Basal metabolic rate and the risk of urolithiasis: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study.

OBJECTIVE: Few studies have investigated the impact of basal metabolic rate (BMR) on the development of urolithiasis, and the causal relationship is yet to be established. In this study, a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was utilized to identify the causal relationship between BMR and risk of urolithiasis. METHOD: Genetic instruments for BMR were drawn from a public genome-wide association study (GWAS). Summary dates on BMR and urolithiasis were obtained from a GWAS meta-analysis with sample sizes of 454,874 and 212,453, respectively. The inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method was provided as the main approach to estimate the causal relationship. The weighted-median method and the MR-Egger method were used as supplements to the IVW method. In addition, we conducted sensitivity analyses, including heterogeneity tests, pleiotropy tests and leave-one-out analysis, to assess the robustness of the outcomes. Furthermore, the funnel plot asymmetry was visually inspected to evaluate possible bias. RESULTS: The inverse-variance weighted data revealed that genetically predicted BMR significantly decreased the risk of urolithiasis [beta coefficient (beta): - 0.2366, odds ratio (OR): 0.7893, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.6504-0.9579, p = 0.0166]. CONCLUSIONS: BMR has causal effects on urolithiasis in an MR study, and the risk of urolithiasis in patients with lower levels of BMR is higher.

Impact of habitual intake of glucosamine, fresh fruit, and tea on the risk of urolithiasis: A two-sample Mendelian randomization study.

Dietary patterns have a significant impact on the occurrence of urolithiasis. This study aimed to investigate the causal relationships between the consumption of glucosamine, fresh fruits, and tea, and the predisposition to urinary stones using a Mendelian randomization (MR) approach. Genetic proxies for these dietary factors were obtained from the UK Biobank, while the summary data for urolithiasis genome-wide association analyses were sourced from the FinnGen consortium. Five MR methodologies, namely inverse variance weighted (IVW), MR-Egger regression, weighted median, weighted mode, and simple mode, were employed in the analysis. To validate the findings, sensitivity evaluations such as the MR-PRESSO disruption test and Cochran Q test for heterogeneity were performed. The IVW method showed that glucosamine consumption had a strong inverse association with urolithiasis risk (Odds Ratio [OR] = 0.006, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 0.0001-0.287, P = .009), surpassing the associations of fresh fruits (OR = 0.464, 95% CI 0.219-0.983, P = .045) and tea (OR = 0.550, 95% CI 0.345-0.878, P = .012). These findings were consistent when verified using alternative MR techniques, and the sensitivity analyses further supported their credibility. The results of this MR analysis demonstrate that regular consumption of glucosamine, fresh fruits, and tea is inversely correlated with the risk of developing urolithiasis.

Univariable and multivariable mendelian randomization study revealed the modifiable risk factors of urolithiasis.

BACKGROUND: Urolithiasis is a common urological disease with increasing incidence worldwide, and preventing its risk poses significant challenges. Here, we used Mendelian randomization (MR) framework to genetically assess the causal nature of multifaceted risk factors on urolithiasis. METHODS: 17 potential risk factors associated with urolithiasis were collected from recently published observational studies, which can be categorized basically into lifestyle factors and circulating biomarkers. The instrumental variables of risk factors were selected from large-scale genome-wide association studies (N ≤ 607,291). Summary-level data on urolithiasis were obtained from UK Biobank (UKB) (3,625 cases and 459,308 noncases) and the FinnGen consortium (5,347 cases and 213,445 noncases). The univariable and multivariable MR analyses were applied to evaluate the causal, independent effect of these potential risk factors upon urolithiasis. Effects from the two consortia were combined by the meta-analysis methods. RESULTS: Higher genetically predicted sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG, OR, 0.708; 95% CI, 0.555 to 0.903), estradiol (OR, 0.179; 95% CI, 0.042 to 0.751), tea intake (OR, 0.550; 95% CI, 0.345 to 0.878), alcoholic drinks per week (OR, 0.992; 95% CI, 0.987 to 0.997), and some physical activity (e.g., swimming, cycling, keeping fit, and bowling, OR, 0.054; 95% CI, 0.008 to 0.363) were significantly associated with a lower risk of urolithiasis. In the Multivariate Mendelian Randomization (MVMR) analyses, the significant causal associations between estradiol, SHBG, tea intake, and alcoholic drinks per week with urolithiasis were robust even after adjusting for potential confounding variables. However, the previously observed causal association between other exercises and urolithiasis was no longer significant after adjusting for these factors. CONCLUSIONS: The univariable and multivariable MR findings highlight the independent and significant roles of estradiol, SHBG, tea intake, and alcoholic drinks per week in the development of urolithiasis, which might provide a deeper insight into urolithiasis risk factors and supply potential preventative strategies.

