Establishment of a predictive equation for pulmonary ventilation function in school-aged children in northeast China: a prospective study / 中国当代儿科杂志

OBJECTIVES@#To establish a predictive equation for commonly used pulmonary ventilation function parameters in children aged 6-<16 years in northeast China.@*METHODS@#A total of 504 healthy children from Liaoning, Jilin, and Heilongjiang provinces of China were selected for the prospective study, among whom there were 242 boys and 262 girls. The JAEGER MasterScreen Pneumo spirometer was used to measure pulmonary ventilation function. With the measured values of 10 parameters, including forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV@*RESULTS@#The boys aged 9-<10 years and 15-<16 years had significantly higher body height, FVC, and FEV@*CONCLUSIONS@#A new predictive equation for the main pulmonary ventilation function parameters has been established in this study for children aged 6-<16 years in northeast China, which provides a basis for accurate judgment of pulmonary function abnormalities in clinical practice.

Role of peak expiratory flow in the assessment and management of asthma in children / 中国当代儿科杂志

Peak expiratory flow (PEF) is a portable, reliable, and inexpensive method for lung function assessment. PEF can reflect expiratory airflow limitation and its variability can document reversibility, which provides an objective basis for the diagnosis of asthma in children. Short-term PEF monitoring can be an important aid in the management of acute asthma exacerbations, identification of possible triggers, and assessment of response to treatment. Long-term PEF monitoring can assist in the assessment of asthma control and warning of acute exacerbations, and this is useful for children with severe asthma. This article reviews the measurements, influencing factors, interpretation, and application of PEF, and its role in the diagnosis and management of asthma in children, to provide references for the clinical application of PEF in children.

Correlation between bronchial dilation test and asthma control level in children with asthma / 中国当代儿科杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To study the correlation between the bronchial dilation test (BDT) and asthma control level in children with asthma.@*METHODS@#A total of 153 children with asthma, aged 5-14 years, who attended the outpatient service from March 2016 to March 2018 were enrolled. According to the presence or absence of atopic constitution, they were divided into an allergic group with 79 children and a non-allergic group with 74 children. The correlation between BDT and Childhood Asthma Control Test (C-ACT) scores was analyzed for both groups.@*RESULTS@#All basic pulmonary function parameters were positively correlated with C-ACT scores in the non-allergic group (@*CONCLUSIONS@#The improvement rate of BDT is well correlated with C-ACT scores in children with asthma, suggesting that BDT can be used as an index for predicting asthma control level.

A multicenter,randomised,controlled clinical study on efficacy and safety of recombinant human interferon α 2b spray (P.putida) in treatment of acute upper respiratory tract infection in children / 中国实用儿科杂志

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy,safety and tolerability of recombinanat human interferon α2 b(rhIFNα2b)spray in treatment of acute upper respiratory tract infection(except the flu)in children. METHODS: In total,575 children who met the inclusion criteria were enrolled from January,2019 to July,2019. They were divided into rhIFNα2b spray group(291 cases)and ribavirin group(284 cases). The children in rhIFNα2b spray group were given the rhIFNα2b spray(P.putida),and those in ribavirin groups were treated with the ribavirin spray. The curative effect and safety between the two groups were compared. RESULTS: The per-protocol set(PPS) comprised 448 patients(233 in the rhIFNα2b spray group,215 in the ribavirin group). The primary efficacy endpoint was antipyretic time which in rhIFNα2b spray group(25.0 h)was significantly shorter than that in the ribavirin group(33.6 h)(P=0.0001). In the comparison of symptomatic relief time,the relief time of nasal congestion,runny nose,sore throat and cough in rhIFNα2b spray group was shorter than that in ribavirin group(P<0.05). The recovery time in the rhIFNα2b spray group was 92 h,which showed significant decrease compared with the ribavirin group(112 h)(P<0.0001). The incidence of adverse events had no statistical differences between the two groups(P=0.2461). CONCLUSION: The rhIFNα2b spray treatment for acute upper respiratory tract infection in children is proved to be significantly effective;particularly,it can evidently relieve fever symptoms and promote the disappearance of nasal and pharyngeal symptoms. It has good safety and tolerability,so the rhIFNα2b spray is worthy to be promoted in clinical application.

Relationship between bronchiolitis and asthma / 中国实用儿科杂志

Bronchiolitis is the leading cause of wheezing in infants under 2 years old,mostly caused by viral infection. Respiratory syncytial virus(RSV)and rhinovirus(RV)are the most common pathogens. Recent studies have demonstrated a relationship between infants with bronchiolitis induced by virus infection(RSV or RV)in the early stage of life and the subsequent development of asthma later during childhood. This review summarized the relationship between bronchiolitis induced by RSV and RV infection and recurrent attacks of wheezing or asthma,the long-term impact on lung function,the pathogenesis,risk factors and prevention strategies of asthma after virus infection.

