Akin osteotomy: Is the type of staple fixation relevant?

BACKGROUND: Although different fixation techniques for the Akin osteotomy have been described in the literature, there are no many studies trying to analyze the differences between the types of fixation available. The aim of this study is to analyze if there are any differences between three types of staple fixation available in the market. METHOD: We present a retrospective study of 145 cases in which an Akin osteotomy was performed and fixed with three different kinds of implants staple A (28%), staple B (45%), and staple C (27%). Staple A is made out of stainless steel, and the surgeon mechanically controls the compression applied. Staple B increases the compression when heat is applied to it. Staple C has an intrinsic elastic memory that closes the osteotomy. In all cases, distal articular set angle, interphalangeal joint obliquity angle, and metatarsophalangeal angle were measured pre-operatively and 1.5 months post-operatively on dorsoplantar weight-bearing radiographs. Other details such as post-operative complications, implant migration, osteolysis, or fracture of the lateral cortex during surgery were also recorded. RESULTS: Clinical and radiological results show no relevant differences between the three types of fixation. The mean angular corrections of DASA, interphalangeal joint obliquity angle, and metatarsophalangeal angle were 5, 12, and 21, respectively, for staple A; 4, 10, and 19, respectively, for staple B; and 7, 10, and 23, respectively, for staple C. The rates of intra-operative and post-operative complications were similar for all groups. There was one case of infection per group. We had five cases of delayed union two with staple A and three with staple C. In four cases, there was a loss of correction, two of them fixed with staple A and two with staple C. Seven cases developed a Südeck's syndrome, four of them fixed with staple A and three with staple C. Fifteen patients suffered an uncontrolled fracture of the lateral cortex of the phalanx when performing the osteotomy (3, 8, and 4 cases fixed with staples A, B, and C, respectively), and 87.5% of the patients that developed a plantar displacement of the osteotomy had an uncontrolled fracture of the lateral cortex (p < 0.05). All three staples achieved a rigid internal fixation and minimal periosteum damage and provided a good bone-bone contact. CONCLUSIONS: According to our results, the radiological differences are minimal, and although the thermal compression staple had less complication, clinical differences were also not statistically significant. This means the choice of implant could be left to the surgeon's preferences or made according to cost.

Trends and patterns in the use of computed tomography in children and young adults in Catalonia - results from the EPI-CT study.

BACKGROUND: Although there are undeniable diagnostic benefits of CT scanning, its increasing use in paediatric radiology has become a topic of concern regarding patient radioprotection. OBJECTIVE: To assess the rate of CT scanning in Catalonia, Spain, among patients younger than 21 years old at the scan time. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a sub-study of a larger international cohort study (EPI-CT, the International pediatric CT scan study). Data were retrieved from the radiological information systems (RIS) of eight hospitals in Catalonia since the implementation of digital registration (between 1991 and 2010) until 2013. RESULTS: The absolute number of CT scans annually increased 4.5% between 1991 and 2013, which was less accentuated when RIS was implemented in most hospitals. Because the population attending the hospitals also increased, however, the rate of scanned patients changed little (8.3 to 9.4 per 1,000 population). The proportions of patients with more than one CT and more than three CTs showed a 1.51- and 2.7-fold increase, respectively, over the 23 years. CONCLUSION: Gradual increases in numbers of examinations and scanned patients were observed in Catalonia, potentially explained by new CT scanning indications and increases in the availability of scanners, the number of scans per patient and the size of the attended population.

How to avoid genu recurvatum in leg-length discrepancy treated with tension-band plates. A volumetric magnetic resonance analysis.

