Histologically Verified Carotid Plaque Characteristics by Ultrasound: A Diagnostic Accuracy Systematic Review.

Ultrasound (US) has been considered the first-line diagnostic technique for evaluating carotid atherosclerosis, where plaque composition plays a key role in stroke risk. We aimed to analyze the diagnostic accuracy of carotid plaque characteristics using US techniques compared to histology in patients with symptomatic/asymptomatic carotid plaques. After prospective study registration in PROSPERO, we searched Medline Ovid, Embase.

Practice variation in the use of steroid-sparing therapies in childhood steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome: results from a prospective cohort study.

Background: Steroid-sparing therapies are often used to prolong disease remission while minimizing steroid toxicity in childhood steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome (SSNS). This study aims to describe practice variation in the use of steroid-sparing medications for childhood SSNS in Canada.

Methods: Children (1-18 years) with nephrotic syndrome (NS) from eleven pediatric nephrology centers in Canada were enrolled in the Canadian Childhood Nephrotic Syndrome (CHILDNEPH) prospective cohort from 2013-2019.

Non-invasive imaging of individual histological carotid plaque characteristics: A diagnostic accuracy meta-analysis.

Background And Aims: Accurately detecting carotid plaque characteristics is crucial for identifying high-risk patients due to risk of cerebrovascular events and complications during revascularizations. Diagnostic accuracy of individual and overall carotid plaque characteristics using computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and ultrasound (US) compared to histology in patients with symptomatic/asymptomatic carotid plaques was aimed.

Methods: After prospective registration on PROSPERO (CRD42022329690), Medline Ovid, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science were searched without any limitations.

Current etiology of hypertension in European children - factors associated with primary hypertension.

Background: While hypertension (HT) in pediatric patients is often secondary (SH), recent trends show a rise in primary hypertension (PH), which is associated with an increasing global prevalence of obesity. A relationship between serum uric acid and PH has also been suggested. Our study aimed to assess the etiology of HT and factors associated with PH in a large European cohort of children referred for HT based on office blood pressure (BP) measurements.

Carotid plaque characteristics by computed Tomography: A diagnostic accuracy systematic review.

Beyond the stenosis degree, the carotid plaque morphology assessed by computed tomography may improve the stroke risk stratification and is recommended to be considered before interventional treatment according to current guidelines. This study aimed to systematically review the accuracy of computed tomography (CT) to detect carotid plaque characteristics compared to histology in patients with symptomatic and asymptomatic carotid plaques. We registered the protocol in PROSPERO and searched Medline Ovid, Embase.

Ambulatory isolated diastolic hypertension and risk of left ventricular hypertrophy in children with primary and secondary hypertension.

Background: Pediatric blood pressure (BP) assessment and management is increasingly important. Uncontrolled systolic and combined hypertension leads to hypertension-mediated organ damage. The impact of isolated diastolic hypertension is less clearly understood.

Diagnostics Accuracy of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Detection of Atherosclerotic Plaque Characteristics in Carotid Arteries Compared to Histology: A Systematic Review.

Carotid plaque composition represents one of the main risk factors of future ischemic stroke. MRI provides excellent soft tissue contrast that can distinguish plaque characteristics. Our objective was to analyze the diagnostic accuracy of MRI imaging in the detection of carotid plaque characteristics compared to histology in patients with symptomatic and asymptomatic carotid atherosclerosis through a systematic review.

Diagnostic accuracy of carotid plaque instability by noninvasive imaging: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aims: There is increasing evidence that plaque instability in the extracranial carotid artery may lead to an increased stroke risk independently of the degree of stenosis. We aimed to determine diagnostic accuracy of vulnerable and stable plaque using noninvasive imaging modalities when compared to histology in patients with symptomatic and asymptomatic carotid atherosclerosis.

Methods And Results: Medline Ovid, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science were searched for diagnostic accuracy of noninvasive imaging modalities (CT, MRI, US) in the detection of 1) vulnerable/stable plaque, and 2) vulnerable/stable plaque characteristics, compared to histology.

Kidney volume normative values in Central European children aged 0-19 years: a multicenter study.

Background And Objecitves: The currently available kidney volume normative values in children are restricted to small populations from single-centre studies not assessing kidney function and including none or only a small number of adolescents. This study aimed to obtain ultrasound-based kidney volume normative values derived from a large European White/Caucasian paediatric population with normal kidney function.

Methods: After recruitment of 1427 children aged 0-19 years, 1396 individuals with no history of kidney disease and normal estimated glomerular filtration rate were selected for the sonographic evaluation of kidney volume.

Screening for hypertension in adults: protocol for evidence reviews to inform a Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care guideline update.

Purpose: To inform updated recommendations by the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care on screening in a primary care setting for hypertension in adults aged 18 years and older. This protocol outlines the scope and methods for a series of systematic reviews and one overview of reviews.

Methods: To evaluate the benefits and harms of screening for hypertension, the Task Force will rely on the relevant key questions from the 2021 United States Preventive Services Task Force systematic review.

Hypertension in pediatric kidney transplantation.

