Growth and Spectral Investigation on Pure Calcium Phosphate Doped With (Copper and Magnesium) Crystals

Calcium stones are most commonly occurring form of cholelithiasis or gallbladder stones most one of the oldest and common afflictions of humans. Calcium phosphate is dissolved minerals in causes of renal to gallbladder stone in both human and animals. Of course, the calcium phosphate is one of the components of gallbladder. Calcium phosphate doped with (Cu and Mg) are crystals are grown by sol-gel method. In the present work the growth and characterization of pure and doped with (Cu and Mg) crystals. The grown crystals were characterization by FT-IR, SEM-EDX and TG/DTA analysis.

Protective Effects of Quercetin on Oxidative Stress-Induced Tubular Epithelial Damage in the Experimental Rat Hyperoxaluria Model

Background and Objectives: The most common kidney stones are calcium stones and calcium oxalate (CaOx) stones are the most common type of calcium stones. Hyperoxaluria is an essential risk factor for the formation of these stones. Quercetin is a polyphenol with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and many other physiological effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of quercetin in hyperoxaluria-induced nephrolithiasis. Materials and Methods: Male Wistar-Albino rats weighing 250–300 g (n = 24) were randomized into three groups: Control (n = 8), ethylene glycol (EG) (n = 8), and EG + quercetin (n = 8). One percent EG-water solution was given to all rats except for the control group as drinking water for five weeks. Quercetin-water solution was given to the EG + quercetin group by oral gavage at a dose of 10 mg/kg/day. Malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase (CAT), urea, calcium, and oxalate levels were analyzed in blood and urine samples. Histopathological assessments and immunohistochemical analyses for oxidative stress and inflammation indicators p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38-MAPK) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB) were performed on renal tissues. Results: The MDA levels were significantly lower in the quercetin-treated group than in the EG-treated group (p = 0.001). Although CAT levels were higher in the quercetin-treated group than the EG-administered group, they were not significantly different between these groups. The expression of p38 MAPK was significantly less in the quercetin-treated group than the EG group (p < 0.004). There was no statistically significant difference between the quercetin and EG groups in terms of NF-kB expression. Conclusions: We conclude that hyperoxaluria activated the signaling pathways, which facilitate the oxidative processes leading to oxalate stone formation in the kidneys. Our findings indicated that quercetin reduced damage due to hyperoxaluria. These results imply that quercetin can be considered a therapeutic agent for decreasing oxalate stone formation, especially in patients with recurrent stones due to hyperoxaluria.

Evaluation of split-filter dual-energy CT for characterization of urinary stones

Objective: To assess accuracy of dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) to differentiate uric acid from calcium urinary stones in dual-energy split filter vs sequential-spiral vs dual-source acquisition. Methods: Thirty-four urinary stones (volume 89.0 ± 77.4 mm³; 17 calcium stones, 17 uric acid stones) were scanned in a water-filled phantom using a split-filter equipped CT scanner (SOMATOM Definition Edge, Siemens Healthineers, Forchheim, Germany) in split-filter mode at 120kVp and sequential-spiral mode at 80 and 140kVp. Additional DE scans were acquired at 80 and 140kVp (tin filter) with a dual-source CT scanner (SOMATOM Definition FLASH, Siemens Healthineers). Scans were performed with a CTDIvol of 7.3mGy in all protocols. Urinary stone categorization was based on dual energy ratio (DER) using an automated 3D segmentation. As reference standard, infrared spectroscopy was used to determine urinary stone composition. Results: All three DECT techniques significantly differentiated between uric acid and calcium stones by attenuation values and DERs (p < 0.001 for all). Split-filter DECT provided higher DERs for uric acid stones, when compared with dual-source and sequential-spiral DECT, and lower DERs for calcified stones when compared with dual-source DECT (p < 0.001 for both), leading to a decreased accuracy for material differentiation. Conclusion: Split-filter DECT, sequential-spiral DECT and dual-source DECT all allow for the acquisition of DER to classify urinary stones. Advances in knowledge: Split-filter DECT enables the differentiation between uric acid and calcium stones despite decreased spectral separation when compared with dual-source and dual-spiral DECT.

