Determination of tibial somatosensory evoked potentials predicts detrusor sphincter dyssynergia in children with neurogenic bladder dysfunction.

INTRODUCTION: Tibial somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP) are used to identify the neurological status and tethered cord (TC) in patients with spina bifida (SB). Its significance in contributing to the interpretation of urodynamics to determine bladder status is unknown. This study aimed to determine the correlation between SEP and urodynamics in children with SB. MATERIAL AND METHODS: SEP and urodynamic results, for differential diagnosis of TC, were evaluated. SEP scores were correlated with urodynamic findings. SEP results were scored from 1 to 6, with 1, denoting a favorable score and 6, an unfavorable score. Age, gender, detrusor, and sphincter activities in urodynamics were noted. Results were analyzed using the χ2 test and logistic regression analysis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was formed to get a valid threshold for the SEP score to predict the urodynamic condition. RESULTS: There were 44 SB patients for whom SEP was done for differential diagnosis of TC. Fifteen patients who did not meet the inclusion criteria were excluded from the study. SB aperta was present in 17 patients and occulta in 12, respectively. The patients had a mean age of 6.6 ± 3.2 years. There were 13 boys and 16 girls. A strong correlation was found between high SEP scores and detrusor sphincter dyssynergia (p < 0.001). A SEP score over 3.5 was found to be 93% sensitive and 73% specific to predict this correlation. There was no relationship between detrusor activity and SEP scores (p = 0.18). DISCUSSION: Tibial SEP is an important noninvasive adjunct tool for the diagnosis of TC in patients with SB. Urodynamic studies are the gold standard in the evaluation of bladder status in neurogenic bladder dysfunction due to SB. Detrusor sphincter dyssynergia may be regarded as a sign of severe spinal cord injury in these patients. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that in children with neurogenic bladder, high SEP scores may predict the presence of detrusor sphincter dyssynergia but not the status of detrusor function while providing pathophysiological evidence for neural injury.

Comparative Proteome Analyses of Ureteropelvic Junction Obstruction and Surrounding Ureteral Tissue.

Ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) obstruction is a common problem in children, but its etiology remains unclear. In this study, the proteome profiles of the obstructed segment and its surrounding distal and proximal parts were comparatively evaluated. Twelve children younger than 2 years of age with unilateral intrinsic UPJ obstruction were included. The excised operational tissue was divided into three parts immediately after resection: the obstructed part (Obst), the distal normal ureteral part (Dist), and the proximal part of the obstructed segment (Prox). Proteins extracted from the tissue samples were subjected to two-dimensional gel electrophoresis analysis to identify differentially regulated proteins. Spot analysis revealed that four proteins, namely tropomyosin beta and alpha-1 chains, actin and desmin, were upregulated in Obst in comparison to Dist. A similar analysis between Obst and Prox showed that heat shock protein beta-1 and carbonic anhydrase-1 were upregulated in Obst, while tropomyosin alpha 3 chain and ATP synthase beta were upregulated in Prox. The last comparative analysis between Dist and Prox revealed upregulation of annexin-A5 and annexin-A1 in Dist and vimentin, mitochondrial ATP synthase subunit-beta, peroxiredoxin-2, and apolipoprotein-A1 in Prox. Bioinformatics analysis using the STRING server indicated that the differentially regulated proteins, altogether, point to the changes occurring in muscle filament sliding pathway. When regulations occurring in each group were mutually compared, a change in lipase inhibition activity was detected by STRING. This is the first study scrutinizing changes occurring in protein profiles in UPJ.

Laparoscopy versus robotic-assisted pyeloplasty in children: preliminary results of a pilot prospective randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: The aim of this randomized controlled trial (RCT) is to compare the outcomes of conventional laparoscopic pyeloplasty (LP) versus robotic-assisted laparoscopic pyeloplasty (RALP) in the treatment of ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) in children. METHODS: A total of 53 patients with UPJO were randomized as LP (Group 1, n: 27) and RALP (Group 2, n: 26). Redo cases and patients with anatomical abnormalities were excluded. Urinary ultrasound was performed at postoperative 3, 6 and 12 months; whereas, diuretic renal scintigraphy was performed at 1 year. Failure was defined as progressive hydronephrosis on ultrasound, decline in renal function, or symptom relapse. All parameters were statistically compared. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 55.53 ± 57.25 months. There were no statistical differences between the groups in terms of patient gender, body mass index, laterality, preoperative renal function, renal pelvis antero-posterior diameter and presence of crossing vessel. Mean total operative time in LP group was longer than RALP (139 min vs 105 min, respectively, p = 0.001). The hospital stay was similar between the two groups. After a mean follow-up of 12.43 ± 5.34 months, the complication and success rates were found comparable. Only two patients required re-do pyeloplasty in LP group. The mean total cost of RALP procedure was approximately four times higher than LP. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first RCT comparing LP and RALP in pediatric population. Both LP and RALP are safe and effective in children with comparable success and complication rates. Operative time was longer for LP; whereas, total cost was higher for RALP.

