Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of bloodstream infection caused by carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) in preterm infants, and to provide basis for early clinical diagnosis and infection control. Methods:The clinical data of infants with CRKP bloodstream infection admitted to the Preterm Infants Ward of Children′s Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University from January 2015 to December 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. The risk factors for death in preterm infants caused by CRKP bloodstream infection were explored through multivariate logistic regression analysis, and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyze the clinical value of each factor on evaluating prognosis. The area under curves (AUC) of each factor in different ROC curve were compared by Delong′s test.Results:A total of 96 preterm infants with CRKP bloodstream infection were included, including 70 in the survival group and 26 in the death group. The first onset symptoms of CRKP bloodstream infection in preterm infants were persistent tachycardia (heart rate>180 per minute) (69 cases, 71.9%), fever (61 cases, 63.5%), and apnea (59 cases, 61.5%). There were 88(91.7%) cases of infection combined with septic shock, and 91(94.8%) cases required vasoactive drug support. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the maximum vasoactive-inotropic score (VIS) within 48 hours of onset (odds ratio ( OR)=1.058, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.022 to 1.095, P=0.001), concurrent purulent meningitis ( OR=8.029, 95% CI 1.344 to 47.972, P=0.022), and concurrent necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) ( OR=10.881, 95% CI 1.566 to 75.580, P=0.016) were independent risk factors for death in preterm infants with CRKP bloodstream infection. The ROC curve showed that the AUCs for evaluating the prognosis of preterm infants with NEC and purulent meningitis were 0.784 and 0.711, respectively. The AUC for evaluating the prognosis of preterm infants with a maximum VIS ≥52.5 points within 48 hours of onset was 0.840, and the AUC for combining the three factors was 0.931. Compared with NEC and purulent meningitis, the AUC for combining factors was higher, the differences were statistically significant ( P=0.002, P<0.001). Conclusions:Preterm infants with CRKP bloodstream infection who have a maximum VIS ≥52.5 points within 48 hours of onset, with NEC and purulent meningitis have a higher risk of death.

Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of cytomegalovirus-sepsis-like syndrome (CMV-SLS) in premature infants, and to provide the evidence for early clinical identification and treatment.Methods:Premature infants with CMV-SLS admitted to Children′s Hospital Affiliated of Zhengzhou University from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2022 were selected as the research subjects, and their clinical characteristics, treatment, and prognosis were retrospectively analyzed.Results:A total of seven cases of CMV-SLS were included, with a gestational age of (26.8±1.2) weeks and a birth weight of (890±121) g. The age of disease onset was 55(45, 60) days, and the age of diagnosis was 67(56, 71) days. All the seven cases were exclusively breast feeding after birth, and cytomegalovirus (CMV) DNA was detected positive in their breast milk when diagnosed with CMV-SLS. The common clinical features were fever, abdominal distension, liver function damage, decreased neutrophil and platelet counts. Pneumonia, neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis, hearing loss, and chorioretinitis were common. After the diagnosis was confirmed, all the seven cases were given intravenous treatment of ganciclovir and followed by oral formulations, with a course of treatment ranging from five to seven weeks. Two cases were treated with intravitreal injection of ganciclovir for chorioretinitis. All the seven cases survived. During the follow-up with a corrected gestational age of 12 months, one case had delayed intellectual and motor development, two cases had delayed motor development, and the remaining cases had normal development.Conclusions:CMV-SLS in premature infants mainly occurs in extremely low birth weight infants, with atypical clinical manifestations and may be misdiagnosed easily. If extremely low birth weight infants who receive CMV DNA positive breast feeding show sepsis-like symptoms, the possibility of CMV infection should be considered, and early diagnosis and treatment should be carried out to prevent adverse outcomes.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a kind of neurodegenerative disease based on damage of striatal nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons, with motor dysfunction as typical clinical feature. However, PD is often accompanied by a series of non-motor symptoms (NMS) represented by depression and anxiety, which not only interferes with clinical management of PD patients, but also seriously affects quality of life of patients. Pathophysiological mechanism of PD comorbid depression and anxiety is still unclear, but is closely related to the disease process, severity of motor dysfunction, and metabolic disorders of neurotransmitter cytokines. This article reviews the epidemiological characteristics, diagnostic criteria, pathophysiological mechanism and treatment strategies of PD comorbid depression and anxiety, in order to improve the NMS clinical management and quality of life of PD patients.

