Clinical Research Directory

Kidney Stone Inflammation

This observational study aims to look at the connections between kidney stones, insulin resistance, and inflammation. The researchers hypothesize that people who form calcium kidney stones and have insulin resistance may have higher levels of inflammation because they have more visceral fat (fat around the abdominal organs). The study will recruit 20 people who have had calcium kidney stones but don't have diabetes, and 20 healthy people who haven't had kidney stones. All the participants will come to the research center at the University of Chicago Medicine. Participants will have a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan to measure their visceral fat, and give blood and urine samples. The blood will be tested for insulin resistance, inflammatory markers, and other metabolic factors. The urine will be analyzed for substances that increase kidney stone risk. The main goal is to see if the kidney stone formers with insulin resistance have more visceral fat compared to those without insulin resistance and the healthy participants. The researchers will also compare inflammatory marker levels between groups, and look at how visceral fat, inflammatory markers, insulin resistance, and urine stone risk factors are related. The findings may help explain how kidney stones are connected to metabolic conditions like diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Researchers hope this information will help identify stone formers at risk early and develop preventive treatments in the future.

Standard Versus Flexible and Navigable Suction Ureteral Access Sheath in Pediatric Flexible Ureterorenoscopy for Renal Stones < 2 cm

This randomized controlled trial aims to compare the efficacy and safety of a Flexible and Navigable Suction Ureteral Access Sheath (FANS) versus a standard ureteral access sheath during flexible ureterorenoscopy (FURS) in pediatric patients with renal stones less than 2 cm. The study will evaluate stone-free rates. operative time. intraoperative parameters. operative and postoperative complication and the need for any auxiliary procedures. Sixty pediatric patients will be randomly allocated into two equal groups and treated at the Urology Department, Tanta University.

Trial to Assess the Efficacy of EMPAgliflozin and Personalized Dietary Counseling for Kidney STONE Prevention

The aim of this randomized trial with a 2-by-2 factorial design is to test the efficacy of the SGLT2 inhibitor empagliflozin and personalized dietary counseling based on 24-hr urine collection results and dietary assessments for kidney stone recurrence prevention in patients with calcium kidney stones. Study interventions: * Empagliflozin 10 mg once daily per os for 36 months * Personalized dietary counseling for 36 months. Control interventions: * Placebo once daily per os for 36 months * Generic dietary counseling for 36 months.

Randomized Controlled Trial of Miniaturized Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy With Vacuum-Assisted Access Sheaths Versus Conventional Sheaths for Treatment of Nephrolithiasis

The purpose of this study is to compare two variations of the mini-PCNL procedure using either a vacuum-assisted sheath or standard sheath which are both used for the surgical treatment of kidney stones. Both procedure types are commonly used in the treatment of kidneys stones and they have been shown to be safe and effective in the treatment of stones similar in size and location to your own.

Dietary Oxalate and Innate Immunity in Kidney Stone Disease

This study will test whether oxalate stimulates urinary crystals and impacts the immune system in healthy subjects using two controlled diets (low and high oxalate).

Oxalate Formation From Ascorbic Acid

The purpose of this basic research study is to determine the contribution of endogenous ascorbic acid (AA) turnover to urinary oxalate excretion in both normal BMI and obese adult non-stone formers and calcium oxalate stone formers. The studies proposed will use diets of known nutrient composition, a stable isotope of ascorbic acid (13C6-AA) and mass spectrometric techniques to quantify ascorbic acid turnover to oxalate.

Dietary Oxalate and Immune Cell Function

The purpose of this study is to evaluate mitochondrial function in white blood cells and platelets from healthy individuals following dietary oxalate intake.

Ureteroscopy With High-powered Holmium:Yag Laser Lithotripsy With and Moses On or Moses Off

The purpose of this study is to compare Moses 2.0 pulse modulation technology and the standard high powered Holmium Laser lithotripsy and how it will affect time in the operating room, time using the laser, laser energy, and stone free rates. Currently Moses 2.0 laser technology is FDA approved and currently used in practice since 2021. No study to this date has compared Moses 2.0 without pulse modulation laser technology to Moses 2.0 with pulse modulation laser technology. The study will be including kidney and ureteral stones (a kidney stone located in the tube between the kidney and the bladder) that are 6mm and greater, but less than 20 mm in size undergoing ureteroscopic treatment. High powered lasers are used for "dusting". Dusting is when a laser is used to break a stone down into tiny fragments that are able to pass through the urine.

