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Urology

Treating Severe Pediatric Kidney Disease with Simultaneous Bilateral Native Nephrectomy
 Treating Severe Pediatric Kidney Disease with Simultaneous Bilateral Native Nephrectomy 480 320 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana

A 15-year review of indications, approaches and outcomes. A recent study published in Pediatric Transplantation and led by Christina B. Ching, MD, pediatric urologist in the Department of Pediatric Urology at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, offers valuable insights into a very rare clinical procedure: simultaneous bilateral native nephrectomies, or the removal of both kidneys at the…

Creation of Patient-Derived Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Lines for Studying Rare Pediatric Genitourinary Disorders
 Creation of Patient-Derived Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Lines for Studying Rare Pediatric Genitourinary Disorders 1024 683 Lauren Dembeck
By: Lauren Dembeck

Nationwide Children’s researchers create first-ever stem cell lines for rare genitourinary conditions. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have revolutionized medical research by providing powerful tools to study disease mechanisms, especially in rare genetic conditions. These versatile cells, derived directly from patients that have the condition, offer unprecedented opportunities to uncover the underlying genetic and cellular…

Setting the Standard for Cloacal Malformation Management
 Setting the Standard for Cloacal Malformation Management 1024 928 Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES
By: Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES

The team in the Center for Colorectal and Pelvic Reconstruction at Nationwide Children’s Hospital has transformed the profession’s approach to surgical care and follow-up, dramatically altering patient outcomes in the process. To say that cloacal malformation management has been historically understudied may be an understatement. “At the time we published our surgical protocol, it was…

Harnessing the Power of Antimicrobial Peptides: A New Frontier in Infection Prevention
 Harnessing the Power of Antimicrobial Peptides: A New Frontier in Infection Prevention 1024 602 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana

Research offers promising solutions for urinary tract infection treatment and antibiotic resistance. Urinary tract infections affect millions of people and can contribute to significant morbidity. Research into innate immunity mechanisms has shown great promise for improving urinary tract infection prevention and treatment strategies, especially in populations at high risk, such as patients with insulin resistance.…

Why Aren’t Pediatric Kidney Stone Patients Returning for Follow-up After Surgery?
 Why Aren’t Pediatric Kidney Stone Patients Returning for Follow-up After Surgery? 1024 732 Lauren Dembeck
By: Lauren Dembeck

Kidney stones in children are on the rise, and many of these children miss critical post-op follow-ups. What prevents them from returning, and how can we help? Since 2000, kidney stone cases in the U.S. pediatric population have risen by 6–10% annually, leading to a corresponding increase in surgical interventions. Alarmingly, nearly half of pediatric…

4 Things to Know About Bladder Exstrophy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital
 4 Things to Know About Bladder Exstrophy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital 1024 734 Abbie Miller
By: Abbie Miller

Led by V. Rama Jayanthi, MD, and Peter Cuckow, MB, BS, FRCS, the Bladder Exstrophy Program at Nationwide Children’s is poised to launch a new era of care for children in the United States. When Drs. Jayanthi and Cuckow start talking about their new program, their excitement is palpable. “We’re so excited to bring this…

Pediatric Bladder Dysfunction: What to Do When Nothing Is Working
 Pediatric Bladder Dysfunction: What to Do When Nothing Is Working 1024 575 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana

Experts review the options, helping providers and families choose the right third-line treatment for their child. Pediatric non-neurogenic bladder dysfunction, or disordered voiding, can harm patients’ self-esteem and cause stress on the family dynamic and routine. The standard pediatric treatment involves behavioral modifications such as diet, bladder training, timed voiding and pelvic floor exercises. When…

Surgical Repair of Cloacal Malformation Does Not Worsen Bladder Function
 Surgical Repair of Cloacal Malformation Does Not Worsen Bladder Function 1024 683 Mary Bates, PhD
By: Mary Bates, PhD

The complexity of the malformation, more than the surgical approach, determines post-operative urodynamics. Approximately 90% of girls with cloacal malformation exhibit some degree of bladder dysfunction. While associated conditions can impact bladder dynamics, the complex surgery required to repair cloacal malformation has also been hypothesized to cause bladder dysfunction. Strategies to repair cloacal malformation in…

Long-Term Bladder Management and Continence in Girls With Cloacal Malformation
 Long-Term Bladder Management and Continence in Girls With Cloacal Malformation 1024 683 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana
Molly Fuchs, MD

