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Kidney CalculiNCT07043374

Impact of Humid-Heat on Gut-Tryptophan-Stone Pathway

An observational study of Kidney Calculi and Ureteral Calculi, run by Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine.

Not yet recruiting

Opening soon. The study is approved but enrolment has not started yet. Sites may already take enquiries.

Sites and contacts
Official record
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Trial summary

Investigating the differences in gut microbiota composition and tryptophan metabolite levels between kidney stone patients and healthy individuals, with special focus on: 1. Comparing the gut microbiota composition between kidney stone patients and healthy controls, with emphasis on analyzing the relative abundance of… Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Kidney Calculi, Ureteral Calculi
How many people
270 participants
Where
No sites listed yet
Study dates
1 Sep 2026to 31 Dec 2027
Phase
Observational
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Adult, Older adult

Study population: Case group: Patients diagnosed with kidney stones Control group: Healthy volunteers without kidney stones

Who may be able to join

  • Age>=18 years;
  • Diagnosed with kidney stones by ultrasound, CT or urography;
  • Willing to provide stool samples and serum samples for study;
  • No history of antimicrobial use in the past 3 months;
  • Signed and dated informed consent indicating that the patient or his/her legal representative is fully informed of the study-related information and agrees to participate.
  • Age>=18 years;
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  • No history of kidney stones and family history;
  • Imaging examination (such as abdominal ultrasound) showed no kidney stones;
  • Willing to provide stool samples and serum samples for research;
  • No history of antibiotic use in the past 3 months;
  • Signed and dated informed consent indicating that the volunteer is fully informed about the study-related information and agrees to participate.

Who cannot join

  • Use of antimicrobials or probiotics within the past 3 months;
  • Presence of active urinary tract infection;
  • Presence of other serious systemic diseases, such as hepatic or renal insufficiency, cardiac or pulmonary diseases, malignant tumors, and immunodeficiency states;
  • Congenital urinary tract abnormalities;
  • Previous history of kidney transplantation or urinary diversion surgery;
  • Pregnant or lactating women;
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  • Presence of chronic intestinal diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, etc.;
  • Inability to provide samples or complete follow-up according to the research protocol;
  • Participation in other clinical studies within the past 3 months;
  • Other conditions deemed unsuitable for participation in this study by the researcher.

Trial locations and contacts

No sites are listed yet. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

About this study

Official title: A Mechanistic Study on How Humid and Hot Environment Promotes Urinary Tract Stone Formation Through Influencing Gut Microbiota and Tryptophan Metabolism

Investigating the differences in gut microbiota composition and tryptophan metabolite levels between kidney stone patients and healthy individuals, with special focus on:

  1. Comparing the gut microbiota composition between kidney stone patients and healthy controls, with emphasis on analyzing the relative abundance of Lactobacillus salivarius
  2. Comparing the differences in tryptophan metabolite levels such as indole-3-carboxylic acid (ICA) and kynurenine (Kyn) in serum between the two groups
  3. Exploring the correlation between gut microbiota composition and tryptophan metabolite levels
  4. Analyzing the influence of different environmental conditions (seasons, temperature and humidity) on gut microbiota and metabolite levels
Read the detailed description
  1. Objectives

To investigate differences in gut microbiota composition and tryptophan metabolite levels between kidney stone patients and healthy individuals, specifically focusing on:

  1. Comparing gut microbiota composition between stone patients and healthy controls, with emphasis on the relative abundance of Lactobacillus salivarius.
  2. Comparing serum levels of tryptophan metabolites-indole-3-carboxylic acid (ICA) and kynurenine (Kyn)-between groups.
  3. Exploring correlations between gut microbiota composition and tryptophan metabolite levels.
  4. Analyzing the impact of environmental conditions (season, temperature/humidity) on gut microbiota and metabolite levels.
  5. Trial Design This prospective case-control study compares gut microbiota composition and serum metabolite levels between kidney stone patients (case group) and stone-free healthy volunteers (control group), while exploring associations with environmental factors.
  6. Participants Case Group: Patients diagnosed with kidney stones. Control Group: Healthy volunteers without kidney stones.
  7. Group Allocation Case Group: Kidney stone patients. Control Group: Stone-free healthy volunteers. Participants are assigned based on clinical status (no randomization).

Stratified analyses will consider:

Environmental exposure (temperature/humidity data). Seasonal factors (summer vs. non-summer). Gut microbiota composition (L. salivarius abundance via 16S rRNA sequencing). Serum metabolite levels (ICA, Kyn).

  1. Endpoints

Primary Endpoints:

Gut microbiota differences (α/β diversity, L. salivarius abundance). Serum ICA and Kyn level differences.

Secondary Endpoints:

Tryptophan pathway metabolite changes (Trp, IAA, Kyn/Trp ratio, ICA/Trp ratio). Microbiota-metabolite correlations. Environmental impact analysis.

  1. Observational Parameters

Primary Parameters:

Gut microbiota structure (α/β diversity, L. salivarius abundance). Serum ICA/Kyn concentrations (ng/ml).

Secondary Parameters:

Tryptophan pathway metabolites (Trp, IAA, ratios). Environmental factors (temperature, humidity, season). Demographics (gender, age, BMI). Stone history (type, frequency, seasonality). Comorbidities (hypertension, diabetes, intestinal diseases).

