Effects of alternative splicing events and transcriptome changes on kidney stone formation

During the development of urinary stone disease, the formation of tiny crystals that adhere to the renal tubular epithelium induces epithelial cell damage. This damage and repair of the epithelium is associated with the establishment of more crystal adhesion sites, which in turn stimulates further crystal adhesion and, eventually, stone formation. Deposited crystals typically cause changes in epithelial cell gene expression, such as transcriptome changes and alternative splicing events. Although considered important for regulating gene expression, alternative splicing has not been reported in studies related to kidney stones. To date, whether alternative splicing events are involved in the regulation of stone formation and whether crystallographic cell interactions are regulated by alternative splicing at the transcriptional level have remained unknown. Therefore, we conducted RNA sequencing and alternative splicing-related bioassays by modeling the in vitro stone environment. Many alternative splicing events were associated with crystallographic cell interactions. Moreover, these events regulated transcription and significantly affected the capacity of crystals to adhere to renal tubular epithelial cells and regulate apoptosis.

THE PROTECTIVE AND THERAPEUTIC EFFECT OF CORN SILK EXTRACT ON UROLITHIATIC AND HYPERTENSIVE RATS INDUCED BY ETHYLENE GLYCOL

Renal stone is one of the most problems worldwide. They are affected by different factors such as environmental effectors such as nutrient as well as family history. Corn silk (CS) used as antiurolythiasis. This study investigated the impact of corn silk extract as the management of renal stone formation, hypertension, and hepatoprotective. This work has been carried out on rats at Faculty of science Sana’a University, University of Science, and Technology Laboratories. Twenty-four male albino rats with weighing range between (200 g to 250g) were taken. They were divided in four groups (each group consists of 6animals). The first group of rats took normal diet and named as negative control (Co) whereas, the second group took normal diet with ethylene glycol (EG) (0.75%) and 1% ammonium chloride (AC) for 28 days and serve as positive control (Po). The third and fourth groups took the same substances as inPo group with 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg of corn silk (CS) for 28 days respectively.Blood samples were collected from rats on last day of the experiment. All the tested samples showed a significant antioxidant DPPH radical scavenging activity and a notifiable decrease in serum aldosterone hormone, angiotensin comforting enzyme urea and creatinine levels comparedto positive control. Shown to significantly increased AST, ALT, and LDH in comparison to the urolithiatic group and near of normal group.In conclusion, the present study emphasizes the safe herbal remedies of CS as anti-hypertensive and antioxidants, as well as antiurolithiatic and hepatoprotective.

Genetic Risk Factors for Idiopathic Urolithiasis: The Causative Role of Genes in Stones Formation

Background: The genetic factor of urolithiasis plays an important role in the etiology. Elucidation of responsible genes can lead to better targeted gene therapy and prevention in the future. This article aims to explain various genetic factors that play a role in kidney stone formation Method: A review article on urolithiasis based on a genetic approach is reported to underlie stone formation. A total of 41 abstracts and research articles published by internationally reputed journals were selected based on the keywords genetic factors and urolithiasis. Summary: A deeper understanding of the genetic factors that play a role in the mechanisms of stone formation and advances in molecular and pharmacogenomics have revolutionized diagnosis and treatment, and paved the way for the identification of new therapeutic targets and treatment approaches based on genetic engineering.

16S rRNA Gene Sequencing Reveals Altered Composition of Gut Microbiota in Postoperative Individuals With Renal Stones

