Assessment of erythropoiesis in renal anemia using soluble transferrin receptors

To evaluate the clinical usefulness of soluble transferrin receptors [sTFR], 42 patients were enrolled in this study representing four groups. Group I included 10 end stage renal disease [ESRD] patients on HD, EPO and i.v. iron twice-thrice/week [their age ranged from 6 to 12 years with a mean of 7 years]. Group II included 18 ESRD patients on conservative management without regular HD nor erythropoietin, they received maintenance oral iron deficiency anemia with normal kidney functions [their mean age was 6.5 years], they were on iron therapy. Group IV included 13 healthy children with normal Hb level and normal kidney functions [they were age and sex matched as a control group and their mean age was 7 years]. Three parameters for the assessment of erythropoiesis were used in all groups [Hb, sTER and serum ferritin]. Kidney function tests were also determined

prophylactic and therapeutic use of oral sultamicillin [sulbactam/ampicillin] in children with bacterial urinary tract infections

Thirty five children suffering from urinary tract infections [U.T.I.] [15 with acute and 20 with chronic recurrent U.T.I.] were included in the study. In vitro sensitivity to the drug showed 100% sensitivity in the acute cases and 75% in the chronic cases. The sensitive cases were treated with oral sultamicillin; a sulbactam-ampicillin combination. Excellent results were reported in fifteen cases with acute U.T.I. with complete disappearance of clinical signs and symptoms together with eradication of the causative organisms. Fifteen cases with chronic recurrent infections were divided into 2 groups. Six cases received the same dosage regimen used in acute U.T.I. After a short time from stopping therapy, superinfection occurred in one case. Nine cases with chronic recurrent U.T.I. were maintained on subtherapeutic therapy for up to 3 months with persistent eradication of causative organisms confirmed by follow up cultures. All patients showed excellent tolerability without appearance of any side effects. The study confirms the efficiency and tolerability of the drug in cases with acute U.T.I. and chronic or recurrent U.T.I. In the latter group, it should be only used if culture results proved its sensitivity. Maintenance with subtherapeutic dose is again recommended for prophylaxis

Asymptomatic bacteriuria in school children 6-8 years age

Urinary tract infection in childhood is significant cause of morbidity and subsequent renal function impairment in children. Infections of the urinary tract may be asymptomatic. In a trial to screen for asymptomatic bacteriuria in school children 6-8 years of age, 50 randomly selected children [21 males and 29 females] from a primary school in a socioeconomically deprived area, were included in this study. All children were free of urological symptoms at the time of screening and were not under any antibiotic treatment for the preceeding week.Freshly passed midstream urine specimens were collected from the children aseptically in sterile tubes. Urine samples were cultured and colony counts were determined by the [Uriline] dipslide semiquantitative technique [BioMerieux]. Results of this study showed significant bacteriuria [>10[5]/ml] in 5 children [10%] all of them were females [17.2%]. The isolated bacteria were Staphylococcus aureus [4 cases] and Klebsiella from only one case