Urological Research最新文献

This study was conducted to compare nephrostomy-free percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) with early nephrostomy tube removal (after 1 day). A prospective study started from January 2008 through December 2009 and included patients who underwent non-complicated PCNL through a single tract without intra-operative residual stones. Nephrostomy-free technique was performed during 2008 (nephrostomy-free group). During 2009, a nephrostomy tube was placed for 1 day (1-day nephrostomy group). Both groups were compared for post-operative events, dose of analgesia, hemoglobin deficit and hospital stay. The study included 55 patients (27 in nephrostomy-free group and 28 in 1-day nephrostomy group). There were no statistically significant differences between patients, renal and stone characteristics of both groups. Post-operative events were significantly more in nephrostomy-free group (26 vs. 14.3%, p = 0.039). They include hematuria in three (11.1%) of nephrostomy-free patients and one (3.6%) of 1-day nephrostomy patient, severe renal colic in four patients of nephrostomy-free group (14.8%), and temporary urinary leakage via the nephrostomy site in three patients of 1-day nephrostomy group (10.7%). Mean dose of post-operative analgesia, mean hemoglobin deficit and hospital days were comparable for both groups (p = 0.946, 0.541, 0.807, respectively). A second look PCNL was performed through the already present tract to retrieve residual stones in two patients with nephrostomy. In conclusion, 1-day nephrostomy technique after PCNL showed significantly better post-operative course. It was comparable to nephrostomy-free technique in analgesic requirements and hospital stay. The nephrostomy tube provided a bridge for second look nephroscopy.

The objective of the study was to establish and evaluate a modified puncture and dilation technique-"stereotaxic localisation" system-and the corresponding instruments for percutaneous nephrostomy. Four hundred patients were randomised to the intervention group (200 cases, stereotaxic location puncture and dilation procedures) and the traditional group (200 cases, traditional procedure) under X-ray guidance. In the modified intervention system, the distance and horizontal angle of the puncture pathway between the puncture point and the target site were calculated accurately. The time for punctures, time with X-ray exposure and operation, success rate of each puncture to access the target, number of patients requiring blood transfusion, stone clearance, drops of haemoglobin and days of hospital stay were compared between the two groups. In the traditional and intervention groups, the time for puncture was 17 and 7 min, respectively; the X-ray exposure time was 9.1 and 1.3 min; the cases requiring blood transfusion were 9 and 5; and the success rates for each puncture to access the target were 42.9 and 88.0%, all with statistical difference (p < 0.01). The other outcomes and complications revealed similar trends. The stereotaxic localisation system for puncture is statistically better than the traditional procedure used in this study. The stereotaxic localisation system in this study is safer and more accurate, and provides easier access to the target with less bleeding and reduced exposure to X-ray compared to the traditional puncture and dilation procedures of percutaneous nephrostomy.

Aim of study was to present costs of forgotten ureteral stents extraction so as to distract attentions of the urologists on this issue. Medical files of 27 accessible patients who referred to our clinics between 2001 and 2010 because of forgotten ureteral stent were retrospectively analyzed. The indwelling time of double-j stents (DJS) was calculated from the time of its insertion. Costs related to radiological investigations, all invasive, and noninvasive interventions, duration of hospital stay, and medical treatments used were calculated. These estimations were based on 2010 prices determined by Turkey Ministry of Health. Mean age of the patients was 31.2 (8-86 years) years. Mean indwelling time of ureteral DJSs was 36.7 months (14-84 months). Seventy-one [extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL), n = 26; invasive/noninvasive interventions, n = 32] procedures were applied for 27 patients. In six patients without incrustation, after a single session of ESWL DJSs could be removed cystoscopically. A various combination of a multimodal therapy was used for other 21 patients. Total financial burden of 27 patients was US $ 34,300. Cost of treatment was estimated to be 6.9-fold (1.8- to 21-fold) higher than an average timely stent extraction. Financial burden of the treatments increased in parallel with the duration of the stent retention (p = 0.001). Management of forgotten DJS is time consuming, difficult, complicated, risky, and costly. Therefore; financial burden, increased labour loss, and impaired quality of life brought by the application of these modalities must not be forgotten.

We aimed to evaluate the success rates, auxiliary procedures and complications after ureteroscopic lithotripsy (URS) during which the fragments left in situ for spontaneous passage after complete disintegration into a acceptable (<4 mm) size. 238 patients with ureteral stones were treated with URS between 2005 and 2011, and disintegrated fragments (<4 mm) were left in situ for spontaneous passage. Patients were followed with radiography for 3 months and evaluated with respect to the success rates (stone-free), auxiliary procedures, complication rates and additional analgesic requirement. The median age was 42.2 ± 13.7 years, and overall stone size was 8.79 ± 2.94 mm. Significantly lower rate of stone-free status was achieved in proximal stones (p < 0.05). A second URS was necessary in 5% (n = 12) of the patients. Double-J catheter placement during initial URS did not cause any change in the rate of secondary URS (p = 0.620). Additional oral or intramuscular analgesia was required in 41% (n = 97) and 25% (n = 59) of the patients, respectively, after discharge. The overall stone-free rate was 95% and mean time to complete clearance was 5 days. Severe colic pain within 24 h was noted in 21 (9%), and transient hydro-ureteronephrosis in 31 (13%) patients, as minor complications. Leaving the fragments (<4 mm) in place for spontaneous passage following a successful disintegration in URS could be a reasonable approach with acceptable and comparable stone-free rates, and this approach appears to give chance of shortening the duration of operation and also avoiding from the potential morbidity of repeated manipulations during the both further disintegration and extraction.