Effect of dietary treatment and fluid intake on the prevention of recurrent calcium stones and changes in urine composition: A meta-analysis and systematic review

To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for investigating the effect of dietary treatment and fluid intake on the prevention of recurrent calcium stones and changes in urine composition. PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, EBSCO, and Cochrane Library databases (updated November 2020) were searched for studies with the following keywords: diet, fluid, recurrent, prevention, randomized controlled trials, and nephrolithiasis. The search strategy and study selection process was conducted by following the PRISMA statement. Six RCTs were identified for satisfying the inclusion criteria and enrolled in this meta-analysis. Our result showed that low protein with or without high fiber diet intervention does not decrease the recurrence of stone upon comparing with control groups (RR = 2.32, 95% CI = 0.42–12.85; P = 0.34) with significant heterogeneity among the studies (I2 = 81%, P = 0.02). But normal-calcium, low protein, low-salt diet had recurrences did reduced the recurrence compared to normal-calcium diet. And the fluid intake has a positive effect on prevention of recurrent stone formation (RR = 0.39, 95% CI = 0.19–0.80; P = 0.01) with insignificant heterogeneity among the studies (I2 = 9%, P = 0.30). The different components of urine at baseline were reported in four studies. Upon reviewing the low protein with or without high fiber dietary therapy groups, it was found that there were no obvious changes in the 24-hour urine sodium, calcium, citrate, urea, and sulfate. In conclusion, our study shows that the only low protein with or without fiber does not affect recurrence, but low Na, normal Ca diet has a marked effect on reducing recurrence of calcium stone. And fluid intake shows a significant reduction in the recurrence of calcium stone.

Kidney Stone Composition in Various Country Around the World

To compare urinary stone composition patterns in different populations around the world in relation to the structure of their population, dietary habits, and climate. 1204 adult patients with urolithiasis and stone analysis was included . International websites were searched to obtain data. We observed 710(59%) patients with calcium oxalate, 31(1%) calcium phosphate, 161(13%) mixed calcium oxalate/calcium phosphate, 15(1%) carbapatite, 110(9%) uric acid, 7(<1%) urate, 100(9%) mixed uric acid/ calcium oxalate, 56(5%) struvite and 14(1%) cystine stones. Calcium stones were the most common in all countries (up to 91%) with the highest rates in Canada and China. Oxalate stones were more common than phosphate or mixed phosphate/oxalate stones except Egypt and India. The rate of uric acid stones, being higher in Egypt, India, Pakistan, Iraq, Poland, and Bulgaria. Struvite stones occurred in less than 5% except India (23%) and Pakistan (16%). Cystine stones occurred in 1%. The frequency of different types of urinary stones varies from country to country. Calcium stones are prevalent in all countries. Uric acid stones seems to depend mainly on climatic factors, being higher in countries with desert or tropical climates. Dietary patterns can also lead to an increase it. Struvite stones are decreasing in most countries.

Types of Renal Stones and its Variation with Age and Gender in a University Hospital of Nepal

Background Types of renal stones have profoundly changed in the last half-century, parallel to the change in lifestyle and dietary habit, with an increase of calcium stones. Among many lithogenic factors age and gender are considered to be associated with the types of renal stones. Studies evaluating the influence of age and gender on the distribution of the types of urinary calculi are scarce in Nepal. Objective To explore the influence of age and gender on different types of urolithiasis. Method This is a single center prospective study encompassing urolithiasis during a study period of 18 months. All the stone retrieved from the patients after surgery were sent for biochemical analysis of the stone. The result was then compared with the age and gender of the study population. Result Calculi from a total of 107 patients were analyzed (62 from males and 45 from females). Mixed stones consisting of calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate were the predominant constituent in 74.16% of stones, followed by uric acid, struvite and cystine stones. We found predominance of Calcium stones in males (47.66%) vs 36.44% in females and predominance of struvite stones in females (7.47%) vs 3.73% in males. Age group of 21-40 years has the main burden of stone. Conclusion Being aware and having better knowledge of risk factors, composition and correlation with age and gender can provide personalized guidance to prevention and avoid recurrence of urolithiasis.

Very late stent expansion with intracoronary lithotripsy: a case report

Background Underexpanded stent in heavily calcified coronary lesion is common and persists over years. It is related to long-term failure and negative outcomes. Treatment of this situation after many years with intracoronary lithotripsy (ICL-Shockwave®) could be an option. Case summary We report a case of a man with underexpanded coronary stent implanted 11 years earlier. Optical coherence tomography highlighted the mechanism of stent underexpansion showing the presence of calcium stones under the old struts. Intracoronary lithotripsy crushed calcium under the stent struts causing its geometric change (from elliptical to round shape) and a consequent better transmission of the true radial force of the old stent. Discussion Heavily calcified coronary lesions lead to stent underexpansion which persists over years. Intracoronary lithotripsy could be a very late option to manage this unfavourable common result.