Aims and objectives: Genu recurvatum deformity after treatment of leg-length discrepancy (LLD) with tension-band plating is a recognized, but poorly described phenomenon in medical literature. The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical and radiological features of patients treated with tension-band plating for LLD assessing the development of a recurvatum deformity and its relationship to plate and screw disposition in a transversal plane, thus attempting to establish optimal plate positioning. Materials and methods: Retrospective study of children with LLD treated with tension-band plating. Primary endpoints were clinical and radiological knee recurvatum and anterior and posterior physeal areas measured drawing a line spanning from the lateral to the medial tension-band plates in the transverse plane using volumetric magnetic resonance imaging (vMRI). These findings were compared between patients with and without knee recurvatum. Results: Twelve children (mean age 11.7 years) were included. Average follow-up was 2.6 years (1.5-5.0). Tension-band plating led to a significant reduction in LLD (mean, 15 mm). Six patients (50 %) developed clinical genu recurvatum (mean, 22°). According to vMRI, patients with genu recurvatum had a larger posterior to anterior physeal area ratio in both distal femur (1.6 versus 0.9, p < 0.05) and proximal tibial physes (2.2 versus 1.0, p < 0.05). Conclusion: The optimal position of the tension-band plates in distal femoral and proximal tibial physes should be in a point where a posterior to anterior physeal areas ratio is around 1.0, so as to achieve an even distribution of the physeal areas in the multidimensional physeal transverse plane. This point anatomically corresponds in the sagittal X-ray view to an imaginary line located just anterior to the posterior diaphyseal cortical bone on a true lateral radiograph for both femur and tibia.

Randomized clinical trial of non-antibiotic prophylaxis with d-Mannose plus Proanthocyanidins vs. Proanthocyanidins alone for urinary tract infections and asymptomatic bacteriuria in de novo kidney transplant recipients: The Manotras study.

BACKGROUND: Studies analyzing non-antibiotic alternatives in kidney transplant UTI's are lacking. d-Mannose, a simple sugar, inhibits bacterial attachment to the urothelium, as does Proanthocyanidins; both could act as a synergic strategy preventing UTI; nonetheless their efficacy and safety have not been evaluated in kidney transplant population yet. METHODS: This is a pilot prospective, double-blind randomized trial. Sixty de novo kidney transplant recipients were randomized (1:1) to receive a prophylactic strategy based on a 24-h prolonged release formulation of d-Mannose plus Proanthocyanidins vs. Proanthocyanidins (PAC) alone. The supplements were taken for the first 3 months after kidney transplant and then followed up for 3 months as well. The main objective of the study was to search if the addition of Mannose to PAC alone reduced the incidence of UTI and/or asymptomatic bacteriuria in the first 6 months post-transplantation. RESULTS: 27% of patients experienced one UTI episode (cystitis or pyelonephritis) while asymptomatic bacteriuria was very common (57%). Incidences according UTI type or AB were: 7% vs. 4% for cystitis episode (p 0.3), 4% vs. 5% for pyelonephritis (p 0.5) and 17% vs. 14% for asymptomatic bacteriuria (p 0.4) for patients in the Mannose+PAC group vs. PAC group respectively. The most frequent bacteria isolated in both groups was Escherichia coli (28% of all episodes), UTI or AB due to E. coli was not different according to study group (30% vs. 23% for Mannose+PAC vs. PAC alone p 0.37). CONCLUSIONS: Non-antibiotic therapy is an unmet need to prevent UTI after kidney transplantation; however, the use of d-Mannose plus PAC does not seem capable to prevent it.

Myocardial tissue characterization by cardiovascular magnetic resonance T1 mapping and pericardial fat quantification in adolescents with morbid obesity. Cardiac dimorphism by gender.

