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Copyright of Review of Medicine / Przeglad Lekarski is the property of Wydawnictwo Przegld Lekarski / Publisher Medicine Review 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.)

Copyright of Review of Medicine / Przeglad Lekarski is the property of Wydawnictwo Przegld Lekarski / Publisher Medicine Review 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.)

Introduction: Urinary tract infection (UTI) occurs in 1.1% of girls and 1.4% of boys during the first year of life. Asymptomatic bacteriuria (ABU) is usually detected incidentally in 0.9% of girls and 2.5% of boys at this age. The aim of the study was to assess the usefulness of measurement of pro-inflammatory urine interleukin (IL )-6 and IL -8 concentrations and anti-inflammatory transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) level in infants with febrile UTI, non-febrile UTI and ABU. Material and methods: A total of 35 children, mean age 6.14 ±3.47 months, were divided into three groups: group I - febrile UTI (n = 13), group II - non-febrile UTI (n = 13) and group II - ABU (n = 9). At the time of enrollment urine IL -6, IL -8, TGF-β1 and serum C-reactive protein (CR P), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR ), and white blood cell count (WBC) were measured. Renal ultrasound was performed in all children, 99mTc-dimercaptosuccinic acid scintigraphy (DMSA ) and voiding cystourethrography in children with UTI. Results: Urine concentrations of IL -6 and IL -8 were significantly higher in febrile UTI compared to those with non-febrile UTI and ABU (p < 0.5, p < 0.01) and positively correlated with CR P, ESR and WBC (p < 0.01). Urine levels of TGF-β1 were significantly higher in children with febrile UTI compared to those with ABU (p < 0.05) and positively correlated with WBC (p < 0.01). Inflammatory changes in the DMSA scan were detected in 66.6% of children with UTI. No significant difference in frequency of an abnormal DMSA scan compared to a normal scan was found in groups with febrile and non-febrile UTI. No relations between urine cytokines, systemic inflammatory markers and changes in DMSA scan were observed. The cutoff value for detection of inflammatory changes in the DMSA scan for IL -8 was 120 pg/mg creatinine (Cr) and 40 pg/mg Cr for TGF-β1. Based on this value, the sensitivity for IL -8 was 58.3%, specificity 100% and for TGF-β1 66.7% and 83.7%, respectively. Conclusions: We found significant differences in children with febrile UTI and ABU regarding urine IL -6, IL -8 and TGF-β1 levels. Urine cytokines and systemic inflammatory markers do not differentiate between upper and lower UTI in infants [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The efficacy of continuous antibiotic prophylaxis in preventing urinary tract infection (UTI) in infants with grade III, IV, or V vesicoureteral reflux is controversial., Methods: In this investigator-initiated, randomized, open-label trial performed in 39 European centers, we randomly assigned infants 1 to 5 months of age with grade III, IV, or V vesicoureteral reflux and no previous UTIs to receive continuous antibiotic prophylaxis (prophylaxis group) or no treatment (untreated group) for 24 months. The primary outcome was the occurrence of the first UTI during the trial period. Secondary outcomes included new kidney scarring and the estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) at 24 months., Results: A total of 292 participants underwent randomization (146 per group). Approximately 75% of the participants were male; the median age was 3 months, and 235 participants (80.5%) had grade IV or V vesicoureteral reflux. In the intention-to-treat analysis, a first UTI occurred in 31 participants (21.2%) in the prophylaxis group and in 52 participants (35.6%) in the untreated group (hazard ratio, 0.55; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.35 to 0.86; P = 0.008); the number needed to treat for 2 years to prevent one UTI was 7 children (95% CI, 4 to 29). Among untreated participants, 64.4% had no UTI during the trial. The incidence of new kidney scars and the estimated GFR at 24 months did not differ substantially between the two groups. Pseudomonas species, other non- Escherichia coli organisms, and antibiotic resistance were more common in UTI isolates obtained from participants in the prophylaxis group than in isolates obtained from those in the untreated group. Serious adverse events were similar in the two groups., Conclusions: In infants with grade III, IV, or V vesicoureteral reflux and no previous UTIs, continuous antibiotic prophylaxis provided a small but significant benefit in preventing a first UTI despite an increased occurrence of non- E. coli organisms and antibiotic resistance. (Funded by the Italian Ministry of Health and others; PREDICT ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02021006; EudraCT number, 2013-000309-21.)., (Copyright © 2023 Massachusetts Medical Society.)

