Contributing factors for fever after tubeless percutaneous nephrolithotomy.

Objective: To evaluate the contributing factors for fever after tubeless percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL).

Methods: Between May 2009 and December 2013, 395 tubeless PCNLs were performed at our hospital. After stone extraction, the bleeding points were cauterized for hemostasis to enable tubeless modification.

Increased sulfatase 1 gene expression in degenerative intervertebral disc cells.

Sulfatase 1 (SULF1) plays a key role in cell signaling involving in cell growth, differentiation, proliferation, and migration. Abnormal SULF1 expression has been implicated in the development of various cancers and diseases of the skeletal and nervous systems. The present study aims to examine the difference in SULF1 expression between degenerative and non-degenerative intervertebral discs (IVDs) to provide an enhanced understanding of disc degeneration.

Age-dependent association between Dickkopf-1 and calcium-containing urolithiasis.

Objective: To evaluate the serum Dickkopf-1 (DKK1) level in patients with calcium-containing upper urinary tract stones (Ca-UUTS).

Methods: The study retrospectively enrolled 184 patients with Ca-UUTS and 46 age-matched controls. The serum DKK1 level and urine calcium/creatinine ratio were detected in both groups.

Mass spectrometric study of stone matrix proteins of human bladder stones.

Objective: To evaluate the mechanisms of bladder uric acid stone (BUAS) formation by analyzing BUAS stone matrix proteins, with mass spectrometry (MS).

Materials And Methods: Stone matrix proteins were extracted from 5 pure BUASs. The obtained proteins were analyzed with reverse phase liquid chromatography-tandem MS.

Increased periostin gene expression in degenerative intervertebral disc cells.

Background Context: Disc degeneration is a multifactorial disease that may cause clinical symptoms such as chronic back pain or radiculopathy in the extremities. Periostin, an extracellular matrix protein involved in the process of fibrosis, expressed in tissues subjected to mechanical stress such as intervertebral disc. However, the expression of periostin during disc degeneration has not yet been studied.

Proteomic study of renal uric acid stone.

Objective: To analyze urinary uric acid stone matrix proteins (SMP) with mass spectrometry (MS) to evaluate the mechanisms of uric acid stone formation. SMP plays an important role in urinary stone formation. Several proteomic studies apply to calcium-containing stones have been reported; however no proteomic study for urinary uric acid stone has been reported.