New insights on outcomes and quality of life from Nationwide Children’s comprehensive study of pediatric patients. Over the last decade, surgical innovation has revolutionized the treatment of cloacal malformation, a congenital anomaly affecting the development of the gastrointestinal, urinary and reproductive systems in girls. This condition occurs when the rectum, vagina and urinary tracts fail…

Novel Brace for Hip Immobilization After Bladder Exstrophy Repair
 Novel Brace for Hip Immobilization After Bladder Exstrophy Repair 150 150 Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES
By: Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES

An innovative orthopedic brace allows families to avoid the disadvantages of casts, external fixators and traction devices after bladder exstrophy surgery. After bladder exstrophy repair — a complicated surgery to move a baby’s bladder from outside of the abdomen to the inside — postoperative hip position can cause tension on the incisions, making pelvic immobilization…

Refining the Role of Basal Urothelial Cells in Bladder Development
 Refining the Role of Basal Urothelial Cells in Bladder Development 1024 683 Jessica Nye, PhD
By: Jessica Nye, PhD

Basal keratin 5 urothelial cells (K5-UCs) were found to be age-restricted progenitors in bladders and their progenitor potential could be rescued by exogenous proliferative cues.   “The identity of the bladder urothelium progenitor is controversial and confounded by slow turnover, and a low mitotic index during homeostasis,” says Ashley R. Jackson, PhD, principal investigator in…

Unraveling the Genetic Mystery Behind a Rare Pediatric Disease
 Unraveling the Genetic Mystery Behind a Rare Pediatric Disease 980 429 Wendy Margolin
By: Wendy Margolin

Prune belly syndrome (PBS) is a rare, congenital urologic disease, affecting an estimated 1 out of 50,000 births. While most urologists will see fewer than three cases of PBS in their careers, Nationwide Children’s Hospital’s Linda Baker, MD, has treated more than 50 patients and met and counseled nearly 200 in the last 15 years.…

Spinal Anesthesia – an Alternative for Infants Undergoing Surgery
 Spinal Anesthesia – an Alternative for Infants Undergoing Surgery 1024 683 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana

A new study highlights the safety and efficacy of more than 1,000 surgeries using spinal anesthesia. Nationwide Children’s Infant Spinal Anesthesia Program, headed by Grant J. Heydinger, MD, a pediatric attending anesthesiologist in the Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine, recently published the results of a multiyear study of spinal anesthesia for infants undergoing surgery…

When Surgery Does Not Go as Planned
 When Surgery Does Not Go as Planned 1024 575 V. Rama Jayanthi, MD
By: V. Rama Jayanthi, MD
Dr. Jayanthi standing in OR

A surgeon’s reflections on complications, trust and moving forward together.   I have been thinking back on my career and the instances where a patient developed a complication, and the surgery did not go as planned. Having a family state their child was better off before the surgery and seeing the significant emotional harm it…

Innovations in Pediatric Nephrology and Urology: Spotlight on Congenital Urinary Tract Obstruction
 Innovations in Pediatric Nephrology and Urology: Spotlight on Congenital Urinary Tract Obstruction 150 150 Erin Gregory
By: Erin Gregory

Congenital urinary tract obstruction poses significant challenges for pediatric patients, compelling innovative approaches in urology. Nationwide Children’s Hospital pioneers research in this field, focusing on understanding the complexities of urinary tract conditions. Two labs within the Kidney and Urinary Tract Center at Nationwide Children’s are spearheading efforts to unravel the intricacies of urinary tract obstruction,…

Transforming Treatment for Paratesticular Rhabdomyosarcoma in Adolescents through Robotics
 Transforming Treatment for Paratesticular Rhabdomyosarcoma in Adolescents through Robotics 1024 683 Erin Gregory
By: Erin Gregory

Retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) has been a crucial component of treating testicular and paratesticular cancers for over a century. Recent advancements in minimally invasive techniques, such as robotic-assisted methods, have expanded the applicability of RPLND, offering reduced morbidity and faster recovery. However, concerns persist regarding the equivalence of oncological outcomes compared to traditional open…

Is Dextranomer/Hyaluronic Acid an Effective Bladder Neck Bulking Agent for Patients with Persistent Incontinence Following Bladder Neck Reconstruction?
 Is Dextranomer/Hyaluronic Acid an Effective Bladder Neck Bulking Agent for Patients with Persistent Incontinence Following Bladder Neck Reconstruction? 1024 575 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana
Dr. Jayanthi standing in OR

