Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome in Patients with Uric Acid and Calcium–based Kidney Stones

The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in patients with uric acid and calcium–based kidney stones and to investigate the relationship between metabolic syndrome and type of kidney stone using infrared spectroscopy to evaluate the chemical composition of kidney stonesSixty patients with urolithiasis were examined. Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed according to clinical and laboratory criteria. Weight, height, body mass index, waist circumference, and blood pressure of patients were measured. Blood tests were performed. Concentrations of total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose and uric acid in blood, were analyzed. The kidney stones of patients were removed and the composition of each kidney stone was analyzed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed in 55% of the patients; 86.7% of patients with uric acid (UA) kidney stones and 44.4% of patients with calcium (Ca) based stones had metabolic syndrome. All patients diagnosed with metabolic syndrome were overweight or obese. Even though there were no statistically significant differences observed concerning the anthropometrical measures and arterial blood pressure (BP) between the UA stone formers and Ca–based stone formers, the results show a trend that failed to reach significance: higher waist size, BMI and arterial BP means in the group of patients with UA stones than in the patients with Ca–based stones. No statistically significant differences in lipid profile between the groups were found. Concentration of UA in blood serum was significantly higher in patients with UA kidney stones than it was in patients with Ca–based kidney stones. Significant positive correlation between triglycerides and serum UA concentrations, as well as body mass index and serum UA concentration, and negative correlation between concentrations of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and UA was found.Conclusion: Metabolic syndrome was more prevalent in patients with uric acid stones than in the patients with calcium–based kidney stones, even though this relationship was not statistically significant, most likely because of the limited number of patients investigated

Selective enhancement of SERS spectral bands of salicylic acid adsorbate on 2D Ti3C2Tx-based MXene film

In this research, we have demonstrated that 2D Ti3C2Xn-based MXene (MXene) films are suitable for the design of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS)-based sensors. The enhanced SERS signal was observed for a salicylic acid molecule on Ti3C2Tx-based MXene film. Confirmation of the adsorption of the salicylic acid molecule and the formation of a salicylic acid–MXene complex were determined by experimental SERS-based spectral observations such as greatly enhanced out-of-plane bending modes of salicylic acid at 896 cm−1 and a band doublet at 681 cm−1 and 654 cm−1. Additionally, some other spectral features indicate the adsorption of salicylic acid on the MXene surface, namely, a redshift of vibrational modes and the disappearance of the carboxyl deformation spectral band at 771 cm−1. The determined enhancement factor indicates the value that can be expected for the chemical enhancement mechanism in SERS of 220 for out-of-plane vibrational modes. Theoretical modeling based on density functional theory (DFT) calculations using B3LYP/6311G++ functional were performed to assess the formation of the salicylic acid/MXene complex. Based on the calculations, salicylic acid displays affinity of forming a chemical bond with titanium atom of Ti3C2(OH)2 crystal via oxygen atom in hydroxyl group of salicylic acid. The electron density redistribution of the salicylic acid–MXene complex leads to a charge transfer effect with 2.2 eV (428 nm) and 2.9 eV (564 nm) excitations. The experimentally evaluated enhancement factor can vary from 220 to 60 when different excitation wavelengths are applied

Oxidized Graphite Nanocrystals for White Light Emission

We investigated the formation of graphite nanocrystals covered with graphite oxide for white light generation. The nanoparticles were formed using cost-efficient oxidation of a carbon-based dye pigment at different temperatures and verified using X-ray diffraction and Raman measurements. Formation of the graphite nanoparticles via thermal annealing was observed, while their light emission increased at higher oxidation temperatures. This was associated with a higher amount of oxygen defect groups. The time-resolved photoluminescence measurements showed linearly faster decays at shorter wavelengths and similar decays at different annealing temperatures. Broadband and linear vs. excitation emission spectra of the particles were found to be suitable for white-light-emitting devices and phosphor markers. The fast photoluminescence decay opens the possibility for the application of nanoparticles in optical wireless communication technology

A prospective study on the impact of clinical factors and adjusted triple D system for success rate of ESWL /

Objective: Our study aimed to evaluate the success rate of ESWL and identify relevant treatment-specific factors affecting treatment outcomes, as well as to assess the accuracy of the updated Triple D scoring system and compare it with older systems. Material and Methods: A prospective study of 71 patients who received ESWL treatment for renal stones that were 5–15 mm in size was completed. The patient having no residual stones or residual stones lesser than 4 mm after ESWL was identified as a treatment success. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression and ROC curves were used to identify important factors for treatment outcomes. Results: Successful treatment was achieved for 66.2% of patients. The stone volume (SV), mean stone density (MD), and delivered power to the stone volume unit ratio (SMLI/SV) were defined as the most critical factors influencing ESWL success. An updated Triple D score system with a, SMLI/SV ratio could be an alternative to older systems and reach an even higher accuracy. A limitation of this study is the limited sample size due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusions: Our results show that the three factors that most influence the success of ESWL are the stone size, mean stone density, and SMLI/SV ratio. Based on this, we present a simple updated triple D score system to predict ESWL success, which could be implemented in future clinical practice

Fiber attenuated total reflection infrared spectroscopy of kidney tissue during live surgery

