Table 2.

Observation of Randall’s plaques on gross inspection, and the detection of CNP by various methods

Sample no	Tissue analysis					Blood analysis
	Randall’s plaques	IHC	SEM	EDS	Tissue homogenate culture for CNP	Serum culture for CNP	ELISA Ag	ELISA Ab
1	−	−	−	−	−	+++	+	−
2	+	+	+++	+	−	+++	+	+
3	+	+	+++	+	++	++	+++	−
4	+	−	+++	+	+	+	+++	+
5	+	+	+	+	++	+++	++	−
6	+	+	+++	+	++	++++	−	−
7	−	−	+++	+	++	+++	+	−
8	+	+	++++	+	+	++++	++++	+
9	−	−	++++	+	+	++++	++++	+
10	−	+	+++	+	++	++	++	+
11	−	−	++	+	+	+	−	+
12	+	+	−	−	−	+	++++	+
13	−	−	+++	+	−	+	++	+
14	+	+	+	+	+	+	++	+
15	+	+	−	−	+	+	++++	+++
16	+	−	++	+	+	+	++	+
17	+	−	+	+	+++	+++	ND	ND
Positive	11	9	14	14	13	17	14	11

Abbreviations: CNP, calcifying nanoparticles; IHC, immunohistochemistry; SEM, scanning electron microscopy; EDS, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy; ND, not done.

Notes: The serum and tissue homogenate cultures for CNP have a rating of ++++: growth in one week, +++: growth in two weeks, ++: growth in three weeks, +: growth in four weeks, −: no growth in four weeks of incubation. SEM is rated as 0 if no CNP is observed, 1 if CNP are seen in one of the four mapped areas, 2 if CNP are seen two of the four mapped area, 3 if CNP are seen three of the four mapped area, and 4 if CNP are seen in every scanned area at 1500X magnification. ELISA results are rated according to the ELISA kit manufacturer’s “1 unit” definition