Whole-Body-Counter 
The Whole-Body Counter (WBC) procedure exploits that naturally occurring potassium exists as three different isotopes; In the present study, TBK was estimated using the whole-body scintillation counter (Nuclear Enterprises Ltd, Sighthill, Edinburgh, Scotland) [The patients showered and changed to hospital gowns before entering the lead- and steel-shielded chamber to avoid interference from external contamination. In the chamber the patient was placed in a supine position for 30 minutes while being measured by the WBC. 