Analysis of Traditional Chinese Medicine Constitution Types Among Adult Urolithiasis Patients in Wuhu, China.

Objective: This study aims to analyze the correlation between urinary calculi formation and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) constitution among individuals in Wuhu. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted at our hospital from December 2020 to December 2021. A total of 140 cases were selected for the study population. The patients underwent thorough clinical and statistical analysis, and their TCM constitution classification was determined based on TCM constitution theory. Additionally, the study assessed the urinary stone composition of these 140 patients using the SUN-3G intelligent stone analyzer. Results: Among the 140 patients, the largest group comprised patients with a peaceful constitution, accounting for 36.43%. The second largest group, at 23.57%, included patients with constitution type A (peaceful + any other TCM constitution). Following that, patients with constitution type A G (Yang deficiency + any other TCM constitution) represented the third largest group at 7.14%. Conclusions: The majority of patients demonstrated a constitution characterized by peace and substance. Therefore, it is imperative to allocate medical resources strategically to enhance the effectiveness of Traditional Chinese Medicine syndrome differentiation in treatment.

Why is childhood urolithiasis increasing? Etiology, diagnosis and management: a single-center experience.

BACKGROUND: Globally, urolithiasis is becoming more and more common among children. We aimed to determine the etiology, and the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches in patients with urolithiasis. METHODS: This was a retrospective study which included all patients (aged 1 month-18 years) admitted to the pediatric nephrology clinic in Elazig Fethi Sekin City Hospital with urolithiasis between November 2019 and 2021. Only patients whose diagnosis of urolithiasis was confirmed by urinary ultrasonography were included in the study, while patients with chronic diseases (neurological diseases such as epilepsy, cerebral palsy, chronic bowel diseases, etc.) predisposing to kidney stone formation were not. Demographic characteristics, serum and urine biochemical parameters, urine metabolic and kidney stone metabolic and chemical analyses, urinary tract ultrasonography findings and treatment modalities were collected. RESULTS: One hundred ninety-seven patients (91 female and 106 male) were included in the study. Hypervitaminosis D was detected in 4 (2%) patients, suppressed parathyroid hormone in 12 (6%) and hypercalcemia in 27 (14%) patients. Metabolic screening showed hypercalciuria in 69 (35%) patients, hypocitraturia in 39 (20%), hyperoxaluria in 15 (8%) and cystinuria in 6 (3%) patients. Eighty three (42%) patients had a positive family history for kidney stones. One hundred eighteen (60%) patients received potassium citrate treatment, 71 (36%) were given hydration and diet recommendations without medical treatment, 6 (3%) received tiopronin treatment, and 2 (1%) patients were treated surgically. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that Vitamin D supplementation at doses higher than 400 IU/day may be a risk factor for kidney stones in children. We observed that mothers tend not to give water to infants who are breastfed or formula-fed in the first year of life. K-citrate treatment can be a good option for prevention and dissolution of stones by alkalinization.

Urinary stone disease in Syrian children.

