Composition analysis of 1,495 cases of upper urinary tract calculi: the role of age and gender.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to quantitatively analyze the calculi components of upper urinary tract calculi and to explore the relationship between calculus components, demographic characteristics, and underlying diseases. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Clinical data of 1,495 patients with upper urinary tract calculi were retrospectively collected. The calculi were divided into simple calcium oxalate, calcium oxalate mixed, calcium phosphate mixed, uric acid, magnesium ammonium phosphate, and other components. Statistical software SPSS 22.0 was used to analyze the differences between the stone compositions and various factors. The influencing factors (p < 0.05) were analyzed using multiple logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Among 1,495 patients with upper urinary tract calculi, simple calcium oxalate calculi were the most common component (39.7%), followed by calcium oxalate mixed calculi (30.4%), uric acid calculi (13.6%), calcium phosphate mixed calculi (10.4%), magnesium ammonium phosphate calculi (5.8%) and other component calculi (0.1%). Univariate analysis revealed statistically significant differences in stone composition according to gender, age, and hyperuricemia (p < 0.05). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that compared to men, the odds ratio (OR) values of calcium oxalate mixed stones, calcium phosphate mixed stones, and magnesium ammonium phosphate stones in women were 1.61, 2.50, and 4.17, respectively (p < 0.001). Compared with elderly patients, the OR values of calcium phosphate mixed stones in young and middle-aged patients were 3.14 and 2.70, respectively (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with different stone components had different demographic characteristics, and stone components were significantly different between gender and age. Calcium oxalate mixed stones were more common in females, and calcium phosphate mixed stones and magnesium ammonium phosphate stones were more common in females, young patients, and middle-aged patients.

Exploring the association between multiple factors and urolithiasis: A retrospective study and Mendelian randomization analysis.

To investigate the relationship between several factors and urinary stone as well as different stone compositions. To guide the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of urinary stone recurrence. We used bidirectional Mendelian randomization to analyze the causal relationship between hypertension and urinary stones, diabetes and urinary stones, and body mass index (BMI) and urinary stones. We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of patients with urinary stones admitted to a tertiary care hospital in Chongqing, China, from July 2015 to October 2022. Patients were included when they were first diagnosed with urinary stones. The odds ratio of calculi on hypertension estimated by inverse variance weighted was 8.46 (95%CI: 4.00-17.90, P = 2.25 × 10-8). The stone composition analysis showed that there were 3101 (67.02%) mixed, 1322 (28.57%) calcium oxalate monohydrate, 148 (3.20%) anhydrous uric acid, 16 (0.35%) magnesium ammonium phosphate hexahydrate, 11 (0.24%) dicalcium phosphate dihydrate, 10 (0.22%) carbonate apatite, 8 (0.17%) L-cystine, 4 ammonium uric acid (0.09%), and 7 other stone types (0.15%). Mendelian randomization studies have proven that urinary stones may be a potential risk factor for hypertension, while there is no causal relationship between diabetes and stones, BMI, and stones. Our retrospective study has shown that urinary stone components are closely associated with sex, age, hypertension, diabetes, and BMI. It is reasonable to suspect that treating a single stone component is ineffective in preventing recurrence. We also found that the peak incidence of urinary stones was at the most active stage of most people's working lives.

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards urinary system stones among the Chengdu population.

This cross-sectional study aimed to explore the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding urinary system stones among the general public in Chengdu, China. Conducted between January and June 2023, this research targeted individuals undergoing physical examinations at the Health Management Center of Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital. Structured questionnaires were administered to collect demographic information and assess KAP related to urinary system stones. Following meticulous scrutiny, 1014 valid questionnaires were retained for analysis. The computed scores for knowledge, attitude, and practice were 9.36 ± 4.23 (possible score range 0-17), 37.75 ± 7.20 (possible score range 11-55), and 30.77 ± 4.00 (possible score range 10-50), respectively. These outcomes suggested insufficient knowledge and moderately positive attitudes and practices among the participants. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) analysis revealed a direct impact of knowledge on attitude (ß = 0.967, P < 0.001), with attitude subsequently exerting a direct influence on practice (ß = 0.167, P < 0.001). This indicated an indirect impact of knowledge on practice. Additionally, there was a direct effect of knowledge on practice (ß = 0.167, P < 0.001). In conclusion, the general populace in Chengdu exhibited insufficient knowledge and moderate attitudes and practices concerning urinary stones. These findings underscore the imperative for targeted educational interventions aimed at enhancing public awareness and fostering positive attitudes and practices toward urinary stone prevention and management.

