[Typical annual course of urolithiasis in relation to the chemical structure of the concrements (author's transl)]

Urolithiasis is seen in our region throughout the year as a periodic appearing disease with peaks not only in summer, but also--somewhat lower--in January, April and October. This appearance is especially caused by the calcium oxalate stones. Uric acid calculi show a rise between May and October. The magnesium ammonium phosphate stones appear almost completely irregular.

Pattern of urolithiasis in Brooklyn, New York

Crystallographic analysis of 261 upper urinary tract calculi from patients in Brooklyn is presented. Calcium oxalate, uric acid, and struvite stones predominate. We could not confirm the hypothesis that uric acid forms a nidus in calcium oxalate urolithiasis in spite of a percentage of uric acid calculi more than twice the national average.

The composition of urinary stones in the Sudan

Seventy-eight urinary stones from the Sudan were analysed quantitatively; 75.6% of upper urinary tract (UUT) stones and 37.8% of lower tract (LUT) stones were composed of pure calcium oxalate monohydrate. The composition of adult UUT stones in the Sudan is almost identical to that of similar stones from Leeds except that the former contain much more calcium oxalate and much less calcium phosphate. A smaller proportion of adult LUT stones from the Sudan contain magnesium ammonium phosphate and a larger proportion contain uric acid/urate than similar stones from Leeds. Juvenile LUT stones from the Sudan probably contain more calcium oxalate and less uric acid/urate than juvenile bladder stones in some other developing countries.

Isolation and determination of quaternary ammonium compounds by means of amberlite XAD-columns and thin layer chromatography

The potentials of XAD-columns for the isolation of quaternary ammonium compounds from aqueous media have been investigated. When adequate amounts of counter ions (perchlorate, chloride, phosphate, nitrate) were added to the aqueous sample, to the column pretreatment fluid and to the aqueous washing fluid, most quaternary compounds investigated were retained on the column and could be recovered by elution with methanol. This approach proved also suitable for urine. Quantitation of quaternaries isolated in this way from urine samples could be performed on silicagel thin layer plates through visualization with iodine, followed by densitometric evaluation. For decamethonium detection limits were 0.1 micrograms/ml. Recoveries at the 1 micrograms/ml level were between 80--90% with variation coefficients of less than 10%.

Scanning electron microscopic investigations on the morphology and phase conversions of uroliths

The most frequent structures of the majority of possible urolith components are assessed by scanning electron microscopic investigations. Typical examples of the conversion of uric acid dihydrate into uric acid, weddellite into whewellite and MgHN4PO4 . 6 H20 into MgNH4PO4 . H2O are given.

[Use of the combined Kjeldahl-wet digestion/Berthelot-reaction for determining nitrogen in biological materials. 2. Design and testing of a partially automated apparatus for routine determination of nitrogen]

The authors describe the design and the mode of operation of a partially automated analyzer system, based on the combination of the Kjeldahl wet digestion with the Berthelot reaction, for the determination of nitrogen in biological materials. The results from three years of operation are discussed from the view-points of variability of the materials to be tested, of accuracy and of precision. This analytical technique (with an accuracy of 98% and a precision of 4%) is suited for determining amino and amido nitrogen as well as non-aromatically bound ring nitrogen. The statistical evaluation of the analytical results revealed that the deviation of the measured values is mainly caused by the high-temperature digestion.

Direct spectorphotometric assay of quaternary ammonium compounds using bromthymol blue

Benzalkonium chloride, benzethonium chloride, and chlorhexidine gluconate were assayed quantitatively by a direct spectrophotometric method with bromthymol blue buffered at pH 7.5. The method shows good results at concentrations of 0--300 microgram/ml and in the presence of epinephrine bitartrate, phenylephrine hydrochloride, pilocarpine hydrochloride, and polyvinyl alcohol.

Lacrimal sac calculi

Analysis of dacryoliths removed at operation showed that most consisted of calcium. One consisted of ammonium and could be directly related to the presence of bacteria. Tear samples obtained from 14 patients with dacryoliths were compared with seven normal patients with regard to calcium, phosphorus, and uric acid concentrations, tear to serum calcium ratios, and calcium-phosphate products. There was no significant difference between the two groups and thus no evidence that dacryoliths from because of abnormal tear electrolytes. We believe that dacryolith formation results from chronic obstruction and inflammation of the sac causing a build up of various electrolytes, particularly calcium. The preoperative dacryocystograms showed either a filling defect or apparent displacement of the lacrimal sac.

The effects of a hydroxyl group on some chemical and biological properties of n-pentyl ammonium salts

The effects of a hydroxyl group on the activity and affinity of compounds related to n-pentyltrimethylammonoum have been studied on the guinea-pig ileum, frog rectus, acetylcholinesterase and on partitioning (Rm) and size (phiov, Vm). The hydroxyl group lowered affinity in all tests, confirming the importance of hydrophobic forces in binding to receptors. Activity on the ileum was lowered appreciably but on the rectus only slightly. The effects on Rm did not indicate any interactions between hydroxyl, onium group and water but the apparent size of the hydroxyl group (deltaphiov) depends on the nature of the onium group.