Urinary incontinence caused by bladder neck incompetence is common in children diagnosed with neurogenic bladder. Many patients undergo surgery to increase bladder outlet resistance to incontinence, but some still experience it even after surgery. Endoscopic injection of bulking agents has previously been utilized and studied for use in the bladder neck as follow-up treatment for…

Developing Predictive Tools for CAKUT
 Developing Predictive Tools for CAKUT 1024 575 Leslie Feldman
By: Leslie Feldman

Pediatric nephrologists routinely see infants and children with congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) — the most frequent cause of childhood chronic kidney disease (CKD). Some of these anomalies are not clinically significant, while others result in varying degrees of kidney function impairment. Half of all children receiving dialysis or kidney transplants…

Exploring the Clinical Journey of Children With Primary Hyperoxaluria
 Exploring the Clinical Journey of Children With Primary Hyperoxaluria 150 150 JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM
By: JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM

Children with primary hyperoxaluria, a rare genetic disease, navigate a complicated clinical journey that includes a heavy reliance on health care services and usage of multidisciplinary care. Primary hyperoxaluria (PH) is a rare disease caused by genetic mutations of enzymes that regulate hepatic glyoxylate metabolism, leading to oxalate overproduction. The excess oxalate is excreted by…

Safe, Minimally Invasive Upper Urinary Tract Surgery for Infants
 Safe, Minimally Invasive Upper Urinary Tract Surgery for Infants 1024 575 Patti Doud
By: Patti Doud
small baby with nose canula

Evidence supports robotic surgery as a safe approach to upper urinary tract procedures in infants 6 months or younger. While robotic surgery has risen in popularity and feasibility for procedures in both older children and adults alike, there has been little data to determine whether it’s a safe possibility for young children and infants. But…

Investigating Caregiver Disclosure of Pediatric Urologic Surgery
 Investigating Caregiver Disclosure of Pediatric Urologic Surgery 1024 575 Mary Bates, PhD
By: Mary Bates, PhD
Toddler playing with toys

A survey reveals most caregivers plan to disclose urologic surgery to their child but would like more guidance from providers. Some pediatric urologic surgeries are performed early in childhood and with short-term follow-up. When children have surgery before the age of memory formation, it is up to their caregiver to disclose this surgery to them.…

Intraoperative Evaluation of Penile Blood Flow During Bladder Exstrophy
 Intraoperative Evaluation of Penile Blood Flow During Bladder Exstrophy 150 150 Mary Bates, PhD
By: Mary Bates, PhD

Laser angiography technology allows for real-time measurements of penile perfusion during exstrophy repair operations. In a new pilot study, researchers from the Pediatric Urology Midwest Alliance (PUMA) demonstrated that intraoperative laser angiography is a safe and easy method to evaluate penile perfusion during bladder exstrophy closure. The optimal technique for repair of bladder exstrophy in…

Reducing Opioid Prescriptions for Common Pediatric Urologic Procedures
 Reducing Opioid Prescriptions for Common Pediatric Urologic Procedures 1024 682 JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM
By: JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM
smiling baby being held up by an adult

To address the national opioid epidemic, clinician-scientists developed a quality improvement initiative to achieve significant, long-term reductions in opioid prescriptions after common pediatric urologic procedures.   Opioids are commonly prescribed for pediatric urologic procedures. However, studies have reported a troubling practice of overprescribing opioids in pediatric health, contributing to the ongoing opioid epidemic. “There is…

Proteins as Antibiotic Alternatives for Urinary Tract Infections
 Proteins as Antibiotic Alternatives for Urinary Tract Infections 1024 682 Emily Siebenmorgen
By: Emily Siebenmorgen

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria have made treating common infections challenging. In a new study from Nationwide Children’s Hospital, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science (PNAS), researchers demonstrate a way to boost the body’s production of antimicrobial peptides, which may provide an alternative to antibiotic use. With the rise of in antibiotic resistant infections, finding treatment…

Featured Researcher — Linda Baker, MD
 Featured Researcher — Linda Baker, MD 150 150 Natalie Wilson
By: Natalie Wilson

Linda Baker, MD, a renowned expert in prune belly syndrome (PBS), joined Nationwide Children’s as a research director and principal investigator in the Kidney and Urinary Tract Center and The Ohio State University as a clinical professor of Urology at the end of 2022. Dr. Baker has met, evaluated and cared for over 180 children…

5 Things to Know About Prune Belly Syndrome
 5 Things to Know About Prune Belly Syndrome 1024 683 Abbie Miller
By: Abbie Miller
Linda Baker, MD

