Isolation of a Rhizobium galegae strain-specific DNA probe

One-hundred-four cases of stones in the upper urinary tract treated by open surgery during 1979 to 1982 at the Tikur Anbessa Hospital have been retrospectively reviewed. Among the patients, 76.5% were between the age of 20 and 40 years and there was a predominance of men with a male to female ratio of 3.7:1. More than 50% of patients presented with a history of illness from one to five years and most of the presenting symptoms and signs were the same as reported by others. Fourteen of the 73 patients tested (19%) had positive urine culture. Conservative operations of pyelolithotomy and ureterolithtomy were made in 71.2% of the patients. Nephrolithotomy was made in 14.3%, partial nephrectomy in 3.8% and nephrectomy in 8.7%. Of the patients 92.3% had an uneventful postoperative course. Mortality was 1.9% and occurred in patients with stone anuria. Chemical analysis of stones from 25 patients showed calciumoxalate in 21, and calciumoxalate with additional phosphate in three patients. One patient had pure uric acid stone.