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Objective This study aimed to determine whether neonatal hyperbilirubinemia is associated with a risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) using a large population-based cohort.Study Design This retrospective cohort study used data from the children's database (2000–2012) of the National Health Insurance Research Database (1996–2012) in Taiwan. We included neonates who were born between 2000 and 2004 and aged Results A total of 67,017 neonates were included. The neonates with hyperbilirubinemia were associated with 1.28-fold increased risk of ASD (HR = 1.28, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.05–1.57) compared with those without hyperbilirubinemia. In subanalysis to determine how phototherapy and exchange transfusion treatment for hyperbilirubinemia were associated with ASD showed no association between treatment and ASD, suggesting the lack of a dose-response effect of hyperbilirubinemia on the risk of ASD. Boys had a nearly six-fold higher risk of ASD than girls (HR = 5.89, 95% CI: 4.41–7.86). Additionally, neonates born with preterm birth and low birth weight were associated with a risk of ASD (HR = 1.46, 95% CI: 1.00–2.13).Conclusion We did not observe a dose-response effect of hyperbilirubinemia on ASD, but neonatal hyperbilirubinemia may be an independent risk factor for ASD if there is a residual confounding by other perinatal complications. Therefore, this study does not support a causal link between neonatal hyperbilirubinemia exposure and the risk of ASD.

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a rare disease that causes multisystem benign neoplasm, induced by dysregulation of the mammalian target of the rapamycin pathway (mTOR). This study aimed to examine the effects of continuous low-dose everolimus, a potent and selective inhibitor of mTOR, on the treatment of TSC-associated renal angiomyolipoma (AML). Between July 2013 and August 2017, 11 patients with TSC-AML were enrolled for an everolimus therapy protocol. An oral everolimus dose starting at 2.5 mg daily was gradually increased to 5.0 mg daily. All patients were evaluated using MRI or CT scanning at baseline, 12, 24, 36 and 48 months after the start of treatment for measuring changes of renal AML mass volume. Everolimus therapy resulted in significant shrinkage of TSC-AML volume after 48 months follow-up. Serum levels of everolimus were subdivided into group I (8 ng/mL, n=5). The volume reduction rates were 10.6%–65.2% in group I and 42.5%–70.6% in group II. To evaluate the response to treatment, three of six (50%) were responders in group I, and all the patients in group II (5/5, 100%) were responders. The differences in AML volume reduction between the groups were statistically significant at 12 months (p=0.011), 24 months (p=0006), 36 months (p=0.014) and 48 months (p=0.05). These results suggest that continuous low-dose everolimus therapy (2.5–5 mg daily) might be effective in shrinking TSC-AML volume and minimizes adverse effects and subsequent reducing medical costs.

Background: Seizures in tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) tend to be intractable over time and become a subsequent psychological burden for the patients. The purpose of the current study was to describe the onset, phenotype, and factors associated with seizure remission in patients with TSC. Methods: Patients diagnosed with TSC between 2009 and 2015 completed a questionnaire interview and underwent a systematic evaluation, including a medical review of their epilepsy history and neurobehavioral disorder assessment. Results: Of the 61 patients, 50 patients (82.0%) had a positive seizure history. The active (n = 34) and seizure remission (n = 16) groups showed significant differences in age, neurobehavioral disorder, history of refractory epilepsy, and onset age (p

