Efficacy and safety of the EMS Swiss LithoClast® Trilogy for PCNL: results of the European multicentre prospective study on behalf of European Section of UroTechnology.

PURPOSE: PCNL requires a lithotrite to efficiently break stones, and some devices include active suction to remove the fragments. We set out to determine the efficacy and safety of the Swiss LithoClast® Trilogy, in a prospective European multicentre evaluation and compared it to published stone clearance rates for Trilogy based on surface area (68.9 mm2/min) and using the 3D calculated stone volume (526.7 mm3/min). METHODS: Ten European centres participated in this prospective non-randomized study of Trilogy for PCNL. Objective measures of stone clearance rate, device malfunction, complications and stone-free rates were assessed. Each surgeon subjectively evaluated ergonomic and device effectiveness, on a 1-10 scale (10 = extremely ergonomic/effective) and compared to their usual lithotrite on a 1-10 scale (10 = extremely effective). RESULTS: One hundred and fifty seven PCNLs using Trilogy were included (53% male, 47% female; mean age 55 years, range 13-84 years). Mean stone clearance rate was 65.55 mm2/min or 945 mm3/min based on calculated 3D volume. Stone-free rate on fluoroscopy screening at the end of the procedure was 83%. Feedback for suction effectiveness was 9.0 with 9.1 for combination and 9.0 for overall effectiveness compared to lithotrite used previously. Ergonomic score was 8.1, the least satisfactory element. Complications included 13 (8.2%) Clavien-Dindo Grade II and 2 (1.3%) Grade III. Probe breakage was seen in 9 (5.7%), none required using a different lithotrite. CONCLUSIONS: We have demonstrated that Trilogy is highly effective at stone removal. From a user perspective, the device was perceived by surgeons to be highly effective overall and compared to the most commonly used previous lithotrite, with an excellent safety profile.

Inflammation, homocysteine, and vitamin B6 status after ischemic stroke.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Epidemiological studies have described an association between low vitamin B6 (measured as pyridoxal 5'-phosphate [PLP]) and ischemic stroke, independent of homocysteine (tHcy). We investigated B6 status, tHcy, and inflammation (measured by C-reactive protein [CRP]) in patients with stroke and controls. METHODS: Consecutive cases with new ischemic stroke were compared with matched controls. Fasting tHcy, PLP, and CRP were measured. RESULTS: The adjusted odds ratio of low PLP in the highest compared with the lowest CRP quartile was 16.6 (2, 139.9, P=0.01). Age, CRP, supplemental vitamin use, and albumin were independent predictors of PLP (P<0.05 for all). No relationship was observed between CRP and tHcy. CONCLUSIONS: The relationship between inflammation and low B6 status may partially explain the findings of previous epidemiological studies.

Familial risk, age at onset, and cause of end-stage renal disease in white Americans.

A strong familial clustering of ESRD has been reported among African Americans, suggesting that factors predisposing to renal failure, whether genetic, environmental, or both, may disproportionately affect certain families. A case-control study was undertaken to determine if a familial risk of ESRD was present among white Americans, if this risk differed among causes of ESRD, and if variability in age at onset was attributed to familial factors. Data were obtained from 103 white American patients (cases) with ESRD receiving dialysis treatments at the Bowman Gray School of Medicine's affiliated dialysis facility in Winston-Salem, NC. One hundred three age-, sex- and race-matched non-ESRD controls were consecutively selected from the Wake Forest University Physicians internal medicine clinic. Odds ratios (OR) and associated 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated to signify the prevalence of a relative with ESRD among cases versus controls. The presence of either a first- or second-degree relative increased a white American's risk for developing ESRD nearly threefold (OR = 2.7, 95% CI 1.1 to 7.2; P = 0.038), whereas the presence of either a first-, second- or third-degree relative with ESRD increased the risk nearly fourfold (OR = 3.5, 95% CI 1.5 to 8.4; P = 0.004). Cases with chronic glomerulonephritis and Type II diabetic nephropathy as the cause of ESRD had relatives with ESRD more often than cases with Type I diabetic nephropathy, interstitial nephritis, or renal artery stenosis. The average correlation (f) of ages at onset of ESRD among individuals in a single family (cases and their relatives) was 55%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)