Characteristics of the bladder in infants with urinary tract infections: an ultrasound study.

Background: Patients with urinary tract infection (UTI) are known to have impaired bladder function as demonstrated by urodynamic (UD) studies. UD is rarely performed in infants.

Objective: To evaluate bladder function in infants with UTI using a dynamic US protocol.

Hydronephrosis index: a better physiological reference in antenatal ultrasound for assessment of fetal hydronephrosis.

Objective: To establish a nomogram of fetal hydronephrosis index (HI) (anteroposterior diameter of renal pelvis divided by urinary bladder volume) at different gestational ages, to serve as a new reference for antenatal ultrasound examination, and to avoid overestimation of fetal hydronephrosis due to transient effect of a distended fetal bladder.

Study Design: 504 uncomplicated singleton pregnancies from 20 to 38 weeks' gestation were included. In each fetus, the maximum anteroposterior diameters of both renal pelves were measured on transverse view of fetal kidneys.

Doppler waveforms of the ureteric jet: an overview and implications for the presence of a functional sphincter at the vesicoureteric junction.

This paper is a comprehensive review of the Doppler waveform appearance of ureteric jets. Six jet waveform patterns have been identified: monophasic, biphasic, triphasic, polyphasic, square and continuous. Details of the physical properties of jet patterns and their changes under various physiological conditions are illustrated.

Gender difference in achieving rate of maturity of the vesicoureteric junction.

Background: Our previous study on the Doppler waveform of the urinary jet at the vesicoureteric junction (VUJ) indicates that there is an active sphincteric mechanism in humans. We have also shown that there are immature and mature patterns of the jet, and the VUJ matures around the age of 4 years.

Objective: To determine if there is any gender difference in the time of achieving maturity of the VUJ.

Nomograms of total renal volume, urinary bladder volume and bladder wall thickness index in 3,376 children with a normal urinary tract.

Background: We have previously shown that urinary bladder volume index (BVI = length x width x depth of bladder) and bladder volume wall thickness index (BVWI = BVI at full bladder/average bladder wall thickness) are useful indicators of bladder dysfunction in children with enuresis and urinary tract infection. These indices show a good correlation with urodynamic studies. We have expanded the study to include normal paediatric subjects with a wide age range.

Ureteric jet Doppler waveform and bladder wall thickness in children with nocturnal enuresis.

To test the hypothesis that the presence of nocturnal enuresis is related to increased frequency of immature vesicoureteric function, which is further associated with detrusor overactivity, we compared the incidence of immature monophasic ureteric jet in children with and without nocturnal enuresis. The relationship between monophasic ureteric jet Doppler wave form and bladder wall thickness was further explored in the enuresis group. Ultrasound examinations were performed in 511 children suffering from nocturnal enuresis and 266 normal controls.

Vascular defect beyond the endothelium in type II diabetic patients with overt nephropathy and moderate renal insufficiency.

There is a paucity of data on the effects of overt nephropathy and moderate renal impairment on endothelial function in diabetic patients. A total of 26 type II diabetic (DM) patients with nephropathy (DMN+) (mean +/- s.d.

Potential value of post stroke extracranial arterial blood flow volume in the prediction of stroke functional outcome.

Background And Purpose: Cerebral vasoreactivity and collateral circulation are important protective mechanisms against cerebral ischemia. Previous studies suggest that the efficiency of these mechanisms can be reflected by extracranial arterial blood flow volume. Brain damage leading to neurological impairments can influence patients' functional recovery after stroke.

Magnetic resonance angiography of coronary arteries with a 3-dimensional magnetization-prepared true fast imaging with steady-state precession sequence compared with conventional coronary angiography.

Background: The aim of the study was to compare the detection of clinically significant coronary artery stenosis using a magnetic resonance 3-dimensional (3D) breath-hold true fast imaging with steady-state precession (trueFISP) sequence with conventional coronary angiography.

Methods: Twenty-nine patients who were scheduled to undergo or had recently undergone diagnostic conventional coronary angiogram participated in this study. The left main, left anterior descending, left circumflex, and right coronary arteries were studied using the 3D breath-hold trueFISP technique.

Duplex ultrasound screening for deep vein thrombosis in Chinese after cesarean section.

Background: To evaluate the incidence of asymptomatic deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in Chinese after cesarean section (CS).

Methods: This is a prospective observational study. Ethnic Chinese women who were asymptomatic for DVT and delivered by CS were included.

Cerebral vasoreactivity: a comparison of color velocity imaging quantification and stable xenon-enhanced CT.

Objective: Compromised cerebral vasoreactivity increases the risk of stroke. In this study, we sought to determine whether extracranial arterial blood flow volume measured on color velocity imaging quantification could be predictive of cerebral vasoreactivity after the administration of acetazolamide.

Subjects And Methods: Cerebral blood flow and extracranial arterial blood flow volume of 35 patients with symptomatic carotid occlusive disease were measured before and after the administration of acetazolamide on stable xenon CT and color velocity imaging quantification, respectively.

Magnetic resonance coronary angiography with 3D TrueFISP: breath-hold versus respiratory gated imaging.

To compare the diagnostic accuracy of coronary magnetic resonance angiography with three-dimensional (3D) trueFISP breath-hold and respiratory gated techniques for the detection of significant coronary artery stenosis. 15 patients who recently underwent elective coronary angiogram were studied and a total of 60 arteries and 48 arteries were assessed by breath-hold and respiratory gated 3D trueFISP techniques, respectively. The image quality, length of artery visualized and the presence or absence of significant coronary artery stenosis were recorded.