BACKGROUND: Pediatric urinary stone disease (USD) is a costly medical problem. This study aims to assess the clinical characteristics and outcomes of common and rare causes of pediatric USD. METHODS: A retrospective descriptive cohort study included all children < 13 years of age with confirmed USD admitted to the Children's University Hospital in Damascus, Syria, from January 2013 to December 2019. The study sample was divided into two groups based on etiologies: common and rare causes groups. RESULTS: We evaluated 235 patients; 147 of them were males, and the male-to-female ratio was 1.7:1. The common causes group consisted of 203 patients (mean age 3.52 ± 3.66 years) and mainly included metabolic disorders (45.5%) and anatomical abnormalities (22.3%), while the rare causes group included 32 cases (mean age 4.93 ± 4.08 years), 12 patients with uric acid stones (37.5%), 7 patients with cystinuria (21.9%), and primary hyperoxaluria in 5 patients (15.6%). In addition, 39.6% of study patients were born to consanguineous marriages. Sixty-two patients developed AKI, and eleven patients had chronic kidney disease (CKD). Patients with rare causes were more likely to have AKI, CKD, bilateral stones, and recurrent stones (P-value < 0.05). Stone analysis was performed on 83 patients, and the main stone types were calcium oxalate (34.9%), uric acid (14.4%), and struvite stones (12%). Surgery was the most performed treatment in 101 patients (56.7%). CONCLUSION: Patients with rare causes of pediatric USD are at a higher risk for severe complications and require early diagnosis and management. The high rate of uric acid stones in our society requires further evaluation for possible underlying causes. A higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information.

Stone disease in low- and middle-income countries: could augmented reality have a role in its management?

Urolithiasis is a global phenomenon. Cystolithiasis is common in parts of Africa due to low protein intake and dehydration from endemic diarrhoeal illnesses. Nephrolithiasis is less prevalent than in high-income countries, probably due to a variety of lifestyle issues, such as a more elemental diet, higher physical activity, and less obesity. Although renal stones are less common in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), the social and economic impacts of nephrolithiasis are still considerable; many stones present late or with complications such as upper urinary tract obstruction or urosepsis. These may lead to the development of chronic kidney disease, or end-stage renal failure in a small proportion of cases, conditions for which there is very poor provision in most LMICs. Early treatment of nephrolithiasis by the least invasive method possible can, however, reduce the functional consequences of urinary stone disease. Although extracorporeal lithotripsy is uncommon, and endoscopic interventions for stone are not widespread in most of Africa, percutaneous nephrolithotomy and ureteroscopic renal surgery are viable techniques in those regional centres with infrastructure to support them. Longitudinal mentoring has been shown to be a key step in the adoption of these minimally invasive procedures by local surgeons, something that has been difficult during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic due to travel restriction. Augmented reality (AR) technology is an alternative means of providing remote mentoring, something that has been trialled by Urolink, the MediTech Trust and other global non-governmental organisations during this period. Our preliminary experience suggests that this is a viable technique for promulgating skills in LMICs where appropriate connectivity exists to support remote communication. AR may also have long-term promise for decreasing the reliance upon short-term surgical visits to consolidate competence, thereby reducing the carbon footprint of global surgical education.

Caracterización clínico-epidemiológica de la urolitiasis / Clinical-epidemiological description of urolithiasis

Introducción: Las urolitiasis ocasionan dolor, deterioro funcional renal y notorias erogaciones económicas. Objetivos: Identificar las características clínico-epidemiológicas de la nefrolitiasis. Métodos: Estudio descriptivo, transversal. Se estudiaron 2 923 personas pertenecientes a tres consultorios del Policlínico Plaza; municipio Plaza de la Revolución, provincia La Habana, Cuba., seleccionados por muestreo simple aleatorio de los 16 con que cuenta el área de salud. Los datos se obtuvieron mediante encuesta y entrevista estructurada. La información fue procesada de forma automatizada (IBMSPSS 22.0). Se utilizó análisis de distribución de frecuencias, se calcularon tasas de prevalencia, y fue empleado el test de homogeneidad. Resultados: La prevalencia de urolitiasis fue de 4,99 por cada 100 habitantes, de 6,3 entre los varones y de 5,7 en los de piel blanca. La edad promedio al diagnóstico fue de 39,3 años. Entre los factores de riesgo de litiasis predominó la alta ingestión de oxalatos (97,3 por ciento). La ecografía fue la forma de diagnóstico más usada (67,8 por ciento). La fitoterapia fue el tratamiento médico más utilizado (69,2 por ciento). Al 16,4 por ciento de los pacientes se les expidió certificado médico en los últimos dos años. Conclusiones: La prevalencia de litiasis urinaria en el Policlínico Docente Plaza de la Revolución es elevada, con predominio en el sexo masculino, en sujetos de piel blanca y en las edades medias de la vida. La alta ingestión de oxalato es el factor de riesgo de litiasis urinaria más frecuente encontrado. La forma de diagnóstico más utilizada es la ecografía y el tratamiento más empleado es la fitoterapia(AU)

