As a new quantitative analysis method of radiology image data, radiomics has been widely used in the diagnosis and treatment evaluation of various diseases especially malignant tumors, promoting the development of individualization and precision in disease diagnosis and treatment. In urolithiasis, radiomics is mainly used in the differential diagnosis of ureteral calculi, preoperative prediction of different calculus compositions, and prediction of efficacy of various treatment modalities. This paper introduced the basic workflow of radiomics, and reviewed its application progress in urolithiasis.

Objective To evaluate the application value of artificial intelligence mixed reality(AI-MR)technology in the planning of ultrasound-guided percutaneous nephrolithotomy(PCNL)for special types of complex upper urinary stones.Methods The prospective single-center,single-arm clinical study involved 15 patients with complex upper urinary stones undergoing ultrasound-guided PCNL during Aug.2022 and May 2023,including 9 male and 6 female,3 cases of pelvic ectopic kidney stones,5 cases of horseshoe kidney stones,3 cases of renal stones combined with spinal deformity,and 4 cases of transplant kidney stones.Based on preoperative computed tomography urography(CTU)data,digital three-dimensional reconstruction was performed,and AI-MR was used to project surgery-related three-dimensional images in real space to obtain"perspective"information of the surgical area.This facilitated preoperative design and planning,including target calyx,number of channels,and auxiliary measures.The compliance of target calyx and number of channels,stone clearance rate,total operation time,time required to establish the percutaneous renal channel,decrease in hemoglobin level,surgical complications,and postoperative hospital stay were analyzed.Results All 15 patients underwent preoperative planning using AI-MR and successfully completed one-stage ultrasound-guided PCNL.Based on the preoperative planning,we utilized S-PCNL alone or combined with Needle-perc or antegrade/retrograde FURS/RIRS.Among all patients,4 underwent single-channel S-PCNL,3 multi-channel S-PCNL,and 8 S-PCNL combined with Needle-perc or FURS.The compliance of target calyx and number of channels was 86.7％,the one-stage stone clearance rate was 80.0％,the average time for establishing the channel was(2.3±0.3)minutes,the average total operation time was(61.5±12.2)minutes,the mean decrease in hemoglobin level was(9.6±1.2)g/L,and the average postoperative hospital stay was(4.6±0.5)days.There were no Clavien-Dindo grade ≥ Ⅱ complications,such as blood transfusion,organ injury,or urosepsis.Conclusion Before surgery,AI-MR can be used to quantitatively analyze imaging data for patients with special types of complex upper urinary stones,which can achieve three-dimensional fluoroscopy effects,formulate surgical plans,optimize puncture paths,effectively avoid the risk of damage to surrounding organs,reduce complications,shorten treatment cycle and improve the first-stage stone clearance rate.

Purpose/Significance To analyze relevant patented technologies,and to provide experience for medical and commercial health insurance institutions to break through the data interaction blocking point and construct a multi-level medical security system.Method/Process The patentometrics method is used to analyze the data interaction patent technology between medical and health insurance institutions from four aspects:time trend,regional distribution,category distribution and text clustering.Result/Conclusion China should pay attention to the role of data interaction in deepening cooperation between medical and insurance institutions,improve the declaration,authorization,application and protection of high-quality patents,pay attention to cross-border integration and technology-driven,and innovate patent layout to meet technological development and social needs.

At the annual meeting of American Urological Association (AUA), the field of urinary stone involved many directions such as basic research, drug treatment, surgical intervention, and so on. The results of many expected large-scale multicenter randomized controlled clinical trials were also revealed at the congress. Image navigation technology, artificial intelligence, and machine learning algorithms were further applied in the field of stone diagnosis and treatment.