Magnetic resonance cholangiography in children.

Magnetic resonance cholangiography has been shown to be useful in the evaluation of hepatobiliary problems in paediatric patients. Its clinical application in biliary atresia, choledochal cyst, cholelithiasis, bile plug syndrome and liver transplant are illustrated by the following cases.

Comparison of thoracic ultrasound, clinical acumen, and radiography in patients with minor chest injury.

Background: This study was designed to compare ultrasonography, clinical findings, and radiography in the detection of rib and sternal fractures.

Methods: In a prospective study, 88 patients presenting consecutively to an emergency department with isolated blunt chest injury of mild to moderate force were recruited.

Results: Ultrasonography yielded a sensitivity of 80.

Overweight in children is associated with arterial endothelial dysfunction and intima-media thickening.

Objective: We sought to study arterial endothelial function and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), both early markers of atherosclerosis, in overweight compared to normal children.

Design: Case-control comparison.

Subjects: A total of 36 asymptomatic overweight children (body mass index (BMI)>23; mean 25+/-3) aged 9-12 y and 36 age- and gender-matched nonobese healthy children (BMI<21) from a school community.

Ultrasound bladder measurements in patients with primary nocturnal enuresis: a urodynamic and treatment outcome correlation.

Purpose: Accurate assessment of bladder dysfunction associated with voiding dysfunctions often necessitates invasive urodynamic (UD) studies. We evaluate the use of a special ultrasound (US) protocol for the assessment of bladder dysfunction compared with urodynamic findings, and for prediction of treatment outcome in children with primary nocturnal enuresis (PNE).

Materials And Methods: US measurements were performed on 514 children 5 to 18 years old (mean age 11.

Congenital abdominal aortic aneurysm and renal dysplasia.

We report a 6-month-old boy with abdominal aortic aneurysm and dysplastic kidneys. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of abdominal aortic aneurysm associated with dysplastic kidneys. Serial US, MR angiography and scintigraphy were performed.

Effects of diet and exercise on obesity-related vascular dysfunction in children.

Background: The prevalence of obesity in both adults and children is increasing rapidly. Obesity in children is independently associated with arterial endothelial dysfunction and wall thickening, key early events in atherogenesis that precede plaque formation.

Methods And Results: To evaluate the reversibility of obesity-related arterial dysfunction and carotid intima-media thickening by dietary and/or exercise intervention programs, 82 overweight children (body mass index, 25+/-3), 9 to 12 years of age, were randomly assigned to dietary modification only or diet plus a supervised structured exercise program for 6 weeks and subsequently for 1 year.

Treatment of pyogenic liver abscess: prospective randomized comparison of catheter drainage and needle aspiration.

This study aims to compare the therapeutic effectiveness of continuous catheter drainage versus intermittent needle aspiration in the percutaneous treatment of pyogenic liver abscesses. Over a 5-year period, 64 consecutive patients with pyogenic liver abscess were treated with intravenous antibiotics (ampicillin, cefuroxime, and metronidazole) and randomized into two percutaneous treatment groups: continuous catheter drainage (with an 8F multi-sidehole pigtail catheter); and intermittent needle aspiration (18G disposable trocar needle). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups regarding patient demographics, underlying coexisting disease, abscess size, abscess number, number of loculation of abscess, the presenting clinical symptoms such as fever, abdominal pain, and pretreatment liver function test.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS): chest radiographic features in children.

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a recently recognized condition of viral origin associated with substantial morbidity and mortality rates in adults. Little information is available on its radiologic manifestations in children.

Objective: The goal of this study was to characterize the radiographic presentation of children with SARS.

Cerebral blood flow measurement by color velocity imaging in radiation-induced carotid stenosis.

Objective: To show whether there is any association between the development of neurologic symptoms and the total cerebral blood flow volume documented by color velocity imaging in patients with carotid stenosis that develops after radiotherapy.

Methods: Twenty-three patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (4 female and 19 male; age range, 39-69 years; mean age, 55.6 years) and major extracranial carotid stenosis underwent color velocity imaging.

White matter and cerebral metabolite changes in children undergoing treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia: longitudinal study with MR imaging and 1H MR spectroscopy.

Purpose: To assess the development of white matter and cerebral metabolite changes during and after treatment in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-three children (10 boys, mean age of 6.3 years; 13 girls, mean age of 6.

Ureteric jet in the anaesthetised child.

We have already suggested that there is an active bimodal sphincteric mechanism in the human vesicoureteral junction (VUJ). This mechanism is affected by immaturity, hormonal effects and surgical ablation. This study set out to investigate the effects of anaesthesia on this mechanism.

Magnetic resonance imaging in ischaemic heart disease.

Magnetic resonance imaging has an increasing role in the assessment of ischaemic heart disease. Its superb spatial and temporal resolution currently allows accurate assessment of cardiac function, regional wall motion, and the extent of myocardial infarction. Regional myocardial perfusion can also be assessed, most commonly by a first-pass technique.

Feasibility study of using air as a contrast medium in MR colonography.

Aim: To evaluate the feasibility of using air as intraluminal contrast medium in magnetic resonance (MR) colonography.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-two patients underwent MR colonography (MRC) using air before colonoscopy. All patients were imaged in prone and supine positions.