Introduction: Urolithiasis causes pain, renal functional deterioration and notorious economic expenses. Objectives: To identify the clinical-epidemiological characteristics of nephrolithiasis. Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted in a total of 2,923 people from to three clinics of Plaza de la Revolution Teaching Community Clinic, Plaza de la Revolution municipality, Havana province, Cuba. They were selected by simple random sampling from the 16 clinics that the health area has. The data was obtained through a survey and structured interview. The information was processed automatically (IBMSPSS 22.0). Frequency distribution analysis was used, prevalence rates were calculated and the homogeneity test was used. Results: The prevalence of urolithiasis was 4.99 per 100 inhabitants, 6.3 among men and 5.7 among white-skinned men. The average age at diagnosis was 39.3 years. Among the risk factors for lithiasis, the high intake of oxalates prevailed (97.3 percent). Ultrasound was the most used form of diagnosis (67.8 percent). Phytotherapy was the most used medical treatment (69.2 percent). A medical permit was issued to 16.4 percent of the patients in the last two years. Conclusions: The prevalence of urinary lithiasis in Plaza de la Revolution Teaching Community Clinic is high, prevailing in males, in white-skinned and middle aged subjects. High oxalate intake is the most common risk factor for urinary lithiasis found. The most used form of diagnosis is ultrasound and the most used treatment is phytotherapy(AU)

Tea and coffee consumption and the risk of urinary stones-a systematic review of the epidemiological data.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between the consumption of coffee and tea with urolithiasis. We evaluated large epidemiological and small clinical studies to draw conclusions regarding their lithogenic risk. METHODS: A systematic review was performed using the Medline and Scopus databases, in concordance with the PRISMA statement. English, French, and Spanish language studies regarding the consumption of caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee and tea, and the relationship to urinary stone disease were reviewed. Case reports and letters, unpublished studies, posters, and comments were excluded. RESULTS: As per the inclusion criteria, 13 studies were included in the final review. Most studies, including four large prospective studies and one meta-analysis, reported a reduced risk of stone formation for coffee and tea. Caffeine has a diuretic effect and increases the urinary excretion of calcium, but if these losses are compensated for, moderate caffeine intakes may have little or no deleterious effects. Green and Herbal teas infused for short time had low oxalate content compared to black tea. CONCLUSION: There is no evidence that moderate consumption of coffee raises the risk for stone formation in healthy individuals, provided the recommended daily fluid intake is maintained. The currently available literature supports in general a protective role for tea against the stone formation, mainly for green tea. However, heterogeneity of published data and lack of standardization needs to be addressed before final and clear conclusions can be given to patients and to the public in general.

Post-renal transplant urolithiasis in children: an increasingly diagnosed complication: a retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: Urolithiasis in renal transplant (RTx) recipients is a potential cause of allograft loss if obstruction is untreated. It is not clear if paediatric transplant recipients are following the global trend for increased prevalence of urolithiasis over time. DESIGN/SETTING/PATIENTS: A retrospective chart review was undertaken to evaluate the frequency, risk factors and characteristics of post-RTx urolithiasis over two decades (1995-2016), in a tertiary Australian paediatric hospital. RESULTS: Stones were diagnosed in 8 of 142 (5.6%) recipients, 6 of whom were transplanted in the latter decade. All patients were male, with a median age 4.9 years and median weight 11.8 kg. Presentation was with haematuria (n=4), pain (n=2), dysuria (n=2), stone passage (n=1) and asymptomatic (n=1). Time to presentation was bimodal; three stones were identified in the initial 3 months post RTx and the remainder after 31-53 months. Two stones were in association with retained suture material and two patients had recurrent urinary tract infections. The average stone size was 8.4 mm. Five stones were analysed; all contained calcium oxalate, three were mixed, including one with uric acid. Five (83.3%) children had hypercalciuria but none had hypercalcaemia. Cystolithotripsy was the the most common treatment (n=5), in combination with citrate supplementation. No graft was lost due to stones. CONCLUSIONS: Calculi occur with increasing frequency after renal transplantation. Clinicians need a high index of suspicion as symptoms may be atypical in this population. The cause for the increased frequency of stones in transplant recipients is not clear but is in keeping with the increase seen in the general paediatric population.

