Objective To explore macrophage subpopulations in ischemic stroke (IS) by using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data analysis and High-Dimensional Weighted Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis (hdWGCNA). Methods Based on single-cell sequencing data, transcriptomic information for different cell types was obtained, and macrophages were selected for subpopulation identification. hdWGCNA, cell-cell communication, and pseudotime trajectory analysis were used to explore the characteristics of macrophage subpopulations following IS. Key genes related to IS were identified using microarray data and validated for diagnostic potential through Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) was conducted to investigate the potential functions of these genes. Results The scRNA-seq data analysis revealed significant changes in macrophage subpopulation composition after IS. A specific macrophage subpopulation enriched in the stroke group was identified and designated as MCAO-specific macrophages (MSM). Pseudotime trajectory analysis indicated that MSM cells were in an intermediate stage of macrophage differentiation. Cell-cell communication analysis uncovered complex interactions between MSM cells and other cells, with the CCL6-CCR1 signaling axis potentially playing a crucial role in neuroinflammation. Two gene modules associated with MSM were identified via hdWGCNA, significantly enriched in pathways related to NOD-like receptors and antigen processing. By integrating differentially expressed MSM genes with conventional transcriptomic data, three IS-related hub genes were identified: Arg1, CLEC4D, and CLEC4E. Conclusion This study reveals the characteristics and functions of macrophage subpopulations following IS and identifies three hub genes with potential diagnostic value, providing novel insights into the pathological mechanisms of IS.
Macrophages/metabolism* ; Computational Biology/methods* ; Single-Cell Analysis/methods* ; Transcriptome ; Ischemic Stroke/metabolism* ; Animals ; Gene Regulatory Networks ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Humans ; Male

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical effectiveness of veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) in rescuing children with severe pulmonary contusion. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of four children with severe pulmonary contusion who were treated with VV-ECMO in the pediatric intensive care unit of Xi'an Children's Hospital from April 2021 to December 2024. The general data, laboratory indicators within 24 hours after admission, imaging features, bronchoscopic findings, diagnostic and treatment processes, as well as therapeutic outcomes of the children were analyzed. RESULTS: All four pediatric cases were male, aged 4 years and 9 months, 6 years and 5 months, 8 years and 10 months, and 9 years and 7 months, respectively. One case resulted from a high-altitude fall and three from traffic accidents, all presenting with multiple fractures. All four cases progressed to dyspnea within 1-4 hours post-injury and received endotracheal intubation with invasive ventilator support within 2-5 hours. Three cases exhibited tachycardia upon admission and were treated with norepinephrine, all four cases presented with fine moist rales in the lungs. Imaging studies revealed diffuse exudative changes in all four cases. Bronchoscopy identified diffuse pulmonary hemorrhage, with one case additionally showing rupture of the right intermediate bronchus. Conventional mechanical ventilation failed to correct oxygenation in all cases, prompting initiation of VV-ECMO therapy within 8-22 hours post-injury. One case underwent right thoracic exploration under ECMO support. Following treatment, all four cases demonstrated gradual reduction in bloody airway secretions, resolution of pulmonary exudative changes on imaging, and absence of hemorrhage on bronchoscopy. They were successfully weaned off ECMO and ultimately discharged as cured. CONCLUSIONS Severe pulmonary contusion rapidly leads to respiratory distress, requiring ventilator-assisted ventilation within hours of injury. When conventional ventilator support is ineffective, ECMO can be life-saving, with timely intervention yielding favorable prognosis.
Humans ; Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation/methods* ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Child, Preschool ; Child ; Contusions/therapy* ; Lung Injury/therapy* ; Treatment Outcome

Objective:To investigate the risk of new-onset stroke caused by cerebral microbleed (CMB) and asymptomatic lacunar infarction (ALI) and their risk factors.Methods:A prospective observational study over a 18 month period was conducted on 397 non stroke patients who visited the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from March 2020 to June 2022. By the presence of CMB and ALI about magnetic resonance imaging, they were divided into th control group (without CMB and ALI, 117 cases, 29.5%), ALI group (101 cases, 25.4%), CMB group (89 cases, 22.4%) and CMB-ALI group (90 cases, 22.7%).They were followed up for 18 months, the risk factors for CMB, ALI, and the risk of new stroke were analyzed.Results:The systolic blood pressure and uric acid in the CMB group were higher than those in the control group: (155.2 ± 24.2) mmHg(1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa) vs. (138.2 ± 19.0) mmHg, (387.0 ± 28.3) μmol/L vs. (354.0 ± 21.5) μmol/L, there were statistical differences ( P<0.05). After followed up for 18 months, the incidence rate of cerebral infarction, cerebral hemorrhage and TIA in the CMB group and CMB-ALI group were higher than those in the control group: 13.5%(12/89), 13.3%(12/90) vs.5.1%(6/117); 9.0%(8/89), 10.0%(9/90) vs. 2.6%(3/117); 5.6%(5/89), 6.7%(6/90) vs. 0.8%(1/117), there were statistical differences ( P<0.05). Conclusions:CMB is prone to abnormal systolic blood pressure and uric acid. CMB, CMB-ALI are prone to new onset ischemic stroke, cerebral hemorrhage and TIA.