Linda Baker, MD, urologist, principal investigator, and one of the world’s foremost experts on prune belly syndrome, recently joined Nationwide Children’s Hospital as the co-director of the Kidney and Urinary Tract Center. She shares some important things to know about this rare disease. 1. Prune belly is a rare, congenital malformation. Prune belly syndrome (PBS)…

Real-World Urinary Management and Outcomes in Cloacal Exstrophy Among Children and Adults
 Real-World Urinary Management and Outcomes in Cloacal Exstrophy Among Children and Adults 1024 683 Jessica Nye, PhD
By: Jessica Nye, PhD
Molly Fuchs, MD

Most (94%) older children and adults with cloacal exstrophy are managed by incontinent diversion or clean intermittent catheterization. “The published literature about cloacal exstrophy can be misleading, and there is an impression that with surgical bladder reconstruction, normal bladder function and voiding can be restored. That is to say, a child will be able to…

Bowel Management Program Improves Urinary Symptoms Associated with Pediatric Functional Constipation
 Bowel Management Program Improves Urinary Symptoms Associated with Pediatric Functional Constipation 150 150 JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM
By: JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM

A one-week bowel management program can significantly improve urinary symptoms in children with functional constipation, possibly eliminating the need for extensive urologic testing. Molly Fuchs, MD, a urologist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, and her research team recently demonstrated that a bowel management program (BMP) significantly improved urinary symptoms in children with functional constipation. Functional constipation…

When Functional Outcomes Are Achieved Post-Op, Do Patients and Families Care About Scarring?
 When Functional Outcomes Are Achieved Post-Op, Do Patients and Families Care About Scarring? 1024 683 Abbie Miller
By: Abbie Miller

A recent editorial from Dr. Daniel DaJusta questions whether cosmetic concerns after surgery are primarily driven by surgeons, patients or parents. It is widely accepted that having a smaller, neater or less visible scar following surgery is a preferable cosmetic outcome to a large, ragged or highly visible scar. This is supported anecdotally by surgeons,…

Which Surgical Approach for Catheterizable Channels in Bowel and Bladder Management Is Best?
 Which Surgical Approach for Catheterizable Channels in Bowel and Bladder Management Is Best? 150 150 Jessica Nye, PhD
By: Jessica Nye, PhD

Specific patient characteristics, such as appendix size, may help guide clinicians when deciding which surgical approach to use for patients in need of catheterizable channels for bladder and bowel management. Many patients with neurologic disorders experience urinary and fecal incontinence. The appendix or the transverse ileal tube can be repurposed as a catheterizable channel to…

Practical, At-Home Parasacral Nerve Stimulation for Overactive Bladder in Children
 Practical, At-Home Parasacral Nerve Stimulation for Overactive Bladder in Children 150 150 Mary Bates, PhD
By: Mary Bates, PhD

A new regimen for parasacral transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is manageable and results in subjective improvements, though objective improvements were modest. In a new study, researchers from Nationwide Children’s evaluated the effectiveness of a practical, at-home regimen of parasacral transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) for children with overactive bladder. Parasacral TENS involves electrical stimulation…

From 1 to 1,000: How Robotic Technology Has Brought Surgeons Together at Nationwide Children’s Hospital
 From 1 to 1,000: How Robotic Technology Has Brought Surgeons Together at Nationwide Children’s Hospital 1024 683 Marc Michalsky, MD, MBA, Karen Diefenbach, MD, Molly Fuchs, MD and Daniel DaJusta, MD
By: Marc Michalsky, MD, MBA, Karen Diefenbach, MD, Molly Fuchs, MD and Daniel DaJusta, MD

This month marks an important milestone for patients receiving care at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio: the completion of our 1,000th minimally invasive case using the DaVinci Robotic System. Nationwide Children’s was one of the first large children’s hospitals in the country to acquire a robotic system (2013) and like many, the decision was…

High Rate of Urologic Anomalies in Children With Anorectal Malformations
 High Rate of Urologic Anomalies in Children With Anorectal Malformations 150 150 Lauren Dembeck
By: Lauren Dembeck

Early recognition of urologic problems through proactive screening and urologic collaboration may help prevent of renal deterioration and allow for timely treatment in this population.   Researchers at Nationwide Children’s Hospital have recently demonstrated that urologic anomalies occur at a high rate in children with anorectal malformations and appear to increase in frequency with increasing…

Kidney and Urinary Tract Protein Demonstrates Antimicrobial Activity
 Kidney and Urinary Tract Protein Demonstrates Antimicrobial Activity 1024 683 Lauren Dembeck
By: Lauren Dembeck