PURPOSE: Changes in the myocardial extracellular matrix (ECM) identified using T1 mapping cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) have been only reported in obese adults, but with opposite conclusions. The objectives are to assess the composition of the myocardial ECM in an obese pediatric population without type 2 diabetes by quantifying native T1 time, and to quantify the pericardial fat index (PFI) and their relationship with cardiovascular risk factors. METHODS: Observational case-control research of 25 morbidly obese adolescents and 13 normal-weight adolescents. Native T1 and T2 times (ms), left ventricular (LV) geometry and function, PFI (g/ht3) and hepatic fat fraction (HFF, %) were calculated by 1.5-T CMR. RESULTS: No differences were noticed in native T1 between obese and non-obese adolescents (1000.0 vs. 990.5 ms, p0.73), despite showing higher LV mass values (28.3 vs. 22.9 g/ht3, p0.01). However, the T1 mapping values were significantly higher in females (1012.7 vs. 980.7 ms, p < 0.01) while in males, native T1 was better correlated with obesity parameters, particularly with triponderal mass index (TMI) (r = 0.51), and inflammatory cells. Similarly, the PFI was correlated with insulin resistance (r = 0.56), highly sensitive C-reactive protein (r = 0.54) and TMI (r = 0.77). CONCLUSION: Female adolescents possess myocardium peculiarities associated with higher mapping values. In males, who are commonly more exposed to future non-communicable diseases, TMI may serve as a useful predictor of native T1 and pericardial fat increases. Furthermore, HFF and PFI appear to be markers of adipose tissue infiltration closely related with hypertension, insulin resistance and inflammation.

Voiding urosonography including urethrosonography: high-quality examinations with an optimised procedure using a second-generation US contrast agent.

BACKGROUND: Voiding urosonography (VUS) is established as a technique for detecting vesicoureteral reflux in children. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the quality of images of the entire urinary tract when using a second-generation US contrast agent and a modified VUS technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated 307 VUS examinations performed using SonoVue® in 591 pelvi-ureter units in 295 children of mean age, 27.1 (S.D., 42.5) months, with 154 (50.2%) of the examinations performed in boys; 58 children also underwent VUS using Levovist®. Three criteria were used for quality assessment of the bladder image: (1) progressive incorporation of contrast material in the bladder, (2) homogeneous bladder-filling to maximum capacity, and (3) visualisation of the posterior bladder wall. RESULTS: Criterion 1 was fulfilled in 305 (99.3%), criterion 2 in 304 (99%) and criterion 3 in 304 (99%) studies. In children who underwent VUS with both contrast agents, the concordance between the two techniques was moderate for findings in the bladder (Cohen K = 0.487; P < 0001) and perfect for findings in the male urethra. CONCLUSION: By a modified technique we obtained high-quality images of the bladder with the second-generation contrast agent.

[Transcatheter aortic valve implantation: results of a new therapeutic option for high surgical risk aortic stenosis]. / Implantação percutânea de próteses valvulares aórticas: resultados de uma nova opção terapêutica na estenose aórtica com alto risco cirúrgico.

INTRODUCTION: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is an alternative to surgical aortic valve replacement in patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) and unacceptably high surgical risk. METHODS: We present our first two years' experience with TAVI. A total of 76 AS patients were evaluated for TAVI and 23 of them underwent a TAVI procedure. These patients had a mean EuroSCORE of 22.4% and a mean age of 81.5 years, and were prospectively followed for a mean of 12.9 ± 11 months. RESULTS: The percutaneous aortic valve was successfully implanted in 100% of the patients. Mortality at 30 days was 4%. The most common complications were access site-related bleeding and transfusion (22%), followed by new permanent pacemaker implantation (9%). After a mean follow-up of 12.9 months, survival was 87%. In a maximum follow-up of 30 months there were no cases of prosthesis dysfunction or cardiovascular death. CONCLUSIONS: Two years after the introduction of a TAVI program in our center, the procedure has established itself as a safe and effective alternative for patients with severe AS and unacceptably high surgical risk.

Pulmonary Embolism after Core Decompression of the Femoral Head Using Injectable Bone Graft Substitute: A Case Report.

The authors report a rare complication regarding the case of an 18-year-old female with bilateral osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) secondary to the treatment and hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) of an acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The patient underwent a bilateral necrotic bone debridement and core decompression (CD) surgery with injectable synthetic bone graft, which unfortunately caused a pulmonary injectable bone graft substitute embolism.

Deep Multiview Image Fusion for Soybean Yield Estimation in Breeding Applications.

