UrolithiasisPub Date : 2024-11-21DOI: 10.1007/s00240-024-01668-y
Zhenglin Zhang, Ganlin Wang, Xiaonong Dai, Wenjian Li
{"title":"Association between the systemic inflammation response index and kidney stones in US adults: a cross-sectional study based on NHANES 2007-2018.","authors":"Zhenglin Zhang, Ganlin Wang, Xiaonong Dai, Wenjian Li","doi":"10.1007/s00240-024-01668-y","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00240-024-01668-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study examined the relationship between the systemic inflammation response index (SIRI) and kidney stone occurrence in adults in the United States. It also evaluated its potential as a predictor of kidney stones. A total of 24,833 adult participants were included in the study using cross-sectional data from the 2007-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database. A history of kidney stones was ascertained through the administration of a questionnaire, and SIRI values (calculated based on neutrophil, monocyte, and lymphocyte counts) were determined for each participant. Logistic regression models were employed to examine the relationship between SIRI and kidney stones while accounting for potential confounding variables such as gender, age, race, lifestyle, and history of chronic disease. Subgroup analyses were also conducted. A significant positive correlation was observed between SIRI and kidney stones. In the unadjusted model, elevated SIRI was significantly and positively associated with an increased risk of kidney stones (OR = 1.17). Analysis of SIRI quartiles demonstrated a gradual increase in the risk ratio of kidney stones with increasing SIRI levels, indicating a clear dose-response relationship. In particular, in the model adjusted for multiple confounding variables, the risk of developing kidney stones in the highest SIRI quartile was increased by 20% compared to the lowest SIRI quartile (OR = 1.20, P = 0.007). There is a significant positive correlation between SIRI and kidney stones. SIRI may predict kidney stone risk and highlight the systemic inflammatory state's substantial contribution to kidney stones' pathogenesis.</p>","PeriodicalId":23411,"journal":{"name":"Urolithiasis","volume":"52 1","pages":"165"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142682912","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Comprehensive analysis and validation of TP73 as a biomarker for calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis using machine learning and in vivo and in vitro experiments.","authors":"Zijian Zhou, Lujia Wang, Lingkai Cai, Peng Gao, Hongcheng Lu, Zhong Wu","doi":"10.1007/s00240-024-01655-3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00240-024-01655-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Calcium oxalate (CaOx) nephrolithiasis constitutes approximately 75% of nephrolithiasis cases, resulting from the supersaturation and deposition of CaOx crystals in renal tissues. Despite their prevalence, precise biomarkers for CaOx nephrolithiasis are lacking. With advances in high-throughput sequencing, we aimed to identify biomarkers of CaOx nephrolithiasis by combining two CaOx nephrolithiasis datasets (GSE73680 and GSE117518). Utilizing weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and four machine learning, we identified six hub genes (DLK2, BHLHA15, C12orf5, ICMT, LOXHD1, and TP73) as potential biomarkers. Additionally, CIBERSORT immune infiltration analysis suggested that these core genes may influence immune cell recruitment and infiltration in CaOx nephrolithiasis. Then, TP73 emerged as a significant hub gene in CaOx nephrolithiasis via receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis (AUC = 0.885). Furthermore, the role of TP73 was validated in CaOx nephrolithiasis rat models induced by 1% ethylene glycol, as well as clinical samples and renal tubular epithelial cell models treated with 1 mM oxalate. Immunohistochemistry, RNA-Sequencing, and RT-qPCR experiments demonstrated an increased expression of TP73 in CaOx nephrolithiasis rat models and clinical samples. After transfection with TP73 lentivirus, CCK-8 assays suggested that TP73 could inhibit the proliferation of HK-2 and NRK-52E cells. In oxalate-induced cell models, dihydroethidium staining and flow cytometry apoptosis assays indicated that TP73 could enhance ROS levels and cell apoptosis. In summary, our study preliminarily identified TP73 as a diagnostic biomarker and elucidated the promoting role of TP73 in CaOx nephrolithiasis, providing a deeper understanding of the clinical diagnosis and pathogenesis.