Objective: The main objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Lactobacillus rhamnosus in children aged 4–48 months with atopic dermatitis. Methods: The design of this study was a two-center, double-blind, randomized, and placebo-controlled study with two parallel groups to evaluate the efficacy and safety profile of L. rhamnosus in children aged 4–48 months with atopic dermatitis diagnosed using Hanifin and Rajka criteria and with a Scoring of Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) ≥ 15 at enrollment. The duration of this study was 8 weeks with a total of five visits. The enrolled patients were allocated into either a treatment group (one ComProbi capsule containing L. rhamnosus a day) or a control group (one capsule of placebo a day) at a ratio of 1:1. The primary endpoint was to compare the mean change from baseline in SCORAD after 8 weeks of treatment. The other secondary end points were to compare the following: the mean changes from baseline in SCORAD at postbaseline visits, the frequency and total amount of the use of corticosteroids during the 8-week treatment, the frequency of atopic dermatitis and the symptom-free duration, the mean changes from baseline in Infant Dermatitis Quality of Life Questionnaire at Week 4 and Week 8, and the mean changes from baseline in the Dermatitis Family Impact Questionnaire at Week 4 and Week 8. Results: The mean changes in SCORAD from baseline at Week 8 was −21.69 ± 16.56 in the L. rhamnosus group and −12.35 ± 12.82 in the placebo group for the intent-to-treat population (p = 0.014). For the per-protocol population, the mean change of SCORAD from baseline was −23.20 ± 15.24 in the L. rhamnosus group and −12.35 ± 12.82 in the placebo group (p = 0.003). Significant differences were demonstrated between groups at Week 8 in intensity in the intent-to-treat population and per-protocol population. Throughout the period, the amount of topical corticosteroids used showed no difference between groups. No significant difference was noted in the overall symptom-free durations compared with the placebo group. Infant Dermatitis Quality of Life Questionnaires and Dermatitis Family Impact Questionnaires scores improved significantly at Week 4 and Week 8 but did not reach statistical significance. Adverse events were documented in 14/33 patients in the L. rhamnosus group (42.42%, 35 events) and in 15/33 placebo patients (45.45%, 37 events). Conclusions: The results of this study indicated that L. rhamnosus was effective in decreasing symptoms of atopic dermatitis after an 8-week treatment by comparing the mean change of SCORAD from baseline with a placebo (p

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and nocturnal enuresis are common disorders with extensive psychosocial suffering in affected children, and healthcare burden on parents. Whether the childhood psychological disorders and nocturnal enuresis are factors contributing to ADHD have not been clearly established. This study conducted a population-based case–control study using data sets from the National Health Research Insurance database, and identified 14 900 children diagnosed with ADHD. Risk factors that have been associated with or possibly related to ADHD development were included in this study. Performance of in groups of ADHD with enuresis was compared with controls. With adjustment for potential covariates, participants with enuresis exhibited a 2.24-fold greater risk of subsequent ADHD development compared with controls (95% CI 1.84 to 2.73). Participants with enuresis and comorbidity had a significantly greater risk of ADHD than those with no enuresis and no comorbidity (adjusted OR=8.43, 95% CI 4.38 to 16.2). Children who are assessed for ADHD should be evaluated for the presence of enuresis or other neurobehavioral comorbidities. Multidisciplinary treatment may benefit children with ADHD and minimize psychological burden on parents.

We appreciate the comments by Jogender and Jaivinder regarding our article on the association between neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia and type 1 diabetes (T1D) [1]. They highlight bilirubin as an anti...

Little is known about whether allergic disease is associated with a subsequent increased risk of childhood-onset epilepsy. We used a large, population-based cohort study to examine whether children with antecedent allergic rhinitis (AR) were associated with a subsequent increased risk of epilepsy.This retrospective population-based cohort study was conducted by using data from the 2000-2012 Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database. We enrolled 67,537 children aged 0-18 years diagnosed with AR and 67,537 age- and gender-matched children without the diagnosis of AR. The incidence rate (per 10,000 person-years) of epilepsy was calculated. We used Cox proportional hazards regression analysis to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95 % confident interval (CI).Of the 135,074 children included in the analyses, those with AR had a higher incidence rate of epilepsy (6.84 versus 3.95 per 10,000 person-years, p0.001) and an earlier age at diagnosis of epilepsy than those without AR [8.54 (4.90) versus 9.33 (5.40) years, p = 0.03)]. The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis demonstrated that the children with AR had a higher likelihood of developing epilepsy than those without AR (p 0.001). After adjusting for confounding factors in multivariate model, children with AR had a 76 % increased risk of epilepsy (HR 1.76, 95 % CI 1.51-2.04) than those without AR. Boys had a 21 % increased risk of epilepsy (HR 1.21, 95 % CI 1.05-1.40) than girls.These results suggest that children with AR were associated with an increased subsequent risk of epilepsy.