Composition analysis of renal and ureteral calculi in a single center in northern China in the past decade.

The current report aimed to evaluate the characteristics of stone composition in 3637 renal and ureteral calculi patients in a single center while clarifying its relationship with sex, age, and time. Out of 3637 cases of upper urinary tract stones, stone specimens were analyzed retrospectively. There were 2373 male patients aged 6 months-87 years, with an average age of 44.73 ±â€…15.63 years, and 1264 female patients aged 4 months-87 years, with an average age of 46.84 ±â€…16.00 years. The male-female ratio was 1.88:1. Five hundred twelve patients had ureteral calculi, and 3125 had renal calculi. The SPSS software helped analyze the relationship between renal and ureteral calculi composition and sex, age, and time. Stone composition demonstrated 2205 cases of calcium oxalate stones (60.6%), 518 carbonate apatite (14.2%), 386 uric acids (10.6%), 232 magnesium ammonium phosphate (6.4%), 117 calcium phosphate (3.2%), 76 cystine (2.1%), 47 sodium urate (1.3%), 31 others (0.9%), and 25 ammonium urate (0.7%) cases. The overall male-to-female sex ratio was 1.88:1. Stones in the upper urinary tract were significantly more frequent in men than in women between the ages of 31 and 60. However, such stones were significantly more frequent in women than men over 80 (P < .05). Cystine, Sodium urate, Carbonated apatite, and uric acid indicated significant differences between different age categories (all P < .001). Stone composition analyses revealed that the frequency of calcium oxalate calculi has increased annually, while cystine and carbonated apatite incidences have dropped annually over the past decade. The components of renal and ureteral calculi vary significantly based on age and sex, with calcium oxalate calculi being more frequent in men while magnesium ammonium phosphate stones are more frequent in female patients. The age between 31 and 60 years is the most prevalent for renal and ureteral calculi in men and women.

Surgical procedure and recurrence of upper urinary tract stone: a national-wide study based on hospitalized patients.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the influence of surgical intervention on recurrence risk of upper urinary tract stone and compare the medical burden of various surgical procedures. METHODS: This study analyzed data from patients with upper urinary tract stone extracted from a national database of hospitalized patients in China, from January 2013 to December 2018. Surgical recurrence was defined as patients experience surgical procedures for upper urinary tract stone again with a time interval over 90 days. Associations of surgical procedures with surgical recurrence were evaluated by Cox regression. RESULTS: In total, 556,217 patients with upper urinary tract stone were included in the present analysis. The mean age of the population was 49.9 ± 13.1 years and 64.1% were men. During a median follow-up of 2.7 years (IQR 1.5-4.0 years), 23,012 patients (4.1%) had surgical recurrence with an incidence rate of 14.9 per 1000 person-years. Compared to patients receiving open surgery, ESWL (HR, 1.59; 95% CI 1.49-1.70), URS (HR, 1.38; 95% CI 1.31-1.45), and PCNL (HR, 1.11; 95% CI 1.06-1.18) showed a greater risk for surgical recurrence. Patients receiving ESWL had the shortest hospital stay length and the lowest cost among the 4 procedures. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with open surgery, ESWL, URS, and PCNL are associated with higher risks of surgical recurrence for upper urinary tract stone, while ESWL showed the least medical burden including both expenditure and hospital stay length. How to keep balance of intervention efficacy and medical expenditure is an important issue to be weighed cautiously in clinic practice and studied more in the future.

Mixed stones: urinary stone composition, frequency and distribution by gender and age.

