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Cystic kidney diseases encompass a range of genetic disorders in which the primary cilia of the cells are affected and thereby cysts form as a result. There are an increasing range of cystic renal diseases recognized due to the advances in genomics. The most common genetic kidney condition is autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). ADPKD leads to renal failure in adulthood. In children, hypertension is common and if treated, may slow down renal decline. The most common cystic kidney disease causing renal failure in children is autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD). ARPKD also affects the liver. These conditions often have extra-renal features which also need to be addressed. Until recently, treatments were mainly supportive but now it is possible to slow down development of cyst formation and renal decline in ADPKD. This raises hope for treatment for other cystic renal conditions as more genes are identified and underlying mechanisms defined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cystic kidney diseases encompass a range of genetic disorders in which the primary cilia of the cells are affected and thereby cysts form as a result. There are an increasing range of cystic renal diseases recognized due to the advances in genomics. The most common genetic kidney condition is autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). ADPKD leads to renal failure in adulthood. In children, hypertension is common and if treated, may slow down renal decline. The most common cystic kidney disease causing renal failure in children is autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD). ARPKD also affects the liver. These conditions often have extra-renal features which also need to be addressed. Until recently, treatments were mainly supportive but now it is possible to slow down development of cyst formation and renal decline in ADPKD. This raises hope for treatment for other cystic renal conditions as more genes are identified and underlying mechanisms defined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an autosomal recessive disease associated with chronic airway infections by Staphylococcus aureus as one of the earliest and most prevalent pathogens. We conducted a retrospective study to determine the S. aureus infection status of CF patients treated since 1994 at two certified CF-centres in Münster, Germany, to get insights into the dynamics of S. aureus airway infection and the clinical impact on lung function on a long-term perspective. Materials and methods We used data from our microbiological database collected between 1994 and 2016 for patients treated at two centres in Münster, Germany, respectively, to determine the infection status for S. aureus . Furthermore, the resistance to selected antibiotics was determined for all patients’ isolates and for 15 patients on a longitudinal basis. In addition, the prevalence of adaptive phenotypes such as small colony variants (SCVs) and mucoid S. aureus was assessed. Results For this study, 2867 patient years with respiratory specimens (mean of 9.3 years for every patient, range 1–22 years) were evaluated for 283 CF patients (median age of 7 years at the beginning of the observation period, range 0–57 years, 51% male). 18% of patients were rarely infected by S. aureus (≤24% of observation years), 20% of patients intermittently (25–49%) and 61% persistently (≥50% of observation period). Susceptibility testing for 12969 S. aureus isolates resulted in resistance to methicillin in 9%, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole in 10%, levofloxacin in 14%, gentamicin in 20%, erythromycin and/or clindamycin in 30% and penicillin in 80% of all isolates. S. aureus isolates of 15 patients revealed dynamics of resistance with increase, decrease and loss of resistant isolates to the analysed antibiotics during the study period. SCVs were isolated at least once from 42% (n = 118) of patients and mucoid isolates from 2% (n = 7) of patients. In the last study year, 89 patients were infected by S. aureus only, 44 patients by S. aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and 18 by P. aeruginosa only. Patients infected by S. aureus only were younger and had better lung function compared to the other two groups. Conclusions We determined a high percentage of patients with persistent S. aureus infection. During persistence, mostly fluctuation of resistance against various antibiotics was observed in the isolates indicating acquisition and loss of resistance genes by S. aureus . The prevalence of adaptive phenotypes during long-term persistence was high for SCVs (42% of patients), but low for mucoid isolates (2% of patients), which might be underestimated for mucoid phenotypes due to the retrospective study design and the difficulty to detect mucoid isolates in primary cultures. While patients with S. aureus only had better lung function and were younger, no difference was found between the group of P. aeruginosa and S. aureus co-infection and P. aeruginosa