OBJECTIVE To analyze the clinical characteristics and the correlation between laboratory indicators and prognosis of severe Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia(SMPP)in children.METHODS A total of 85 children with SMPP admitted to Anhui Provincial Children's Hospital from Nov.2021 to May 2024 were selected as the study subjects.Based on clinical typing at admission,they were divided into a high-risk group(n=59)and a low-risk group(n=26).The clinical manifestations,laboratory indicators and outcomes at 28 days of treatment were compared between the two groups.RESULTS The duration of fever and cough before admission in the high-risk group was(7.17±1.09)days and(6.79±1.25)days,respectively,which was longer than that in the low-risk group(P＜0.05).There were no statistically significant differences in pulmonary auscultation(wheezing rales,moist rales)and extrapulmonary complications between the two groups.The levels of C-reactive protein(CRP),serum amyloid A(SAA),platelets(PLT),fibrinogen(FIB),D-dimer(DD)and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP)in the high-risk group were(11.62±1.45)mg/L,(226.88±36.83)mg/L,(3 18.57±39.82)×109/L,(4.28±0.74)g/L,(0.81±0.12)μg/ml and(2 295.48±413.75)pg/ml,respectively,all of which were higher than those in the low-risk group(P＜0.05).Within 28 days after treatment of children in both groups,one patient in the high-risk group died.CONCLUSIONS Compared with children with SMPP in the low-risk group,those in the high-risk group have a higher risk of prognostic mor-tality,suggesting a correlation between the children's blood CRP,SAA,PLT,FIB,DD and NT-proBNP levels and the prognosis of children with SMPP.

Objective This study aimed to investigate the antimicrobial resistance profiles of bacterial strains isolated from pediatric intensive care units(PICU)in China for better antimicrobial therapy.Methods Clinical isolates were collected from 17 institutions,including tertiary care children's hospitals and pediatric department of tertiary general hospitals in China from January 1,2020 to December 31,2022.Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was carried out according to a unified protocol using Kirby-Bauer method or automated systems.Results were interpreted according to the breakpoints released by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute(CLSI)in 2020.Results A total of 10 688 isolates were collected,including gram-positive organisms(39.2％)and gram-negative organisms(60.8％).The top three organisms were S.aureus(13.6％,1 453/10 688),A.baumannii(10.0％,1 067/10 688),and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus(9.9％,1 058/10 688).Multi-drug resistant organisms(MDROs)were very common in children.The prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA),carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales(CRE),carbapenem-resistant E.coli,carbapenem-resistant K.pneumoniae(CRKP),carbapenem-resistant A.baumannii(CRAB),and carbapenem-resistant P.aeruginosa(CRPA)was 41.1％,19.4％,8.8％,30.9％,67.4％,and 28.8％,respectively.Overall,more than 50％of Enterobacteriales isolates were resistant to cephalosporins,while nearly 25％of Enterobacteriales isolates were resistant to carbapenems.MDROs were highly resistant to commonly used antibiotics.More than 80％of CRE and CRAB strains were resistant to all beta-lactam antibiotics.CRE and CRAB showed low resistance rates to tigecycline and polymyxin.CRPA showed lower resistance rates to piperacillin,beta-lactamase inhibitor combinations than the resistance rates to third and fourth generation cephalosporins.All of the Staphylococcus and Enterococcus isolates were susceptible to vancomycin and tigecycline.None of PRSP strains isolated from meningitis and nonmeningitis samples were resistant to rifampicin,vancomycin,or linezolid.The prevalence of β-lactamase-negative ampicillin-resistant(BLNAR)strains was 43.3％in Haemophilus influenzae.Conclusions MDROs were prevalent in PICU.It is necessary to establish an effective multidisciplinary team(MDT)to control the antimicrobial resistance.