Objectives:To analyze and compare the disease burden of ischemic stroke due to tobacco exposure (including active and passive smoking) and its changing trends in China from 1990 to 2019,and to provide a reference for precise prevention and control of ischemic stroke. Methods:Based on the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 database,we analyzed the burden of ischemic stroke disease attributable to tobacco exposure and its trends in different age and sex populations in China from 1990 to 2019,and compared the epidemiological differences in the burden of ischemic stroke disease attributable to active versus passive smoking. Results:Between 1990 and 2019,the disease burden of ischemic stroke attributable to tobacco exposure showed a decreasing trend in China and globally,but the decrease was relatively small in China.In 2019,the age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) and age-standardized disability-adjusted life-year rate (ASDR) of ischemic stroke attributable to tobacco exposure in China were 10.64/100000 and 239.39/100000,both higher than the global average levels (5.85/100000 and 140.23/100000 respectively).The actual mortality and disability-adjusted life year (DALY) rates for ischemic stroke due to tobacco exposure in 2019 increased by 103.79％ and 90.48％,respectively,compared with 1990.There was a sex difference in the disease burden of ischemic stroke due to active and passive smoking,with the number of deaths,mortality,DALY,and DALY rates for ischemic stroke due to active smoking being significantly higher in men than in women.Conversely,the burden of ischemic stroke due to passive smoking was higher in women.At the age level,ischemic stroke attributable to both active and passive smoking presented the highest number of deaths,mortality,and DALY rates among those ≥70 years of age.Whereas DALY for ischemic stroke attributable to active smoking was mainly concentrated in those aged 50-69 years,DALY for ischemic stroke attributable to passive smoking was mainly concentrated in those aged ≥70 years. Conclusions:The disease burden of ischemic stroke attributable to tobacco exposure is higher in China than the global average level.The burden of ischemic stroke disease attributable to active and passive smoking varies significantly by sex and age,and more targeted tobacco control policies should be developed in China.

Objective:To investigate the prognostic value of the ratio of veno-arterial carbon dioxide partial pressure difference to arterio-venous oxygen content difference (Pv-aCO 2/Ca-vO 2) in children with primary peritonitis-related septic shock. Methods:A retrospective study was conducted. Sixty-three children with primary peritonitis-related septic shock admitted to department of intensive care unit of the Children's Hospital Affiliated to Xi'an Jiaotong University from December 2016 to December 2021 were enrolled. The 28-day all-cause mortality was the primary endpoint event. The children were divided into survival group and death group according to the prognosis. The baseline data, blood gas analysis, blood routine, coagulation, inflammatory status, critical score and other related clinical data of the two groups were statistics. The factors affecting the prognosis were analyzed by binary Logistic regression, and the predictability of risk factors were tested by the receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC curve). The risk factors were stratified according to the cut-off, Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis compared the prognostic differences between the groups.Results:A total of 63 children were enrolled, including 30 males and 33 females, the average age (5.6±4.0) years old, 16 cases died in 28 days, with mortality was 25.4%. There were no significant differences in gender, age, body weight and pathogen distribution between the two groups. The proportion of mechanical ventilation, surgical intervention, vasoactive drug application, and procalcitonin, C-reactive protein, activated partial thromboplastin time, serum lactate (Lac), Pv-aCO 2/Ca-vO 2, pediatric sequential organ failure assessment, pediatric risk of mortality Ⅲ in the death group were higher than those in the survival group. Platelet count, fibrinogen, mean arterial pressure were lower than those in the survival group, and the differences were statistically significant. Binary Logistic regression analysis showed that Lac and Pv-aCO 2/Ca-vO 2 were independent risk factors affecting the prognosis of children [odds ratio ( OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were 2.01 (1.15-3.21), 2.37 (1.41-3.22), respectively, both P < 0.01]. ROC curve analysis showed that the area under curve (AUC) of Lac, Pv-aCO 2/Ca-vO 2 and their combination were 0.745, 0.876 and 0.923, the sensitivity were 75%, 85% and 88%, and the specificity were 71%, 87% and 91%, respectively. Risk factors were stratified according to cut-off, and Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis showed that the 28-day cumulative probability of survival of Lac ≥ 4 mmol/L group was lower than that in Lac < 4 mmol/L group [64.29% (18/28) vs. 82.86% (29/35), P < 0.05]. Pv-aCO 2/Ca-vO 2 ≥ 1.6 group 28-day cumulative probability of survival was less than Pv-aCO 2/Ca-vO 2 < 1.6 group [62.07% (18/29) vs. 85.29% (29/34), P < 0.01]. After a hierarchical combination of the two sets of indicator variables, the 28-day cumulative probability of survival of Pv-aCO 2/Ca-vO 2 ≥ 1.6 and Lac ≥ 4 mmol/L group significantly lower than that of the other three groups (Log-rank test, χ2 = 7.910, P = 0.017). Conclusion:Pv-aCO 2/Ca-vO 2 combined with Lac has a good predictive value for the prognosis of children with peritonitis-related septic shock.

Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics and treatment strategies of toxic epidermal necrolysis(TEN) in children.Methods:The clinical data, laboratory examination, diagnosis and treatment process and treatment outcomes of 11 children with TEN treated in PICU at Children′s Hospital of Xi′an Jiaotong University from January 2018 to June 2022 were collected and analyzed retrospectively.Results:There were five males and six females, aged from one year to 11 years old.Nine cases were caused by drugs, among which six cases were caused by antiepileptic drugs, two cases were caused by Chinese patent medicine, one case was caused by antibiotics, and the remaining two cases were caused by infection.In addition to large area of skin exfoliation, one case was complicated with corneal perforation, one case was complicated with finger (toe) nail fall off, and two cases were complicated with upper airway obstruction.All children were complicated with various degrees of heart, liver, kidney and other organ damage.Eight cases who were admitted to the department of immunology were treated with methylprednisolone and intravenous immune globulin.Three cases had no change in rash, and five cases had an enlarged range of skin lesions compared with admission, and finally all of them were transferred to PICU.Three cases were first diagnosed in PICU and were not treated with methylprednisolone and intravenous immune globulin after admission.All 11 children were given therapeutic plasma exchange in PICU.For children whose first department was PICU, the average hospitalization time of PICU was (8.00±3.00) days, the total average hospitalization time was (33.66±20.10) days, and the average hospitalization cost was (73.9±30.5) thousand yuan.For children whose first department was the immunology department, the average hospitalization time of PICU was (21.62±16.18) days, the total average hospitalization time was (41.87±16.97) days, and the average hospitalization cost was (130.8±52.2) thousand yuan.One case, because of corneal perforation, the family members asked to leave the hospital for economic reasons after the rash improved, and the rest of the children were cured and discharged.Conclusion:TEN is rare, often complicated with multiple organ dysfunction, and has a high mortality.Early administration of therapeutic plasma exchange may alleviate multiple system damage and shorten the duration of disease.

【Objective】 To design and manufacture a non-destructive intestinal decompression device and explore its effect on closed intestinal decompression in patients with intestinal obstruction. 【Methods】 A total of 78 patients with intestinal obstruction who underwent intestinal decompression in our hospital from January 2020 to September 2021 were selected as the research subjects: 40 in the control group and 38 in the experimental group. The traditional intestinal decompression method was used in the control group while the non-invasive intestinal decompression device method was used in the experimental group. We compared the number of cases of intestinal content pollution, drainage volume of intestinal content decompression, operation time, hospital stay, incidence of complications, and other indexes between the two groups. 【Results】 The two groups did no significantly differ in the general data (P>0.05). There were 10 cases (26.32%) of intestinal content pollution in the experimental group and 40 cases (100%) in the control group. The intestinal decompression drainage volume in the experimental group was 750.00 (728.75, 827.50) mL and 535.00 (520.00557.50) mL in the control group, with significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05). The operation time, operation time and hospital stay were significantly shorter in the experimental group than in the control group (P<0.05). There was no incision infection in the experimental group but 6 cases in the control group, with statistically significant difference (P<0.05). There was no significant difference between the two groups in other abdominal infection, anastomotic fistula, or enterostomy-related complications (P>0.05). 【Conclusion】 The non-invasive intestinal decompression device can perform closed intestinal decompression in the operation of intestinal obstruction, reduce the pollution of the operation field, shorten operation time and hospital stay, and reduce the incidence of incision infection.