Value of fiberoptic bronchoscopy in the diagnosis and treatment of refractory mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in children / 中国实用儿科杂志

Mycoplasma pneumoniae is one of the main pathogens of common community-acquired pneumonia in children.The incidence of refractory mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia has been increasing in recent years,and the drugs are limited in children. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy plays an important role in the diagnosis and treatment of refractory mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in children. In this paper,the diagnostic and therapeutic value of fiberoptic bronchoscopy in the treatment of refractory mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in children was expounded from the aspects of endobronchial lesions,pathogen and cytokine analysis in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid,bronchoalveolar lavage,airway cleaning and local drug injection under bronchoscopy.

Expression of leptin and its receptor in lungs of asthmatic BALB/c mice and effect of budesonide on their expression / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine the changes in the expression of leptin and its receptor in the lungs of mice with varying degrees of asthma before and after budesonide treatment.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty Balb/c mice were randomly assigned into 4 groups with 10 animals in each. One group received no treatment (control group) and the other groups were challenged with either nebulized ovalbumin (OVA) for three days (3-day group) or seven days (7-day group), or with nebulized ovalbumin followed by budesonide administration (treatment group). Changes in airway inflammation were observed using hematoxylin-eosin staining. The protein and mRNA levels of leptin and its receptor in lung tissues were determined using immunohistochemistry/Western blot and real-time PCR, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The two asthmatic groups showed more significant pathological changes in the airway than the control and the treatment groups. Mice that were challenged by OVA for seven days showed more marked pathological changes in the airway compared with mice challenged by OVA for three days. The protein and mRNA levels of leptin in the lung tissues of the 3-day group were significantly higher than those of the control group (P<0.01), but significantly lower than those of the 7-day group (P<0.01). The protein levels of leptin receptor in the lung tissues of the 3-day group were significantly lower than those of the control group (P<0.01). The treatment group showed increased protein levels of leptin receptor compared with the 7-day group (P<0.01). No significant difference was noted between the four groups with respect to the mRNA levels of leptin receptor in the lung tissues.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Leptin is highly expressed whereas its receptor is lowly expressed in the lung tissues of asthmatic mice. Budesonide can increase the expression of leptin receptor, but has no significant impact on the expression of leptin.</p>

Effects of NK-1R inhibitor WIN62577 on the migration of airway smooth muscle cells in asthmatic rats with airway remodeling / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the changes in the migration of airway smooth muscle cells (ASMC) in asthmatic rats with airway remodeling and the effect of NK-1R inhibitor WIN62577 on the migration of ASMC.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned into two groups: airway remodeling induced by asthma and normal control. ASMC from rats with asthma and airway remodeling induced by ovalbumin (OVA) inhalation for 8 weeks were primary cultured and purified. Immunofluorescence and real-time PCR were used to measure the expression of NK-1R. With NK-1R inhibitor WIN62577 treatment, the changes in the migration of ASMC were measured by transwell chambers.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>NK-1R in ASMC was expressed mainly in the cytoplasm and cell membrane in the airway remodeling group, and the mRNA expression of NK-1R was higher than the normal control group (P<0.01). The number of the migrated ASMC in the airway remodeling group was significantly higher than that in the normal control group (P<0.01). Various concentrations (10-11 mol/L, 10-10 mol/L, 10-9 mol/L and 10-8 mol/L) of WIN62577 treatment decreased the number of the migrated ASMC (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>NK-1R may affect airway remodeling possibly through promoting the migration ability of ASMC in rats with asthma.</p>

Diagnostic values of fractional exhaled nitric oxide for typical bronchial asthma and cough variant asthma in children / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the diagnostic values of fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) for typical bronchial asthma and cough variant asthma in children, and to explore whether FeNO can be applied to differentiate typical bronchial asthma from cough variant asthma in children.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 150 children who were newly diagnosed with typical bronchial asthma between June 2012 and June 2014, as well as 120 children who were newly diagnosed with cough variant asthma during the same period, were selected as subjects. FeNO measurement, spirometry, and methacholine provocation test were performed for both groups. Meanwhile, 150 healthy children were selected as the control group, and their FeNO was measured. The diagnostic values of FeNO for typical bronchial asthma and cough variant asthma were analyzed using the receiver operating characteristic curve.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The FeNO values in the typical bronchial asthma and cough variant asthma groups were significantly higher than in the control group (P<0.01), and the FeNO value in the typical bronchial asthma group was significantly higher than in the cough variant asthma group (P<0.01). FEV1/FVC%, FEV1%pred, and PD20 were significantly lower in the typical bronchial asthma group than in the cough variant asthma group (P<0.01). The optimal cut-off value of FeNO was 19.5 ppb for the diagnosis of typical bronchial asthma, with a sensitivity of 83.3% and a specificity of 86.7%; the optimal cut-off value of FeNO was 15.5 ppb for the diagnosis of cough variant asthma, with a sensitivity of 67.5% and a specificity of 78.0%; the optimal cut-off value of FeNO was 28.5 ppb for the differentiation between typical bronchial asthma and cough variant asthma, with a sensitivity of 60.7% and a specificity of 82.5%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Measurenment of FeNO may be useful in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of typical bronchial asthma and cough variant asthma.</p>

