Forming a stone in pelviureteric junction obstruction: cause or effect?

ABSTRACT Objectives To investigate a possible causal relationship for stone formation in pelviureteric junction obstruction and to outline management options. Materials and Methods A literature search and evidence synthesis was conducted via electronic databases in the English language using the key words pelviureteric junction obstruction; urolithiasis; hyperoxaluria; laparoscopic pyeloplasty; flexible nephroscopy; percutaneous nephrolithotomy, alone or in combination. Relevant articles were analysed to extract conclusions. Results Concomitant pelviureteric junction obstruction (PUJO) and renal lithiasis has been reported only scarcely in the literature. Although PUJO has been extensively studied throughout the years, the presence of calculi in such a patient has not received equal attention and there is still doubt surrounding the pathophysiology and global management. Conclusions Metabolic risk factors appear to play an important role, enough to justify metabolic evaluation in these patients. Urinary stasis and infection are well known factors predisposing to lithiasis and contribute to some extent. The choice for treatment is not always straightforward. Management should be tailored according to degree of obstruction, renal function, patient symptoms and stone size. Simultaneous treatment is feasible with the aid of minimally invasive operative techniques and laparoscopy in particular.

Studying inhibition of calcium oxalate stone formation: an in vitro approach for screening hydrogen sulfide and its metabolites

Calcium oxalate urolithiasis is one of the most common urinary tract diseases and is of high prevalence. The present study proposes to evaluate the antilithiatic property of hydrogen sulfide and its metabolites like thiosulfate & sulfate in an in vitro model.

Trastornos metabólicos renales en pacientes cubanos adultos con litiasis urinarias / Renal metabolic disturbances in Cuban adult patients with urinary lithiasis

INTRODUCCIÓN: las litiasis urinarias constituyen un problema de salud. La recurrencia de ellas hace necesario implementar estrategias preventivas, para lo cual es indispensable conocer la frecuencia de los diferentes trastornos metabólicos renales. OBJETIVOS: identificar los disturbios metabólicos más frecuentes en la enfermedad litiásica urinaria y la posible relación de estos con características de los pacientes. MÉTODOS: estudio observacional analítico, transversal. Se estudiaron 3 655 pacientes adultos con litiasis urinaria, que se realizaron estudio metabólico renal en el Instituto de Nefrología entre los años 2003 y 2009. Las determinaciones analíticas fueron realizadas por técnica espectrofotométrica, según las normas del servicio. Toda la información se procesó mediante el paquete estadístico SPSS versión 15.0. Se utilizó la técnica de análisis de distribución de frecuencias. Las relaciones entre las variables se identificaron mediante el test de independencia. RESULTADOS: los principales trastornos metabólicos encontrados fueron: hiperuricemia (48,2 %), hipercalciuria (45,1 %) e infección del tracto urinario (16,2 %). La hipercalciuria y la hiperuricosuria fueron menos frecuentes en los sujetos mayores de 42 años (p= 0,01). La hipercalciuria, la hiperoxaluria y la hiperuricosuria resultaron más frecuentes en los hombres (p= 0,00), mientras la hipocitraturia tuvo mayor frecuencia en las mujeres (p= 0,04). La hiperuricosuria se encontró con mayor frecuencia en pacientes sobrepesos y obesos (p= 0,00), y la hiperoxaluria fue más frecuente entre los sobrepesos (p= 0,01). CONCLUSIONES: en los pacientes con litiasis renal los trastornos metabólicos más frecuentes son hiperuricemia, hipercalciuria e infección del tracto urinario. Los menores de 43 años tienen más hipercalciuria e hiperuricosuria. Los hombres tienen mayor frecuencia de hipercalciuria, hiperoxaluria e hiperuricosuria y las mujeres, de hipocitraturia. La frecuencia de presentación de hiperoxaluria, hiperuricosuria e hipocitraturia se encuentra relacionada con el estado nutricional de los sujetos.