Evaluation of Renal Injury After RIRS Using Shear-Wave Elastography

This study aims to evaluate changes in renal parenchyma following retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) using shear-wave elastography. Renal elastography measurements will be performed in patients undergoing RIRS for kidney stones on the preoperative day, on the first postoperative day, and on the seventh postoperative day. Postoperative pain scores, perioperative outcomes, stone-free status and complications will also be assessed.

Effects of Virtual Reality Education on Anxiety and Learning in Patients Undergoing Urolithiasis Surgery

This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effects of two-tier virtual reality-based preoperative education on anxiety, learning knowledge, self-care ability, and cognitive load in patients undergoing urolithiasis surgery. Participants will be randomly assigned to routine education, standard virtual reality education, or two-tier virtual reality education groups. Outcomes will be assessed using anxiety scales, knowledge questionnaires, self-care ability measures, and cognitive load assessments before and after the intervention.

Heterozygous Individuals for AGXT and Kidney Stones

This study seeks to examine the effects of a heterozygous mutation of the AGXT gene in a stone forming population on endogenous oxalate production. Participants will consume a controlled low-oxalate diet and provide blood and urine samples to measure the amount of oxalate in their bodies. Subjects will then be administered an intravenous (IV) load of glycolate, providing additional blood and urine samples afterwards to measure any increase in oxalate levels.

Gut Oxalate Absorption in Calcium Oxalate Stone Disease

The goal of this clinical trial study is to test if patients with idiopathic calcium oxalate kidney stones have an increased absorption of dietary oxalate, which would lead to increased urinary excretion of oxalate. The study will recruit adult patients with a history of calcium oxalate kidney stones and healthy volunteers without kidney stones. Participants will * ingest fixed diets containing low and moderately high amounts of oxalate for 5 days at a time * ingest a soluble form of oxalate and sugar preparations to test gut permeability * collect urine, blood, stool and breath sample during the fixed diets and the soluble oxalate test

O. Formigenes Colonization in Calcium Oxalate Kidney Stone Disease

The goal of this trial is to test if colonization with the gut bacteria Oxalobacter formigenes leads to a reduction in urinary oxalate excretion in patients with calcium oxalate kidney stone disease. The study will recruit adult participants with a history of calcium oxalate kidney stones who are not colonized with Oxalobacter formigenes. Participants will * ingest fixed diets containing low and moderately high amounts of oxalate for 4 days at a time * collect urine, blood and stool samples during the fixed diets * ingest a preparation of live Oxalobacter formigenes to induce colonization with Oxalobacter formigenes

Dual-process Mechanisms of Action for sipIT Intervention Effects in Patients With Urolithiasis

The purpose of this study is to clarify the fundamental processes underlying behavior change, maintenance, and adherence during and after a 3-month fluid intake intervention period.

MIRABEGRON AND UAS OUTCOMES DURING RIRS

The aim of this study is to evaluate whether there is a difference in the passage rate of the ureteral access sheath between patients who used mirabegron (a beta-3 receptor agonist) for overactive bladder and those who underwent retrograde intrarenal surgery for kidney stones, and those who did not use mirabegron. Considering that beta-3 receptors in the smooth muscle of the ureter cause relaxation in the ureter, the hypothesis that the passage rate of the access sheath increases in those using mirabegron, thus facilitating access to kidney stones and improving surgical success, will be investigated.

Utilization of a Web-Based Application to Improve Patient Health Literacy and Reduce Clinic Visit Times in Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate (HoLEP) Procedures and Kidney Stone Surgery

The investigator and research team plan to investigate whether patients who receive access to WellPrept website will report greater confidence and understanding of their medical condition, have shorter clinic visit times, and fewer post-operative trips to the emergency room.

