Objective To investigate the efficacy and safety of rituximab in the treatment of anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis.Methods Three patients with anti-NMDAR antibodies in cerebrospinal fluid and serum hospitalized from May 2012 to July 2014 were retrospectively reviewed.The clinical syndrome,investigations,and therapeutic interventions by rituximab when first line immunotherapy failed were evaluated.Results All 3 patients were females with median age of 17 years (12,17,and 22 years).One patient had ovarian teratoma.All 3 patients presented with psychiatric symptoms and movement disorders,2 of which developed into a state of unresponsiveness.Brain magnetic resonance imaging of 2 patients was unremarkable,and 1 showed T2 and FLAIR hyperintensity among the areas of medulla,pons,caudex cerebri and callosum.Fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose-PET showed variable multifocal cortical and subcortical abnormalities that changed during the course of the disease.Electroencephalograms were abnormal in all patients,showing non-specific,slow,and disorganised activity,1 showing extreme delta brush.The cerebrospinal fluid showed lymphocytic pleocytosis.All patients showed no response to treatment with first line immunotherapy (corticosteroids,intravenous immunoglobulin (400 mg · kg-1 · d-1 × 5 d,2-3 courses of treatment)).After the administration of rituximab,1 patient responded slower,whereas the other 2 patients who recovered dramatically (375 mg/m2 every week for 3-4 weeks) continued immunosuppression with mycophenolatemofetil for 1 year.Relapse occurred in 1 patient when the immunotherapies discontinued 6 months later.During the treatment of rituximab,2 patients had grade 3 infectious adverse events (hospitalization and intravenous administration of antibiotics).Conclusions Rituximab is effective for the patients with anti-NMDAR encephalitis who fail to respond to the first line immunotherapy.However the utility of rituximab is still a challenge due to the risk of infectious complications and off-label use.

Objective To determine whether peripheral nerve ultrasound can differentiate CharcotMarie-Tooth type 1 (CMT1) from chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP).Methods Eighteen patients with CIDP,13 patients with CMT1 and 16 healthy controls were recruited prospectively from Peking Union Medical College Hospital between January 2014 and July 2015 for this study.Ultrasonographic tests were performed via nerve tracing from wrist to axilla on median and ulnar nerve with a 10 MHz linear array probe.The cross sectional areas (CSAs) were measured at 10 defined sites of the nerves,respectively.Results CSAs (mm2) at all sites of median nerve were significantly increased in CMT1 than in CIDP (10.5 ±5.3 vs7.8 ±2.4,10.9 ±3.6 vs 6.8 ±1.9,11.5 ±5.0 vs7.3 ±1.8,13.5 ± 4.4vs7.2±2.5,16.0±4.5vs7.2±2.1,17.1±5.1vs7.0±2.8,21.0±4.5vs9.5±4.8,24.3±6.9 vs 9.5 ±4.3,23.9 ±6.0 vs 10.2 ±4.3,22.4 ±6.7 vs 9.8 ±2.1;t=2.141,4.766,2.935,4.858,6.715,6.602,7.148,7.100,8.078,6.498,respectively,all P ＜ 0.05).CSAs (mm2) at all sites of ulnar nerve were significantly increased in CMT1 than in CIDP (7.9 ± 1.8 vs 4.0 ± 1.3,8.9 ± 2.0 vs 4.9 ± 1.3,13.5±1.9 vs6.5±2.4,15.0±4.3 vs 6.5 ±1.5,15.8 ±4.4 vs 6.8 ±3.3,11.6±2.3 vs6.9± 3.1,10.2±3.2vs7.6±2.8,14.0±3.0vs6.6±2.1,19.2±3.7vs7.6±4.4,18.1±3.6vs6.3± 2.5;t =7.652,7.414,9.194,6.893,6.443,4.766,2.561,7.897,8.113,11.554,respectively,all P ＜ 0.05).CSAs at 8 sites of median nerve and 8 sites of ulnar nerve were significantly increased in CIDP than in healthy controls.Receiver operation characteristic curve analysis revealed that CSA was suited for differentiating CMT1 from CIDP,and the area under curve in 8 sites of median nerve and 9 sites in ulnar nerve was more than 0.9.Conclusions CSAs measured at different sites by peripheral nerve ultrasound in CMT1 were significantly increased than in CIDP.Measurement of CSAs by peripheral nerve ultrasound can be used for differentiating CMTI from CIDP.