[Chemical parameters in coastal waters in correlation with microbiological parameters (author's transl)]

Nearly 4600 samples of coastal water from the Baltic Sea were characterized by microbiological parameters as well as by pH, ammonium, nitrite, nitrate, phosphate, and oxidizability by permanganate. Correlation of E. coli with chemical parameters varies strongly according to parameter, region, and season. Sanitary assessments can only be based on microbiological findings.--As regards eutrophication, we should expect special and more comprehensive chemical test programmes to give us substantial knowledge, whereas chemical tests after the EC guidelines for bathing waters along the Baltic Sea coast would mean considerable work and costs without getting any new results.

Urinary calculi composition in patients with spinal cord lesions

Because of the reported production of predominantly phosphatic calculi by hypercalciuric patients there was a need to confirm the analysis of such stones using quantitative methods. Calcium, magnesium, ammonium, orthophosphate, oxalate, carbonate and urate were therefore determined in 148 calculi from 113 patients with spinal cord lesions. There were 145 (98%) composed of calcium phosphate and magnesium ammonium phosphate. Only trace amounts of calcium oxalate were present in most. The remaining 2% were calcium oxalate stones. The ratio of nonoxalate calcium to magnesium was inversely related to the duration of paralysis. This study revealed that, when this variable was taken into account, the composition of a stone was not related to its weight, site of occurrence, level of the cord lesion, sex of the patient, or therapy with acidifying drugs.

[Interrelationships between carnitine metabolism and fatty acid assimilation in Pseudomonas putida (author's transl)]

The carnitine metabolism and some relations to the fatty acid metabolism were studied in Pseudomonas putida by means of control of growth, analysis of metabolites, and determination of enzyme activites. The strain grew on gamma-butyrobetaine, D,L- and L-carnitine, glycinebetaine, choline, D,L-norcarnitine, D,L-gamma-amino-beta-hydroxybutyrate, and D,L-beta-hydroxybuty-rate. Although the strain used straight-chain fatty acids of 2-16 C-atoms, it was only able to grow on O-acyl-L-carnitines of 10 or more C-atoms in the acyl-group. Addition of carnitine stimulated the growth on long-chain fatty acis. The formation of trimethylamine increased, if L-carnitine or gamma-butyrobetaine were the only carbon sources, and decreased, if these trimethylammonium compounds were carbon as well as nitrgen sources. L-Carnitine induced the carnitine dehydrogenase as well as the beta-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase, gamma-Butyrobetaine as carbon and nitrogen source induced the carnitine dehydrogenase, too. In the crude extract the specific activiteis of beta-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase were 0.7 or 1.6 mumoles.min-1.mg-1 after growth on L-carnitine and D,L-beta-hydroxybutyrate, respectively. The synthesis of both enzymes was repressed by glycinebetaine, glucose and long-chain fatty acis. Dependent on the nitrogen source L-carnitine was catabolized via two different pathways.

[Microbial growth on an expansion joint of a reservoir for drinkingwater (author's transl)]

In a clear water reservoir built in ready construction after a working-period of five months quite a lot of slime could be found on the expansion joint filled with tightening compound on the base of Thiokol. The covering slime could be removed easily with a rubber-screen. The microbiological analysis showed an extremely high number of colonies and additional the slime was secondarily settled with Protozoa. An influence on the water in the reservoir could not be found out under working conditions.

Determination of oxyphenonium bromide in plasma and urine by means of ion-pair extraction, derivatization and gas chromatography-electron-capture detection

A sensitive and selective method for the determination of the quaternary ammonium compound oxyphenonium bromide (Antrenyl), a drug with strong anticholinergic properties, in human plasma and urine is described. The method is based on ion-pair extraction of the cation with perchlorate, a re-extraction according to ion-pair principles with tetrapentylammonium as the counter ion, hydrolysis to cyclohexylphenylglycolic acid, derivatization of this acid to its pentafluorobenzyl ester and determination of the ester by gas chromatography and electron-capture detection. Quantitation is possible down to 2 ng/ml of oxyphenonium bromide using 1 ml of plasma and down to 200 ng/ml using 0.1 ml of urine. The method described can also be applied to other anticholinergic drugs with an ester function.

Kinetics and mechanism of degradation of some 2-sulfanilamidopyrimidine derivatives. Part V. Mechanism of sulfadimidine solvolysis

The products of spontaneous hydrolysis of sulfadimidine are: sulfanilamide, aniline, 2-hydroxy- 4,6-dimethylpyrimid and ammonium carbonate. The mechanism of spontaneous hydrolysis of sulfadimidine is proposed.

