Nephrolithiasis is a pathological condition characterized by the formation of solid crystals in the kidneys or other parts of urinary tract. Kidney stones are a serious public health issue and financial burden for health care system, as well as a painful and uncomfortable condition for patients, resulting in renal tissue injury in severe cases. Dietary habits, low fluid and high salt intake predominantly, contribute to the development of kidney stones. Current research suggests that polyphenols have a protective effect in the pathogenesis of kidney stones. Polyphenols are a group of naturally occurring compounds found in plant-based foods such as fruits, vegetables, tea, and coffee. In this review, we explore mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of polyphenols, such as oxidative stress reduction and modulation of inflammatory pathways, in various in vitro models of nephrolithiasis. Additionally, certain polyphenols, such as catechins found in green tea, have been shown to inhibit the formation and growth of kidney stones in animal studies. This review highlights the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, as well as the inhibition of crystal formation, as results of polyphenol treatment in vitro. Further research is required to determine the specific effects of polyphenols on kidney stone formation in humans; however, current knowledge implicates that incorporating a variety of polyphenol-rich foods into the diet may be a beneficial strategy for individuals at risk of developing nephrolithiasis.

Hearing loss is a disease exhibiting a growing trend due to a number of factors, including but not limited to the mundane exposure to the noise and ever-increasing size of the older population. In the framework of a public health policymaking process, modeling of the hearing loss disease based on data is a key factor in alleviating the issues related to the disease and in issuing effective public health policies. First, the paper describes the steps of the data-driven policymaking process. Afterward, a scenario along with the part of the proposed platform responsible for supporting policymaking are presented. With the aim of demonstrating the capabilities and usability of the platform for the policy-makers, some initial results of preliminary analytics are presented in the framework of a policy-making process. Ultimately, the utility of the approach is validated throughout the results of the survey which was presented to the health system policy-makers involved in the policy development process in Croatia.