The presence and persistence of systemic and lung inflammation in children with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is the basis for the use of corticosteroids as a therapeutic agent.The trial of ARDS treated with high-dose short-course corticosteroids showed no benefit,even increase motality.At present,the results of randomized controlled trial and meta-analysis suggested that low-dose and replacement-dose methylprednisolone [1-2 mg/(kg· d)] or equivalent types of corticosteroids may decrease the fatality rate,reduce staying days in ICU and the duration of mechanical ventilation.Use of corticosteroids for ARDS in children is still lack of multicenter randomized controlled trial.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect and outcome of critically illness with acute kidney injury (AKI) treated with continuous veno-venous hemodiafiltration (CVVHDF) in children.Methods Twenty-four cases of critically illness with AKI were treated with CVVHDF in our pediatric intensive care unit from Jan 2008 to Dec 2010.The levels of creatinine (Cr),blood urea nitrogen (BUN),K +,Na + and HCO3- were observed before CVVHDF and 6,12,24,48,72 h after CVVHDF.ResultsCatheter was successfully established for CVVHDF in 24 cases of AKI.The average duration of CVVHDF was 46 h ( 16 ～142 h).The blood levels of Cr and BUN were significantly decreased at 6 h after CVVHDF [ ( 196.3 ±112.4) μmol/L,( 13.3 ± 8.5 ) mmol/L] and 12 h after CVVHDF [ ( 106.1 ± 84.2) μ mol/L,( 10.2 ± 9.7 )mmol/L] as compared to those before treatment [ (340.6 ±298.2) μmol/L,(31.6 ± 11.3) mmol/L] (P ＜0.05,P ＜ 0.01 ).After 48 h of CVVHDF,the Cr,BUN returned to normal range.The imbalance of blood K +,Na +,and HCO3- improved at 6 h after CVVHDF and returned to nomal levels at 24 h.Total 28 d fatality rate was 29.2％ (7/24),and all death cases were complicated with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome.ConclusionCVVHDF therapy for AKI can quickly clear Cr,BUN and excess water,correct electrolyte disorders,improve kidney function in children.

Objective To analyze the incidence,clinical feature and the risk factors of invasive fungal infection in pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Methods We retrospectively summaried the invasive fungal infection in our PICU from Jan 2007 to Dec 2009 in order to analyze the incidence, clinical feature and the risk factors of invasive fungal infection in PICU. Multiple clinical data were collected such as pediatric critical illness score, mechanical ventilation, urinary drainage tube, indwelling gastric canal and continuous blood purification. Results ( 1 ) The incidence rate of invasive fungal infection was 1.65 % ( 35/2 116 ). The morbidity was 20. 00% ( 7/35 ). ( 2 ) Mean infected day was ( 10. 4 ±- 8. 3 ) d after admission. The clinical manifestations included fungal pneumonia( 60. 0% ), peritonitis ( 14. 3% ), urinary tract infection ( 11.4% ),intestinal tract infection(8. 6% ) ,sepsis(2. 9% ) and meningitis(2. 9% ). All of the patients had used broad spectrum antibiotic. (3) The risk factors of invasive fungal infection included lower pediatric critical illness score, mechanical ventilation, indwelling gastric tube, urinary drainage tube and continuous blood purification.(4) Candia albicans was the predominant pathogen in invasive fungal infection. Conclusion Invasive fungal infection has become one of the main nosocomial infection in PICU. Lung is most commonly involved and candida albicans is the major pathogen. Using antibiotics appropriately, decreasing unnecessary invasive performance,and rationally using antifungal agent mi.ght be effective strategy for invasive fungal infection in PICU.

Objective To evaluate the values of CD64 expression in diagnosis of infected patients referred to intensive care unit.Method Sixty febrile children referred to the hospital intensive care unit from 2009.11 to 2010.03 were enrolled for a retrospective study.Fever was defined as a body temperature reaching 38℃ or higher with specifically bacterial infection or highly suspected with bacterial infection or viral infection.There were 28 patients with bacterial infection and 32 with viral infection.The non-infectious diseases such as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and Kawasaki disease were excluded.The controls were 50 healthy children asking for physical examination.On admission,CD64 were measured by using flow cytometry,and blood routine examination,ESR,PCT,blood cultures and sputum cultures were simultaneously detected in all febrile patients.Data were statistically analyzed by using SAS 16.0 software.Data are given as means±SE.Categorical variables were analyzed using X2 test and continuous variables were compared by applying paired 1-tailed t test,Significance level was set at less than 0.05.Results of them,57.1%bacterial infection patients and 71.9%viral infection patients contracted pneumonia.CD64 in bacterial infection patients、viral infection patients and the subjects of control group were(12.6±9.7),(5.4±2.42)and (2.9±0.77),respectively.The CD64 in the bacterial infection patients were significantly higher than those in the virus infection patients(F=11.002,P=0.004).Conclusions CD64 in infected children referred to a hospital intensive care unit can be clearly distinguished between bacterial infections and viral infections, providing an important guidance and a flexible strategy for clinical treatment and determine the timing of withdrawal.