</p>","PeriodicalId":23411,"journal":{"name":"Urolithiasis","volume":"52 1","pages":"164"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142644852","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Quadruple-D score in the success rate of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy of renal stones in pediatric population.","authors":"Furkan Şendoğan, Mehmet Bulut, Cengiz Çanakçı, Erdinç Dinçer, Berkan Şimşek, Bilal Çetin, Selçuk Sılay, Onur Telli","doi":"10.1007/s00240-024-01657-1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00240-024-01657-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Evaluation of the validity of the Quadruple-D score in the prediction of success in pediatric stone disease.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>Of the 292 children treated with SWL between 2007 and 2023, a total of 158 children who had adequate follow-up data and evaluated with non-contrast computed tomography before SWL, were included in the study. Parameters were calculated for each of the stone volume (SV), skin-to-stone distance (SSD), stone density (SD) and stone location (SL) variables. Receiver operator characteristic analysis was used to set cut-off values. Quadruple-D scores were calculated, and success rates were determined for each score. Stone-free status was determined as complete clearance after three months of final SWL.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The median age of the study group was 8 (range 1 to 16). One hundred and one of the 158 (64%) children had stone-free status. Mean SV, SSD and SD values were significantly higher in SWL failed group than stone-free group after detecting cutoff values of 150 mm<sup>3</sup>, 6.7 cm, and 540 HU, respectively. Stone-free rates were detected as 19.6%, 24.7%, 37.2%, 76.2%, and 90.2% with the Quadruple-D scores of 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 points.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Quadruple-D scoring system can further improve Triple-D scoring system by adding stone position parameter to clarify SFR with a simple and easy calculation. We believe that the Quadruple-D score will have better clinical significance than the Triple-D scoring system in predicting the success of SWL in children.</p>","PeriodicalId":23411,"journal":{"name":"Urolithiasis","volume":"52 1","pages":"163"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142644854","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
UrolithiasisPub Date : 2024-11-15DOI: 10.1007/s00240-024-01661-5
Guang Wang, Ziye Huang, Yuyun Wu, Rui Xu, Jiongming Li
{"title":"Revealing the molecular landscape of calcium oxalate renal calculi utilizing a tree shrew model: a transcriptomic analysis of the kidney.","authors":"Guang Wang, Ziye Huang, Yuyun Wu, Rui Xu, Jiongming Li","doi":"10.1007/s00240-024-01661-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00240-024-01661-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Our comprehensive genomic investigation employing tree shrew calcium oxalate stone models unveils intricate links between kidney stone formation and diverse physiological systems. We identify a constellation of genes whose expression patterns point to multifaceted interactions among cardiovascular health, renal fibrosis, and bone homeostasis in the pathogenesis of renal calculi. Key players include CHIT1, TNFRSF18, CLEC4E, RGS1, DCSTAMP, and SLC37A2, which emerge as pivotal actors in arteriosclerosis, renal fibrosis, and osteoclastogenesis respectively, showcasing the complexity of stone disease. The downregulation of ADRA1D, LVRN, and ABCG8 underscores roles in urodynamics, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and vitamin D metabolism, linking these to nephrolithiasis. Comparative genomics across tree shrew, human (Randall's plaque), rat, and mouse identifies shared KEGG pathways including Calcium signaling, Actin cytoskeleton regulation, Neuroactive ligand-receptor interactions, Complement and coagulation cascades, TRP channel regulation by inflammatory mediators, p53 signaling, and Fc gamma R-mediated phagocytosis. These pathways underscore the interconnectedness of immune, inflammatory, and metabolic processes in stone development. Our findings suggest novel targets for future therapeutics and prevention strategies against nephrolithiasis, highlighting the need for a holistic view of the disease encompassing multiple pathogenic factors.</p>","PeriodicalId":23411,"journal":{"name":"Urolithiasis","volume":"52 1","pages":"161"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142640014","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