BackgroundRenal stones are a common urological disease with high prevalence and recurrence rates. Characterizing gut microbiome profiles of first-onset renal calculi patients, both before and after surgery, may provide valuable insights and identify potential biomarkers for the disease. MethodsWe explored the associations between the gut microbiome and renal stone formation using 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequencing. In brief, 20 patients were recruited, and information on health and eating habits within the previous 1-3 months was collected upon admission.ResultsA total of 493 OTUs were detected in 40 specimens, with an average of 67,888 ± 827 reads per sample. The results of OUT-based PLS-DA analysis showed significant differences between RS1 and RS2 groups, with a significantly higher level of OTU7 in the RS2 group. Taxonomy‑based comparisons of the gut microbiome showed differences in the flora composition, with the prevalence of Enterobacteriales, Enterobacteriaceae, Gammaproteobacteria, and Escherichia being higher in the RS2 group and the prevalence of Pseudomonadaceae, Pseudomonadales, and Pseudomonas being higher in the RS1 group.ConclusionsThese data strongly suggest that the gut microbiome affects kidney stone formation, and these findings may provide new insights for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of renal stones.

Minimization of the impact of rubble production wastes on the environment by their involvement in the compositions of road'building materials

The impact of Taldan crushed stone plant and wastes formed in process of its activity on the environment is considered. About 2.9 million tons of siftings of rock grinding were accumulated in dump massifs with a total area of 600 hectares. Therefore, elimination of accumulated harm to the environment that has arisen over many years of operation of Taldan crushed stone plant is the actual task. One of the technological solutions of liquidation of objects of accumulated harm to the environment based on physicochemical impact on wastes is stabilization or artificial stone formation. Drawing of siftings of rock in soil concrete compositions (artificial stone materials) allows to solve complex of acute environmental problems due to their largetonnage direct use. The use of siftings of rock in road building will contribute to the rational and cost-effective use of natural mineral raw materials, since this process will not entail an increase in the costs of its extraction and processing. A set of modern methods (atomic-emission spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray phase analysis, infrared spectroscopy) were used to study the chemical, phase composition and properties of siftings of rock to substantiate the possibility of its utilization in the composition of soil concrete. It is shown that the introduction of an 8 wt. % of mineral binder and polymer stabilizing additive Element (1, 5, 10 wt. %) allows to get soil concrete with a mark of strength М100.

A Rare Case of Allantoic Cyst with Patent Urachus in Fetus with a Microdeletion in 1q21.1q21.2 Region

An allantoic cyst is a rare malformation with a frequency of 3 in 1,000,000 that may be seen antenatally by ultrasound assessment when the connection between the cloaca (future bladder) and the allantois fails to regress. A patent urachus that presents as a cyst (allantoic) is usually considered not to be associated with chromosomal abnormalities, but if it is not repaired after birth this leads to complications such as urinary tract infections and stone formation. We present a case of a fetus diagnosed with allantoic cyst at the first trimester ultrasound assessment at 12 weeks gestation. The follow up scans showed a decrease in size of the allantoic cyst with no other obvious major defects and, when invasive testing (amniocentesis with microarray analysis) was performed, a rare microdeletion, 1q21.1q21.2 was identified (1.82 Mb deletion).

Effect of Black Tea Consumption on Urinary Risk Factors for Kidney Stone Formation

Copious fluid intake is the most essential nutritional measure in the treatment of urolithiasis, and is suggested to be a protective factor in the primary prevention of urinary stone formation. Although the intake of black tea contributes to daily fluid intake, the high oxalate content could outweigh the beneficial effect of urine dilution. The present study investigated the effect of black tea consumption on urinary risk factors for kidney stone formation. Ten healthy men received a standardized diet for a period of ten days. Subjects consumed 1.5 L/day of fruit tea (0 mg/day oxalate) during the 5-day control phase, which was replaced by 1.5 L/day of black tea (86 mg/day oxalate) during the 5-day test phase. Fractional and 24-h urines were obtained. The intake of black tea did not significantly alter 24-h urinary oxalate excretion. Urinary citrate, an important inhibitor of calcium stone formation, increased significantly, while the relative supersaturation of calcium oxalate, uric acid, and struvite remained unchanged. No significantly increased risk for kidney stone formation could be derived from the ingestion of black tea in normal subjects. Further research is needed to evaluate the impact of black tea consumption in kidney stone patients with intestinal hyperabsorption of oxalate.

