• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.351-357
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• 2003

Purpose : To raise awareness of the clinical importance of, and the need for proper management of acute focal bacterial nephritis(AFBN), we analyzed 22 AFBN patients and 22 other upper urinary tract infection patients by use of comparative studies. Methods : From January 2000 to May 2002, 22 AFBN patients aged from 1 month to 12 months were selected. As a control group, 22 UTI patients with no radiologic abnormalities were selected and matched by age and sex. Results : The incidence of AFBN was more common in boys than in girls. Since both groups had similar symptoms, it was difficult to diagnose AFBN by clinical presentations alone. ESR and CRP were significantly higher in AFBN patients. The most common causative organism was E. coli in both groups. On the sonographic findings, the most lesions were seen on the upper lobe of the kidney; more frequently, on left kidney. The lesions showed globular or wedge-shaped increased echogenecity. $^{99m}Tc-DMSA$ scan showed the complete coincidence of the location, size and shape in all cases compared to the findings of renal sonography. Conclusion : The roles of renal sonography and DMSA scan were very important, and ultrasonography was an excellent initial tool in diagnosing AFBN. Since the degree of infection in AFBN is more severe than other urinary tract infections and evollution into a renal abscess is possible, early diagnosis and appropriate antibiotics therapy is essential.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.59-64
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• 2007

Purpose : Suprapubic aspiration(SPA) has been considered the "gold standard" for obtaining urine in non-toilet trained infants. Ultrasound(US)-guided SPA improves the success rate of the procedure and reduces the complications. However, many physicians perceive SPA as invasive and prefer the use of urethral catheterization (Ucat). We compared the success rate, complications and accuracy of US-guided SPA and Ucat. Methods : 121 infants who visited Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital with suspected urinary tract infection(UTI) were investigated. For the first study, the study infants were randomly assigned to either the US-guided SPA(n=32) or Ucat(n=32) groups. The success rate and complications of both procedures were compared. For the second study, US-guided SPA and Ucat were performed simultaneously(n=57). The accuracy of urethral catheterization was subsequently analyzed. The criteria for success was defined as the collection of more than 0.5 mL of urine. UTI was diagnosed by the presence of uropathogens over 105 colony-forming units (CFU)/mL. Results : The overall success rate of the US-guided SPA was 96.9%(71.9% in first attempts, 25.0% in second attempts) which was not significantly different compared to 96.9%(90.6% in first attempts, 6.3% in second attempts) in the Ucat(P>0.05) group. The aspirated urine volume was $7.4{\pm}3.7mL$ in the US-guided SPA group, which was not significantly different to $4.5{\pm}2.6mL$ in the Ucat(P>0.05) group. The accuracy of Ucat in comparison to the US guided SPA was low with sensitivity 59.5%, specificity 86.6%, false-positive rate 13.3% and false-negative rate 40.5%. Conclusion : US-guided SPA should be encouraged as the best method to collect the urine in non-toilet trained infants with UTI.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.27-32
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• 2006

Purpose : Conservative management of multicystic dysplastic kidney(MCDK) without nephrectomy has recently been advocated. The purpose of this study was to determine the clinical course of conservatively managed MCDK and to find out possible predictive factors for involution of MCDK by ultrasonography(US). Methods : A retrospective analysis was made on 45 patients(26 boys and 20 girls) in whom MCDK was detected and had been traced by US between Dec. 1993 and Aug. 2005 at Severance Hospital. Results : Median follow-up time was 30 months(range 2-102 months). All patients under-went radionuclide scans and voiding eystourethrograms. The serial follow-up US showed complete involution in 11(24%), partial involution in 19(41%), and no interval change or increased in cyst size in 13(28%) patients. Nephrectomy was done in 3 patients(7%) due to relapsing urinary tract infection(UTI) and severe abdominal distension. The mean age of complete involution of MCDK was 37 months(range 12-84 months). Episodes of UTI were present in 17 patients(37%) and additional genitourinary(GU) abnormalities were found in 22 patients(44%). Hypertension and renal insufficiency was complicated in one patient. No child developed malignant tumor. Univariate analysis showed that five variables were associated with complete involution of the MCDK; gender, site, UTI episode, additional GU abnormalities, and renal length on initial US. After adjusting using the Pearson model, the presence of additional GU abnormalities was exclusively associated with complete involution among the 5 variables(P=0.034). Conclusion : In our review of 46 cases of MCDK, non-surgical approach for patients with MCDK was advisable and we could predict poor prognosis when MCDK is associated with other GU anomalies.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.594-598
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• 2005

