← all papers · kidney stones (42) Science journalism, not medical advice.
- A Gut Bug That Flags Kidney Stone Return2026-06-29
A Chinese prospective study found Escherichia-Shigella gut abundance, family history, and creatinine predicted stone recurrence with AUC 0.943 in validation.
Development and Validation of a Predictive Model for Calcium Oxalate Kidney Stone Recurrence Integrating Gut Microbiome and Clinical Features kidney stones gut microbiome biomarkers cohort study
- Kidney Stone Nanotech: All Lab, No Clinic2026-06-16
A narrative review of nanomaterial strategies for kidney stones — none have reached clinical use, and the authors admit it
The Application of Nanomaterials in Kidney Stone Disease: Emerging Strategies for Early Diagnosis, Targeted Therapy, and Prevention kidney stones nanomedicine narrative review oxidative stress
- Routine Kidney Stone Stents: More Pain, No Benefit2026-06-13
32 RCTs and 3,572 patients find routine double-J stenting after ureteroscopy increases morbidity without improving stone clearance
Does Omitting a Ureteral Stent Affect the Outcomes of Uncomplicated Ureteroscopy for Ureteral and Kidney Stones in Adults? Results from a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Comparative Randomized Trials by the EAU Endourology Section kidney stones surgical outcomes systematic review meta-analysis quality of life
- The Iodine Kidney Stone Paper That Can't Agree With Itself2026-06-12
NHANES data on 9,443 adults hints at a kidney stone risk bump at mid-range iodine levels — but the numbers in the abstract don't match the results table
The Association Between Dietary Intake of Iodine and Kidney Stones: A Study of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007-2018 kidney stones cross-sectional epidemiology dietary exposure
- Bile Pigment Spotted Where Kidney Stones Form2026-06-04
Red-orange crystals in 1.1% of Randall's plaque stones were identified as calcium bilirubinate — a bile pigment — possibly linked to liver disease.
Calcium Bilirubinate at the Randall's Plaque-Kidney Stone Interface: First Description kidney stones pathology retrospective cohort case report
- Folate Doesn't Move the Needle on Kidney Stones2026-05-29
Folate intake and circulating folate markers had no significant association with kidney stone disease in 9,208 US adults after adjusting for confounders.
Association Between Dietary and Circulating Folate Markers and Kidney Stones in American Adults: A Cross-Sectional NHANES Analysis kidney stones cross-sectional epidemiology biomarkers
- Synbiotics Cut Oxalate — And Nothing Else2026-05-29
Synbiotic capsules reduced urinary oxalate significantly (P=.001) vs placebo over 12 weeks, but left all other stone-risk markers unchanged.
Effects of Synbiotic Supplementation on Blood and Urinary Concentrations of Factors Related to Kidney Stone Formation in Overweight or Obese Patients with Hyperoxaluria: A Randomized Controlled Trial kidney stones gut microbiome obesity oxidative stress
- High Uric Acid Triples Kidney Stone Risk in Men2026-05-26
In 31,198 Korean adults, men with the highest uric acid levels had 3.5× the odds of kidney stones — women showed no such link
Association Between Asymptomatic Hyperuricemia and Kidney Stones kidney stones cross-sectional epidemiology metabolic syndrome
- Who Trained Your Stone Doc Changes Your Surgery2026-05-24
300 endourologists worldwide agree on watching small stones; for large ones, treatment varies by where and when you trained
Shifting Paradigms in Stone Disease: How Geography, Training, and Technology Shape Endourologic Practice Worldwide kidney stones health services surgical outcomes cross-sectional
- Plastic in Every Kidney Stone Tested2026-05-19
Microplastics found in 100% of kidney stone samples tested, median 12.89 μg/g, with six distinct polymer types identified
Multimodal Detection of Microplastics in Human Kidney Stones and Multi-Omics Exploration of Renal Cell Metaflammation kidney stones environmental exposure oxidative stress inflammation
- Lab Mice Can't Fake 30 Years of Kidney Stones2026-05-18
Most kidney stone animal models induce acute disease; human idiopathic CaOx stones develop over decades — a mismatch this review maps out.
Animal Models for Calcium Oxalate Kidney Stone Research kidney stones animal study narrative review evidence quality
- Your Kidney Doctor Has No Idea You're Drinking That2026-05-07
~20% of kidney stone patients use cranberry extract or ACV; 87% believe them safe, almost none heard about them from a physician
Patient Perceptions of Dietary Supplement Use and Kidney Stone Disease kidney stones cross-sectional health services evidence quality
- Your Genes, Not Your Diet, May Drive Low Phosphate2026-04-30
Narrative review argues that low phosphate in stone formers is driven by genetic defects in kidney transporters, not diet—and that supplementation may cut recurrence.
