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

OBJECTIVEThe microscopic structure and histochemical localization of the Polygonatum sibiricum, P. cytonema, P. filipes, P. zanlanscianense and P. odoratum was studied.

METHODScanning electron microscope (SEM) and digital biological microscope (DBM) were applied in the research.

RESULTVenation bundle showed in three types included collateral, amphivasal and incomplete amphivasal bundles. Morphological differences of venation bundles could be seen under the fluorescence microscope. Calcium oxalate existed in the mucilage cells looked similar to columnar crystals under SEM. In rhizome of Polygonatum, polysaccharides presented in mucilage cells, saponins and volatile oil were found in ground tissue.

CONCLUSIONMicrostructure difference of rhizomes would be used for identification of the Polygonatum plants. Polysaccharides and saponins are distributed in different cells of Polygonatum plants.

Calcium Oxalate ; analysis ; Histocytochemistry ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Oils, Volatile ; analysis ; Polygonatum ; chemistry ; ultrastructure ; Polysaccharides ; analysis ; Rhizome ; chemistry ; ultrastructure ; Saponins ; analysis

The exact composition of urinary stone is clinically important. Reliable analytical information is fundamental for a study of the etiology of calculus formation and absolutely necessary for planning medical regimens. Infrared absorption utilizing potassium bromide pressed-disk preparations is a newer approach to the analysis of inorganic and organic calculi The speed and accuracy combined with the convenience of infrared spectrometer strongly recommend their application in the clinical laboratory. We have analyzed 121 urinary calculi of Korean people by infrared spectrometer. The following results were obtained: 1. Mixed calculus (66.9%) is much more than single calculus(33.1%), The most common type of calculi is calcium oxalate-dibasic calcium phosphate (37.2%). The most common type of components is calcium oxalate (53.2%) 2. Component of the most common calculus is calcium oxalate-dibasic calcium phosphate in the kidney (44.4%), ureter (37.3%) and bladder(33.3%). 3. Of 6 staghorn calculi, there are 2 calcium oxalate calculi, 2 calcium oxalate-dibasic calcium phosphate, 1 magnesium ammonium phosphate and I magnesium phosphate-calcium carbonate. 4. Only 3 cases of 10 laminated calculi contained the different component in nucleus and outermost layer. 5. Above the age of 20, calcium oxalate-dibasic calcium phosphate calculi is most common, and under the age of 20` all are the calcium oxalate calculi. 6. Calcium oxalate calculus is the most common over a pH range from 5.5 to 5.9 and calculus having other components is most common over a pH range from 6.5 to 6.9. 7. Percentage of urinary infection is 36.4% in the calcium oxalate and more than 80% in the calculi having other components.
Absorption ; Ammonium Compounds ; Calcium ; Calcium Oxalate ; Calculi ; Carbon ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Kidney ; Magnesium ; Potassium ; Spectrum Analysis* ; Ureter ; Urinary Calculi* ; Urolithiasis

The exact analysis of urinary calculi is very important to study of the etiology of calculus formation, prevention of recurrence and medical treatment. Compared with all the other method, the infrared spectroscopic analysis furnished a permanent record in a very short time. And it is ideal method for qualitative identification and semiquantitative estimation of small fractions of calculi by simple procedure rapidly. A retrospective review of stone analysis by infrared spectroscopy, with KBr tablet method was performed in 105 cases of 219 urinary stone patients, who had been admitted to the Fatima Hospital from May, 1980 to December, 1983. And the following results were obtained 1. Mixed calculus is more than single calculus(1 : 1.56) . The most common type of calculi is calcium oxalatetribasic calcium phosphate (47.6%) . And the most common type of single calculi is calcium oxalate (29.5%) . 2. The most common type of component is calcium oxalate (55.6%) 3. Calcium oxalate-tribasic calcium phosphate is the most common type in the renal (46.2%) and the ureteral stones (53%) . But in the bladder stones, magnesium ammonium phosphate is the most ( 33.3%). 4. Among the 10 laminated stones, 4 cases contain the different components in nucleus and outermost layer 5. Pyuria is observed in 48.6% of all urinary stone patients, in 32.3% of calcium oxalate stone and in more than 80% of magnesium ammonium phosphate stone. 6. Calcium oxalate stone is most common in the age of 20, calcium oxalate-tribasic calcium phosphate stone are in the age of 20 & 30, and magnesium ammonium phosphate stone is above the age of 40.
Ammonium Compounds ; Calcium ; Calcium Oxalate ; Calculi ; Humans ; Magnesium ; Pyuria ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Spectrum Analysis* ; Ureter ; Urinary Bladder Calculi ; Urinary Calculi*