Background: Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is one of the most common chronic diseases of childhood. Whether neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia increases the risk of T1D remains unclear.Aim: To estimate the associ...

Streptococcus pneumoniae is a common cause of infectious diseases in children that may lead to life-threatening complications. Acute purulent pericarditis is an uncommon complication of S. pneumoniae in the antibiotic era. A healthy 4-year-old girl was admitted with pneumonia and pleural effusion. She had received one catch-up dose of 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine at 2 years of age. She rapidly developed necrotizing pneumonia, complicated by bronchopleural fistula presenting as subcutaneous emphysema and pneumothorax and acute purulent pericarditis. S. pneumoniae serotype 19A was subsequently identified from blood, empyema and pericardial fluid cultures. After appropriate antibiotic therapy and a right lower lobectomy, her condition stabilized and she promptly recovered. This case highlights two rare potential clinical complications of pneumococcal disease in a child: necrotizing pneumonia and acute purulent pericarditis. This is the first report of a child who received just one catch-up dose of 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine at 2 years of age, as per the United States' Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice's recommendations, but who still developed severe invasive pneumococcal disease with life-threatening complications caused by S. pneumoniae serotype 19A.

Background This study was designed to examine the capability of renal ultrasonography (US) for predicting vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) and renal scarring (RS), and to assess, using initial US, the significant urologic abnormalities that impact on management of children hospitalized with a first febrile urinary tract infection (UTI). Methods Hospitalized children aged ≤ 2 years with a first febrile UTI were prospectively evaluated using imaging studies, including (99m)Tc dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) scan, US, and voiding cystourethrography. Results Of the 310 children analyzed (195 boys and 115 girls), 105 (33.9%) had abnormal US. Acute DMSA scans were abnormal in 194 children (62.6%), including 89 (45.9%) with concomitant abnormal US. There was VUR in 107 children (34.5%), including 79 (25.5%) with Grades III-V VUR. The sensitivity and negative predictive values of US were 52.3% and 75.1%, respectively, for Grades I-V VUR and 68.4% and 87.8%, respectively, for Grades III-V VUR. Eighty-five children (27.4%) had RS, including 55 (64.7%) with abnormal US. Of the 105 children with abnormal US, 33 (31.4%) needed subsequent management (surgical intervention, parental counseling, or follow up of renal function). Nephromegaly on initial US and Grades III-V VUR were risk factors of RS. Conclusion Abnormal US may carry a higher probability of Grades III-V VUR and RS, and can affect subsequent management in a significant number of children. Nephromegaly on initial US and Grades III-V VUR are strongly associated with an increased risk for RS. Thus, US should be performed on children after a first febrile UTI and children with normal US may not require voiding cystourethrography.

Steroid-insensitive asthma-related airway inflammation is associated with the expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase in asthmatic bronchial epithelium. Proinflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-8 are related to steroid-insensitive asthma. It is currently unknown how EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) affects house dust mite (HDM)-induced asthma in terms of inflammatory cytokines related to steroid-resistant asthma and further signaling pathway. Cytokine expressions and EGFR signaling pathway were performed by ELISA, reverse transcriptase PCR, real-time PCR, and Western blot in cell-line models. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway-related inhibitors were applied to confirm the association between EGFR-TKI and AMPK pathway. HDM induced IL-6 and IL-8 in a dose-dependent manner. Both Erlotinib (Tarceva) and Osimertinib (AZD-9291) reduced the levels of HDM-stimulated IL-6 and IL-8 levels in BEAS-2B cells. AZD-9291 was more effective than Erlotinib in inhibiting phospho-EGFR, and downstream phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT) and phopho-signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (p-STAT3) pathway signaling. In addition, AMPK pathway-related inhibitor, Calcium-/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase β (CaMKKβ) inhibitor, down-regulated IL-8, but EGFR-TKI had no effect on AMPK pathway. Our findings highlight EGFR-TKIs, Tarceva, and AZD-9291, attenuate HDM-induced inflammatory IL-6 and IL-8 cytokines via EGFR signaling axis pathway, but not AMPK signaling pathway.