Anocutaneous Reflex Revisited: How Valuable Is Its Determination in Children with Spina Bifida? A Descriptive Study in A Cohort of 217 Patients.

AIM: To determine the clinical value of anocutaneous reflex (AR) in children with neurogenic bladder due to spina bifida (SB). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients who were diagnosed with SB were prospectively evaluated; moreover, AR and bulbocavernous reflex were examined. Patients were divided into those with and without AR. Age, gender, diagnosis, ventriculoperitoneal shunt presence, symptomatic urinary tract infections, leg movements, clean intermittent catheterization and anticholinergic therapy, lesion level, urodynamic detrusor, and sphincter activity were evaluated. Chi-square test and univariate regression analysis were done. The AR value was evaluated by two by two contingency table. RESULTS: This study evaluated 217 patients (109 boys and 108 girls). AR was present and absent in 53 and 164 patients, respectively. Anticholinergic therapy was necessary in 37.7% and 23.8% of patients with and without AR (p=0.015), respectively. Patients with AR had higher lesion level (p=0.005), more detrusor overactivity, and less detrusor underactivity (p=0.007). Less detrusor sphincter dyssynergia (DSD) was noted in patients with AR (p=0.029). AR specificity was 83%, and positive predictive value in predicting detrusor overactivity and DSD was 76% and 80, respectively. CONCLUSION: AR determination is a valuable and simple tool in neurogenic bladder. This report delineates the clinical significance of this reflex and is the largest cohort describing this significance. This simple examination should not be skipped in the initial evaluation and follow-up of these patients.

Urodynamic Study Findings Prior to Myelomeningocele Repair in Neonates.

INTRODUCTION: Myelomeningocele (MMC) is the most common cause of neurogenic bladder dysfunction in children. Neurogenic bladder dysfunction is developed before birth due to autonomous nervous system affected prenatally in patients with MMC. The aim of this study was to share urodynamic study findings before MMC repair and to discuss the correlation with neurological evaluation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We prospectively studied 37 patients who underwent surgery for MMC repair in our institution in the first 20 h of their lives between 2013 and 2016. All patients were evaluated by a neurosurgeon, neonatologist, and pediatric surgeon. Urodynamic study was performed in first 18h of life before MMC repair in all patients. Lesion level, occurrence of hydrocephalus, neurological functions, spinal deformities, and urodynamic study results were analyzed. RESULTS: The study included 18 female and 19 male patients. Overactive detrusor was detected in 22 patients, and hypoactive detrusor was detected in 5 patients. Overactive sphincter muscle was detected in 32 patients, and hypoactive sphincter was detected in 2 patients. Detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia was present in 34 patients. CONCLUSION: Detailed analysis of urodynamic study findings in larger patient groups may be important to understand the physiopathology of prenatal damage in patients with MMC.

Can serum soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor be an effective marker in the diagnosis of appendicitis and differentiation of complicated cases?

BACKGROUND: Soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) is a new biomarker of inflammation level. The aim of the study was to evaluate whether suPAR levels could be useful to detect acute appendicitis and to differentiate uncomplicated appendicitis (UA) from complicated appendicitis (CA). METHODS: We prospectively studied 105 patients consisting of 40 UA cases, 40 CA cases, and 25 control patients. Blood samples were collected to measure suPAR level, C-reactive protein level, leukocyte counts, neutrophil counts, and neutrophil percentages preoperatively. RESULTS: Median values of suPAR level, C-reactive protein level, leukocyte counts, neutrophil counts, and neutrophil percentages in UA and CA were significantly higher than control patients. suPAR levels of the UA and CA groups showed a statistically significant difference (p=0.016). CONCLUSION: The current study demonstrated that serum suPAR concentrations can be helpful in differentiating CA from UA and in diagnosing acute appendicitis.

Effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on caustic esophageal injury in rats.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Caustic esophageal burn is a serious problem in pediatric surgery. Even though many clinical and experimental studies had been performed, the complication rate could not be reduced to a satisfying level. In this study, the authors evaluated the effects of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy in caustic esophageal burn in rats. METHODS: Rats were divided into 4 groups, and caustic burn at the distal esophagus was created by applying 50% NaOH for 3 minutes in all groups. The first and third groups did not receive HBO therapy. HBO therapy was applied to the second group for 2 days and to the fourth group for 28 days. To evaluate the effects of short-term HBO therapy, the first 2 groups were compared for ulceration, inflammation, and submucosal vascular thrombosis after 2 days. The third and fourth groups were compared for the long-term effects of HBO therapy. Rats in these groups were killed after 28 days and compared for the collagen content, weight, and mortality rate. RESULTS: In the second group, which received 2 days of HBO therapy, ulcer depth and vascular thrombosis were significantly lower than these in the first group (P =.022 and P =.020, respectively). The fourth group, which received 4 weeks of HBO therapy, had a significantly reduced mortality rate, weight loss, and collagen score and hydroxyproline level if compared with the third group (P =.035; P =.016; P =.028; and P =.033, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that HBO therapy is useful in caustic esophageal burn both in short-term and long-term use.