Factors predicting the recovery from acute kidney injury in children with primary nephrotic syndrome.

BACKGROUND: The prognosis of acute kidney injury (AKI) varies in children with nephrotic syndrome (NS), data on factors predicting the recovery and recurrence of AKI in children with NS are limited. This study aimed to explore the possible factors predicting the recovery from and recurrence of AKI in children with primary NS. METHODS: Children with primary NS complicated with AKI from 1993 to 2017 in a single centre were reviewed retrospectively. The clinical pictures and possible factors predicting the recovery from and recurrence of AKI in children with primary NS were investigated. RESULTS: Sixty-eight episodes of AKI in 59 children with NS were analysed: 88.2% of AKI recovered within 3 months, and 2.9% of AKI did not recover after 3 months. Survival analysis revealed that leucocyturia is significantly related to the AKI recovery time (P = 0.001), and children with leucocyturia [22 (4, 79) days] recovered significantly slower than did children without leucocyturia [12.0 (2, 39) days]. Renal tubular and interstitial injury were prominent in children with leucocyturia, and 11.9% of children with index AKI experienced the recurrence of AKI. CONCLUSIONS: Most episodes of AKI that occurred in children with NS recovered completely. Leucocyturia is a significant factor predicting the recovery time of AKI.

Sexually transmitted agents and their association with leucocytospermia in infertility clinic patients.

In this study, the presence of Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Trichomonas vaginalis, Mycoplasma hominis, Mycoplasma genitalium, Ureaplasma urealyticum and Ureaplasma parvumDNA were investigated using real-time multiplex PCR detection kit in the urine samples of 50 patients who presented to the infertility polyclinic. Patients were classified into two groups in accordance with the WHO leucocytospermia criteria as over 1 × 106 /ml (n = 25) and below 1 × 106 /ml (controls; n = 25). In addition, the semen sample results of the patients were evaluated. The mean leucocyte count in the leucocytospermia group was detected as 3.4 × 106 /ml. Agent positivity was found in 12 of 25 patients in the leucocytospermia group (U. parvum 10, U. urealyticum 3, M. hominis 3) and 9 of 25 patients in the control group (U. parvum 7, U. urealyticum 2, M. hominis 1). A chi-square test evaluation revealed no statistically significant difference between groups. (p = 0.390). The statistical evaluation using the Mann-Whitney U and chi-square tests revealed no statistically significant negative effect of agent positivity on semen analysis parameters in either group (p > 0.05). Although no significant difference was detected between the groups, this study provides data about the prevalence of asymptomatic sexually transmitted diseases in patients presenting to the infertility polyclinic.

Clinical significance of periportal tracking as an extrarenal manifestation of acute pyelonephritis.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether hepatic periportal tracking (PPT) in patients with acute pyelonephritis correlates with the severity of pyelonephritis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A database search was conducted of patients with clinically suspected acute pyelonephritis who underwent abdominal computed tomography (CT) between January 2004 and June 2009 for disease evaluation. The final study group consisted of 274 patients (221 women, 53 men) with a mean age of 43 ± 20 years. The abdominal CT studies were retrospectively reviewed by two radiologists by consensus to assess PPT, renal wedge-shaped hypoperfusion areas, and renal abscesses. The laboratory reports obtained on the day of the CT examinations were reviewed for C-reactive protein (CRP), white blood cell count (WBCC), and leukocytes in urine. Presence of PPT was correlated with the presence of renal abscess, extension of renal hypoperfusion areas as well with levels of CRP, leukocytosis, and urine leukocytes using the Fisher's exact Test and the Wilcoxon Test. RESULTS: All patients showed renal hypoperfusion areas consistent with the clinical diagnosis of acute pyelonephritis. Twenty-nine patients (11%) showed PPT which was significantly associated with the extension of the wedge-shaped renal hypoperfusion areas (P < 0.001), the presence of a renal abscess (P < 0.01), as well as the level of CRP (P < 0.001) and urine leukocytes (P < 0.01). A renal abscess was observed in 36% of patients with PPT compared with 14% of patients without PPT. CONCLUSION: The PPT should be kept in mind as an extrarenal finding in acute pyelonephritis and may indicate a more serious clinical course of the disease.

Urinary screening abnormalities in antiretroviral-naive HIV-infected outpatients and implications for management--a single-center study in South Africa.

