Morphological and Chemical Study of Pathological Deposits in Human Aortic and Mitral Valve Stenosis: A Biomineralogical Contribution

Figure 7

(a) SEM image (sample Tv12a) of a pocket filled only with proteins, oxidized lipids, and collagen fibers, formed by carbon (C), oxygen (O), sodium (Na), and sulphur (S) as indicated by the spectrum EDS in panel (b); the absence of P and Ca in the spectrum demonstrates the nonmineralized nature of the fibers. Images of the pocket under PLM (c) and XPL (d). The birefringent of the organic fibers within the pocket is clearly visible as well as their morphology very similar to amyloid fibrils.

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(b)

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