Quantitative phase analysis and microstructural characterization of urinary tract calculi with X-ray diffraction Rietveld analysis on a Caribbean island

In the twin-island state of Trinidad and Tobago, urinary stone analysis is not routinely performed. This study investigates, via powder X-ray diffraction, 52 urinary tract calculi collected from hospitals in Trinidad. Of these, 46 stones were analysed with Rietveld refinement for quantitative analysis and materials characterization. Refined unit-cell, microstructural and weight fraction parameters were obtained, with the last being used for stone classification. The results revealed seven distinct mineralogical phases of varying frequency: calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM, 58%), calcium oxalate dihydrate (COD, 23%), carbonated apatite (APA, 48%), brushite (BRU, 6%), struvite (STR, 42%), uric acid (UA, 23%) and ammonium acid urate (AAU, 19%). The average refined crystallite sizes were 1352 ± 90 Å (COM), 1921 ± 285 Å (COD), 83 ± 5 Å (APA), 1172 ± 9 Å (BRU), 1843 ± 138 Å (STR), 981 ± 87 Å (UA) and 292 ± 83 Å (AAU). Subsequently, 36.5% of stones were categorized as phosphates, 34.6% as oxalates, 13.5% as uric acid/urates and 15.4% as mixed compositions. The study findings highlight the importance of stone analysis as a necessary step towards disease management of local patients, and endorse the application of Rietveld refinement as a natural extension to diffraction-based kidney stone investigations.

STUDY OF MICROSCOPIC FEATURES OF TANACETUM SANTOLINA PLANT

В данной статье представлены результаты микроскопического исследования особенностей анатомического строения (листья, цветки) растения пижмы сантолинной (Tanacetum Santolina). Цель работы: изучение анатомического строения надземных органов, определение подлинности и отличия от других видов. Материалы и методы: объект исследования - цветки пижмы сантолинной, собранные в период цветения в мае 2020 года в предгорных равнинах Каратау. Микроскопическое исследование цветков пижмы сантолинной проводилось в соответствии с требованиями государственной фармакопеи Республики Казахстан. С помощью микроскопа Биолам-5 изучался объект с увеличением от х40 до х400. Исследование срезов и создание микрорисунков проводили с помощью цифрового камерного тринокулярного микроскопа «МТ300L» (Япония) (увеличенный 7х1,5х4,5; 7х1,5х8; 7х1,5х40). Результаты и обсуждения: изучены диагностические признаки для определения цельного сырья: диагностические признаки листьев, форма клеток эпидермиса, тип аппарата устьиц, строение волосков и эфирномасличных желез; формы оксалата кальция. Выводы: проведен микроскопический анализ цветков пижмы сантолинной. Для определения подлинности этого сырья были выявлены анатомодиагностические признаки. Во всех частях растения встречаются одноклеточные волоски и пучковые волокна. На обеих частях листовой пластины хорошо видны волокна и волоски, устьица, пигментные полости. Кристаллы оксалата кальция, находятся в мезофильных полостях листа. В цветках оксалат кальция встречается только в виде четырехугольного кристалла. На анатомическом признаке измельченного сырья видны эфирномасличные железки. Форма эфирно-масличных желез обнаруживает основные диагностические признаки цветков и листьев пижмы сантолинной. Анатомические характеристики позволяют повысить уровень стандартизации, дальнейшее изучение лекарственного растительного сырья This article presents the results of a microscopic study of the anatomical structure (leaves, flowers) of the Santolina’s tansy plant (Tanacetum Santolina). The purpose of the work: to study the anatomical structure of aerial organs, to determine authenticity and differences from other species. Materials and methods: the object of research is the flowers of Santolina’s tansy collected during the flowering period in May 2020 in the foothill plains of Karatau. Microscopic examination of the flowers of Santolina’s tansy was carried out in accordance with the requirements of the State Pharmacopoeia of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Using a Biolam-5 microscope with magnification from x40 to x400 an object was studied. The study of sections and the creation of micro-nozzles was carried out using a digital chamber trinocular microscope "MT300L" (Japan) (enlarged 7x1.5x4.5; 7x1.5x8; 7x1.5x40). Results and discussions: diagnostic signs for the determination of whole raw materials were studied: diagnostic signs of leaves, the shape of epidermis cells, the type of stomatal apparatus, the structure of hairs and essential oil glands; forms of calcium oxalate. Conclusions: microscopic analysis of flowers of Santolina’s tansy was carried out. Anatomical and diagnostic signs were identified to determine the authenticity of this raw material. Unicellular hairs and beam fibers are found in all parts of the plant. Fibers and hairs, stomata, pigment cavities are clearly visible on both parts of the leaf plate. Calcium oxalate crystals are located in the mesophilic cavities of the leaf. In flowers, calcium oxalate occurs only in the form of a quadrangular crystal. On the anatomical feature of the crushed raw materials, essential oil glands are visible. The shape of the essential oil glands reveals the main diagnostic signs of flowers and leaves of santolina tansy. Anatomical characteristics make it possible to increase the level of standardization, further study of medicinal plant raw materials.

Discriminating the formation origin of calcium oxalate monohydrate in kidney stones via synchrotron microdiffraction

Nephrolithiasis is a multifactor disease that produces nephrolites in the kidney. Calcium oxalate hydrates (dihydrated, COD, or monohydrated, COM) stones are the most common ones with more than sixty percent...

Detection and localization of calcium oxalate in kidney using synchrotron deep ultraviolet fluorescence microscopy

Renal oxalosis is a rare cause of renal failure whose diagnosis can be challenging. Synchrotron deep ultraviolet (UV) fluorescence was assayed to improve oxalosis detection on kidney biopsies spatial resolution and sensitivity compared with the Fourier transform infrared microspectroscopy gold standard. The fluorescence spectrum of synthetic mono-, di- and tri-hydrated calcium oxalate was investigated using a microspectrometer coupled to the synchrotron UV beamline DISCO, Synchrotron SOLEIL, France. The obtained spectra were used to detect oxalocalcic crystals in a case control study of 42 human kidney biopsies including 19 renal oxalosis due to primary (PHO, n = 11) and secondary hyperoxaluria (SHO, n = 8), seven samples from PHO patients who received combined kidney and liver transplants, and 16 controls. For all oxalocalcic hydrates samples, a fluorescence signal is detected at 420 nm. These spectra were used to identify standard oxalocalcic crystals in patients with PHO or SHO. They also revealed micrometric crystallites as well as non-aggregated oxalate accumulation in tubular cells. A nine-points histological score was established for the diagnosis of renal oxalosis with 100% specificity (76–100) and a 73% sensitivity (43–90). Oxalate tubular accumulation and higher histological score were correlated to lower estimated glomerular filtration rate and higher urinary oxalate over creatinine ratio.