Objective:To investigate the clinicopathological features, immunophenotype and differential diagnosis of clear cell hidradenoma, and to analyze the origin of clear cell hidradenoma and the underlying mechanism.Methods:The clinical data of 23 cases of clear cell hidradenoma who underwent surgical resection in Suzhou Municipal Hospital between December 2017 and July 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Clinical manifestation, imaging features, pathological features and prognosis of the 23 cases of clear cell hidradenoma were analyzed. Expression levels of epithelial membrane antigen, cytokeratin 20, cytokeratin 7, cytokeratin 14, carcinoembryonic antigen, and gross cystic disease fluid protein 15 were detected by immunohistochemical staining technique using the EnVision system. Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining was performed to visualize glycogen.Results:Among the 23 cases, 8 were male and 14 were female, aged 14-94 years, with a median age of 55 years. The first symptom of clear cell hidradenoma was epidermal bulgels in 18 cases.Contrast ultrasonography showed a subcutaneous cystic solid echo mass with abundant blood flow in the solid part. The tumor histologically consisted of two types of cells: secretory epithelial cells or glandular epithelial cells and clear cells. Twenty cases had tumors with the features of benign clear cell hidradenoma. Two cases had atypical clear cell hidradenoma with atypia and mitosis. One case had malignant clear cell hidradenoma. Tumor cells were positive for epithelial membrane antigen, cytokeratin 7, cytokeratin 14, carcinoembryonic antigen, and gross cystic disease fluid protein 15 and they were Periodic acid-Schiff-positive. Twenty-three patients were followed up for 2-36 months, of which 4 were lost to follow-up and the rest had no recurrence of clear cell hidradenoma.Conclusion:Clear cell hidradenoma is rare and has a good prognosis. Malignant clear cell hidradenoma is rarer and has a poor prognosis. Diagnosis of clear cell hidradenoma is mainly based on comprehensive analysis of pathological features and immunophenotypes. Clear cell hidradenoma should be differentiated from metastatic clear cell carcinoma, spiral adenoma, cortical adenoma, and malignant melanoma.

POEMS syndrome is a rare paraneoplastic syndrome due to plasma cell neoplasm. It is a disorder involving multiple organs, mainly manifesting as demyelinating peripheral neuropathy. The major diagnostic criteria for the syndrome are polyradiculoneuropathy, clonal plasma cell disorder, sclerotic bone lesions, elevated vascular endothelial growth factor, and the presence of Castleman disease. Minor features include organomegaly, endocrinopathy, characteristic skin changes, papilledema, extravascular volume overload, and thrombocytosis. A good history and physical examination followed by appropriate testing-radiographic assessment of bones, measurement of vascular endothelial growth factor, bone marrow biopsy and electromyography can differentiate this syndrome from other conditions such as chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy, other plasma disorders (including amyloidosis, myeloma, and monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance neuropathy). Early diagnosis and treatment could greatly improve the prognosis.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of biofeedback combined with swallowing function training at different times on post-stroke dysphagia. Methods 124 patients with post-stroke dysphagia were randomly divided into observation group and control group. The observation group was given biofeedback combined with swallowing function training for 2 weeks and 4 weeks of treatment. The control group was given routine swallowing function training for 2 weeks and 4 weeks of treatment. Kubota drinking water test was used to evaluate the swallowing function before treatment, 2 weeks and 4 weeks after treatment in both groups. Results There was no statistically significant difference in the scores of swallowing function between the two groups before treatment (P=0. 401). After 2 weeks of treatment, there was also no statistically significant difference in the evaluation of swallowing function between the observation group and the control group (P=0. 138). After 4 weeks of treatment, the evaluation of swallowing function in the observation group was significantly better than that in the control group(P=0. 003). Conclusion Biofeedback combined with swallowing function training is better than the routine swallowing function training. After 4 weeks of treatment, the efficacy of biofeedback combined with swallowing function training is better than the biofeedback combined with swallowing function training after 2 weeks, indicating that there is a correlation between the treatment effect and the length of treatment time.

