Intracrystalline urinary proteins facilitate degradation and dissolution of calcium oxalate crystals in cultured renal cells

2008 ◽  
Vol 294 (2) ◽  
pp. F355-F361 ◽  
Author(s):  
Phulwinder K. Grover ◽  
Lauren A. Thurgood ◽  
David E. Fleming ◽  
Wilhelm van Bronswijk ◽  
Tingting Wang ◽  
...  

We have previously proposed that intracrystalline proteins would increase intracellular proteolytic disruption and dissolution of calcium oxalate (CaOx) crystals. Chauvet MC, Ryall RL. J Struct Biol 151: 12–17, 2005; Fleming DE, van Riessen A, Chauvet MC, Grover PK, Hunter B, van Bronswijk W, Ryall RL. J Bone Miner Res 18: 1282–1291, 2003; Ryall RL, Fleming DE, Doyle IR, Evans NA, Dean CJ, Marshall VR. J Struct Biol 134: 5–14, 2001. The aim of this investigation was to determine the effect of increasing concentrations of intracrystalline protein on the rate of CaOx crystal dissolution in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCKII) cells. Crystal matrix extract (CME) was isolated from urinary CaOx monohydrate (COM) crystals. Cold and [14C]oxalate-labeled COM crystals were precipitated from ultrafiltered urine containing 0–5 mg/l CME. Crystal surface area was estimated from scanning electron micrographs, and synchrotron X-ray diffraction was used to determine nonuniform strain and crystallite size. Radiolabeled crystals were added to MDCKII cells and crystal dissolution, expressed as radioactive label released into the medium, was measured. Increasing CME content did not significantly alter crystal surface area. However, nonuniform strain increased and crystallite size decreased in a dose-response manner, both reaching saturation at a CME concentration of 3 mg/ and demonstrating unequivocally the inclusion of increasing quantities of proteins in the crystals. This was confirmed by Western blotting. Crystal dissolution also followed saturation kinetics, increasing proportionally with final CME concentration and reaching a plateau at a concentration of ∼2 mg/l. These findings were complemented by field emission scanning electron microscopy, which showed that crystal degradation also increased relative to CME concentration. Intracrystalline proteins enhance degradation and dissolution of CaOx crystals and thus may constitute a natural defense against urolithiasis. The findings have significant ramifications in biomineral metabolism and pathogenesis of renal stones.

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hassan Ilyas ◽  
Ishtiaq A. Qazi ◽  
Wasim Asgar ◽  
M. Ali Awan ◽  
Zahir-ud-din Khan

Pure and Ag-TiO2nanoparticles were synthesized, with the metallic doping being done using the Liquid Impregnation (LI) method. The resulting nanoparticles were characterized by analytical methods such as scanning electron micrographs (SEMs), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). XRD analysis indicated that the crystallite size ofTiO2was 27 nm to 42 nm while the crystallite size of Ag-TiO2was 11.27 nm to 42.52 nm. The photocatalytic activity of pureTiO2and silver dopedTiO2was tested by photocatalytic degradation ofp-nitrophenol as a model compound. Ag-TiO2nanoparticles exhibited better results (98% degradation) as compared to pureTiO2nanoparticles (83% degradation) in 1 hour for the degradation ofp-nitrophenol. Ag-TiO2was further used for the photocatalytic degradation of 2,4-dichlorphenol (99% degradation), 2,5-dichlorophenol (98% degradation), and 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (96% degradation) in 1 hour. The degree of mineralization was tested by TOC experiment indicating that 2,4-DCP was completely mineralized, while 2,5-DCP was mineralized upto 95 percent and 2,4,6-TCP upto 86 percent within a period of 2 hours.


1977 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
pp. 143-148 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. L. Meyer ◽  
J. H. Bergert ◽  
L. H. Smith

1. Whewellite (calcium oxalate monohydrate) crystals were found to induce epitaxially the heterogeneous nucleation of brushite (calcium monohydrogen phosphate dihydrate) from its metastable supersaturated solution in approximately one-quarter of the time required for spontaneous precipitation in the absence of added nucleating agents. Scanning electron-microscope observation of the crystalline phase showed brushite crystals originating from the whewellite seed crystals. 2. Crystal growth, upon nucleation, proceeded rapidly, and the metastable solutions quickly approached saturation. 3. Brushite crystals also induced the precipitation of calcium oxalate crystals in about one-quarter of the time required for spontaneous precipitation; however, the rate of crystal growth was considerably slower. In support of the chemical data, scanning electron micrographs showed few crystals of calcium oxalate nucleated on the surface of the brushite seed. 4. The results provide some insight into the cause of stones containing calcium oxalate or calcium phosphate (or both), which form in the normally acid environment of human urine.


