ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the change of 14-3-3 protein in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in different types of meningoencephalitis in children and its value in judging brain injury.Methods CSF 14-3-3 protein bands were detected by means of Western blot in 22 patients with viral meningoencephalitis and 20 cases of purulent meningoencephalitis and with 15 cases of febrile seizures as the control group from Jul.2009 to Jun.2010,and in addition,the quantitative detection of 14-3-3 protein was done by way of ELISA.Correlation was analyzed between the clinical manifestations,prognosis,EEG,head CT or MRI and the changes of 14-3-3 protein.Results The positive rate of 14-3-3 protein in cases of purulent meningitis was 65.0(13/22 cases),higher than viral meningoencephalitis group(27.3％,6/22 cases),and the difference was significant.In the quantitative detection,14-3-3 protein was increased in both the purulent meningitis [(5.6 + 0.2) μg/L] and viral encephalitis groups[(3.2 + 0.3) μg/L] compared with the control group [(0.9 + 0.1) μg/L].After treatment,14-3-3 proteins were less than before in the purulent meningitis and viral meningoencephalitis groups.In the cases with severe clinical manifestations and severe injury brain suggested by imaging and EEG,the 14-3-3 protein in cerebrospinal fluid was elevated;and the prognosis of the cases with increased 14-3-3 protein was poor,as a result of epilepsy,death and so on.Conclusions 14-3-3 protein in the CSF increases with disease severity,so to a certain extent,it can be used to identify viral meningitis and purulent meningitis.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the clinical characteristics of severely and critically ill children with 2009 influenza A (H1N1) infection.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Clinical data of 150 cases with 2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus infection confirmed with the use of a real-time polymerase-chain-reaction assay on nasopharyngeal swab specimens were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Among 150 severely and critically ill children with 2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus infection, 103 were male, 47 were female; the median age was 5 years, 81(55%) were 5 years of age or older; 21 (14%) had underlying chronic diseases. The most common presenting symptoms were fever (95%), cough (89%), vomiting (23%), wheezing (19%), abdominal pain (16%), lethargy (7%), seizures (6%), myalgia (6%), and diarrhea (6%). The common laboratory abnormalities were increased or decreased white blood cells counts (40%), elevated of CRP (33%), LDH (29%), CK (25%) and AST (19%). Clinical complications included pneumonia (65%), encephalopathy (12%), myocarditis (5%), encephalitis (1%) and myositis (1%). All patients had received antibiotics before admission or on admission; 73% of patients had received oseltamivir treatment, 23% of patients had received corticosteroids; 32 (21%) were admitted to an ICU, 13 patients were intubated and mechanically ventilated. Fourteen patients with dyspnea who were irresponsive to the treatment experienced bronchoalveolar lavage with flexible bronchoscopy, and the branching bronchial casts were removed in 5 patients. Totally 145 (97%) patients were discharged, five (3%) died, three previously healthy patients died from severe encephalopathy, one patient died from ARDS, one previously healthy patient died from secondary fungal meningitis.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Severely and critically ill children with 2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus infection may occur mainly in older children without underlying chronic disease. The clinical spectrum and laboratory abnormality of the patients can have a wide range. Neurologic complications may be common and severe encephalopathy can lead to death in previously healthy children. Early use of bronchoalveolar lavage with flexible bronchoscopy may reduce death associated with pulmonary complications.</p>