Composition of urinary tract calculi in children of different ages

The composition of urinary tract calculi in children in relation to their age has been examined and comparisons have been made with other published series. It is concluded that paediatric stone disease can be divided into two main types: (1) infection stones, composed largely of magnesium ammonium phosphate and occurring mainly in children under 5 years of age, (2) calcium stones, occurring mainly in older children.

[Photometric micro-determination of the residues of disinfectant quaternary ammonium compounds in milk. 3. Improvement and adaption for milk products (author's transl)]

The photometric method for the quantitative micro-determination of the residues of quaternary ammonium compounds (QAC) in milk was improved. The casein has proved as an essential interfering substance and it was largely eliminated. Furthermore the bond of QAC on casein in discussed. The minimum level für determination for QAC in milk was reduced to 0.2 ppm. By modifying the photometric method for some milk-products as cream, joghurt, and quarge QAC can be determined at minimal concentrations of 1 ppm.

In vivo determination of nitrogen using Pu-Be sources

A mehtod of measuring body nitrogen by neutron capture gamma analysis is described. The neutron flux is provided by four collimated 5 Ci Pu-Be sources, placed to give a bilateral irradiation of the subject. The 10-83 MeV thermal neutron capture gamma rays from 14N are detected by two heavily shielded 5 in X 4 in NaI(Tl) detectors. Results indicate a reproducibility +/-3% (1 SD) for a 10 min irradiation of the chest area, while giving a radiation dose equivalent of 50 mREM.

Analysis of drugs by pyrolysis. I. Selected ion monitoring combined with a pyrolysis method for the determination of carpronium chloride in biological samples

In order to establish an analytical method for carpronium chloride, a parasympathomimetic agent, the pyrolysis reaction of carpronium chloride was examined in a g.c.m.s. system, which revealed that gamma-butyrolactone was produced directly from the drug as the main pyrolysis product. In the case of conversion of [2,2,3,3-2H4]carpronium chloride into the deuterated gamma-butyrolactone, 2H/1H scrambling was observed and confirmed to occur during the pyrolysis process of the deuterated compound. The proportion of gamma-[2H4]butyrolactone among the pyrolysis products was almost independent of the operating conditions, so [2,2,3,3-2H4]carpronium chloride was of practical use as an internal standard for selected ion monitoring. By incorporation of the pyrolysis reaction of carpronium chloride with selected ion monitoring and the use of [2,2,3,3-2H4]carpronium chloride as an internal standard, a rapid, sensitive and selective method was devised for the determination of the drug in biological samples. The method was utilized successfully for the biopharmaceutical studies of carpronium chloride in ma.

Simplified detection of quaternary ammonium compounds by gas chromatography

An analytical method for the measurement of quaternary ammonium compounds in biological fluids has been developed. Samples are prepared by forming the corresponding iodides, which are extracted and isolated. The residue is taken into n-hexane or into water and part of the solution obtained is injected onto the gas chromatograph where thermal degradation takes place. The methyl iodide released is measured by a 63Ni electron capture detector. This method is quite sensitive and detects with good reliability and reproducibility as little as 10(-14) mole quaternary ammonium compound.

Ion chromatography: a new technique for clinical chemistry

Ion chromatography is a new analytical technique in which the ions to be analyzed are separated on a special pellicular ion-exchange column. Once separated, the effluent from the separating column passes into a second ion-exchange column, which removes the eluent or buffer ions from the moving phase without removing the sample ions, which are detected and measured by electrical conductivity on a background of low conductance. Trace quantities can be so determined. This technique has been applied to four biological fluids: blood serum, tissue extract, urine, and cerebrospinal fluid. It is shown to be a practical analytical tool, particularly for ions having no chromophores, such as sodium, ammonium, potassium, magensium, calcium, chloride, nitrite, phosphate, and sulfate.

Kidney stone matrix. Differences in acidic protein composition

Organic matrices from kidney stones of several mineral compositions (calcium oxalate, uric acid, and apatite-struvite) were isolated and found to contain an abundance of acidic amino acids. The calcium oxalate stones contained 50% aspartic and glutamic acid residues while the uric acid stones contained over 65%. The apatite-struvite stones had only 30% of these two amino acid residues and also contained 20% glycine residues. Since the specific amino acid composition differed for stones of different mineral content, it was felt that the organic matrix might play the role of a nucleating agent.

Collaborative study of a semiautomated method for the determination of crude protein in animal feeds

A semiautomated method consisting of digestion of animal feeds in a block digestor and determination of ammonia by ammonia-salicylate reaction has been studied collaboratively, along with the official final action Kjeldahl method, sec. 7.016. Each collaborator analyzed 16 feed samples, tryptophan, ammonium dihydrogen phosphate NBS standard, and ammonium sulfate primary standard. Statistical analysis showed that the 2 methods agreed. The semiautomated method has been adopted as official first action.