Hypophosphatemia in Kidney Stone Formers kidney stones genetics narrative review biomarkers
- AI Stone Predictions Work—Until You Pool Them2026-04-15
Only 5 retrospective cohorts met inclusion criteria; heterogeneity was so extreme the authors declared their own pooled estimates "clinically uninterpretable"
Can AI and Predictive Models Accurately Predict Stone-Free Status? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis artificial intelligence kidney stones systematic review meta-analysis
- 328 Stones, One Conflict of Interest2026-04-11
96% intraoperative stone clearance in a 22-min median op time—one author is a paid consultant for the device maker.
A Feasibility Study on a Digital Disposable Semirigid Nephroscope for Suction Mini-Percutaneous Nephrolithotripsy kidney stones surgical outcomes
- Gallstones Double Your Kidney Stone Risk2026-04-08
People with gallstones had 80% higher odds of developing kidney stones in a 121,000-person Taiwanese cohort
Gallstone Disease Increases the Risk of Kidney Stone Disease: A Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Cohort Study kidney stones cohort study cross-sectional metabolic syndrome
- Robot Fixes Floppy Ureteroscope Tip by 70%2026-04
A foldable bedside robot corrected ureteroscope tip bending error by 69.64% using a Bouc-Wen hysteresis model, validated in kidney phantoms and live animals.
Optimization Design and Bending Hysteresis Compensation of a Flexible Ureteroscopy Robot kidney stones surgical outcomes animal study robotics
- Four Blood Ratios, Kidney Stones, Mixed Signals2026-03-27
Four composite blood ratios tied to kidney stone prevalence in 27K Americans — but one of the four didn't hold up under scrutiny
Association Between Novel Indicators for Inflammation and Metabolism and Kidney Stones: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of NHANES 2007-2018 kidney stones inflammation biomarkers cross-sectional metabolic syndrome
- Every Common Kidney Stone Fix Has Weak Evidence2026-03-24
31-study review finds "low" strength-of-evidence for nearly every kidney stone prevention strategy, and zero data on surveillance imaging
Prevention of Recurrent Nephrolithiasis in Adults and Children: A Systematic Review kidney stones systematic review evidence quality pediatric urology
- New Drug Saves Mice From Fatal Kidney Disease2026-03-20
In mice bred to die of kidney failure by 15 weeks, a daily pill restored normal survival and stopped stone formation entirely
N-propargylglycine restores survival by preventing calcium oxalate stone formation, tubular injury, and kidney dysfunction in a lethal mouse model of primary hyperoxaluria type 2 kidney stones animal study genetics chronic kidney disease
- Stone History Doesn't Always Bar Kidney Donation2026-03-17
CT imaging detects Randall's plaques as false positives; true stone prevalence in donor candidates is 2–8%, half the general population rate.
Evaluation of Nephrolithiasis and Its Risk Factors in Living Kidney Donor Candidates kidney stones narrative review screening health services
- Planet-Friendly Diet Cuts Kidney Stone Risk 19%2026-03-14
Eating closer to the EAT-Lancet planetary health diet linked to 19% lower kidney stone incidence; genetics barely changed the math
Adherence to the EAT-Lancet Diet, Genetic Predisposition, and Risk of Kidney Stone Disease kidney stones cohort study genetics obesity
- Impressive Kidney Stone Numbers, Massive Asterisk2026-03-13
Suction-enabled access sheaths nearly 6x the odds of clearing kidney stones—but 87% heterogeneity makes that number nearly meaningless
Efficacy and Safety of Flexible and Navigable Suction Ureteral Access Sheath Versus Conventional Ureteral Access Sheath in Retrograde Intrarenal Surgery: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis kidney stones meta-analysis surgical outcomes
- New Kidney Stone Surgery Bleeds Less, Clears as Well2026-03-12
Meta-analysis of 3 RCTs (n=1,020) finds FANS-RIRS matches mini-PCNL for stone clearance but cuts hemorrhage risk by 92% and shortens hospital stay by 1.75 days
Efficacy and Safety of FANS-RIRS Versus Mini-PCNL for 2–3 cm Renal Stones: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of RCTs kidney stones meta-analysis surgical outcomes evidence quality
- Kidney Stone Genes: Who Actually Needs Testing?2026-03-12
Review finds genetic testing pays off in high-risk cases, but polygenic risk scores remain unproven for most patients
Genetic Testing and Personalized Treatment for Kidney Stone Formers kidney stones genetics genomics evidence quality
- Breaking Kidney Stones While You're Wide Awake2026-03-05
Early clinical data suggests BWL fragments kidney and ureteral stones in awake patients with mostly minor side effects — but the evidence base is still thin.
Burst Wave Lithotripsy: Insights on Effectiveness and Safety kidney stones narrative review surgical outcomes
- Stone Prevention: APPs In, Oversight Out2026-03-05
Survey of 69 urologists finds APPs handle stone prevention in ~half of U.S. practices, with half those practices reporting no formal physician oversight
Integrating Advanced Practice Providers in Kidney Stone Prevention: Patterns, Barriers, and Opportunities kidney stones health services evidence quality
- Iron Overload May Drive Kidney Stones2026-03-03
NHANES cross-section finds dietary iron intake and transferrin saturation independently associated with kidney stone formation
Dysregulated Iron Metabolism and Kidney Stone Risk: An Epidemiological and Experimental Study kidney stones iron metabolism
- Plant Compound Cuts Kidney Crystals—In Mice Only2026-02-09
Luteolin reduced calcium oxalate crystal deposition in mice and blocked PI3K/Akt signaling in kidney cells—no human data.
