[Clinical and histopathological characteristics of biopsy-proven renal diseases in Croatia].

There is little data on the spectrum of renal diseases in children in Croatia. The Croatian Society for Pediatric Nephrology has established the Registry of Biopsy-Proven Renal Diseases in an attempt to address this issue nationwide. Here we report preliminary results of a retrospective analysis of clinical and histopathological data of 565 children aged < or =17 years presenting to 9 hospitals in Croatia from 1991 to 2004, in whom kidney biopsy was performed.

Long-term treatment with vaginal estradiol tablets--an impact on uterine artery blood flow.

Objective: We investigated, using color Doppler ultrasound, possible detectable blood changes of prolonged treatment with 17-beta-estradiol tablets on uterine artery blood flow, in a cohort of low risk postmenopausal women.

Methods: 39 postmenopausal women, who were taking local estrogen therapy for at least 6 months, were examined in the study group. Forty-two women who never used hormone replacement therapy consisted a control group.

Ultrasound-estimated bladder weight in healthy children.

Bladder weight in healthy children was determined ultrasonographically using a modified formula that takes into account the different shapes of the urinary bladder. Ultrasonographic examination of the bladder was performed on 92 healthy children (56 boys, 36 girls) with a 5-MHz transducer. Bladders were categorized into five groups according to shape, and three bladder diameters were measured.

Pediatric urolithiasis in Croatia.

A retrospective review was performed of the records of 148 Croatian children with urolithiasis treated between 1989 and 2003. The study evaluated age, gender, family history, clinical symptoms, location of stone, laboratory findings, stone composition, mode of treatment and compared our results with data from higher and lower socio-economic countries. The mean age of our patients was 9.

The impact of bladder shape on the ultrasonographic measurement of bladder volume in children.

Background: US is used for non-invasive assessment of bladder shape and for calculation of bladder volume.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of bladder shape on the accuracy of US estimation of bladder volume in children and to calculate formulas for US estimation of volume for different bladder shapes.

Materials And Methods: US was performed in 146 children (94 girls, 52 boys, age range 9 months to 17 years, median 7.

Severity of symptoms in primary dysmenorrhea--a Doppler study.

Objective: Doppler findings in women with severe symptoms of primary dysmenorrhea include high impedance to blood flow in uterine arteries with a preserved cyclic pattern throughout the whole cycle. Doppler findings in women who present with mild symptoms of primary dysmenorrhea are not yet documented. The aim of this study was to investigate possible differences in Doppler findings among women with mild and severe primary dysmenorrhea.

Doppler sonographic renal resistance index and resistance index ratio in children and adolescents with unilateral hydronephrosis.

The aim of this study was to evaluate Doppler renal resistance index (RI) and RI ratio (RIR) in differentiating between obstructive and nonobstructive hydronephrosis in children and adolescents. The RI and RIR were measured in 32 healthy examinees (control group) and 29 patients with unilateral hydronephrosis. Ten patients had acute obstruction caused by a ureteric stone.

Ultrasound assessment of detrusor muscle thickness in children with non-neuropathic bladder/sphincter dysfunction.

Objective: To measure detrusor muscle thickness in children with non-neuropathic bladder/sphincter dysfunction (NNBSD), and to evaluate the difference between children with various bladder dysfunctions and those with normal urodynamics.

Materials And Methods: In 139 children the urodynamic study was performed, and the detrusor of the anterior bladder wall was measured using high-frequency ultrasonography (US). Children were categorized into five groups, according to urodynamic findings.

Color Doppler ultrasonography in the assessment of vesicoureteric reflux in children with bladder dysfunction.

To determine whether color Doppler ultrasound (DUS) evaluation of ureteric jets could predict vesicoureteric reflux (VUR) in children with non-neuropathic and neuropathic bladder/sphincter dysfunction, 129 children were evaluated to identify the vesicoureteric orifice and measure the distance from the orifice to the midline of the dorsal bladder wall (MVU distance). The type of bladder dysfunction was determined by urodynamic studies. Forty-two children with no history of kidney or bladder disease were examined by DUS as a control group.