Planar scan vs. SPECT/low-dose CT for estimating split renal function by 99mTc-DMSA scintigraphy in children.

In the present study, we compared estimates of split renal function (SRF) in paediatric patients of various diagnostic subgroups by 99mTc-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) scintigraphy using either geometric mean (GM) based on planar scans or a volume of interest (VOI)-based analysis on single photon emission tomography combined with low-dose CT (SPECT/ldCT). Two experienced physicians blinded to patient diagnosis retrospectively analysed all paediatric 99mTc-DMSA scintigraphies that were conducted in our department between 2011 and 2016 and which included both a planar scan and SPECT/ldCT. All scintigraphies were performed on either a Phillips Precedence 16 slice CT or a Siemens Symbia 16 slice CT. SRF was estimated from planar scintigraphy using the geometric mean (GM), while the VOI-based analysis (VBA) was used for kidney segmentation on SPECT/ldCT. RESULTS: A total of 68 scintigraphies were included. A Bland-Altman plot-based analysis showed a bias for SRF of 2.1% with limits of agreement from - 7.5 to + 11.7% for the whole data set but showed larger differences between the two methods outside the normal range of 45-55%. In the GM-based SRF analyses, 29 cases were found to be outside the normal range, and in seven of these, VBA showed normal SRF. In the remaining 39 cases, VBA showed an abnormal SRF in only one case. CONCLUSION: Approximately a quarter of planar DMSA scintigraphies that show an abnormal SRF in paediatric patients may be normal when assessed by SPECT/ldCT, which likely reflects underestimation of the kidney with the poorest function when assessed by GM due to the lack of attenuation correction. Planar scans that show an abnormal SRF in paediatric patients should thus preferably be supplemented by SPECT/ldCT.

Individualised versus standard duration of antibiotic therapy in children with acute uncomplicated febrile urinary tract infection: a study protocol and statistical analysis plan for a multicentre randomised clinical trial.

INTRODUCTION: Febrile urinary tract infection is one of the most common bacterial infections in children. Currently, recommended antibiotic duration is 10 days. However, recent evidence suggests that 90%-95% of children with febrile urinary tract infections are afebrile and clinically improved 48-72 hours after treatment initiation. Accordingly, individualised duration of antibiotic therapy, according to the recovery time, might be more beneficial than current recommendations, but no evidence exists. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: An open-label randomised clinical trial equally randomising children aged 3 months to 12 years from eight Danish paediatric departments with uncomplicated febrile (≥38°C) urinary tract infection to either individualised or standard duration of antibiotic therapy. Children allocated to individualised duration of antibiotic therapy will terminate antibiotic therapy 3 days after clinical improvement with no fever, flank pain or dysuria. Children allocated to standard duration will receive 10 days of antibiotic therapy. Co-primary outcomes are non-inferiority for recurrent urinary tract infection or death within 28 days after the end of treatment (non-inferiority margin 7.5 percentage points) and superiority for the number of days with antibiotic therapy within 28 days after treatment initiation. Seven other outcomes will also be assessed. A total of 408 participants are needed to detect non-inferiority (one-sided alpha 2.5%; beta 80%). ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This trial has been approved by the Ethics Committee (H-21057310) and the Data Protection Agency (P-2022-68) in Denmark. Regardless of the trial's findings (whether positive, negative or inconclusive), the results will be compiled into one or more manuscripts for publication in international peer-reviewed scientific journals and presented at conferences. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT05301023.

Markers of Kidney Function in Early Childhood and Association With Maternal Comorbidity.

Importance: Kidney functional capacity is low at birth but doubles during the first 2 weeks of life and reaches near-adult levels at age 1 to 2 years. Existing reference intervals for markers of kidney function in newborns are mostly based on preterm newborns, newborns with illness, or small cohorts of term newborns, and the consequences of maternal comorbidities for newborn kidney function are sparsely described. Objective: To establish robust reference intervals for creatinine and urea in healthy children in early childhood and to assess whether maternal comorbidity is associated with newborn creatinine and urea concentrations. Design, Setting, and Participants: This multicenter, prospective, population-based cohort study assessed data and umbilical cord blood samples from participants in the Copenhagen Baby Heart Study (CBHS) who were born between April 1, 2016, and October 31, 2018, and venous blood samples from a subsample of CBHS participants who were enrolled in the COMPARE study between May 3, 2017, and November 4, 2018. Cord blood samples of 13 354 newborns from the CBHS and corresponding venous blood samples of 444 of those newborns from the COMPARE study were included. Blood samples were collected at birth, age 2 months, and age 14 to 16 months, with follow-up completed on February 12, 2020. Healthy nonadmitted term newborns from maternity wards at 3 hospitals in the Capital Region of Denmark were included. Exposures: Maternal comorbidity. Main Outcomes and Measures: Creatinine and urea concentrations. Results: Among 13 354 newborns in the CBHS cohort, characteristics of 12 938 children were stratified by sex and gestational age (GA). Of those, 6567 children (50.8%) were male; 5259 children (40.6%) were born at 37 to 39 weeks' GA, and 7679 children (59.4%) were born at 40 to 42 weeks' GA. Compared with children born at 40 to 42 weeks' GA, those born at 37 to 39 weeks' GA had lower birth weight, Apgar scores at 5 minutes, placental weight, and placental-fetal weight ratio. Children born at 37 to 39 weeks' GA vs those born at 40 to 42 weeks' GA were more frequently small for GA at birth and more likely to have placental insufficiency and exposure to maternal preeclampsia, maternal diabetes, maternal kidney disease, and maternal hypertension. Among children born at 37 to 39 weeks' GA, reference intervals were 0.54 to 1.08 mg/dL for creatinine and 5.32 to 14.67 mg/dL for urea; among children born at 40 to 42 weeks' GA, reference intervals were 0.57 to 1.19 mg/dL for creatinine and 5.60 to 14.85 mg/dL for urea. At birth, multifactorially adjusted odds ratios among children exposed to preeclampsia were 9.40 (95% CI, 1.68-52.54) for a venous creatinine concentration higher than the upper reference limit, 4.29 (95% CI, 1.32-13.93) for a venous creatinine concentration higher than the 90th percentile, and 3.10 (95% CI, 1.14-8.46) for a venous creatinine concentration higher than the 80th percentile. Conclusions and Relevance: In this study, improved reference intervals for creatinine and urea concentrations were generated. Preeclampsia was associated with an increased risk of high newborn creatinine concentrations, suggesting that newborns of mothers with preeclampsia need closer observation of their kidney function.

