Table 3.
Studies investigating renal stone formation in the space environment.
| Authors | Year | Type of Study | Study Facilities/Environment | Duration | Subject Characteristics | Methods | Main Findings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 95Smith, et al. | 2015 | Retrospective analysis | Space missions | Variable (>100 days) | 23 astronauts (four women) Seven astronauts received aledronate (six men, one woman) |
Blood and urine samples (pre and during spaceflight). Resistive exercise equipment. |
Risk of nephrolithiasis increased during spaceflight (irrespectively to exercise intensity) in all groups. Significant increase of sclerostin during spaceflight in all groups. Urine supersaturation risk was higher compared to the general population. |
| 96Smith, et al. | 2014 | Retrospec tive analysis | Space missions | Variable (49–215 days) | 42 astronauts (33 men and nine women) | Blood and urine samples pre and post flight. Bone densitometry. Resistive exercise equipment. |
No sex difference in the response of bone mineral density. Equal risk for urine supersaturation between sexes. Equal risk for stone formation between sexes. |
| 98Ciftcioglu, et al. | 2005 | In vitro study | High aspect rotation vessels (HARV)—microgravity simulation. Stationary and shaker cultures. |
Non applicable | Nanobacteria cultures | Spectrophotometer analysis, SEM, TEM, EDX. | 4.6 times faster multiplication of nanobacteria in HARVs. Existence of apatite crystals on all nanobacteria cultures. Thinner layer of apatite on HARV cultures. |
SEM: scanning electron microscopy, TEM: transmission electron microscopic analysis, EDX: energy-dispersive X-ray analysis.