Background: The clinical manifestations of Leigh Syndrome (LS) are heterogeneous and its diagnosis is often based on information acquired from multiple levels of inquiry. To identify LS, Oral Glucose Lactate Stimulation Test (OGLST) and Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) have been used as additional tools for evaluation of this metabolic disorder. The objective of the study was to report the clinical manifestations, neuroimaging assessments, and multidisciplinary approaches of lactate in pediatric patients with LS. Methods: We performed a retrospective charts review of pediatric patients with LS, which underwent the investigations using laboratory tests and Magnetic Resonance Images (MRI)/MRS of the brain. Results: The distributions of the lesions on the MRI of the brain studies were as the following: basal ganglia (7/8), brainstem (7/8), and cortex (3/8). Despite all of the patients showed disorient neurological manifestations and symmetrical lesions over the basal ganglion and brainstem on MRI, elevated levels of serum lactate were detected in 6 of 8 patients by either random serum sample obtained for lactate or OGLST. Subsequently, the remaining 2 cases were demonstrated with lactate peak over the affected areas by MRS. Cranial MRS showed lactate duplex and decreased N-acetylaspartate/creatine ratio over the affected areas in the 5 of 6 patients. Conclusions: The study shows the importance of multidisciplinary approaches in the diagnosis of LS. Approach of LS may not only depend on the elevation of the value of random serum lactate but also can be further aided by OGLST or MRS to evaluate metabolic disorder in such patients.

Little is known about the associations between allergic disease, sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), and childhood nocturnal enuresis (NE). We examined whether allergic disease and SDB were associated with childhood NE. Data were assessed from the 2007–2012 Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. We enrolled 4308 children aged 5–18 years having NE diagnosis and age- and sex-matched 4308 children as the control group. The odds ratios of NE were calculated to determine an association with preexisting allergic disease and SDB. A total of 8616 children were included in the analysis. Prevalence of allergic diseases and SDB was significantly higher for the NE group than the control group (all p

We report 2 cases of neonatal Legionella infection associated with aspiration of contaminated water used in hospitals to make infant formula. The molecular profiles of Legionella strains isolated from samples from the infants and from water dispensers were indistinguishable. Our report highlights the need to consider nosocomial legionellosis among neonates who have respiratory symptoms.

Deficiency of hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase activity is a rare inborn error of purine metabolism with subsequent uric acid overproduction and neurologic presentations. The diagnosis of Lesch–Nyhan syndrome (LNS) is frequently delayed until self-mutilation becomes evident. We report the case of a boy aged 1 year and 10 months who was diagnosed with profound global developmental delay, persistent chorea, and compulsive self-mutilation since the age of 1 year. Serial serum uric acid levels showed normal uric acid level, and the spot urine uric acid/creatinine ratio was >2. The hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase cDNA showed the deletion of exon 6, and the boy was subsequently diagnosed to have LNS. He also had respiratory distress due to pulmonary embolism documented by chest computed tomography scan. This report highlights the need to determine the uric acid/creatinine ratio caused by increased renal clearance in LNS in young children. The presence of pulmonary embolism is unusual and may be the consequence of prolonged immobilization.

