OBJECTIVE: To explore the impacts of delayed ureteral stent removal on the quality of life (QoL) and mental health of urinary calculi postoperative patients due to the corona virus disease 2019(COVID-19) pandemic. METHODS: The demographic and clinical data of patients with ureteral stent placement after urinary endoscopic lithotripsy and returned to Peking University People's Hospital for stent removal from December 2019 to June 2020 were collected. Ureteral stent symptoms questionnaire (USSQ) score and the outcome 20-item self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and self-rating depression scale (SDS) were collected to estimate the QoL and mental status. The USSQ consisted of 44 questions in 6 domains (including urinary symptom, physical pain, general health, work performance, sexual function, and ureteral stent related infection). For most questions in each domain, its score was a five-point Likert-type scale from 1 to 5, and a small proportion of questions was quantified by 1 to 4 or 1 to 7 scale. SAS and SDS both contained 20 questions used to assess a patient's level of anxiety and depression. Its scoring for each item was on a four-point Likert-type scale from 1 to 4. A total score (ranging from 20 to 80) was the main statistical indicator. The level of clinical anxiety and depression was quantified by using standard scores (total score multiplied by 1.25 to produce integers). And the multi-group structural equation model was constructed by analysis of moment structure (AMOS) analysis. RESULTS: Overall, 71 patients were enrolled for analysis. It was found that the median duration of ureteral stent time differed significantly between the control and delayed groups for 32 (30, 33) d and 94.5 (88, 103) d, respectively. The delayed group resulted in higher scores in the USSQ multidimensional, which included urinary symptoms, general health, work performance and ureteral stent related infections. Anxiety and depression were also significantly serious in the delayed group than in the control group. A longer indwelling time of a ureteral stent could exacerbate the effects of urinary symptoms and physical pain on work performance (P=0.029 < 0.05). Among them, the patients with severe urinary symptoms leading to poor work performance were most significantly affected by prolonged ureteral stent duration time (CR=2.619>1.96). CONCLUSION Patients with delayed ureteral stent removal due to the COVID-19 had resulted in worse QoL and mental status. Stents related symptoms are more severe in patients with higher anxiety and depression degree during COVID-19. To improve the QoL and mental health of patients after urinary calculi surgery during COVID-19, it is still not recommended to prolong the stent duration time or corresponding intervention measures should be taken.
Humans ; Quality of Life ; Pandemics ; COVID-19/epidemiology* ; Ureter/surgery* ; Urinary Calculi ; Pain ; Ureteral Diseases ; Stents ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Ureteral Calculi

This paper analyzed the clinical data, diagnosis and treatment of 4 asymptomatic patients with ureteral calculi without hydrops in our hospital from October 2018 to January 2019, and comprehensively discussed the previous literature. The 4 patients in this group had no obvious clinical symptoms, no positive stones were found in the B-ultrasound of the urinary system, and no hydroureter and hydroureter of the affected side was found. Urinary CT scan confirmed ureteral stones. They were all located in the lower ureter, and the stones obstructed the lumen. The stones were round and smooth, and there was no obvious hyperplasia and edema in the surrounding mucosa. The lithotripsy was completed in the first-stage operation, and the DJ catheter was left behind for one month after the operation. Based on the clinical diagnosis and treatment process of the 4 cases of asymptomatic calculi in this group and the analysis of previous studies, these patients were mostly detected by imaging examinations or other systematic imaging examinations during the regular review of urinary calculi. Ureteral stones with obstruction did not necessarily have stone-related symptoms. The onset of renal colic involved an increase in intraluminal pressure, related stimulation of nerve endings, smooth muscle spasms caused by stretching of the ureteral wall, and systemic changes in cytokines and related hormones. Cascade reactions, etc., were associated with the movement of stones down. Ureteral stones without hydrops were mostly located in the lower ureter, which had a certain buffering effect on obstructive pressure. Asymptomatic ureteral calculi could also induce irreversible damage to renal function, and the proportion of damage increased with the diameter of the stone. Patients with a history of urinary calculi, especially those with asymptomatic stones for the first time, should be paid attention to during clinical follow-up. At present, there are few research reports on asymptomatic and non-accumulating ureteral calculi. We analyze the clinical diagnosis and treatment process and characteristics of this group of patients combined with previous literature to provide a reference for the diagnosis and treatment of such patients.
Humans ; Ureteral Calculi/therapy* ; Urinary Calculi/therapy* ; Ureter ; Lithotripsy/methods* ; Edema/therapy* ; Kidney Calculi/therapy*