One hundred thirty-seven urinary calculi were analyzed by means of X-ray, diffraction, ultraviolet spectroscopy and chemical method. 1. The most frequently found constituent in these 137 calculi was calcium oxalate that was found in 101 calculi (76.0% of the series). Of these 104 calculi pure calcium oxalate was identified in 41, of which 14 (10.2%) were composed of pure monohydrate and 27(19.7%) were mixtures of monohydrate and dihydrate. The dihydrates were only found to be mixed with monohydrates and the two hydrates could be identified only by X-ray diffraction but not by chemical method. 2. Identification of phosphate by X-ray diffraction was difficult because of its low peak intensity, while chemical method was proved to be more sensitive and accurate for phosphate. Calcium phosphate was found not in the pure state but in the: mixed form with calcium oxalate in 39 calculi (28.5%). 3. Pure uric acid constituent was very rare, being oily found in 2 calculi (1.5%). But there were 41 calculi (29.9%) mixed with a minute amount of uric acid, of which 28 (68.3%) were associated with calcium oxalate monohydrate. Only one calculus of uric acid, which did not appear to be crystallized, was detected by ultraviolet spectroscopy. 4. There were 23 calculi (16.8%) of magnesium ammonium phosphate, of which 13 (56.5%) were mixed with calcium phosphate and only 3 (13. 0%) were found to be in the pure state. 5. Xanthine was found as a minor constituent in t calculi, all coexistent with uric acid. There was no calculus of cystine detected. 6. X-ray diffraction method bad the advantages of providing a permanent record and a semiquantitative result and of identifying minute components. However it was unsatisfactory for detecting phosphate constituent.
Ammonium Compounds ; Calcium ; Calcium Oxalate ; Calculi ; Cystine ; Magnesium ; Spectrum Analysis ; Uric Acid ; Urinary Calculi* ; Urolithiasis ; X-Ray Diffraction ; Xanthine

Accurate analysis of urinary calculi is fundamental for study of the etiology of stone formation and essential for treatment of urinary stone and its prevention. Among various methods for stone analysis, infrared spectroscopy analysis may be an ideal method to determine the accurate composition of urinary calculi by simple procedure in a short time. We have analyzed 100 urinary calculi by infrared spectroscopy with KBr tablet method. Stones were obtained from the patients visited our hospital during the period from January, 1980 to December, 1981. The following results were obtained: 1. Mixed stone (68%) is more common than pure stone (32%) . The most common type of calculus is calcium oxalate-tribasic calcium phosphate (57%) . The common type of component is calcium oxalate (47.3%) . 2. Calcium oxalate and tribasic calcium phosphate are contained most frequently in renal, ureteral and bladder stones. 3. Uric acid and cystine stones are found in acid urine, and most of magnesium ammonium phosphate and tribasic phosphate stones were found in alkaline urine. Calcium oxalate stones are found in urine with wider range of pH. 4. 30 of 100 patients have bacteriuria on culture. 10 of 13 patients with struvite stones showed bacteriuria and most of them are urea-splitting organisms.5. 5 cases of 16 laminated calculi contain the different components in nucleus and outer layer.
Ammonium Compounds ; Bacteriuria ; Calcium ; Calcium Oxalate ; Calculi ; Cystine ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Magnesium ; Spectrum Analysis* ; Ureter ; Uric Acid ; Urinary Bladder Calculi ; Urinary Calculi*

BACKGROUNDS: Stone analysis is essential to determine the possible cause of stone formation and treatment of urolithiasis. Physical analysis using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FT-IR), compared to chemical analysis, requires minimal sample volume, shows uniform sensitivity and specificity to all components and provides quantitiative results with greater reproducibility. We compared urinary stone analysis using FT-IR and chemical ananlysis. METHODS: From January 1996 to May 1999, 515 urinary stones were analyzed. For physical anlaysis, we used FT-IR system 2000(Perkin-Elmer Co., U.S.A.) and SpectrumTM software(Perkin-Elmer Co., U.S.A.). Chemical analyses for calcium, phosphate, uric acid, carbonate, magnesium, ammonia, oxalate and cystine were performed. Stone analyses with FT-IR were compared to those with chemical analysis. Clinical findings and the other laboratory findings including routine urinalysis, serum tests, and 24 hour urine test were also investigated. RESULTS: We analyzed 515 urinary stones from 501 patients. Sex ratio was 2.8: 1 and mean age was 48 years. Physical analyses were performed in 515(100%) stones and 81.2% of them showed mixed composition. And 79.4% included calcium oxalate monohydrate or dihydrate. Calcium oxalate monohydrate(63.3%), uric acid(11.3%), calcium oxalate dihydrate(9.9%), and carbonate apatite(8.3%) were commonly found as a major component. Chemical analyses could be done in only 454 cases(88.2%) due to insufficient sample and the most common positive findings were calcium(50.0%), phosphate(33.0%), and uric acid(18.5%). Seventy-one cases(15.6%) with negative chemical reactions to all components were mixed stones except 9 cases. When the stone components were analyzed by FT-IR and chemical method, we found full agreements in only 2.3%, partial agreements in 56.3%, poor agreements in 11.5% and no agreements in 4.3% of total cases. Hypercalciuria and natriuresis were found in 36.1% and 23.0%, respectively. The pH of urine shows significant differences in uric acid and struvite stones compared to the pH of the others(P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We found difficulties in detecting minor or mixed components of urinary stone and in analyzing small sized stone by chemical methods. Physical analysis using FT-IR can provide more accurate determinations of composition of urinary stones and can be significantly useful in diagnosis, treatment and prevention of urolithiasis.
Ammonia ; Calcium ; Calcium Oxalate ; Carbon ; Cystine ; Diagnosis ; Fourier Analysis ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Hypercalciuria ; Magnesium ; Natriuresis ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Sex Ratio ; Uric Acid ; Urinalysis ; Urinary Calculi* ; Urolithiasis