Objective To explore the clinical characteristics of critically ill children infected with pseudomonas aeruginosa(PA) and PA antibiotics resistance in pediatric intensive care unit (PICU).Methods Case records of children with PA infection admitted to PICU in children′s hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University from Jan 2007 to Dec 2009 were reviewed for clinical characteristics,case fatality rate,prognosis and drug resistance.Results (1) Clinical features:12 cases were community-acquired infection and 46 cases were hospital-acquired infections in 58 cases.On the same period,hospital-wide surveillance obtained PA 232 strains,PICU obtained PA 112,the ratio was 48.3%.Twelve cases died and total mortality was 20.7%.The mortality was significantly difference between community-acquired infections (5 cases,41.6%)and hospital-acquired infections (7 cases,15.2%)(P<0.05).The main symptom of children with community-acquired infections were intestinal infection (5 cases) and sepsis (5 cases).The children had acute onset and developed to shock and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome rapidly.Laboratory examination revealed the white blood cell normal (7/12) and decreased in 5 cases (5/12).The value of C-reactive protein was increased significantly,and the concentration of blood endotoxin were also increased.In the hospital-acquired PA infection cases,the main symptom was respiratory abnormal (38 cases),worsen primary disease,extended staying days in PICU.(2)Drug resistance analysis:112 PA,69.8% of ceftazidime-resistant,72.8% of the imipenem-resistant.Conclusion There is significant difference of the clinical features between PA community-acquired infection and hospital-acquired infection.The former is mostly primary infections with high fatality rate.PA hospital-acquired infection has become an important pathogen of nosocomial infection in PICU.And it is important to prevent PA infection caused by a long term broad-spectrum antibiotics application and invasive medical procedures.

Objective To investigate the effect of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and methylprednisolone (MP) on Toll-like receptor (TLR)2/4 mRNA expression in endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide,LPS) induced shock.Methods Ninety Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into LPS group (n =20),LPS + VIP group (n =20),LPS + MP group (n =20),LPS + VIP + MP group (n =20) and control group (n =10).LPS group injected intravenously LPS (E Coli O55B5) 10 mg/kg.LPS + VIP group,LPS + MP group and LPS + VIP + MP group were injected intravenously VIP 5 nmol/kg,MP 3 mg/kg and VIP 5 nmoL/kg + MP 3 mg/kg after LPS 10 mg/kg injection.The control group injected normal saline intravenously instead of LPS.The rats were sacrificed at 6 h and 24 h after injection and the intestine samples were collected.Pathological changes of the intestine were observed by microscopy.RT-PCR was used to detect the intestinal TLR2 mRNA and TLR4 mRNA expressions.Results Intestinal mucosa showed edema or necrotic change with structure of the microvilli disappeared after LPS injection.The inestinal lesions in VIP,MP and VIP + MP groups were milder than LPS group.At 6 h after LPS injection,TLR2 mRNA and TLR4 mRNA expressions were significantly up-regulated in LPS group,LPS + VIP group,LPS + MP group and LPS + VIP + MP group (TLR2 mRNA:1.14 ±0.38,1.17 ±0.42,1.16 ±0.41,0.92 ± 0.29;TLR4 mRNA 1.21 ±0.18,1.04 ± 0.38,1.11 ± 0.34,1.01 ± 0.20) compared with the control group (0.32 ± 0.20,0.24 ± 0.17) (P ＜ 0.01).But there was no significant difference between LPS group,LPS + VIP group,LPS + MP group and LPS + VIP + MP group (P ＞ 0.05).At 24 h after LPS injection,TLR2 mRNA and TLR4 mRNA expressions in LPS + VIP group,LPS + MP group and LPS + VIP + MP group (TLR2 mRNA:0.63 ± 0.12,0.59 ± 0.13,0.52 ±0.19;TLR4 mRNA 0.67 ±0.09,0.64 ±0.09,0.51 ±0.13) were significantly lower than LPS group (1.04 ± 0.38,0.82 ±0.18) (P ＜0.01) (P ＜0.05).Conclusion VIP and/or MP can mitigate intestinal injury induced by LPS shock.The gastrointestinal protection of VIP and glucocorticoids were related to downregulation signaling TLR2 mRNA and TLR4 mRNA expression.But VIP/MP and VIP + MP have no significant effect on expression of intestinal TLR2/4 mRNA until 24 h after LPS shock.

