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Updated: Aug 16, 2026

Estimation of Urinary Nanocrystals in Humans using Calcium Fluorophore Labeling and Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis
Published on: February 9, 2021
Analysis of urinary calculi obtained from a patient with idiopathic hypouricemia using micro area x-ray
Kiyoko Kaneko1, Tomoyo Yamanobe, Maki Onoda
1Department of Analytical Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Teikyo University, Suwarashi 1091-1, Sagamiko-cho, Tsukui-gun, Kanagawa, 199-0195, Tokyo, Japan. kikaneko@pharm.teikyo-u.ac.jp
Abstract:
Urolithiasis is a common complication in patients with hypouricemia. Using a microarea x-ray diffractometer and nanoflow liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) following SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE), recurrent urinary calculi complicating a hypouricemic patient were analyzed. Analysis with the microarea x-ray diffractometer showed that one of the calculi was composed of calcium oxalate monohydrate and hydroxyapatite. The other was found to be formed from calcium oxalate dihydrate. After determination with LC-MS, both were found to contain uromodulin, albumin, osteopontin, protein Z, and defensins. Lysozyme and calgranulin A were also identified in these calculi. Defensins, which were antimicrobial peptides, and lysozyme, a mucopeptide glycohydrolase, were identified as new organic components of urinary stones. The role of these proteins in the process of urolithiasis is of particular interest.
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