ABSTRACT
Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics and genotypes of neurodevelopmental disorders of microcephaly-epilepsy-cortical atrophy caused by VARS1 gene mutation.Methods:The clinical data of a child with VARS1 gene mutation who visited Anhui Children′s Hospital in December 2021 were reviewed and followed up. Using "VARS1" "VARS" "VALYL-tRNA synthetase" "Valyl-tRNA synthetase" as the search terms, the Chinese data bases (China National Knowledge Infrastructure database, Wanfang database) and PubMed database (the database establishment until 2022). Articles related to genetic diseases were searched and clinical phenotypes and genotypes were summarized.Results:This case was a 3-month-old girl. After birth, she suffered from repeated convulsions and feeding difficulties, and gradually developed microcephaly, hypotonia, and overall developmental delay. Brain imaging showed cortical atrophy, corpus callosum dysplasia, and craniosynostosis. The results of whole exome sequencing indicated a new homozygous gene mutation in VARS1: gene mutation in exon 27 of chromosome 6 c.3203C>T(p.Thr1068 Met), which was from the patient 's parents. She took phenobarbital, levetiracetam, and sodium valproate for anti-epileptic treatment regularly, and then convulsed as a seizure every few days. A total of 19 patients were reported in 5 literatures that met the search criteria, all of whom presented with neurodevelopmental disorders. A total of 20 VARS1 gene mutation sites have been found so far. Conclusions:Neurodevelopmental disorders of microcephaly-epilepsy-cortical atrophy should be considered for children with neurodevelopmental disorders such as microcephaly, epilepsy, developmental delay, and cortical atrophy. Gene sequencing plays an important role in the diagnosis of the disease.
ABSTRACT
Christianson syndrome is a rare X-linked disease caused by mutations in the SLC9A6 gene. The clinical manifestations are male developmental delay, language disorder, seizures, mental retardation, ataxia, microcephaly and so on. Two cases of male children with Christianson syndrome were reported. The proband was 1 year and 11 months old. Clinical manifestations include microcephaly, global developmental delay, and seizures. The electroencephalogram showed that the central midline region of spikes and slow waves were emitted, and all exons sequencing detected a mutation in the SLC9A6 gene chrX: 135084373 [c.803+1(IVS6)G>A]. The proband′s brother was 4 years and 8 months old. The clinical manifestations were similar. The electroencephalogram showed spikes and spines in the Rolandic area on both sides. Slow waves and spiny slow waves were emitted. Magnetic resonance imaging suggested brain atrophy. The genetic verification results were consistent with the proband. The SLC9A6 gene c.803+1(IVS6) G>A splicing mutation was a pathogenic mutation in this family.
ABSTRACT
Clinical data of a case of 4H syndrome admitted to the Department of Neurology, Anhui Children′s Hospital in January 2019 were retrospectively analyzed.The male patient with 2 years and 7 months old had clinical manifestations of motor and mental retardation, unstable gait, and abnormal tooth development.Head magnetic resonance imaging revealed abnormal brain white matter development.Family-wide exon detection revealed compound heterozygous mutations of the POLR3 A gene, c.3858C>A (exon29) and c. 3226G>A (exon24), which were newly detected pathogenic mutations.It is suggested that 4H syndrome should be considered in children with early developmental retardation, abnormal tooth development, and abnormal white matter.
ABSTRACT
Objective:To explore the clinical characteristics of children with severe tuberculosis (TB) in pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) and the diagnostic viability of metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS).Methods:The clinical data and mNGS results of 3 children with severe TB admitted to PICU of Anhui Provincial Children′s Hospital from January 2018 to December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed.The literature reporting children with TB diagnosed by applying mNGS were searched in China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang data, VIP and PubMed data bases, all of which were searched from the establishment of the database to March 2021, and the relevant literature was reviewed.Results:(1)All of 3 cases, including 2 males and 1 female, all had fever.One case was diagnosed with X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency (X-SCID). Acid-fast stain tests of body fluid, purified protein derivative (PPD) tests and T-cell spot tests of tuberculosis infection (T-SPOT.TB) were conducted in 3 cases, with the test results being negative, and the early diagnosis was confirmed with mNGS.Two cases were discharged from the hospital after being switched to special anti-TB treatment.(2)A total of 3 articles were retrieved, in which 7 children were reported.One male with X-SCID combined with bacillus Calmette-Guérin-associated hemophagocytic syndrome and 6 children with tuberculous meningitis were subject to early diagnosis with mNGS (detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex).Conclusions:It is promising for the application of mNGS in rapid pathogen diagnosis of children with severe TB, especially in children with immunodeficiency.It could optimize early diagnosis and treatment to improve prognosis.
