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GeoBioMed sheds new light on human kidney stone crystallization and dissolution

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GeoBioMed, a new multidisciplinary approach, combines geology, biology, urology and microscopy to discover unorthodox treatments. Results indicate that calcium oxalate kidney stones undergo previously unforeseen cycles of repeated crystallization, dissolution, fracturing and faulting. GeoBioMed challenges clinical paradigms for in vivo stone formation and treatment as well as biomineralization in natural and engineered environments.

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Fig. 1: MicroCT, BF and SRAF imaging of a CaOx kidney stone.

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Acknowledgements

Kidney stone samples were collected following Mayo Clinic Institutional Review Board approval (IRB 09–002083) and written patient consent. This research was supported by the Mayo Clinic Illinois Alliance for Technology-Based Healthcare. We thank J. J. Saw, E. M. Wilson, M. F. Romero, N. Chia, J. C. Williams Jr and C. J. Werth for their contributions in all stages of this ongoing GeoBioMed research programme development.

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Correspondence to Bruce W. Fouke.

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Sivaguru, M., Lieske, J.C., Krambeck, A.E. et al. GeoBioMed sheds new light on human kidney stone crystallization and dissolution. Nat Rev Urol 17, 1–2 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41585-019-0256-5

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