Objective To evaluate the validity of original plasma cortisol level and responses to lowdose ACTH stimulation test in assessing the severity of critical illness.Method Original level of cortisol and cortisol concentrations 30 min after administration of a low dose ( 1 μg/1.73m2 ) of cosyntropin were determined within 24 hours after admission to our PICU.Critical illness related cortisol insufficiency was defined by initial level of cortisol ＜ 10 μg/dL or an increment cortisol [ Δmax =Stimulated plasma cortisol level (T1) -initial cortisol level (T0)]≤ 9 μg/dL.Results Ninety-five consecutive patients were admitted to PICU from May 2010 to April 2011.The patients were assigned to severe sepsis group (35/95),major operation group (30/95),and other critical illness group (30/95).Overall mortality was 12.6％ (12/95).The initial and stimulated plasma cortisol levels in three groups were (37.17 ± 47.35 ) μg/dL,(31.52±52.78) μg/dL,(28.61 ±17.45) μg/dL,vs.(50.26±48.21) μg/dL,(58.56±73.21)μg/dL, (42.41 ± 13.56) μg/dL,respectively.There were no significantly differences between above groups ( P ＞ 0.05 ).The incidence of critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency (CIRCI) in this study was 55.8％.The incidences of CIRCI were 60％,53.3％,and 53.3％ in severe sepsis,other critical illness and major surgery illness,respectively ( P ＞ 0.05 ).The morbidity of CIRCI and normal response group were 7.5％ and 19％ (P ＞0.05).The levels of T0 and T1 were related to the PCIS (P ＜0.05). Conclusions CIRCI is often seen in children with critical illness. And a low-dose ACTH stimulation test can be used to evaluate the adrenal function in critical illness.However,there is no significant correlation between CIRCI and mortality of critically ill children in this study.

Objective To investigate the clinicalmanifestation,monitoring and therapeutic measure of severe enterovirus 71 ( EV71 ) infection in children.MethodsForty-five cases of severe EV71 infectionwere admitted in our PICU from May 2010 to Sep 2011.The vital sign and arterial blood pressure,central venous pressure,mixed venous oxygen saturation,dynamic non-invasive heart function and urine volume were monitored.Forty-five cases were divided into 3 stages according to clinical manifestation:( 1 ) nervous system involvement stage; (2) respiratory system involvement stage; ( 3 ) circulatory system involvement stage ( compensation and decompensation).We adopted individualized remedy measure according to different stages.ResultsIn 45 cases,38 cases discharged from hospital,the cure rate was 84.4％.Among all the 38 cases,nervous system involvement was found in 19 cases,respiratory system involvement was found in 12 cases,circulatory system involvement was found in 7 cases.Seven cases died,who had circulation failure.ConclusionWe should identify severe EV71 infection early.Positive control of high fever,appropriate liquid treatment,control of high blood pressure,early respiratory support,preventment of circulation failure are the key measures for treatment.Individualized monitoring and treatment are effective in children with severe EV71 infection.

Objective To describe the characteristics of and emergency treatment for and outcomes of critical ill children with 2009 influenza A caused by H1N1 virus strain. Method A prospective observational study of 3 pediatric patients with severe influenza A of H1N1 virus strain complicated with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) from November to December 2009. Results The H1N1 virus strain was confirmed by using realtime reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (Real-time RT-PCR). Two patients survived and one died. Fever and cough were the onset symptoms. The systemic responses to influenza A at first were relatively mild. The tragic deterioration occurred all of a sudden with cyanosis all over the lips and dyspnea. The roentgenography showed bilateral multiple tabular pulmonary effusion and diffuse opaque shadows. The length of time required to confirm the diagnosis of ARDS from the symptom onset was 4 to 6 days. All patients were severely hypoxic with the ratio of PaO2 to 0.7-0.9 fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) to be 70- 100 mmHg at admission to PICU. In order to avoid injury to the lung, the protective ventilation strategy was carried out with low tidal volume (6 mL/kg) and adequate pressure,and conservative fluid management. Conclusions The H1N1 strain influenza virus A is characterized by pyrexia, cough and other respiratory symptoms in the early stage of critically ill children. In a few days, cough increased along with a sudden burst of cyanotic lips and shortness of breath, highly suggesting ARDS. Timely oxygen therapy and respiratory support, conservative fluid management, and the prophylaxis of secondary infection may be the essential measures. More clinical data are needed to clarify the critical features and to evaluate the emergency therapy for H1N1 influenza A in critically ill children.

Objective To investigate the effect and safety of sildenafil on persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN). Also compared the effect of sildenafil with tolazoline and milrione. Methods Forty five neonates with PPHN were recruited from January 2005 through October 2008 in NICU, 25 males and 20 females. The median gestational age was (39.3 + 2.4) weeks, the median birthweight was (3 114.0±10.2) g, and the median age were (13.0±0.8) hours. The patients were randomly assigned to receive sildenafil, tolazoline and milrione therapy. The pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) was measured by echocardiography. Results Thirty patients were cured, 6 patients were improved and 9 patients were of no effect. The total effective rate was 80%. There was no statistical difference among sildenafil, tolazoline and milrione. The PAP decreased when the patients were treated with sildenafil, tolazoline and milrione. No side effects happened in all patients treated with the three drugs. Conclusions Sildenafil is an effective and safe drug to reduce PAP of PPHN and it also help to improve cardiac function.