Etiology and Oral Antibiotic Susceptibility Patterns of the First Urinary Tract Infection Episode in Infants Under 6 Months of Age: A 17-Year, Retrospective, Single-Center Study in Italy.

Background: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common bacterial infections in children, and the antibiotic susceptibility in the youngest patients remains poorly understood. This study aimed to describe the distribution of uropathogens and their antibiotic susceptibility, focusing on oral formulations.

Methods: Data from the first microbiological isolation, between January 2007 and December 2023, at Istituto Gaslini, in young infants (aged <6 months), were analyzed.

The Crosstalk Between NETs and the Complement Cascade: An Overview in Nephrological Autoimmune Disease.

The complement cascade and Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETs) represent fundamental tools in protecting the host from foreign pathogens. Complement components and relative fragments, classically assigned to the innate immunity, represent a key link with the humoral immune response. NETs are a crucial component of the innate immune response, consisting of chromatin release from activated neutrophils.

Non-infectious complications of peritoneal dialysis in children.

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) remains a cornerstone treatment for children with stage 5 chronic kidney disease, offering significant benefits in terms of quality of life and patient autonomy compared to hemodialysis. Recent advances in care protocols, particularly in infection prevention, have led to a substantial reduction in peritonitis and other infectious complications in pediatric patients on PD. Despite these improvements, non-infectious complications continue to pose significant challenges to the long-term efficacy of PD.

Case report: Single infusion of combined anti-CD20 and anti-CD38 monoclonal antibodies in pediatric refractory lupus nephritis.

Lupus nephritis (LN), present in 30%-50% of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients, often necessitates standard immunosuppressive therapy (glucocorticoids, MMF, CYC) as suggested by the European League Against Rheumatism/European Renal Association-European Dialysis and Transplant Association (EULAR/ERA-EDTA) and Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) guidelines. However, a subset of subjects remains refractory. Recent findings suggested the efficacy of targeting CD38-long-lived plasma cells in LN and SLE refractory to standard treatment.

Control of BKPyV-DNAemia by a Tailored Viro-Immunologic Approach Does Not Lead to BKPyV-Nephropathy Progression and Development of Donor-Specific Antibodies in Pediatric Kidney Transplantation.

Polyomavirus BK (BKPyV)-associated nephropathy (BKPyV-nephropathy) remains a significant cause of premature kidney allograft failure. In the absence of effective antiviral treatments, current therapeutic approaches rely on immunosuppression (IS) reduction, possibly at the risk of inducing alloimmunity. Therefore, we sought to explore the long-term effects of a tailored viro-immunologic surveillance and treatment program for BKPyV on the development of alloimmunity and kidney graft outcome.

Survey of legislative frameworks and national recommendations governing paediatric maintenance haemodialysis in Europe.

Background: The application of international recommendations for paediatric maintenance haemodialysis (HD) could be strengthened by national laws or written recommendations. Our aim was therefore to describe the national rules governing paediatric maintenance HD in European countries.

Methods: A national representative, approved by the president of each paediatric nephrology society, was contacted in all 42 European countries to complete two online questionnaires.

Diffusion-weighted MRI in the identification of renal parenchymal involvement in children with a first episode of febrile urinary tract infection.

Aims: This study aims to assess the diagnostic accuracy of diffusion-weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging (DW-MRI) and determine the inter-reader agreement between two expert radiologists in detecting pyelonephritic foci during the initial episode of febrile urinary tract infection (fUTI) in children aged 0-5 years. Also, we aim to establish the correlation between clinical data and DW-MRI findings.

Methods: Children aged 0-5 years presenting with their first episode of fUTI were included in the study and underwent DW-MRI and Ultrasound (US) examinations within 72 h of admission.

Clinical practice guideline for the prevention and management of peritoneal dialysis associated infections in children: 2024 update.

