the droplet contact angle, and the degree of deformation perpendicular to the incident plane is related to the droplet curvature. A simple, non-contact, real-time technique to measure droplet wetting parameters was established. The contact angle and radius of curvature for different liquid droplets were measured, and measurement errors were in the sub-degree and sub-millimeter orders of magnitude, respectively. The values obtained for the contact angle using the reported measurement technique compared with those obtained using a traditional measurement technique with an imaging contact angle meter showed the reported technique to be reliable. The contact angle and radius of curvature for four blood samples were measured and compared with those obtained from blood samples using a routine test. For samples with white blood cells, hemoglobin, and hematocrit exceeding the standard, their wetting parameters regularly deviated from those of normal samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. In this study, we assessed the effects of dietary magnesium on leukocyte telomere length (LTL). Designs. The current cross-sectional analysis was based on data collected within a type 2 diabetes project. Settings. Dietary magnesium intake is associated with peripheral blood leukocyte telomere length (LTL). However, few epidemiological studies have evaluated the effects of magnesium on LTL in the clinical setting. Participants. This cross-sectional analysis included 467 participants (34.8% men). Measurements. Serum blood lipid profile, HbA1c, oxidative stress, and proinflammatory mediator levels were measured. Detailed dietary data were obtained using a 24 h food recall. LTL was assessed using a real-time PCR assay. Regression models and simple regulatory models were used for data analysis. Results. There was an inverse relationship between dietary magnesium and LTL (P < 0.001), with a between-extreme-quarter difference of -0.55. Conversely, there was a positive relationship between dietary magnesium and serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF) α, with an interquarter difference of 3.79 pmol/mL (P for trend = 0.006). Multivariate regression analysis revealed that the odds ratios (ORs) for shorter LTL and higher serum TNFα increased with magnesium intake, and the ORs of the differences between extreme quartiles were 2.60 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.31–5.36; P = 0.003) and 1.98 (95% CI: 1.09–3.59; P = 0.008). There was a direct negative effect of dietary magnesium intake on LTL (B = − 0.002 ; P = 0.001), which appeared to be indirectly influenced by TNFα (-0.002 to -0.0005). Conclusions. Dietary magnesium intake may be a critical component of the cellular aging process, and its effect could be partly mediated by TNFα. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]