Pirarubicin Combination Low-Dose Chemotherapy for Early Infantile Stage MS Neuroblastoma: Case Report.

Neuroblastoma (NB) is a neural crest-derived malignant tumor which is diagnosed during infancy in approximately 40% of cases; spontaneous regressions are observed, but there are varying degrees of severity. Treatment is indicated if an infant's condition is at risk of deterioration. Herein, we report the case of a 42-day-old boy who presented with hepatomegaly and was diagnosed with stage MS NB.

Pathophysiological clinical features of an infant with hypertension secondary to multicystic dysplastic kidney: a case report.

Background: The association of hypertension with congenital renal hypoplasia has been established. We report a case of an infant who underwent nephrectomy for hypertension.

Case Presentation: Magnetic resonance imaging for the mother revealed fetal renal masses, and fetal multicystic dysplastic kidney was suspected.

Clinical and genetic characterization of nephropathy in patients with nail-patella syndrome.

Nail-patella syndrome (NPS) is a multi-system disorder characterized by hypoplastic nails, hypoplastic patella, skeletal deformities, and iliac horns, which is caused by heterozygous variants of LMX1B. Nephropathy ranging from mild urinary abnormality to end-stage renal disease occurs in some individuals with NPS. Because of the low prevalence of NPS and the lack of longitudinal studies of its kidney involvement, the clinical, pathological, and genetic features characterizing severe nephropathy remain unclear.

Generation of two human induced pluripotent stem cell lines derived from two juvenile nephronophthisis patients with NPHP1 deletion.

Juvenile nephronophthisis is an inherited renal ciliopathy, causing cystic kidney disease, renal fibrosis, and end-stage renal failure. Human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) lines, derived from two Juvenile nephronophthisis patients, were generated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells by episomal plasmid vectors. Generated hiPSC lines showed self-renewal and pluripotency and carried a large deletion in NPHP1 (Nephrocystin 1) gene.

Early tonsillectomy for severe immunoglobulin A nephropathy significantly reduces proteinuria.

Background: Early multiple-drug therapy for severe childhood immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy prevents the progression of nephritis and improves the long-term prognosis. Recent studies have focused on the relationship between the pathophysiology of IgA nephropathy and tonsillar focal infection, and the efficacy of tonsillectomy with methylprednisolone pulse therapy in children has been demonstrated. However, no study has reported on the relationship between the period from diagnosis to tonsillectomy and the long-term prognosis of IgA nephropathy.

Role of cathepsin L in idiopathic nephrotic syndrome in children.

Nephrotic syndrome (NS) is one of the most common glomerular diseases in children. Glomerular podocyte dysfunction can result in proteinuria, the presence of a large amount of protein in the urine. Podocytes are unique epithelial cells that divide into 3 separate structural and functional segments: a cell body, major processes, and foot processes.

Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis related to a streptococcal infection in a girl with IgA deficiency: a case report.

Background: IgA deficiency associated with glomerulonephritis is rare. In particular, there is no prior report regarding the association between IgA deficiency and membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) in children. Herein, we describe the case of a 5-year-old girl with selective IgA deficiency and MPGN.

Pathologic tonsillar findings similar to IgA nephropathy and the role of tonsillectomy in a patient with nephrotic syndrome.

Background: The pathological findings of tonsils in IgA nephropathy include the expansion of T-cell nodules around lymphoid follicles and abnormal reticulation of the crypt epithelium in contrast to chronic tonsillitis. Recently, several studies have reported that regulatory T cells play an important role in the maintenance of self-tolerance, an abnormality that is involved in the onset of nephrotic syndrome (NS). We encountered a patient of 28-year-old male with frequently relapsing nephrotic syndrome (FRNS) and chronic tonsillitis whose tonsils demonstrated pathological findings similar to those of IgA nephropathy.

An 18-Year-Old Male With X-linked Lymphoproliferative Syndrome Type 1 Who Developed Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma 6 Months After Primary Epstein-Barr Virus Infection.

X-linked lymphoproliferative syndrome type 1 (XLP1) is a rare congenital immunodeficiency disease. We report the case of an 18-year-old male who developed hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) with neurologic complications after primary Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection and subsequently developed EBV-related central nervous system lymphoma (CNSL). Given the vulnerability to EBV, he was finally diagnosed with XLP1 and treated with whole-brain irradiation along with chemotherapy and subsequent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation from a SH2D1A wild-type sibling donor.

Impact of sirolimus treatment for refractory kaposiform hemangioendothelioma with exacerbation of the disease 10 years after initial diagnosis.

We describe our experience with a 12 year-old girl with kaposiform hemangioendothelioma accompanied by Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon with exacerbation of the disease 10 years after the initial diagnosis. Kaposiform hemangioendothelioma infiltrated into the subcutaneous tissue of the facial skin with deterioration of coagulopathy despite conventional therapies including corticosteroid, vincristine, and propranolol. Sirolimus, a mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitor, produced rapid and dramatic improvement of the Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon and kaposiform hemangioendothelioma shrinkage.