2017 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
ANA-MARIA GEORGESCU ◽  
GHEORGHE BRABIE ◽  
ILEANA DENISA NISTOR ◽  
CLAUDE PENOT ◽  
FRANÇOISE NARDOU

<p>Romanian calcium bentonite was modified by copper(II) ion-exchange, by varying the copper precursors (chloride, sulphate) and synthesis parameters (pH, temperature, time). The quantification of the Cu(II) ions was carried out by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The modified bentonites were characterized by textural analysis (specific surface area by the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller method (BET) and by nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherm), structural composition (X-ray diffraction (XRD)) and morphological analysis (scanning electron microscopy (SEM)). Analysis of the nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherm shows that ion exchanged bentonites, not only contain mesopores, but micropores in larger quantities too. The values of the specific surface area increased by about 20 m<sup>2</sup>/g compared with raw bentonite, but the interlamellar distance values do not vary substantially. Scanning electron micrographs were acquired to demonstrate changes in the texture of the clay before and after ion exchange.</p>


Author(s):  
Vicki L. Baliga ◽  
Mary Ellen Counts

Calcium is an important element in the growth and development of plants and one form of calcium is calcium oxalate. Calcium oxalate has been found in leaf seed, stem material plant tissue culture, fungi and lichen using one or more of the following methods—polarized light microscopy (PLM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and x-ray diffraction.Two methods are presented here for qualitatively estimating calcium oxalate in dried or fixed tobacco (Nicotiana) leaf from different stalk positions using PLM. SEM, coupled with energy dispersive x-ray spectrometry (EDS), and powder x-ray diffraction were used to verify that the crystals observed in the dried leaf with PLM were calcium oxalate.


Zootaxa ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 558 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
ROBERT MESIBOV

Bromodesmus catrionae n. gen., n. sp. (type species), B. militaris n. sp., B. riparius n. sp. and B. rufus n. sp. are described. The new genus is characterized by greatly reduced paranota and a gonopod telopodite expanded at the distal end into a posteriorly concave hood fringed with teeth; the hood partly protects a long, curved, acutely pointed solenomerite. Male leg setation in the type species of six Tasmanian dalodesmid genera is briefly discussed and illustrated with scanning electron micrographs. The sphaerotrichome shaft is sharply pointed in Atrophotergum; gently tapered in Dasystigma, Lissodesmus and Tasmanodesmus; expanded at the tip in Bromodesmus; and entirely absent in Gasterogramma. Tips of the setae forming the dense ventral brush on male podomeres are gently tapered in Dasystigma and Lissodesmus, truncated in Gasterogramma, expanded in Bromodesmus and forked in Tasmanodesmus.


Parasitology ◽  
1971 ◽  
Vol 62 (3) ◽  
pp. 479-488 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gwendolen Rees

Scanning electron-micrographs have shown the covering of microvilli on the surface of the redia of Parorchis acanthus. In the contracted state the elongated microvilli with bulbous extremities seen in the surface grooves may be the result of compression. The surface of the epidermis of the cercaria is smooth on a large area of the ventral surface and lattice-like with microvilli, laterally, anteriorly, dorsally and on the tail. The spines on the body can be withdrawn into sheaths by the contraction of muscle fibres inserted into the basement lamina below each spine.I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Dr I. ap Gwynn of this department for preparing the scanning electron-micrographs and the School of Engineering Science, University of North Wales, Bangor for the use of their stereoscan. I should also like to thank Mr M. C. Bibby for technical assistance and Professor E. G. Gray and Dr W. Sinclair for assistance with the transmission electron-micrographs.


2005 ◽  
Vol 137 (5) ◽  
pp. 516-531 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nickolas G. Kavallieratos ◽  
Željko Tomanović ◽  
Christos G. Athanassiou ◽  
Petr Starý ◽  
Vladimir Žikić ◽  
...  

AbstractWe present new information on the parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae) of aphids infesting cotton, tobacco, citrus, and cereal agroecosystems in southeastern Europe. Nineteen species are keyed and illustrated with scanning electron micrographs and line drawings. The aphidiines presented in this work have been identified from 18 aphid taxa. Furthermore, 96 original parasitoid–aphid–plant associations are presented. Cotton, tobacco, and citrus agroecosystems are connected through aphids and their parasitoids, whereas cereal agroecosystems represent a separate group of associations.


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