CSF cytokines, nitric oxide and prostaglandins in diagnosis and pathophysiology of childhood CNS leukemia and lymphoma

To clarify the role of cytokines, nitric oxide [NO] and prostaglandin- E2 [PG-E2] in diagnosis and pathogenesis of infiltration of central nervous system [CNS] in cases with leukemia and lymphoma, the levels of these indices in the cerebrospinal fluid [CSF] of those children were determined. Their levels were correlated with other laboratory studies of CSF and clinical criteria. This study included twenty- seven children with acute leukemia [twenty with acute lymphoblastic leukemia [ALL] and seven with acute myeloid leukemia [AML]] and fifteen with non- Hodgkin's lymphoma [NHL]. Clinical evidence of CNS involvement was present in seventeen patients with acute leukemia and seven cases with NHL. The study revealed significantly elevated levels of two types of cytokines [TNF-alpha, IL-6] NO and PG-E2 in CSF of children with acute leukemias and lymphoma compared with control group [children with tension headache or meningism]

Ultrasonography in obstructive uropathy in infants

The study included 18 male patients aged 2mg. to 2 years, presented by vomiting, dehydration, abdominal distention, oliguria or even anuria. Rehydration by I.V. fluids and symptomatic treatment of vomiting and abdominal distension have improved the general condition of the patients but not the urine outflow. Blood urea and serum creatinine were elevated. Plain X-ray on the abdomen and IVU were done for all patients but were inconclusive. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed bilateral pelviureteric obstruction by radiolucent stones in 8 cases, bilateral ureteric dilatation without evident cause of obstruction in 2 cases, bladder outflow obstruction due to posterior uretheral valve in 6 cases and bladder neck obstruction in 2 cases Blood urea, serum creatinine and dilatation of the collecting system returned to normal within 4-10 days and 10-15 days respectively in 10 cases. While in8 cases improvement of such parameters occurred but not return to normal. Reduction of the thickness of renal cortex as well as focal increase in renal cortical echogenicity due to renal scarring was observed in this later group of patients by follow-up abdominal ultrasonography

A study of etiological factors of nocturnal enuresis

Primary nocturnal enuresis represented 62.9% of the cases [males 60.7%,females 39.3%]. Most of them were from big families [70.2%] and low socioeconomic levels [73.8%]. Maximum functional bladder capacity was estimated for patients and controls. Those with primary nocturnal enuresis showed a sig. Smaller [P 0.005] maximum functional bladder capacity than controls, while patients with secondary nocturnal enuresis showed no sig. difference from controls. Urodynamic studies were done for 10 cases presented with primary nocturnal enuresis and recurrent urinary tract infection. It revealed a hyperreflexic bladder in 8 cases which increases the intravesical pressure and impair renal and ureteral drainage leading to recurrent attacks of urinary tract infection. They showed favourable response after 2 weeks treatment with an anticholinergic drug [propantheline bromide] following treatment of urinary tract infection