Increased behavioural problems associated with corticosteroid use in children with nephrotic syndrome: a Southeast Asian perspective.

Introduction: The study was performed to determine the psychological problems in children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS) while they were on steroid therapy, as compared to healthy children. Methods: This prospective cohort study was conducted in a paediatric clinic of a tertiary hospital. Parents of the participants in the INS group and control group (comprising children without chronic illness) completed questionnaires using the Child Behavioural Checklist (CBCL). The CBCL measures a range of age-specific emotional and psychological problems, including internalising and externalising domains. Analyses of the CBCL scores between groups were done using Mann-Whitney U test. Results: A total of 140 children were recruited with an equal number in the INS and control groups. There was a significant difference in the mean total CBCL scores between the INS group and the control group, specifically in the withdrawal, somatic, anxious and aggressiveness subdomains. Similar findings were demonstrated in correlation between total psychological problems and corticosteroid dosage. In the INS group, steroid dose and cushingoid features were found to have a significant positive association with internalising psychological problems. Conclusion: Children with INS on corticosteroid treatment showed an increase in internalising and externalising scores, as compared to healthy children.

Evaluation of Visual Acuity, Macular Thickness, and Level of Proteinuria in Children with Nephrotic Syndrome

Purpose@#Macular edema, serous retinal detachment, and retinal pigment epithelial detachment have been reported in patients with nephrotic syndrome. However, there is limited data about macular thickness in children with nephrotic syndrome. The aim of this study was to compare the mean macular thickness in children with nephrotic syndrome and in a control group and to correlate it with visual acuity and level of proteinuria. @*Methods@#The comparative cross-sectional study included 66 children aged 6 to 17 years with nephrotic syndrome and healthy control seen in two tertiary centers in Malaysia. We recorded demographic data, as well as visual acuity, level of proteinuria, and the mean macular thicknesses in both groups. The mean macular thickness was measured using Stratus optical coherence tomography according to nine areas of the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study map. @*Results@#The mean foveal thickness was 238.15 ± 22.98 µm for children with nephrotic syndrome and 237.01 ± 22.60 µm for the control group. There was no significant difference in the mean macular thickness between the groups (p = 0.843). A significant correlation with visual acuity was observed in the superior outer macula (r = –0.41, p = 0.019), the nasal outer macula (r = –0.41, p = 0.019), and the inferior outer macula (r = –0.40, p = 0.021). There was no significant correlation between the mean macular thickness and level of proteinuria (p = 0.338), although those with higher levels of proteinuria demonstrated a trend towards increased macular thickness. @*Conclusions@#The mean macular thickness in children with nephrotic syndrome was similar to that of healthy children. A significant correlation between the mean thickness of the outer macular layer and the presenting visual acuity was observed. There was no correlation between the mean macular thickness and the level of proteinuria.

Prevalence of Multidrug-Resistant and Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase-Producing Shigella Species in Asia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Shigellosis remains one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide and is the second leading cause of diarrheal mortality among all age groups. However, the global emergence of antimicrobial-resistant Shigella strains, limiting the choice of effective drugs for shigellosis, has become the major challenge in the treatment of Shigella infections. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to provide an updated picture of the prevalence of antimicrobial-resistant Shigella species in Asia. A comprehensive and systematic search was performed on three electronic databases (PubMed, ScienceDirect and Scopus), in which 63 eligible studies published between 2010 and 2022 were identified. From our meta-analysis of proportions using a random-effects model, the overall prevalence of Shigella spp. in Asian patients was estimated to be 8.0% (95% CI: 5.5-10.5). The pooled prevalence rates of multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Shigella strains were 68.7% (95% CI: 59.9-77.5) and 23.9% (95% CI: 12.9-34.8), respectively. Concerning recommended antimicrobial drugs for Shigella, the prevalence of resistance was highest for ciprofloxacin (29.8%) and azithromycin (29.2%), followed by ceftriaxone (23.8%), in spite of their importance as first- and second-line treatments for shigellosis. In contrast, resistance to carbapenems, such as ertapenem (0.0%), imipenem (0.1%) and meropenem (0.0%), was almost non-existent among the 49 tested antibiotics. The significantly high prevalence estimation suggests that the multidrug-resistant Shigella is a pressing threat to public health worthy of careful and justified interventions. Effective antibiotic treatment strategies, which may lead to better outcomes for the control and treatment of shigellosis in Asia, are essential.