Objective:To investigate the clinical and genetic characteristics of a family with cataplexy and epilepsy caused by KCNA1 gene mutations. Methods:The clinical data of a family with KCNA1 gene mutations leading to cataplexy and epilepsy who hospitalized in the Department of Pediatric Neurology at Anhui Children's Hospital in August 2022 were collected，and their clinical manifestations，imaging，electroencephalogram，gene testing results and treatment were analyzed. A total of 68 pathogenic or potentially pathogenic variants of the KCNA1 gene were identified by searching the database of CNKI，Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform, ClinVar, dbSNP and PubMed using the keyword‘KCNA1’between the establishment and August 2023. Results:The proband was a 9 years and 8 months old boy who initially presented with cataplexy induced by strenuous exercise or fatigue，followed by focal epilepsy. The whole exome sequencing detected heterozygous variation of exon 2 c.1006G>A（p.Gly336Arg）of KCNA1 gene，which was a missense mutation and was not reported in the country or abroad. Both the mother and brother of the proband detected heterozygous mutations at the same locus，and both had cataplexy induced by strenuous exercise or fatigue，but the type of seizure was generalized tonic-clonic seizure. The proband's grandmother，aunt，and brother all had seizures or cataplexy. Affected patients receiving different or the same anti-seizure drugs（sodium valproate，lamotrigine，phenytion sodium and carbamazepine）had varying degrees of relief，and those treated with sodium channel blockers had varying degrees of relief. A total of 68 mutation sites of KCNA1 gene were retrieved from domestic and foreign literature，mainly missense mutations，and most patients showed episodic ataxia type 1（EA1），and there was genetic heterogeneity between the genotype and phenotype of the variable patients. Conclusion:We have reported a heterozygous mutation in the KCNA1 gene c.1006G>A（p.Gly336Arg），which is a missense mutation and is easy to misdiagnose in patients with cataplexy and epilepsy as the main phenotypes. Patients with the KCNA1 mutation have different degrees of efficacy on sodium channel blockers.

OBJECTIVE To analyze the clinical characteristics and the correlation between laboratory indicators and prognosis of severe Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia(SMPP)in children.METHODS A total of 85 children with SMPP admitted to Anhui Provincial Children's Hospital from Nov.2021 to May 2024 were selected as the study subjects.Based on clinical typing at admission,they were divided into a high-risk group(n=59)and a low-risk group(n=26).The clinical manifestations,laboratory indicators and outcomes at 28 days of treatment were compared between the two groups.RESULTS The duration of fever and cough before admission in the high-risk group was(7.17±1.09)days and(6.79±1.25)days,respectively,which was longer than that in the low-risk group(P＜0.05).There were no statistically significant differences in pulmonary auscultation(wheezing rales,moist rales)and extrapulmonary complications between the two groups.The levels of C-reactive protein(CRP),serum amyloid A(SAA),platelets(PLT),fibrinogen(FIB),D-dimer(DD)and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP)in the high-risk group were(11.62±1.45)mg/L,(226.88±36.83)mg/L,(3 18.57±39.82)×109/L,(4.28±0.74)g/L,(0.81±0.12)μg/ml and(2 295.48±413.75)pg/ml,respectively,all of which were higher than those in the low-risk group(P＜0.05).Within 28 days after treatment of children in both groups,one patient in the high-risk group died.CONCLUSIONS Compared with children with SMPP in the low-risk group,those in the high-risk group have a higher risk of prognostic mor-tality,suggesting a correlation between the children's blood CRP,SAA,PLT,FIB,DD and NT-proBNP levels and the prognosis of children with SMPP.