Three patients with Schaaf-Yang syndrome exhibiting arthrogryposis and endocrinological abnormalities.

MAGEL2 is the paternally expressed gene within Prader-Willi syndrome critical region at 15q11.2. We encountered three individuals in whom truncating mutations of MAGEL2 were identified.

Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis associated with Rosai-Dorfman disease.

Rosai-Dorfman disease is also known as sinus histiocytosis with massive lymphadenopathy. Extranodal Rosai-Dorfman disease has been reported in ~ 43% of cases; the most frequent extranodal sites - skin, soft tissue, bone, respiratory tract, and eye - are usually involved in association with lymphadenopathy. Lack of lymph node involvement is rare, especially when patients manifest renal disease.

Atriofascicular Mahaim with Ebstein anomaly: A case report.

We report a case of a 7-year-old girl with atriofascicular Mahaim (AFM) pathway concomitant with Ebstein's anomaly. The QRS wave showed left bundle branch block pattern on electrocardiogram. Holter electrocardiogram showed prolongation of the PR interval and QRS morphological change during sinus tachycardia.

Minimal change nephrotic syndrome and prohibitin-2 gene polymorphism.

Background: Patients with minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS) often also have allergic diseases. Abnormalities of Th2-derived cytokines and T-cell functions contribute to development of these diseases. On the other hand, imbalances between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidants have been implicated in MCNS and progression of atopic dermatitis.

Heterozygous p.S811F RET gene mutation associated with renal agenesis, oligomeganephronia and total colonic aganglionosis: a case report.

Background: Several shared common gene networks participate in development of interstinal ganglia and also nephron formation; the glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor/Ret/glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor receptor gene network is particularly important.

Case Presentation: We encountered a patient with total colonic aganglionosis as well as right renal agenesis and oligomeganephronia. Gene analysis in this patient disclosed a heterozygous p.

Liver fibrosis with hypereosinophilia causing transient abnormal myelopoiesis.

Transient abnormal myelopoesis is mostly self-resolving and has a good prognosis, but some patients subsequently die of liver fibrosis. We report the case of an infant with Down syndrome who developed life-threatening liver fibrosis at the same time as the blasts were about to disappear. This patient also had a marked increase in eosinophils, which were possibly harboring a GATA1 mutation and were expressing a high level of platelet-derived growth factor-B mRNA; these may have been involved in the development of liver fibrosis.

Cyclosporine A induced histological changes of Cathepsin L and CD2AP expression in renal glomeruli and tubules.

Background: Cyclosporine A (CsA) is used globally as an immunosuppressant for the treatment of immune-mediated nephrotic syndrome (NS). However, its long-term use causes nephrotoxicity characterized by tubulointerstitial injury and glomerulosclerosis. The present study aimed to investigate the associations between histomorphological findings and immunohistological expression of Cathepsin L (CatL) and CD2-associated protein (CD2AP) in patients with NS mediated with CsA.

[Childhood hypertension].

For accurate diagnosis of childhood hypertension, selection of appropriate manchette size according to the child age and the circumstantial size of upper limb is essentially important. In addition, except for the emergency case of hypertension, repeated measurement of blood pressure would be desirable in several weeks interval. Recently, childhood hypertension might be closely related to the abnormality of maternal gestational period caused by the strict diet and the maternal smoking.

A Prospective Observational Survey on the Long-Term Effect of LDL Apheresis on Drug-Resistant Nephrotic Syndrome.

Background/aims: LDL apheresis (LDL-A) is used for drug-resistant nephrotic syndrome (NS) as an alternative therapy to induce remission by improvement of hyperlipidemia. Several clinical studies have suggested the efficacy of LDL-A for refractory NS, but the level of evidence remains insufficient. A multicenter prospective study, POLARIS (Prospective Observational Survey on the Long-Term Effects of LDL Apheresis on Drug-Resistant Nephrotic Syndrome), was conducted to evaluate its clinical efficacy with high-level evidence.

Clinical and genetic characteristics of Japanese nephronophthisis patients.

Background: Nephronophthisis (NPH) accounts for 4-5 % of end-stage renal disease occurring in childhood.

Method: We investigated the clinical context and characteristics of renal and extrarenal symptoms, as well as the NPHP genes, in 35 Japanese patients with clinical and histologic features suggesting NPH.

Results: NPH occurred fairly uniformly throughout Japan irrespective of region or gender.

Clinical course of juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia in the blast crisis phase treated by acute myeloid leukemia-oriented chemotherapy and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML) is a mixed myeloproliferative and myelodysplastic disorder that occurs in early childhood. The clinical course of JMML is highly variable. A third of patients follow a relatively indolent course, although approximately 15% cases are thought to develop acute myeloid leukemia, referred to as blast crisis.