BackgroundRotavirus and norovirus are the most common known causes of viral gastroenteritis in children. This study examined the association between serum interleukin 6 (IL-6) and interleukin 8 (IL-8) levels and disease severity in the acute phase of rotavirus and norovirus gastroenteritis in children, and it also explored the role of fecal cytokine levels in children with viral and bacterial gastroenteritis.MethodsThis prospective study enrolled patients aged 4 months to 14 years admitted with acute gastroenteritis in a tertiary care center. Peripheral blood samples were collected for IL-6 and IL-8 assays within the first 3 days of diarrhea. Stool samples were obtained from the patients in the first 24 hours after admission.ResultsSerum IL-6 and IL-8 were measured in children with viral (n = 66) and bacterial (n = 23) infections, and in healthy controls (n = 10). In the acute phase of gastroenteritis, a moderately positive correlation was found between serum IL-6 levels and disease severity (rs = 0.41, p

Renal manifestations of tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) occur with a high frequency and a wide range of severity. The onset and complications of each affected organ depend on the age. This study aimed to investigate the associations between comorbidities, frequency, and size of cysts/angiomyolipomas of TSC and the patients in the different ages.We performed a systematic evaluation of patients with TSC at integrated clinics for TSC. The patients were diagnosed with TSC according to Roach's clinical diagnostic criteria. All the patients underwent a systematic evaluation with a medical history review, recording of cutaneous manifestations, magnetic resonance imaging of the brain, chest computed tomography scan, and cardiac echography. Each patient was routinely evaluated with renal magnetic resonance imaging.Of the 57 patients with TSC, renal lesions or manifestations were observed in 38.5 % at preschool-age group (6 years) that increased to 75.0, 85.7, and 100 % in school-age group (6-18 years), young adulthood group (18-30 years), and middle-aged group30 years, respectively. Renal complications or interventions were found in 72.7 % of patients30 years. There was a strongly positive association between the size of renal lesions and age (p0.001). Comorbidities of TSC were significantly correlated with pulmonary lymphangiomyomatosis (p0.001) and seizure remission (p = 0.018).The results indicate a positive association of progressively growing renal lesions in patients with TSC with increasing age. It is mandatory for clinicians that monitor the high-risk patients to minimize and prevent renal complications in the future.

Since 1998 in Taiwan, enterovirus (EV) 71 epidemics have caused encephalomyelitis and placed a significant burden on parents and physicians. In this study, we present clinical manifestations, magnetic resonance (MR) imaging findings, and neurological sequelae on epidemic EV-infected patients with encephalomyelitis. Of the 46 patients, 14 patients presented with neurological sequelae; of them, 3 patients suffered from complications of mental regression. Predictors of unfavorable neurological sequelae were myoclonic jerks (> 4 times/night) and pleocytosis (167/μL) of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Results from viral culture and MR imaging indicated that positive identification of EV71 infection was associated significantly with lesions on MR imaging. Our results show that hand-foot-mouth disease carries a higher risk of encephalomyelitis and that frequent myoclonic jerks and pleocytosis of the CSF are risk factors for subsequent neurological sequelae. Positive identification of EV71 might be useful as a predictor of lesions in MR imaging.

This study aimed to examine the ability of acute (99m)Tc DMSA scan for predicting dilating (grades III-V) vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) after a first febrile urinary tract infection in children aged 2 years or younger.All children underwent ultrasonography (US), (99m)Tc DMSA scan, and voiding cystourethrography. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, likelihood ratios, and receiver operating characteristic curves were performed to assess the diagnostic accuracy for predicting dilating VUR. Follow-up scan was performed at least 6 months after the acute infection to evaluate the presence of renal scarring (RS) or new scars.Of the 473 children analyzed (289 boys and 184 girls; median age, 5 months), 282 (59.6%) had abnormal acute (99m)Tc DMSA scan findings. There was VUR in 153 children (32.3%), whereas 95 (20.1%) had dilating VUR. The sensitivity and negative predictive value in predicting dilating VUR were 95.8% and 97.9%, respectively, for (99m)Tc DMSA and 97.9% and 98.6%, respectively, for combined US and (99m)Tc DMSA, whereas the positive and negative likelihood ratios were 1.90 and 0.08, respectively, for (99m)Tc DMSA and 1.57 and 0.06, respectively, for combined studies. On multivariate analysis, dilating VUR was a predictor for developing RS and new scars.Our results reveal the usefulness of acute (99m)Tc DMSA scan for predicting dilating VUR in children with a first febrile urinary tract infection. A voiding cystourethrography is indicated in only children with abnormalities found on a (99m)Tc DMSA and/or a US. The presence of dilating VUR predisposes to developing RS and new scars.