Hormonal changes in 3-month-old cryptorchid boys.

CONTEXT: Hormonal dysregulation has been suggested to be one of many etiological factors of cryptorchidism. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to assess the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis in cryptorchid boys during the postnatal hormonal surge. DESIGN: This was a prospective, longitudinal, population-based study. SETTING: The study was performed at two primary obstetric centers. PARTICIPANTS: Study participants included 388 Finnish and 433 Danish boys (88 and 34 with cryptorchidism, respectively). INTERVENTIONS: Clinical examinations were performed at 0 and 3 months. Blood samples were taken at 3 months. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The main outcome measures were testis position and reproductive hormone levels. RESULTS: Finnish cryptorchid boys had significantly higher FSH [1.59 (0.50-3.53) vs. 1.30 (0.49-2.92) IU/liter; P < 0.0001] and lower inhibin B [426 (254-770) vs. 459 (266-742) pg/ml; P < 0.015] levels than Finnish control boys [median (2.5th-97.5th percentiles)]. Danish cryptorchid boys had higher FSH levels than controls [1.47 (0.54-3.89) vs. 1.18 (0.41-3.04) IU/liter; P = 0.018]. Inhibin B levels in healthy Danish boys were lower than those in Finnish boys [380 (233-637) pg/ml; P < 0.0001] and were not reduced in Danish crypt-orchid boys [392 (236-672) pg/ml; P = 0.851]. Changes in hormone levels were strongest in boys with severe, persistent cryptorchidism, but were also detectable in mild and transient cryptorchidism. Effects on Leydig cell function were subtle, with an increase in LH in Finnish (but not Danish) cryptorchid boys vs. controls [1.97 (0.77-5.91) vs. 1.75 (0.58-4.04) IU/liter; P < 0.021], but testosterone levels remained within the normal range. CONCLUSIONS: Our results support the hypothesis that cryptorchidism is associated with a primary testicular disorder, which could be a cause or a consequence of cryptorchidism. This malfunction is reflected by low inhibin B production in the Finnish cohort and high gonadotropin drive in both the Finnish and Danish cohorts.

[Tubercular meningitis with severe hyponatraemia caused by cerebral salt wasting]. / Tuberkuløs meningitis med svær hyponatriæmi på grund af cerebralt salttab.

We describe two children, who were admitted with severe hyponatraemia and dehydration. In both children the hyponatraemia was due to cerebral salt wasting caused by tubercular meningitis. Differential diagnosis and pathophysiology is discussed. It is important to discriminate between cerebral salt wasting and inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone since the therapy required is completely different in the two conditions.

[Evaluation of trainee doctors' skills]. / Evaluering af yngre laegers faerdigheder.

The objective was to perform a needs assessment of trainee doctors' competences within lumbar puncture and bone marrow aspiration in paediatric oncology. Audit of 30 medical records revealed that five procedures, i.e. collegial, supervised administration of chemotherapy, examination of the child, length of bone marrow biopsy, erythrocytes in cerebrospinal fluid, and documentation of procedures in the medical record, were only handled as intended in half of the cases. Education and supervision of trainee doctors should be prioritized in order to increase their competences and decrease the risk of critical incidents.

Secular change in adult stature has come to a halt in northern Europe and Italy.

AIM: To investigate whether the increase in adult stature in European countries is continuing. METHODS: The secular trend in growth after 1990 for various European countries was assessed by national conscript data. RESULTS: In Scandinavia and the Netherlands, the height has reached a plateau at 179-181 cm, and in Italy a plateau at 174 cm. In Belgium, Portugal and Spain, height continued to increase. CONCLUSION: Only in the northern European countries and Italy height has ceased to increase.

Gender difference in breast tissue size in infancy: correlation with serum estradiol.

Breast tissue in newborn infants is considered to be physiologic and mainly related to exposure to maternal hormones in utero or through breast-feeding. However, controversy exists as to whether breast tissue in later infancy is under the influence of endogenous hormones. Children at 2-4 mo of age have a surge of reproductive hormones, including estradiol, which may affect the mammary gland. In a prospective cohort study of 1126 healthy, 3-mo-old infants, breast tissue size and reproductive hormones were measured. We found that palpable breast tissue (diameter >or=3 mm) is a common physiologic condition present in 78.9% of children, significantly more frequent (p < 0.001) and larger (p < 0.001) in girls than in boys. Girls had significantly higher median estradiol levels than boys (30.0 versus 21.0 pmol/L, p < 0.001). In a multiple regression model including breast tissue size given as quartiles as the dependent variable and weight for gestational age, subscapular skinfold, weight at 3 mo of age and serum estradiol as independent variables, a gender difference was shown. In girls, the estradiol level was positively (p < 0.03) correlated to breast quartile. In boys, no correlations were found. Whether the stimulation of the mammary gland in infancy represents a developmental window that is of biologic significance for breast development and pathology in adulthood remains to be defined.