The role of zinc in urinary stone disease.

In recent years, the role of trace elements in lithogenesis has received steadily increasing attention. It is well documented that some trace elements can influence the morphology and speed of the crystallization process. Zinc has been found in significant amounts in calcium stones relative or organic stones (uric acid and cystine), probably substituting calcium in crystals because of their similarity in charge and size. High Zn levels are present in carbapatite of Randal's plaques suggesting that zinc could promote calcium phosphate deposition in the medullar interstitium. Large-scale epidemiological studies have found an association of increased dietary zinc intake with increased risk of nephrolithiasis in adults but not in adolescents. Most studies examining urinary zinc levels in adults have reported increased urinary Zn excretion in stone formers. In an experimental model of organic crystal formation produced by silencing xanthine dehydrogenase in Drosophila fly, maneuvers that reduce Zn excretion have shown to reduce crystal formation in the lumen of the Malpighian tubules. This is curious because this is not a model of calcium stone formation. Finally, zinc supplementation has been associated with increased admissions for urinary lithiasis in men, but no change in calcium stone formation in children. Perhaps, some of these contradicting findings can be explained in part by the in vitro effect of zinc on the type and amount of calcium phosphate formed: At low concentrations, Zn inhibited the crystal growth of dicalcium phosphate dihydrate, octacalcium phosphate, and apatite, and at higher concentrations, it promoted the formation of amorphous calcium phosphate. Thus, further studies are needed to see whether manipulation of Zn metabolism can inhibit calcium stone formation.

Role of Spiritual Sentiments in Improving the Compliance of Water Intake in Patients with Urolithiasis.

The aim of this study was to compare the compliance for water intake and rate of recurrence between spiritually motivated and non-motivated patients of renal tract stone disease. It is a multi centric prospective cohort study, conducted in Department of Urology, Institute of Kidney Diseases and Peshawar Medical College, from January 10, 2009 to December 2012. A total of 180 patients with comparable demographic, IQ, EQ and BMI after achieving complete stone clearance were divided into two equal groups. Both groups were instructed to increase the water intake timetable according to AUA guidelines. Group 'A' comprising of 90 patients who were identified as spiritually motivated patients based on questioner of FICA 12 is also instructed that increasing the water intake is mentioned in contemporary Islamic medicine. No spiritual instruction was given to Group B. The instructed guidelines and practice for amount and timing of water intake were recalled from participants at the end of 6 and 12 months. The data were recorded on structured proforma and was analyzed using SPSS version 17. The mean age of the patient in Group A was 37.5 years (18-70 years), while in Group B it was 34 years (18-65 years). Urolithiasis affected predominantly male gender in both groups. Sixty-five patients (72.2 %) in Group A have significant compliance (p < 0.001) for water intake over Group B (46 %). The spiritually motivated Group A has significantly reduced rate of recurrence of stones in 23 patients versus 37 in Group B. The spiritually motivated patients had significantly better compliance for water intake and reduced rate of recurrence versus non-motivated individuals in urolithiasis.

Etiologic risk factors and vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms in under one-year-old infants with urolithiasis.

The incidence of urinary tract stones in infancy has been increasing in Turkey. Risk factors and vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms were investigated in infants aged < 1 year who had stones. Forty infants with urinary tract stones and 80 infants without stones, aged < 1 year were enrolled in this study. Detailed surveys were taken of all infants, metabolic parameters and ApaI and FokI VDR gene polymorphisms were investigated. Infants with stones tended to be more commonly fed formula and multivitamins (vitamins A, C, D) (p < 0.05). Positive family history came into prominence in the stony group (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in ApaI and FokI VDR gene polymorphisms between the groups with stones and the control groups. However, CA genotype of ApaI polymorphism was associated with family history and C allele of ApaI was related with family history and hypercalciuria (p < 0.05). Hypercalciuria emerged as an underlying metabolic abnormality in the etiology of stones, and was observed at a rate of 38%. Infants who are given formula and multivitamins for vitamin D supplementation are at increased risk for the formation of urinary tract stones. VDR gene polymorphisms cause the formation of urinary tract stones and affect calcium (Ca) metabolism.