Objective:To retrospectively analyze and summarize the clinical experience and therapeutic effect of anterograde Needle-perc combined with RIRS, namely N+ R (Needle perc + RIRS) technique in the treatment of complex calyceal diverticular stone.Methods:Retrospective analysis of 23 cases of complex renal caliceal diverticulum stones admitted to our hospital from January 2020 to December 2022. The complex factors mainly include the invisible cervical orifice of diverticulum, large stone volume, and special anatomical location, which makes single RIRS or PCNL treatment difficult or unsuccessful. There were 14 males and 9 females with an average age of (42.3±6.1) years. Three cases were upper calyceal diverticular stone, average size was (0.9±0.2)cm. Nine patients had diverticular stone in the middle posterior calyx, and the average size was (1.2±0.3)cm. The average size of four diverticular stone was (1.8±0.2)cm in the anterior middle calyx. Seven patients had diverticular stone with an average size of (1.3±0.1)cm in lower calyx. Among them, 12 patients underwent RIRS which were difficult or stone undiscovered, and 3 patients underwent PCNL and the operation was terminated due to failure of channel establishment. In our center, oblique supine lithotomy position (male) or prone split-leg position (female) was adopted, and the combined treatment of Needle-perc and RIRS was performed. Needle-perc puncture was completed under the guidance of full ultrasound. During the operation, methylene blue reagent or mutual guidance of two endoscopes was used to find the diverticulum neck and expand the outlet with holmium laser incision. Depending on the size and location of the stones, a single Needle-perc laser lithotripsy combined with stone removal in flexible ureteroscope was used, or dual lasers were be used simultaneously for stone removal under double endoscopes. The first stage stone free rate, operation time, hemoglobin decrease, complications, postoperative hospital stay and other conditions were analyzed.Results:All the 23 operations were completed successfully. The stone free rate within 48 hours and one month after surgery was 78.2% and 100.0% respectively. The average operation time was (61.5±12.2)min. The mean postoperative hospital stay was (2.8±0.6) days. The mean decrease of hemoglobin was (3.6±0.4)g/L. Three patients had fever and one patient had renal subcapsular effusion. After anti-inflammatory and symptomatic treatment, the patient was discharged. There was no incidence of Clavien-Dindo≥Ⅱcomplications such as blood transfusion, abdominal organ injury or urosepsis.Conclusions:Treatment of complex renal caliceal diverticulum stones using N+ R technique of anterograde needle-perc combined with RIRS can effectively improve the success rate of first-stage surgery. Overall, it is safe, efficient and feasible with the advantages of high stone free rate, lower damage, and few postoperative complications.

Objective:To retrospectively summarize disease characteristics and the clinical experience of minimally invasive endoscopy in the treatment of upper urinary tract obstruction caused by ureteropelvic encrusted inflammatory disease.Methods:Three patients with bilateral ureteropelvic encrusted inflammatory disease admitted to our hospital from March 2018 to July 2021 were involved. Case 1, male, 45 years old, admitted due to bilateral hydronephrosis for 5 months. The preoperative diagnosis were bilateral ureteropelvic stones (encrustation), right ureteral atresia, left ureteral stenosis, and systemic vasculitis. Left double J tube insertion and right nephrostomy were performed in another hospital. We conducted antegrade percutaneous nephroscopy combined with retrograde ureteroscopy surgery and assisted balloon dilation to treat bilateral lesions stage by stage. Case 2, Male, 12 years old, admitted due to bilateral abdominal pain for 6 weeks. The preoperative diagnosis were bilateral ureteral stones, bilateral hydronephrosis, and dermatomyositis. After the failure of double J tube insertion in another hospital, double nephrostomy was performed instead. We performed left percutaneous nephroscopy and right percutaneous nephroscopy combined with ureteroscopy for the treatment of bilateral lesions. Case 3, female, 32 years old, was admitted because of pain in the left lower back and abdomen for over 6 months. The preoperative diagnosis were bilateral ureteral stones, bilateral ureteral stenosis, and dermatomyositis. She underwent three times of ESWL and once URS before. We performed ureteroscopic surgery for bilateral lesions. During the surgery, various degrees of crusting in the renal pelvis or ureter were observed in all 3 cases, and the lesions were removed using pneumatic lithotripsy combined with forceps or baskets. After surgery, oral antibiotics were continuously used for 1-3 months. The efficacy and prognosis were evaluated based on the follow-up of urine, imaging, and endoscopic examinations at 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery.Results:All 3 surgeries were successfully completed. At 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery, follow-up CT showed no crusting in the left ureter, and endoscopy showed good mucosal wound healing and unobstructed lumen in case 1. There were still some crusting lesions and lumen stenosis in the right renal pelvis, and the right ureter reconstruction surgery was ultimately performed. There were no crusting on both sides and the urinary tract was unobstructed after 3, 6, and 12 months of follow-up in case 2 and case 3. Postoperative pathological examination showed chronic inflammation of urothelial mucosal tissue, small pieces of proliferative fibrous tissue with peripheral calcification. Calcification layer composition analysis showed magnesium ammonium phosphate and carbonate apatite. No related complications occurred in case 2 and case 3.Conclusions:Urothelial crusted inflammatory disease is rare clinically, and the diagnosis and treatment strategies are rarely reported domestically and internationally. Preoperative imaging examination, intraoperative findings and postoperative pathology or calcification composition analysis are of instruction for the diagnosis and treatment of this disease. Minimally invasive endoscopy treatment for upper urinary tract obstruction caused by ureteropelvic encrusted inflammatory disease has a good effect. Long-term efficacy and other adjuvant treatment need long-term follow-up and clinical practice.

