This study describes a new record of a thelotremoid lichen (Leucodecton desquamescens) from South Korea. The taxon is characterized by thick, bulging thallus with many calcium oxalate crystal inclusions; an immersed, round to irregular ascomata with free exciple, ellipsoid to +/- roundish submuriform, brown ascospores, and lack of secondary metabolites. A detailed taxonomic description and comments are presented for this taxon. The lichen genus Leucodecton is reported for the first time in South Korea.
Calcium Oxalate ; Lichens ; Republic of Korea

Calcium Oxalate ; Humans ; Kidney Calculi ; etiology ; therapy

A study was made on 40 cases of urolithiasis and 40 cases of control group to show the relationship between stone formation and urinary excretion and serum level of calcium and phosphorus. This study was also made to show the relationship between urinary excretion of calcium and phosphorus and the chemical composition of stones. Followings were the results: 1. The urinary excretion of calcium per day is higher in the lithiasis group than in the control group. Control group : 126.3+/-63.5mg/day Lithiasis group : 182.5+/-73.5mg/day 2. The urinary excretion of phosphorus per day is not significantly different between the lithiasis group and the control group. Control group : 588+/-223mg/day Lithiasis group : 548+/-178mg/day 3. The variance of urinary calcium concentration is not significantly different between the lithiasis group and the control group. Control group : 72.3+/-44.9 micro gm/ml Lithiasis group : 84.5+/-45.8 micro gm/ml 4. The incidence of high urine-calcium values (>180mg/day) is greater in the lithiasis group (50%) than in the control group (22.5%). 5. The incidence of high urine-calcium values(>180mg/day) decreases in the following order : mixed calcium oxalate-calcium phosphate stone (63.6%), calcium oxalate stone (33.3%), calcium phosphate stones (33.3%), control group (22.5%), other types of stone (0%). 6. 87.5% of stone patients had normal serum-calcium values (8.6-11.0mg%) and one patient (2.5%) had higher level than the normal. The results suggest that the urinary excretion of calcium per day is an important factor in stone formation and it appears to influence the types of stone formed.
Calcium ; Calcium Oxalate ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lithiasis ; Phosphorus ; Urolithiasis*

PURPOSE: We studied the crystallographic component of the prostatic calculi according to the location on the transrectal prostatic ultrasonography to know the mechanism of the formation of the calculus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From August, 1995 until May, 1997, 33 prostatic calculi from 24 patients(mean age 59 years, mean size 3.1mm) operated on for prostatism were analyzed by polarization microscopy(ZeissR), X-ray diffraction(PW-1720R, Philips) and infrared spectrophotometer(FTIR-205R, Nicolet). Location of calculi was divided two groups under guide of transrectal prostatic ultrasonography; periurethral and periadenoma type. The periurethral type showed hyperechoic density around the prostatic urethra and the periadenoma type showed hyperechoic density between adenoma and false prostatic capsule(peripheral zone). RESULTS: 22 calculi were the periurethral type and 11 were periadenoma type. Thirty stones from 20 periurethral type and 10 periadenoma type consisted two or three of the following calcium phospate, calcium oxalate and tricalcium phospate. These are mixed by the endogenous origin formed from the prostatic fluid and the exogenous origin formed at least in part from urine. Three stones (2 calcium oxalate, 1 uric acid) contained only one compound which participitate from urine. All of 11 calculi of the pericapsular type had an oxalate component. CONCLUSIONS: The calculi around the periadenoma region may be formed from not only endogenous component(calcium apatite stone) but also exogenous component(calcium oxalate) or intraductal precipitation of oxalate component which has never found in the prostatic fluid. These results may suggest the necessity of reevaluation about oxalate component within the prostatic fluid.
Adenoma ; Calcium ; Calcium Oxalate ; Calculi* ; Prostatism ; Ultrasonography* ; Urethra

Urinary citric acid reduces urinary saturation of calcium oxalate and phosphate salts by forming complexes with calcium and retards crystallization of stone forming salts. Hypocitraturia, important factor in stone formation, has been 19-63% of stone patients in various reports. We measured the 24 hour excretion of citric acid. calcium and calcium/citric acid ratio in 100 renal stone patients and 30 healthy controls. The results were as follows: 1. The 24-hour urinary excretion of citric acid was lower in stone patients than in controls, but statistically insignificant (P>0.05). 2. The 24-trour urinary excretion of calcium was higher in stone patients significantly than in Controls (P<0.05). 3. In stone patients, hypocitraturia showed in 19 patients (19%), hypercalciuria in 22 patients (22%). 4. The 24-hour urinary excretion of citric acid had positive correlation with 24-hour urinary excretion of calcium in stone patients (P<0.05) 5. Urinary calcium/citric acid ratio was significantly higher in stone patients than in controls (P<0.05). As results, urinary calcium/citric acid ratio was more significant than the amount of citric acid in stone patients, furthermore it seems to be a useful measure for stone formation and recurrence.
Calcium ; Calcium Oxalate ; Citric Acid* ; Crystallization ; Humans ; Hypercalciuria ; Recurrence ; Salts