Preliminary Data on Geochemical Characteristics of Major and Trace Elements in Typical Biominerals: From the Perspective of Human Kidney Stones

The chemical composition of biominerals is essential for understanding biomineral formation and is regarded as an attractive subject in bio-mineralogical research on human kidney stones (urinary calculi). In order to obtain more geochemically interpreted data on biogenic minerals, mineralogical compositions and major and trace element concentrations of sixty-six kidney stone samples derived from kidney stone removal surgeries were measured. Infrared spectroscopy results showed that calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM) and calcium oxalate dihydrate (COD) were the two main mineral components of kidney stones. Geochemical results indicated that major and trace element concentrations were present in the following order: Ca > Mg > Na > K > Zn > Fe > Pb > Ba > Cu > Ti > Mo > Cd > Cr. With the exception of Ca, Mg was the second-most abundant element. Zn exhibited higher concentrations relative to other trace elements, which suggests a potential substitution of calcium by metal ions with a similar charge and radius rather than by metals in kidney stone formation. Pb appeared in significantly higher concentrations than in previous studies, which indicates Pb enrichment in the environment. In order to discern multi-element relationships within kidney stones, principal component analysis was applied. Three principal components (PCs, eigenvalues >1) were extracted to explain 64.4% of the total variance. The first component exhibited positively correlated Na-Zn-Cr-Mo-Cd-Pb, while the second component exhibited more positively weighted Mg-K-Ba-Ti. Fe-Cu demonstrated a positive correlation in the third component. This study suggests that Ca exhibits a preference for uptake by oxalates during human urinary stone crystallization, while other alkali metals and alkaline earth metals precipitate with phosphate.

The Translational Role of MUC8 in Salivary Glands: A Potential Biomarker for Salivary Stone Disease?

Mucin (MUC) 8 has been shown to play an important role in respiratory disease and inflammatory responses. In the present study, we investigated the question of whether MUC8 is also produced and secreted by salivary glands and whether it may also play a role in the oral cavity in the context of inflammatory processes or in the context of salivary stone formation. Tissue samples from parotid and submandibular glands of body donors (n = 6, age range 63–88 years), as well as surgically removed salivary stones from patients (n = 38, age range 48–72 years) with parotid and submandibular stone disease were immunohistochemically analyzed targeting MUC8 and TNFα. The presence of MUC8 in salivary stones was additionally analyzed by dot blot analyses. Moreover, saliva samples from patients (n = 10, age range 51–72 years), who had a salivary stone of the submandibular gland on one side were compared with saliva samples from the other “healthy” side, which did not have a salivary stone, by ELISA. Positive MUC8 was detectable in the inter- and intralobular excretory ducts of both glands (parotid and submandibular). The glandular acini showed no reactivity. TNFα revealed comparable reactivity to MUC8 in the glandular excretory ducts and also did not react in glandular acini. Salivary stones demonstrated a characteristic distribution pattern of MUC8 that differed between parotid and submandibular salivary stones. The mean MUC8 concentration was 71.06 ng/mL in female and 33.21 ng/mL in male subjects (p = 0.156). Saliva from the side with salivary calculi contained significantly (15-fold) higher MUC8 concentration levels than saliva from the healthy side (p = 0.0005). MUC8 concentration in salivary stones varied from 4.59 ng/mL to 202.83 ng/mL. In females, the MUC8 concentration in salivary stones was significantly (2.3-fold) higher, with an average of 82.84 ng/mL compared to 25.27 ng/mL in male patients (p = 0.034). MUC8 is secreted in the excretory duct system of salivary glands and released into saliva. Importantly, MUC8 salivary concentrations vary greatly between individuals. In addition, the MUC8 concentration is gender-dependent (♀️ > ♂). In the context of salivary stone diseases, MUC8 is highly secreted in saliva. The findings support a role for MUC8 in the context of inflammatory events and salivary stone formation. The findings allow conclusions on a gender-dependent component of MUC8.