Single setting bilateral laparoscopic orchiopexy for bilateral intra-abdominal testicles.

Purpose: The laparoscopic surgical approach to unilateral intra-abdominal testis has replaced the open approach at several large centers. There is considerable literature on experience with unilateral intra-abdominal testes but little on the management of bilateral intra-abdominal testes. We assessed the feasibility and safety of performing single setting bilateral laparoscopic orchiopexy in boys with bilateral intra-abdominal testes.

Animated biofeedback yields more rapid results than nonanimated biofeedback in the treatment of dysfunctional voiding in girls.

Purpose: Biofeedback is known to effect symptomatic and objective cure in children with dysfunctional voiding. While some authors advocate animation assisted biofeedback to achieve success, we previously demonstrated similar success without animation. We recently used animated biofeedback aimed at simplifying muscle isolation and encouraging patient interest.

Climatic conditions and the risk of testicular torsion in adolescent males.

Purpose: The risk factors for acute testicular torsion are poorly understood. Environmental factors have been implicated by some authors and discredited by others. The only previous known study in the United States did not demonstrate any seasonal correlation, although the study was done in a warmer climate.

Idiopathic membranous nephropathy in pediatric patients: presentation, response to therapy, and long-term outcome.

Background: Idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN) is one of the most common causes of primary nephrotic syndrome in adults. However, it is a relatively rare entity in the pediatric population and there is a paucity of data about the incidence, prognosis, and optimal treatment of IMN in children and adolescents. We conducted this study to evaluate pediatric patients with IMN in order to clarify the presentation, response to therapy, and clinical outcome.

Glomerular permeability activity: prevalence and prognostic value in pediatric patients with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome.

Background: A circulating factor that increases in vitro glomerular permeability to albumin (P alb ) has been isolated from patients with recurrence of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis in their renal allografts. The prevalence and prognostic significance of permeability activity has not been examined in children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS).

Methods: P alb activity level was determined in sera from 26 children with new-onset INS before the initiation of therapy by using an in vitro assay.

Sex steroid hormones, growth and puberty in children with portal hypertension.

Perturbations in sex hormones occur in adults with liver disease; however, little is known about how liver disease affects hormone levels in children. To address this issue, we recruited 19 patients with portal hypertension and 21 non-hormone-deficient short children as controls. Serum sex hormones, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), IGF-I, IGFBP-3, gonadotropins, and thyroid hormones were measured; growth and pubertal status were recorded.

Immunization for children traveling abroad.

More children are travelling these days, often to underdeveloped countries with high prevalence of vaccine-preventable vector-borne, food-borne, zoonotic, and other infections. The pretravel office visit involves consideration of routine and travel vaccines. Epidemiology of typhoid fever, rabies, yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis, vaccines against them, and their recommended use are reviewed.

Pneumococcal vaccine.

Streptococcus pneumoniae or pneumococcus is a major pathogen causing meningitis, pneumonia, other invasive infections, and the common infections acute otitis media and sinusitis. The major virulence factor is the polysaccharide capsule, present as one of approximately 90 serotypes. Anticapsular antibodies protect against infection.