New insights into the metal partitioning in different microphases of human gallstones

Accumulation of rare earth elements in human gallstones: a perspective from dietary and human health

BACKGROUND

Gallstone disease poses a global threat to human health and is strongly linked to environmental factors. However, there is currently no data on the presence of rare earth elements (REEs) in human gallstones. This paper investigates the concentration and distribution of REEs in gallstones for the first time, aiming to explore the environmental implications on human health.

METHODS

A total of 25 gallstone samples were collected in Shanghai and the content of REEs was measured by Inductively coupled plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) to explore the distribution of REEs in gallstones.

RESULTS

The concentration of REEs in gallstones ranged from 4.89 to 190.8 ng/g (mean 39.21). In most of the gallstone analyses, REEs have been detected and generally attributed to environmental exposure or food contamination. The Y/Ho ratio of gallstones was lower than that of continental rocks, similar to that in the blood, indicating limited fractionation during fluid transport processes in the gallbladder.

CONCLUSIONS

The upper continental crust (UCC)-normalized REEs pattern in gallstones showed depletion of light REEs, while most showed enrichment of heavy REEs. Positive Gd anomalies were found in most samples, while few samples suggested anthropogenic influence. Whether exogenous inputs or in vivo biofractionation lead to changes in REEs fractionated patterns require further analyses.

Different Surface Appearances Caused by Unbalanced Mn2+ Accumulation in Gallstones Consisting of Cholesterol and CaCO3 Obtained from a Patient After Cholecystectomy

Gallstones were examined for 58 patients in Jilin, Jilin. It was found that gallstones from only one who suffered from cholecystectomy were composed of 20 spheroidal stones and they rarely exhibited three different types of surface appearances. Six representative powder samples were analyzed for gallstones compositions and Mn²⁺ using X-ray diffraction (XRD)/Infrared (IR) and electron spin resonance (ESR), respectively. The results suggested that all gallstones from this patient were identified by XRD to be gallstones consisting mainly of cholesterol and CaCO₃ (GCCC). They rarely exhibited three different kinds of surface appearances corresponding to different concentration of trace Mn²⁺ in calcite (C_Mn²⁺/C_Cal): 18 dark/light brown spheres with smooth surfaces and C_Mn²⁺/C_Cal = 0-6 μg/g/%, a yellowish-brown huge sphere with a rougher surface and C_Mn²⁺/C_Cal = 30 μg/g/%, and an ashy sphere composed of tens of microspheres with the roughest surface and C_Mn²⁺/C_Cal = 60 μg/g/%. The difference in surface appearance showed significant association with C_Mn²⁺/C_Cal, and its increase made the gallstone's surface change from smooth to rough and to fade in color. The unbalanced and competitive Mn²⁺ accumulation could occur occasionally in individual stones owing to different affinities to Mn²⁺, resulting in the formation of a huge stone and an ashy sphere. These two aberrations caused by higher C_Mn²⁺/C_Cal played an important role in suppressing the crystalline growth of the majority of dark/light brown spheres. GCCC from a patient might have a prominent Mn²⁺ partitioning feature corresponding to different surface appearances.

Preliminary study on the correlation between the trace Mn2+ and the calcite polymorph in gallstones containing calcium carbonate from the northeast China via electron spin resonance

Gallstones containing calcium carbonate (GCCC) from the northeast China were analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared spectroscopy (IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and electron spin resonance (ESR). The sextet signal arising from the allowed transitions of the trace Mn²⁺ ions in GCCC was found to be ESR-detectable and strong. The XRD technique revealed the crystal habit of calcite in GCCC. Of the three polymorphs of calcium carbonate, no calcite was present as a solitary crystallization form, accompanied by aragonite or vaterite or both. The sextet ESR signal and the (104) main XRD peak at 2θ = ∼29.4° were employed as two probes to explore the relationship between trace Mn²⁺ and calcite. The Mn content can be considered as an indicator of the amount of calcite in GCCC because of the existence of a correlation between Mn²⁺ and calcite. The correlation between Mn²⁺ and calcite, the relation between the levels of Mn²⁺ and the type of gallstones, the structural preference of Mn²⁺ to the calcite polymorph, and the influence of dietary habits on calcite in calcium carbonate gallstones are discussed.

Multi-analyses of gallstones and correlation between their properties with the laboratory results

This study explores the morpho-structure of gallstones (GSs) removed from 36 patients in NW Romania and correlate it with the laboratory results of the patients. GSs were analyzed by SEM-EDS, X-ray diffraction and IR, UV-Vis and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The laboratory studies consisted in hematological, coagulation, biochemistry, immunological and tumor markers tests. The morphological and structural investigations allowed to classify the GS in five different types and to establish their mechanism of formation. Only macroscopic evaluation, SEM microscopy, FTIR and UV-Vis spectroscopy give different easily noticeable information for each GS type. EDS, XPS and XRD diffraction are recommended to distinguish pigment and carbonate stones from the other GS types and a carefully examination is needed to establish the differences between the pure cholesterol, the mixed cholesterol and the composite cholesterol stones, due to the high similarities. The variation of specific markers cannot differentiate the patients with pure cholesterol GS from those with mixed cholesterol and pigment GS and those with mixed cholesterol from those with composite cholesterol stones. Seven laboratory parameters (RDW-CV, MPV, PCT, GLUC-HK, WBC, PT, GPT) are the key indicators for the GS disease and trend to present generally higher values than normal.

Unraveling the impact of chronic exposure to metal pollution through human gallstones

This study aims to explore the impact of chronic metal exposure derived from persistent pollution from mining activity using human gallstones as proxies. The samples were obtained from patients residing in geologically and environmentally contrasting areas in the Province of Huelva, SW Spain, allowing for the evaluation of the regional effect of metal pollution. The study group resides in the Iberian Pyrite Belt characterized by natural and anthropogenic metal pollution from mining activities, whereas the control group resides in the Ossa Morena Zone famous for its natural parks. A total of 68 gallstones were first classified based on their phase composition and structure and subsequently their chemical composition was studied using solution Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry. The metal concentrations increased in the cholesterol-rich gallstones from pure, to mixed and composite cholesterol stones along with the increasing amount of minor phases, such as bilirubinate, carbonate, and phosphate. These cholesterol stones did not show an evident enrichment tendency. On the contrary, pigment stones, composed of bilirubinate, carbonate, and phosphate phases, were rich in a variety of elements and the regional comparison showed that the pigment stones from the study area were enriched in sulfide-associated metal(loid)s, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Sr, As, Ag, Sb, and Pb with respect to the control group. Inhalation of polluted airborne particulate matter is considered as one of the main exposure routes among the residents of the study area. Additionally, consumption of local water and locally produced food products such as fruit and vegetables and dermal contact may be possible sources of exposure, but no direct connection was observed.