Proper analysis of urinary stone composition is a cornerstone for diagnosis, targeted treatment and recurrence prevention of urolithiasis. The aim of this study was to determine the composition, frequency and distribution of mixed stones according to gender and age of patients. A total of 42,519 urinary stones from 30,311 men and 12,208 women submitted between January 2007 and December 2020 were studied. Most urinary calculi consisted of two components (50.9%), followed by stones of a single constituent (27.1%) and three-component stones (21.9%), while four-component stones were only rarely identified (0.1%). Among all stones, 49.8% consisted of whewellite (COM), weddellite (COD), and mixtures of COM and COD, 33.8% were pure carbonate apatite (CA) and mixtures of CA with COM and/or COD, while 7.6% were composed of uric acid anhydrous (UAA), uric acid dihydrate (UAD), and mixed UAA and UAD. The remaining 8.8% of calculi were rare single-component stones and rare mixtures of various constituents. The number of stone components was inversely associated with age (p < 0.001). The proportion of men decreased significantly with the number of stone constituents, from 3.01:1 for single-component stones to 1.0:1 for four-component urinary calculi (p < 0.001). The vast majority of urinary calculi consisted of two or more components in varying proportions. While age was inversely associated with the number of stone constituents, the proportion of women increased significantly from single-component to four-component urinary calculi. A significant proportion of mixed stones could present a challenge for diagnosis and targeted recurrence prevention.

Risk assessment and prevention of urolithiasis in urban areas of Baoding, China.

Urolithiasis, or the formation of calculi in the urinary system, represents a prevalent urological condition frequently encountered among individuals aged 30 to 55 years. An in-depth analysis of the composition of these calculi holds significant promise in shedding light on the underlying etiological and pathogenic factors contributing to this ailment. The primary objective of this study was to delineate the principal components comprising urinary system calculi within a cohort of patients who sought medical intervention at a tertiary grade A hospital located in Baoding City. Furthermore, our investigation entailed a comprehensive examination of the physical and morphological characteristics exhibited by these calculi. In this study, a total of 2307 individuals afflicted with urinary system calculi were recruited as participants, and a corresponding number of 2307 calculous specimens were subjected to thorough examination. The specimens were examined using infrared spectroscopy. We collected and examined patient data including gender, age, location of the calculi, employment status, residential area, and other factors. The middle-aged demographic exhibited a conspicuous predilection for urinary system calculi, wherein a notable gender disparity was observed, with a male-to-female ratio of 1.63 to 1. Among the enrolled patients, kidney calculi were prevalent in 1270 cases, ureteral calculi were documented in 983 cases, and bladder calculi were encountered in 46 instances. Notably, the principal components comprising these calculi were identified as calcium oxalate and apatite, while uric acid and ammonium magnesium phosphate were comparatively less frequently encountered. Furthermore, the analysis of calculus composition across patients residing in distinct geographical regions did not reveal any statistically significant variations. The identification of components within upper urinary tract calculi plays a pivotal role in elucidating the root causes of calculus formation. This valuable information empowers healthcare professionals, particularly nursing staff, to provide personalized dietary and health guidance to patients, thereby enhancing the quality of care and promoting more effective management of this condition.

Trends in urolith composition and factors associated with different urolith types in dogs from the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland between 2010 and 2020.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine changes in urolith trends and factors associated with different urolith types in dogs from the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland between 2010 and 2020. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A laboratory database was searched for canine urolith submissions between 2010 and 2020. Trends in urolith composition between 2014 and 2020, and associations between patient characteristics with each urolith type were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 1162 submissions were included. Struvite (39.0%), calcium oxalate (27.8%) and compound (10.2%) were the most prevalent uroliths. Calcium oxalate urolith (CaOx) incidence significantly increased from 27.8% to 31.2% and that of struvite significantly decreased from 41.7% to 33.0% between 2014 and 2020. Struvite uroliths were overrepresented among females compared to males (odds ratio 8.7, 95% confidence interval 6.6 to 11.5). Males (odds ratio 9.6, 95% confidence interval 6.9 to 13.3) and dogs >7 years of age (odds ratio 4.1, 95%, confidence interval 3.0 to 5.4) were more likely to have CaOx while males (odds ratio 9.6, 95% confidence interval 5.3 to 17.8) and dogs ≤7 year of age, purine uroliths (odds ratio 3.0, 95% confidence interval 1.8 to 5.0). Incidence was higher in bichon frise (odds ratio 1.7, 95% confidence interval 1.3 to 2.4) and Yorkshire terrier (odds ratio 2.8, 95% confidence interval 1.9 to 4.1) for CaOx and higher in shih-tzu for compound uroliths (odds ratio 1.7, 95% confidence interval 1.1 to 2.7) compared to the remaining reported breeds. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Factors associated with different uroliths were similar to the ones previously reported. Proportion of CaOx submissions increased and that of struvite decreased over the study period which was in agreement with the changes identified in other European countries.