Background Data on urinary tract infection (UTI) in infants ≤2 months of age are limited. We examined clinical characteristics, antimicrobial resistance, imaging findings and clinical outcomes in infants ≤2 months of age and children 2-24 months of age hospitalized with the first febrile UTI. Methods Children ≤24 months of age hospitalized with their first-diagnosed febrile UTI were prospectively studied. Renal ultrasonography, Tc-dimercaptosuccinic acid scanning and voiding cystourethrography were performed in all children. Results Of the 388 children analyzed (255 boys and 133 girls), 61 patients were ≤2 months of age, representing 15.7% of the whole population, whereas 327 patients were 2-24 months of age. Escherichia coli was the predominant bacterium, with similar antimicrobial resistance in the 2 groups, and associated E. coli bacteremia occurred in 9 patients (2.3%). Renal ultrasonography showed abnormal findings in 130 patients (33.5%), but there was no difference in the rate of abnormal findings between the groups. Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) was present in 130 children (33.5%), including 93 (24%) with grades III-V VUR. VUR was more prevalent in the infants ≤2 months of age (P = 0.007), but there was no difference in the prevalence of grades III-V VUR between the groups. The incidence of renal scarring was 28.6% (111/388), and it did not differ between the groups. Conclusions There are similarities in clinical characteristics, antimicrobial resistance, imaging findings and clinical outcomes after a first UTI between the young infants ≤2 months and children 2-24 months of age. The same guidelines for the diagnosis and management after the first febrile UTI can be applied to children who are ≤24 months of age.

Background: The association between neonatal jaundice and childhood asthma is a new finding of two reports. The purpose of the study was to verify their results. Methods: Data from 11,321 children were collected from the National Health Insurance Research Database. Their claims data were evaluated from birth to 10 yr old. Children were analyzed as case (those with neonatal jaundice) and controls (those without neonatal jaundice). The diagnostic criteria for asthma were as follows: at least four asthma diagnoses at outpatient services and emergency department (ED), or one asthma diagnosis during an admission. In children fitting the asthma criteria, those with no asthma diagnosis after 1 yr of age were excluded. Mantel–Haenszel’s odds ratios were calculated after adjustment for the following confounders: preterm/low birth weight, neonatal infection, other respiratory conditions, other birth conditions, and gender. Asthma rate, onset time, the use of drugs, upper respiratory infection and lower respiratory infection (LRI) rates, hospital admission/ED visit rates, and the effect of phototherapy were evaluated. Results: After adjustment for the confounding factors, the rate of asthma was higher in icteric children (OR: 1.64, 95% CI 1.36–1.98, p

