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Biomedical subjects

K Ismaili

Publications and source records attributed to K Ismaili.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

Evolution of fetal ultrasonography.

The authors wish to highlight the evolution that has occurred in fetal ultrasound in recent years. A first significant evolution lies in the increasing contribution of first trimester ultrasound for the detection of fetal anomalies. Malformations of several organs and systems have been diagnosed during the first trimester. Furthermore the systematic measurement of the fetal neck translucency has led to increasing rate of detection of aneuploidies and heart malformations. For several years now, three-dimensional (3D) and 4D ultrasound (US) have been used as a complementary tool to 2D US for the evaluation of fetal morphology. This brings an improved morphologic assessment of the fetus. Applications of the techniques are increasing, especially for the fetal face, heart and extremities. The third field where fetal US is continuously providing important information is the knowledge of the natural history of diseases. This has brought significant improvement in the postnatal management of several diseases, especially urinary tract dilatation and broncho-pulmonary malformation.

Congenital Abnormalities↗

Supranormal renal function in unilateral hydronephrosis: does it represent true hyperfunction?

The existence of supranormal differential renal function in unilateral hydronephrosis remains controversial. While some authors consider it as fact, others believe that it is just a technical artifact. Within our department, chromium-51 ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid (Cr-EDTA) renal clearance is systematically performed in conjunction with technetium-99m mercaptoacetyltriglycine (MAG3) renograms to derive an absolute single kidney glomerular filtration rate (SKGFR). Our data allows us to ascertain whether supranormal differential renal function in unilateral hydronephrosis might be due to hypofunction of the contralateral kidney. Children with marked unilateral hydronephrosis were selected from a large database of MAG3 diuretic(s) renograms. We excluded patients with posterior urethral valves, duplex anomalies, neurogenic bladder, solitary kidney, and those who underwent any previous urological surgery. We also excluded children who had an early furosemide injection (F0 procedure), selecting only those having received furosemide at the end of the renogram (F+20 test). Seventy-three patients (92 renograms) fulfilled these criteria. Differential renal function was calculated using the integral method. Hydronephrotic kidney with a relative uptake > or =55% was defined as supranormal. Six renograms (four patients) demonstrated supranormal relative function on the hydronephrotic side. However, the SKGFR of these kidneys was in all cases within the range of normal values, while the contralateral side demonstrated borderline low SKGFR. Increased relative function on the side of the hydronephrotic kidney is relatively infrequent. When it occurs, it may be related to a borderline hypofunction of the contralateral kidney.

Chelating Agents↗

How to interpret a deterioration of split function?

OBJECTIVE: A drop of split renal function often constitutes a criterion for pyeloplasty in hydronephrosis since it is considered as representing deterioration of the affected kidney. The aim of this work was to determine, in a selected population of patients with a drop of split function of at least 5%, if the evolution of single kidney glomerular filtration rate (SKGFR) was parallel to the one of split renal function. METHODS: From a large data basis, we found retrospectively only 29 children (10 below and 19 above two years of age at first examination) having had at least two Tc-99m mertiatide (Tc-99m MAG3) renographic explorations for various urological diseases, with a decrease of split function of at least 5% between the two examinations. Evolution of split function was compared to evolution of SKGFR obtained by means of the combination of Tc-99m MAG3 split function and overall glomerular filtration rate as given by the chromium Cr 51 ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) clearance. RESULTS: For the group above two years of age, SKGFR increased or remained stable in 63% of the cases, while in the children less than 2 years of age, a decrease of SKGFR was never observed, according to the maturation of overall GFR in this age group. Thus, the decrease of split function was not necessarily associated with a similar decrease of SKGFR. CONCLUSION: In patients with unilateral or bilateral urological disorders, deterioration of split renal function does not necessary correspond to a loss of function of the affected kidney. SKGFR often modifies the interpretation of split function.

Chelating Agents↗

[Management of isolated fetal dilatations of the kidney pelvis].