Objective:To summarize the preliminary clinical experience of utilizing ureteral balloon dilation catheter in the treatment of "difficult ureter" during ureteroscopic lithotripsy, and to discuss the efficacy and safety of the technique.Methods:Clinical data of 28 patients (30 sides) with upper urinary tract calculi admitted to Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital Affiliated to Tsinghua University from April 2021 to July 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 23 males (82.1%) and 5 females (17.9%), with age of (51.5±13.6) years. Among the 30 sides, 20 (66.7%) on the left and 10(33.3%) were on the right. Calculi were either located in the renal pelvis or calyxes in 7 sides (23.3%), upper ureter in 17 sides (56.7%), and lower ureter in 6 sides (20.0%). The maximum diameter of the stones was (9.4±4.2)mm, and 23 sides (76.7%) were combined with hydronephrosis before surgery. When "difficult ureter" was encountered during the procedure, that is, it was difficult to insert ureteroscope or ureteral access sheath (UAS) due to small ureteral lumen, balloon catheter was used for dilation in the first stage, in which the balloon diameter was 4 mm on 22 sides and 5mm on 8 sides. The instrument was retrogradely inserted through the working channel of F8 semi-rigid ureteroscope, and the small site of the ureteral lumen was dilated under direct endoscopic view. After a single dilation, the balloon catheter was withdrawn, and the effect of dilation was evaluated by semi-rigid ureteroscopy to determine whether to proceed with the following procedures. The intraoperative data were recorded, including surgical method, stage of "difficult ureter" occurred, site of the small part of the ureter, related data of utilizing ureteral dilatation balloon catheter, grade of ureteral injury after dilatation (according to the 0-4 grading classification of endoscopic ureteral injuries), total operation time, balloon catheter-related adverse events, stone-free rate, and time of removing ureteral stents.Results:Among the 30 sides, 29 (96.7%) had difficulty in the stage of ureteroscope insertion, and 1(3.3%) had difficulty in the stage of UAS insertion. A total of 37 small sites of ureter were involved, including 18 in the intramural segment, 10 in the lower part, 2 in the middle part, and 7 in the upper part. Each site was dilated once with a median time of 3 (0.5, 5.0) minutes and a median maximum balloon pressure of 1 215.9(1 215.9, 1 443.9)kPa[12.0(12.0, 14.3)atm]. There were 28 sites of grade Ⅰ injury, 8 sites of grade Ⅱinjury, and 1 site of grade Ⅲinjury. The total duration of unilateral procedure was (73.4±30.3) min. Ureteroscope or UAS insertion was successful in 28 sides(93.3%) after balloon dilation, and failed in 2 sides(6.7%), both of which were in the stage of inserting ureteroscope and ureteral stent was indwelled for the second-stage procedures. On the first day after surgery, the hemoglobin level was (134.1±12.9)g/L, which was significantly different from the preoperative parameters ( P<0.01), and serum creatinine level was (86.7±23.2)μmol/L, which showed no significant difference from the preoperative one ( P=0.263). The primary stone-free rate was 92.9% (26/28), and the total postoperative complication rate was 13.3% (4/30), including 3 of grade Ⅰ (lateral lower abdominal pain requiring additional analgesic drugs) and 1 of grade Ⅱ (postoperative hematuria requiring intravenous hemostatic drugs). Follow-up was conducted for 3 months. All of the 28 successful sides had their ureteral stents removed before the last follow-up, and the time of removal was (36.9±11.5) days. No hydronephrosis was found in the ipsilateral kidney by ultrasound 3 months after operation. Conclusions:Balloon dilation technique showed good efficacy and safety in the treatment of "difficult ureter" during ureteroscopic lithotripsy.