Objective:To explore the relationship between preterm labor with different causes and cerebral perfusion in different regions of interest in very preterm infants.Methods:This was a prospective cohort study. A total of 145 preterm infants with gestational age of 28-31 +6 weeks who were hospitalized in the Neonatology Department of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University within 24 h after birth from April 2022 to May 2023 were selected for the study, and were categorized into the iatrogenic preterm labor group ( n=55), spontaneous preterm labor with premature rupture of the membranes (PROM) group ( n=47), and spontaneous preterm labor with intact membranes group ( n=43) according to the cause of preterm labor. Cerebral blood flow (CBF) values in the cortex and deep gray matter of different regions of interest (frontal lobe, temporal lobe, parietal lobe, occipital lobe, thalamus, and basal ganglia) were measured using the arterial spin labeling technique in the very preterm infants in each group. One-way analysis of variance, Kruskal-Wallis H test and Bonferroni correction, Chi-square test or Fisher's exact probability method, analysis of covariance, and LSD test were used to compare the differences in CBF among the groups. Results:The differences in the incidence of complications such as cerebral white matter injury, Ⅰ-Ⅱ grade intracranial hemorrhage, and late-onset sepsis during hospitalization among the three groups of preterm infants were not statistically significant (all P>0.05). In the iatrogenic preterm labor group, compared with the spontaneous preterm labor with PROM group, CBF [in units of ml/ (100 g·min)] was higher in regions of interest such as the right temporal lobe [20.5 (16.1-24.6) vs. 17.1 (14.5-23.0)], bilateral parietal lobe [left side: 22.4 (17.1-25.3) vs. 16.9 (14.4-24.1); right side: 23.0 (18.2-27.4) vs. 17.0 (14.0-22.2)], right occipital lobe [22.1 (18.6-29.5) vs. 19.4 (13.7-24.5)], bilateral basal ganglia [left side: 33.0 (29.1-36.3) vs. 24.9 (22.9-33.1); right side: 32.8 (29.0-37.0) vs. 26.1 (22.3-35.0)], and bilateral thalamus [left side: 39.2 (36.0-45.0) vs. 32.6 (25.1-42.2); right side: 38.6 (34.6-44.1) vs. 32.0 (25.4-44.9)] (Bonferroni corrected, all P<0.017). Compared with the spontaneous preterm labor group with intact membranes, CBF in the iatrogenic preterm labor group was higher in the cortex and deep gray matter of regions of interest such as bilateral frontal lobe [left side: 21.4 (18.3-25.3) vs. 17.0 (12.0-22.2); right side: 22.1 (16.7-25.0) vs. 15.9 (12.0-23.3)], temporal lobe [left side: 21.4 (17.0-24.8) vs. 18.4 (14.0-22.0); right side: 20.5 (16.1-24.6) vs. 17.3 (13.3-22.3)], parietal lobe [left side: 22.4 (17.1-25.3) vs. 15.3 (10.4-20.8); right side: 23.0 (18.2-27.4) vs. 15.7 (11.1-23.6)], occipital lobe [left side: 22.7 (18.8-28.4) vs. 18.2 (11.4-23.4); right side: 22.1 (18.6-29.5) vs. 19.6 (14.0-25.8)], basal ganglia [left side: 33.0 (29.1-36.3) vs. 27.7 (19.1-32.4); right side: 32.8 (29.0-37.0) vs. 27.7 (21.5-33.0)] and thalamus [left side: 39.2 (36.0-45.0) vs. 33.9 (26.0-43.7); right side: 38.6 (34.6-44.1) vs. 33.3 (27.8-40.4)] (Bonferroni corrected, all P<0.017). Analysis of covariance revealed that the cause of preterm birth had a significant effect on CBF values in the cortex and deep gray matter of very preterm infants ( P=0.007), and that iatrogenic preterm birth elevated CBF perfusion in the localized cerebral cortex and deep gray matter of very preterm infants as compared to the spontaneous preterm births with PROM group and spontaneous preterm births with intact membranes group (LSD test, all P<0.05). Conclusion:Cerebral blood perfusion in very preterm infants is related to the causes leading to preterm birth, and local cortical and deep gray matter blood perfusion levels in the brain are increased in those with iatrogenic preterm birth compared to spontaneous preterm birth.