OBJECTIVES: To observe the clinical efficacy of moxibustion combined with western medication on ureteral stent-related symptoms after ureteroscopic lithotripsy (URL). METHODS: One hundred and fifty patients with upper urinary tract calculus implanted with ureteral stents after URL were randomly divided into a moxibustion group (50 cases, 1 case dropped out), a placebo moxibustion group (50 cases, 3 cases dropped out) and a blank control group (50 cases). No intervention was performed in the blank control group. On the basis of oral administration with tamsulosin hydrochloride sustained release capsule (starting from the first day after surgery, once a day, 0.2 mg each time, continuously for 4 weeks), in the moxibustion group, moxibustion was operated at Guanyuan (CV 4) and bilateral Shenshu (BL 23); the sham-moxibustion was delivered at the same acupoints in the placebo moxibustion group, once daily, 6 times a week, for 15 min in each treatment. The duration of treatment was 4 weeks. Before treatment, and after 1, 2 and 4 weeks of treatment, the scores of lower urinary tract symptoms, body pain, general health, work performance and satisfaction of sexual matters were compared among the 3 groups. The tract calculus clearance rate, urinary infection and the oral administration of painkillers were compared after 4 weeks of treatment in the 3 groups. RESULTS: The scores of lower urinary tract symptoms, body pain and general health after 1 week of treatment, and the scores of lower urinary tract symptoms, body pain, general health and work performance after 2 and 4 weeks of treatment were lower than those before treatment in the 3 groups (P<0.01). The scores of lower urinary tract symptoms and body pain in the moxibustion group after 1, 2 and 4 weeks of treatment were lower than those in the blank control group and the placebo moxibustion group (P<0.01, P<0.05) respectively. The score of general health in the moxibustion group was lower than that in the blank control group after 1 week of treatment (P<0.01), and lower than those of the blank control group and the placebo moxibustion group after 2 and 4 weeks of treatment (P<0.01, P<0.05). Regarding the score of work performance, it was lower in the moxibustion group after 1 and 2 weeks of treatment compared with those in the blank control group (P<0.05, P<0.01), and lower than those of the blank control group and the placebo moxibustion group after 4 weeks of treatment (P<0.01, P<0.05). The tract calculus clearance rate in the moxibustion group was 95.9% (47/49), higher than that in the blank control group (80.0%, 40/50, P<0.05). The proportion of oral administration of painkillers in the moxibustion group (28.6%, 14/49) and the placebo moxibustion group (40.4%, 19/47) was lower than that in the blank control group (76.0%, 38/50, P<0.01) respectively. CONCLUSIONS Moxibustion combined with western medication relieves lower urinary tract symptoms and body pain, and accelerate the recovery of general health and work performance in the patients after URL.
Humans ; Ureteroscopy/adverse effects* ; Moxibustion ; Lithotripsy/adverse effects* ; Pain ; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms ; Calculi ; Stents/adverse effects* ; Acupuncture Points