Objective This study aimed to investigate the antimicrobial resistance profiles of bacterial strains isolated from pediatric intensive care units(PICU)in China for better antimicrobial therapy.Methods Clinical isolates were collected from 17 institutions,including tertiary care children's hospitals and pediatric department of tertiary general hospitals in China from January 1,2020 to December 31,2022.Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was carried out according to a unified protocol using Kirby-Bauer method or automated systems.Results were interpreted according to the breakpoints released by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute(CLSI)in 2020.Results A total of 10 688 isolates were collected,including gram-positive organisms(39.2％)and gram-negative organisms(60.8％).The top three organisms were S.aureus(13.6％,1 453/10 688),A.baumannii(10.0％,1 067/10 688),and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus(9.9％,1 058/10 688).Multi-drug resistant organisms(MDROs)were very common in children.The prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA),carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales(CRE),carbapenem-resistant E.coli,carbapenem-resistant K.pneumoniae(CRKP),carbapenem-resistant A.baumannii(CRAB),and carbapenem-resistant P.aeruginosa(CRPA)was 41.1％,19.4％,8.8％,30.9％,67.4％,and 28.8％,respectively.Overall,more than 50％of Enterobacteriales isolates were resistant to cephalosporins,while nearly 25％of Enterobacteriales isolates were resistant to carbapenems.MDROs were highly resistant to commonly used antibiotics.More than 80％of CRE and CRAB strains were resistant to all beta-lactam antibiotics.CRE and CRAB showed low resistance rates to tigecycline and polymyxin.CRPA showed lower resistance rates to piperacillin,beta-lactamase inhibitor combinations than the resistance rates to third and fourth generation cephalosporins.All of the Staphylococcus and Enterococcus isolates were susceptible to vancomycin and tigecycline.None of PRSP strains isolated from meningitis and nonmeningitis samples were resistant to rifampicin,vancomycin,or linezolid.The prevalence of β-lactamase-negative ampicillin-resistant(BLNAR)strains was 43.3％in Haemophilus influenzae.Conclusions MDROs were prevalent in PICU.It is necessary to establish an effective multidisciplinary team(MDT)to control the antimicrobial resistance.

Objective:To investigate the clinical and genetic characteristics of a family with cataplexy and epilepsy caused by KCNA1 gene mutations. Methods:The clinical data of a family with KCNA1 gene mutations leading to cataplexy and epilepsy who hospitalized in the Department of Pediatric Neurology at Anhui Children's Hospital in August 2022 were collected，and their clinical manifestations，imaging，electroencephalogram，gene testing results and treatment were analyzed. A total of 68 pathogenic or potentially pathogenic variants of the KCNA1 gene were identified by searching the database of CNKI，Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform, ClinVar, dbSNP and PubMed using the keyword‘KCNA1’between the establishment and August 2023. Results:The proband was a 9 years and 8 months old boy who initially presented with cataplexy induced by strenuous exercise or fatigue，followed by focal epilepsy. The whole exome sequencing detected heterozygous variation of exon 2 c.1006G>A（p.Gly336Arg）of KCNA1 gene，which was a missense mutation and was not reported in the country or abroad. Both the mother and brother of the proband detected heterozygous mutations at the same locus，and both had cataplexy induced by strenuous exercise or fatigue，but the type of seizure was generalized tonic-clonic seizure. The proband's grandmother，aunt，and brother all had seizures or cataplexy. Affected patients receiving different or the same anti-seizure drugs（sodium valproate，lamotrigine，phenytion sodium and carbamazepine）had varying degrees of relief，and those treated with sodium channel blockers had varying degrees of relief. A total of 68 mutation sites of KCNA1 gene were retrieved from domestic and foreign literature，mainly missense mutations，and most patients showed episodic ataxia type 1（EA1），and there was genetic heterogeneity between the genotype and phenotype of the variable patients. Conclusion:We have reported a heterozygous mutation in the KCNA1 gene c.1006G>A（p.Gly336Arg），which is a missense mutation and is easy to misdiagnose in patients with cataplexy and epilepsy as the main phenotypes. Patients with the KCNA1 mutation have different degrees of efficacy on sodium channel blockers.

Objective To investigate the evaluation effect of lung ultrasound (LUS) score on the severity and prognosis of severe pneumonia in children. Methods A total of 120 children with severe pneumonia admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of Anhui Provincial Children's Hospital from January 2020 to May 2023 were included in the study. Lung ultrasound examination, clinical pulmonary infection score (CPIS), pediatric critical illness score (PCIS), and oxygenation index (OI) were analyzed before and after treatment, and the levels of various indicators in children were compared. According to OI value, the children were divided into low-risk group (OI≥300, 84 cases) and high-risk group (OI < 300, 36 cases). Based on the analysis of the prognosis of the children, they were divided into survival group and death group. Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between LUS score and CPIS score, PCIS score, and OI. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were drawn to calculate the area under the curve, sensitivity, and specificity of LUS score in evaluating the prognosis of children. Results After treatment, both LUS score and CPIS score of 120 cases were lower than before treatment, while PCIS score and OI were higher than before treatment (P < 0.05). Before treatment, the LUS score and CPIS score in the low-risk group were lower than those in the high-risk group, while the PCIS score and OI were higher than those in the high-risk group (P < 0.05). Among the 120 children, 87 survived(survival group) and 33 died(death group). Before treatment, the LUS score and CPIS score in the survival group were lower than those in the death group, while the PCIS score and OI were higher than those in the death group (P < 0.05). LUS score was positively correlated with CPIS score and negatively correlated with PCIS score and OI (P < 0.05). The area under the curve of LUS score in evaluating the prognosis of children was 0.899, with sensitivity and specificity of 0.758 and 0.863, respectively. Conclusion Lung ultrasound score plays a guiding role in the evaluation of severity and prognosis of severe pneumonia in children, with high sensitivity and specificity in prognosis evaluation.