BACKGROUND: Although intensively studied in patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), the prognostic value of diastolic blood pressure (DBP) has little been elucidated in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). This study aimed to reveal the prognostic value of DBP in AECOPD patients. METHODS: Inpatients with AECOPD were prospectively enrolled from 10 medical centers in China between September 2017 and July 2021. DBP was measured on admission. The primary outcome was all-cause in-hospital mortality; invasive mechanical ventilation and intensive care unit (ICU) admission were secondary outcomes. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and multivariable Cox regressions were used to identify independent prognostic factors and calculate the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for adverse outcomes. RESULTS: Among 13,633 included patients with AECOPD, 197 (1.45%) died during their hospital stay. Multivariable Cox regression analysis showed that low DBP on admission (<70 mmHg) was associated with increased risk of in-hospital mortality (HR = 2.16, 95% CI: 1.53-3.05, Z = 4.37, P <0.01), invasive mechanical ventilation (HR = 1.65, 95% CI: 1.32-2.05, Z = 19.67, P <0.01), and ICU admission (HR = 1.45, 95% CI: 1.24-1.69, Z = 22.08, P <0.01) in the overall cohort. Similar findings were observed in subgroups with or without CVDs, except for invasive mechanical ventilation in the subgroup with CVDs. When DBP was further categorized in 5-mmHg increments from <50 mmHg to ≥100 mmHg, and 75 to <80 mmHg was taken as reference, HRs for in-hospital mortality increased almost linearly with decreased DBP in the overall cohort and subgroups of patients with CVDs; higher DBP was not associated with the risk of in-hospital mortality. CONCLUSION: Low on-admission DBP, particularly <70 mmHg, was associated with an increased risk of adverse outcomes among inpatients with AECOPD, with or without CVDs, which may serve as a convenient predictor of poor prognosis in these patients. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION Chinese Clinical Trail Registry, No. ChiCTR2100044625.
Humans ; Blood Pressure ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/therapy* ; Cohort Studies ; Respiration, Artificial ; Inpatients ; Hospital Mortality

The clinical data, laboratory testing, genetic testing results, diagnosis and treatment process of a child with PERCHING syndrome diagnosed and treated in the Department of Neonatology, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University in June 2022 were retrospectively analyzed, and the relevant literatures were reviewed.The proband mainly presented with dyspnea and feeding difficulties after delivery, facial nevus flammeus, protrusion of eyes, small fissure of eyes, wide nasal root, limited opening of mouth, slightly high palatal arch, special posture, cryptorchid, hypospadias, and high muscle tone of limbs.Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain suggested possible agenesis of corpus callosum.Genetic testing showed complex heterozygous variations in the KLHL7 gene, and the two mutation sites have not been previously reported.A case of PERCHING syndrome caused by the KLHL7 gene mutation in China was reported for the first time, which provided new ideas for the diagnosis and treatment of children with PERCHING syndrome and reliable genetic evidence for family reproduction.

Objective:To study the clinical characteristics and imaging features of neonatal ovarian cysts and to analyze treatment and prognosis of ovarian torsion.Methods:From January 2011 to December 2021,neonates with ovarian cysts admitted to the department of neonatology and pediatric surgery of our hospital were retrospectively studied. They were assigned into ovarian torsion group and non-torsion group. Their clinical manifestations, imaging features, pathological results, treatment and prognosis were reviewed and compared.Results:A total of 44 neonates with ovarian cysts were included, all without specific clinical manifestations. 10 neonates were treated with conservative therapy and 34 received surgery. Ovarian torsion were confirmed during surgery in 23 patients. All 34 patients received abdominal ultrasound preoperatively and 31 (91.2%, 31/34) were diagnosed with ovarian cysts. The accuracy rates of ultrasound for cyst location and ovarian torsion were 85.3% (29/34) and 82.6% (19/23),respectively. 30 patients received abdominal CT scan and 23 (76.7%, 23/30) were diagnosed with ovarian cysts. The accuracy rates of CT scan for cyst location and ovarian torsion were 53.3% (16/30) and 47.8% (11/23), respectively. Among the 34 patients treated with surgery, ovarian cyst dissection was performed in 11 patients and cyst resection in 23 patients with torsion necrosis. 24 patients had simple cysts including 15 torsion necrosis (62.5%, 15/24) and 10 had complicated cysts including 8 torsion necrosis(80.0%, 8/10). The average diameter of ovarian cysts was significantly larger in the torsion group [(8.4±1.6) cm] than the non-torsion group [(4.7±1.2) cm] ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Neonatal ovarian cysts are mostly unilateral without specific clinical manifestations. Large, bilateral and complex cysts are prone to torsion necrosis. Abdomen ultrasound has advantages than CT scan for the localization of the ovarian cyst and diagnosis of ovarian torsion. Surgical treatment is necessary after diagnosis.