ABSTRACT
To investigate the risk factors and prognosis of acute kidney injury (AKI) in children with sepsis in pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Methods A retrospective analysis of clinical data of PICU sepsis children in Anhui Children's Hospital from May 2015 to May 2018 was performed. The children were divided into AKI group and non-AKI group according to whether AKI occurred within 48 hours of PICU [referring to the diagnostic criteria for Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO)]. The general data, physiological data and clinical outcomes of the two groups were compared; Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the risk factors of AKI in children with sepsis and the prognostic factors. Results AKI occurred in 55 of 127 children with sepsis, the incidence of AKI was 43.3%, and the overall mortality was 28.3% (36/127), with 41.8% (23/55) in AKI group and 18.1% (13/72) in non-AKI group.① Compared with non-AKI group, oxygenation index, albumin, the pediatric critical illness case score (PCIS) and urine volume in AKI group were significantly decreased, while cystatin C, procalcitonin (PCT), prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), pediatric multiple organ dysfunction score (P-MODS), the proportions of mechanical ventilation, vasoactive drug use, shock, septic shock and mortality were significantly increased, while there was no difference in age, gender, mean arterial pressure (MAP), white blood cell count (WBC) and C-reactive protein (CRP) between the two groups. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that low serum albumin [odds ratio (OR) = 0.627, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) = 0.495-0.794, P = 0.000] and homocystatin C (OR = 2.641, 95%CI = 1.157-6.032, P = 0.021) were risk factors for AKI in children with sepsis. ② Compared with the survival group of children with sepsis AKI, the proportion of mechanical ventilation, septic shock, vasoactive drug use, positive balance ratio of liquid for 72 hours, 6-hour lactate clearance rate < 10%, and AKI 3-stage patients in the death group of children with sepsis AKI were significantly increased. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that 72-hour positive liquid balance (OR = 8.542, 95%CI = 1.956-37.307, P = 0.004) and 6-hour lactate clearance rate < 10% (OR = 5.980, 95%CI = 1.393-25.676, P = 0.016) were risk factors for the death of children with sepsis AKI. Conclusions Serum albumin and cystatin C should be closely monitored in children with sepsis. Early detection and intervention of positive fluid balance and low lactate clearance rate can reduce the mortality of AKI in children with sepsis.
ABSTRACT
Objective To analyze the etiology and prognosis of children with thrombocytopenia (TP) in pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Methods The data of children with TP (exclusion of congenital and unknown TP) admitted to PICU of Anhui Provincial Children's Hospital from January 2008 to December 2017 was analyzed retrospectively. According to the age of onset, the children were divided into infantile group (29 days to less than 1 year), early childhood group (1 to less than 3 years), preschool group (3 to less than 6 years), school age group (6 to less than 10 years) and puberty group (more than 10 years). Moreover, according to the lowest platelet count (PLT), the children were divided into PLT≤20×109/L group, PLT (21-50)×109/L group and PLT > (50-100) ×109/L group. The distribution and mortality of TP were analyzed, and the relationship between age, PLT decrease and prognosis were analyzed by Pearson method. Results Among 6 725 children admitted to PICU in our hospital from January 2008 to December 2017, there were 683 children with TP, with the incidence of 10.2%. Among 683 children with TP, there were 387 males and 296 females, with the median age of 2.72 (0.61, 3.08) years, and 92 children died, with a total mortality of 13.5%. Analysis of primary disease showed that TP caused by non-hematological malignant tumor disease accounted for 73.9%, with the mortality of 11.1% (56/505). TP induced by hematological malignant tumor disease accounted for 21.4%, with the mortality of 24.7% (36/146). Pseudothrombocytopenia accounted for 0.6%, with the mortality of 0% (0/4). Other children who gave up treatment accounted for 4.1%. It was shown by further analysis that multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) caused by TP associated with non-hematological malignant tumor disease accounted for 26.9%, with the mortality of 15.4% (21/136). Sepsis, severe trauma, pneumonia, central nervous system infection and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) accounted for 17.4%, 16.6%, 12.7%, 11.7% and 11.5%; with the mortality of 8.0% (7/88), 2.4% (2/84), 0% (0/64), 20.3% (12/59) and 24.1% (14/58), respectively. The main causes of TP associated with hematological malignant tumor disease were hemophagocytic syndrome [accounting for 27.4%, with the mortality of 32.5% (13/40)] and bone marrow inhibition [accounting for 21.2%, with the mortality of 25.8% (8/31)]. The younger were the children with TP, the higher would be the mortality. The mortality of infantile group was significantly higher than that of early childhood group, preschool group, school age group and puberty group [18.8% (53/282) vs. 14.0% (28/200), 6.7% (7/104), 4.3% (4/92), 0% (0/5), all P < 0.01]. The lower was the PLT, the higher would be the mortality. The mortality of PLT≤20×109/L group was significantly higher than that of PLT (21-50)×109/L group and PLT > (50-100)×109/L group [18.1% (39/215) vs. 13.0% (32/247), 9.5% (21/221), both P < 0.05]. It was shown by correlation analysis that there was no association between age and 28-day death time in children with TP (r = -0.037, P = 0.727), but PLT was positively correlated with 28-day death time in children with TP (r = 0.844, P = 0.010). Conclusions MODS, infection, sepsis, severe trauma and DIC are the common causes of TP in PICU. The younger are the children with TP, the lower is the PLT, and the worse would be the prognosis.