only with previous S. aureus infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To evaluate the role of MRI in assessing Ultrasonographically (US)-suspected fetal malformations associated with oligohydramnios. Methods We performed MRI in 43 oligohydramnios pregnancies referred with US-suspected fetal malformations at a mean of 25.5 weeks’ gestation. MRI findings were correlated with US data and outcome measures. Results MRI correctly diagnosed one normal fetus suspected to have posterior cephalocele. In the remaining 42 fetuses who had malformations involving their urinary systems ( n = 36), brains ( n = 23), bones ( n = 4), hearts ( n = 3), and hepatobiliary ( n = 3), MRI confirmed US diagnosis in 25 fetuses (58.1%), and added US-occult findings in 14 (32.5%) that were mainly related to the brain, urinary and hepatobiliary system. In 2 fetuses (4.7%), MRI added findings but missed data correctly detected by US in another 2 fetuses. MRI missed fetal skeletal and cardiac function abnormalities correctly detected by US. MRI accurately detected multiple body system abnormalities that aided prenatal correct diagnosis of syndromes including Meckel Gruber ( n = 15) and Joubert syndrome and related cerebellar disorders ( n = 1). Conclusion MRI is valuable in evaluating suspected fetal malformations especially those related to brain and urinary system when ultrasound is inconclusive owing to oligohydramnios. Fetal MRI can add findings that may modify prenatal diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extra renal manifestations of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) include non-renal, various intracranial, and cardiac cysts. A 26-year-old man with presumed ADPKD was also diagnosed with hemoptysis and dyspnea. The chest radiograph and CT scans indicated bilateral consolidations, ground-glass opacities, and bilateral pleural effusions, indicating symptoms of pulmonary edema. Based on the systolic dysfunction, left atrial enlargement, and left ventricular enlargement by echocardiography, he was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCMP). On screening brain CT angiography, an in tracranial aneurysm (ICA) was detected in the right middle cerebral artery. Although th e reason of a strong connection between ADPKD and DCMP is still unclear apart from th e connection between ADPKD and ICA, DCMP may be considered as an other cardiovascular manifestation of ADPKD when idiopathic DCMP is diagnosed in a patient with ADPKD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Schimke immuno-osseous dysplasia (SIOD) is a rare, severe, autosomal recessive disorder that results in spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia, renal dysfunction, immunodeficiency, facial dysmorphism and growth failure. Little is known about oral features associated with SIOD. Some of the dental anomalies encountered are specific to SIOD and have only been reported in individuals with SIOD. Case report: This paper describes the clinical and radiographic dental manifestations of SIOD in two Caucasian brothers. Both lived to be about 10 years old. After a variety of symptoms were reported, a diagnosis of SIOD was finally made when the brothers were, respectively, 5 and 8 years old. At that time, dental anomalies, such as dyschromia, bulbous crowns, short and thin roots, had not been taken into account to establish the diagnosis. However, knowledge of the dental features characteristic of this disease could have helped make the diagnosis. Although both were caries- and periodontal disease-free, special attention was focused on prevention, including dietary counselling, plaque control, oral hygiene instructions and the use of fluoridated toothpaste. Follow-up: The two patients were followed every 6 months, for over 2 years (until their death), by both a private dentist and a university hospital dentist, which helped them maintain good oral health. Oral hygiene was assessed at each appointment and fissure sealants were placed by the private practitioner on their first permanent molars. Conclusion: This report describes dental anomalies specific to SIOD that could facilitate diagnosis. Clinicians and dentists should work in collaboration to diagnose and treat children with SIOD. These patients require regular and specific dental management because of their fragile health and their characteristic dental anomalies. Ideally, preventive visits should be scheduled every 6 months in addition to curative visits as needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Revista Española de Patología is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract: Mevalonate Kinase Deficiency (MKD) is an autosomal-recessively inherited disorder of cholesterol biosynthesis with higher prevalence in the Netherlands and other North European countries. MKD is due to mutations in the second enzyme of mevalonate pathway (mevalonate kinase, MK/MVK) which results in reduced enzymatic activity and in the consequent shortage of downstream compounds. In most severe cases the deregulation of mevalonate pathway is associated