Reliable seed yield estimation is an indispensable step in plant breeding programs geared towards cultivar development in major row crops. The objective of this study is to develop a machine learning (ML) approach adept at soybean (Glycine max L. (Merr.)) pod counting to enable genotype seed yield rank prediction from in-field video data collected by a ground robot. To meet this goal, we developed a multiview image-based yield estimation framework utilizing deep learning architectures. Plant images captured from different angles were fused to estimate the yield and subsequently to rank soybean genotypes for application in breeding decisions. We used data from controlled imaging environment in field, as well as from plant breeding test plots in field to demonstrate the efficacy of our framework via comparing performance with manual pod counting and yield estimation. Our results demonstrate the promise of ML models in making breeding decisions with significant reduction of time and human effort and opening new breeding method avenues to develop cultivars.

Positive margins after nephron-sparing surgery for renal cell carcinoma: long-term follow-up of patients on active surveillance.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse our long-term oncological outcomes with active surveillance in patients with positive surgical margins (PSMs) after nephron-sparing surgery (NSS) for renal cell carcinoma (RCC), as this situation is a difficult therapeutic dilemma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed open NSS for renal masses with frozen-section analysis of any suspicious zone of the surgical bed, followed by extensive argon-beam coagulation. In patients where the final histopathological examination of the renal mass revealed PSMs, follow-up consisted of computed tomography (CT) every 6 months in the first 2 years and then annually up to 5 years, and thereafter we alternated ultrasonography with CT. RESULTS: From 1995 to 2003 we had 11 cases of microscopic definitive PSMs after NSS for RCC. Two patients required nephrectomy (one for postoperative bleeding and another as an elective procedure), so nine were followed. These patients were either operated under elective (seven) or imperative (two) conditions. The histological subtype was clear cell carcinoma in three, papillary in two, chromophobe in two and hybrid oncocytic RCC in two, with a Furhman grade of 2 in six and 3 in three. The mean size was 31.4 mm, and the stage was pT1a in six, pT1b in one and pT3a in two. After a median follow-up of 80.5 months, there was no local recurrence or distant progression. CONCLUSIONS: In our experience, microscopic PSMs in NSS specimens can be managed conservatively with active surveillance, achieving excellent results and avoiding extensive reoperation without compromising long-term oncological outcomes.

Use of the Kishigami Atlantoaxial Tension Band in eight toy breed dogs with atlantoaxial subluxation.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the applicability, complications, and long-term functional outcome of the Kishigami Atlantoaxial Tension Band (Kishigami AATB) for management of congenital and traumatic atlantoaxial (AA) instability in toy breed dogs. STUDY DESIGN; Case series. ANIMALS: Toy breed dogs (n=8) with congenital or traumatic AA instability. METHODS: The AA joint of each dog was surgically stabilized through a dorsal approach using the original or a modified version of the Kishigami AATB. Pre- and postoperative neurologic status, radiographs, and complications were reviewed. Follow-up examination was performed at 1 and 12 months. RESULTS: Functional improvement occurred in 5 dogs; 1 dog did not improve or worsen and 2 dogs were euthanatized at owner request. Adequate reduction and stabilization was achieved in 7 dogs based on immediate postoperative radiographs; failure of reduction was evident in 1 dog. No relevant complications occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Kishigami AATB may be acceptable as an alternative method for dorsal stabilization of AA subluxation in toy breed dogs in which use of ventral screws or pins is challenging. Experience with this technique in a larger population is necessary to compare our results to those reported by ventral approach. CLINICAL RELEVANCE; The surgical technique described is effective, safe, and simple in the surgical treatment of AA subluxation in toy breed dogs.

Detecting and Tracking Unsafe Lane Departure Events for Predicting Driver Safety in Challenging Naturalistic Driving Data.