Objective:To analyze the safety and efficacy of ultrasound-guided needle-perc assisted retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) in the treatment of small but complex renal calculi, and summarize our clinical experience.Methods:The clinical data of 36 patients with small but complicated renal stones treated by ultrasound-guided needle-perc assisted RIRS in Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital from January 2020 to April 2022, were retrospectively analyzed. There were 25 males and 11 females. The average age was (54.7±6.1) years, and the body mass index (BMI) was (26.3±3.1) kg/m 2. The maximum diameter of the calculi was (1.8±0.7) cm. There were 28 patients without renal hydronephrosis before operation, 8 patients with mild to moderate renal hydronephrosis, 4 patients with caliceal diverticular stones, 32 patients with lower pole stones, 10 patients with ureteral stones, 6 patients with previous surgical history of ipsilateral kidney stones, and 3 patients with stones in the solitary kidneys. Patients were placed in oblique supine lithotomy position or prone split leg position (female). For lower pole stones or diverticular stones that were difficult to be handled by flexible ureteroscope, the needle-perc was used to puncture the stones in target calyx under ultrasound guidance. Holmium laser was then used to pulverize or fragment the calculi, and the flexible ureteroscope was used to remove or further pulverize the stone fragments. Perioperative indexes and postoperative complications were recorded, and stone-free rate was analyzed. Results:All 36 cases were successfully operated. The median operation time was 61.5(59.0, 66.8)min, with a median decrease in hemoglobin on the first postoperative day of 1.6(0.8, 2.0)g/ L, a median postoperative hospital stay of 1.5(1.0, 2.0)days, and a median needle-perc tract of 1(1, 2). The complications were recorded in 4 patients (11.1%), all of which were Clavien-Dindo grade I, including postoperative fever in 2 patients and analgesic use in 2 patients. The primary stone-free rate was 83.3% (30/36). The 6 patients with residual stones were treated by external physical vibration lithecbole on the 3rd to 7th day after surgery. After 1 month follow-up, residual stone expulsion were seen in 3 patients. Three patients with residual stones were followed up regularly. The final stone-free rate was 91.7% (33/36).Conclusions:Ultrasound-guided needle-per assisted RIRS is safe and effective in the treatment of small but complex renal calculi, with high postoperative stone free rate and low complication rate.

The research highlights and latest developments on urinary tract stones at the 2023 American Urological Association (AUA) annual meeting mainly include several aspects, including stone metabolism and basic research, drug treatment and dietary prevention, application of new technologies in lithotripsy, development of new equipment, and innovation in the combination of artificial intelligence and medical industry. In term of basic research, new breakthroughs have been made in the formation mechanism of Randall plaque and stones microbiology and proteomics. The update and iteration of new lithotripsy instruments make minimally invasive technology efficient and safe. The widespread application and in-depth expansion of artificial intelligence machine learning and imageomics have shown strong advantages in preoperative diagnosis and postoperative prediction. The drug treatment and dietary prevention for genetic related stone diseases have been given special attention. In addition, public social media platforms and medical self media have begun to provide more active science popularization and education for the public.

The incidence and recurrence rates of urinary stone diseases have remained high recently, and stone analysis is of great significance for further understanding of the pathophysiological processes of urinary stones and to develop effective prevention strategies and precise treatment. Imaging evaluation is the main method of preoperative stone analysis, and dual-energy CT has shown its potential in identifying common main components of stones. The emergence of photon counting spectral CT is expected to achieve accurate analysis of stone components at the pixel level. The intraoperative stone analysis mainly relies on the automatic recognition of endoscopic images, and using machine learning algorithms can more reliably predict common stone composition. It is of great significance for stone analysis and assessment of metabolic causes by introducing morpho-constitutional classification (MCC)and observing and describing the papillary renal lesions during operation. This article reviews the progress of preoperative and intraoperative stone analysis, in order to improve clinicians' understanding of the importance of stone analysis, and provide a direction for further clinical research.