Few urinary screening studies have been performed to determine the incidence of urinary abnormalities in antiretroviral therapy-naive, HIV-infected outpatients. From published data, the incidence appears to be high, particularly when compared with populations outside sub-Saharan Africa. In South Africa, urinary screening in antiretroviral therapy clinics is not routinely practiced. The aim of this descriptive study was to screen antiretroviral therapy-naive, HIV-infected outpatients attending the HIV clinic for urinary abnormalities, namely leukocyturia, microscopic hematuria, and microalbuminuria/proteinuria. This study showed that 84% of the screened population had AIDS (CD4 count < 200 cells/ mm3), and the incidence of abnormalities on urinary dipstick testing was high: 30% had leukocyturia, 33% had microscopic hematuria, and 44% had microalbuminuria/proteinuria. In patients with leukocyturia, an infective organism was cultured in only 29.1% of cases, predominantly Escherichia coli (70%) with sterile leukocyturia comprising the remainder. There may be an association with tuberculosis (TB) or sexually transmitted infections (STI) in the sterile leucocyturia group, but this remains to be confirmed. In those with a culture positive result the most common organism was E. coli (70%), which exhibited 90% resistance to cotrimoxazole, demonstrating that cotrimoxazole prophylaxis is not effective to prevent urinary tract infection in this group. On the basis of these findings, it has been proposed that urinary screening be considered standard of care in HIV clinics in South Africa. An algorithm has been proposed for use in antiretroviral therapy clinics in South Africa to guide clinicians regarding the cost-effective management of urinary dipstick abnormalities.

Urinary cytokine response to asymptomatic bacteriuria in type 1 diabetic children and young adults.

It has been reported that urinary interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-8 levels are decreased in adult diabetic women with asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) when compared with non-diabetic women with ASB. Such impaired cytokine excretion might play a role in the higher prevalence of ASB among diabetic subjects. The aim of this study was to examine the urinary IL profile in children and young adults with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) with and without ASB. Midstream clean voiding urine samples were collected and cultured from 133 patients with T1DM (age: 15.6 +/- 5.7 yr) and 178 controls (14.1 +/- 4.7 yr) for two consecutive days. ASB was diagnosed in the case of >or=10(5) bacteria/mL. The urinary IL-6 and IL-8 concentrations were determined, and the presence of leukocyturia was also recorded. The prevalence of ASB was 16.5% in diabetic subjects and 2.8% in controls (p = 0.001). There was no difference between the diabetic and the control groups in the prevalence of 'IL-6-uria' (21.9 vs. 18.0%; p = 0.41), but IL-8 was more frequently detectable in the diabetic group (47.4 vs. 27.5%; p = 0.001). In individuals with ASB, the IL-8 level was similar in the diabetic (median: 70.0 pg/mg creatinine) and control group (42.3 pg/mg creatinine; p = 0.8). Indeed, the IL-8 levels were higher in diabetic subjects with ASB as compared with those without it (70.0 vs. <3.1 pg/mg creatinine; p = 0.001), and there was a significant association between the urinary IL-8 concentration and the bacterial count (p = 0.001). Diabetic patients with leukocyturia had higher IL-8 concentration than those without it (20.9 vs. <3.1 pg/mg creatinine; p = 0.003). Weak significant correlation was found between urinary IL-8 and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) (r = 0.4; p = 0.002). The sensitivity and specificity of leukocyturia were 50 and 89.9% in the whole population and those of IL-8 were 74.1 and 67.5%, respectively. In diabetic patients, 36.4% of the bacteriuria were gram-negative and 63.6% gram-positive. Our results suggest that diabetic children with ASB mount an IL-8 response to pathogens, which is comparable to non-diabetic children with bacteriuria. Thus, early in the natural history of diabetes, there are no significant changes in the IL response of children with ASB, as previously reported in adults.

Prevalence of chronic kidney disease in a middle and old-aged population of Beijing.

BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) was epidemic worldwide. The prevalence of CKD indicators, including proteinuria, hematuria/uninfectious leukocyturia and reduced GFR, was investigated in the middle and old-aged population of Beijing Shijingshan district. METHODS: Subjects of 2310 aged > or =40 y were enrolled. Their health conditions were taken by questionnaires and physical check-ups. Spot urine albumin to creatinine ratio, spot urine dipstick and microscopy for urine red cell and leukocyte, and serum creatinine was determined. Using simplified Modification of Diet in Renal Disease Study equation estimated GFR assessed renal function. The associations between age, gender, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension, and indicators of kidney damage were examined. RESULTS: Through the questionnaires, the history of diabetes mellitus, hypertension and CKD were found in 28%, 47.1% and 3.6% of subjects, respectively. Albuminuria was detected in 8.4% of subjects, hematuria and uninfectious leukocyturia in 0.7%, and reduced GFR in 4.9%. Approximately 12.9% had at least 1 indicator of CKD. The known rate of CKD in the studied population was 7.1%. Age, diabetes mellitus, hyper fasting blood glucose and hypertension were independently associated with albuminuria; age, gender, hyper uric acid and albuminuria with reduced GFR. When proteinuria and reduced GFR were determined using spot urine dipstick protein > or =25 mg/dl and serum creatinine > or =133 micromol/l, the prevalence of proteinuria and reduced GFR were 4.7% and 0.8%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of CKD is common in middle and old-aged population of Beijing, especially in the elderly, but the known rate was relatively low. These findings highlight the clinical and public health importance of CKD.

[Selected problems of the nephrological and urological status of women with Turner's syndrome]. / Wybrane aspekty nefrologiczne i urologiczne u kobiet z zespolem Turnera.

UNLABELLED: Nephrological and urological problems among women with Turner's syndrome (TS) have not been frequently investigated so far. The aim of our study was to address those issues in adult women with TS in Poland. 176 women with TS, whose age was between 18 and 51 years, who presented to our center from the whole territory of Poland between March, 1995 and December, 2002 were examined. A particular attention was payed to nephrological and urological status of those patients. 61 women (34.7%) presented with inflammatory status in urinary tract. In 24.6% of them anatomical, congenital defects of the urinary tract were discovered. Both the presence of inflammation as well as a defect itself have no influence on incidence and degree of arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, antropometric parameters of those patients with TS and other, laboratory parameters assessed. CONCLUSIONS: 1. Women with TS suffer from urinary tract inflammations significantly more frequently then it happens in general female population. 2. Urinary tract diseases among women with TS, associated with leukocyturia are either not related to, or related not only to the characteristics of the type of a particular congenital defect of the urinary tract.

History taking and leukocyturia predict the presence of asymptomatic bacteriuria in women with diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the accuracy of history taking to diagnose asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) in diabetic women, and the added value of leukocyturia. METHODS: Data were obtained from a multicenter study including 465 women with diabetes. Many patient characteristics were considered as potential diagnostic determinants. A urinary leukocyte count and a urine culture (the criterion standard) were performed. Logistic regression analyses were performed and areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC) were calculated. RESULTS: For women with type 1 diabetes (n = 236; ASB 11%), duration of diabetes and glycosylated hemoglobin (GHb) were powerful predictors of ASB. The AUC of the model including these two variables was 0.66 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.53-0.78). After addition of leukocyturia, the AUC increased considerably to 0.78 (95% CI 0.68-0.88; p = 0.018). For women with type 2 diabetes (n = 229; ASB 19%), age and the number of symptomatic urinary tract infections (UTIs) in the previous year were the strongest predictors of ASB. The AUC of the model including these variables was 0.70 (95% CI 0.61-0.80). After addition of leukocyturia, the AUC increased to 0.79 (95% CI 0.71-0.86; p = 0.023). CONCLUSION: In diabetic women, ASB can be diagnosed using two easily obtainable variables (duration of diabetes and GHb for women with type 1 diabetes, and age and the number of UTIs in the previous year for women with type 2 diabetes) in combination with a urinary leukocyte count. This results in a model with sufficient accuracy (AUC > 0.75).

Prostatitis revisited: new definitions, new approaches.

Prostatitis syndromes represent an important health care problem resulting in considerable morbidity and expenditure of health care resources. Comparison of the traditional and consensus classification schemes demonstrates no changes in the traditional categories of acute bacterial prostatitis and chronic bacterial prostatitis. Examining only the EPS, however, results in diagnosis of half of the patients with inflammatory CP/CPPS. An optimal diagnostic strategy required evaluation of the VB3 and SFA in addition to the traditional EPS examination. Such precision is necessary for research studies, but whether such precision is important clinically remains unproved. The new interest in optimal evaluation and characterization of patients with chronic prostatitis and related conditions has resulted in important research initiatives examining the etiology and optimal treatment for this large group of patients.