UrolithiasisPub Date : 2024-11-15DOI: 10.1007/s00240-024-01662-4
Jia-Lun Kwok, Bhaskar Somani, Kemal Sarica, Steffi Kar Kei Yuen, Marek Zawadzki, Daniele Castellani, Satyendra Persaud, Chu Ann Chai, Wissam Kamal, Tzevat Tefik, Azimdjon N Tursunkulov, Boyke Soebhali, Albert El Hajj, Raymond Ko, Khi Yung Fong, Laurian Dragos, Yiloren Tanidir, Oriol Angerri, Olivier Traxer, Vineet Gauhar
{"title":"Multicenter outcome analysis of different sheath sizes for Flexible and Navigable Suction ureteral access sheath (FANS) ureteroscopy: an EAU Endourology collaboration with the global FANS study group.","authors":"Jia-Lun Kwok, Bhaskar Somani, Kemal Sarica, Steffi Kar Kei Yuen, Marek Zawadzki, Daniele Castellani, Satyendra Persaud, Chu Ann Chai, Wissam Kamal, Tzevat Tefik, Azimdjon N Tursunkulov, Boyke Soebhali, Albert El Hajj, Raymond Ko, Khi Yung Fong, Laurian Dragos, Yiloren Tanidir, Oriol Angerri, Olivier Traxer, Vineet Gauhar","doi":"10.1007/s00240-024-01662-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00240-024-01662-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Flexible and navigable suction ureteral access sheath (FANS) is a potential game changer in flexible ureteroscopy (FURS). The influence of sheath size on outcomes needs research. The primary aim was to analyze 30-day single stage stone free status (SFS), zero fragment rate (ZFR) and complications when using 10/12Fr sheaths vis a vis other sheath sizes. The global FANS research group published the 30-day outcomes in patients who underwent FANS and reasoned this can be a potential game changer. We included 295 patients from this anonymized dataset with division into two groups: Group 1 (Smaller sheath) - 10/12Fr FANS, and Group 2 (Larger sheath) - 11/13Fr or 12/14Fr sheaths. Stone volume was similar between both groups (median 1320 mm<sup>3</sup>, p = 0.88). Ureteroscopy and total operative time was longer in the smaller sheath group (35 vs. 32 min, p = 0.02 and 50 vs. 45 min, p = 0.001, respectively). While 30-day computed tomography SFS (100% stone free or single residual fragment ≤ 2 mm) were not significantly different (96% vs. 95%, p > 0.99), ZFR (100% stone-free) was better with smaller sheaths (68% vs. 53%, p = 0.02). There was no difference in postoperative complication rates, and no sepsis in both groups. Urologists should consider individualizing appropriate sheath size in normal adult kidneys. Sheath size did not affect complication rates, risk of perioperative injury to the pelvicalyceal system or ureteric injury, but smaller FANS sheaths had similar high SFS. The ZFR with smaller sheaths was better, but this needs to be validated. These smaller sheath outcomes need to be balanced with longer ureteroscopy time, operative time, reach to the lower pole, ease of suction and visibility during lithotripsy. Large volume studies in different types of pelvicalyceal anatomy can determine if indeed smaller FANS is the best choice in FURS.</p>","PeriodicalId":23411,"journal":{"name":"Urolithiasis","volume":"52 1","pages":"162"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142640012","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
UrolithiasisPub Date : 2024-11-14DOI: 10.1007/s00240-024-01658-0
Da-Wei Wang, Feng Shi, Ding-Guo Zhang, Hui Wang, Yu Zhu, Jun Wang
{"title":"Remnant cholesterol increases the risk of incident kidney stones: a nested case-control study in Chinese adults.","authors":"Da-Wei Wang, Feng Shi, Ding-Guo Zhang, Hui Wang, Yu Zhu, Jun Wang","doi":"10.1007/s00240-024-01658-0","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00240-024-01658-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Kidney stones pose a significant healthcare burden worldwide. Dyslipidemia is a risk factor for kidney stones, but the relationship between remnant cholesterol (RC) and kidney stone risk is unknown. We aimed to investigate the association between RC and the risk of incident kidney stones. We conducted a nested case-control study based on data from Shanghai Kidney Stone Cohort conducted in Shanghai from December 2018 to February 2023. Propensity score matching was used to select 2550 incident kidney stone cases and 7650 controls from a total of 60,158 adults. Baseline fasting plasma samples were collected to measure RC, which was calculated as total cholesterol minus high-density lipoproteins cholesterol and low-density lipoproteins cholesterol. Multivariable conditional logistic regression and a restricted cubic spline were used to estimate the association between tertiles of RC and kidney stone risk. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were also performed. The baseline RC of incident kidney stone cases and controls were 0.58 (0.57) and 0.54 (0.55), respectively. Incident kidney stones had much higher baseline RC levels than controls (P < 0.001). Higher baseline RC levels were significantly associated with increased kidney stone risk after adjustment for potential confounders (highest vs. lowest tertile: OR 1.16, 95% CI 1.04-1.30; per 1 mmol/L increase: OR 1.16, 95% CI 1.07-1.26). Restricted cubic spline showed a significant positive and linear dose-response relationship between RC and the risk of developing kidney stones (P-overall = 0.005, P-nonlinear = 0.482). Sensitivity analyses yielded consistent results. Elevated RC levels are associated with a greater risk of incident kidney stones in Chinese adults.</p>","PeriodicalId":23411,"journal":{"name":"Urolithiasis","volume":"52 1","pages":"160"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142629171","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Commentary on \"Comparing outcomes of single‑use vs reusable ureteroscopes: a systematic review and meta analysis\".","authors":"Xierzhati Aizezi, Xue Ge, Zheng Wang, Yuan Ma, Jifu Li, Jinxing Huang","doi":"10.1007/s00240-024-01663-3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00240-024-01663-3","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":23411,"journal":{"name":"Urolithiasis","volume":"52 1","pages":"159"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142629163","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Evaluating the effectiveness of AI-powered UrologiQ's in accurately measuring kidney stone volume in urolithiasis patients.","authors":"Abhijith Yenikekaluva, Madhu Sudan Agrawal, Jithunath Madathiparambil Ramanathan, Syed Furqan Azeez, Apeksha Sakegaonkar, Aamir Mohammed Shariff","doi":"10.1007/s00240-024-01659-z","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00240-024-01659-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Kidney stones and urolithiasis are kidney diseases that have a significant impact on health and well-being, and their incidence is increasing annually owing to factors such as age, sex, ethnicity, and geographical location. Accurate identification and volume measurement of kidney stones are critical for determining the appropriate surgical approach, as timely and precise treatment is essential to prevent complications and ensure successful outcomes. Larger stones often require more invasive procedures, and precise volume measurements are essential for effective surgical planning and patient outcomes. This study aimed to compare the ability of artificial intelligence (AI) to detect and measure kidney stone volume via CT-KUB images. CT KUB imaging data were analyzed to determine the effectiveness of AI in identifying the volume of kidney stones. The results were compared with measurements taken by radiologists. Compared with radiologists, the AI had greater accuracy, efficiency, and consistency in measuring kidney stone volume. The AI calculates the volume of kidney stones with an average difference of 80% compared with the volumes calculated by radiologists, highlighting a significant discrepancy that is critical for accurate surgical planning. The results suggest that artificial intelligence (AI) outperforms radiologists' manual calculations in measuring kidney stone volume. By integrating AI with kidney stone detection and treatment, there is potential for greater diagnostic precision and treatment effectiveness, which could ultimately improve patient outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":23411,"journal":{"name":"Urolithiasis","volume":"52 1","pages":"158"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142629166","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
UrolithiasisPub Date : 2024-11-05DOI: 10.1007/s00240-024-01656-2
Rijin Song, Bo Liu, Huixin Xu