More than 90% of solid kidney tumors are cancerous and have to be treated by surgical resection where surgical outcomes and patient prognosis are dependent on the tumor discrimination. The development of alternative approaches based on a new generation of fiber attenuated total reflection (ATR) probes could aid tumor identification even under intra‐surgical conditions. Herein, fiber ATR IR spectroscopy is employed to distinguish normal and cancerous kidney tissues. Freshly resected tissue samples from thirty four patients are investigated under nearly native conditions. Spectral marker bands that allow a reliable discrimination between tumor and normal tissue is identified by a supervised classification algorithm. The absorbance values of the bands at 1025, 1155 and 1240 cm−1 assigned to glycogen and fructose 1,6‐bisphosphatase are used as the clearest markers for the tissue discrimination. Absorbance threshold values for tumor and normal tissue are determined by discriminant analysis. This new approach allows the surgeon to make a clinical diagnosis

Monitoring Ti3C2Tx MXene degradation pathways using Raman spectroscopy /

Extending applications of Ti3C2Tx MXene in nanocomposites and across fields of electronics, energy storage, energy conversion, and sensor technologies necessitates simple and efficient analytical methods. Raman spectroscopy is a critical tool for assessing MXene composites; however, high laser powers and temperatures can lead to the materials’ deterioration during the analysis. Therefore, an in-depth understanding of MXene photothermal degradation and changes in its oxidation state is required, but no systematic studies have been reported. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the degradation of the MXene lattice through Raman spectroscopic analysis. Distinct spectral markers were related to structural alterations within the Ti3C2Tx material after subjecting it to thermal- and laser-induced degradation. During the degradation processes, spectral markers were revealed for several specific steps: a decrease in the number of interlayer water molecules, a decrease in the number of −OH groups, formation of C-C bonds, oxidation of the lattice, and formation of TiO2 nanoparticles (first anatase, followed by rutile). By tracking of position shifts and intensity changes for Ti3C2Tx, the spectral markers that signify the initiation of each step were found. This spectroscopic approach enhances our understanding of the degradation pathways of MXene, and facilitating enhanced and dependable integration of these materials into devices for diverse applications, from energy storage to sensors

Magneto-plasmonic nanoparticles generated by laser ablation of layered Fe/Au and Fe/Au/Fe composite films for SERS application

Magneto-plasmonic nanoparticles were fabricated using a 1064 nm picosecond-pulsed laser for ablation of Fe/Au and Fe/Au/Fe composite thin films in acetone. Nanoparticles were characterized by electron microscopy, ultraviolet-visible (UV-VIS) absorption, and Raman spectroscopy. Hybrid nanoparticles were arranged on an aluminum substrate by a magnetic field for application in surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). Transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy analysis revealed the spherical core-shell (Au-Fe) structure of nanoparticles. Raman spectroscopy of bare magneto-plasmonic nanoparticles confirmed the presence of magnetite (Fe3O4) without any impurities from maghemite or hematite. In addition, resonantly enhanced carbon-based bands were detected in Raman spectra. Plasmonic properties of hybrid nanoparticles were probed by SERS using the adsorbed biomolecule adenine. Based on analysis of experimental spectra and density functional theory modeling, the difference in SERS spectra of adsorbed adenine on laser-ablated Au and magneto-plasmonic nanoparticles was explained by the binding of adenine to the Fe3O4 structure at hybrid nanoparticles. The hybrid nanoparticles are free from organic stabilizers, and because of the biocompatibility of the magnetic shell and SERS activity of the plasmonic gold core, they can be widely applied in the construction of biosensors and biomedicine applications

Phase transitions, screening and dielectric response of CsPbBr3

Cesium–lead–bromide (CsPbBr3) is the simplest all inorganic halide perovskite. It serves as a reference material for understanding the exceptional solar cell properties of the organic–inorganic hybrid halide perovskites and is itself discussed as an alternative absorber material. Broadband dielectric spectroscopy has proven to yield an in depth understanding of charge screening mechanisms in the halide solar cell absorbers based on methylammonium and modifications hereof. For a deeper understanding of charge carrier screening, we have investigated CsPbBr3 across wide temperature (120 K–450 K) and frequency ranges. Besides the two known phase transitions at 403 K and 361 K, the dielectric data show another anomaly around 220 K, which can be interpreted as another phase transition. XRD and EPR studies confirm the presence of this anomaly, but Raman scattering spectra do not show any lattice anomalies in the vicinity of 220 K. This additional anomaly is of first order character (different transition temperatures upon cooling and heating) but hardly influences the lattice dynamics. Our broadband dielectric investigations of CsPbBr3 display the same microwave limit permittivity as for MAPbX3 (3r z 30, X ¼ Cl, Br, I, MA ¼ CH3NH3 +) but do not afford a second permittivity relaxation up to this frequency. Our prior assignment of the second contribution in the methylammonium compounds being due to the relaxation dynamics of the methylammonium ion as a dipole is herewith proven. Nevertheless, CsPbBr3 shows large charge carrier screening up to very high frequencies which can still play a vital role in charge carrier dynamics and exciton behaviour in this material as well.publishe