Congenital obstructive nephropathy (CON) is one of the most common causes of chronic kidney disease in children. The aim of the study was to investigate serum and urine periostin and cytokeratin-18 (CK-18) in children with CON in relation to CON etiology, treatment, and kidney injury. We evaluated 81 children with CON secondary to ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO), ureterovesical junction obstruction (UVJO), posterior urethral valves (PUV) and 60 controls. Neither biomarker demonstrated any relation to CON etiology. However, all patients showed significantly higher urine periostin (uPeriostin) and uPeriostin/Cr levels than the controls. Also, UVJO patients showed higher sCK-18 and uCK-18/Cr levels, and PUV patients showed higher uCK-18/Cr levels than the controls. Neither biomarker was found to have any relation to CON treatment. However, conservatively treated children and those before and after surgery showed significantly higher uPeriostin and uPeriostin/Cr levels than the controls. uPeriostin strongly correlated with differential renal function (DRF) < 40%. The ROC analysis demonstrated the best area under the curve (AUC) for uPeriostin (0.831) and uPeriostin/Cr (0.768), and low for sPeriostin (0.656) and uCK-18 (0.615) for detecting renal injury. In conclusion, although serum and urine periostin and CK-18 did not display any relation to etiology or the type of CON treatment, uPeriostin seems to be a useful tool for detecting renal injury in children with CON, especially due to its strong negative correlation with DRF < 40%., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Termedia.)

Aim: The aim of the study was to assess clinical profile of neonates with hypernatremic dehydration (HD) and identify risk factors associated with acute kidney injury (AKI)., Materials and Methods: A retrospective study included 18 neonates with HD (serum Na ≥150 mmol/L) hospitalized in the Department of Pediatrics and Nephrology between the years 2009-2019., Results: The age at presentation was 7.5±4.7 days (range 2-18), weight loss was 15.9±8.3% (range 7.1-32.6) and serum Na range was 151- 192 mmol/L (median 155.5 mmol/L). In 12 (67%) neonates, breast or mixed fed, HD occurred due to inadequate milk intake, in 6 (33%) neonates feeding difficulties were secondary to an acute infection. There was positive correlation between serum Na level and percentage weight loss at presentation (r=0.88; p<0.001). In 6 (33%) patients serious complications of HD were found: AKI in 5 patients, convulsions in one. Percentage weight loss was significantly higher in neonates with HD-associated AKI than in neonates with HD without AKI (p<0.01). Serum Na level was marginally higher in neonates with AKI than in those without AKI (p=0.08). In univariate logistic regression analysis, higher percentage of weight loss and higher serum Na level at presentation were important diagnostic factors of AKI in neonates with HD (both p<0.05). ROC analysis determined good diagnostic profile only for percentage weight loss, with a best cut-off value of 24.8%, for predicting AKI in neonates with HD (AUC 0.862, sensitivity 80%, specificity 100%)., Conclusions: Neonatal HD mostly occurs due to inadequate milk intake in breast or mixed fed babies, and rarely due to feeding difficulties in babies affected by an acute infection. Percentage weight loss at presentation has strong association with neonatal HD and is the most important factor of AKI in neonates with HD., (© 2020 MEDPRESS.)