Luteolin Prevents Hyperoxaluria-Induced Renal Injury by Inhibiting Crystal Deposition and Renal Inflammation kidney stones animal study inflammation traditional chinese medicine
- More Kidney Stones, Worse Erections — But Why?2026-01-23
202 kidney stone patients surveyed: men with recurrent stones showed worse erectile function, women reported low arousal regardless of stone burden
Evaluating the Sexual Quality of Life of Kidney Stone Formers: A Multicentric Cross-Sectional Study kidney stones erectile dysfunction sexual dysfunction cross-sectional women's health
- One Surgery, Three Days Fewer in Hospital2026-01-09
Same-session bilateral kidney stone surgery cut hospital stays by nearly 3 days with no difference in stone clearance or complication rates across 749 patients
One Session or Two? A Meta-Analysis of Same-Session Versus Staged Bilateral Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy kidney stones meta-analysis surgical outcomes
- Kidney Stone Tool Use Varies 24-Fold; Infections Don't2025-12-15
UAS used in 59% of kidney stone surgeries, but practice rates range from 4% to 99%—and 30-day infection hospitalizations are the same either way
Ureteral Access Sheath Use and Infection-Related Hospitalizations: Practice Patterns and Outcomes kidney stones surgical outcomes health services
- Doing Both Kidneys at Once: 75% Stone-Free2025-12-04
Egyptian retrospective study of 52 patients found a 75% primary stone-free rate for simultaneous bilateral kidney stone removal in one supine session
Single-Session Bilateral Supine Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy: Safety and Efficacy kidney stones surgical outcomes
- Gut Metabolite Cuts Kidney Stone Damage—in Mice2025-11-19
A pomegranate-derived gut metabolite reduced kidney crystal deposits in mice by reactivating a mitochondrial cleanup pathway via PCK1
Urolithin A Protects Against Calcium Oxalate-Induced Crystal Formation and Kidney Injury by Regulating PCK1 to Restore Mitophagy Function in Kidney Stone Disease kidney stones animal study
- Suction Scopes Look Promising, Evidence Still Thin2025-11-06
Systematic review of 35 studies finds suction-assisted ureteroscopy improves stone clearance and cuts infection risk, but high-quality evidence is scarce.
Complication Rates and Outcomes of Suction Devices in Ureteroscopy and Retrograde Intrarenal Surgery: A Systematic Review kidney stones evidence quality
- Prone PCNL: Same Stones Cleared, More Complications2025-10-29
Prone positioning matched supine for stone clearance (85% vs 81%) but had higher rates of blood transfusion, renal pelvic perforation, and pneumothorax
Comparison of Prone and Supine Positions for Suction Mini-PCNL kidney stones surgical outcomes
- Kidney Stones as an Existential Crisis2025-10-10
Philosophers and urologists team up to argue kidney stones aren't just a medical problem — they're an existential one
Kidney Stone Disease: Phenomenological Perspectives kidney stones
- A $165 to $101,510 Gap for the Same Surgery2025-09-15
The same kidney stone operation (PCNL) costs anywhere from $165 to $101,510 depending on where it's done — a 615-fold gap that makes cost comparisons nearly meaningless
Costs of Resolving a Ureteral or Kidney Stone Episode Worldwide: A Systematic Review kidney stones health services systematic review surgical outcomes
- Suction Access Nearly Doubles Stone Clearance Odds2025-08-29
Vacuum-assisted mini-PCNL cleared stones at nearly twice the rate of conventional sheaths across 14 studies and 2,510 patients
Suction in Mini-Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy: A Meta-Analysis from the European Association of Urology Section of Endourology kidney stones meta-analysis
- Smaller Kidney Stone Scope, Same Results, Fewer Complications2025-08-29
UM-PCNL cleared stones as effectively as standard PCNL in 628 patients but with fewer complications and shorter hospital stays.
Comparative Efficacy and Safety of Ultra-Mini-Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy Versus Standard Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy for Renal Calculi: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis kidney stones meta-analysis evidence quality
- Stone Patients Rate Their Pain 7 Out of 102025-07-15
44 UK stone patients rated QoL impact at median 7/10; 82% would take prophylactic medication, but no prevention drug yet has high-quality evidence behind it.
Patients' priorities in kidney stone disease kidney stones evidence quality surgical outcomes cross-sectional
- Stone Formers' Own Urine Grows More Stones2025-05-23
Urine proteins from calcium oxalate stone patients actively promote crystal formation in vitro, while healthy urine proteins inhibit it — with ~2.5x more oxidized proteins driving the difference.
Urinary Proteins from Stone Formers Promote Calcium Oxalate Crystallization, Growth and Aggregation via Oxidative Modifications kidney stones biomarkers oxidative stress