Purpose : Phimosis is the inability to retract the foreskin of the penis over the glans of the penis. Even though phimosis is not pathogenic, the presence of phimosis is known to increase the risk of urinary tract infection in infancy. The use of topical steroids has been advocated as a safe and economical alternative to surgical intervention. The purpose of the study was to assess the effectiveness of topical steroids for the treatment of phimosis in young boys. Methods : A total of 53 boys with phimosis were divided into two groups to distinguish between the efficacy of low-potency topical steroid(group 1, 27 cases) and of high-potency topical steroid (group 2, 26 cases). Results : The success rate increased in the process of time. After 6 weeks, the success rate was 21 cases in group 1 and 22 cases in group 2. There was no significant differences in treatment outcomes between the two groups. The age of the boys, the appearance of prepuce prior to treatment, and the presence of previous symptoms, including symptoms of UTI, and ballooning of the prepuce at micturation had no significant difference on treatment outcomes. Conclusion : Topical steroid was effective in treatment of phimosis in boys younger than 4 years old. Although treatment outcomes between low- and high-potency topical steroids were not significantly different, those treated with a high-potency steroid cream showed more fast improvement. Further studies are necessary to assess systemic side effects of steroid treatment, duration of treatment and prevention of genitourinary tract infection in male infants.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.83-91
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• 2007

Purpose : Childhood primary VUR is generally diagnosed after urinary tract infection, is more prevalent among girls and has a low spontaneous resolution rate in cases of severe VUR. The aim of the present study is to examine the age and gender-related characteristics and the spontaneous resolution rate of infantile primary VUR. Methods : The medical records of 96 infants with primary VUR, diagnosed after their first UTI, were retrospectively reviewed(1995-2004). The clinical characteristics including gender, the degree of VUR and presence of renal scars were evaluated. The spontaneous resolution rate and contributing factors were also analyzed Results : Infantile primary VUR was more prevalent in males than females. The percentage of atrophic scarred kidney was significantly higher in males than females(17.2% vs 3.4%) (P<0.05). The cumulative spontaneous resolution rate in 3 years was very high(89.1%), and was not significantly different between gender and among VUR grades. But in the first year, the spontaneous resolution rate of severe refluxing ureters was significantly higher in males than in females(46.2% vs 7.1%)(P<0.05) and the spontaneous resolution rate of refluxing ureters with no scarred kidneys was significantly higher than those associated with atrophic scarred kidneys(76.6% vs 20%)(P<0.05). Conclusion : Infantile Primary VUR was more prevalent among males and tends to be associated with atrophic scarred kidneys In male infants. The cumulative spontaneous resolution rate in 3 years was very high, even in high-grade VUR and associated atrophic scarred kidneys. In infantile primary VUR, surgery should be withheld even in infants with high-grade VUR with atrophic scarred kidneys.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.74-82
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• 2007

Purpose : To analyze the clinical characteristics, spontaneous resolution rate and predictive factors of resolution in children with primary vesicoureteral reflux(VUR). Methods : Between October 1991 and July 2003, 149 children diagnosed with primary VUR at Chonbuk National University Hospital were reviewed retrospectively. All of the patients were maintained on low-dose antibiotic prophylaxis and underwent radionuclide cystograms at 1 year intervals over 3 years after the initial diagnosis of VUR by voiding cystourethrogram was made. Results : The median time to resolution of VUR was 24 months and the total 3 year-cumulative resolution rate of VUR was 61.7%. The following variables were associated with resolution of VUR according to univariate analysis-; age<1 year, male gender, mild grade of reflux, unilateral reflux, congenital hydronephrosis as clinical presentation at time of diagnosis of VUR, absence of focal defects in the renal scan at diagnosis, absence of recurrent UTI, renal scars and small kidney during follow-up. After adjustment by Cox regression model, five variables remained as independent predictors of VUR resolution; age<1 yew, relative risk 1.77(P<0.05), VUR grade I+II 2.98(P<0.05), absence of renal scars 2.23(P<0.05), and absence of small kidney 5.20(P<0.01) during follow-up. Conclusion : In this study, spontaneous resolution rate of VUR, even high grade reflux, is high in infants during medical management, and it was related to age, reflux grade at diagnosis, absence of renal scars and small kidney during follow-up. Therefore early surgical intervention should be avoided and reserved for the selected groups.