ABSTRACT
Objective To compare the sedation and anti-inflammatory effects of dexmedetomidine and midazolam on critical ill children with multiple trauma. Methods A prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted. Sixty-five critical ill children with multiple trauma admitted to pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) of Anhui Province Children's Hospital from January 2014 to September 2016 were enrolled, who were randomly divided into dexmedetomidine group (33 cases) and midazolam group (32 cases). Children of both groups received sufentanil for analgesia. Children in dexmedetomidine group firstly received 1.0 μg/kg intravenous bolus of dexmedetomidine for 10 minutes, then continuous infusion of 0.2-0.7 μg·kg-1·h-1, while in midazolam group children received 1-5 μg·kg-1·min-1 of midazolam in continuous infusion. The goal of sedation was to maintain a Richmond agitation-sedation scale (RASS) score of -1 to 0. The level of serum interleukin (IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) at 24, 48, 72 hours after treatment, and the duration of mechanical ventilation, ratio of continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT), length of stay in the PICU, ratio of sepsis and multiple organ failure (MOF) and mortality were also recorded. Results Compared with midazolam, dexmedetomidine decreased the level of pro-inflammatory cytokines and increased the level of anti-inflammatory cytokines. At 24 hours after treatment, the levels of serum IL-1β, TNF-α significantly decreased and IL-10 significantly increased [IL-1β (ng/L):6.48±2.89 vs. 8.07±3.14, TNF-α (μg/L): 11.25±5.21 vs. 15.44±5.97, IL-10 (ng/L): 12.10±5.35 vs. 9.58±4.71, all P 0.05). Conclusion Compared with midazolam, dexmedetomidine had better efficacy in the treatment of severe multiple trauma in children and reduce the level of inflammation.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the characteristics of the serious complications of 17 cases with measles in ICU.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Seventeen cases with measles with serious complications in ICU in Anhui Provincial Children's Hospital were recruited from May 2012 to May 2013. Clinical characteristics, image finding, and prognosis were analyzed retrospectively. IgM antibody was positive in all the 17 cases, which included 9 male cases, 8 female cases, and their age was from 2 months to 10 years.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>All the 17 patients received mechanical ventilation because of severe respiratory distress within 1 week of onset, of which 14 cases were complicated with acute respiratory distress syndrome (acute ARDS), 6 cases of tension pneumothorax, 3 cases were complicated with bronchitis, laryngeal obstruction III degrees, and totally 7 cases died. The survived 10 patients were followed up for 1 year, 1 patient with localized pneumothorax, bronchopleural fistula, 1 case of mild pulmonary fibrosis, 1 case of acute laryngitis with persistent hoarseness, and mild inspiratory dyspnea were found. The remaining 7 cases fully recovered. Fourteen cases failed to inoculate measles vaccine.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>A higher risk of death and poor prognosis were found in children with measles who needed to be treated in PICU, especially for ARDS with pneumothorax. Laryngitis needed long time to cure and had weaning difficulties, and the case associated with pleural effusion or bronchopleural fistula must be treated with surgery, and the patients easily develop secondary bacterial infection.</p>
Subject(s)
Child , Female , Humans , Male , Dyspnea , Intensive Care Units, Pediatric , Lung Diseases , Measles , Pleural Effusion , Prognosis , Pulmonary Fibrosis , Respiration, Artificial , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To discuss the clinical characteristics, diagnosis and treatment management of ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency (OTCD).</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Data of the clinical diagnosis and treatment of a case with OTCD were analyzed, and the domestic and international literature was reviewed.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>(1) The case was a boy, 8 years old; and the initial symptoms were vomiting and reduced consciousness for a day after eating a lot of eggs as previous similar history. The level of blood ammonia was 2 500 µmol/L. The patient was treated with fasting, high-calorie fluid intravenous infusion, reducing blood ammonia. However, the disease further aggravated and the patient died due to brain hernia and central cardiovascular failure. Finally, he was confirmed as OTCD through urine testing by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, plasma amino acid examination (plasma arginine and citrullineurine reduced, orotic acid raised) and genetic testing (OTC c.386G>A p. (Arg129His)). (2) Data of 55 case reports about diagnosis and treatment outcome including 65 OTCD cases' clinical data in domestic and abroad reports in nearly 5 years. Their ages ranged from 3 days to 49 years; the common symptoms were vomiting and encephalopathy; both urine tests were positive in 52 cases; pathogenic genes had less repeated loci and located at Xp21.1 in 42 cases detected by OTC gene test; all of which had gene mutation.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The acute onset OTCD begins with the symptoms of vomiting and unconsciousness, with rapid rise of blood ammonia level. OTCD may cause high mortality.</p>