Roomans G M, Afzelius B A, Kollberg H, Forslind B
Acta Paediatr Scand. 1978 Jan;67(1):89-94. doi: 10.1111/j.1651-2227.1978.tb16282.x.
Patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) have an increased concentration of sodium in their nails. Hitherto, only neutron activation analysis has been considered for the diagnosis of cystic fibrosis by analysis of electrolytes in nails. It has been thoroughly tested methodologically and clinically. However, the intrinsic advantages of X-ray microanalysis and the results obtained in this study suggest that this method, after further testing, may be a useful diagnostic acid for cystic fibrosis. In comparison with neutron activation analysis, X-ray microanalysis has the advantage of simultaneously giving the concentrations of several elements and may be accessible at any hospital with an electron microscope fitted with the necessary equipment. Nails of CF-patients are here shown to have increased concentrations of Na, K and Cl, which will make the diagnosis of cystic fibrosis more reliable. The possibility of using sulphur as a reference element may eliminate the weighing procedure necessary in neutron activation analysis.
囊性纤维化（CF）患者指甲中的钠浓度升高。迄今为止，通过分析指甲中的电解质来诊断囊性纤维化，仅考虑采用中子活化分析。该方法在方法学和临床方面都经过了全面测试。然而，X射线微量分析的固有优势以及本研究中获得的结果表明，该方法经过进一步测试后，可能成为诊断囊性纤维化的一种有用手段。与中子活化分析相比，X射线微量分析的优势在于能同时给出多种元素的浓度，并且任何配备必要设备的电子显微镜的医院都可进行此项分析。研究表明，CF患者的指甲中Na、K和Cl的浓度升高，这将使囊性纤维化的诊断更加可靠。使用硫作为参考元素的可能性，或许可以省去中子活化分析中所需的称重步骤。