INTRODUCTION: the recurrence of urinary lithiasis is a health problem needing the implementation of preventive strategies, thus knowing the frequency of the different renal metabolic disorders is essential. OBJECTIVES: To identify the most common metabolic disorders in urinary lithiasic disease and their relationship with patient characteristics. METHODS: an analytical, cross-sectional study was conducted in 3655 adult patients with urolithiasis. A renal metabolic study was conducted at the Institute of Nephrology from 2003 to 2009. The analytical determinations were performed by spectrophotometric technique according to the standards of service. All information is processed using SPSS version 15.0. The technique of frequency distribution analysis was used. Relationships between variables were identified by the test of independence. RESULTS: The main metabolic disorders found were: hyperuricemia (48.2%), hypercalciuria (45.1%), and urinary tract infection (16.2 %). Hypercalciuria and hyperuricosuria were less frequent in subjects older than 42 years (p= 0.01). Hypercalciuria, hyperoxaluria and hyperuricosuria were more frequent in men (p= 0.00), while hypocitraturia was more frequent in women (p= 0.04). Hyperuricosuria was found more frequently in overweight and obese patients (p= 0.00), and hyperoxaluria was more frequent among overweight subjects (p= 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with renal lithiasis the most common metabolic disorders are hyperuricemia, hypercalciuria, and urinary tract infection. All subjects younger than 43 years suffered hypercalciuria and hyperuricosuria. Men have higher frequency of hypercalciuria, hyperuricosuria and hyperoxaluria. Women have higher frequency of hypocitraturia. The frequency of submission of hyperoxaluria, hyperuricosuria and hypocitraturia is related to the nutritional status of these subjects.

Estudo retrospectivo de 66 casos de urolitíase obstrutiva em ovinos / Obstrutive retrospective study of 66 cases of urolithiasis in sheep

Objetivou-se realizar um estudo retrospectivo dos principais achados epidemiológicos, clínicos, patológicos e laboratoriais de ovinos acometidos por urolitíase obstrutiva, atendidos na Clínica de Bovinos, Campus Garanhuns/ UFRPE. Para isso, foram analisadas 66 fichas clínicas de ovinos, todos machos não castrados, com idade entre dois meses e cinco anos. A maioria dos casos (79,63%) ocorreu na época chuvosa. A maioria dos animais (87,88%) era criada intensivamente e todos eram alimentados com concentrados. Os sinais clínicos mais importantes foram as manifestações de dor, congestão de mucosas, hipertermia e aumento da tensão abdominal associados a obstrução do trato urinário. Metade dos animais apresentou obstrução total da uretra. Destes, 69,70% morreram, enquanto nos casos de obstrução parcial, 30,30% morreram. Nos exames laboratoriais verificou-se neutrofilia e desvio à esquerda regenerativo, hiperfibrinogenemia e azotemia. Na urinálise constatou-se hematúria em 89,29% dos casos e pH ácido em 46,43%. Na sedimentoscopia predominaram hemácias, leucócitos, células de descamação do epitélio uretral e cristais de urato amorfo. Os achados necroscópicos renais mais frequentes foram pielonefrite (61,54% dos casos) e hidronefrose (50%). Nos ureteres foram visualizados ureterite e hidroureter. Na bexiga foi mais evidente a cistite hemorrágica difusa (50%) e a presença de urólitos (57,69%). Na uretra observaram-se urólitos (61,54%) e uretrite hemorrágica difusa (57,69%). Quanto à composição dos urólitos predominaram os compostos por oxalato de cálcio hidratado. Conclui-se que no Agreste de Pernambuco a urolitiase é uma doença importante de ovinos, com alta letalidade, estando associada à alimentação rica em concentrados e sal mineral.

The aim was to conduct a retrospective study of the main epidemiological, clinical, pathological and laboratory findings from sheep suffering from obstructive urolithiasis, in the Agreste region of Pernambuco, Brazil. Thus, 66 medical records of non-castrated male sheep with age from 2 months and 5 years were analyzed. Most cases (79.63%) occurred during the rainy season. Most sheep were raised intensively (87.88%) and all were fed with concentrated ration. Main clinical signs were manifestation of pain, congestion of the mucosae, hyperthermia, and increased abdominal tension associated with urinary tract obstruction. Half of the animals showed total obstruction of the urethra, 69.7% of which died, whilst in cases of partial obstruction only 30.3% died. Laboratorial exams revealed neutrophilia and regenerative left turn, hyperfibrinogenemia, and azotemia. Urinalysis showed hematuria in 89.29% of the cases, and acidic pH in 46.43%. Erythrocytes, leukocytes, cell desquamation of urethral epithelium, and crystals of amorphous urate predominated in the examination of the sediment. Most frequent gross findings were pyelonephritis (61.54% of cases) and hydronephrosis (50%). In the ureter, ureteritis and hydroureter was observed. The bladder showed diffuse hemorrhagic cystitis (50%) and uroliths (57.69%). In the urethra, uroliths (61.54%) and diffuse hemorrhagic urethritis (57.69%) was found. The uroliths were composed mainly by hydrated calcium oxalate. It is concluded that in the Agreste region of Pernambuco, urolithiasis is an important disease of sheep with high mortality, associated with the ingestion of large amounts of concentrates and mineral supplements.