Adolescent varicocele: limited indications for treatment during puberty and adolescence.

A varicocele is defined as an abnormal dilatation of the pampiniform plexus of veins of the testis. The vast majority of children and adolescents with varicoceles have no subjective symptoms. The complete work-up of patient diagnosed with a varicocele involves a physical exam in supine and prone position with and without Valsalva, and the use of ultrasound to measure testicular volume and blood flow.

Vesicoureteral reflux: current trends in diagnosis, screening, and treatment.

Context: Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) is present in approximately 1% of children in North America and Europe and is associated with an increased risk of pyelonephritis and renal scarring. Despite its prevalence and potential morbidity, however, many aspects of VUR management are controversial.

Objective: Review the evidence surrounding current controversies in VUR diagnosis, screening, and treatment.

Does preoperative chemotherapy ease the surgical procedure for Wilms tumor?

Purpose: A conclusion of Société Internationale d'Oncologie Pédiatrique in 2001 after protocol 2, 5, 6, 9 and 93-01 was that "preoperative chemotherapy would make nephrectomy easier and furthermore, metastases may disappear or become resectable and vascular extension may regress and partial nephrectomy may become possible." We changed our strategy from preoperative chemotherapy in select cases only to standard 4 to 6-week preoperative chemotherapy in all. However, it appears dubious whether surgical ease or perioperative complications consistently improved after preoperative chemotherapy.

Long-term efficiency of skin stretching and a topical corticoid cream application for unretractable foreskin and phimosis in prepubertal boys.

Objectives: To evaluate the long-term efficacy of topical application of a potent corticoid cream and skin stretching in the treatment of unretractable foreskin, pinpoint phimosis, balanopreputial adhesions and lichen sclerosus in prepubertal boys.

Methods: 462 prepubertal boys (mean age 4.7 years) with unretractable foreskin applied a topical potent corticoid cream together with skin stretching twice daily for 6 weeks.

Additional to caudal bupivacaine preemptive oral ibuprofen does not improve postoperative pain, nausea or vomiting, and resumption of normal activities in children after ambulatory pediatric urologic surgery.

Objectives: To investigate the possible advantage of administration of preemptive oral ibuprofen in children after ambulatory pediatric urologic surgery such as penile surgery (circumcision and hypospadias repair) and inguinal surgery (communicating hydrocele and orchidopexy), a study was performed on the experience of postoperative pain, nausea or vomiting, and resumption of normal activities such as normal sleep and play activity. In addition, this study has validated a method of measurement of pain and resumption of normal activities in children.

Material And Methods: In a prospective, randomized, double-blind study, 66 prepubertal boys (0-12 years) underwent an ambulatory pediatric urological intervention.

Testicular histology in boys with Prader-Willi syndrome: fertile or infertile?

Purpose: Prader-Willi syndrome is associated with hypogonadism. Cryptorchidism is found in 93% of cases and considered a phenotypic criterion. Men with Prader-Willi syndrome are thought to be infertile.

Prenatal magnetic resonance imaging demonstrates linear growth of the human fetal kidneys during gestation.

Purpose: Although fetal kidneys have only 10% of their postnatal blood flow, fetal renal development is essential for normal postnatal function. In addition, to our knowledge it is unknown whether human fetal kidney development follows a linear or exponential evolution. We created normative magnetic resonance imaging curves for the kidney prenatal growth pattern in relation to gestational age.

A new fast-melting oral formulation of desmopressin: a pharmacodynamic study in children with primary nocturnal enuresis.

Objective: To determine the pharmacodynamic properties of a new oral lyophilisate formulation of desmopressin (in single doses of 30, 60, 120, 240, 360 or 480 microg) in children with known primary nocturnal enuresis (PNE) and thus identify those dosages that could provide a duration of action corresponding to a typical length of night-time sleep in children with PNE; additional objectives were to determine the safety and tolerability of desmopressin in this population.

Patients And Methods: Children with PNE (mean three or more wet nights/week), aged 6-12 years, were randomized into a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. An overhydration technique was used before dosing to suppress endogenous vasopressin production and thereby ensure that any antidiuresis could be attributed to treatment.

The physical and antimicrobial effects of microwave heating and alcohol immersion on catheters that are reused for clean intermittent catheterisation.

Introduction: Due to worldwide different health insurance policies, patients are often forced to reuse the catheters when performing Clean Intermittent Catheterisation (CIC). We have compared the physical qualities and the antimicrobial effects of two methods of reusing catheters: microwave heating and storage of the catheters in a 70% alcohol solution. The studies were performed during different lengths of time.