Our goal is to improve driver safety predictions in at-risk medical or aging populations from naturalistic driving video data. To meet this goal, we developed a novel model capable of detecting and tracking unsafe lane departure events (e.g., changes and incursions), which may occur more frequently in at-risk driver populations. The model detects and tracks roadway lane markings in challenging, low-resolution driving videos using a semantic lane detection pre-processor (Mask R-CNN) utilizing the driver's forward lane region, demarking the convex hull that represents the driver's lane. The hull centroid is tracked over time, improving lane tracking over approaches which detect lane markers from single video frames. The lane time series was denoised using a Fix-lag Kalman filter. Preliminary results show promise for robust lane departure event detection. Overall recall for detecting lane departure events was 81.82%. The F1 score was 75% (precision 69.23%) and 70.59% (precision 62.07%) for left and right lane departures, respectively. Future investigations include exploring (1) horizontal offset as a means to detect lead vehicle proximity, even when image perspectives are known to have a chirp effect and (2) Long Short Term Memory (LSTM) models to detect peaks instead of a peak detection algorithm.

Congenital lung abnormality quantification by computed tomography: The CLAQ method.

INTRODUCTION: To date, no consensus has been reached on the optimal management of congenital lung abnormalities, and factors predicting postnatal outcome have not been identified. We developed an objective quantitative computed tomography (CT) scoring method, and assessed its value for clinical decision-making. METHODS: Volumetric CT-scans of all patients born with a congenital lung abnormality between January 1999 and 2018 were assessed. Lung disease was quantified using the newly-developed congenital lung abnormality quantification (CLAQ) scoring method. In 20 equidistant axial slices, cells of a square grid were scored according to the abnormality within. The scored CT parameters were used to predict development of symptoms, and SD scores for spirometry and exercise tolerance (Bruce treadmill test) at 8 years of age. RESULTS: CT-scans of 124 patients with a median age of 5 months were scored. Clinical diagnoses included congenital pulmonary airway malformation (49%), bronchopulmonary sequestration (27%), congenital lobar overinflation (22%), and bronchogenic cyst (1%). Forty-four patients (35%) developed symptoms requiring surgery of whom 28 (22%) patients became symptomatic before a CT-scan was scheduled. Lesional hyperdensity was found as an important predictor of symptom development and decreased exercise tolerance. Using receiver operating characteristic analysis, an optimal cut-off value for developing symptoms was found at 18% total disease. CONCLUSION: CT-quantification of congenital lung abnormalities using the CLAQ method is an objective and reproducible system to describe congenital lung abnormalities on chest CT. The risk for developing symptoms may increase when more than a single lung lobe is affected.

Long-term Follow-up After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation for Severe Aortic Stenosis.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation is used as an alternative to surgical valve replacement in patients with severe aortic stenosis who are considered high-surgical-risk or inoperable. Two of the main areas of uncertainty in this field are valve durability and long-term survival. METHODS: This prospective single-center registry study from a tertiary hospital included all consecutive patients who underwent percutaneous aortic valve implantation between 2008 and 2012. Clinical follow-up lasted a minimum of 2.5 years and a maximum of 6.5 years. Valve Academic Research Consortium-2 definitions were used. RESULTS: Seventy-nine patients were included, with an immediate success rate of 94.9%. The median survival was 47.6 months (95% confidence intervals, 37.4-57.9 months), ie, 4 years. One quarter of deaths occurred in the first month, and most were of cardiovascular cause. After the first month, most deaths were due to noncardiovascular causes. The mean values of valve gradients did not increase during follow-up. The cumulative rate of prosthetic valve dysfunction was 15.3%, with no cases of repeat valve replacement. CONCLUSIONS: Half of the patients with aortic stenosis who underwent transcatheter aortic valve implantation were alive 4 years after the procedure. There was a 15.3% prosthetic valve dysfunction rate in cumulative follow-up, with no cases of repeat valve replacement.

Endovascular stent-graft treatment of thoracic aortic disease.