Caracterización clínico epidemiológica de la litiasis urinaria en un área rural de Artemisa / Clinical and epidemiological characterization of urolithiasis in a rural area of Artemisa province

Introducción: las urolitiasis tienen una elevada frecuencia de presentación, y de recidivas, propician el deterioro funcional renal y su manejo resulta costoso.Objetivo: conocer la prevalencia, frecuencia de recurrencias, edad al diagnóstico, y factores de riesgo de la enfermedad litiásica en los pobladores de la comunidad Eduardo García Lavandero de la provincia Artemisa entre septiembre de 2012 y enero de 2013.Métodos: se realizó estudio observacional descriptivo transversal. Toda la información fue procesada con el paquete SPSS versión 22.0. Los datos primarios del estudio se obtuvieron de una encuesta a la población general, y una entrevista y encuesta dietética a los pacientes litiásicos. Se calculó la tasa de prevalencia de enfermedad litiásica y se utilizó el análisis de distribución de frecuencias, estadígrafos descriptivos y el test de homogeneidad.Resultados: fueron encuestados 2200 sujetos, 1087 (49,4 por ciento) masculinos y 1113 (50,6 por ciento) femeninos. Se identificaron 101 litiásicos, para una prevalencia de 4,59 por cada 100 habitantes, con una edad promedio de 46,4 años, 69 (68,3 por ciento) de piel blanca. El 47,5 por ciento presentó recurrencias. La edad al diagnóstico más frecuente fue entre 20 y 29 años (38,9 por ciento). El medio diagnóstico más utilizado fue la ecografía (57,4 por ciento). La alta ingestión de oxalato fue el factor de riesgo más común (99 por ciento). La medicina verde fue el tratamiento más empleado (67,3 por ciento). En los dos últimos años fueron hospitalizados 18 sujetos (15,9 por ciento) por esta causa.Conclusiones: las urolitiaisis tienen una alta prevalencia y recurrencia. La forma de diagnóstico más utilizada es la ecografía y el tratamiento más empleado es el médico, primando la medicina verde(AU)

Introduction: Urolithiasis occurs very frequently and has common relapses, it favors renal functional deterioration and the management is costly.Objective: To find out the prevalence, the frequency of relapses, the age at diagnosis and the risk factors for lithiasis in people living in Eduardo Garcia Lavandero community in Artemisa province.Methods: Cross-sectional, descriptive and observational study conducted from September 2012 to January 2013. The whole information was processed with SPSS version 22 package. Primary data for the study was collected from survey carried out in the general population and from an interview and a dietary survey administered to lithiatis patients The rate of prevalence of this disease was estimated and the study used the frequency distribution analysis, the summary statistics and the homogeneity test.Results: Two thousand and two hundred individuals, 1087 (49.4 percent) males and 1113 (50.6 percent) females were surveyed. One hundred one people with lithiasis were identified, for a prevalence rate of 4.59 per 100 inhabitants, aged 46.5 years as average and 69 (68.3 percent) were Caucasians. In the study group, 47.5 percent suffered relapses whereas the the most common age at diagnosis was 20 to 29 years (38.9 percent). The most used diagnostic means was echography (57.4 percent). High oxalate intake was the most frequent risk factor (99 percent) whereas herbal medicine was the most used treatment (67.3). In the last two years, 18 patients had been hospitalized (15.9 percent) due to this disease.Conclusions: Urolithiasis is highly prevalent and recurrent. The most used diagnostic means was echography and the medical treatment prevailed, mainly the herbal medicine(AU)

Urolithiasis risk: a comparison between healthcare providers and the general population.