A little-studied peptide found in the urinary tract is a potential biomarker for urinary tract infection risk and could be developed into a novel therapeutic against drug-resistant bacteria.  Researchers at Nationwide Children’s Hospital have demonstrated that an understudied protein expressed in the human kidney and bladder kills the bacteria that cause urinary tract infections (UTI).…

Featured Researcher — Leena Nahata, MD
 Featured Researcher — Leena Nahata, MD 150 150 Natalie Wilson
By: Natalie Wilson

Pediatric endocrinologist Leena Nahata, MD, is the founder and medical director of the Fertility and Reproductive Health Program at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and a principal investigator in the Center for Biobehavioral Health at the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s. Although fertility-related decisions can seem far away for children, adolescents and their families, many…

Robotic Surgery Is Here to Stay
 Robotic Surgery Is Here to Stay 150 150 Abbie Miller
By: Abbie Miller

A recent publication describes increases in the use of robotic surgery in children’s hospitals across the country.  The use of robotic surgery in tertiary children’s hospitals has been on the rise since the 2000s. In a recent publication, researchers from Nationwide Children’s Hospital sought to characterize the use and growth in acceptance of robotic surgeries…

Does Twinkle Artifact on Ultrasound Indicate a Kidney Stone in Pediatric Patients?
 Does Twinkle Artifact on Ultrasound Indicate a Kidney Stone in Pediatric Patients? 150 150 Mary Bates, PhD
By: Mary Bates, PhD

The presence of twinkle artifact on ultrasound is a useful, though imperfect, tool for diagnosing kidney stones in children. For pediatric patients, ultrasound is the recommended imaging modality used to diagnose kidney stones. Several findings are used to identify stones on ultrasound, including the presence of an echogenic focus, posterior acoustic shadowing, or twinkle artifact.…

A New Kind of Rectal Diversion in Classic Bladder Exstrophy
 A New Kind of Rectal Diversion in Classic Bladder Exstrophy 1024 754 Jeb Phillips
By: Jeb Phillips

  This article appeared in the Spring/Summer 2021 print issue. Download the full issue.   Medical illustrations by Mandy Root-Thompson for Nationwide Children’s Hospital Source: V. Rama Jayanthi, chief of Urology at Nationwide Children’s Hospital To learn more about the procedure and it’s applications, read A Surprising Approach to Classic Bladder Exstrophy.

Girls’ Perineal Microbiomes Change Over Development, After Urinary Tract Infection
 Girls’ Perineal Microbiomes Change Over Development, After Urinary Tract Infection 150 150 Mary Bates, PhD
By: Mary Bates, PhD

Next-generation sequencing reveals different flora associated with developmental milestones in girls, as well as disruptions in patients with a history of urinary tract infection. In a new pilot study, researchers from Nationwide Children’s Hospital evaluated the microbiomes of girls at specific developmental timepoints. They found shifts in the perineal microbiome corresponding with important developmental milestones,…

Does Psychosocial Functioning Differ Among Children With and Without Differences of Sex Development?
 Does Psychosocial Functioning Differ Among Children With and Without Differences of Sex Development? 1024 575 Lauren Dembeck
By: Lauren Dembeck
Parent and child holding hands

A multidisciplinary team of researchers recently found that children with differences of sex development (DSD) appear to be at greater risk for psychosocial problems relative to children with cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) and unaffected peers. The study, which was published in the Journal of Pediatric Psychology, highlights the increased need for integrated interdisciplinary care with…

Novel Roles of the Urothelium in the Development of Congenital Anomalies of the Kidney and Urinary Tract
 Novel Roles of the Urothelium in the Development of Congenital Anomalies of the Kidney and Urinary Tract 150 150 Lauren Dembeck
By: Lauren Dembeck

In addition to genetic defects, interactions of the developing urothelium with its underlying mesenchyme and superficial plaque may contribute to congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract. Congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUTs) are the leading cause of chronic and end-stage kidney disease in children. Collaborative translational research at Nationwide Children’s…

An Imbalance of Immune Cells Leads to Kidney Scarring After Infection
 An Imbalance of Immune Cells Leads to Kidney Scarring After Infection 1024 732 Mary Bates, PhD
By: Mary Bates, PhD

In a preclinical mouse model, researchers identify the immune cell balancing act that determines whether renal scarring will occur following kidney infection More than half of urinary tract infections in children spread from the bladder to the kidneys, causing acute kidney infections that can lead to renal scarring. Renal scarring can have serious repercussions in…