Oxalate-induced oxidative cell injury is one of the major mechanisms implicated in calcium oxalate nucleation, aggregation and growth of kidney stones. We previously demonstrated that oxalate-induced NADPH oxidase-derived free radicals play a significant role in renal injury. Since NADPH oxidase activation requires several regulatory proteins, the primary goal of this study was to characterize the role of Rac GTPase in oxalate-induced NADPH oxidase-mediated oxidative injury in renal epithelial cells. Our results show that oxalate significantly increased membrane translocation of Rac1 and NADPH oxidase activity of renal epithelial cells in a time-dependent manner. We found that NSC23766, a selective inhibitor of Rac1, blocked oxalate-induced membrane translocation of Rac1 and NADPH oxidase activity. In the absence of Rac1 inhibitor, oxalate exposure significantly increased hydrogen peroxide formation and LDH release in renal epithelial cells. In contrast, Rac1 inhibitor pretreatment, significantly decreased oxalate-induced hydrogen peroxide production and LDH release. Furthermore, PKC α and δ inhibitor, oxalate exposure did not increase Rac1 protein translocation, suggesting that PKC resides upstream from Rac1 in the pathway that regulates NADPH oxidase. In conclusion, our data demonstrate for the first time that Rac1-dependent activation of NADPH oxidase might be a crucial mechanism responsible for oxalate-induced oxidative renal cell injury. These findings suggest that Rac1 signaling plays a key role in oxalate-induced renal injury, and may serve as a potential therapeutic target to prevent calcium oxalate crystal deposition in stone formers and reduce recurrence.

This study aimed at formulating simplified estimates of ion-activity products of calcium oxalate (AP(CaOx)) and calcium phosphate (AP(CaP)) in mouse urineto find the most important determinants in order to limit the analytical work-up. Literature data on mouse urine composition was used to determine the relative effect of each urine variable on the two ion-activity products. AP(CaOx) and AP(CaP) were calculated by iterative approximation with the EQUIL2 computerized program. The most important determinants for AP(CaOx) were calcium, oxalate and citrate and for AP(CaP) calcium, phosphate, citrate, magnesium and pH. Urine concentrations of the variables were used. A simplified estimate of AP(CaOx) (AP(CaOx)-index(MOUSE)) that numerically approximately corresponded to 10(8) × AP(CaOx) was given the following expression:[Formula: see text]For a series of urine samples with various composition the coefficient of correlation between AP(CaOx)-index(MOUSE) and 10(8) × AP(CaOx) was 0.99 (p = 0.00000). A similar estimate of AP(CaP) (AP(CaP)-index(MOUSE)) was formulated so that it approximately would correspond numerically to 10(14) × AP(CaP) taking the following form:[Formula: see text]For a series of variations in urine composition the coefficient of correlation was 0.95 (p = 0.00000). The two approximate estimates shown in this article are simplified expressions of AP(CaOx) and AP(CaP). The intention of these theoretical calculations was not to get methods for accurate information on the saturation levels in urine, but to have mathematical tools useful for rough conclusions on the outcome of different experimental situations in mice. It needs to be emphasized that the accuracy will be negatively influenced if urine variables not included in the formulas differ very much from basic concentrations.

The objectives of this study were to determine the tissue effects of ultrasonic and pneumatic lithotripsy on the rat urothelium. The rats were divided into three groups. Groups I and II consisted of ten rats each that underwent intracorporeal lithotripsy (pneumatic and ultrasonic lithotripsy, respectively). Group III contained ten control rats and no lithotripsy method was used, they served as references for absence of injury. The light microscopy findings were evaluated as follows: squamous metaplasia, papillary projection, inflammation, increased stratification, and stone formation. In five (71.4%) animals of group II, bladders were edematous and hemorrhagic, macroscopically. Histologically, the bladder wall was normal in four rats of group I and in one of group II. There was a significant increase in inflammation (31.5%), squamous metaplasia (85.7%), papillary projection (71.4%), increased stratification (71.4%), and microscopic or macroscopic stone formation (85.7%) in the bladder wall of group II rats in comparison with group I and control group. In the rat model, we noted that ultrasonic devices have a potential risk for tissue injury. In turn, this was associated with a markedly increased deposition of CaOx stones in the kidney. When confronted with harder stones, pneumatic lithotripsy can be more effective while also minimizing tissue injury.