Introduction: Fever and elevated inflammatory markers have been used for diagnosis of acute pyelonephritis (APN) in infants with urinary tract infection (UTI).The aim of the study was to compare the usefulness of serum neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (sNGAL) with inflammatory markers for predicting APN in infants with UTI., Material and Methods: The prospective study included 46 infants with a first episode of UTI, divided into two groups (APN 23, lower UTI 23), according to the DMSA scan results. The following laboratory tests were performed: sNGAL, PCT, CRP, WBC, and ESR., Results: Significantly elevated levels of sNGAL, PCT, CRP, and ESR were observed in infants with APN compared to those with lower UTI. Higher sNGAL, CRP, and ESR values, presence of fever, and longer duration of fever before antibiotic treatment were associated with APN [odds ratio (OR) 1.02, 1.27, 1.03, 13.46, 2.12, respectively]. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis showed better diagnostic profiles for sNGAL, PCT, and CRP than for ESR for predicting APN [area under the curve (AUC) 0.808, 0.819, 0.841, and 0.750, respectively]. The appropriate cut-off values of sNGAL, PCT and CRP were 100.8 ng/ml, 0.15 ng/ml, 5.3 mg/dl (all sensitivity and specificity 82.6%), and that of ESR was 40 mm/h (sensitivity 78.3%, specificity 60.9%)., Conclusions: sNGAL shows similar usefulness as PCT and CRP for predicting APN in infants with UTI, the diagnostic value of ESR is smaller, and WBC is not useful at all. The presence of fever and longer duration of fever are important predictors of APN in infants with UTI., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Introduction: We assessed whether two urinary biomarkers of acute kidney injury, neutrophil gelatinase associated lipocalin (uNGAL) and kidney injury molecule-1 (uKIM-1), can be useful for predicting acute pyelonephritis (APN) in children aged 1-24 months with the first febrile urinary tract infection (UTI)., Material and Methods: A prospective study included 54 children divided into two groups (24 with APN, 30 with lower UTI), according to the dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) renal scintigraphy results. Laboratory tests: uNGAL, uKIM-1, procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP), white blood count (WBC) were performed., Results: We did not find significant differences in normalized and non-normalized values of uNGAL and uKIM-1 in children with APN and lower UTI. Positive correlations were determined between uNGAL and pyuria (r = 0.28, p < 0.05) and between uNGAL/uCr and uKIM-1/uCr (r = 0.53, p < 0.001) in the all UTI groups. Univariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that only PCT (p < 0.0001) and CRP (p < 0.05) were important diagnostic factors of APN. Receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis showed good diagnostic profiles of PCT with the best cut-off value of 1.66 ng/ml and of CRP with the best cut-off value of 4.3 mg/dl for predicting APN (area under the curve [AUC]: 0.894 and 0.719, sensitivity: 75% and 96%, specificity: 93% and 43%, respectively)., Conclusions: uNGAL and uKIM-1 are not effective diagnostic markers for APN in young children with febrile UTI and cannot be used in clinical practice to differentiate APN from lower UTI., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Introduction: Kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) is an important diagnostic and prognostic marker in acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease of various aetiologies. The aim of the study was to evaluate the usefulness of serum KIM-1 (sKIM-1) and urine KIM-1 (uKIM-1) for predicting febrile and non-febrile urinary tract infection (UTI) in infants., Material and Methods: A prospective study included 101 children divided into three groups: febrile UTI 49 children, non-febrile UTI 22 children, and healthy controls 30 children. The following laboratory tests were performed: sKIM-1, uKIM-1, white blood count (WBC), C-reactive protein (CRP), and procalcitonin (PCT)., Results: Median levels of sKIM-1 were significantly higher in the febrile and non-febrile UTI group compared to the healthy controls (both p < 0.05). Mean levels of uKIM-1 were significantly lower in the febrile UTI group compared to the non-febrile UTI group and healthy controls (p < 0.001 and p < 0.0001, respectively). Univariate logistic regression analysis has demonstrated a positive association of sKIM-1 with febrile and non-febrile UTI (both p < 0.05), and negative association uKIM-1 with febrile UTI (p < 0.0001). Receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis showed good diagnostic profiles of uKIM-1 with a best cut-off value of 2.4 ng/ml and sKIM-1 with a best cut-off value of 3.88 ng/ml for predicting febrile UTI (area under the curve [AUC] 0.82 and 0.67, sensitivity 73% and 63%, specificity 86% and 80%, respectively)., Conclusions: sKIM-1 can be useful for predicting febrile UTI. We do not recommended use of uKIM-1 as a marker of febrile UTI because of its negative association with febrile UTI. Both markers are not useful for predicting non-febrile UTI., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright: © 2019 Polish Society of Experimental and Clinical Immunology.)