Prevalence of Multidrug-Resistant Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli in Asia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Diarrhea is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in developing countries. Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli (DEC) is an important bacterial agent for diarrhea in infants, children, and international travelers, and accounts for more than 30% of diarrheal cases in children less than 5 years old. However, the choices of antimicrobial agents are now being limited by the ineffectiveness of many first-line drugs, in relation to the emergence of antimicrobial-resistant E. coli strains. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to provide an updated prevalence of antimicrobial-resistant DEC in Asia. A comprehensive systematic search was conducted on three electronic databases (PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Scopus), where 40 eligible studies published between 2010 and 2022 were identified. Using meta-analysis of proportions and a random-effects model, the pooled prevalence of DEC in Asian diarrheal patients was 22.8% (95% CI: 16.5-29.2). The overall prevalence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing DEC strains was estimated to be 66.3% (95% CI: 58.9-73.7) and 48.6% (95% CI: 35.1-62.1), respectively. Considering antimicrobial drugs for DEC, the resistance prevalence was highest for the penicillin class of antibiotics, where 80.9% of the DEC isolates were resistant to amoxicillin and 73.5% were resistant to ampicillin. In contrast, resistance to carbapenems such as imipenem (0.1%), ertapenem (2.6%), and meropenem (7.9%) was the lowest. The relatively high prevalence estimation signifies that the multidrug-resistant DEC is a public health threat. Effective antibiotic treatment strategies, which may lead to better outcomes for the control of E. coli infections in Asia, are necessary.

Timing and predictive factors of developing chronic kidney disease in childhood-onset idiopathic nephrotic syndrome: an Asian experience.

INTRODUCTION: Idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS) is the commonest type of nephrotic syndrome in children, and a majority of cases have favourable outcomes. A small proportion of INS cases progress to chronic kidney disease (CKD). We investigated the time to CKD and predictive risk factors associated with progression of CKD in these children. METHODS: A retrospective review of medical records was done to investigate the demographic variables, and biochemical and histological changes in children with INS aged 12 months to 18 years between 2001 and 2016 at Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia. The median renal survival time for progression to CKD stage III or higher was determined using survival curve analysis. Multiple Cox regression analysis was used to identify predictive factors for CKD. RESULTS: The total number of participants was 112 (boys: n = 71; girls: n = 41) and a majority had steroid-sensitive INS. Only about 10% of INS progressed to CKD Stage III or higher, with an overall median renal survival time of 19 years. Median renal survival time in steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS) was 13 years. Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis was predominant in SRNS. The predictors of progression to CKD were steroid resistance (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] [95% confidence interval (CI)] 23.8 [2.8-200.9]) and the presence of hypertension at presentation (adjusted HR [95% CI] 8.1 [1.2-55.7]). CONCLUSION: The median renal survival time in our study was comparable to other studies. SRNS and the presence of hypertension at presentation were the main predictors for developing CKD in our population.

Urinary potassium to urinary potassium plus sodium ratio can accurately identify hypovolemia in nephrotic syndrome: a provisional study.

There is evidence pointing to a decrease of the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in a subgroup of nephrotic children, likely secondary to hypovolemia. The aim of this study is to validate the use of urinary potassium to the sum of potassium plus sodium ratio (UK/UK+UNa) as an indicator of hypovolemia in nephrotic syndrome, enabling detection of those patients who will benefit from albumin infusion. We prospectively studied 44 nephrotic children and compared different parameters to a control group (36 children). Renal perfusion and glomerular permeability were assessed by measuring clearance of para-aminohippurate and inulin. Vaso-active hormones and urinary sodium and potassium were also measured. Subjects were grouped into low, normal, and high GFR groups. In the low GFR group, significantly lower renal plasma flow (p = 0.01), filtration fraction (p = 0.01), and higher UK/UK+UNa (p = 0.03) ratio were noted. In addition, non-significant higher plasma renin activity (p = 0.11) and aldosteron (p = 0.09) were also seen in the low GFR group. CONCLUSION: A subgroup of patients in nephrotic syndrome has a decrease in glomerular filtration, apparently related to hypovolemia which likely can be detected by a urinary potassium to potassium plus sodium ratio > 0.5-0.6 suggesting benefit of albumin infusion in this subgroup. What is Known: • Volume status can be difficult to assess based on clinical parameters in nephrotic syndrome, and albumin infusion can be associated with development of pulmonary edema and fluid overload in these patients. What is New: • Urinary potassium to the sum of urinary potassium plus sodium ratio can accurately detect hypovolemia in nephrotic syndrome and thus identify those children who would probably respond to albumin infusion.

Prevalence of asthma-like symptoms and assessment of lung function in schoolchildren born with low birth weight

<p><b>INTRODUCTION</b>This study aimed to determine the prevalence of asthma-like symptoms among schoolchildren with low birth weight (LBW), and to compare the lung function of these children with that of children with normal birth weight.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>This was a comparative cross-sectional study. We recruited children aged 8-11 years from eight primary schools in Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia. The children were divided into two groups: those with LBW (< 2,500 g) and those with normal birth weight (≥ 2,500 g). Parents of the enrolled children were asked to complete a translated version of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire. Lung function tests, done using a MicroLoop Spirometer, were performed for the children in both groups by a single investigator who was blinded to the children's birth weight.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The prevalence of 'ever wheezed' among the children with LBW was 12.9%. This value was significantly higher than that of the children with normal birth weight (7.8%). Forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second, and forced expiratory flow when 50% and 75% of the FVC had been exhaled were significantly lower among the children with LBW as compared to the children with normal birth weight.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>LBW is associated with an increased prevalence of asthma-like symptoms and impaired lung function indices later in life. Children born with LBW may need additional follow-up so that future respiratory problems can be detected early.</p>