Objective: To analyze the clinical epidemiological characteristics including composition of pathogens , clinical characteristics, and disease prognosis acute bacterial meningitis (ABM) in Chinese children. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical and laboratory data of 1 610 children <15 years of age with ABM in 33 tertiary hospitals in China from January 2019 to December 2020. Patients were divided into different groups according to age,<28 days group, 28 days to <3 months group, 3 months to <1 year group, 1-<5 years of age group, 5-<15 years of age group; etiology confirmed group and clinically diagnosed group according to etiology diagnosis. Non-numeric variables were analyzed with the Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test, while non-normal distrituction numeric variables were compared with nonparametric test. Results: Among 1 610 children with ABM, 955 were male and 650 were female (5 cases were not provided with gender information), and the age of onset was 1.5 (0.5, 5.5) months. There were 588 cases age from <28 days, 462 cases age from 28 days to <3 months, 302 cases age from 3 months to <1 year of age group, 156 cases in the 1-<5 years of age and 101 cases in the 5-<15 years of age. The detection rates were 38.8% (95/245) and 31.5% (70/222) of Escherichia coli and 27.8% (68/245) and 35.1% (78/222) of Streptococcus agalactiae in infants younger than 28 days of age and 28 days to 3 months of age; the detection rates of Streptococcus pneumonia, Escherichia coli, and Streptococcus agalactiae were 34.3% (61/178), 14.0% (25/178) and 13.5% (24/178) in the 3 months of age to <1 year of age group; the dominant pathogens were Streptococcus pneumoniae and the detection rate were 67.9% (74/109) and 44.4% (16/36) in the 1-<5 years of age and 5-<15 years of age . There were 9.7% (19/195) strains of Escherichia coli producing ultra-broad-spectrum β-lactamases. The positive rates of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture and blood culture were 32.2% (515/1 598) and 25.0% (400/1 598), while 38.2% (126/330)and 25.3% (21/83) in CSF metagenomics next generation sequencing and Streptococcus pneumoniae antigen detection. There were 4.3% (32/790) cases of which CSF white blood cell counts were normal in etiology confirmed group. Among 1 610 children with ABM, main intracranial imaging complications were subdural effusion and (or) empyema in 349 cases (21.7%), hydrocephalus in 233 cases (14.5%), brain abscess in 178 cases (11.1%), and other cerebrovascular diseases, including encephalomalacia, cerebral infarction, and encephalatrophy, in 174 cases (10.8%). Among the 166 cases (10.3%) with unfavorable outcome, 32 cases (2.0%) died among whom 24 cases died before 1 year of age, and 37 cases (2.3%) had recurrence among whom 25 cases had recurrence within 3 weeks. The incidences of subdural effusion and (or) empyema, brain abscess and ependymitis in the etiology confirmed group were significantly higher than those in the clinically diagnosed group (26.2% (207/790) vs. 17.3% (142/820), 13.0% (103/790) vs. 9.1% (75/820), 4.6% (36/790) vs. 2.7% (22/820), χ²=18.71, 6.20, 4.07, all P<0.05), but there was no significant difference in the unfavorable outcomes, mortility, and recurrence between these 2 groups (all P>0.05). Conclusions: The onset age of ABM in children is usually within 1 year of age, especially <3 months. The common pathogens in infants <3 months of age are Escherichia coli and Streptococcus agalactiae, and the dominant pathogen in infant ≥3 months is Streptococcus pneumoniae. Subdural effusion and (or) empyema and hydrocephalus are common complications. ABM should not be excluded even if CSF white blood cell counts is within normal range. Standardized bacteriological examination should be paid more attention to increase the pathogenic detection rate. Non-culture CSF detection methods may facilitate the pathogenic diagnosis.
Adolescent ; Brain Abscess ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Escherichia coli ; Female ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Meningitis, Bacterial/epidemiology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Streptococcus agalactiae ; Streptococcus pneumoniae ; Subdural Effusion ; beta-Lactamases

In spite of no homology in sequences‚ Vip3A and Cry1Ia toxins of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) share common characteristics‚ such as translocation across cell membranes after synthesis at the early stage of sporulation. The aim of the present study was to compare the regulation patterns and activities of the promoters of vip3A (P