Hydronephrosis in children is most often due to an intrinsic ureteropelvic junction obstruction or by compression on ureter by accessory renal artery coming from the aorta to the lower pole of the kidney., Aim: The aim of study was to present a case with a late onset of hydronephrosis caused by accessory renal artery., Case Report: 5-year old boy with a mild pyelectasia during first 10 months of age was admitted to hospital because of abdominal pain and vomiting. Abdominal ultrasound revealed a marked dilatation of the right pelvicalyceal system with renal pelvis measuring 23 mm in anterior-posterior (ap) diameter, enlargement of calyces to 10 mm and narrowed cortex to 5 mm. Dynamic scintigraphy (99mTc-EC) showed right-sided hydronephrosis with decreased isotope intake up to 31%, prolonged time of tissue perfusion and signs of ureteropelvic junction obstruction. Computed tomography urography with vascular option revealed right kidney length of 116 mm with narrow cortex, and dilated renal pelvis up to 53x52x28 (ap) mm and dilated calyces up to 16 mm. Apart from dilated collecting system, the computed tomography showed two renal arteries: normal artery coming from the aorta at the L1 level and the accessory renal artery, which originated from the aorta to the lower pole of the kidney at the L2/L3 level. The accessory renal artery compressed on the ureter causing hydronephrosis. The pyeloplasty modo Hynes-Anderson was performed. After 3 months an abdominal ultrasound revealed the right kidney of 89 mm in length with only moderate hydronephrosis: dilatation of renal pelvis up to 15-18 mm and calyces up to 7-8 mm. Scintigraphy showed isotope intake 48%., Conclusions: Hydronephrosis caused by accessory renal artery can be asymptomatic, with mild dilatation of pyelocalyceal system seen on abdominal ultrasonography. The first clinical symptoms may occur after several years and be associated with large hydronephrosis., (© 2018 MEDPRESS.)

Renal agenesis occurs in pediatric population with the incidence 1:500- 2000 children. It is more often diagnosed in boys and on the left side of the body. Renal agenesis may be isolated or it may be a part of complex malformation syndrome. Megacalycosis is a very rare anomaly of urinary tract associated with abnormal structure of the kidney pyramids., Aim: The aim of the study was to present for the first time in the medical literature the case of a girl with unilateral renal agenesis and megacalycosis., Case Report: A girl, born at term in good general medical condition, and with normal birth weight was admitted to the hospital because of urinary tract infection caused by E.coli. Antenatal abdominal ultrasounds were normal. In a diagnostic, repeated ultrasound studies, unilateral, left renal agenesis and the righ-sided megacalycosis were found. The right kidney had dilated collecting system, with normal size of renal pelvis and enlarged calyces up to 26 mm. The kidney function was normal. Voiding cystourethrography excluded vesicoureteral reflux. Dynamic scintigraphy 99mTc-EC showed the lack of function of the left kidney, postinflammatory changes and dilation of collecting system without signs of obstruction. During two-years follow up we didn't observe clinical relapse of urinary tract infection. Blood pressure and kidney function were normal., Conclusions: Complex congenital anomalies of the kidney and the urinary tract (CAKUT) can be diagnosed at any age. Normal antenatal abdominal ultrasound does not exclude CAKUT. Every patient with congenital abnormalities of the kidney and the urinary tract requires long-term follow up, because of increased risk of chronic kidney disease., (© 2018 MEDPRESS.)