This article reported a case of neonatal-onset autoinflammation with infantile enterocolitis (AIFEC) caused by NLRC4 gene mutation. The boy developed the disease in the neonatal period, presenting with recurrent fever, rash, hepatosplenomegaly and enterocolitis. Laboratory tests showed some indicators including ferritin and C-reactive protein were elevated. His condition was complicated by macrophage activation syndrome and anti-infective treatment was ineffective. High-throughput whole exome sequencing revealed a de novo heterozygous mutation of c.1021G>C (p.Val341Leu) in the NLRC4 gene and AIFEC was confirmed. AIFEC is a rare disease with no effective treatment at present, which can be developed in the neonatal period and diagnosed by whole exome sequencing.

Objective:To analyse the pathogenic bacteria distribution and clinical characteristics of late-onset sepsis (LOS) among premature infants with gestational age less than 34 weeks in Henan Province.Methods:The clinical data of 6 590 premature infants admitted to 17 medical institutions in Henan Province from January 2019 to December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The gestational age of infants was less than 34 weeks and was admitted to the neonatal ward within 7 days after birth. SPSS 19.0 statistical software was used for data analysis.Results:Among 6 590 premature infants LOS developed in 751 cases (11.40%), of whom the diagnosis was confirmed in 276 cases (36.75%) and 475 cases (63.25%) were diagnosed clinically. The fatality rate related to LOS was 13.58%. There were significant differences in the incidence of LOS and infection-related mortality among infants with different gestational ages and body weights ( χ2=388.894 and 13.572, χ2=472.282 and 9.257, P<0.05 or <0.01). Among 276 children with confirmed LOS, 286 strains of pathogenic bacteria were isolated. Gram-negative bacteria were most prevalent (178 strains), accounting for 62.24% of all infections, followed by fungi (58 strains, 20.28%). Klebsiella pneumoniae was most frequently detected Gram-negative bacteria (117 strains, 40.91%), among which 32.48% (38/117) was carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae. The proportion of diagnosed sepsis, the proportion of catheterization, and the infection-related mortality of infants with LOS in tertiary hospitals were all higher than those in secondary hospitals ( χ2=6.212, 5.313 and 4.435, all P<0.05). The proportion of exclusive breastfeeding in secondary hospitals was lower than that in tertiary hospitals ( χ2=19.216, P<0.05). The time of antibacterial drug use before infection in specialized hospitals was longer than that in general hospitals ( χ2=3.276, P<0.05). Conclusion:The incidence of LOS among preterm infants in Henan Province is high, which was mainly caused by Gram-negative bacteria. The clinical characteristics of LOS caused by different pathogens and in different health institutions are different, the prevention and control strategy should be developed accordingly to reduce the incidence LOS of preterm premature infants.

Objective? To explore effects of CoughAssist on sputum excretion efficacy among patients with intensive care unit-acquired weakness (ICU-AW). Methods? From January 2016 to December 2017, we selected 84 ICU-AW patients with mechanical ventilation of ICU in Hu'nan Provincial People's Hospital by convenience sampling. All of the patients were divided into control group and observation group with the random number table, 42 cases in each group. Two groups all received routine treatment and nursing. On this basis, observation group carried out CoughAssist therapy. We compared the sputum excretion effects, results of sputum smear/sputum culture, arterial blood gas indexes, respiratory mechanics indexes, the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), time of mechanical ventilation, hospital days in ICU and the score of Medical Research Council (MRC) of patients between two groups. Results? There were no statistical difference in the volume of sputum excretion of patients in two groups before dividing groups (P＞0.05). One to three days after treatment, the volume of sputum excretion and number of effective sputum excretion patients in observation group were more than those in control group; the positive rate of sputum culture of patients in observation group was lower than that in control group; the differences were all statistical (P＜ 0.05). The partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) of observation group was higher than that of control group; the partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2) of observation group was lower than that of control group; the differences were all statistical (P＜0.05). The pressure support/pressure control (PS/PC) and airway resistance of observation group were lower than those of control group;and the compliance and cough peak flow (PCF) were higher than those of control group with statistical differences (P＜ 0.01). The incidence of VAP, time of mechanical ventilation and hospital days in ICU of observation group were lower than those of control group (P＜0.05). There was no statistical difference in the scores of MRC between two groups (P＞0.05). Conclusions? The application of CoughAssist in ICU-AW patients with mechanical ventilation can improve the sputum excretion effects as well as respiratory function and shorten the time of mechanical ventilation and hospital days in ICU, and improve the clinical effects.