Purpose Colonoscopy is considered the most reliable method for the diagnosis of juvenile polyps. However, colonoscopic screening is an invasive and expensive procedure. Fecal calprotectin (FCP), a marker of intestinal inflammation, has been shown to be elevated in patients with polyps. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate FCP as a screening biomarker for the diagnosis of juvenile polyps. Methods This cross-sectional, observational study was conducted at the Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition Department, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh. For children with polyps, colonoscopic polypectomy and histopathology were performed. FCP levels were analyzed before and 4 weeks after polypectomy in all patients. Information was recorded in a datasheet and analyzed using the computer-based program SPSS. Results The age of the children was between 2.5 and 12 years. Approximately 93% of the polyps were found in the rectosigmoid region. Children with juvenile polyps had elevated levels of FCP before polypectomy that subsequently normalized after polypectomy. The mean FCP levels before and after polypectomy were 277±247 µg/g (range, 80–1,000 µg/g) and 48.57±38.23 µg/g (range, 29–140 µg/g) ( p <0.001), respectively. The FCP levels were significantly higher in patients with multiple polyps than in those with single polyps. Moreover, mean FCP levels in patients with single and multiple polyps were 207.6±172.4 µg/ g and 515.4±320.5 µg/g ( p <0.001), respectively. Conclusion Colonic juvenile polyps were found to be associated with elevated levels of FCP that normalized after polypectomy. Therefore, FCP may be recommended as a noninvasive screening biomarker for diagnosis of colonic juvenile polyps.

Accurate determination of intravesical residual urine volume as well as bladder capacity is of significant importance in children. The ability to confirm these measurements non invasively in children avoids discomfort, urethral trauma and the introduction of urinary tract infection. Also, by avoiding the need for catheterization this technique permits more physiological assessment and allows for repeated examinations without fear and anxiety on the part of the patients. In this prospective study we assess the accuracy of the real time, hand held, ultrasonic device using suprapubic views and biplanar technique to determine intravesical volumes. Real time ultrasonography with suprapubic views and the described bi-planar technique to determine intravesical urine volume is simple, accurate and reproducible. It also is rapid and noninvasive, and can detect accurately an empty bladder in children. A strong correlation was found between the estimated bladder volume with our method and voided urine volume (0 ml, residual volume) .This study concluded that the modality used in this study has the potential to provide useful and reproducible information in the clinical evaluation of bladder function in children.