Objective To assess the safety and feasibility of video electroencephalographic (VEEG) monitoring in preterm infants and critically ill neonates in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Method From December 2017 to June 2018, high risk infants were prospectively enrolled and received VEEG monitoring in our NICU. Their basic information, adverse events and disturbances of any procedure during VEEG monitoring were collected by specially-trained nurses. Result A total of 245 times of VEEG were recorded. The average gestational age (GA) was (32.1 ± 3.6) weeks, the birth weight (BW) was (1879 ± 757) g, the corrected GA (cGA) at VEEG monitoring was (33.8±3.3) weeks, and the average weight at VEEG monitoring was (2008±716) g. The earliest cGA at VEEG monitoring was 25+5 weeks, and the lowest weight at VEEG monitoring was 520 g. The average monitoring duration was (4.9±2.4) h, ranging from 3 to 20 hours. During VEEG monitoring, 80 cases (32.7％) received noninvasive ventilation, 43 cases (17.6％) mechanical ventilation. The adverse events during electrodes placement were oxygen desaturation in 8(3.3％) cases. During VEEG monitoring, local skin erythema were found in 4 cases (1.6％), and electrodes displacement in 2(0.8％) cases. The disturbances of any clinical procedures were reported in 18(7.3％) cases. No severe adverse events such as displacement of endotracheal tube nor events requiring cardiopulmonary resuscitation occurred during VEEG monitoring. Conclusion It is feasible and safe for trained NICU nurses to place electrodes for high risk neonates.

Objective To evaluate the effect of atorvastatin preconditioning on cognitive function in isoflurane-anaesthetized mice.Methods Forty-eight healthy male C57BL/6 mice,aged 3 months,weighing 27-41 g,were divided into 3 groups (n =16 each) using a random number table:control group (group C),isoflurane anesthesia group (group Ⅰ) and atorvastatin preconditioning plus isoflurane anesthesia group (group AI).Atorvastatin 10 mg/kg was given through a gastric tube into the stomach at the same time every day for 7 consecutive days in group AI.In Ⅰ and AI groups,1.5％ isoflurane was inhaled for 6 h with fresh gas flow of 2 L/min at 1 day after the end of administration.Open field test and Morris water maze test were performed at 1 day after the end of anesthesia.The mice were sacrificed at 1 day after the end of Morris water maze test,and hippocampi were isolated for determination of caspase-3,Bax and Bcl-2 expression (by Western blot) and contents of interleukin-1beta (IL-1β),tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and soluble Aβ1-42 in hippocampal tissues (by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay).Results There was no significant difference in the parameters of open field test among the three groups (P＞0.05).Compared with group C,the escape latency was significantly prolonged at each time point,the time of staying at the original platform quadrant was shortened,the frequency of crossing the original platform was decreased,the contents of IL-1β,TNF-α and soluble Aβ1-42 were increased,the expression of caspase-3 and Bax was up-regulated,and Bcl-2 expression was down-regulated in Ⅰ and AI groups (P＜0.05).Compared with group Ⅰ,the escape latency was significantly shortened at each time point,the time of staying at the original platform quadrant was prolonged,the frequency of crossing the original platform was increased,the contents of IL-1β,TNF-α and soluble Aβ1-42 were decreased,the expression of caspase-3 and Bax was downregulated,and Bcl-2 expression was up-regulated in group AI (P＜0.05).Conclusion Atorvastatin preconditioning can improve cognitive function in isoflurane-anaesthetized mice,and the mechanism may be association with attenuating hippocampal inflammatory responses,inhibiting over-expression of Aβ1-42 and inhibiting neuronal apoptosis.

OBJECTIVE：To prov ide a reference for the diagnosis and treatment of invasive fungal infection in children. METHODS：Four male children with invasive fungal infection in critical condition ，aged from 3 months to 17 years，were treated in our hospital. The types of diseases included pneumonia ，endocarditis，meningitis and pulmonary infection. The pathogens involved Trichosporon asahii ，Candida portugal ，Malassezia globosa ，Pichia guilliermondii ，Alternaria alternate and Candida krusei. Clinical pharmacists comprehensively followed up the treatment and reviewed the literature to assist doctors in formulating treatment plans. They provided Fluconazole sodium chloride injection （6 mg/kg，ivgtt，qd），Caspofungin acetate for injection （loading dose 32 mg，maintenance dose 25 mg，ivgtt，qd），Fluconazole capsules （400 mg，p.o.，qd）and Voriconazole for injection（200 mg，i.v.，q12 h）+Capofungin acetate for injection （loading dose 70 mg，maintenance dose 50 mg，i.v.，qd）and other symptomatic treatment ，and closely monitored the changes of relevant indicators and the occurrence of ADR during the treatment of children. RESULTS ：The doctor adopted the clinical pharmacist ’s suggestion ，three cases were relieved and one was not cured. No serious ADR was found. CONCLUSIONS ：Once similar infections are found in clinic ，timely targeted treatment should be given in combination with the types of pathogens and drug resistance characteristics ，so as to effectively control the disease. The real cases provided in this article can provide evidence for the treatment of children with fungal infection.

