Scientists uncover metabolic clues to kidney stone formation

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria Case Group * Inpatients treated in the Department of Urology at Xijing Hospital with a diagnosis of renal calculi confirmed by imaging examinations, including abdominal plain radiography, ultrasonography, or computed tomography (CT). * Aged between 18 and 70 years, regardless of sex. * Willing to participate in the study and providing informed consent for the use of residual blood and urine samples (remaining after routine clinical testing) for research purposes. * Complete medical records available, including medical history, clinical symptoms, physical examination findings, previous treatments, and other relevant information. Control Group * Inpatients treated in the Department of Urology at Xijing Hospital with no evidence of kidney stones or other urological diseases, as confirmed by urinary system ultrasonography, abdominal plain radiography, or urinary CT. * Aged between 18 and 70 years, with sex distribution matched to the case group. * Willing to participate in the study and providing informed consent for the use of residual blood and urine samples (remaining after routine clinical testing) for research purposes. * No history of kidney stones or other urological diseases. Exclusion Criteria * Presence of severe systemic diseases that may affect kidney stone formation, including malignant tumors, heart failure, liver failure, or renal failure (serum creatinine \> 354 μmol/L). * Presence of other urological diseases, such as pyelonephritis, renal tuberculosis, renal cysts, or renal tumors. * Presence of endocrine disorders, including hyperparathyroidism or hyperadrenocorticism. * Pregnant or lactating women. * Patients with psychiatric disorders, individuals unable to cooperate with the study, or those with a history of substance abuse or alcoholism. * History of surgical intervention or extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) for kidney stones within the past 3 months. * Current use of medications that may influence kidney stone formation (e.g., diuretics, vitamin D, or calcium supplements) and inability to discontinue these medications. * Insufficient blood or urine sample volume to meet analytical requirements, or samples that were severely contaminated or of poor quality and unsuitable for analysis.