Since the spring of 2008, an epidemic of urinary tract stones was noted among children in China. This is believed to be associated with consumption melamine-contaminated powdered formula. A few patients presented with acute kidney injury (AKI) due to bilateral renal or ureteral calculi requiring surgical intervention to relieve the obstruction. We retrospectively analyzed clinical and laboratory data, ultrasonograms and treatment methods in children with melamine-induced urolithiasis and AKI who were hospitalized at seven hospitals from September to November 2008 in Gansu Province, China. Treatment given included conservative treatment, cystoscopic or urethroscopic lithotripsy, retrograde ureteral catheterization, ureterolithotomy and nephrostomy. Patients were monitored postoperatively with data of ultrasonography, urinalysis and blood and urine biochemistry. The mean age of the 47 children was 10 months (mean ± SD, 10.83 ± 5.11 months). Thirty-four (72.34%) were male. Calculi size ranged from 3 to 14 mm in diameter. Nine patients (19.15%) were successfully treated with conservative treatment; 32 (68.09%) underwent retrograde ureteral catheterization and eight had simultaneous cystoscopic or urethroscopic stone removal; four were successfully treated with ureterolithotomy, and 1 underwent percutaneous nephrostomy. Thirty-eight patients were followed up for a mean ± SD of 18.50 ± 5.27 months and their renal functions were found to have completely recovered. Five (13.16%) cases had residual renal stones with diameter ranging from 2 to 4 mm. Therefore, this study has demonstrated that melamine-induced urolithiasis could lead to AKI. Removing obstruction promptly by surgical intervention has been found to be effective with satisfactory outcomes observed at mean follow-up period of 18-month. However, residual renal stone remained in 13.16% of the cases which required continued close observation.

We investigated whether previous intraureteral manipulations had an effect on the stone-free rates (SFR) after semi-rigid ureteroscopy (URS) with pneumatic lithotripsy. A retrospective review of all patients who were treated for ureteral stones at two different institutions from June 2003 through January 2010 was performed. Data of 161 URS procedures were analyzed. Stone size, location (distal, mid and proximal) and number (single and multiple), patient demographics and previous intraureteral manipulations were recorded. Patients were grouped as having undergone a previous ipsilateral intraureteral manipulation (Group 1) or not (Group 2). Stone location and number, stone clearance and ancillary procedures were compared. There were no significant differences between Group 1 versus Group 2 for age (p > 0.05), gender (p > 0.05), stone site (p > 0.05) and stone size (p > 0.05). Stones with multiple locations were more frequent in Group 1 (18.5%); however, the difference did not reach statistical significance between the two groups. Similarly, the frequency of multiple stones was also higher in Group 1 (29.6%). Stone site, diameter and gender were comparable in both groups. Stone-free rate of all patients was 84.6% after the first intervention. This rate increased to 98.1% after secondary procedures. Univariate analysis revealed that SFR after URS were low in patients who underwent previous intraureteral manipulations (Group 1:55.6% vs. Group 2:89.1%). SFR after the first intervention were related with stone size, location and number. Additionally, multiple logistic regression analysis indicated a relationship between previous intraureteral manipulations and initial stone clearance rates. Spontaneous passage of stone fragments after URS was associated with stone burden, location, number and previous intraureteral manipulations. Further multiple logistic regression analysis showed that only previous intraureteral manipulations were associated with the expulsion of the stones left for passage.

The treatment of ureteral lithiasis by extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is progressively being abandoned owing to advances in endoscopic lithotripsy. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the causes as to why ESWL is less effective-with a measurable parameter: focal applied energy quotient (FAEQ) that allows us to apply an improvement project in ESWL results for ureteral lithiasis. A prospective observational cohort study with 3-year follow-up and enrollment period was done with three groups of cases. In Group A, 83 cases of ureteral lithiasis were treated by endoscopic lithotripsy using Holmiun:YAG laser. In Group B, 81 cases of ureteral lithiasis were treated by ESWL using Doli-S device (EMSE 220F-XXP). In Group C, 65 cases of ureteral lithiasis were treated by ESWL using Doli-S device (EMSE 220F-XXP) (FAEQ >10). Statistical study and calculation of RR, NNT, Chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, and Student's t test were done. Efficiency quotient (EQ) and focal applied energy quotient [FAEQ = (radioscopy seconds/number of shock waves) × ESWL session J] were analyzed. From the results, the success rate of the treatment using Holmium:YAG laser lithotripsy and ESWL is found to be 94 and 48%, respectively, with a statistically significant difference (p < 0.001). Success rate of endoscopic laser lithotripsy for lumbar ureteral stones was 82% versus 57% of ESWL (p = 0.611). In Group B, FAEQ was 8.12. In Group C, success rate was 93.84% with FAEQ of 10.64%. When we compare results from endoscopic lithotripsy with Holmium:YAG laser in Group B with results from ESWL with FAEQ >10, we do not observe absolute benefit choosing one or the other. In conclusion, the application of ESWL with FAEQ >10, that is, improving radiologic focalization of the calculus and increasing the number of Joules/SW, makes possible a treatment as safe and equally efficient as Holmium:YAG laser lithotripsy in ureteral lithiasis less than 13 mm.