with a decrease in serum cholesterol. More than 100 pathological mutations have been described in the MVK gene so far, and a founder effect has been hypothesized as responsible for the diffusion of the most frequent disease-associated mutations. In the acute phase of disease, patients affected with MKD present low cholesterol levels comparable to their basal physiologic conditions, already characterized by lower cholesterol levels when compared to healthy individuals. Low cholesterol levels are widely known to correlate with the reduction of cardiovascular events. We hypothesize a selective advantage for heterozygote carriers of the most frequent MVK mutations in those countries where the diet is characterized by high consumption of saturated animal fats rich in cholesterol. This could explain the maintenance in North European population of the main mutations leading to MKD and the distribution world-wide of these mutations that followed the migrations of North European populations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Copyright of Contemporary Pediatrics, Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Child Feeding / Pediatria Wspolczesna, Gastroenterologia, Heptologia i Zywienie Dziecka is the property of Cornetis SP. Z.O.O. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background & Aims: Autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD), the most common ciliopathy of childhood, is characterized by congenital hepatic fibrosis and progressive cystic degeneration of kidneys. We aimed to describe congenital hepatic fibrosis in patients with ARPKD, confirmed by detection of mutations in PKHD1. Methods: Patients with ARPKD and congenital hepatic fibrosis were evaluated at the National Institutes of Health from 2003 to 2009. We analyzed clinical, molecular, and imaging data from 73 patients (age, 1–56 years; average, 12.7 ± 13.1 years) with kidney and liver involvement (based on clinical, imaging, or biopsy analyses) and mutations in PKHD1. Results: Initial symptoms were liver related in 26% of patients, and others presented with kidney disease. One patient underwent liver and kidney transplantation, and 10 others received kidney transplants. Four presented with cholangitis and one with variceal bleeding. Sixty-nine percent of patients had enlarged left lobes on magnetic resonance imaging, 92% had increased liver echogenicity on ultrasonography, and 65% had splenomegaly. Splenomegaly started early in life; 60% of children younger than 5 years had enlarged spleens. Spleen volume had an inverse correlation with platelet count and prothrombin time but not with serum albumin level. Platelet count was the best predictor of spleen volume (area under the curve of 0.88905), and spleen length corrected for patient''s height correlated inversely with platelet count (R 2 = 0.42, P < .0001). Spleen volume did not correlate with renal function or type of PKHD1 mutation. Twenty-two of 31 patients who underwent endoscopy were found to have varices. Five had variceal bleeding, and 2 had portosystemic shunts. Forty-percent had Caroli syndrome, and 30% had an isolated dilated common bile duct. Conclusions: Platelet count is the best predictor of the severity of portal hypertension, which has early onset but is underdiagnosed in patients with ARPKD. Seventy percent of patients with ARPKD have biliary abnormalities. Kidney and liver disease are independent, and variability in severity is not explainable by type of PKHD1 mutation; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00068224. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In the present paper we report the oral findings of a patient who was diagnosed with hyperoxaluria. Hyperoxalurias can basically be classified as primary and secondary, with the first being inborn errors of metabolism and the second a result of excessive oxalate intake. Primary hyperoxalurias form a rare group of metabolic diseases that are inherited in the autosomal recessive fashion. The affected genes code for specific hepatic enzymes that are involved in glyoxylate metabolism and their deficiency results in overproduction of oxalate. Two different types are described: Primary hyperoxaluria type I results from a deficiency of peroxisomal enzyme alanine–glyoxylate aminotransferase and the more rare type II from a deficiency of cytosolic enzyme d-glycerate dehydrogenase. Since oxalate is primarily excreted through the kidneys, abnormally high concentration of oxalate in the urine occurs. This can in turn result in recurrent kidney stones and parenchymal renal damage and end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Inability to further excrete oxalate through the kidneys leads to its deposition in various organs (oxalosis). Several oral findings have been described in patients with oxalosis, most important of whose are bone resorption in the jaws, external root resorption and rapidly progressive dental mobility, as well as dental pain associated with deposition of oxalate in the dentine and the pulp. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]