Persistent leukocyturia and loss of renal function in a prospectively monitored cohort of HIV-infected patients treated with indinavir.

Symptomatic nephrotoxicity is a well-known complication of indinavir treatment. However, little is known about the relevance of other abnormalities, such as leukocyturia during use of indinavir. We determined the prevalence, risk factors, and consequences of persistent leukocyturia in a prospectively monitored cohort of indinavir users in three adult outpatient clinics. Patients were monitored for nephrotoxicity at regular visits (every 3 months) between August 1998 and September 2000. Monitoring involved urine dipstick analysis and microscopy for pH, erythrocytes, leukocytes, and indinavir crystals. The urine albumin concentration/creatinine concentration ratio and serum creatinine and indinavir plasma concentrations were measured, and urinary tract infection was excluded. Urologic symptoms were retrieved from medical records. Of 184 patients with at least one assessment, 35% had leukocyturia (i.e., >75 cells/microL) at least once during the study period, which coincided with mild increase in the serum albumin level, erythrocyturia, and crystalluria. Thirty-two (24%) of 134 patients with two or more assessments had persistent leukocyturia (i.e., on two or more occasions). Risk factors were indinavir plasma concentration of >9 mg/L, urine pH of >5.7, and crystalluria. Persistent leukocyturia was associated with a gradual loss of renal function but not with urologic symptoms. The data show that leukocyturia is a frequent finding and emphasize the need for monitoring renal function during indinavir treatment, even in the absence of urologic symptoms.

Persistent sterile leukocyturia is associated with impaired renal function in human immunodeficiency virus type 1-infected children treated with indinavir.

BACKGROUND: Prolonged administration of indinavir is associated with the occurrence of a variety of renal complications in adults. These well-documented side effects have restricted the use of this potent protease inhibitor in children. DESIGN: A prospective study to monitor indinavir-related nephrotoxicity in a cohort of 30 human immunodeficiency virus type 1-infected children treated with indinavir. METHODS: Urinary pH, albumin, creatinine, the presence of erythrocytes, leukocytes, bacteria and crystals, and culture were analyzed every 3 months for 96 weeks. Serum creatinine levels were routinely determined at the same time points. Steady-state pharmacokinetics of indinavir were done at week 4 after the initiation of indinavir. RESULTS: The cumulative incidence of persistent sterile leukocyturia (> or =75 cells/ micro L in at least 2 consecutive visits) after 96 weeks was 53%. Persistent sterile leukocyturia was frequently associated with a mild increase in the urine albumin/creatinine ratio and by microscopic hematuria. The cumulative incidence of serum creatinine levels >50% above normal was 33% after 96 weeks. Children with persistent sterile leukocyturia more frequently had serum creatinine levels of 50% above normal than those children without persistent sterile leukocyturia. In children younger than 5.6 years, persistent sterile leukocyturia was significantly more frequent than in older children. A higher cumulative incidence of persistent leukocyturia was found in children with an area under the curve >19 mg/L x h or a peak serum level of indinavir >12 mg/L. In 4 children, indinavir was discontinued because of nephrotoxicity. Subsequently, the serum creatinine levels decreased, the urine albumin/creatinine ratios returned to zero, and the leukocyturia disappeared within 3 months. CONCLUSIONS: Children treated with indinavir have a high cumulative incidence of persistent sterile leukocyturia. Children with persistent sterile leukocyturia more frequently had an increase in serum creatinine levels of >50% above normal. Younger children have an additional risk for renal complications. The impairment of the renal function in these children occurred in the absence of clinical symptoms of nephrolithiasis. Indinavir-associated nephrotoxicity must be monitored closely, especially in children with risk factors such as persistent sterile leukocyturia, age <5.6 years, an area under the curve of indinavir >19 mg/L x h, and a C(max) >12 mg/L.

The natural history of leukocyturia associated with indinavir treatment in HIV+ individuals.