A series of 38 pediatric stone patients was studied retrospectively according to the clinical patterns of urolithiasis, etiology of stone disease, and management. The idiopathic cause was the most common of stone formation in the children. The most common type of stone in analysis was calcium oxalate. Thus, the etiology of stone disease and composition of stone was not definitely different in comparison with adult stone disease. We treated almost of stone patients with ESWL and peration was done in case of EWSL failure. And ESWL is the most effective and safe treatment of pediatric urolithiasis at present time. But anesthesia is needed to perform ESWL, especially younger children.
Adult ; Anesthesia ; Calcium Oxalate ; Child ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Urolithiasis*

to elucidate growth rate of urinary calculi, a statistical analysis of 39 urinary calculi were undertaken and analysis with infrared spectroscopy was also performed in possible 31 cases. The men growth rate in length and width were obtained by measuring difference between size on the initial X-ray film and late film. The results were as followings. 1. Renal stones grew more rapidly than ureteral stones (p<0.01). On the growth rate of the ureteral stones, length showed more rapid growth rate than width (p<0.01). 2. Infected stones grew more rapidly than non-infected cases (p<0.01). 3. On the growth rate and compositions of stones, calcium phosphate stones showed most rapid growth rate and then calcium oxalate calcium phosphate stones and calcium oxalate stones were delayed in growth among 3 groups (p<0.05).
Calcium ; Calcium Oxalate ; Humans ; Male ; Spectrum Analysis ; Ureter ; Urinary Calculi* ; X-Ray Film

A study was done on 200 patients with a diagnosis of calcium oxalate stone and 50 cases of control group to evaluate the chemical relationships between stone formation and a 24-hour excretion or calcium. oxalate, uric acid and citrate. This study was also evaluated by comparing urinary concentrations and total daily output of the above metabolites. Among the 200 patients metabolic disorders included hypercalciuria in 34 (17.0%), hyperoxaluria in 8 (4.0%), hyperuricosuria in 43 (21.5%) and hypocitraturia in 128 (64.0%). The total output of calcium, oxalate, uric acid, citrate were significantly different (p<0.01) and also showed significant differences in the those concentrations between these two groups. Therefore, it is confirmed that the concentration of stone metabolite is also a influential factor of the stone formation as like as total daily output.
Calcium Oxalate* ; Calcium* ; Citric Acid ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Hypercalciuria ; Hyperoxaluria ; Uric Acid ; Urolithiasis*

We analyzed the composition of urinary stones using chemical analysis method. From 1985 to 1995, 495 urinary calculi were eligible for stone analysis. Forty six per cent of the stones were composed of single chemical component, and pure calcium oxalate stone was the most common type of the stones consisting 34.9% of all stones, followed by 23.8% of mixture of calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate, and 92.7% of the stones had calcium component. Calcium oxalate crystal was found in 82.6% of the stones, calcium phosphate in 50.5%, ammonium magnesium phosphate in 26.7%, uric acid in 11.3% and cystine in 0.4%. Nation-wide extension of this study using chemical analysis will be mandatory for a proper assessment of the stone composition of Koreans and for planning of the proper management strategies for urinary stones in Korea.
Ammonium Compounds ; Calcium ; Calcium Oxalate ; Cystine ; Korea ; Magnesium ; Uric Acid ; Urinary Calculi*

An in vitro method using agarose gel which is chemically stable and easily soluble for growing various stones is developed. The optimal conditions for formation of stone crystals in agarose gel were defined as 0.75% of gel concentration, 7ml of gel volume and 24mm of diameter of test tube. We studied the formation and inhibition of calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate crystals which comprises most urinary stones. Calcium containing stones formed under different conditions including pH in this media were identified by qualitative and quantitative analysis and light as well as scanning electron microscopic examination. Calcium oxalate monohydrate(whewellite) was formed in all pH condition, calcium hydro genphosphate dehydrate(brushite) in pH 5.5 and octacalcium phosphate in pH 7.5. The results obtained indicate that agarose gel system is a good model for an investigation of stone crystal formation because of its simplicity and reproducibility. The effects of known inhibitor, magnesium, citrate and pyrophosphate to the formation of calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate crystals were explored in this system. The inhibitory activity of pyrophosphate was maximum, then citrate, magnesium in order, in both calcium oxalate monohydrate and octacalcium phosphate crystal formation and the activity was not influenced by a variation in pH. However the activity of these inhibitors was minimal in calcium hydrogenphosphate dehydrate. According to the findings that the appearance of the crystal was similar, but size of it was smaller in the formed crystals which was under influence of the inhibitors, the inhibitory activity appeared to exerted on the process of crystal aggregation.
Calcium Oxalate* ; Calcium* ; Citric Acid ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Magnesium ; Sepharose* ; Urinary Calculi ; Urolithiasis