A Novel Ureteric Stent in Kidney Stone Patients and Oncology Patients Compared to a Conventional JJ Stent

Urological stents and catheters often lead to inflammation, causing pain and infection in the urinary tract. Moreover, 80% of stents are associated with pain, negatively impacting on QoL and mental health. Offering novel designs with significantly lower E\&B leads to a reduction in UTIs and improves QoL. Reducing hospital admissions (from 3 to 1 per patient, annually) would free \>100,000 bed-nights, allowing the elderly to regain independence. Our proposed research could have a significant impact towards fulfilling the 'healthy-ageing' Grand Challenge. Additionally, the novel stent reduces prevalence of infections and therefore, of antibiotic prescriptions contributing to the Global AMR challenge.

Comparison of the Efficacy of Flexible Ureteroscope and Percutaneous Nephroscopic Surgery in the Treatment of 2-4cm Kidney Stones

Urolithiasis is a common disease in urology. With the continuous progress of science and technology, the treatment of kidney lithiasis has undergone revolutionary changes, and the previously commonly used open surgical lithotomy method has been gradually eliminated, and replaced with less traumatic treatment methods. Percutaneous nephroscopy can theoretically treat the vast majority of kidney stones, especially in the treatment of kidney stones \> 2 cm, it is widely used. With the development of ureteroscopy technology, the adaptation of ureteroscopy for the treatment of kidney stones has been expanding, and people have gradually paid attention to it with less damage and higher safety. This study aims to evaluate whether the efficacy and safety of soft ureteral lithotomy in the treatment of 2-4cm kidney stones is equal to that of percutaneous nephrolithotomy through prospective randomized controlled clinical trials, so as to provide more choices for physicians and patients, and provide theoretical basis for the standardization of clinical practice and the rationality of treatment.

Clinical Outcomes and Healthcare Economics of SOLTIVE Compared to Ho:YAG Laser in Urolithiasis

To compare intraoperative as well as postoperative outcomes of SOLTIVE Thulium laser compared to Ho:YAG laser for the treatment of urolithiasis. The hypothesis is that utilizing the SOLTIVE Thulium laser for the treatment of urolithiasis will result in a more efficient procedure, with comparable stone free rate to that of Holmium laser and subjective improvement in physician satisfaction.

Indapamide and Chlorthalidone to Reduce Urine Supersaturation for Kidney Stone Prevention

The aim of this study is to test the efficacy of the two long-acting thiazide-like diuretics indapamide and chlorthalidone in reducing urine supersaturation for calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate compared to the short-acting thiazide diuretic hydrochlorothiazide for the prevention of calcium-containing kidney stones.

HoYAG vs TFL in miniPCNL With ClearPetra

Mini percutaneous nephrolithotripsy is the treatment of choice for kidney stones over 2cm. This procedure commonly uses laser energy for breaking the stones, and among possible laser platforms, Hoyag and thulium fiber laser are FDA approved. Recently, this procedure has also included the use of vacuum assisted renal access sheaths, which allows suction to be employed together with the breaking of stones. This study intends to compare outcomes when using either laser platforms with suction sheaths in participants undergoing mini percutaneous nephrolithotripsy for the treatment of kidney stones.

ClearPetra™ Vacuum-assisted Ureteral Access Sheath vs Traditional Approach

Ureteroscopy has been considered the best approach when treating renal stones smaller than 2 cm. This procedure is usually performed together with ureteral access sheaths, which helps protect the ureter mucosa and lowers intrarenal pressure. Recently, a new vacuum-assisted ureteral access sheath called ClearPetra has entered US market and allows for continuous stone fragmentation and aspiration. Because there is little information on comparing this device with traditional approach (no sheath or non-vacuum-assisted sheath) in American population, we aim to compare those devices in terms of their ability to clear the kidney from kidney stones, as well as reduce infection rates postoperatively.

SOUND Pivotal Trial - (Sonomotion stOne comminUtion resoNance ultrasounD)

The goal of this clinical trial is to test the Break Wave™ system in patients with upper urinary tract stones. The main question it aims to answer is whether the device is safe and effective in fragmenting (breaking) stones. Participants will a) undergo the Break Wave™ procedure, b) have a telehealth visit at 2 weeks, and c) return for an imaging study at approximately 10 weeks post-procedure.

Evaluation of the LithoVue Elite Ureteroscope With Intra-Renal Pressure Monitoring Technology: Examination of Surgeon Behavior and Post-operative Outcomes

The goal of this study is to evaluate the influence of real-time intrarenal pressure measurement availability on surgeons' behavior during ureteroscopy while using the ureteroscope LithoVue Elite.