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical characteristics, prevention and treatment of invasive fungal disease (IFD). METHODS: The clinical data of 164 patients who met the diagnostic criteria of IFD in our center from January 2012 to January 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. The incidence, clinical characteristics, related factors, treatment methods and prognosis were analyzed. RESULTS: Among 1289 cases of blood diseases, 164 cases suffered from IFD with inciduce of 12.7%. The main infection sites were as followed: lung, blood and gastrointestinal tract, with incidence of 84.2%, 5.5% and 3% respectively. The funge was found in 35 cases by detection; among fungi, the detected rate of candida albicans. aspergillus and candida glabrata was more high with 51.5%, 20% and 14.3% respectively. Among 164 childen with blood deseases complicated by IFD, 36 cases gained complete remission, 97 cases gained partial remission, 10 cases were stable, 11 cases were progressive and 10 cases died, the overall effective rate reached 81.1%. The univariate analysis showed that the gramulopenia, granulocyte recovery, long-term use of corticosteroid and immuno-suppressive agents, as well as different grades of diagnosis were significant factors affecting the efficacy of antifungal therapy for blood disease children with IFD, the multivariate analysis further showed that the granulocyte recovery and diagnosis grades were independent prognostic factors affecting the therapeutic efficacy for IFD children. The overall survival rate of IFD children with 12 weeks of antifungal treatnment was 81.7%, out of which the survival rate of IFD children at 12 weeks of treatment with itraconazole, voriconazole, amphotericin B and caspofungin was 81.4%, 80%, 69.4% and 97.1% respectively, there were significant differences in survival rate between each other by long rank test. In addition of caspofungin, the other 3 kinds of drugs had toxic side effects of different degrees, but IFD children could tolerated these effects after symptomatic treatment. CONCLUSION The incidence of IFD in children with blood deseases in our hospital is 12.7%, the lung is most common infective site, moreover patogens of IFD mainly is candida. The promotion of granulocyte recovery and early stratified diagnosis can contribule to the treatment of IFD. For the IFD children with better economic condition, the caspofungin is a potent antifungal agent with high efficacy, low toxicity and better prognosis.
Amphotericin B ; Antifungal Agents ; Child ; Hematologic Diseases ; etiology ; Humans ; Invasive Fungal Infections ; complications ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVE: To quantitatively investigate the effects of Ringer's solution with different concentrations of alcohol (1%～80%) on biphasic compound action potentials (AP) from frog sciatic nerve trunk, and their recoveries from alcohol effects. METHODS: Individual segments of frog sciatic nerve trunk with a length of 6 to 8 cm were prepared. Ringer's solution with different concentrations of alcohol (0%, 1%, 2%, 4%, 8%, 16%, 32%, 48%, 64% and 80%) was applied onto the segment of the trunk between the stimulus and ground electrodes via an agent reservoir which was newly armed in a nerve trunk shielded chamber for 5 minutes. The nerve trunk was respectively electro-stimulated to generate the biphasic compound AP which was recorded using the experimental system of BL-420F. This was followed by 5 times washout plus 5 min administration with Ringer's solution before recovery recording of AP. RESULTS: Compared to normal Ringer's solution, Ringer's solution with alcohol at ≤4% did not have dramatic impacts on the AP amplitude and conduction velocity, while Ringer's solution with alcohol at ≥8% there was significant decrease in these two parameters. Ringer's solution with alcohol at the conentrations of 16%, 32% and ≥48% could prevent a small proportion (30%), a large proportion (90%) and all (100%) of sciatic nerve trunks, respectively, from generating AP. Washout with normal Ringer's solution after alcohol application at the concentration of ≤32%, AP could totally recover to normal status. While alcohol at the concentration of 48%, 64% and 80%, the probabilities to regenerate APs were 90%, 40% and 0%, and the AP amplitudes were decreased to 60%, 36% and 0%, respectively. After washout, AP conduction velocity showed no difference with alcohol at the concentration of ≤8% when compared with that before washout, while it could not be recovered to normal under alcohol at ≥16%. CONCLUSION Ringer's solution with different concentrations of alcohol exerts different effects on biphasic compound AP amplitude and conduction velocity. Hopefully, our findings could be helpful for the alcoholic usage and its recovery from alcoholic damage.
Action Potentials ; Animals ; Anura ; Ethanol ; pharmacology ; Ringer's Solution ; pharmacology ; Sciatic Nerve ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo prospectively study the correlation BKV with the occurrence and development of late onset hemorrhagic cystitis (LOHC) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(allo-HSCT).