A retrospective study on epidemiology and management of canine cystine uroliths in one part of Norway from 2015 to 2020.

BACKGROUND: Urinary tract problems are a common complaint in small animal medicine and urolithiasis is considered to be an important cause of urinary tract disease in dogs. In this study the main aim was to investigate whether the occurrence of cystine urolithiasis increased during a five-year period. A second aim was to evaluate possible risk-factors as breed, age and gender. This study also evaluated how urine specific gravity, pH and level of cystine in urine responded to preventive strategies. Medical records of dogs with urolithiasis presented at nine Norwegian animal clinics and one animal hospital between 2015 and 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: The incidence of cystine uroliths increased significantly during the five study years (R2 = 0.72, P = 0.0199). Dogs with cystine uroliths were significantly younger (5.0 years (n = 84, 95% CI [4.4-5.6])) when they were diagnosed with cystine uroliths compared to dogs with other types of uroliths (8.1 years (n = 255, 95% CI[7.8-8.5]) P < < 0.0001). Cystine levels in urine were increased in 93% of the dogs with cystine urolithiasis. Cystinuria decreased significantly after neutering (P < 0.0001). Breeds most commonly affected with cystine urolithiasis in this study were Staffordshire bull terrier, Danish Swedish farmdog and Chihuahua. CONCLUSIONS: The results from this study supports a suggested genetic basis for cystine urolithiasis as described in previous studies. Neutering is considered an important part of preventing reoccurrence since cystine values decreased significantly after neutering.

Lifestyle and Diet as Risk Factors for Urinary Stone Formation: A Study in a Taiwanese Population.

Background and Objectives: Urinary tract stones have long been a common ailment afflicting the population, with a high incidence and a wide distribution across different age groups. Effectively preventing the occurrence of urinary tract stones is of paramount importance. The primary aim of this study is to investigate the correlations between individual characteristics, water consumption habits, dietary habits, exercise habits, and the occurrence of urinary tract stones in a Taiwanese population. Materials and Methods: This study is cross-sectional research conducted over one month in 2022. One hundred eligible urinary stone cases were recruited through physician screening at outpatient clinics, and an additional one hundred samples from surgical outpatients without urinary tract stones were included as the control group. A questionnaire survey was employed to gather information on demographic variables, dietary habits, water consumption, and exercise habits of the cases. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and logistic regression were used to explore the impact of relevant factors on urinary stone formation. Results: The analysis results revealed that among the demographic variables, males exhibited a higher risk of contracting urinary tract stones than females, and the majority of cases fell within the 40- to 49-year-old age group. Unhealthy lifestyle habits such as smoking and betel nut chewing also demonstrated a higher susceptibility to urinary tract stones. A logistic regression analysis showed that individuals who engaged in physical activity more than three times per week and those with inadequate water intakes had a higher risk of developing urinary tract stones. Conclusions: There is a close relationship between lifestyle and urinary tract stones. It is recommended that individuals continue to hydrate adequately during exercise.

How did COVID-19 affect acute urolithiasis? An inner Anatolian experience.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the number of patients seeking medical help from the emergency service (ES) with non-COVID complaints, consequencing in postponed presentations of different surgical and medical situations. Acute urinary stone disease is one of these situations and needs to be investigated in terms of the effect of COVID-19 on its presentation to the ES. METHODS: In this observational, retrospective, and single-center study, we scanned each abdominopelvic computed tomography requested in ES for possible acute urolithiasis during 1 year before and after the outbreak of COVID-19. We searched to state the number of abdominopelvic computed tomographies applied and the number of ratifying urinary stone positivity. We enrolled patients' gender, age, stone location, and stone size. We also recorded C-reactive protein, leukocyte count, and creatinine and noted how long the patients suffering from pain, the duration until the intervention, and the management option selected for each case. RESULTS: Total number of abdominopelvic computed tomographies performed was 1089. Of these, 517 were pre-pandemic and 572 were peri-pandemic. The number of pre and peri-pandemic stone-positive scans were, respectively, 363 (70.2%) and 379 (66.2%) (P=0.643). The females' percentage in the COVID-19 period (37.2%) was significantly lower than in the pre-pandemic period (54.3%) (P=0.013). The median size of ureter stones of the pre and peri-pandemic groups were, respectively, 4.8 mm and 3.9 mm depicting no significant difference (P=0.197). No significant difference was sighted between the pre and peri-pandemic groups concerning stone locations, blood parameters, painful duration, treatment options, and time to intervention. CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in neither sicker nor fewer patients suffering from acute ureteric colic in the ES.

Consideration of Comparing Empirical and Evidence-Based Knowledge on Nephrology in the Example of Ahi Çelebi's Fifteenth Century Turkish Treatise on the Urinary Calculus.

The objective of the study is to discuss the question, "how did physicians come to grasp some facts in the absence of scientific experimentation and medical technology?" within the framework of examples from Ahi? Ahmed Çelebi's fifteenth century Turkish treatise on the urinary calculus. Çelebi's monograph on the urinary calculus in the kidneys and the bladder written in Turkish in Arabic alphabet is transliterated and studied within the framework of the medical theory of the period. The sample information for this study was randomly chosen. Examples of epidemiological information, diets against urinary calculus formation, diagnoses of kidney and urinary bladder calculi, and symptomatic therapies noted in Çelebi's treatise are discussed, with results briefly compared with today's data. The study of Çelebi's treatise shows that it was possible to reach some medical facts with the methods of the period.

[Features of the mineral composition of urinary stones depending on the region of residence, gender and age in the Russian Federation, Belarus and Kazakhstan].

INTRODUCTION: Urolithiasis (UCD) is the most common and most expensive urological disease in all regions of the planet. The study of the prevalence of types of urinary stones in different areas of the country and the world plays an important role in predicting the burden on the health care system as a whole and the urological community, including in terms of calculating the probability of recurrence of the disease, even against the background of effective metaphylactic therapy. PURPOSE: in connection with the above, we made an attempt to assess the prevalence of various types of urinary stones in various regions of the Russian Federation, Belarus, Kazakhstan and the dynamics of changes in the composition of urinary stones depending on age and gender. MATERIALS AND METHODS: the study is based on data from a study of the chemical composition of 6787 urinary stones, presented by INVITRO in an anonymized form for the period 2018-2021. The study of the chemical composition of stones was carried out by infrared spectroscopy and/or X-ray diffraction. RESULTS: The prevalence of one-, two- and multi-component urinary stones of the adult population and children in both sexes of the Russian Federation, the Republics of Kazakhstan and Belarus was estimated. Separate regularities in the distribution of the component composition of stones in each region, with age and gender, were noted. CONCLUSION: The study of the composition of urinary stones is important in choosing an adequate tactic for metaphylactic treatment.

Causal association of genetically predicted urinary sodium-potassium ratio and upper urinary calculi.

The causality between the urinary sodium-potassium ratio and upper urinary calculi has not been clarified and easily affected by confounders. We performed two-sample and multivariable Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to evaluate the potential causal role of the urinary sodium-potassium ratio in upper urinary calculi. Data of the urinary sodium-potassium ratio (N = 326,938), upper urinary calculi (N = 337,199), and confounding factors including BMI (N = 336,107), ever-smoke (N = 461,066), hypertension (N = 218,754), diabetes (N = 218,792), and alcohol intake frequency (N = 462,346) were obtained from the IEU OpenGWAS Project database. The inverse-variance weighted (IVW), weighted median, and MR-Egger methods were used to estimate MR effects. The MR-Egger intercept test, Cochran's Q test, MR-PRESSO, leave-one-out method, and funnel plot were used for sensitivity analysis. A causal relationship was found between the urinary sodium-potassium ratio and upper urinary calculi (OR = 1.008, 95% CI = 1.002-1.013, P = 0.011). FinnGen data supported this conclusion (OR = 2.864, 95% CI = 1.235-6.641, P = 0.014). The multivariable Mendelian randomization analysis result showed that after adjusting for the effects of five confounders, the urinary sodium-potassium ratio was still positively correlated with upper urinary calculi (OR = 1.005, 95% CI = 1.001-1.009, P = 0.012). This study demonstrated a positive causal association between the urinary sodium-potassium ratio and upper urinary calculi using MR analysis. Timely identification of changes in urine composition and dietary regulation of sodium and potassium intake could greatly reduce the incidence of future urinary calculi.

An analysis of stone management over the decade before the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany, France and England.

OBJECTIVES: To understand the implications that the rising upper urinary tract (UUT) stone prevalence in Europe and the increasing burden places on patients and healthcare providers (HCPs), we investigated the evolution of diagnoses and procedures in Germany, France and England over the decade before the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. METHODS: We identified International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-10 codes related to UUT stones diagnosis and extracted procedure volumes for extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL), ureteroscopy (URS), percutaneous nephrolithotomy and open surgery using national procedure codes from the German Institute for the Hospital Remuneration System, the French Technical Agency of Hospitalisation Information and NHS England Hospital Episode Statistics. We analysed procedures vs hospital diagnoses from 2010 to 2019 and reported results per 100 000 inhabitants. RESULTS: Between 2010 and 2019, ICD-10 N20 codes for calculus of kidney and ureter increased by 8%, 26% and 15% in Germany, France, and England respectively; whereas procedures increased by 3%, 38% and 18%. Of the patients diagnosed with stones, the percentage that received treatment (of any type) differed between countries. In 2019, in Germany 83% of patients diagnosed with stones received treatment, in France 88%, and in England 56%. These figures were relatively stable over the 10-year study period. Over the past decade, the dominant procedure shifted from ESWL to URS, and the average length of stay for URS decreased. Day case procedures increased in France and England (by 68% and 23%), no data were available in Germany. CONCLUSION: This analysis highlights an increase in stone diagnoses and procedures, and a shift of surgical management. This development may be due to clinical advantages and advanced technology. The continued stone prevalence rise affects patients, hospitals, and HCPs.

National Lifetime Prevalence and Demographic Factors of Urolithiasis in Iran.

PURPOSE: To estimate the current lifetime prevalence of urolithiasis at the national level in Iran and investigate the potential influential demographic factors in different geographical areas.   Materials and methods: An epidemiological study was conducted between October 2020 and November 2022 in 31 provinces of Iran at the national level. Data was obtained through telephone interviews with households. Items in the interview included questions about the current and past episodes of urolithiasis, family history of urolithiasis, and demographic and environmental variables of potential interest in urolithiasis.   Results: A total of 44186 participants were investigated from 31 provinces of Iran. The overall percentage of those with lifetime prevalence of urolithiasis was 6.6%, including 7.9% for males and 5.3% for females (P<.001). In addition, with regard to the residential location, men were 53% (7.9% vs. 5.2%) more susceptible than women to urinary stones in urban areas and 36% (7.8% vs. 5.7%) more susceptible in rural areas. Out of 31 provinces, the Sistan-baluchistan province had the highest lifetime prevalence (15.6%) and the Golestan province had the lowest (2.1%). The lifetime prevalence of urolithiasis in the rural areas was 6.8% versus 6.5% in the urban areas (P=.29). Regarding age differentiation, the lifetime urolithiasis prevalence has increased up to the age of 70 years. In addition, the most prominent increase in the lifetime prevalence was observed in the age range of 20 to 60 years (from 0.9% to 11.8%). The ethnicity with the highest lifetime prevalence rate of urolithiasis was the Baluch ethnicity (18%).   Conclusion: generally, 6.6% of Iranian population suffers from urinary stones during their lifetime. Urolithiasis prevalence has increased 0.06% annually compared to the latest national study that took place 15 years ago. This increasing trend seems to be less prominent than other countries. According to our findings, urinary stones are more prevalent in men than in women and in the third to sixth decade of life regardless of gender. Baluch ethnicity is associated with the highest lifetime prevalence rate of urolithiasis and there is no significant difference between rural and urban areas. However, the ratio of male to female risk of urolithiasis is higher in urban areas compared to rural areas.

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.

Analysis of the Components of 236 Cases of Urinary Stones in Xinjiang Uyghur Children.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the study is to explore the relationship between clinical characteristics and urinary calculus in Xinjiang Uyghur children, and to provide clinical basis for the prevention as well as treatment of urinary stone. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In total, 236 urinary tract stone samples were collected from pediatric patients from February 2017 to April 2019, and those samples were analyzed by infrared spectroscopy. Stone compositions were compared with demographic data. RESULTS: Among the 236 cases, 166 cases were boys (70.34%) and 70 cases were girls (29.66%), with a male-to-female ratio of 2.37:1. A total of 21 kinds of calculi were detected, including 107 cases with six kinds of simple calculi and 129 cases with 15 kinds of mixed calculi. In this study, magnesium ammonium phosphate hexahydrate was only found in boys, and the difference was statistically significant (6.6 vs. 0.0%, p = 0.037). There were statistical differences in the age distribution of children with ammonium hydrogen urate, calcium oxalate, and other stone components (p < 0.05), while there were no statistical differences in the age distribution of children with apatite carbonate, magnesium ammonium phosphate hexahydrate, and anhydrous uric acid. The results showed that there was a significant difference in the localization of calculi between male and female children (upper urinary tract stones: 78.9 vs. 98.6%, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Uyghur pediatric patients with urolithiasis were young and the majority of stones was mixed, The main components of calculi were ammonium hydrogen urate, calcium oxalate and apatite carbonate, and there are differences in the localization of calculi between genders.

Risk of urinary stone formation associated to proton pump inhibitors: A systematic review and metanalysis.

OBJECTIVE: Proton pump inhibitors are widely used as treatment of acid-related disorders. They are considered safe although their long-term use has been associated with some adverse effects including an increased propensity for urinary calculi formation. The aim of this study was to systematically review available data from studies evaluating the association of PPIs and nephrolithiasis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We searched two electronic databases (PubMed and EMBASE) for cohort studies or case-control studies evaluating the relationship between treatment with proton pump inhibitors and the risk of stone formation published up to 31 October 2022. The overall association of PPIs and urinary calculi was analyzed using a random effects model (RevMan5). The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale. RESULTS: A total of 550 studies were retrieved; 7 were selected by title and abstract screening; after removal of duplicates, 4 records were evaluated by full-text examination. An additional study was retrieved by handsearching the references included in screened studies. In the unadjusted analysis, the odds of urinary calculi were greater in subjects taking PPIs compared to controls (unadjusted OR = 2.10, 95% CI 1.74-2.52, p < 0.00001). The pooled odds ratio of two case-control studies confirmed that use of PPIs increased the odds of urinary calculi compared with non-use (OR 2.44, 95% CI 2.29 to 2.61). Pooled analysis of three cohort studies evaluating incident nephrolithiasis showed an overall hazard ratio estimate of 1.34 (95% CI = 1.28-1.40). One study found lower urinary citrate and urinary magnesium levels in subjects exposed to PPIs. The Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale scores ranged between 6 and 8. CONCLUSIONS: PPIs showed an association with urinary calculi in patients included in the studies included in this review. If these data will be confirmed in adequately powered randomized trials, clinicians may consider limiting the long-term use of PPIs, to avoid unnecessary prolongation of treatment. Urinary magnesium and citrate should be evaluated in renal stone forming patients taking PPIs to supplement their intake when requested.

The effect of COVID-19 outbreak on urological procedures for urinary stones: data from three high-volumes centers in China.

China has been the first country to be affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. The pandemic resulted in significant disruption of Health Care Services worldwide, and this effect on treatments for urinary stones is currently unclear. This is the first retrospective study involving three tertiary referral centers for urolithiasis across China. We evaluated surgical volumes and peri-operative outcomes of procedures delivered for upper urinary tract stones. We compared trimester prior to restrictions for COVID-19 (October 1st, 2019 to December 31st, 2019, period A), during restrictions (February 1st, 2020 to March 31st, 2020, period B), and afterword (April 1st, 2020 to June 31st, 2020, period C). A total of 2,543 procedures have been carried out. We observed a loss of 743 cases during period B (-29.2%) and 201 during period C (-7.9%). Percutaneous surgery showed the worst reduction, with 507 mini-PCNLs delivered in period A, 168 in period B (-60.8%), and 389 (-18.3%) in period C (p = 0.001). A worst trend was shown for standard PCNLs with 84 procedures carried out in period A, 5 in period B (-95.2%), and 9 (-89.2%) in period C (p = 0.001). Retrograde surgery also decreased, from 420 cases in period A to 190 cases in period B (-54.8%). An increment was however seen in period C when 468 cases have been carried out (+ 11.4%, p = 0.008). In term of SFRs, a difference was noticed for RIRSs, being 69.2%, 80.5%, and 69.3% during three periods (p = 0.045) and semirigid ureteroscopies (90.3%, 97.1%, and 84.8%, p = 0.013). Charlson's Comorbidity Score could not show any difference between groups as well as no differences in term of post-operative complications have been noticed.