Aneurysmal diseases of the thoracic aorta are life-threatening conditions. In such cases, stent-graft treatment has been proposed as an alternative to surgery. The morbidity and mortality associated with endovascular repair are significantly lower than those associated with open surgery. In the largest surgical series, the mortality ranged from 5% to 20%. In studies of endovascular repair, the 30-day mortality was 0%-20% and the periprocedural stroke rate was 0%-7%. Often, open surgery is prohibited in patients with these high-risk lesions; thus, in many cases endovascular treatment is the only alternative. Thoracic aortic diseases that can be treated with endovascular stent-graft placement include aneurysms, dissection, traumatic rupture, traumatic pseudoaneurysms, intramural hematoma, penetrating atherosclerotic ulcers, and aortic rupture. Thorough preprocedure imaging is essential for selecting patients, choosing the stent-graft devices, and planning the intervention. Prerequisites for endovascular stent-graft placement are an adequate neck for graft attachment and adequate vascular access. When the ascending aorta or aortic arch is involved, surgical and endovascular procedures can be combined and performed simultaneously, allowing treatment of a wider range of cases. An experienced interdisciplinary team is needed to manage such cases.

Clinical and prognostic implications of atrial fibrillation in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

AIM: To study a cohort of consecutive patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) and compare the outcomes of atrial fibrillation (AF) patients vs patients in sinus rhythm (SR). METHODS: All consecutive patients undergoing TAVI in our hospital were included. The AF group comprised patients in AF at the time of TAVI or with history of AF, and were compared with the SR group. Procedural, echocardiographic and follow-up variables were compared. Likewise, the CHA(2)DS(2)-VASC stroke risk score and HAS-BLED bleeding risk score and antithrombotic treatment at discharge in AF patients were compared with that in SR patients. RESULTS: From a total of 34 patients undergoing TAVI, 17 (50%) were allocated to the AF group, of whom 15 (88%) were under chronic oral anticoagulation. Patients in the AF group were similar to those in the SR group except for a trend (P = 0.07) for a higher logistic EuroSCORE (28% vs 19%), and a higher prevalence of hypertension (82% vs 53%) and chronic renal failure (17% vs 0%). Risk of both stroke and bleeding was high in the AF group (mean CHA(2)DS(2)-VASC 4.3, mean HAS-BLED 2.9). In the AF group, treatment at discharge included chronic oral anticoagulation in all except one case, and in association with an antiplatelet drug in 57% of patients. During a mean follow-up of 11 mo (maximum 32), there were only two strokes, none of them during the peri-procedural period: one in the AF group at 30 mo and one in the SR group at 3 mo. There were no statistical differences in procedural success, and clinical outcome (survival at 1 year 81% vs 74% in AF and SR groups, respectively, P = NS). CONCLUSION: Patients in AF undergoing TAVI show a trend to a higher surgical risk. However, in our cohort, patients in AF did not have a higher stroke rate compared to the SR group, and the prognosis was similar in both groups.

Causes of peri-operative mortality after transcatheter aortic valve implantation: a pooled analysis of 12 studies and 1223 patients.

BACKGROUND: In order to improve technique and to prevent serious procedural complications during transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), it is crucial to identify the causes of death of patients undergoing this procedure. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to identify the causes of death during the procedure and at 1 month in patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing TAVI. METHODS: 12 published studies with information about the causes of death in patients undergoing TAVI were selected. Overall, 1223 patients were included in these studies, and 249 deaths were reported (119 at 1 month and 130 at >1 month post-procedure). Mortality during the procedure and at 1 month was 2.3% and 9.7%, respectively. The proportion of cardiac deaths was higher at <1 month in comparison with >1 month (56% versus 34%, respectively; p = 0.001). At 1 month, the most frequent causes of death were cardiac failure/multi-organ failure (24%), sudden death/cardiac arrest (17%), vascular and bleeding complications (17%), stroke (11%), sepsis (11%), and cardiac tamponade (10%). During the procedure, the most frequent causes of death were cardiac tamponade (39%), cardiac failure (21%), cardiac arrest (18%), and vascular and/or bleeding complications (18%). In patients treated with the CoreValve system (Medtronic, Minneapolis, Minnesota) versus those treated with Edwards valves (Cribier-Edwards, Edwards-SAPIEN or SAPIEN XT valve, Edward Lifesciences, Irvine, California), deaths at 1 month due to vascular and bleeding complications were less frequent (3% versus 22%, respectively; p = 0.019), but those due to cardiac tamponade (26% versus 6%, respectively; p = 0.019), and because of aortic regurgitation (10% versus 0%, respectively; p = 0.03) were more frequent. CONCLUSION: In this pooled analysis, mortality at 1 month after TAVI was 9.7%. The causes of death were widely variable, and of both cardiac and non-cardiac origin. There were some important differences between both devices in the cause of mortality.

