Trace element study of kidney stones from subjects belonging to stone belt region of India

Kidney stones obtained from six patients belonging to the stone belt region of India (Punjab) were analyzed for inorganic constituents using instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) and energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) techniques. For INAA, samples were irradiated along with IAEA RM Soil 7 as reference standard in CIRUS reactor, BARC, Mumbai. Gamma activity of irradiated samples was measured using a 45% relative efficiency HPGe detector coupled to 8?k channel analyzer. EDXRF method was used for determination of concentration of Ca. The concentrations of ten elements namely Ca, Na, K, Mn, Co, Cr, Zn, Br, Sm and Cl, are reported and discussed.     

Role of diet and trace elements in lithogenesis of renal calculi

Twenty eight stones were characterized for chemical composition and structure. The concentrations of trace elements were determined using INAA while EDXRF was used for determining the calcium contents of the stones. Twenty stones were found to be mainly composed of calcium, six were mixed type and the remaining two were of uric acid type. The concentrations of trace elements namely Zn, Sr, Fe and Cr were lower in uric acid stones as compared to calcium based stones. Diet analysis of 310 patients who were treated for renal stones showed a diet rich in calcium and oxalate and decreased water consumption.

     

Thermal, UV, FTIR, and XRD studies of urinary stones

Various crystals are seen in human urine. Oxalate, Phosphate, Uric acid, and Urate crystals are generally seen in urinary calculi. Calcium stones are most common, comprising 75 % of all urinary calculi. They may be pure calcium oxalate or calcium phosphate or a mixture of both. Many stones are not homogeneous. Low calcium intake increases the intestinal absorption of calcium, thus decreasing the amount of calcium available in the intestinal tract to form insoluble complexes with Oxalate. Consequently, a higher amount of oxalate is available for intestinal absorption and as a result, urinary oxalate excretion increases. Mineral water consumption did not reduce urinary oxalate excretion. High urinary excretion and concentration of magnesium decrease both the nucleation and growth rates of calcium oxalate crystals in urine, because of the higher solubility of magnesium oxalate compared with calcium oxalate. Analytical results show calcium oxalate to be one of the major inorganic components of renal stones and found to be present in almost all kidney and bladder stones. About 39.5 % of the total composition of the calculi is found to contain purely calcium oxalate and also hydroxyl apatite. The ten samples are a mixture of calcium oxalate and phosphate stones. Four samples are calcium oxalate as major composition and the remaining are calcium phosphate as major composition. These kidney stones are taken photographically and size of the stone are measured using optical microscopy. These qualitative analyses are also confirmed by UV, FTIR, DSC, and XRD analysis.     

Elemental composition and microstructure analysis of a rabbit urolith

Following physical examination and radiography analysis, cystotomy was performed to remove a rabbit’s single bladder stone. This rabbit urolith was analyzed by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (EDXRF) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The EDXRF technique was successful for the determination of major elements (Ca, Mg, P, K and S) and presented sufficient sensitivity to also trace elements (Sr, Fe, Cu, V, Cr, Mn, Zn and Pb) determination. The results showed significant quantitative and structural variations among the urolith regions. The EDXRF technique using the fundamental parameters method and SEM attend as complementary techniques that can be useful in the management of urinary stone analysis.     

Analysis of urinary stone constituents using powder X-ray diffraction and FT-IR

Constituents of urinary stones obtained from various patients from western part of India, which is a highly urinary stone disease-prone area, have been analysed. Eight stones from four patients were collected through urologists and have been analysed using powder X-ray diffraction and FT-IR. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and scanning electron microscopic (SEM) image of selected samples were also carried out. The analysis revealed that calcium oxalate monohydrate, which is also known as whewellite, is the common constituent of all of the stones, particularly at the initial stage of stone formation. However, multi phases viz. whewellite phase, and hydroxyl and carbonate apatite phases are also detected in the case of third and fourth patients, from where multiple stones were obtained. Interestingly, in these mixed phase stones the concentration of whewellite decreases with increasing the concentration of apatite phases. Thermal behaviour of the whewellite phase was studied by TGA and variable temperature XRD analysis. Morphology of the whewellite and apatite phases, examined by SEM image, has also been reported.     

Trace elements in tobacco and tobacco smoke by X-ray fluorescence technique

Trace elements in tobacco and tobacco smoke of a large number of commonly available brands of cigarettes were analyzed by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence. This work supplements the data on same samples gathered by INAA and reported earlier. Data on some toxic elements like Pb, Cu and Ni that could not be measured by INAA are presented here. A number of chewing and snuff tobacco samples were also analyzed. The concentrations of Ca, K, Cl, Br, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sr, Ti and Zn in all these samples are presented and their relative hazards are discussed.     

Spatial distribution of major and trace elements in bladder and kidney stones

The spatial distribution of major and trace elements has been studied in a range of human kidney and bladder stones with well documented histories to understand their initiation and formation. The stones were cut in half using a clean diamond saw and further cleaned, to remove surface contamination, in an ultrasonic bath. The cut surfaces were analyzed using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). The spatial distribution of Li, B, Mg, Al, P, Ca, Cr, Mn, Zn, Rb, Sr, Ba and Pb has been determined across the width of each stone.     

Multielemental evaluation of garbage bags by EDXRF

Garbage bags have been broadly used for collecting household waste in Brazil and worldwide. Many of these bags are made from recycled polymers, and the presence of harmful elements is a matter of concern. In this study, an energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) approach for direct analysis of garbage bags is proposed. The concentrations of K, Ca, Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Br, Rb, Sr and Pb were determined in 14 garbage bags of different brands purchased from local markets in Piracicaba, São Paulo State, Brazil. The EDXRF technique proved to be an effective technique for multielemental, environmentally friendly and direct garbage bag monitoring. For most samples, Ca and Ti presented at minor concentration ranges and K, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn and Pb at minor and trace levels. The EDXRF limits of quantification were K: 220; Ca: 112; Ti: 42; Cr: 19; Mn: 13; Fe: 9.2; Ni: 5.7; Cu: 5.3; Zn: 5.2; Br: 12; Rb: 20; Sr: 28 and Pb:17 μg g^–1. The samples had variable thicknesses, with a superficial density variation of 1.5 to 23% among the triplicates. The trueness of the method was checked by analysing the National Institute of Standards and Technology standard reference material SRM2783.     

Determination of rare earth and other trace element abundances in human kidney stones and brain tissue by instrumental neutron activation analysis

We have used INAA to analyze more than 30 minor and trace elements in 10 human kidney stones (phosphate and oxalate types). In addition we also analyzed human brain tissue samples for trace elements by INAA to determine the limitations of the method. Samples were taken from the temporal and frontal cortex of the brain of a patient that suffered from dialysis encephalopathy (where an increased Al content is expected), as well as a number of control samples. Trace elements were analyzed to study possible compositional differences other than the Al content. The analyses were done using large volume HPGe detectors; because of the low abundances, accuracy and precision vary between 3–80% for individual elements. We found a difference between the rare earth element (REE) patterns for apatite and oxalate kidney stones, and a fractionation compared to typical REE contents in plants. For the brain samples there is evidence for differences between the dialysis patient and the control samples not only for Al, but also for some other elements including the REEs, but most differences are minimal, and may not be significant.     

Thermal analysis of kidney stones and their characterization

Thermal decomposition and structural characterization of three human kidney stones (KS1–KS3) extracted from patients of Eastern Bohemia have been carried out using X-ray powder diffraction systems (XRD), scanning electron microscope with energy dispersive X-ray micro analyser (SEM-EDX) and differential thermal analysis (DTA). The samples KS1 and KS2 solely consisted of calcium oxalate monohydrate (a.k.a. whewellite, CaC₂O₄·H₂O). The third sample, KS3, was formed from calcium oxalate dihydrate (weddellite, CaC₂O₄·2H₂O), calcium oxalate monohydrate, and hydroxyapatite (HA, Ca₁₀(PO₄)₆(OH)₂). Thermal measurements were carried out in the range between room temperature and 1,230 °C. XRD analysis was utilized to investigate the change of phases at 800 and 1,230 °C.     

Non-destructive XRF analysis of Nigerian and Kenyan clays

Nigerian and Kenyan clays were analysed using energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) technique and thirteen elements (Ca, Ti, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Br, Rb, Sr, Zr, Nb and Pb) were detected. The health implications, since the substance is mostly consumed by pregnant women in both countries, are also reviewed and discussed.     

Pure graphite as a reference material for the determination of trace elements — an interlaboratory collaborative study

Seven synthetic graphite powders of different grade of purity were analyzed by means of INAA, WDXRF, EDXRF, DC-OES directly and using ICP-MS, ICP-OES, ETAAS and FAAS in combination with various sample preparation techniques. On the basis of a statistical evaluation of the results obtained, for the trace elements Al, Ca, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn and Ni, reference values were established and, for the elements As, Co, Mg, Mo, Pb, Sb, Si, Sr, Ti, V, Zn and Zr, informative values are given. The analyzed reference materials are commercially available.     

Evaluation of concentrations of major and trace elements in human lung using INAA and PIXE

The elemental concentrations of Br, Ca, Ce, Cl, Co, Cr, Cs, F, Fe, Hf, K, Mg, Mn, Na, O, Rb, Sb, Sc, Se, V and Zn in 15 human lung autopsy samples, taken from subjects aged more than fifty years old, were determined by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) using reactor neutrons in conjunction with a high resolution detection system. Two modes of irradiation and counting were applied; namely cyclic neutron activation analysis (CNAA) and conventional neutron activation analysis. Proton induced X-ray emission (PIXE) analysis, using a proton beam emerging from a 2 MV Van de Graff accelerator, was additionally employed and Ge, Ni, P and Ti were also identified in the lung tissue. Detection of the X-ray spectra was performed using a high resolution Si(Li) semiconductor. The relevance of these results, including a comparison between the concentrations of elements measured in a pig's lung using CNAA and those found in the human lung is discussed.     

鲁北地区人体结石的成分及成因分析

采用X射线衍射（XRD）、红外光谱（IR）和扫描电子显微技术（SEM）对鲁北地区22例手术取出的人体结石标本进行了分析。用原子吸收光谱分析（AAS）对鲁北地区饮用水中的微量元素进行了测定。结果表明鲁北地区的人体胆结石主要有胆固醇结石、胆色素结石和泥砂质结石,其中以泥砂质结石较多,未发现混合结石。该地区尿路结石中,上尿路（肾、输尿管）结石以草酸钙、尿酸结石为主,下尿路（膀胱）结石以鸟粪石（六水磷酸镁氨）、羟基磷灰石为主,未发现尿道结石。该地区的人体结石的形成与当地的环境和水质有关。     

石质文物表面生物矿化保护材料的仿生制备

许多濒危石质文物急需进行保护处理. 但是, 调查表明已经使用过的表面防护材料很难令人满意, 探索新的石质文物保护材料已是当务之急. 本工作以石质文物表面天然生成的生物矿化膜为仿生合成目标, 依据生物矿化的原理, 以硫酸软骨素作为有机模板, 草酸钙的亚稳过饱和溶液作为无机前驱物, 室温下在石材表面仿生合成了主要成分为一水草酸钙的无机表面保护材料. 其制备工艺用正交试验进行了优化; 结构和形貌用X射线衍射分析仪和原子力显微镜进行了表征; 通过憎水性、耐污性和耐酸性试验进行了合成膜的保护性能测试, 效果良好. 本方法为开拓新的石质文物保护材料提供了思路.     

草酸钙型尿结石病人结石和尿液微晶的形貌特征分析

泌尿系结石是临床上的常见病和多发病,可生长于肾盂、肾实质、输尿管以及膀胱中,较大的结石常会导致尿道阻塞、感染甚至肾脏坏死等病变,是一种严重危害人体健康的泌尿系统疾病。尿结石是动物体内异常生物矿化的产物,其主要成分有草酸钙、磷酸铵镁、尿酸等,其中以草酸钙最为常见。本研究直接取肾结石病人排出体外的自然结石和尿液中的结石微晶作为研究对象,采用透射电子显微镜、扫描电子显微镜、X-射线衍射分析和傅立叶变换红外光谱等手段对尿结石进行表征分析。研究结果表明,尿液中的纳米微晶的聚集是导致微晶快速增大和结石形成的关键因素,通过调控纳米微晶的物理化学性质有可能抑制肾结石的形成和复发。     

Pure graphite as a reference material for the determination of trace elements — an interlaboratory collaborative study

 Seven synthetic graphite powders of different grade of purity were analyzed by means of INAA, WDXRF, EDXRF, DC-OES directly and using ICP-MS, ICP-OES, ETAAS and FAAS in combination with various sample preparation techniques. On the basis of a statistical evaluation of the results obtained, for the trace elements Al, Ca, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn and Ni, reference values were established and, for the elements As, Co, Mg, Mo, Pb, Sb, Si, Sr, Ti, V, Zn and Zr, informative values are given. The analyzed reference materials are commercially available. Received: 12 February 1996/Revised:27 March 1996/Accepted:2 April 1996     

服用柠檬酸钾前后草酸钙结石患者的尿微晶和尿液性质变化

采用透射电子显微镜(TEM)、扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、X射线衍射(XRD)、傅立叶变换红外光谱(FTIR)和ζ电位分析仪研究了草酸钙(CaOxa)结石患者在服用柠檬酸钾(K3cit)前后尿液中微晶的性质变化,这些性质包括:尿微晶的形貌、尺寸、聚集状态、质量、种类和ζ电位,并研究了服药前后尿液的稳定性差异和pH值变化。服用K3cit前,结石患者的尿微晶棱角尖锐,聚集明显,尺寸从几十纳米到几百微米不等,主要为一水草酸钙(COM)、尿酸等;而服用K3cit一周后,部分尿微晶的形状变得圆钝,聚集现象明显减少,平均粒径减小,部分尿微晶的表面出现凹陷,二水草酸钙(COD)和尿酸盐的百分含量增加,尿微晶的数量和种类减少,尿液pH值上升,ζ电位绝对值增加,自相关时间增加。从患者服用K3cit后引起尿pH值增加、尿液中排泄的柠檬酸和Tamm-Horsfall蛋白浓度增加、柠檬酸与Ca2+离子配位等角度,讨论了K3cit抑制CaOxa结石形成的机制。     

INAA of cortical and trabecular bone samples from animals

Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) was applied to determine Ba, Br, Ca, Cl, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, P, Sr and Zn in bovine and porcine rib bones. Precise results were obtained in analyses of freeze-dried cortical and trabecular bones separately, and also of whole bone ashes. Cortical tissues presented higher concentrations of Ba, Ca, Mg, Mn, Na, P, Sr and Zn than those obtained in trabecular ones. Comparisons were also made between the results obtained for bovine and porcine rib bones. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

EDXRF versus INAA in a pollution control of soil

Summary Elemental concentrations of soil samples collected in the vicinity of a Romanian fertilizer plant were determined by EDXRF and long half-life INAA. Lower limits of detection, obtained for various elements in soil by EDXRF technique with radioactive excitation sources (²³⁸Pu and ²⁴¹Am) and a HPGe detector are presented. Spurious effects characteristic for Ge detector X-ray spectrometry are evaluated and discussed, and methods to overcome this drawback are suggested. Special care was taken to subtract from the spectra the Ge Ka