ECTS2013 Poster Presentations Other diseases of bone and mineral metabolism (48 abstracts)
Multidisciplinary studies of ancient calcified tissues: renal stones from mummies
Mattia Capulli 1 , Lorenzo Arrizza 2 , Nadia Rucci 1 , Sara Gemini Piperni 1 , Raimondo Quaresima 3 , Valentina Giuffra 4 , Gino Fornaciari 4 , Anna Teti 1 & Luca Ventura 5
1Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy; 2Centre of Microscopies, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy; 3Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy; 4Division of Paleopathology and History of Medicine and Bioethics, Department of Oncology, Transplants and Advanced Technologies in Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy; 5Department of Pathology, San Salvatore Hospital, L’Aquila, Italy.
The renal stones found in the mummies of Pandolfo III Malatesta, Lord of Fano (1370–1427) and an anonymous nobleman from Popoli (XVIII century) were investigated using different techniques. Both specimens were examined with binocular stereomicroscopy (BSM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), also with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX). Multiple tiny fragments from surface and inner portions were submitted to X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. Subsequently, the calculi were imaged with microcomputed tomography (micro CT).The stone from Pandolfo had a mulberry-like surface with honey brown colour and measured 12 mm in largest diameter. Along with the organic constituents (C, O, and N), the following chemical elements were detected: K, S, Si, Cl, Ca, P, Na, and Ba. The calculus was composed of ammonium acid urate (95%) and calcium oxalate dihydrate (weddellite) (5%). Internal structure consisted of aggregated large spheroidal crystals with different density values. In the case from Popoli, the ovoidal mass with small superficial spherical buds measured 22×16×15 mm. The cut surface showed a central nucleus of sharp-edged crystals and concentric laminations. Detected chemical elements were: C, O, N,Ca, P, K, S, Cl, and Na. The stone composition was calcium oxalate monohydrate (whewellite; 90%) and calcium phosphate (hydroxylapatite; 10%). Internal structure detail revealed concentric laminations and aggregates of similar density values. These observations enabled us to propose an ideal protocol for the examination of stones that can be found in mummies and in osteoarcheological material. After preliminary observation with BSM, the specimen should be imaged with microCT, in order to trace a detailed map of the external surface and the whole calculus and guide the following SEM-EDX measurements for elemental distribution analysis. Matching the results from these methods avoids destructive XRD analysis and may allow to obtain an affordable evaluation of chemical composition on the entire stone, following a conservative approach.
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