Arterial hypertension (HTN) in children after kidney transplantation is an important risk factor not only for graft loss but also for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The prevalence of posttransplant HTN ranges between 60% and 90%. The etiology of posttransplant HTN is multifactorial and includes residual chronic native kidney disease, immunosuppressive therapy, and chronic allograft dysfunction among other causes.

Mitigating the Denosumab-Induced Rebound Phenomenon with Alternating Short- and Long-Acting Anti-resorptive Therapy in a Young Boy with Severe OI Type VI.

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) type VI, a recessively inherited form of OI caused by mutations in SERPINF1, is a severe form distinguished by osteomalacia on bone histomorphometry. We describe a boy with severe OI type VI who was initially treated with intravenous (IV) zoledronic acid (ZA) at 1.4 years of age; however, a year later he transitioned to denosumab 1 mg/kg sub-cutaneously every three months in an effort to decrease fracture rates.

Accelerated vascular age in adolescents with primary hypertension.

Background: Primary hypertension may lead to early vascular ageing. We aimed to evaluate differences between expected vascular age based on pulse wave velocity (PWV)/carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and actual chronological age (CHA) in adolescents with primary hypertension.

Methods: Three hundred and fifty-two children (median age of 15.

Kidney length normative values - new percentiles by age and body surface area in Central European children and adolescents.

Background: Kidney size evaluation is an essential examination in pediatric nephrology. While body length/height is the best predictor of kidney length, age-based and body surface area (BSA)-based normative values may be useful in clinical practice or research. This study aimed to establish ultrasound-based kidney length lambda-mu-sigma (LMS) percentiles by age and BSA in healthy children.

Left and Right Ventricular Morphology, Function and Myocardial Deformation in Children with Left Ventricular Non-Compaction Cardiomyopathy: A Case-Control Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Study.

: Left ventricular non-compaction (LVNC) is a rare cardiomyopathy typically involving the left ventricle (LV); however, the right ventricle (RV) can also be affected. This case-control study aimed to assess the morphology and function of LV and RV in children with LVNC. : Sixteen children (13 ± 3 years, six girls) with LVNC were compared with 16 sex- and age-matched controls.

Isolated systolic hypertension is associated with increased left ventricular mass index and aortic stiffness in adolescents: a cardiac magnetic resonance study.

Objectives: Despite the high prevalence of isolated systolic hypertension (ISH) among hypertensive adolescents, its clinical significance is not determined. In addition, it is hypothesized that ISH with normal central blood pressure (BP) in young patients is a benign phenomenon and was hence labeled spurious hypertension (sHTN).

Methods: Using cardiac magnetic resonance we evaluated a group of 73 patients with suspected primary hypertension, aged 13-17 years (median: 16.

Early Vascular Aging in Children With Type 1 Diabetes and Ambulatory Normotension.

Preliminary data suggest that target organ damage (TOD) and early vascular aging (EVA) may occur in children with normal blood pressure (BP). To analyze TOD and EVA in normotensive (BP <95th percentile on ambulatory BP monitoring) type 1 diabetes children (T1D) in comparison to healthy controls (C). 25 T1D aged 13.

Blood pressure variability in children with obesity and sleep-disordered breathing following positive airway pressure treatment.

Obese youth with sleep-disordered breathing are treated with positive airway pressure to improve sleep and cardiovascular status. While improvements in sleep parameters have been confirmed, a study by Katz et al. showed no major improvement in ambulatory blood pressure.

Kidney length normative values in children aged 0-19 years - a multicenter study.

Background: Currently used pediatric kidney length normative values are based on small single-center studies, do not include kidney function assessment, and focus mostly on newborns and infants. We aimed to develop ultrasound-based kidney length normative values derived from a large group of European Caucasian children with normal kidney function.

Methods: Out of 1,782 children aged 0-19 years, 1,758 individuals with no present or past kidney disease and normal estimated glomerular filtration rate had sonographic assessment of kidney length.

Unattended automated office blood pressure measurement in children.

Purpose: We studied the performance of unattended automated office blood pressure (uAOBP) measurement in children, in relation to oscillometric office BP (OBP) and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM).

Materials And Methods: One hundred and eleven stable treated and untreated outpatients investigated for hypertension underwent uAOBP measurements (seated unattended in a quiet room separate from the renal clinic room, six times after a 5 min rest with the BpTRU device), and immediately before using the oscillometric device. Ambulatory 24 h blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) was performed on the same day in a subgroup of 42 children.

High prevalence of extrarenal artery involvement in children with fibromuscular dysplasia - a single-center experience.

Background: Although the clinical presentation of fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) and its generalized character has been previously described in adults, data on FMD in children are limited.

Method: In this study, we aimed to assess visceral artery involvement in pediatric FMD patients with documented renal artery stenosis (RAS) and renovascular hypertension (RVH) in comparison with healthy individuals. We retrospectively analyzed the results of angiographic studies of 16 patients with a median age of 13.

Diastolic hypertension is associated with proteinuria in pediatric patients.

Background And Aims: Blood pressure lability has been observed in certain cohorts of pediatric patients with variable degrees of proteinuria; however, the impact of proteinuria on blood pressure is not fully elucidated. The objective of our study was to analyze blood pressure and heart rate in pediatric patients with proteinuria.

Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review of patients (age 1-18) diagnosed with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome, with varying degrees of proteinuria.