METHODSThe clinical data of a total of 276 patients with allo-HSCT in our department between January 1998 and March 2016 were analyzed ratrospectvely. Quantitative Real-time PCR assay was used to prospectively monitor the BKV DNA load of the urine and plasma for 23 patients accepting allo-HSCT from August 2015 to March 2016.

RESULTSLOHC(24.28%) occurred in 67 of 276 cases with allo-HSCT. Univariate analysis showed that age older than 6 years, different diseases, unrelated donor, pretreatment with BU, Ⅲ-Ⅳ aGVHD significantly correlated with LOHC. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that age older than 6 years (P<0.01), pretreatment with BU(P<0.05), and aGVHD of grade Ⅲ-Ⅳ （P= 0.011） were the independent risk factors for LOHC. Among 23 patients after allo-HSTC, 10 of which were positive of urine BKV, and LOHC occurred in 6 cases. The positive rate of urine BKV (85.7%)in group LOHC was significantly higher than that in the group LOHC(25.0%）(χ=5.043, P<0.01). The incidence of LOHC positively correlated with the positive rate of BKV (r=0.564, P<0.01), and the severity of LOHC positively correlated with urinary BKV load (r = 0.502, P<0.01). And 5 of 6 petriatic patients with LOHC had aGVHD. All of them were subject to the strengthened antiviral treatment, and 4 of them accepted intensive immunosuppression therapy.

CONCLUSIONAge ≥6 years old, precenditioning regieme with BU and aGVHD of grade Ⅲ-Ⅳ are independent risk factors for LOHC after allo-HSCT, the positive rate of urine BKV load positively correlates with the severity of LOHC after allo-HSCT.

Child ; Cystitis ; Graft vs Host Disease ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Incidence ; Risk Factors ; Transplantation, Homologous

OBJECTIVETo study the curative effect and safety of menchymal stem cell infusion in treatment of children with refractory late-onset hemorrhagic cystitis(LOHC) after allogeneic HSCT.

METHODSThirty cases of children with refractory LOHC after allo-HSCT in our department between December 2010 and July 2016 were analyzed retrospectively, out of 30 cases 7 received MSC treatment. The used MSC of all were four-to-five generation MSC from bone marrows of third party donors, and were infused into patients with (1.87±0.456)×10/kg MSCs once a week (1-4 times in total) until the hematuria and odynuria symptoms being improved. To observe whether unfavorable reactions occurred after MSC treatment, the patients accepted daily physical examination and regular assistant examination. The cytokine levels were also measured and dynamically detected in 2 cases before and after MSC treatment.

RESULTSIn 30 children with refractory LOHC, the hematuria difficultly reached the remission after routine hydration, alkalizing and antiviral therapy, Among 25 cases who were received methylprednisolone, MTX and CTX therapy, 7 cases received MSC infusion for 1-4 times with dose of (1.87±0.456)×10/(kg·time) as a result, 7 cases of LOHC were cured. The TNF-α and IL-2R levels in 2 cases progressively decreased after MSC infusion, no occurence of fever, rash, embolism and so on were found in 7 cases received MSC infusion; the BKV detection showed that the viral load did not increase; the leukemia relapse or secondary cancer did not occure.

CONCLUSIONThe MSC treatment is safe and effective for refractory LOHC after allo-HSCT.

Child ; Cystitis ; Graft vs Host Disease ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; Retrospective Studies ; Transplantation, Homologous ; Treatment Outcome

A questionnaire survey of 1 000 clinicians having experience in treating uncomplicated lower urinary tract infections from different levels of hospitals was conducted to mainly evaluate the applicability and effectiveness of clinical application of clinical practice guideline on traditional Chinese medicine therapy alone or combined with antibiotics for uncomplicated lower urinary tract infection(hereinafter referred to as Guideline). The research was conducted with the three-level quality control strictly throughout the process, and the data was real and reliable. The survey's results showed that: most clinicians considered that the Guideline had good clinical applicability. The availability and price of the recommended medicine were moderate. Traditional Chinese medicine had obvious features and advantages in treating lower urinary tract infection for it could reduce the usage of antibiotics and shorten the course of antibiotic application. In the recommendation section, clinicians proposed increasing medication guidance, updating the Guideline timely, as well as increasing treating methods and techniques, strengthen propaganda and promotion, and improve the use of evidence-based methods. In the evaluation of effectiveness, the majority of clinicians agreed that the definition in both traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Western medicine and differential diagnosis in the Guideline were accurately described and the basic principle of treatment as well as the treating method of TCM were recommended appropriately. The TCM formulas and Chinese patent medicine had good effect. Some clinicians suggested refining the syndrome differentiation of stranguria. Some clinicians considered that the formulas and herbs recommended in Guideline didn't have obvious effect and some had doubts about the manipulation of fumigation and washing in the part of other methods recommended in Guideline. Moreover, specification and procedure of manipulation of fumigation and washing using herbs and the acupuncture included in characteristic TCM therapy treating uncomplicated lower urinary tract infection remained to be developed.
Acupuncture Therapy ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Urinary Tract Infections

