Investigation of the link between the type and concentrations of heavy metals and other elements in blood and urinary stones and their association to the environmental factors and dietary pattern.

BACKGROUND: Kidney and urinary tract stones are among the most common and important health problems, the prevalence of which is increasing nowadays due to a sedentary lifestyle, improper nutrition, destructive habits in fluid consumption, and improper use of medications. One of the causing factors in the formation of urinary stones is heavy metals. These metals present in tiny amounts in the environment and enter the nature and food cycle due to industrial activities and practices that are not compliant with environmental laws. METHODS: In this context, the present case-control study was conducted to determine the concentrations of heavy metals and other urinary stone-forming elements in both blood and urinary stones and investigate their relationship with environmental factors and dietary patterns in people with urinary stones in Ardabil city in 2022. The sampling of blood and urinary stones was done randomly from patients with urinary stones who were admitted to the Urology Clinic of Imam Reza Hospital, Ardabil. ICP-MS was used to measure the concentrations of heavy metals in the samples. The obtained data were analysed by chi-square test, ANOVA test, t-test, and Tukey test. RESULTS: The body mass index (BMI) was 27.39 ± 3.72 in the case group and 26.37 ± 2.95 in the control group. The copper and selenium concentrations in blood and urinary stones were higher than in other metals. There was a significant relationship between the history of kidney stones and the probability of developing kidney stones. Moreover, a meaningful relationship was found between the concentration of lead element and the formation of kidney stones. The results showed a significant difference in the concentration of nickel and copper in people who consumed vegetables on a daily basis with those with different types of kidney stones. CONCLUSION: The comparison amongst the concentration of heavy metals in various kinds of urinary stones showed that the amount of lead metal was higher in calcium phosphate stones than in calcium oxalate stones.

Comparison Between Bipolar Lymphatic Vessels Cautery and Suture Ligature in Prevention of Postrenal Transplant Lymphocele Formation: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVES: In this randomized controlled trial, our aim was to compare bipolar cautery of lymphatic vessels with standard silk-tie ligation in renal transplant procedures for prevention of lymphocele formation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty end-stage renal disease patients were enrolled in a prospective randomized controlled trial. The mean age of recipients in the suture ligature group was 41.6 years (range, 6-65 years) and 40.9 years in the bipolar cautery group. Patients were assessed by symptoms; however, ultrasonography was also used as the primary diagnostic procedure in all patients to find lymphocele collection within 5 months. RESULTS: Of 60 patients, 25 received living-donor kidney transplant and 35 received deceased-donor kidney transplant. Fifty-threeprocedures were first-time kidney transplants, 6 were retransplants, and 1 was for a third-time transplant. No lymphocele collection (symptomatic or asymptomatic) was diagnosed by ultrasonography at the 5-month follow-up. Postoperative pain was not significantly different between the 2 groups (P = .245). The time for ligation or cauterization of lymphatic vessels was similar between the 2 groups. Mean duration of operative field drainage was 5.6 days in the suture ligature group and 6.07 days in the bipolar cautery group (not significantly different; P = .547). CONCLUSIONS: Bipolar cautery of lymphatic vessels to prevent lymphocele formation in kidney transplant seems to be an effective, easy, and safe method.