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This article aims to review the literature regarding assessment of the gut microbiota effect on kidney stone formation. We sought to determine whether several specific gut bacteria or a wider number of members of the gut microbiota are responsible for this association based on the literature data. We conducted an extensive literature search (publications on kidney stones and gut microbiota dated 2013-2023) in PubMed, Cochrane CENTRAL, and Web of Science Core Collection.A large number of earlier studies were focused on physical and chemical properties of crystals formed by kidney stones. In recent years as diagnostic technologies advance, there has been a tendency to study the association of the gut microbiota and the development of other unrelated diseases. Studies have emerged showing the gut microbiota effect on the development of urolithiasis, which suggests that stone formation can be prevented or caused by changing the structure of the gut microbiome. However, further research is needed to identify which genera or types of the gut microbiota break down oxalate and reduce the risk of kidney stone formation.

Malignant transformation of lymphopoiesis in lymph nodes (LN) is accompanied by structural rearrangement of the LN stroma and changes in the glycosylation of membrane and cytoplasmic proteins. For the histochemical detection of transforming lymphoid cells and remodeled LN stroma, we used the tomato lectin Lycopersicon esculentum, which is able to bind to surface and cytoplasmic glycoproteins of the majority of LN cells. The study aimed to investigate the characteristics of cell architectonics with a high level of protein glycosylation in the LN of patients with B-chronic lymphocytic leukаemia (B-CLL). The study material were biopsy specimens of supraclavicular and cervical LNs from patients of the First Republican Clinical Hospital of the Ministry of Health of the Udmurt Republic with a confirmed diagnosis of B-CLL (16 patients), aged 49-73 years, obtained prior to treatment with their informed voluntary consent. LN biopsies from the same body regions of 12 individuals aged 48-70 years with reactive LN hyperplasia served as control samples. Paraffin sections of 7 µm thick LN were stained with FITC-conjugated tomato lectin and fluorescent dye propidium iodide (IP) and examined using a Nikon Eclipse200 microscope equipped with a luminescence unit and digital camera. Analysis of LN preparations from patients with B-CLL revealed significant changes in the histotopography of cells and extracellular structures with a high degree of glycosylation. Follicles in the cortex were replaced by an array of small lymphocytes against a background of proliferating centers containing lymphocytes with dispersed packing of IP-labelled chromatin. In this area we also observed a uniform network of thin lectin-labelled reticular fibres and a large number of small blood vessels. Macrophage-like cells, clearly identifiable in the germinal centres of follicles in control, were absent in B-CLL. Their increased number and intensity of luminescence was observed in the subcapsular sinus area and in the paracortical area around collagen bundles formed by conduits, as well as around connective tissue trabeculae of the brain substance. The differences observed in the histological topography of highly glycosylated LN cells in B-CLL suggest that the proposed staining method is informative and facilitates the diagnosis of this disease in histological studies.

In recent years, there has been an upward trend in the urolithiasis incidence worldwide and an increase in the recurrence of stone formation. Urolithiasis prevalence rates range from 1% to 20%. In some countries, there is an increase in rates up to 37%. Stones are classified into those caused by infections, non infectious causes, and genetic diseases. Alteration in urine microbiome plays a significant role in the infection stone formation. Our objective was to review the current literature on the role of bacteria in the formation of kidney concrements. The gained knowledge could be used to explore new possibilities and improve the understanding of stone formation. We analyzed articles on the composition of the urine microbiome and kidney stones.

Two express methods are presented in this paper. The first method is a high-resolution gamma-spectroscopic method based on a germanium detector, the second method is an IR-spectroscopic method. The applied complex of methods allows to determine the sources of uranium and thorium, identify the rhythms of uranium accumulation associated with regional events; identify areas with a high content of uranium due to the influence of local sources (faults, hydrothermal, etc.); determine the amount of authigenous uranium in the composition of total uranium; determine thermal maturity of organic matter in shales without their preliminary demineralization. To identify levels of increased uranium intensity in the high-carbon strata, a set of indicators has been proposed, which includes both applied indicators in practice of geological work and new indicators.New indicators have been tested on the collection of shale reference samples. For them, values were established that characterize the processes of uranium accumulation and uranium removal. On the example of Ukhta Region according to the proposed indicators, the sections from the VendianRiphean to Domanic inclusive were interpreted.The performed work showed the possibility of comparing the calculated gamma-spectroscopic data with the data of other methods. This opens up a broader perspective for the use of express non-destructive gamma-spectroscopic method for detecting levels with a high content of uranium in the shale rocks, to which ore-bearing concentrations of a number of metals are also confined.

Introduction: Ureteral stents have been widely used for drainage of the upper urinary tract during both emergency and elective surgical procedures since 1967. The main pathology in which these stents are used is urolithiasis.Objective: To present our experience with the surgical treatment of patients with “forgotten” encrusted ureteral stents using a combined endourological approach.Materials and methods: Patients with encrusted ureteral stents who underwent endourological procedures from 2016 to 2022 were prospectively evaluated. They were grouped based on the degree of stent encrustation according to the FECal classification. The duration of stent placement, number and types of surgical procedures, number of procedures before complete removal of the stent and concrements, surgery duration, hospital stay, complications, concrement analysis, and frequency of complete concrement removal per surgery were compared between the groups. The combined endourological procedure was performed with the patient placed in the Galdakao-modified supine Valdivia position. This position allows simultaneous antegrade and retrograde endourological access.Results: The study included 46 patients grouped according to the FECal classification. In 38 patients, stents were successfully removed in a single procedure. The mean operative time, concrement-free status, and complication rate were 90.2 ± 19.8 minutes, 78.3%, and 32.6%, respectively. Total encrustation volume was higher for grades IV and V (5.6 ± 1.8 and 7.6 ± 2 cm3) compared with all the other grades. Percutaneous nephrolithotripsy and cystolithotripsy were the most common procedures in grades IV and V. Lithotripsy was commonly used for ureteral stent encrustation, especially in the groups with grades I and III. The operative time was longer in groups IV-V compared with groups I and II because percutaneous nephrolithotripsy was more frequent in these cases. Retrograde intrarenal surgery was performed in 88% of the cases with the combined approach to check whether concrements were present in the renal calyces and pelvis. In 5 cases, a flexible ureterorenoscope was advanced antegradely through a percutaneous access to disintegrate the encrustation of the proximal part of the stent’s ureteral section. Complications occurred in 32.6% of the patients. Most complications (26%) were minor: fever, pain, or gross hematuria. One case required segmental renal artery embolization for bleeding, and antibiotic therapy associated with an attack of pyelonephritis was adjusted in 2 cases.Conclusions: The endoscopic combined approach in the Galdakao-modified supine Valdivia position is a safe and effective technique that allows removal of “forgotten” encrusted stents, in most cases, in a single procedure. The FECal classification seems to be useful for surgical planning and prognosis.