The most common sonographic abnormality found in the fetal urinary tract is collecting system dilatation, accounting for 4.5% of examinations. Numerous renal pelvis measurements and various gestational age cut-off points have been recommended in the assessment of obstructive fetal uropathy. As a result, renal pelvic measurements are not well standardized. The first measurements of the renal pelvis diameter in the 80's suggested that a threshold value of 10 mm was significant in order to distinguish between physiologic and pathologic dilatations. The routine use of prenatal ultrasound and the improving resolution of ultrasound equipment allow the detection of smaller dilatations. The third-trimester threshold value for the antero-posterior renal pelvis diameter of 7 mm is the best ultrasound criterion to predict postnatal renal abnormalities with a positive predictive value of 69%. A renal pelvis dilatation during the second trimester of pregnancy can be used as a warning sign for urinary tract malformation, and should not be ignored even if there is no further progression in the third trimester, because this finding may reveal a significant urologic abnormality in 12% of cases. Isolated pyelectasis can signal the presence of vesico-ureteral reflux. Normal appearing urinary tract on 2 successive neonatal ultrasound rarely coexist with significant abnormal findings on voiding cysto-urethrography. Therefore, in such cases, invasive investigations are not justified.

Decision Trees↗

Early prognostic factors of infants with chronic renal failure caused by renal dysplasia.

Renal dysplasia (RD) is a common cause of chronic renal failure (CRF) in children. The evolution towards end-stage renal failure is unpredictable due to the paucity of early prognostic factors. In order to identify early prognostic clinical criteria, we have retrospectively analyzed renal function and growth in 11 infants with RD and CRF from birth up to 4 years of age. Children with obstructive RD were not included. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was estimated from Schwartz formula. In infants with a GFR below 15 ml/min per 1.73 m2 at 6 months of age (group A, n=5), kidney function did not further improve; 4 reached end-stage renal failure between 8 months and 6 years of age. In contrast, infants with a GFR above 15 ml/min per 1.73 m2 at 6 months of age (group B, n=6) experienced a significant improvement in renal function during follow-up, and none required renal replacement therapy. During the first 3 months of life all infants with RD and CRF developed severe growth retardation. Between 6 months and 4 years of age, children from group B grew significantly better than those from group A. In conclusion, our experience suggests that GFR, estimated from Schwartz formula at 6 months of age, is a useful prognostic factor in infants with RD and CRF. Infants with a GFR below 15 ml/min per 1.73 m2 are at risk of severe growth delay and the need for early renal replacement therapy, whereas those with a GFR above 15 ml/min per 1.73 m2 have a relatively favorable long-term prognosis.

Body Height↗

[Medulloblastoma: analysis of 14 cases treated at the J. Bordet Institute and literature review].

Between 1966 and 1986, 14 patients with histologically verified cerebellar medulloblastomas were seen at J. Bordet Institute after total (4 cases) or partial (10 cases) tumor removal. Twelve received postoperative irradiation after some courses of chemotherapy (Vincristine, Procarbazine, Methotrexate) for 5. In 10 cases the X ray treatment was given to the whole cerebrospinal axis with approximately 50 Gy delivered to the primary tumor site, 25-35 Gy to the remaining brain and spinal cord. As in other series of the literature the long term prognosis is not too good, with approximately 50% of the patients surviving more than 5 years. Failure at the primary site happened in 4 cases. As a consequence of the small number of patients treated, no conclusion can be drawn from risk factor analysis. Yet it appears that younger patients fared better than older ones. A detailed description of the side effects of the treatment is therefore given for the five children treated at prepubertal age: some growth impairment seems to be the rule, a consequence of GH deficiency--if not compensated--and of the direct effect of ionizing radiation on the vertebral bodies. While discussing the progress of neurosurgery and radiotherapy for the treatment of medulloblastoma, the authors emphasize the need of more efficient adjuvant chemotherapy regimens and the interest of multicenter trial for evaluating them.

Adolescent↗

[Immunosuppressive agents in pediatric renal transplantation].

Advances in immunosuppressive therapy over the past decade have led to dramatic improvements of patient and graft survival. The immunosuppression that is used is constantly evolving. The goal remains to find the best combination that will optimize long-term graft survival, while minimizing the adverse effects. It is likely that in the near future the results will even be improved further by the development of new medications with a better therapeutic index and the induction of transplant tolerance.

Calcineurin Inhibitors↗