OBJECTIVE： To re-evaluate t he methodology quality of published systematic review/Meta-analysis of antidepressants in the treatment of post-stroke depression. METHODS ：Retrieved from Cochrane Library ，PubMed，Embase， SinoMed，CNKI，Wanfang database ，VIP，CBM and other databases ，systematic review/Meta-analysis of antidepressants in the treatment of post-stroke depression were collected during the inception to Dec. 2019. After literature screening and data extraction ， methodology quality of included literatures were evaluated by using the AMSTAR scale. RESULTS ：A total of 33 systematic reviews/Meta-analysis were included ，involving 523 RCTs and 41 020 patients. Average score of AMSTAR methodological quality evaluation was 6.76. Citalopram ，duloxetine and paroxetine were effective for the therapy of post-stroke depression ，but the conclusions about the effectiveness among antide-pressants were not consistents. The ADR incidence of Paroxetine was low. It was not clear that sertraline and citalopram may improve the neurological function of patients. CONCLUSIONS ：The methodological quality of systematic review/Meta-analysis of antidepressants in the treatment of post-stroke depression is medium ，and the conclusions about the effectiveness of antidepressants ，improvement of daily life ability and the recovery of neurological function are still controversial.

Objective: To summarize the clinical characteristics and nerve conduction damage in patients with early POEMS syndrome, and to explore the value of segment nerve conduction velocity in the diagnosis of POEMS syndrome. Methods: A total of 73 patients with POEMS syndrome and 27 healthy controls in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from September 2009 to June 2019 were recruited in this study. The motor and sensory nerve conduction characteristics of median, ulnar, tibial, and peroneal nerves and the clinical features of the participants were analyzed. The analysis parameters included: (1) distal motor latency (DML), compound muscle action potential (CMAP); (2) the median velocity from elbow to wrist, the median velocity from axillary to elbow, the ulnar velocity from the site below elbow to wrist, the ulnar velocity from the site above elbow to below elbow, the ulnar velocity from axillary to the site above elbow, the tibial velocity from ankle to knee, the peroneal velocity from ankle to fibulae capitulum; (3) sensory nerve conduction velocity and amplitude of these nerves; (4) terminal latency indices (TLI) of median; (5) motor nerve conduction blocks. Results: Peripheral nerve damages were the initial symptoms in thirty-two patients in this group, accounting for 43.8% (32/73), and 81.3% (26/32) of these patients only showed numbness in lower extremities. All POEMS syndrome patients with numbness had abnormal sensory nerve conduction, and 9.5% (7/73) of patients without sensory symptoms also had abnormal sensory nerve conduction. On the other hand, the decrease of CMAP amplitude corresponded to clinical muscle strength decline and motor dysfunction. In the patients with POEMS syndrome, motor nerve conduction in the lower limbs were more likely to be affected and the damages were more severe than in the upper limbs: the proportion of CMAP disappearance in the lower limbs and upper limbs was 47.6% (112/235) vs 2.8% (7/252; χ²=133.698, P<0.01). Sensory nerve conduction damage was more severe than motor nerve conduction: the proportion of amplitude disappearance in sensory and motor conduction was 43.0% (141/328) vs 24.4% (119/487; χ²=133.698, P<0.01). The slowing of motor nerve conduction velocity was more common than the decrease of CMAP amplitude: the rate of slowing down of motor nerve conduction was 88.7% (432/487), and the rate of decrease of amplitude was 52.8% (257/487; χ²=151.905, P<0.01). The DML of median and ulnar nerve in the POEMS syndrome group was longer than that in the control group (median nerve: 4.4 (3.7, 5.0) ms vs 3.2 (3.0, 3.5) ms, U=854.000, P<0.01; ulnar nerve: 3.1 (2.7, 3.8) ms vs 2.5 (2.2, 2.7) ms, U=1 077.500, P<0.01). The TLI of median nerve in patients with POEMS syndrome was significantly higher than that of healthy controls (0.40±0.11 vs 0.35±0.06, t=3.466, P=0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in nerve conduction velocity between the forearm segment and the upper arm segment in the POEMS group. Conclusions Neurological damages were common in patients with POEMS syndrome with sensory nerve damage often being the initial clinical manifestation. In patients with POEMS syndrome, the nerve damage in the lower limbs was more severe than in the upper limbs, and sensory nerve damage was more severe than motor nerve damage. Segmental motor nerve conduction results suggested that demyelination damage occurred earlier than axonal damage, and proximal lesions were slightly heavier than distal lesions. No conduction block was detected in these patients. These characteristics of segmental nerve conduction can provide more evidence for clinical diagnosis of POEMS syndrome.