  1. Randomization Not applicable (case-control design). Participants are assigned based on clinical diagnosis.
  2. Blinding No blinding during enrollment. Laboratory personnel are blinded to group allocation during 16S rRNA sequencing and metabolomic analyses. Samples are coded, and statisticians design analysis plans before data unblinding.
  3. Sample Size Calculation

Accounting for 10% attrition and multiple analyses, final recruitment targets:

200 cases and 100 controls (expected completions: 180 cases, 90 controls).

  1. Statistical Analysis Descriptive Statistics: Mean±SD for continuous variables; frequencies for categorical variables.

Group Comparisons: t-test/Mann-Whitney U (continuous); χ²/Fisher's exact test (categorical).

Correlations: Spearman/partial correlation analysis. Multivariate Analysis: Linear/logistic regression adjusting for confounders. Microbiome Analysis: QIIME2 (α/β diversity, LEfSe, ANCOM). Metabolomics: MetaboAnalyst (pathway enrichment). Software: R 4.3.0; P<0.05 deemed significant.

  1. Follow-up Plan

Screening Period (-7 days):

Informed consent. Demographics, medical history, physical exam, vital signs (blood pressure, pulse, temperature, respiration).

Case group: Collect routine renal function tests, electrolytes, and imaging data.

Sample Collection Phase:

Case Group:

Fecal sample (5g) for 16S rRNA sequencing. Venous blood (10ml) for LC-MS metabolomics. Residual surgical stones (if available).

Control Group:

Fecal sample (5g) and venous blood (10ml). All samples collected in a single visit. Follow-up via phone for health status confirmation.

Medical subject headings
Kidney Calculi, Ureteral Calculi

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

Study groups in NCT07043374
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Kidney Stone GroupPatients diagnosed with kidney stones via imaging examinations (ultrasound, CT, or urography) were recruited from both outpatient clinics and inpatient departments of the Urology Department at our hospital.
Healthy Control Group1. Recruit healthy volunteers confirmed by imaging examinations to be free of kidney stones from our hospital's Physical Examination Center. 2. Recruit patients with no history of kidney diseases from other departments of our hospital (e.g., Department of Orthopedics, Department of General Surgery). 3. Recruit healthy volunteers through community outreach, confirmed by ultrasound examination to be free of kidney stones.

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Gut microbiota differences

    Comparison of gut microbiota composition between the case and control groups, particularly the relative abundance of Lactobacillus salivarius.

    Unit of Measure: Relative abundance (unitless proportion)

    Measured: 3 months postoperatively

  2. Serum indole-3-carboxylic acid (ICA) concentration and Serum kynurenine (Kyn) concentration

    Comparison of serum ICA (indole-3-carboxylic acid) and Kyn (kynurenine) levels between the case and control groups.

    Unit of Measure: ng/mL.

    Measured: 3 months postoperatively

Secondary outcomes (8)
  1. Kynurenine to indole-3-carboxylic acid ratio (Kyn/ICA)

    Evaluation of differences in tryptophan metabolism-related metabolites across groups, with a focus on changes in the Kyn/ICA ratio.

    Unit of Measure: Ratio (unitless).

    Measured: 3 months postoperatively

  2. Spearman correlation coefficient between Lactobacillus salivarius abundance and serum ICA concentration

    Unit of Measure: Correlation coefficient (ρ-value, unitless). Method: Spearman rank correlation analysis.

    Measured: 3 months postoperatively

  3. Gut microbiota α-diversity

    Unit of Measure: Diversity index (e.g., Shannon index, unitless). Method: 16S rRNA gene sequencing; multivariate linear regression

    Measured: 3 months postoperatively

  4. Gut microbiota β-diversity

    Unit of Measure: Dissimilarity index (e.g., Bray-Curtis, unitless). Method: 16S rRNA gene sequencing; PERMANOVA.

    Measured: 3 months postoperatively

  5. Relative abundance of Lactobacillus salivarius

    Unit of Measure: Relative abundance (unitless proportion). Method: 16S rRNA gene sequencing; multivariate linear regression.

    Measured: 3 months postoperatively

  6. Kidney stone recurrence status

    Unit of Measure: Binary outcome (Recurrence: Yes/No). Method: Ultrasound/CT detection (≥2mm stones); logistic regression.

    Measured: 3 months postoperatively

  7. Mean ambient temperature

    Unit of Measure: °C. Method: Portable environmental recorder.

    Measured: 3 months postoperatively

  8. Mean ambient relative humidity

    Unit of Measure: %. Method: Portable environmental recorder.

    Measured: 3 months postoperatively

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted29 Jun 2025
  2. Study start1 Sep 2026 (estimated)
  3. Primary completion20 Nov 2026 (estimated)
  4. Study completion31 Dec 2027 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Observational
Observational model
Cohort
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrolment
270 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT07043374
Sponsor's protocol ID
IIT2025-059
Status last verified
Jan 2026
First submitted
21 May 2025
Last updated
21 Jan 2026
Results posted
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

An observational study of Kidney Calculi and Ureteral Calculi, run by Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 11 inclusion and 10 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 21 Jan 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

Contact Zhu Ruixuan (+86 13780820139, luluzhu2023@qq.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Gut microbiota differences (time frame: 3 months postoperatively). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 21 Jan 2026.

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