Effect of pyridoxine (Vitamin-B(6)) supplementation on calciuria and oxaluria levels of some normal healthy persons and urinary stone patients.

Effect of pyridoxine (Vitamin-B(6)) supplementation on calciuria and oxaluria levels of 20 normal healthy persons and 17 urinary stone patients has been studied. Mean 24 hr urinary calcium and oxalate levels of controls (healthy persons) and stone patients were estimated in presupplementation period and at every 20 days interval during supplementation. Stone patients were divided into two groups viz., mild hyperoxaluriacs and moderate hyperoxaluriacs, based on their pre-supplementation (base line) oxaluria levels. 60 days of pyridoxine supplementation, at the rate of 10 mg/day, resulted in a significant decrease (p<0.01 for mild hyperoxaluriacs and p<0.001 for moderate hyperoxaluriacs) in mean 24 hr urinary oxalate levels of urinary stone patients. The corresponding decrement in mean oxaluria level of controls was, however, only mild. The decrease of mean calciuria level of controls as well as stone patients, upon pyridoxine supplementation, were also found to be only mild and not significant. Utility of pyridoxine therapy in oxalate urolithiasis has been discussed in the light of results.

The microstructures of biomineralized surfaces: a spectroscopic study on the exoskeletons of fresh water (Apple) snail, Pila globosa.

In view of the importance in understanding biomineralization processes in different molluskan species, the common fresh water apple snail Pila globosa in Indian origin was taken to explore its mineralized exoskeleton structures. The detailed structural studies of the exoskeletons of P. globosa have been undertaken. The isolated layers present in these shells were studied by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), optical absorption, and infrared spectral techniques. The EPR spectra of the organic protein layer periostracum show the characteristic signals corresponding to Fe(3+) ions at g = 4.1 and 2.0. The EPR spectra of the ostracum (middle) layer at room temperature gives a complicated spectrum consisting of a number of Mn(2+) signals of at least three sets due to the aragonite nature of the material. The results indicate the presence of the multivalent manganese ions, which undergo the redox mechanisms. The thermal variation of the EPR spectra show marked effect on these samples both in g-values and the basic spectral pattern.

Iodine nutritional status of adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the nutritional status of the adolescent tribes in Purnia District of Bihar. METHODS: Iodine nutritional status of the adolescent children (10-12 yrs) of tribal communities of Purnia District (Bihar) was studied. Urinary iodine levels of the children was estimated. Iodine content of the common salt samples consumed by the tribals has been determined. Goiter prevalence among the children has been assessed. Iodine deficiency status and goiter-proneness of the target population has been discussed in the light of the data. RESULT: Total goiter prevalence of 11.67% estimated among the tribals from six well populated markets. CONCLUSION: The tribals of Purnia District should be encouraged to consume iodised salt.

Clinico-Biochemical indexing of calcium urolithiasis on the basis of urinary citrate to calcium ratio and inhibition of mineralisation of urinary stone forming minerals by human urine.

Urinary citric acid and calcium levels have been estimated in the urine of 20 normal healthy persons as well as 12 urinary stone patients. Inhibition efficiency of these urine samples towards the mineralisation of urinary stone forming minerals, viz., calcium phosphate, oxalate or carbonate, has been studied in an experimental model. Statistical correlation of the above data has been made by computing the coefficient of determination and unexplained variance. Clinico-biochemical indexing of calcium urolithiasis risk factor has been attempted in the light of the data.