Rodgers A L, Jappie D
Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa.
Scanning Microsc. 1996;10(2):535-45; discussion 545-6.
In this study, urine from a calcium oxalate kidney stone former was ultrafiltered (10 kD cut-off). Crystallization was induced in the ultrafiltrate and retentate fractions as well as in a sample of the whole urine. The progress of crystallization was monitored by Coulter Counter and flow cytometry techniques. (The latter has not been used in studies of the role of urinary macromolecules in urolithiasis). Deposited crystals were examined by scanning electron microscopy. Results indicated that urinary macromolecules in this subject are inhibitors of nucleation and aggregation. These results agree with the findings of some workers but disagree with those of others. Indeed, studies on the role played by urinary macromolecules in promoting or inhibiting urolithiasis have failed to produce consistent findings. Examination of the literature reveals that a wide variety of experimental techniques and crystallization systems have been used in these studies and that this might be the cause of the inconsistencies. Based on reported experiences and those of the present study, a standard reference crystallization system is proposed. The key elements of this system involve the use of real urine, ultrafiltration, continuous crystallizer equipment, Coulter Counter procedures and scanning electron microscopy.
在本研究中，对一名草酸钙肾结石患者的尿液进行了超滤（截留分子量10 kD）。在超滤液、截留液组分以及全尿样本中诱导结晶。通过库尔特计数器和流式细胞术技术监测结晶过程。（后者尚未用于研究尿大分子在尿路结石形成中的作用）。通过扫描电子显微镜检查沉积的晶体。结果表明，该受试者的尿大分子是成核和聚集的抑制剂。这些结果与一些研究人员的发现一致，但与其他研究人员的发现不一致。实际上，关于尿大分子在促进或抑制尿路结石形成中所起作用的研究未能得出一致的结果。对文献的研究表明，这些研究中使用了各种各样的实验技术和结晶系统，这可能是结果不一致的原因。基于已报道的经验和本研究的经验，提出了一种标准参考结晶系统。该系统的关键要素包括使用实际尿液、超滤、连续结晶器设备、库尔特计数器程序和扫描电子显微镜。