{"title":"CT-based deep learning model for predicting the success of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy in treating ureteral stones larger than 1 cm.","authors":"Rijin Song, Bo Liu, Huixin Xu","doi":"10.1007/s00240-024-01656-2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00240-024-01656-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To develop a deep learning (DL) model based on computed tomography (CT) images to predict the success of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) treatment for patients with ureteral stones larger than 1 cm.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>We enrolled 333 patients who underwent SWL treatment for ureteral stones and randomly divided them into training and test sets. A DL model was built based on CT images of ureteral stones to predict SWL outcomes. The predictive efficacy of the DL model was assessed by comparing it with traditional and radiomics models.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The DL model demonstrated significantly better predictive performance in both training and test sets compared to radiomics (training set, AUC: 0.993 vs. 0.923, P < 0.001; test set AUC: 0.982 vs. 0.846, P < 0.001) and traditional models (training set AUC: 0.993 vs. 0.75, P = 0.005; test set AUC: 0.982 vs. 0.677, P < 0.001). Decision curve analysis (DCA) also proved that the DL model brought more benefit in predicting the success of SWL treatment than other methods.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The DL model based on CT images showed excellent ability to predict the probability of success of SWL treatment for patients with ureteral stones larger than 1 cm, providing a new auxiliary tool for clinical treatment decision-making.</p>","PeriodicalId":23411,"journal":{"name":"Urolithiasis","volume":"52 1","pages":"157"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142584401","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
UrolithiasisPub Date : 2024-11-01DOI: 10.1007/s00240-024-01650-8
Erhan Erdoğan, Göksu Sarıca, Cahit Şahin, Kemal Sarıca
{"title":"Actual clinical practice pattern in SWL after COVID-19 era: a critical evaluation from different aspects.","authors":"Erhan Erdoğan, Göksu Sarıca, Cahit Şahin, Kemal Sarıca","doi":"10.1007/s00240-024-01650-8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00240-024-01650-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>To outline the current status of Shock Wave Lithotripsy (SWL) in stone treatment and the changes in the mode of application after the COVID-19 pandemic along with critical factors affecting the clinical practice of this particular procedure. This study targeted national and international urology experts who could share and contribute their experiences and perspectives on SWL practices after COVID-19 era. Approximately 650 urology specialists were invited to participate in the survey based study via Google Forms. Participation was voluntary and 398 of the invited participants completed the survey, yielding an acceptable response rate of approximately 61.23%. This survey highlights significant findings that shed light on the changes in clinical SWL applications. Nearly half of SWL procedures are performed by technicians or nurses instead of experienced urologists, potentially affecting the proper application and outcomes of the procedure. SWL seemed to be applied on a guideline (GL) indications based manner by the majority of the participants. Fluoroscopy remains still as the most commonly used method for radiological assessment, underscoring the necessity to teach sonography applications to younger urologists. Key reasons for the limited clinical application of SWL include the absence of lithotripters in the departments, high lithotriptor costs and significantly lower reimbursement rates compared to PNL and fURS modalities. Finally, an increase in SWL utilization rates has been observed post-COVID-19, highlighting its certain advantages realized during this period. These findings provide important insights into the role of SWL in stone treatment and the main factors influencing its clinical application practices. Although the popularity of SWL in the management of urinary stones is being stated to decline particularly in the last two decades, data obtained in this survey emphasized well that it is still a viable option especially for stones smaller than 15 mm. Our findings highlight the enduring relevance of SWL in contemporary stone therapy protocols in the context of COVID-19, where outpatient, non-invasive procedures are preferred. In addition to the consideration of certain factors affecting the rate of its application in clinical practice, to achieve high success rates with minimal complications in SWL, strategic patient selection and adherence to procedure guidelines seem to be crucial.</p>","PeriodicalId":23411,"journal":{"name":"Urolithiasis","volume":"52 1","pages":"155"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142562869","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}