Do Surgical Outcomes Differ Between Minimally Invasive Pyeloplasty Procedures in Treating Ureteropelvic Junction Obstruction?
 Do Surgical Outcomes Differ Between Minimally Invasive Pyeloplasty Procedures in Treating Ureteropelvic Junction Obstruction? 1024 575 JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM
By: JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM
Dr. Jayanthi standing in OR

Minimally invasive pyeloplasty has become increasingly popular over open dismembered pyeloplasty, the traditional treatment for ureteropelvic junction obstruction. Robotic-assisted pyeloplasty (RALP) and laparoscopic pyeloplasty (LP) are minimally invasive procedures that produce smaller scars and less postoperative pain. These are advantages that appeal to parents of patients undergoing these procedures. In a recent Journal of Pediatric Urology publication, Rama…

Does Low Baseline Renal Volume Lead to Renal Insufficiency in Children With Cloacal Anomalies?
 Does Low Baseline Renal Volume Lead to Renal Insufficiency in Children With Cloacal Anomalies? 1024 683 Lauren Dembeck
By: Lauren Dembeck

According to the results of a recent study published in Urology, children with cloacal anomalies have baseline renal volumes similar to those of children without cloacal anomalies, indicating that the increased risk of renal insufficiency in children with cloacal anomalies appears to be due to postnatal renal injury. “Before we can determine if surgical interventions or…

Can a Kidney Failure Risk Equation Validated in Adults Predict Kidney Failure in Children?
 Can a Kidney Failure Risk Equation Validated in Adults Predict Kidney Failure in Children? 1024 575 Lauren Dembeck
By: Lauren Dembeck

Novel disease-specific biomarkers are needed to improve prediction models in pediatric disease. Obstructive uropathy is a frequent cause of kidney injury in children, and it is estimated to cause approximately one-sixth of pediatric kidney failure cases in North America. However, risk equations to predict kidney disease progression have not yet been developed for children. To…

Determining Ureteropelvic Junction Obstruction Surgical Success Using Biomarkers
 Determining Ureteropelvic Junction Obstruction Surgical Success Using Biomarkers 1024 575 Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES
By: Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES

Biomarkers initially found to differ among patients with ureteropelvic junction obstruction and healthy controls may also objectively gauge post-surgical resolution of obstruction. A follow-up study of a trial that initially identified four biomarkers that differ between healthy controls and pediatric patients about to undergo surgery for ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) has confirmed that two of…

Improving the Care and Management of Urinary Tract Infections Through Collaboration
 Improving the Care and Management of Urinary Tract Infections Through Collaboration 150 150 JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM
By: JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM

The Urinary Tract Infection Global Alliance (UTIGA) is a new professional society that is dedicated to combatting the many challenges in UTI management and care through collaboration. With nearly 150 million people affected by urinary tract infections (UTIs) annually across the globe, UTIs are a major health problem. Both the term ‘UTI’ and the infection’s…

Transforming Medical Science Through Research Affinity Groups
 Transforming Medical Science Through Research Affinity Groups 150 150 Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES
By: Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES

Purposeful synergy drives the most meaningful medical science. Nephrology physician-scientists require tissue samples, urologists desire tests to know which patients truly require surgery, and basic scientists must find ways to meaningfully assess new animal models to yield clinically valuable data. If each of these professionals had a defined network of colleagues from the other disciplines…

Keeping Options Open in Complex Pediatric Nephrolithiasis
 Keeping Options Open in Complex Pediatric Nephrolithiasis 1024 575 Lauren Dembeck
By: Lauren Dembeck

Urologists in the Pediatric Urology Midwest Alliance recently looked at how endoscopic assisted robotic pyelolithotomy could reduce the number of procedures for children with ureteropelvic junction obstruction. The Pediatric Urology Midwest Alliance (PUMA) recently published a new report demonstrating that endoscopic assisted robotic pyelolithotomy (EARP) is an acceptable treatment option for complex cases of pediatric…

Answers to Burning Questions About Pediatric Urinary Tract Infections
 Answers to Burning Questions About Pediatric Urinary Tract Infections 1024 683 Abbie Miller
By: Abbie Miller

Nationwide Children’s urologists and nephrologists recently co-hosted a Twitter chat for primary care providers, answering common questions about pediatric urinary tract infections (UTIs). Below is a summary of the questions and answers, adapted for brevity and clarity. Q: What causes UTIs in children? A: UTIs are typically caused by uropathogenic E. coli bacteria that invade the urinary…

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