Structure equation model and neural network analyses to predict coronary artery lesions in Kawasaki disease: a single-centre retrospective study.

A new method to predict coronary artery lesions (CALs) in Kawasaki disease (KD) was developed using a mean structure equation model (SEM) and neural networks (Nnet). There were 314 admitted children with KD who met at least four of the six diagnostic criteria for KD. We defined CALs as the presence of a maximum z score of ≥ 3.

Complete oculocerebrorenal phenotype of Lowe syndrome in a female patient with half reduction of inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatase.

The oculocerebrorenal disorder of Lowe syndrome is an X-linked mutation in the gene oculocerebrorenal syndrome of Lowe 1 (OCRL), characterized by the triad of congenital cataracts, severe intellectual impairment, and renal tubular dysfunction. Manifestations of phenotype in female carriers and patients are extremely rare. We present a female case with congenital cataracts, severe intellectual impairment, sensorineural hearing loss, and renal tubular dysfunction as Lowe syndrome.

Urinary β2-microglobulin as an early marker of infantile enterovirus and human parechovirus infections.

Enterovirus and human parechovirus (HPeV) are RNA viruses belonging to the family Picornaviridae that frequently infect infants. These infections show a wide variety of clinical manifestations, from mild to severe. However, there are no known early clinical markers for diagnosis and prediction of disease severity.

Marked elevation of urinary β2-microglobulin in patients with reversible splenial lesions: A small case series.

The magnetic resonance imaging findings of reversible isolated lesions with transiently reduced diffusion in the splenium of corpus callosum of patients with a wide spectrum of pathological conditions are referred to as reversible splenial lesion syndrome (RESLES). Clinically mild encephalitis/encephalopathy with a reversible splenial lesion (MERS) is probably included within the spectrum of RESLES; however, its exact pathophysiology is not known. Here, we describe three patients with MERS and one patient with RESLES, all of whom showed elevated urinary β2-microglobulin regardless of diagnosis and presence of pathogens.

Early therapy with neuraminidase inhibitors for influenza A (H1N1) pdm 2009 infection.

Background: Neuraminidase inhibitors have been reported to decrease mortality in patients infected with influenza A (H1N1) pdm 2009 (H1N1 pdm09), but it is not clear whether they are effective against H1N1pdm09 in apparently healthy children.

Methods: The effect of early treatment with neuraminidase inhibitors on 70 otherwise healthy children with possible H1N1 pdm09 (pH1N1pdm09) infection was investigated. The children were simultaneously treated with a neuraminidase inhibitor (oseltamivir or zanamivir) and maoto, a Japanese traditional herbal medicine, which had been reported to be effective against seasonal influenza.

Serum immunoglobulin G subclass levels and estimated clinical severity caused by possible influenza A (H1N1) pdm 2009 infection.

The clinical severity of the 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza (H1N1 pdm09) was thought to be related to the difference between the amount of viral load and condition of the host immune response. We investigated the role of serum levels of IgG and its subclasses in clinical severity using the data from 45 child inpatients suffering from bronchitis or mild pneumonia caused by possible H1N1 pdm09 (pH1N1 pdm09) infection. After selecting parameters for serum IgG subclasses and logarithmically transformed urinary beta-2 microglobulin/creatinine (b2MG/Cr) values and admission duration, we performed path analysis using a mean covariance structure equation analysis to investigate the relationship between the clinical severity and the foregoing selected parameters.

IgG3 deficiency and severity of 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza.

Background: The severity of the 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza (H1N1 pdm 09) in immune deficient children is unknown. The aim of the present study was to investigate this in a case of complete IgG3 deficiency complicated by pneumonia and asthma attack.

Methods: The clinical parameters of the IgG3 deficiency patient were compared with those of four control patients using 95% confidence intervals.

A case of primary hyperparathyroidism in childhood found by a chance hematuria.

A 10-yr-old boy visited Minoh City Hospital complaining of gross hematuria. Laboratory investigations revealed hypercalcemia, hypophosphatemia, and elevated serum levels of parathyroid hormone. A stone was found in the right ureter with drip infusion pyelography.

[Suspected case of pseudohypoparathyroidism type II].

We experienced a suspected case of pseudohypoparathyroidism type II. The patient came to our emergency room with no thermal convulsion. The Ellsworth-Howard test was applied to the patient to determine the type of PHP.