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between 24 h urinary ion content and kidney stones, and to explore the diagnostic values of kidney stone in primary gout patients. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with primary gout had ultrasound scanning of both feet and kidneys in Peking University First Hospital from Jan. 2020 to May 2021. Their clinical characteristics were compared between the positive and negative kidney stone groups, and the relationship between kidney stone and urinary ion composition were analyzed. Risk factors of kidney stone were analyzed. The explored diagnostic values were evaluated for urinary oxalate and citrate according with uric acid kidney stones by dual-energy computed tomography (DECT). RESULTS: Among the 100 gouty patients, 80 patients had uric acid crystal deposition in lower joints of extremity by ultrasonography, 61 patients had kidney stone, and 34 had kidney uric acid stones by DECT. All the multiple kidney stones were proved as uric acid kidney stones by DECT. Compared with patients without kidney stone group proved by ultrasonography, patients with kidney stone had longer gouty duration [(48.7±26.6) months vs. (84.0±30.6) months, P=0.01], higher 24 h urinary oxalate [(20.1±9.6) mg vs. (28.6±20.7) mg, P=0.001] and lower 24 h urinary citrate [(506.3±315.4) mg vs. (355.7±219.6) mg, P=0.001]. Compared with the patients without kidney stone by DECT, the patients with uric acid kidney stone also had longer disease duration [(49.1±28.4) months vs. (108.3±72.2) months, P=0.001], higher 24 h urinary oxalate [(23.6±16.9) mg vs. (28.5±18.8) mg, P < 0.05], lower 24 h urinary citrate [(556.0±316.3) mg vs. (391.7±261.2) mg, P < 0.05], higher serum uric acid [(466.2±134.5) μmol/L vs. (517.2±18.1) μmol/L, P < 0.05] and higher 24 h urinary uric acid [(1 518.1±893.4) mg vs. (1 684.2±812.1) mg, P < 0.05]. Logistic regression analysis showed long gout disease duration (OR=1.229, 95%CI: 1.062-1.522, P < 0.05), high serum uric acid level (OR=1.137, 95%CI: 1.001-1.213, P=0.01), low 24 h urinary citrate (OR=0.821, 95%CI: 0.659-0.952, P=0.01) were all risk factors of kidney stones by ultrasonography. Also, long gout disease duration (OR=1.201, 95%CI: 1.101-1.437, P=0.005), high serum creatine uric level (OR=1.145, 95%CI: 1.001-1.182, P=0.04), low 24 h urinary citrate (OR=0.837, 95%CI: 0.739-0.931, P=0.02) were all risk factors of kidney uric acid stones by DECT. CONCLUSION Long disease duration and low 24 h urinary citrate were risk factors for kidney stones.
Humans ; Urinary Calculi ; Uric Acid/analysis* ; Citric Acid ; Kidney Calculi/diagnostic imaging* ; Gout/diagnostic imaging* ; Citrates ; Oxalates

Kidney stone is one of the common diseases of the urinary system. About 80% of kidney stones are mainly composed of calcium oxalate. As a huge bacterial network, the interaction of gut microbes is complex. Intestinal microbes may play a role in the pathogenesis and prevention of kidney stones. The intestinal flora of patients with calcium oxalate stones possess unique distribution of gut microbes.
Calcium Oxalate ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Kidney Calculi/etiology* ; Oxalobacter formigenes ; Urinary Calculi

Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of Blumea balsamifera (L.) DC for the treatment of urinary tract stones. Methods: Data were collected from online databases, the Philippine National Library, and unpublished clinical trials. We obtained permission from authors of unpublished clinical trials but with existing patent applications. Studies were selected based on the criteria: randomized controlled trials (RCT) on the efficacy of Blumea balsamifera (L.) DC for the treatment of urinary tract stones given alone or in combination with a non-pharmacological/pharmacological intervention in comparison to a pharmacological/non-pharmacological intervention for urinary tract stones with participants aged 15 to 65 years in an ambulatory setting. Results: Our search methods yielded a total of 20 studies. Four studies met our inclusion criteria. Patients who took sambong had a reduction in stone size by radiographic evidence 23.45 times more than those who took the placebo (p=0.001). Also, patients taking sambong were 38.04 times more likely to pass stones compared to those patients taking a placebo (p=0.0004). Patients taking sambong were 7.48 times more likely to have reduction or disappearance of signs and symptoms compared to the placebo group (p=0.008). Conclusions Sambong treatment is effective in treating patients with urolithiasis by radiographic evidence of a decrease in size and/or number of stones, the passage of stone/s and/or disappearance or reduction of signs and symptoms with no serious adverse events.
Urinary Calculi

