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may explain differences in net intestinal oxalate absorption in humans. There is also a potential link to the fecal microbiome, which has organisms that may promote deglycosylation. This may prove to be a significant translational research platform. Dean G. Assimos, MD
Suggested Reading Voss S, Hesse A, Zimmermann DJ et al: Intestinal oxalate absorption is higher in idiopathic calcium oxalate stone formers than in healthy controls: measurements with the [13C2]oxalate absorption test. J Urol 2006; 175: 1711. von Unruh GE, Voss S, Sauerbruch T et al: Reference range for gastrointestinal oxalate absorption measured with a standardized [13C2]oxalate absorption test. J Urol 2003; 169: 687.
Re: Patients Attending Shared Medical Appointments for Metabolic Stone Prevention have Decreased Stone Risk Factors R. A. Jhagroo, S. Y. Nakada and K. L. Penniston Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology and Department of Urology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin J Endourol 2016; Epub ahead of print. doi: 10.1089/end.2016.0500
Abstract available at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27673722 Editorial Comment: This group previously reported on the shared medical appointments for stone prevention and found that patients were satisfied with this approach. In this study they analyzed changes in 24-hour urinary stone risk parameters in those who had individualized appointments and those who participated in shared visits. Improvements were seen in both groups, and patient satisfaction was for the most part similar. Shared appointments have been used for other urological disease processes and are an efficient way of providing access to care. Differences in stone recurrence between these 2 approaches need to be assessed. Dean G. Assimos, MD
Suggested Reading Jhagroo RA, Nakada SY and Penniston KL: Shared medical appointments for patients with kidney stones new to medical management decrease appointment wait time and increase patient knowledge. J Urol 2013; 190: 1778. Pearle MS, Goldfarb DS, Assimos DG et al: Medical management of kidney stones: AUA guideline. J Urol 2014; 192: 316.
Re: Response of Germ-Free Mice to Colonization with O. formigenes and Altered Schaedler Flora X. Li, M. L. Ellis, A. E. Dowell, R. Kumar, C. D. Morrow, T. R. Schoeb and J. Knight Department of Urology, Center for Clinical and Translational Science, and Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, Genetics Research Division, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama Appl Environ Microbiol 2016; Epub ahead of print. doi: 10.1128/AEM.02381-16
Abstract available at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27663026 Editorial Comment: Oxalobacter formigenes is an anaerobic bacterium whose main carbon source is oxalate. Lack of fecal colonization with this organism is a risk factor for recurrent calcium oxalate stone formation. The authors studied the biology of O. formigenes in germ-free and altered Schaedler flora (ASF) mice. They demonstrated that this organism effectively degrades oxalate in the intestine and ASF bacteria do not. They also showed that ASF bacteria may bolster the integrity of the intestinal epithelium and perhaps limit paracellular oxalate transport. They also found that O. formigenes may survive in an aerobic environment. This is an excellent model to study the biological impact of this organism. Dean G. Assimos, MD
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Suggested Reading Barnett C, Nazzal L, Goldfarb DS et al: The presence of Oxalobacter formigenes in the microbiome of healthy young adults. J Urol 2016; 195: 499. Jiang J, Knight J, Easter LH et al: Impact of dietary calcium and oxalate, and Oxalobacter formigenes colonization on urinary oxalate excretion. J Urol 2011; 186: 135. Sidhu H, Allison MJ, Chow JM et al: Rapid reversal of hyperoxaluria in a rat model after probiotic administration of Oxalobacter formigenes. J Urol 2001; 166: 1487.
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