Objective:To investigate the related risk factors affecting the prognosis of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome(HFRS) in children.Methods:A retrospective study was carried out.We selected 182 pediatric patients who met the diagnostic criteria for pediatric HFRS while hospitalized in the Intensive Care Department of the Affiliated Children′s Hospital of Xi′an Jiaotong University between July 2014 and December 2021 as the research objects.The severe and critical patients were taken as the observation group(24 cases), and the mild and moderate pediatric patients were taken as the control group(158 cases). The demographic, epidemiological data and clinically relevant indicators within 8 hours of pediatric patients after admission were collected.The 28-day death was the primary endpoint.Renal failure and pulmonary edema were secondary endpoint.The differences of clinically relevant indicators between the two groups were observed.Logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors and receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curve was used to determine the predictive efficacy of different outcome prediction models.Results:There were no statistically significant differences in age, gender, and BMI between the two groups (all P>0.05). Compared the control group with the observation group, coagulation function indicators such as activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT)[(134±21)s vs.(164±34)s], D-dimer [(6.31±3.20)mg/L vs.(12.43±5.67)mg/L], von Willebrand factor (vWF)[(352±45)μg/L vs.(465±103)μg/L], and platelet(PLT)[(87±35)×10 9/L vs.(45±24)×10 9/L], Lactate(Lac)[(2.6±1.1)mmol/L vs.(6.0±2.0)mmol/L]were different significantly(all P<0.05). Additionally, the lymphocyte characteristic analysis indicator lymphocytes [(2 749±686)×10 6/L vs.(2 374±851)×10 6/L], CD3 + [(1 821± 487)×10 6/L vs.(1 065±539)×10 6/L], CD4 + /CD8 + (1.65±0.73)vs.(1.00±0.25), CD19 + [(559±105)×10 6/L vs.(487± 133)×10 6/L]were different significantly(all P<0.05). The inflammatory index procalcitonin(PCT) [(22±15)ng/L vs.(56±21)ng/L, P<0.05]was different significantly in two groups.The rate of continuous renaly replacement therapy, ventilator-assisted ventilation, vasoactive drugs and other treatment measures increased significantly in observation group than those in control group(all P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed on the included indicators.With death as the primary endpoint, Lac, CD8 + , D-dimer, vWF and PCT were significantly associated with mortality, which were risk factors for death, while PLT and CD4 + /CD8 + were protective factors.With renal failure and pulmonary edema as secondary endpoint, CD8 + , D-dimer, Lac and PCT were risk factors for secondary endpoint.ROC curve analysis showed that the sensitivity, specificity and AUC of the risk factor prediction model related to the primary endpoint variables were 77.91%, 81.22% and 0.769, and which related to secondary endpoint variables were 87.61%, 77.59% and 0.891, respectively. Conclusion:The combinations of CD8 + , D-dimer, Lac, PCT and vWF have good predictive value for poor prognosis in children with HFRS.