Objectives Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a common bacterial infection in children that can result in permanent renal damage. This study prospectively assessed the diagnostic performance of procalcitonin (PCT) for predicting acute pyelonephritis (APN) among children with febrile UTI presenting to the paediatric emergency department (ED). Methods Children aged ≤10 years with febrile UTI admitted to hospital from the paediatric ED were prospectively studied. Blood PCT, C reactive protein (CRP) and white blood cell (WBC) count were measured in the ED. Sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, multilevel likelihood ratios, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and multivariate logistic regression were used to assess quantitative variables for diagnosing APN. Results The 136 enrolled patients (56 boys and 80 girls; age range 1 month to 10 years) were divided into APN (n=87) and lower UTI (n=49) groups according to 99mTc-dimercaptosuccinic acid scan results. The cut-off value for maximum diagnostic performance of PCT was 1.3 ng/ml (sensitivity 86.2%, specificity 89.8%). By multivariate regression analysis, only PCT and CRP were retained as significant predictors of APN. Comparing ROC curves, PCT had a significantly greater area under the curve than CRP, WBC count and fever for differentiating between APN and lower UTI. Conclusions PCT has better sensitivity and specificity than CRP and WBC count for distinguishing between APN and lower UTI. PCT is a valuable marker for predicting APN in children with febrile UTI. It may be considered in the initial investigation and therapeutic strategies for children presenting to the ED.

Multicystic dysplastic kidney (MCDK) is a congenital maldevelopment in which the renal cortex is characteristically replaced by numerous cysts of multiple sizes. MCDK presenting as a single predominant large cyst in morphology is less common. We report on the prenatal imaging findings and perinatal management of a fetus with MCDK unusually presenting as a single predominant large cyst, erroneously interpreted as a severe fetal hydronephrosis. Details of the perinatal history, radiological evaluation, morphological characteristic, and clinical aspect of this case are presented. We also discuss a few studies addressing the sensitivity of magnetic resonance urography for the prenatal diagnosis of MCDK.

Complete agenesis of the bladder and urethra is an extremely rare congenital anomaly and most of these patients are stillborn or die during infancy. We report the case of a 1-month-old female infant with bladder and urethral agenesis who presented with bilateral dilated and tortuous ectopic ureters draining into the vagina diagnosed using MR imaging. Our patient was maintained on antibiotic prophylaxis and she remained well during the 3-year follow-up. MR imaging can be used as a valuable modality for genitourinary abnormalities, particularly in cases of inconclusive ultrasound or retrograde pyelography findings.

Leflunomide, an immunosuppressant with antiviral activity, was used to treat 5 children with severe BK virus-associated hemorrhagic cystitis after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Without severe side effects, BK viral loads in blood and urine decreased significantly after leflunomide treatment. Compared with 7 historical controls, duration of BK virus-associated hemorrhagic cystitis was significantly shorter in patients receiving leflunomide therapy (P < 0.01).

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a multisystem disorder resulting in hamartomatous lesions. Despite diverse manifestations, skeletal muscular comorbidity is rarely reported in TSC. We report a 2-year-old girl with TSC who suffered from multiple subcutaneous masses over the paraspinal and bilateral scapular areas, which caused disabling pain on any passive movement. Three-dimensional computed tomography scanning revealed multiple calcifications that were consequently diagnosed as fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva. Such imaging features should be evaluated cautiously to avoid unnecessary surgical intervention and biopsy that may worsen the condition.

Background There is growing evidence of positive correlations between asthma (AS) and obesity in adults and children. Leptin is an obesity gene product secreted by white adipose tissue; elevated serum levels are found in obese adults and children. Recently, leptin has also been found to be associated with allergic rhinitis (AR). However, the links between serum leptin, atopic AS, and AR remained undetermined. Because AS and AR share common allergic inflammatory mechanisms, our aim was to determine if there were any differences in serum leptin levels between asthmatic children and nonasthmatic children with AR. Methods We studied 114 children (67 boys and 47 girls): 68 with mild intermittent-to-moderate persistent atopic AS (AS children) and 46 with mild-to-moderate persistent AR without AS (AR children; overall mean age, 8.51 years; range, 5–18 years). Body mass index (BMI), serum leptin, pulmonary function, and atopy parameters (serum IgE and eosinophil levels) were measured. Results Compared with AR children, AS children had higher body weights (kg), body mass indices (kg/cm2), and serum leptin levels (ng/mL). Multiple linear regression analyses showed that serum leptin concentrations differed significantly for girls, being overweight and between disease groups (AS and AR children). Conclusion Our results indicate that a higher serum leptin level has stronger association with mild-to-moderate persistent AS compared with AR. Hence, serum leptin may be a stronger predictor for childhood AS compared with AR. Among the asthmatic children, higher serum leptin levels also showed stronger associations with female gender and being overweight.