BACKGROUND: This is a rare case of two large urinary bladder stones causing severe infection of the urinary tract affecting the bone marrow due to chronic immune stimulation in a patient with recurrent anemia. Urinary bladder calculi are hard masses of minerals. They develop when the minerals in concentrated urine crystallize. This often happens when the bladder cannot be emptied. Signs and symptoms can vary from severe abdominal pain to blood in the urine. Sometimes, bladder stones don't cause any symptoms. If left untreated, bladder stones may lead to infections and other complications such as hepatic abscess via a hematogenous route. CASE: This is a case of a seventy-eight-year-old man with a history of multiple blood transfusions secondary to anemia of unknown cause. He came into our institution for a second opinion. We worked up the patient, which showed hepatic abscess and two large urinary bladder calculi. Further investigation of the anemia later led to a diagnosis of primary myelofibrosis. DIAGNOSTICS: Ultrasound showed a complex mass on the left hepatic lobe measuring 7.5 cm x 6.0 cm x 2.1 cm consistent with a hepatic abscess. The culture of the abscess was positive for E. coli. Computed Tomography (CT) scan of the lower abdomen showed heterogeneous mass measuring 8.6 cm x 8.7 cm x 9.2 cm within the urinary bladder (see Figure 2). Urinalysis was consistent with a urinary tract infection. Urine culture showed E. coli. Video-assisted cystoscopy showed two urinary bladder calculi, measuring 1.5 cm x 3.2 cm x 4.2 cm weighing 30 grams each (see Figure 3). The calculi were composed of 100% Calcium Oxalate. He underwent a series of diagnostic examinations for anemia including gastroscopy to rule out a bleeding ulcer. Complete blood count showed hemoglobin of 77 g/L and a hematocrit of 0.23. Finally, bone marrow core biopsy was done which is consistent with primary myelofibrosis. CONCLUSION: Urinary bladder stones can be asymptomatic and may present only with vague abdominal pain. It should be one of the considerations in asymptomatic patients with long-standing prostatitis or benign prostatic hyperplasia. Detailed history, thorough physical examinations, and cautious diagnostic tests are mandatory to confirm the diagnosis. A hepatic abscess may arise from infections in the urinary tract such as prostatitis through hematogenous extension. Therefore, it is important to address the origin of the infection to prevent such complications. This is a rare case of an elderly man who presented with chronic anemia and later found out to have large urinary bladder stones that caused severe infection leading to immune stimulation of the bone marrow, hence the diagnosis of primary myelofibrosis by bone marrow biopsy. Such a rare case must be thought of holistically and analytically.
Male ; Prostatitis ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; Urinary Bladder Calculi ; Liver Abscess ; Anemia

