Apatite formation on titanium substrates by electrochemical deposition in metastable calcium phosphate solution.

An apatite layer was successfully formed on titanium substrates by electrochemical deposition in a metastable calcium phosphate solution, which had 1.5 times the ion concentrations of a normal simulated body fluid, but did not contain MgCl(2).6H(2)O, at 41 degrees C for 40 or 60 min at 13 mA. The current did not produce large effects on the crystalline size of the apatite, but the thickness of the apatite layer could be controlled by deposition conditions such as electrolyte temperature, current and deposition time. It is expected that the present electrochemical deposition will be useful to rapidly coat apatite on metallic materials.

Oral carbonaceous absorbent modifies renal function of renal ablation model without affecting plasma renin-angiotensin system or protein intake.

BACKGROUND: Although it has been repeatedly shown that the oral carbonaceous absorbent AST-120 ameliorates the progression of chronic renal failure, the mechanisms remain unknown. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats (6 weeks old), weighing 180-210 g, were 4/5 nephrectomized, and were divided into two groups: one given AST-120 (0.4 g/100 g body weight BW; n= 9) and the other not given AST-120 ( n = 9). Body weight, blood pressure, and serum and urine chemistry, as well as the plasma components of the renin-angiotensin system, were measured for 22 weeks. RESULTS: Proteinuria was significantly greater in the controls than in the AST-120 group (102 +/- 22 vs 51 +/- 7 mg/day at 22 weeks). Urea clearance was lower in the former (3.7 +/- 0.4 vs 3.9 +/- 0.4 ml/min). There were no differences in plasma renin activity (1.4 +/- 0.3 vs 1.9 +/- 0.4 mg/ml per h), or in angiotensin I (756 +/- 119 vs 1042 +/- 168 pg/ml) and II (35.1 +/- 7.4 vs 46.6 +/- 7.6 pg/ml) or angiotensin-converting enzyme activity (39.0 +/- 2.4 vs 37.9 +/- 2.2 IU/l) between the two groups. Protein intake, estimated from urinary urea appearance, was not different. Serum phosphate concentration (6.6 +/- 0.3 vs 5.9 +/- 0.3 mg/dl) was higher in the control than in AST-120, while the urinary phosphate excretion rate (31.5 +/- 0.8 vs 28.1 +/- 1.8 mg/day) tended to be lower in the latter. Conclusions. AST-120 retarded the progression of renal failure in the 4/5 renal ablation model without affecting the plasma renin-angiotensin system or protein intake, both of which were the most important risk factors for the progression of renal failure. We hypothesize that the renal protective effects of the oral absorbent AST-120 may be, at least in part, due to its lowering phosphate absorption from the diet as a phosphorus binder.

Selective collection of inorganic iron(III) colloids in water with oxine-impregnated water-in-oil emulsion.

An oxine-impregnated emulsion was prepared by dissolving 100 mg of oxine and 0.3 ml of non-ionic surfactant (Span-80) in 10 ml of toluene and mixing with 3 ml of 1 mol l(-1) hydrochloric acid by sonication (20 kHz). The water-in-oil emulsion was injected into 50 ml of water sample (containing iron(III) at the ppb level, pH 4-7) and dispersed by stirring for 10 min as numerous small globules (0.1-0.5 mm in diameter). The iron diffused through the toluene layer into the small droplets of hydrochloric acid. The emulsion was separated by flotation and heated to segregate the aqueous (hydrochloric acid) and organic (toluene) phases. The iron in the aqueous phase was determined by graphite-furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS). Hydrated iron(III) oxide having particle sizes of larger than 1 mum did not penetrate into the emulsion. Other iron species which were not incorporated into the emulsion include humic complexes and hybrid particles of hydrated iron(III) oxide and humic substances. This discrimination can be attributed to the surfactant layer at the oil-water interfaces and gentle stirring of the solution. The conventional liquid-liquid extraction, however, did not offer such a selectivity, because all iron(III) species were simultaneously extracted into the organic phase with vigorous shaking. The unique property of the emulsion method has been applied to the separation and determination of inorganic dissolved iron species in river water.