OBJECTIVETo investigate the efficacy and safety of NOPHO-AML 2004 chemotherapy regimen for treatment of children with acute myelocytic leukemia(non-M3).

METHODSThirty-three patients aged 1-13 with acute myelocytic leukemia (non-M3) were diagnosed from January 2013 to June 2017. FAB typing showed that 1 case in M0, 4 cases in M1, 12 cases in M2, 5 cases in M4, 8 cases in M5, 1 case in M6, and 2 cases in M7; Risk stratification showed that: 19 cases in standard risk, and 14 cases in high risk. All patients were treated with NOPHO-AML 2004 chemotherapy regimen. SPSS 22.0 software was used, the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis method and Cox regression model were used for statistical analysis.

RESULTSIn the first course of treatment (AIET), among 33 child patients there were 27 cases with complete remission, and 5 cases with non-remission, thus the remission rate was 81.8%. Out of the 5 child patients without remission, 4 cases reached to the complete remission after the second course (AM), and 1 case did not remission, thus the total remission rate was 96.9%.9 cases (27.3%) underwent bone marrow recurrence and the median recurrence time was 30 months after complete continuous remission. Univariate analysis showed that age and erythrocyte transfusion frequency were significant factors to affect the early treatment response; the multiple Cox regression analysis showed that: age >7, MRD positive, erythrocyte transfusion >4 times and poor response to early treatment were independent risk factors for recurrence; Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(HSCT) in 8 high-risk children received enhanced chemotherapy had better efficacy as compared with the chemotherapy alone. The 3-year event-free survival rate was 59.9%, and 3-year overall survival rate was 69.2%. 33 children patients experienced varying degrees of infection and myelosuppression, or drug-related gastrointestinal reactions and allergic reactions, patients were tolerable to these side reactions after active symptomatic treatment.

CONCLUSIONNOPHO-AML 2004 chemotherapy regimen has high response rate and good tolerance, early treatment response is an important factor influencing prognosis. Age and repeated red blood cell infusions are the important factors influencing the prognosis, which promote bone marrow recurrence in AML children. For the children suffered from clinical high-risk AML, the NOPHO-AML 2004 chemotherapy regimen combined with HSCT can improve the prognosis of patients.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Disease-Free Survival ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Infant ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; Prognosis ; Remission Induction ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical features of invasive candidiasis in children and the risk factors for Candida bloodstream infection.

METHODSA retrospective study was performed on 134 children with invasive candidiasis and hospitalized in 5 tertiary hospitals in Urumqi, China, between January 2010 and December 2015. The Candida species distribution was investigated. The clinical data were compared between the patients with and without Candida bloodstream infection. The risk factors for Candida bloodstream infection were investigated using multivariate logistic regression analysis.

RESULTSA total of 134 Candida strains were isolated from 134 children with invasive candidiasis, and non-albicans Candida (NAC) accounted for 53.0%. The incidence of invasive candidiasis in the PICU and other pediatric wards were 41.8% and 48.5% respectively. Sixty-eight patients (50.7%) had Candida bloodstream infection, and 45 patients (33.6%) had Candida urinary tract infection. There were significant differences in age, rate of use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, and incidence rates of chronic renal insufficiency, heart failure, urinary catheterization, and NAC infection between the patients with and without Candida bloodstream infection (P<0.05). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that younger age (1-24 months) (OR=6.027) and NAC infection (OR=1.020) were the independent risk factors for Candida bloodstream infection.

CONCLUSIONSThe incidence of invasive candidiasis is similar between the PICU and other pediatric wards. NAC is the most common species of invasive candidiasis. Candida bloodstream infection is the most common invasive infection. Younger age (1-24 months) and NAC infection are the risk factors for Candida bloodstream infection.

Adolescent ; Age Factors ; Candidiasis ; drug therapy ; microbiology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Fungemia ; etiology ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors