Aims: This project was aimed to study the microbial diversity of the limestone soil and its correlation with the environment. Methodology and results: The study was carried out using samples obtained from Gunung Lang, Ipoh, Perak in August 2013. X-ray diffraction analysis of the rock structure confirmed that the samples were of limestone origin. Besides that, soil analysis revealed that this area was fertile and rich in nutrients. It therefore served as a suitable habitat for microorganismal diversity to flourish. This was proven by the 16S rDNA metagenomic analysis which targeted on 16S rDNA variable region V3-V5 using Illumina MiSeq sequencer. Using this approach, a variety of microorganisms was identified and many yet to be characterized microorganisms were detected from this area. Conclusion, significance and impact of study: This is the first study in Malaysia that aimed to study the microbial diversity of limestone soils through metagenomic approach. The study showed that limestone is rich in microbial diversity and it is a place worth looking for novel microbes and genes of interest in biotechnology.
Calcium Carbonate

Osteopetrosis is a rare familial disease, characterized roentgenographically by a marked increase in the radiodensity of bone and by abnormality in the shape of the long bone, especially the metaphysis. It was discovered fist by Albers-Schonberg in 1904 during an X-ray examination of a patient and is known as Albers-Schonberg disease, marble bone or osteosclerosis fragilis generalisata. We experienced a case of osteopetrosis in adult.
Adult ; Calcium Carbonate ; Humans ; Osteopetrosis

No abstract available.
Calcium Carbonate* ; Calcium* ; Humans ; Renal Dialysis*

PURPOSE: The signal of intracranial calcification on magnetic resonance (MR) imaging has been known to bevariable. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the MR signal of calcifications according to calciumconcentration and compound. MATERIALS AND METHODS: T1-weighted, proton density and T2-weighted images were obtained in phantoms with various conposition of calcium carbonate and calcium phosphate. The signal intensities and T1/T2 relaxation times were measured and analyzed according to calcium concentration and compound. The configurations of calcium particles were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy. RESULTS: The signal intensity of calcium carbonate on T1-weighted images gradually decreased as the concentration increased, while that ofcalcium phosphate showed a biphasic curve with a peak intensity at 0.2 g/ml. The signal intensity of both calcium compounds on T2-weighted images decreased as the concentration increased. The T1 relaxation time of calcium carbonate remained constant with increasing calcium concentration, however, that of calcium phosphate decreased upto 0.2g/ml and then remained constant. The T2 relaxation time of both calcium compounds decreased in a similar fashion with increasing concentration. Calcium phosphate showed larger surface area on scanning electron microscope. CONCLUSION: Calcifications show variable MR signal due to difference of T1 and T2 relaxation times according to calcium concentration and compound. Large surface area of calcium particle might cause shortening of T1 relaxation time leading to high signal on T1-weighted image. Understanding of these findings will help interpretation of MR images more precisely.
Calcium Carbonate ; Calcium Compounds ; Calcium* ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Protons ; Relaxation

Microbial induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP) refers to the natural biological process of calcium carbonate precipitation induced by microbial metabolism in its surrounding environment. Based on the principles of MICP, microbial cement has been developed and has received widespread attention in the field of biology, civil engineering, and environment owing to the merits of environmental friendliness and economic competence. Urease and carbonic anhydrase are the key enzymes closely related to microbial cement. This review summarizes the genes, protein structures, regulatory mechanisms, engineering strains and mutual synergistic relationship of these two enzymes. The application of bioinformatics and synthetic biology is expected to develop biocement with a wide range of environmental adaptability and high performance, and will bring the MICP research to a new height.
Calcium Carbonate/metabolism* ; Chemical Precipitation ; Urease/metabolism*

Plasma ionized calcium (Ca2+) concentrations are tightly regulated in the body and maintained within a narrow range; thus it is challenging to quantify calcium absorption under normal physiologic conditions. This study aimed to develop a mechanistic model for the parathyroid hormone (PTH) response after calcium intake and indirectly compare the difference in oral calcium absorption from PTH responses. PTH and Ca2+ concentrations were collected from 24 subjects from a clinical trial performed to evaluate the safety and calcium absorption of Geumjin Thermal Water in comparison with calcium carbonate tablets in healthy subjects. Indirect response models (NONMEM Ver. 7.2.0) were fitted to observed Ca2+ and PTH data, respectively, in a manner that absorbed but unobserved Ca2+ inhibits the secretion of PTH. Without notable changes in Ca2+ levels, PTH responses were modeled and used as a marker for the extent of calcium absorption.
Absorption ; Calcium Carbonate ; Calcium* ; Parathyroid Hormone* ; Plasma ; Tablets ; Water

Development of efficient substrate formulas to improve yield and shorten production time is one of the prerequisites for commercial cultivation of edible mushrooms. In this study, fifteen substrate formulas consisting of varying ratios of palm press fibre (PPF), mahogany sawdust (MS), Gmelina sawdust, wheat bran (WB), and fixed proportions of 1% calcium carbonate (CaCO3) and 1% sucrose were assessed for efficient Lentinus squarrosulus production. Proximate compositions of mushrooms produced on the different substrate formulas were also analysed and compared. Substrate formulations containing 85% PPF, 13% WB, 1% CaCO3, and 1% sucrose were found to produce the highest carpophore yield, biological efficiency and size (206.5 g/kg, 61.96%, and 7.26 g, respectively). Days to production (first harvest) tended to increase with an increase in the amount of WB in the substrate formulas, except for PPF based formulas. The addition of WB in amounts equivalent to 8~18% in substrate formulas containing 80~90% PPF resulted in a decrease in the time to first harvest by an average of 17.7 days compared to 80~90% MS with similar treatment. Nutritional content of mushrooms was affected by the different substrate formulas. Protein content was high for mushrooms produced on formulas containing PPF as the basal substrate. Thus, formulas comprising PPF, WB, CaCO3, and sucrose at 85% : 13% : 1% : 1%) respectively could be explored as starter basal ingredients for efficient large scale production of L. squarrosulus.
Agaricales ; Calcium Carbonate ; Dietary Fiber ; Lentinula* ; Singing* ; Sucrose

Concrete is the most widely used modern building material. It is easy to crack under the action of stress, which makes the concrete structure permeable, affecting the durability and integrity of the structure, and thus shortening its service life. Microbial in-situ remediation technology is a low cost, effective and green way for concrete crack repairing. Due to its excellent biocompatibility, service life elongation, economic losses and environmental pollution reduction, microbial in-situ remediation technology has been intensively investigated. Bacillus has attracted much attention because of its excellent biomineralization ability, extremely strong environmental tolerance and long-term survival ability of its spores. In order to promote the research, development and large-scale application of microbial in-situ healing of concrete, the paper reviews the mechanism of spore-based in-situ healing of concrete, the survival of spores exposed in concrete, the influence of spores and external additives on the mechanical properties of concrete, progress in research and development of healing agent as well as healing effects. Moreover, future research focuses such as improving the survival ability of spores in the harsh environment of concrete, reducing the influence of external additives on the mechanical properties of concrete, and strengthening the healing effect of actual field applications are also summarized.
Bacillus ; Calcium Carbonate ; Construction Materials ; Spores, Bacterial ; Technology

PURPOSE: If bone grafts and guided tissue regeneration are effective individually in treating osseous defects, then the question is, what would happen when they are combined. Bone grafts using Calcium Carbonate(Biocoral) and Guided Tissue Regeneration using Calcium Sulfate(CALMATRIX) will maximize their advantages and show the best clinical results in intrabony defects. This study was to compare the effects of a combination of CS and CC with control treated only with modified widman flap in a periodontal repair of intrabony defects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 30 patients with chronic periodontitis were used in this study. 10 patients were treated with a combination of CS and CC as the experimental groupII and another 10 patients were treated with CC as the experimental groupI, and the remaining 10 patients, the control group were treated only with modified widman flap. Clinical parameters including probing depth, gingival recession, bone probing depth and loss of attachment were recorded 6 months later. RESULTS: The probing depth changes were 3.30+/-1.34 mm in the control group, 4.2+/-1.55 mm in the experimental groupI(CC) and 5.00+/-1.33 mm in the experimental groupII(CS+CC). They all showed a significant decrease 6 months after surgery(p <0.01). There was a significant difference(p <0.05) between the control and experimental group. However there were no significant difference(p <0.05) between the experimental groupIand II. The gingival recession changes w -1.30+/-1.25 mm in the control group, This is a significant difference(p <0.01). However, there was a -0.50+/-0.53 mm change in the experimental groupI(CC) and -0.60+/-0.97 mm in the experimental groupII(CS+CC). In addition, in terms of gingival recession, there was a no significance difference(p <0.05) among the groups. The clinical attachment level changes were 2.00+/-1.33 mm in the control group, 3.60+/-1.58 mm in the experimental groupI(CC) and 4.40+/-1.17 mm in the experimental groupII(CS+CC). They all showed a significant decrease 6 months after surgery(p <0.01). There was a significant difference(p <0.05) between the control and experimental group. However there was a no significance difference(p <0.05) between the experimental groupI andII. The bone probing depth changes were 0.60+/-0.52 mm in the control group, 3.20+/-1.48 mm in the experimental groupI (CC) and 4.60+/-1.43 mm in the experimental groupII(CS+CC). All of them showed a significant decrease 6 months after surgery(p <0.01), there was a significance difference(p <0.05) among the groups. CONCLUSION: Treatment using a combination of CS and CC have a potential to improve periodontal parameters in intrabony defects and More efficient clinical results can be expected in intrabony defects less than 2 walls grafted with CS and CC.
Calcium ; Calcium Carbonate ; Calcium Sulfate ; Chronic Periodontitis ; Gingival Recession ; Guided Tissue Regeneration ; Humans ; Transplants

PURPOSE: This study investigated the osteoconductivity of natural calcium carbonate-derived bone substitutes, hen eggshell (ES), and compared with those of commercial bone substitutes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Osseous defects created in the rat calvaria were filled with particulated ES(ES-1), ES with calcium-deficient hydroxyapatite surface layer (ES-2), Biocoral(Inoteb, France), and Bio-Oss(Geistlich Pharma, Wolhusen, Switzerland). After 4 and 8 weeks of healing, histomorphometic analysis was performed to evaluate the amount of newly formed mineralized bone area (NB%). RESULTS: Histologic and histomorphometric analysis showed new bone formation and direct bony contact with the grafted materials in all groups. At 4 weeks, Biocoral group showed greater NB% compared to Bio-Oss and ES-1 groups (P<0.05). At 8 weeks, Biocoral and ES-2 groups showed significantly greater NB% compared to Bio-Oss group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: These results indicate that natural calcium carbonate-derived bone substitutes with microporous calciumdeficient hydroxyapatite surface layer may be an effective materials treating osseous defects.
Animals ; Bone Substitutes ; Calcium ; Calcium Carbonate ; Durapatite ; Minerals ; Osteogenesis ; Rats ; Skull ; Transplants