Sonographic measurement of renal size in normal North Indian children.

Objective: To determine the renal size in normal North Indian children by renal sonography. Design: Hospital based (outpatient based) cross sectional observational study. Material and methods: Total 1198 normal children aged 1 month to 12 years were included in the study. Sonographic assessment of renal size (length, width and thickness) was performed using Philips, multi frequency (3.5, 5 and 7.5 Mhz) linear and convex probes in B-mode. The mean renal dimensions and volume were calculated for each age group with ± 2SD. The renal length and calculated renal volume were correlated with somatic parameters like age, weight, height, and body surface area (BSA). Linear Regression equations were derived for each variable. Results: A strong correlation was seen between renal size and renal volume with various somatic parameters (age, weight, height, BSA), (coefficient of correlation = 0.9). Conclusion: This study provides values of renal size (mean± 2SD) in normal North Indian children and its correlation with age, weight,height, and BSA. Renal size can be easily calculated by derived linear regression equation.

Histomorphologic study of experimental fungal infection with immune modulation.

Background and objectives: To study the histomorphological changes in various organs of mice receiving C.albicans inoculation with and without prior corticosteroid injections. Method: The study consisted of 5 groups. Group I animals received C.albicans intraperitoneally. Group II received corticosteroids prior to intraperitoneal C.albicans inoculation. Group III animals received intravenous injections of C.albicans. Group IV animals received corticosteroids prior to intravenous C.albicans injection. Group V, the control group received normal saline. Results: Group I animals showed microabscesses on liver, spleen and in omentum. Healing of lesions occurred spontaneously. Group II animals noted increased mortality with more widespread lesions. Involvement of lung and kidney was also noted. In Group III, mortality occurred in all animals within 72hrs. Lesions were also noted in kidneys, heart, and brain. Conclusion: Corticosteroid administration induces immunosupression resulting in disseminated infections.