BACKGROUND: Healthcare providers have many health-related risk factors that might contribute to urolithiasis: a heavy workload, a stressful workplace, and an unhealthy quality of life. However, the urolithiasis risk in healthcare providers is not clear. METHODS: Using Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database, we identified 50,226 physicians, 20,677 pharmacists, 122,357 nurses, and 25,059 other healthcare providers as the study cohort and then randomly selected an identical number of patients who are not healthcare providers (general population) as the comparison cohort for this study. Conditional logistical regression analysis was used to compare the urolithiasis risk between healthcare providers and comparisons. Physician specialty subgroups were also analyzed. RESULTS: Physicians had a lower urolithiasis risk than did the general population (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 0.682; 95 % confidence interval [CI]: 0.634-0.732) and other healthcare providers (AOR: 0.661; 95 % CI 0.588-0.742) after adjusting for hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, coronary artery disease, and residence location. For pharmacists, nurses, and other healthcare providers, the urolithiasis risk was not significantly different than that for general population. Subgroup analysis showed that surgeons and family medicine physicians had a lower urolithiasis risk than did physician comparisons (AOR: 0.778; 95 % CI: 0.630-0.962 and AOR: 0.737; 95 % CI: 0.564-0.962, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Although job stress and heavy workloads affect physicians' health, physicians had a lower urolithiasis risk than did the general population and other healthcare providers. This might be attributable to their greater medical knowledge and access to healthcare. Our findings provide useful information for public health policy makers about the disease risks of healthcare providers.

[Pathogenic factors in calcium oxalate stones: Epidemiological investigation]. / Recherche de facteurs lithogènes au cours des lithiases oxalo-calciques : enquête épidémiologique.

INTRODUCTION: Calcium oxalate stones are the most common urolithiasis. Changes in dietary habits, socio-economic and health status of populations explain its progression. The aim of our study was to determine metabolic factors leading to lithiasis and clarify its causes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective study of 100 patients with calcium oxalate stones identified by morpho-constitutional study, collected in our department over a period of 5 years (2008-2013). We analyzed clinical, radiological and metabolic data. RESULTS: They were 73 men and 27 women (gender ratio: 2.7), aged meanly of 44.8 years. Dietary survey revealed inadequate calcium intake in 87% of cases. Urinary abnormalities were hypocitraturia (34%), hypomagnesuria (32%) and outflow hypercalciuria (21%). Crystalluria was positive in 44% of cases. Whewellite was the most common crystalline form. Calculi were bilateral (53%), renal (85%) and mainly collected after urological procedures (74%). Infrared analysis showed that 81% of stones have a heterogeneous composition. Pure Whewellite or combined with other compounds was the most frequent (31%). Idiopathic calcium oxalate lithiasis was the most common etiology (69%). Among secondary etiologies, diabetes was most frequently found (10%). CONCLUSION: Our epidemiological study of calcium oxalate stones has allowed us to identify the high frequency of food hyperoxaluria partly explained by a low calcium intake and a diet rich in oxalate phytotherapy. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.

The Use and the Prescription Pattern of Traditional Chinese Medicine Among Urolithiasis Patients in Taiwan: A Population-Based Study.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the pattern of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) usage for urolithiasis patients in Taiwan and to determine the most common Chinese herbal products used for urolithiasis. DESIGN: Retrospective review of urolithiasis patients treated with TCM treatment. SETTINGS/LOCATION: One million randomly selected samples in the Taiwanese National Health Insurance Research Database between 1997 and 2008. PATIENTS: Eighty-two thousand five hundred and fifty-one newly diagnosed urolithiasis patients. OUTCOME MEASURES: The correlation between TCM treatment, demographic factors, or medical conditions. RESULTS: A total of 62.6% of urolithiasis patients use TCM treatment. A younger age, female gender, polypharmacy, multiple comorbidities, and stone in the lower urinary tract result in a greater tendency to use TCM, after adjusting for demographic factors. Jia-Wei-Xiao-Yao-San Extract Powder and Ji-Sheng-Shen-Qi-Wan Extract Powder are the most frequently prescribed Chinese medicine formulae. CONCLUSION: This is the first study to examine the use of and the prescription pattern for TCM in urolithiasis patients using a random, national population-based sample. More than 62% of urolithiasis patients use TCM, and patients with polypharmacy, multiple comorbidities, and stone in the ureter are more likely to use TCM. The most frequently prescribed Chinese medicine formulae were Jia-Wei-Xiao-Yao-San Extract Powder and Ji-Sheng-Shen-Qi-Wan Extract Powder, which were reported to retard the progression of renal failure and alleviate flank pain or tenderness.

Stone formation and management after bariatric surgery.

Obesity is a significant health concern and is associated with an increased risk of nephrolithiasis, particularly in women. The underlying pathophysiology of stone formation in obese patients is thought to be related to insulin resistance, dietary factors, and a lithogenic urinary profile. Uric acid stones and calcium oxalate stones are common in these patients. Use of surgical procedures for obesity (bariatric surgery) has risen over the past two decades. Although such procedures effectively manage obesity-dependent comorbidities, several large, controlled studies have revealed that modern bariatric surgeries increase the risk of nephrolithiasis by approximately twofold. In patients who have undergone bariatric surgery, fat malabsorption leads to hyperabsorption of oxalate, which is exacerbated by an increased permeability of the gut to oxalate. Patients who have undergone bariatric surgery show characteristic 24 h urine parameters including low urine volume, low urinary pH, hypocitraturia, hyperoxaluria and hyperuricosuria. Prevention of stones with dietary limitation of oxalate and sodium and a high intake of fluids is critical, and calcium supplementation with calcium citrate is typically required. Potassium citrate is valuable for treating the common metabolic derangements as it raises urinary pH, enhances the activity of stone inhibitors, reduces the supersaturation of calcium oxalate, and corrects hypokalaemia. Both pyridoxine and probiotics have been shown in small studies to reduce hyperoxaluria, but further study is necessary to clarify their effects on stone morbidity in the bariatric surgery population.

[Urinary calculi and infection]. / Calcolosi urinaria e infezione.

Infection urinary stones resulting from urease-producing bacteria are composed by struvite and/or carbonate apatite. Bacterial urease splits urea and promotes the formation of ammonia and carbon dioxide leading to urine alkalinization and formation of phosphate salts. Proteus species are urease-producers, whereas a limited number of strains of other Gram negative and positive species may produce urease. Ureaplasma urealyticum and Corynebacterium urealyticum are urease-producers that are not isolated by conventional urine cultures, but require specific tests for identification. Primary treatment requires surgical removal of stones as complete as possible. Extracorporeal and endoscopic treatments are usually preferred, while open surgery is actually limited to few selected cases. Residual stones or fragments should be treated by chemolysis via ureteral catheter or nephrostomy or administration of citrate salts in order to achieve a stone-free renal unit. Postoperatively, recurrent urinary tract infection should be treated with appropriate antibiotic treatment although long-term antibiotic prophylaxis can cause resistance. Urinary acidification has been proposed for the prophylaxis of infection stones, but long-term acidification is difficult to achieve in urine infected by urease-producing bacteria. Urease inhibitors lead to prevention and/or dissolution of stones and encrustations in patients with infection by urea-splitting bacteria, but their use is limited by their toxicity. The administration of citrate salts involves an increase of the value of nucleation pH (pHn), that is the pH value at which calcium and magnesium phosphate crystallization occurs, in a greater way than the corresponding increase in the urinary pH due to its alkalinizing effect and resulting in a reduction of the risk of struvite crystallization. In conclusion prevention of the recurrence of infection stones can be achieved by an integrated approach tailored on the single patient. Complete clearance of the stone must be achieved by primary surgical procedure and residual fragments should be extensively treated. In the case of persistent infection, conservative measures, such as acidification and urease inhibitors or citrate administration, should be adopted to minimize its effect on urinary saturation with respect to struvite.

A meta-analysis of coffee intake and risk of urolithiasis.

OBJECTIVE: Epidemiologic studies have reported various results relating coffee to urolithiasis. A meta-analysis of cohort and case-control studies was conducted to pool the relative risk (RR) estimates of the association between coffee and urolithiasis. METHODS: Eligible studies were retrieved via both computer searches and review of references. We analyzed abstracted data with random effects models to obtain the summary RR estimates. A dose-response meta-analysis was performed for studies reporting categorical RR estimates for a series of exposure levels. RESULTS: A total of 6 studies (2 cohort and 4 case-control studies) on coffee intake were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled odds ratio (OR) showed a significant influence of the highest coffee consumption (OR = 0.70, 95% confidence interval 0.60-0.82) on the risk of urolithiasis. Coffee exhibited an inverse dose-response relationship with urolithiasis. In stratified analysis, a significant inverse association between coffee and urolithiasis was observed in study design, geographical region and gender subgroup. CONCLUSIONS: The overall current literature suggests that coffee intake is associated with a decreased risk of urolithiasis. Further efforts should be made to clarify the underlying biological mechanisms.