Infection-related complications remain the most significant cause for morbidity and technique failure in infants, children and adolescents who receive maintenance peritoneal dialysis (PD). The 2024 update of the Clinical Practice Guideline for the Prevention and Management of Peritoneal Dialysis Associated Infection in Children builds upon previous such guidelines published in 2000 and 2012 and provides comprehensive treatment guidance as recommended by an international group of pediatric PD experts based upon a review of published literature and pediatric PD registry data. The workgroup prioritized updating key clinical issues contained in the 2012 guidelines, in addition to addressing additional questions developed using the PICO format.

Safety and Efficacy of Cinacalcet in Children Aged Under 3 Years on Maintenance Dialysis.

Introduction: Secondary hyperparathyroidism (sHPT) is particularly severe in rapidly growing infants in dialysis. Although cinacalcet is effective and licensed in dialysis in children aged >3 years, its efficacy and safety for children aged <3 years is unknown.

Methods: We identified 26 children aged <3 years who were on dialysis and treated with cinacalcet between 2009 and 2021 in 8 European pediatric centers.

Proteomic Profiling of Cerebrospinal Fluid and Its Extracellular Vesicles from Extraventricular Drainage in Pediatric Pilocytic Astrocytoma, towards Precision Oncology.

Pediatric pilocytic astrocytoma (PA) is the most common brain tumor in children. Complete resection provides a favorable prognosis, except for unresectable PA forms. There is an incomplete understanding of the molecular and cellular pathogenesis of PA.

Corrigendum: Case report: Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children with associated proximal tubular injury.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fneph.2023.

Brain and spine malformations and neurodevelopmental disorders in a cohort of children with CAKUT.

Background: Congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) represent 20-30% of all birth defects and are often associated with extra-renal malformations. We investigated the frequency of brain/spine malformations and neurological features in children with CAKUT.

Methods: We reviewed the clinico-radiological and genetic data of 199 out of 1,165 children with CAKUT evaluated from 2006 to 2023 (99 males, mean age at MRI 6.

Novel biomarkers and pathophysiology of membranous nephropathy: PLA2R and beyond.

Research on membranous nephropathy truly exploded in the last 15 years. This happened because of the application of new techniques (laser capture microdissection, mass spectrometry, protein G immunoprecipitation, arrays) to the study of its pathogenesis. After the discovery of PLA2R as the major target antigen, many other antigens were identified and others are probably ongoing.

Microplastics and Kidneys: An Update on the Evidence for Deposition of Plastic Microparticles in Human Organs, Tissues and Fluids and Renal Toxicity Concern.

Plastic pollution became a main challenge for human beings as demonstrated by the increasing dispersion of plastic waste into the environment. Microplastics (MPs) have become ubiquitous and humans are exposed daily to inhalation or ingestion of plastic microparticles. Recent studies performed using mainly spectroscopy or spectrometry-based techniques have shown astounding evidence for the presence of MPs in human tissues, organs and fluids.

Biologics in steroid resistant nephrotic syndrome in childhood: review and new hypothesis-driven treatment.

Nephrotic syndrome affects about 2-7 per 100,000 children yearly and accounts for less than 15% of end stage kidney disease. Steroids still represent the cornerstone of therapy achieving remission in 75-90% of the cases The remaining part result as steroid resistant nephrotic syndrome, characterized by the elevated risk of developing end stage kidney disease and frequently presenting disease recurrence in case of kidney transplant. The pathogenesis of nephrotic syndrome is still far to be elucidated, however, efficacy of immune treatments provided the basis to suggest the involvement of the immune system in the pathogenesis of the disease.

Case Report: Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children with associated proximal tubular injury.

Introduction: SARS-CoV-2 infection in the pediatric population can be associated with a multiorgan inflammatory syndrome called children's multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C). The kidneys can be affected by a broad spectrum of possible injuries, whose pathogenetic mechanisms are still unclear. We report the case of a 5-year-old boy with severe cardiac involvement in the context of MIS-C.