Objective:To observe the effect of edaravone dexborneol on anxiety and depression after stroke in rats, and to explore its possible mechanism.Methods:Totally 120 healthy adult male SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation group (sham), ischemia-reperfusion group (MCAO), edaravone group (Eda) and edaravone dexborneol group (ED) with 30 in each group.The middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model was established by thread occlusion.Rats in ED group and Eda group were intraperitoneally injected with edaravone(8 mg·kg -1·d -1) and edaravone dexborneol(edaravone: 8 mg·kg -1·d -1, dexborneol: 2 mg·kg -1·d -1) respectively.And rats in the other two groups were intraperitoneally injected with the same volume of normal saline.Some rats were killed after continuous administration for 3 days to detect molecular indexes, and the remaining rats were tested for behavior after continuous administration for 14 days.The levels of neclear factor κB(NF-κB)、phosphorylated NF-κB(p-NF-κB)、tumor necrosis α(TNF-α)、interleukin 1β(IL-1β) were detected by Western blot.The mRNA levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, cluster of differentiation 86(CD86), cluster of differentiation 206(CD206), inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS) were detected by RT-qPCR.M1 type microglia labeled with CD68, microglia labeled with ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1(Iba1) and neurons labeled with microtubule-associated protein 2(MAP2) were detected by immunofluorescence staining.The cerebral infarction volume was measured by TTC staining.Depression and anxiety behavior after stroke in rats was observed by the open field test and elevated plus maze test.SPSS 17.0 software was used for statistical analysis of the data.One-way ANOVA was used for multiple group comparison, and LSD-t test was used for pairwise comparison. Results:(1) The behavioral results showed that 14 days after ischemia-reperfusion, the number of entering into the open arm, the time spent in the open arm, and the time spent in the central area of the open field in the MCAO group were lower than those in the sham group ( t=20.77, 6.02, 14.63, all P<0.05). The number of entering into the open arm, the time spent in the open arm, and the time spent in the central area of the field in the ED group ( (16.22±0.49) times, (69.11±17.08) s, (3.80±0.37) s) were higher than those in the MCAO group ( (8.14±0.60) times, (41.18±9.81) s, (0.33±0.39) s) ( t=4.69, 0.38, 2.27, all P<0.05) and Eda group ( (11.11±0.26) times, (45.26±17.16) s, (1.14±0.19) s) ( t=8.63, 2.50, 7.86, all P<0.05). (2) Western blot results showed that 3 days after ischemia-reperfusion, p-NF-κB/NF-κB, TNF-α, and IL-1β levels in the MCAO group were higher than those in the sham group ( t=15.35, 12.35, 7.23, all P<0.05). The levels of p-NF-κB/NF-κB (0.49±0.02), TNF-α (0.73±0.03), IL-1β (0.61±0.01) of ischemic penumbra cortex in ED group were significantly lower than those of the MCAO group ( (1.14±0.05), (1.13±0.07), (1.34±0.14)) ( t=14.58, 7.86, 5.65, all P<0.05) and Eda group ( (0.93±0.03), (0.89±0.02), (1.04±0.36) ) ( t=9.82, 3.07, 3.30, all P<0.05). (3) RT-qPCR results showed that the level of TNF-α mRNA (1.98±0.18), IL-1β mRNA (2.00±0.35), CD86 mRNA (1.56±0.20) and iNOS mRNA (2.01±0.12) in the peri-infarct cortex of ED group were lower than those in the MCAO group ( (5.12±0.24), ( 8.15±0.22), (6.03±0.13), (7.20±0.09) ) ( t=7.86, 16.88, 16.55, 37.25, all P<0.05) and Eda group ( (2.85±0.07), (5.43±0.26), (2.67±0.27), (3.58±0.11) ) ( t=3.71, 9.41, 4.13, 11.30, all P<0.05). The level of CD206 mRNA in the peri-infarct cortex of the ED group (3.98±0.25) was higher than that in the MCAO group (2.00±0.11) ( t=7.08, P<0.05) and Eda group (3.17±0.09) ( t=3.25, P<0.05). (4) The results of immunofluorescence staining showed that the ratio of polarized M1 microglia in the peri-infarct cortex and striatum in the ED group ((20.36±9.23)%, (18.26±5.98)%)were lower than those in the MCAO group ( (83.69±12.79)%, (61.25±33.26)%) ( t=5.23, 3.02, both P<0.05) and Eda group((42.16±13.13)%, (40.23±14.22)%)( t=3.12, 2.08, both P<0.05). In addition, the number of neurons marked with MAP2 of peri-infarct cortex in the MCAO group was lower than that in the sham group( t=8.02, P<0.05), and the number of neurons marded with MAP2 of peri-infarct cortex in the ED group ((53.07±17.90) /scope) was higher than that in the MCAO group ( (26.27±9.95) /scope) ( t=6.89, P<0.05) and Eda group ( (38.69±12.03)/scope) ( t=5.26, P<0.05). (5) The results of TTC staining showed that the cerebral infarction volume in ED group ( (10.31±1.03)%) was lower than that in the MCAO group ( (34.71±1.74)%) ( t=15.31, P<0.05) and Eda group ( (26.05±1.00)%) ( t=9.88, P<0.05). Conclusion:Edaravone dexborneol can alleviate anxiety and depression in rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion, which may be related to the inhibition of M1 microglial polarization, the down-regulation of NF-κB signaling pathway and the enhancement of neuronal structural stability.

Pulmonary artery sling (PAS) with bronchial bridge malformation is a very rare developmental malformation of vascular and trachea. In the past 2 years, we treated 3 children with pulmonary artery sling complicated with bronchial bridge, all of whom were clinically characterized by recurrent cough, asthma and dyspnea, which were confirmed by cardiac color ultrasound and chest CT three-dimensional reconstruction. All of the 3 children underwent surgical treatment, and no recurrent wheezing or respiratory tract infection occurred after surgery.