The ureteral diameter ratio as a predictive factor in renal scarring associated with primary vesicoureteral reflux.

INTRODUCTION: The ureteral diameter ratio (UDR) is reported to be effective in predicting the outcomes of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) in several studies. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the current study was to compare the risk of scarring in patients with VUR relative to UDR and the VUR grade. We also aimed to demonstrate other associated risk factors in scarring and investigate the long-term complications of VUR and their relationship with UDR. STUDY DESIGN: Patients diagnosed with primary VUR were retrospectively enrolled in the study. UDR was calculated by dividing the largest ureteral diameter (UD) by the distance between L1-L3 vertebral bodies. Demographic and clinical data, laterality, VUR grade, UDR, delayed upper tract drainage on voiding cystourethrogram, recurrent urinary tract infections (UTI), and long-term complications of VUR were compared between the patients with and without renal scars. RESULTS: A total of 127 patients and 177 renal units were included in the study. There was a significant difference between the patients with and without renal scars according to age at diagnosis, bilaterality, reflux grade, UDR, recurrent UTI, bladder bowel dysfunction, hypertension, decreased estimated glomerular filtration rate, and proteinuria. The logistic regression analysis revealed that UDR had the highest odds ratio among the factors affecting scarring in VUR. DISCUSSION: VUR grading based on the evaluation of the upper urinary tract is one of the most important predictors for treatment options and prognosis. However, it is more likely to reflect ureterovesical junctional anatomy and function, which play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of VUR. CONCLUSION: UDR measurement seems to be an objective method that can help clinicians predict renal scarring in patients with primary VUR.

Follow up of renal outcomes in children with solitary kidney.

BACKGROUND: Solitary kidney (SK) affects 1/1000 people worldwide, and there are controversies concerning renal outcomes in these patients. This study aimed to investigate clinical findings and renal outcomes in children with SK and to compare the results for congenital (CSK) and acquired SK (ASK) groups. METHODS: The study included patients that presented to our pediatric nephrology department with SK between January 2010 and January 2021. Demographic and clinical data were recorded retrospectively. RESULTS: Of the 101 patients with SK, 71 had CSK (55 had unilateral renal agenesis and 16 had a multicystic dysplastic kidney) and 30 had ASK (17 had previously undergone unilateral nephrectomy due to a renal tumor and 13 had urological structural anomalies). There were nine patients (9%) with renal injury. The serum uric acid level was significantly higher and the estimated glomerular filtration rate was significantly lower in the patients with ASK compared with those with CSK (p = 0.005 and p < 0.001, respectively). There was a positive correlation between renal injury and the uric acid level (p < 0.001, r = 0.45). CONCLUSION: In addition to the management of blood pressure and proteinuria, it is important to control uric acid levels in patients with SK, especially those with ASK, to prevent renal injury. The ASK group has a greater risk of renal injury than the CSK group. There is a need for new markers to predict early stage renal damage in SK.

YouTube as a source of information on COVID-19 and dialysis.

INTRODUCTION: The coronavirus 2019 pandemic has become a serious threat to the global health and spreading rapidly. Dialysis patients may have developed anxiety because of their disease characteristics during this pandemic. The aim of this study was to assess the reliability and quality of the most viewed English-language YouTube videos on COVID-19 and dialysis link. METHODS: A YouTube search was achieved using the key words "COVID-19 dialysis," "SARS CoV-2 dialysis," "coronavirus hemodialysis," and "COVID peritoneal dialysis." RESULTS: Among the 43 videos analyzed, 24 (55.8%) were high quality, 11 (25.6%) were moderate quality, and 8 (18.6%) were of low quality according to global quality score. Significant differences were found between the groups in modified DISCERN scores and the number of views, likes, comments. CONCLUSION: The most reliable sources such as universities, governments, professional societies should better use YouTube for dissemination of accurate, reliable, and useful health-related information to the general public.

Comparison of diagnostic criteria for children with familial Mediterranean fever.

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an autoinflammatory disease characterized by recurrent attacks of fever and serositis. Diagnosis is made according to clinical findings and supported by genetic analysis. The most commonly used adult diagnostic criteria are the Tel-Hashomer criteria. Pediatric criteria for FMF diagnosis were described in 2009, but their reliability should be supported by additional reports. In this study, we aimed to compare the pediatric criteria and the Tel-Hashomer and 2019 Eurofever/PRINTO classification criteria using our FMF cohort. A total of 113 patients diagnosed with FMF were included. Demographic features and laboratory findings were retrospectively collected from the patients' files. The patients were evaluated with the Tel-Hashomer, pediatric and Eurofever/PRINTO classification criteria. At least two of five new pediatric criteria were as sensitive (89%) and specific (85%) as the Tel-Hashomer criteria (sensitivity 70%, specificity 96%). We also evaluated the Eurofever/PRINTO classification criteria using our cohort and found a sensitivity of 94% and specificity of 91%.   Conclusion: Using pediatric criteria for the diagnosis of FMF in children is a feasible and simple approach that can diagnose the disease based on at least two criteria. Therefore, our study supports the use of pediatric criteria in FMF diagnosis of children. Our results also confirm that the Eurofever/PRINTO classification criteria can be successfully applied for the diagnosis of FMF due to their high sensitivity (94%) and specificity (91%). What is Known: • The FMF diagnosis is made according clinical findings and supported by genetic analysis. • The use of adult diagnostic criteria in pediatric FMF patients is controversial since classical clinical presentation is often absent in children. What is New: • Our study supports both the use of pediatric criteria and Eurofever/PRINTO classification criteria in clinical practice.

Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis due to calculi in a 5-year-old girl.

BACKGROUND: Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis is characterized by the inflammatory destruction of the renal parenchyma and intensive renal fibrosis. It is named because of its pathological appearance; that of its granulomatous inflammatory process with lipid-laden macrophages, which appear yellow, hence `xantho` which is Greek for yellow. Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis is predominantly a disease of adults. In children it is diagnosed sporadically and is extremely rare in infants. The age of onset varies (21 days to 16 years), although 60-75% of cases have been diagnosed before 5 years of age. Recurrent urinary tract infections, obstructive nephropathy caused by renal calculus, malnutrition, abnormal lipid metabolism, altered immunologic response, lymphatic blockage, congenital urinary anomalies have been implicated in the etiology of xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis in children. CASE: We report an unusual case of xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis in a 5-year-old girl and discuss its clinical features, histopathological findings and treatment. In this article, we also emphasized the importance of diagnostic imaging in urinary tract infections which enabled us not to miss the underlying kidney stone disease. CONCLUSION: Nephrolithiasis may lead to very serious conditions such as xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis. This condition can be easily diagnosed by ultrasound, but if not detected, it can lead to complete loss of renal function as in the case.

Focal Xanthogranulomatous Pyelonephritis in Brachydactyly Mental Retardation Syndrome (2q37 Deletion Syndrome).

Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis (XGP) is characterized by destruction of the renal parenchyma and granulomatous inflammation with lipid-laden foamy macrophages as well as inflammatory infiltration and intensive renal fibrosis. It generally occurs in adults, especially those in the fifth and sixth decades of life, but is occasionally seen in children as well. Brachydactyly mental retardation (BDMR) syndrome (OMIM 600430) is caused by a small deletion of chromosome 2q37 and is a rare condition, with roughly 100 cases reported worldwide. Here, we describe the case of a patient with deletion of chromosome 2q37, which is known as the BDMR syndrome, and XGP.