Clinical Research Directory

2D:4D Digit Ratio and Urinary Stone Disease

This prospective observational case-control study will investigate whether the 2D:4D digit ratio is associated with urinary stone disease. Adults undergoing non-contrast computed tomography at Malatya Training and Research Hospital will be classified as cases if kidney and/or ureteral stones are detected and as controls if no urinary stones are detected and there is no previous history of stone disease or stone surgery. The lengths of the second and fourth fingers of both hands will be measured using a digital caliper by two independent observers who are blinded to the participant group. The study will also examine whether the 2D:4D ratio is associated with recurrent stone disease, stone burden, and bilateral or multiple stones.

Differences in Postoperative Symptoms With Four Ureteral Stents

This is a prospective randomized controlled trial designed to assess the differences in postoperative symptoms related to placement of a 6Fr Percuflex ureteral stents, 6Fr Tria ureteral stents, 4.8Fr Percuflex ureteral stents, and 4.8Fr Tria ureteral stents after ureteroscopy with laser lithotripsy for treatment of upper tract urinary stones. 272 participants will be enrolled and will be on study for up to approximately 10 weeks.

Ultrasound to Facilitate Stone Passage

This is a prospective, open-label, multi-center study to test the clinical feasibility of facilitating stone passage by the combination of breaking and repositioning stones with ultrasound, without the need for anesthesia.

Radiomics and Image Segmentation of Urinary Stones by Artificial Intelligence

Kidney stone disease causes significant morbidity, and stones obstructing the ureter can have serious consequences. Imaging diagnostics with computed tomography (CT) are crucial for diagnosis, treatment selection, and follow-up. Segmentation of CT images can provide objective data on stone burden and signs of obstruction. Artificial intelligence (AI) can automate such segmentation but can also be used for the diagnosis of stone disease and obstruction. In this project, the aim is to investigate if: Manual segmentation of CT scans can provide more accurate information about kidney stone disease compared to conventional interpretation. AI segmentation yields valid results compared to manual segmentation. AI can detect ureteral stones and obstruction or predict spontaneous passage.

Two Types of Single-use Flexible Ureteroscopies for the Treatment of Upper Urinary Tract Stones in Children

The single-use digital flexible Ureteroscopy (fURS) is commonly used for the treatment of upper urinary tract stones. The size of the outer diameter of the fURS can affect the safety, efficacy, and medical costs of the treatment. Particularly for children, their ureters are thinner and more tortuous compared to adults, which places higher demands on medical devices. The investigators are interested in determining if the performance of the two different sizes of fURS (6.3 Fr vs. 8.6 Fr) are equivalent. This study will have guiding significance for the selection of upper urinary tract stones surgery in children in the future.