The incidence of horseshoe kidney is 1 per 400-800 live births. From 44-52% of the patients with horseshoe kidney have other coexisting abnormalities of the urinary tract, such as hydronephrosis, vesicoureteral reflux and a duplex collecting system. Our patient, a 5-year old boy, was admitted to a pediatric nephrology department because of abdominal pain and vomiting. He had ultrasonography of the abdomen performed for the first time at the age of 9-months and horseshoe kidney was shown. In a control ultrasonography, a mild dilatation of the pyelocalyceal system in the left kidney was described. On the day of admission, an abdominal ultrasound confirmed horseshoe kidney with large left hydronephrosis. Power Doppler ultrasonography showed two renal arteries to the left kidney and no arterial compression on the ureter. Dynamic scintigraphy (99mTc-EC) revealed left-sided hydronephrosis with high isotope intake up to 55% ERPF, a prolonged time of tissue perfusion and signs of subpelvic junction obstruction. Magnetic resonance urography presented an enlarged left kidney, with a diameter of up to 105 mm, a narrow renal cortex, a dilated renal pelvis up to 39 mm in diameter, dilated calyces up to 26-32 mm, and the high insertion of the ureter from the pelvis. The right kidney was normal. To facilitate drainage from the dilated collecting system of the left kidney, a double-J catheter was inserted. Pyeloplasty is planned as the next step of treatment. Conclusion: In a child with horseshoe kidney and a mild dilatation of the collecting system detected in infancy, long-term follow up is necessary, because of the increased risk of significant hydronephrosis in the future.

Introduction: The endoscopic correction of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) in children is a currently well accepted therapy in many pediatric urology centers. Polyacrylate-polyalcohol copolymer (PPC), namely Vantris ® , is one of the tissue-augmenting substances used for endoscopic reflux therapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the results with PPC in children., Material and Methods: From 2012 to 2016, 125 children (73 girls and 52 boys) aged 0.6-17.9 years (mean 4.9 ±3.58) were treated with PPC. VUR was unilateral in 64 and bilateral in 61 patients, comprising 197 renal refluxing units (RRUs) grades: II in 72, III in 50, IV in 33 and V in 42. Of these primary reflux was present in 132 RRUs and 65 were complex cases. Voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG) was done 3 months after procedure., Results: Follow-up was completed in 89.6% of patients (112 children), and 89.8% of RRUs (177 out of 197). Reflux resolved in 86.4% of RRUs after single injection, in 99.4% after second and in 100% after the third. The only significant, but serious complication observed was late ureteral obstruction after PPC injection correcting high grade reflux, which required ureteral re-implantation. This complication was found in 9 out of 112 children (8%), and in 11 out of 177 RRUs (6.2%), 1.1 -2.9 years (mean 2 ±0.7) after the PPC injection. The longest follow-up reaches 4.5 years., Conclusions: Our data show that the PPC injection is an effective procedure for treating all grades of VUR with high success rate. However, because of the possibility of late ureteral obstruction, which requires ureteroneocystostomy, long-term follow-up is mandatory.

Sterile leukocyturia is an important and difficult clinical problem in children. In this paper, we described the most common nephrologic causes of sterile leukocyturia, including infectious, non-infectious and extrarenal etiology. We stressed an the importance of appropriate urine collection for urinalysis. There is a need for treatment of inflammation and also for diagnosis of potential anomalies of urethral orifice as causes of sterile leukocyturia in children.

Urolithiasis in children occurs with the incidence of 0.1-5%. Risk factors such as metabolic disorders, recurrent urinary tract infections and/or congenital abnormalities of urinary tract are detected in 75-85% of children with urolithiasis. Staghorn calculi is associated with delayed diagnosis and treatment of urinary tract infection caused by specific organisms, which produce the enzyme urease, promoting generation of ammonia and hydroxide from urea. We present two boys with staghorn calculi recognized in 8th and 31st month of age. The reason for performing ultrasonography was urinary tract infection in both boys. The younger child was previously healthy, with no symptoms of urolithiasis, the older one had recurrent urinary tract infections caused by Proteus mirabilis, episodes of anxiety and abdominal pain. Laboratory test and imaging studies excluded congenital abnormalities in the urinary tract and typical metabolic causes of urolithiasis in both boys. Treatment of infection-related stones in the younger child included two extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy (ESWL). In the older child, both ESWL and operation were performed. Staghorn calculi were composed of mixtures of magnesium ammonium phosphate (struvite) and calcium carbonate (apatite) and confirmed to be identified as infection-related stones. During follow-up in a nephrology outpatient clinic, values of blood pressure, renal ultrasonography, kidney function test were normal and no symptoms of urinary tract infections were clinically present. In patients with recurrent urinary tract infections, urolithiasis should be taken into consideration. The majority of staghorn calculi is often asymptomatic and can be diagnosed with an ultrasonography study performed routine or during urinary tract infection.