OBJECTIVETo seek the methods in the prevention and cure of urinary stones in the Zhujiang valley in Guangdong province.

METHODSTwenty random urinary stones were quantitatively and morphologically analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD).

RESULTSCalcium oxalate (about 70%) was the main composition of urinary stones in the Zhujiang valley in Guangdong province; while 30% of which was uric acid stones. Most calcium oxalate stones contain phosphate; however, its content usually was less than 10%.

CONCLUSIONSCalcium oxalate, uric acid and phosphate are the main compositions of urinary stones in the Zhujiang valley in Guangdong province. The compositions and phases of urinary stones can be obtained accurately by the combination of XPS and XRD.

Adult ; Aged ; Calcium Oxalate ; analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Powder Diffraction ; Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission ; methods ; Uric Acid ; analysis ; Urinary Calculi ; chemistry ; X-Ray Diffraction ; methods

Plants in Acaceae family are often considered as ornamental and medicines. However many of them have irritation properties. As medicinal plants some of them are recorded in Chinese Pharmacopoeia and they are figured as poisonous. Through investigating the domestic and overseas studied paper, the needle-like calcium oxalate crystal exits in the plants of Acaceae family could be thought as irritation components of them. This conclusion is same with the studied conclusion of our study group in the medicines plant of Pinellia ternate belonging to the Acaceae family and our studies showed that the needle-like calcium oxalate crystal was the main irritation component of raw P. ternate. The irritated mechanism of raphides is relevant to its special shape, the protein enzyme adhering to it and idioblasts in plants.
Araceae ; chemistry ; Calcium Oxalate ; analysis ; poisoning ; Conjunctival Diseases ; chemically induced ; Crystallization ; Dermatitis, Contact ; etiology ; Humans ; Mucous Membrane ; drug effects ; Pinellia ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry

PURPOSE: Recently, the whole DNA sequence of Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis) was identified, revealing the existence of the YvrK gene encoding a 43 kD oxalate decarboxylase (OXDC), which degrades oxalate by a simple pathway. The objective of this study was to develop recombinant Escherichia coli (E. coli) expressing the Yvrk gene from B. subtilis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After the extraction of total DNA from B. subtilis, the YvrK gene was cloned by polymerase chain reaction. The cloned DNA encoding OXDC was inserted into the pBAD/gIII-A vector, downstream of the L-arabinose promotor. The plasmid vector was transformed into TOP 10 E. coli, and the transformants were selected with ampicillin. The recombinant E. coli, named pBy, was then analyzed by DNA sequencing and Western blot. To evaluate the oxalate-degrading function of pBy, pBy was cultured in LB broth containing oxalate, and then the amount of oxalate in the medium was assessed. The oxalate-degrading activity of homogenates of pBy was evaluated. RESULTS: DNA sequencing showed the successful transformation of the YvrK gene into TOP 10 E. coli. Western blot analyses showed that pBy expressed OXDC. pBy removed oxalate during the overnight culture in oxalate-containing LB broth, and the homogenate of pBy degraded 90% of oxalate under acidic conditions. CONCLUSIONS: A recombinant E. coli expressing the YvrK gene was successfully produced. The bacteria showed potent oxalate-degrading activity. The results of this study will provide a solution to the treatment of calcium oxalate stones and hyperoxaluria, for which there are few medical treatment modalities.
Ampicillin ; Arabinose ; Bacillus subtilis ; Bacteria ; Base Sequence ; Blotting, Western ; Calcium Oxalate ; Carboxy-Lyases ; Clone Cells ; DNA ; Escherichia coli ; Hyperoxaluria ; Oxalates ; Plasmids ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis, DNA