Background: Excessive use of diets with high level of OXALATE causes an increase in urinary OXALATE and leads to the formation of OXALATE CALCIUM stone. The aim of this study was evaluation and isolation of an OXALATE-degrading bacterium in patients with kidney CALCIUM OXALATE stone.Materials and Methods: This cross sectional-descriptive study was carried out on stool and urine samples of 100 healthy individuals and 100 patients with CALCIUM OXALATE stone disease in Motahari hospital of Jahrom. The OXALATE-degrading bacteria enriched and cultured in specific medium and were identified by using biochemical tests and 16S rRNA molecular method. Moreover, the presence of oxc and frc genes in isolated bacteria was detected.Results: Lactobacilli were isolated from 80% of healthy individuals and 48% of patients with CALCIUM OXALATE stone disease. In 60 (46.88%) cases of lactobacilli, oxc gene and 14 (10.94%) cases, frc genes were identified. There was a significant difference between level of urinary OXALATE in patients with kidney stone and healthy individuals. But, OXALATE-degrading lactobacilli colonization were significantly higher in healthy individuals in comparison with patients with kidney stone.Conclusion: Since the reduction of OXALATE-degrading bacteria is one of the reasons of hyperoxaluria and urolithiasis, using these bacteria is recommended for reducing kidney stones.

The family Araceae includes 2500 species within 110 genera they protect themselves from weeds and animal predators by forming insoluble salts in the form of CALCIUM OXALATE crystals in specialized cells called idioblasts. This research investigates the types of CALCIUM OXALATE crystals in three species of the Araceae family, namely Arum palaestinum, Arum dioscoridis, and Arisarum vulgare. Based on the transverse section of different plant parts including tubers, leaves, spathe, appendix, male flowers, and female flowers five forms including raphide crystal, star crystal, prismatic crystal, styloid crystal, and sand crystal were identified. Raphides were uniformly present in all parts of the three species, but the positions of other crystal forms varied within their organs. This study also confirmed different types of specialized cells (idioblasts) containing raphid crystals. Idioblasts are unaltered cells with wide, elongated, tubular, and spindle shapes, housing simple, compound, and oblique-overlapping bundles. Additionally, certain plant parts displayed CALCIUM OXALATE crystals on their exterior surfaces, detached from the tissues.

Purpose: To compare the serum antioxidant enzyme levels between patients with urinary stone disease and healthy volunteers to determine the effect of cellular oxidative stress on urinary CALCIUM OXALATE stones formation. Materials & Methods: A total of 51 patients with proven urinary CALCIUM OXALATE stones (female 35. 3%, mean age: 49. 3 years) and 37 healthy subjects (female 45. 9%, mean age: 44. 1 years) were included. The serum levels of antioxidant catalase, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and lipid peroxidation were measured in serum samples taken from the peripheral venous circulation. Results: Mean serum catalase level of patient group was insignificantly higher than healthy subjects (7. 54 mmol-H2O2/mg/sec versus 6. 16 mmolH2O2/mg/sec, respectively; P =. 06) whereas mean superoxide dismutase level (1. 56 U/ml versus 3. 86 U/ml, P =. 047), glutathione peroxidase level (6. 70 U/ml versus 8. 19 U/ml, P =. 022) and lipid peroxidation level (2. 35 nmol/ml versus 3. 31 nmol/ml, P =. 034) of patient group were significantly lower than healthy subjects. Patients with family history of urinary stone disease had significantly lower mean serum levels of catalase (P =. 037), superoxide dismutase (P =. 047) and glutathione peroxidase (P =. 01), compared with patients without family history. Conclusion: The findings of this study provide evidence regarding the role of oxidative stress in the development of urinary CALCIUM OXALATE stones. Future clinical trials are necessary to elucidate the actual mechanisms of the CALCIUM OXALATE stone formation in the environment with increased oxidative stress.

Background: There is a folk belief that drinking Ramsar spring mineral water (RSW) is a remedy for renal stones. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of RSW on prevention or treatment of nephrolithiasis in male Wistar rats and identify the constituents of the water. Methods: Nephrolithiasis was induced by providing drinking water containing 1% ethylene glycol (EG) for two weeks in male Wistar rats. The animals were divided into prevention and treatment groups, each contained five sub-groups (10 rats for each). Prevention groups were treated for two weeks: control group (without treatment), EG group (1% ethylene glycol in drinking water), RSW 5, 10, and 15% groups (1% ethylene glycol + RSW 5, 10, and 15% in drinking water). The treatment groups received 1% EG for two weeks, then it was discontinued, and the RSW (10, 15, and 20%) was added to the drinking water for the next two weeks. The CALCIUM OXALATE (CaOx) depositions in the kidneys’ tubules were evaluated by Hematoxylin and Eosin staining. The spring water was analyzed for its constituents. Results: CALCIUM OXALATE crystals were significantly increased in EG group (in the prevention protocol) as compared to the control group (P< 0. 01). Moreover, RSWdid not significantly prevent CaOx crystals but alleviated CaOx crystals at 15 and 20% concentrations in the treatment protocol (P < 0. 001). Conclusions: The hard water of Ramsar spring reduced CaOx crystals in nephrolithiatic rats, which may be due to its high CALCIUM and magnesium content.