Urinary complications observed during indinavir treatment of HIV disease are often attributed to indinavir crystalluria. In a prospective study of urinalysis during the first year of indinavir therapy, 5 of 54 asymptomatic HIV+ individuals presented severe leukocyturia (> or =100 cells/HPF) usually accompanying indinavir crystalluria. The clinical course of these 5 individuals, successfully treated for HIV and monitored for an second follow-up year, suggests that recurrence of severe leukocyturia may be an indicator of renal damage, likely tubulointerstitial disease caused by indinavir crystalluria. This is in contrast to the remaining 49 subjects, including those presenting mild leukocyturia, who did not demonstrate any evidence of renal disease. Regular urinalysis is therefore recommended in the clinical management of indinavir-treated individuals to detect early renal damage secondary to indinavir crystalluria and to prevent further renal impairment.

Leucocytosis, thrombocytosis, and plasma osmolality during rest and exercise: an hypothesis.

The mechanism for inducing leucocytosis (increase in white blood cells) and thrombocytosis (increase in platelets) during exercise is unclear. Because plasma osmolality (Osm) may influence T-cell proliferation, Osm and the number of leucocytes (WBC) and platelets in blood were measured periodically during a 90 min rest period, and were compared with those during upright sitting ergometer exercise in six untrained, healthy men who cycled for 70 min at 71% of their maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max). There were 6 experiments in which the subjects drank different fluid formulations (10 ml x kg(-1) of various ionic and osmotic concentrations intermittently during 60 min of the rest period and during the exercise period. Osmolality, and WBC and platelet counts increased significantly (p < 0.05) within the first 10 min of exercise, but the additional 60 min of exercise did not significantly change the leucocytosis or thrombocytosis. There were low but significant correlations between individual values of total WBC and total Osm during exercise (r0.001(2),284 = 0.39) and during rest plus exercise (r0.001(2),499 = 0.43). With combined data from the six experiments, mean Osm correlated highly and significantly with both mean WBC (r0.001(2),6 = 0.95, p < 0.001) and mean platelets (r0.001(2),6 = 0.94, p < 0.01) during the exercise phase. These data indicate that increases in leucocytes, thrombocytes, and osmolality occur primarily within the first 10 min of high-intensity exercise, but neither hypovolemia nor hyperthermia during exercise contributed to the leucocytosis, thrombocytosis, or hyperosmolality. The high correlations between plasma Osm and WBC or platelet counts suggest changes in osmolality may contribute to the mechanism of leucocytosis and thrombocytosis induced by exercise.

The Pre and Post Massage Test (PPMT): a simple screen for prostatitis.

The segmented quantitative culture technique originally described more than 25 years ago is acknowledged as the best test to diagnose prostatitis. However, it, is not widely used in clinical practice. This is especially true in primary care settings, but even most urologists appear to have abandoned the procedure. Herein is proposed a simple and cost-effective screen for prostatitis, which involves the culture and microscopic examination of urine before and after prostatic massage. This Pre and Post Massage Test (PPMT) was applied to a personal series of 53 patients and 59 patients from the literature in whom the results of the segmented cultures are available and the results were reevaluated. In this selected patient population the PPMT alone led to the same diagnosis in 102 (91.1%). Within the expected limitations of this retrospective review, the calculated sensitivity and specificity of the PPMT were both 91%. This report should provoke researchers to review their prostatitis data, stimulate discussion, and hopefully convince physicians that adoption of a simpler diagnostic plan for prostatitis is far superior to doing no workup at all.

Método de escrutinio para la detección rápida de bacteriuria / Screening method for rapid detection of bacteriuria

Se evaluó un método rápido de escrutinio urinario, consistente en tinción de Gram, en combinación con las pruebas de esterasa de leucocitos y nitritos para detectar bacteriuria de 748 muestras de orina suministradas pra cultivo. Cuando el crecimiento bacteriano fue >- 105 UFC/ml por el método de referencia, el procedimiento de escrutinio presentó una sensibilidad de 79.8 por ciento, una especificidad de 99.5 por ciento, un valor predictivo positivo de 95.9 por ciento y un valor predictivo negativo de 97.3 por ciento. El método de escrutinio es un método sensible para detectar bacteriuria; así mismo, permite eliminar muestras de orina negativas, haciendo innecesario el cultivo.

Rapid cytoreduction in childhood leukemic hyperleukocytosis by conservative therapy.

Childhood leukemic hyperleukocytosis poses a serious threat to life because of its associated metabolic complications. The present prospective trial utilized conservative management of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia with hyperleukocytosis (total white cell count equal or > 100 x 10(9)/L) by intravenous hydration, urinary alkalinization, and allopurinol presenting without severe life-threatening complications. The median reduction in WBC count was 81.51% (range: 66-98.8%) within a median period of 36 hours (range: 12-60 hours) following hospitalization. There were no failures or treatment related complications. Thus we conclude that in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia, hyperleukocytosis can be managed safely and effectively with intravenous hydration, urinary alkalinization, and allopurinol before starting any specific anti-leukemic chemotherapy avoiding risk-associated cranial irradiation, leukapheresis, and exchange transfusion.

Urine test strips: reliability of semi-quantitative findings under tropical conditions.

Semi-quantitative urinalysis with urine reagent strips (URS) for erythrocyturia (EU), leucocyturia (LU) and proteinuria (PU) was performed in Congolese and Sudanese school children with Schistosoma haematobium and/or S. mansoni infection. Quantitative urinalysis was performed on the same specimen using microscopy and a Neubauer counting chamber for EU and LU and the Coomassie blue dye-binding assay for PU. Microscopically detectable EU of more than 10 cells/microliters was found in 63% of all samples and LU of more than 20 cells/microliters was found in 60% of all samples. With the Coomassie blue method, PU of more than 150 mg/l was detected in 51% of all samples. URS gave positive results of grade 1-3 for EU in 69% of all samples, for LU in 63% of all samples and for PU in 66% of all samples. The sensitivity and specificity of URS compared with standard reference methods were as follow: EU 95% and 75%, LU 81% and 81% and PU 90% and 56%. When the results of all three test were combined, URS differentiated abnormal from normal urine specimens with a sensitivity of 94% and a specificity of 70%. Median quantitative results showed a good correlation with semiquantitative URS readings for all parameters, but there was a wide range of URS scores. We concluded that URS sensitivity detect urinary abnormalities and thus may be used as a general screening method under field conditions when more specific methods cannot be performed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Renal involvement in rheumatoid polyarthritis]. / L'atteinte rénale au cours de la polyarthrite rhumatoïde.

Urinary disorders were investigated in 162 patients with specific or standard rheumatoid disease, over a period of 5 years. 43 patients presented disturbances of the urinary laboratory tests, or 26.5 p. cent and 17 of them underwent a renal needle-biopsy. The findings were as follows: 11 isolated proteinurias, iatrogenic and reversible when the treatment in question was discontinued (gold salts, D-penicillamine), 13 microscopic hematurias, 3 isolated leucocyturias, 3 combinations hematuria-leucocyturia, 3 combinations hematuria-leucocyturia-proteinuria, 6 nephrotic syndromes including 5 of iatrogenic origin, 4 isolated renal failures. The most interesting discussion concerns microscopic hematurias. Besides the standard lesions of extra-membranous glomerulonephritis, amyloidosis and interstitial nephritis, 50 p. cent of the renal histologic examinations corresponded to lesions of mesangial glomerulonephritis. This lesion seems unrelated to long-term treatments and could be encouraged by the chronic inflammatory condition of the rheumatoid disease.

A practical score for the early diagnosis of acute appendicitis.

We conducted a retrospective study of 305 patients hospitalized with abdominal pain suggestive of acute appendicitis. Signs, symptoms, and laboratory findings were analyzed for specificity, sensitivity, predictive value, and joint probability. The total joint probability, the sum of a true-positive and a true-negative result, was chosen as a diagnostic weight indicative of the accuracy of the test. Eight predictive factors were found to be useful in making the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. Their importance, according to their diagnostic weight, was determined as follows: localized tenderness in the right lower quadrant, leukocytosis, migration of pain, shift to the left, temperature elevation, nausea-vomiting, anorexia-acetone, and direct rebound pain. Based on this weight, we devised a practical diagnostic score that may help in interpreting the confusing picture of acute appendicitis.

Reliability of detection of leucocyturia by means of the dip-stick Cytur-Test.

Urine from 72 children was tested for leukocyturia simultaneously by means of the Cytur-Test and microscopically in a counting chamber. Total agreement of both methods in detection of leukocyturia was noted in 69 cases (96%). Bacteriuria had no influence on the results of the Cytur-Test. It is concluded that the Cytur-Test is a sensitive and specific means for detection of leukocyturia, being especially suitable in the ambulatory practice.