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to compare the effectiveness of low-dose ketamine versus ketorolac in pain control in patients with acute renal colic presenting to the emergency department (ED). METHODS: This is a double-blind randomized clinical trial. The initial pain severity was assessed using the numerical rating scale (NRS). Then, ketamine or ketorolac was administered intravenously at a dose of 0.6 mg/kg and 30 mg respectively. The pain severity and adverse drug reactions were recorded 5, 15, 30, 60, and 120 min thereafter. RESULTS: The data of 62 subjects in the ketamine group and 64 patients in the ketorolac group were analyzed. The mean age of the patients was 34.2 ± 9.9 and 37.9 ± 10.6 years in the ketamine and ketorolac group, respectively. There was no significant difference in the mean NRS scores at each time point, except for the 5 min, between the two groups. Despite a marked decrease in pain severity in the ketamine group from drug administration at the 5 min, a slight increase in pain was observed from the 5 min to the 15 min. The rate of adverse drug reactions, including dizziness (P = 0.001), agitation (P = 0.002), increased systolic blood pressure (> 140 mmHg), and diastolic blood pressure (> 90 mmHg) was higher in the ketamine group. CONCLUSIONS: Low dose ketamine is as effective as ketorolac in pain management in patients with renal colic presenting to the ED. However, it is associated with a higher rate of adverse drug reactions.
Acute Pain ; Blood Pressure ; Dihydroergotamine ; Dizziness ; Double-Blind Method ; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions ; Emergencies ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Humans ; Ketamine ; Ketorolac ; Pain Management ; Renal Colic ; Urinary Calculi

BACKGROUND: This study compared the following three endoscopic techniques used to treat bladder stones: transurethral cystoscope used with a pneumatic lithoclast or nephroscope used with a pneumatic lithoclast and nephroscope used with an ultrasonic lithoclast.METHODS: Between January 2013 and May 2016, 107 patients with bladder stones underwent endoscopic treatment. Patients were classified into three groups based on the endoscopic techniques and energy modalities used in each group as: group 1 (transurethral stone removal using a cystoscope with pneumatic lithoclast), group 2 (transurethral stone removal using a nephroscope with pneumatic lithoclast), and group 3 (transurethral stone removal using a nephroscope with ultrasonic lithoclast). Baseline and perioperative data were retrospectively com-pared between three groups.RESULTS: No statistically significant intergroup differences were observed in age, sex ratio, and stone size. A statistically significant intergroup difference was observed in the operation time—group 1, 71.3±46.6 min; group 2, 33.0±13.7 min; and group 3, 24.6±8.0 min. All patients showed complete stone clearance. The number of urethral entries was higher in group 1 than in the other groups. Significant complications did not occur in any patient.CONCLUSION: Nephroscopy scores over cystoscopy for the removal of bladder stones with respect to operation time. Ultrasonic lithoclast is a safe and efficacious modality that scores over a pneumatic lithoclast with respect to the operation time.
Cystoscopes ; Cystoscopy ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Sex Ratio ; Ultrasonics ; Urinary Bladder Calculi ; Urinary Bladder

To analyze types of urinary calculi and patients' clinical characteristics, and to explore the strategies for prevention and treatment of urinary calculi.
 Methods: A total of 1 849 patients with urinary calculi were treated in the Department of Urology, the Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University. The components were analyzed by infrared spectroscopy. The relationship between stone composition and clinical parameters was analyzed according to the clinical characteristics of the patients.
 Results: The proportion of calcium oxalate stone or uric acid stone in male (84.1% or 7.7%) was higher than that in female (78.4% or 4.2%). The older patients were more likely to be diagnosed as uric acid stone. The proportions of uric acid stone in patients <18 years old, 18-<41 years old, 41-<66 years old, and ≥66 years old were 0.0%, 1.6%, 6.6%, and 12.4%, respectively. There was no significant difference in the proportion of stones in patients with different BMI. There were no significant difference in the stone composition between the patients with or without urinary tract infection, hypertension or diabetes. The proportion of uric acid stones in patients with acidic urine was higher than the other types. The proportion of uric acid stones in patients with elevated creatinine (12.1%) was higher than that in the patients with normal creatinine (4.5%).
 Conclusion: Elderly patients, or patients with high uric acid and renal insufficiency are more prone to uric acid stones. Regulation of urinary pH may be an important strategy for preventing and treating urinary calculi in Hunan Province.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Body Mass Index ; Calcium Oxalate ; analysis ; Creatinine ; urine ; Female ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Kidney Calculi ; chemistry ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sex Factors ; Spectrophotometry, Infrared ; Uric Acid ; analysis ; Urinary Calculi ; chemistry ; therapy ; urine