PSI - Issue 33

Available online at www.sciencedirect.com Available online at www.sciencedirect.com ScienceDirect Structural Integrity Procedia 00 (2021) 000–000 Available online at www.sciencedirect.com ScienceDirect Structural Integrity Procedia 00 (2021) 000–000

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ScienceDirect

Procedia Structural Integrity 33 (2021) 295–303

© 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0) Peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the IGF ExCo Abstract Kidney stones and atherosclerotic plaques have an increasing rate worldwide. Although kidney stones are not life threatening, as atherosclerosis can be, they have the tense of reappearing after a period of time. Based on several studies it seems there is a correlation between these two diseases, as patients diagnosed with urolithiasis or nephrolithiasis appeared to have atherosclerotic plaques. Calcium oxalate and hydroxyapatite are the most frequently found minerals in stones. Calcium carbonate stones have also been present, but not in the same prevalence. Stones smaller than 5 mm are expected to pass on their own and thus no surgery is needed. However, each stone composition needs different treatment to be removed since they have different structural integrity among the same therapies. The very same minerals were found in spotty calcifications (<3 mm) in atherosclerotic plaques. Spotty calcifications, especially hydroxyapatite calcifications, act as an indicator of possible plaque rapture, while calcium oxalate is identified in stable plaques. Thus, the calcifications’ mineral differentiation will help the physicians to prevent myocardial infraction and stroke. To this aim, a dual-energy X-ray method was developed in this study. Simulation and experimental studies were conducted for the determination of the Calcium/Phosphorus mass ratio (m Ca /m P ). Monoenergetic and polyenergetic simulation studies were carried out for calcium oxalate, hydroxyapatite and calcium carbonate calcifications with thicknesses ranging from 0.5 to 3 mm, in order to find the optimized irradiation conditions. The experimental evaluation of the method was implemented with an X-ray tube combined with an energy integrating (imaging) detector. Based on the experimental results, for both kidney stones and atherosclerotic plaques, statistically significant difference was observed between the different types of minerals for thicknesses of 0.7 mm or higher. © 2021 The Authors. Published by ELSEVIER B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0) Peer-review Statement: Peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the IGF ExCo Plaques Structural Integrity Characterization Niki Martini, Vaia Koukou, Christos Michail, George Fountos* Department of Biomedical Engineering, Radiation Physics, Materials Technology and Biomedical Imaging Laboratory, University of West Attica, Ag. Spyridonos, 12210 Athens, Greece Abstract Kidney stones and atherosclerotic plaques have an increasing rate worldwide. Although kidney stones are not life threatening, as atherosclerosis can be, they have th tense of reappearing after a period of time. Based on several studies it seems ther is a correlation between these two diseases, as patients diagnosed with ur lithiasis or nephrolithiasis appeared t have atheroscl rotic plaques. Calcium oxalate and hydroxyapatit are th most freque tly found minerals in stones. Calcium carbo ate sto es hav also b n present, but not in the same prevale ce. Stones smaller than 5 mm are expected to pass on their own a d th s no surgery is needed. However, each stone composition needs diff r nt treatment to be removed since they have different structural integrit among the same therapies. The very same minerals were found i spotty calcifications (<3 mm) in ath rosclerotic plaques. Spotty calcificatio s, especially hydroxyapatite calcifications, act as an indicator of possible laque rapture, while calcium oxal te is identified i stable plaques. Thus, the calcifications’ ineral differentiation will help the physicians to prevent myocar ial infraction and str ke. To this aim, a dual- nergy X-ray method was developed in this study. Simulation and experimental studies were conducted for the determination f the Calcium/Phosphorus mass ratio (m Ca /m P ). Monoenergetic and polyenergetic simulation studies were carrie out for calcium oxalate, hy roxyapatite and calcium carbonate calcifications with thicknesses ranging from 0.5 to 3 mm, in order to find the optimiz d irradiation conditions. The experimental evaluation of the method was implement d with an X-r y tube combined with an energy inte rating (imaging) detector. Base on th experimental results, for both kidney stones and atherosclerotic plaques, statistically significant difference was observed between the different types of minerals for thicknesses of 0.7 mm or higher. © 2021 The Authors. Published by ELSEVIER B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0) Peer-review Statement: Peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the IGF ExCo IGF26 - 26th International Conference on Fracture and Structural Integrity Dual Energy X-ray Method for Kidney Stones and Atherosclerotic Plaques Structural Integrity Characterization Niki Martini, Vaia Koukou, Christos Michail, George Fountos* Department of Biomedical Engineering, Radiation Physics, Materials Technology and Biomedical Imaging Laboratory, University of West Attica, Ag. Spyridonos, 12210 Athens, Greece IGF26 - 26th International Conference on Fracture and Structural Integrity Dual Energy X-ray Method for Kidney Stones and Atherosclerotic

* Corresponding author. Tel.: +30-210-538-5387. E-mail address: cmichail@uniwa.gr * Corresponding author. Tel.: +30-210-538-5387. E-mail address: cmichail@uniwa.gr

2452-3216 © 2021 The Authors. Published by ELSEVIER B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0) Peer-review Statement: Peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the IGF ExCo 2452-3216 © 2021 The Authors. Published by ELSEVIER B.V. This is an open access article und r the CC BY-NC-ND license (https:// reativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0) Peer-review Statement: Peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the IGF ExCo

2452-3216 © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0) Peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the IGF ExCo 10.1016/j.prostr.2021.10.036