Human herpes virus 6B (HHV-6B) is primarily known for causing primary infections in immunocompetent children, usually presenting as infantile rash. The main symptoms include a high fever lasting 3-5 days followed by a sudden drop in temperature and the emergence of a rash. Generally, the disease is mild and self-limiting. On November 7, 2021, the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) of Anhui Children's Hospital admitted a 1-year-3-month-old child infected with HHV-6B. The clinical manifestations of the child mainly included pericardial effusion, shock, and hyperglycemia. Pathogen high-throughput sequencing on pericardial effusion and blood samples confirmed HHV-6B infection, while diabetes-related antibodies, whole genome sequencing, whole exome sequencing, chromosome analysis, and mitochondrial gene testing all yielded normal results. After comprehensive treatment including extraction of pericardial effusion to relieve obstruction for improved cardiac function, fluid resuscitation, vasoactive drugs administration, continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT), acyclovir antiviral therapy, and insulin control for blood sugar management; the child eventually recovered and was discharged from hospital. Regular follow-ups at the endocrinology department are scheduled every 3-5 months to adjust insulin levels for blood glucose control. According to clinical data and literature review findings indicate that HHV-6B can invade directly and cause immune damage through immune dysregulation, potentially leading to severe outcomes in immunocompetent children.

Objective:To investigate the clinical and genetic characteristics of a child with microcephaly-capillary malformation syndrome due to a STAMBP mutation. Methods:The clinical data of a case of microcephaly-capillary malformation syndrome caused by STAMBP gene mutation admitted to Anhui Children′s Hospital in August 2023 were collected. The genes of the child and his parents were detected by whole exome sequencing, and the risk was predicted by biological software. At the same time, the clinical characteristics of the child were analyzed and the literature was reviewed. Results:The patient is a male child aged 2 years and 7 months. The patient had special features, microcephaly, refractory epilepsy, severe comprehensive developmental delay, and capillary malformations. The results of genetic testing showed that the STAMBP gene in the child had complex heterozygous mutations NM_001353967: c.367delG[p.E123fs *27(p.Glu123fsTer27) and c.159A>C(p.Glu53Asp)], inherited from his mother and father respectively. The mutations have not been recorded in the HGMD, dbSNP and gnomAD databases,etc. The protein structure of the STAMBP gene was modeled that predicted c.367del(p.Glu123Lysfs *27) and c.159A>C (p.Glu53Asp) had a negative effect on the function of STAMBP protein. Conclusion:The STAMBP gene complex heterozygous mutations c.367delG(p.Glu123fsTer27) and c.159A>C(p.Glu53Asp) may be the pathogenic factor of this child, which further expands the variation spectrum of the STAMBP gene and the genotype of microcephaly-capillary malformation syndrome, and provides guidance for family genetic counseling.

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis（HLH）is a complex，rapidly progressing，and highly fatal disease that can lead to during multiple organ dysfunctions.Coagulation disorders frequently occur during the course of HLH and are a significant cause of early mortality.Early diagnosis of coagulation disorders or disseminated intravascular coagulation（DIC）in such patients is particularly challenging，as HLH itself interferes with the diagnostic markers associated with coagulation disorders or DIC.This article summarized the current state of research on HLH complicated by coagulation disorders，including its pathogenesis and the common and novel coagulation markers used in the collaborative assessment of HLH complicated by coagulation disorders or DIC.The goal was to provide more opportunities for subsequent treatment of the underlying disease.