Voiding urosonography: the study of the urethra is no longer a limitation of the technique.

BACKGROUND: Voiding urosonography (VUS) has proved to be a reliable method for the study of vesicoureteric reflux (VUR). Early reports considered it inadequate for imaging the male urethra. OBJECTIVE: To determine the usefulness of contrast-enhanced VUS for the study of the urethra. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 208 children aged 2 days to 10 years underwent VUS to confirm or exclude VUR for different reasons (n = 150) or for follow-up (n = 58). Patients with unconfirmed suspicion of VUR (99 boys and 51 girls) also underwent VUS for the study of the urethra. Examinations were performed using a harmonic imaging mode specific for contrast (Levovist) enhancement. We used a 6-4-MHz convex probe and a transperineal and/or a transpelvic approach. RESULTS: The neck of the bladder and the entire urethra were visualized in all patients (n = 150). The male urethra was considered normal in 95 boys (95.95%). We diagnosed posterior urethral valves in two patients, diverticulum of the prostatic utricle in one, and diverticulum of the anterior urethra in one. All abnormal cases were confirmed using conventional voiding cystourethrography. CONCLUSION: VUS can replace voiding cystourethrography as the method of choice for the initial study of suspected VUR in children.

Evaluation of pre-implantation kidney biopsies: comparison of Banff criteria to a morphometric approach.

BACKGROUND: Donor glomerulosclerosis, interstitial fibrosis, and fibrous intimal thickening correlate with graft outcome. We evaluate chronic lesions in donor biopsies according to Banff criteria and with a morphometric technique to ascertain their predictive value on graft outcome. METHODS: We evaluated 77 cadaveric donor biopsies according to Banff criteria. Glomerulosclerosis was expressed as the percentage of global sclerotic glomeruli. The following morphometric parameters were obtained: cortical interstitial volume fraction (Vvint/c), cortical glomerular volume fraction (Vvglom/c), mean glomerular volume (Vg), mean and maximal intimal arterial volume fraction (Vvintima/art), and Vvintima/art of the largest artery. We evaluated the correlation of histologic lesions with delayed graft function, 3 months' glomerular filtration rate (GFR), and death-censored graft survival. RESULTS: Multivariate logistic regression showed that delayed graft function was associated with cv score [relative risk (RR) 4.2 and 95% CI 1.1 to 16.0) and glomerulosclerosis (RR 1.06 and 95% CI 1.01 to 1.13). Stepwise regression showed that Vvint/c and glomerulosclerosis were independent predictors of 3 months' GFR (R= 0.62, P= 0.0001). Repeated analysis not considering morphometric parameters showed that glomerulosclerosis, cv score and ci score were independent predictors of 3 months' GFR (R= 0.64, P= 0.0001). A donor chronic damage score was generated considering glomerulosclerosis, cv score and ci score. This score after adjusting for clinical variables was associated with 3 months' GFR (R= 0.71, P < 0.0001) and death-censored graft survival (RR 2.2 and 95% CI 1.3 to 3.7). CONCLUSION: Combined evaluation of donor glomerulosclerosis, chronic vascular and interstitial damage according to Banff criteria allows a precise prediction of graft outcome. Morphometric evaluation of donor biopsies does not improve the predictive value of semiquantitative grading.