Spinal abscess is rare in children, especially in young infants. The most common etiology is bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus in particular. Mycobacterium tuberculosis is another cause. We report an unusual cervical spinal abscess with spinal cord compression in a 13-month-old child. The presenting symptoms were weakness in the right arm and, predominantly, the right leg for 1 month. Magnetic resonance imaging showed an abscess of the cervical spine, extension with bony destruction, and spinal cord compression. The patient underwent an emergency neurosurgical decompression and laminectomy. Pathology and culture results confirmed Mycobacterium tuberculosis. After 12 months of antituberculosis treatment, the child could walk with a walker. At 37 months, he was able to walk without assistance. We conclude that spinal tuberculosis should be considered in cases of children with spinal cord-compression symptoms and an image showing an extraspinal abscess. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment are critical for maximizing a functional recovery.

The most common neurological complications associated with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) include intractable seizures that begin in infancy and subependymal giant cell astrocytoma (SEGA) complicated by hydrocephalus with increasing age. Information on SEGA growth of TSC patients is limited. This study aimed to examine the TSC-SEGA growth rates by periodic neuroimaging. This study evaluated the TSC-SEGA growth rates by serial neuroimaging. Fifty-eight patients with TSC underwent systematic evaluation, including a review of medical history and serial brain neuroimaging. While magnetic resonance imaging was more sensitive in detecting cortical tubers than computed tomography (73.1 vs. 0 %, p

That both infiltrating macrophages and resident mesangial cells express inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and produce nitric oxide (NO) excessively is crucial to the progress of glomerulonephritis. Although several reports have mentioned the protective impacts of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) in stimulated macrophages, the role of CLA in glomerular mesangial cells is unknown. The aim of the present study was to explore the ability of CLA to regulate iNOS expression and NO production in stimulated glomerular mesangial cells. Additionally, we evaluated the effect of CLA on activation of transcription factors which mediate iNOS expression. Exogenous CLA dose-dependently diminished iNOS mRNA and protein expression as well as NO production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) plus interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma)-stimulated SV-40-transformed mouse mesangial cells. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay experiments demonstrated that CLA (100 microM) dramatically reduced activation of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB), activator protein-1 (AP-1) and cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) induced by LPS/IFN-gamma. Moreover, addition of 100 microM CLA significantly diminished LPS-IFN-gamma-induced protein degradation of inhibitor kappaB-alpha (IkappaB-alpha) and the protein expression of phosphorylated IkappaB-alpha in the cytosolic fraction as well as nuclear p65 expression (P < 0.05). In summary, inhibition of NF-kappaB, AP-1 and CREB activation by CLA may be associated with the molecular basis for which CLA suppresses iNOS expression and NO production in stimulated mesangial cells.

Streptococcus bovis infection is an uncommon disease during infancy and childhood. Rhabdomyolysis is frequently a complication of a viral infection in children and typically has a benign course. It has rarely been reported as a complication in cases of bacterial infection, especially those caused by S. bovis. We describe a case of life-threatening rhabdomyolysis after a bacterial infection caused by S. bovis sepsis in a previously healthy 6-year-old girl who presented to our pediatric emergency department. She had an unusually high serum creatine kinase value (peak value, 436,449 IU/L), and she was successfully treated with adequate antibiotic treatment and effective renal replacement therapy. This case illustrates that, although uncommon, S. bovis can cause serious infections during childhood. Pediatric emergency physicians should be aware that uncommon organisms may be able to cause severe infections in susceptible children associated with life-threatening rhabdomyolysis.