Effect of dexamethasone on osteopontin expression in the lung tissue of asthmatic mice / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the correlation between airway inflammation and osteopontin (OPN) level in the lung tissue, and to study the effect of dexamethasone (DXM) on OPN expression.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty mice were randomly divided into 5 groups: normal control, ovalbumin (OVA)-challenged asthma groups (OVA inhalation for 1 week or 2 weeks) and DXM-treated asthma groups (DXM treatment for 1 week or 2 weeks). The mice were sensitized and challenged with OVA to prepare mouse model of acute asthma. Alterations of airway inflammation were observed by haematoxylin-eosin staining. Serum level of OVA-sIgE was evaluated using ELISA. OPN expression in the lung tissue was located and measured by immunohistochemistry and Western blot respectively. OPN mRNA level in the lung tissue was detected by real-time PCR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The asthma groups showed more pathological changes in the airway than the normal control and the DXM-treated groups. Compared with the OVA-challenged 1 week group, the pathological alterations increased in the OVA-challenged 2 weeks group. The level of OVA-sIgE in serum increased in the asthma groups compared with the control and the DXM groups (P<0.01). Serum OVA-sIgE sevel increased more significantly in the OVA-challenged 2 weeks group compared with the OVA-challenged 1 week group (P<0.01). OPN protein and mRNA levels were significantly raised in the asthma groups compared with the normal control and the DXM groups (P<0.01), and both levels increased more significantly in the OVA-challenged 2 weeks group compared with the OVA-challenged 1 week group (P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The increased OPN expression in the lung tissue is associated with more severe airway inflammation in asthmatic mice, suggesting that OPN may play an important role in the pathogenesis of asthma. DXM can alleviate airway inflammation possibly by inhibiting OPN production.</p>

Effect of γ-Vitamin E on interleukin-4 and interleukin-13 levels in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in mice with asthma / 中华实用儿科临床杂志

Objective To investigate the effect of γ-Vitamin E (γ-VitE) on levels of IL-4,IL-13 in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in mouse with asthma.Methods Thirty healthy Balb/c mice were randomly divided into 3groups(10 mice in each group):asthma group,γ-VitE group and control group.In asthma group and γ-VitE group,20mice were sensitized by exposured to aerosolized ovalbumin and challenged with the same antigen to establish asthma model.Rats in asthma group were not treated with γ-VitE,rats in γ-VitE group were treated with γ-VitE.Rats in control group were treated with normal saline instead of aerosolized ovalbumin.The total cell,acidophilic leukocytes,neutrophils,macrophages and lymphocyte were observed and counted by microscopic after Wright-Giemsa stain.IL-13,IL-4and IgE in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were measured by ELISA assay.Results Mice sensitized by aerosolized ovalbumin appeared nose spasm itch,sneezing and catching the ear,the symptom were alleviated after γ-VitE intervention.The cell numbers of γ-VitE group were less than those in asthma group,the differences were significant (all P ＜0.05).The ELISA test result showed that the expression of IL-4 and IL-13 in asthma group and γ-VE group were significantly higher than those in control group (all P ＜ 0.05).The levels of IL-4,IL-13 and IgE in γ-VitE group were significantly lower than those in asthma group (all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions γ-VitE can inhibit the levels of IL-4 and IL-13 in asthma mouse,and reduce the level of IgE.γ-VitE has a certain effect in treatment of asthma.

Characterization of erythromycin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates causing invasive diseases in Chinese children / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Erythromycin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates that causing invasive pneumococcal diseases (IPD) in Chinese children remain uncharacterized. This study aims to identify the resistance genes associated with erythromycin resistance and to determine the genetic relationships of IPD isolates in Chinese children.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 171 S. pneumoniae strains were isolated from 11 medical centers in China from 2006 to 2008. All the isolates were characterized via serotyping and antibiotic susceptibility determination. The erythromycin-resistant isolates were further characterized via ermB and mefA gene detection, multi-locus sequence typing analysis, and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 164 (95.9%) isolates showed resistance to erythromycin, of which 162 strains with high high-level resistance (MIC ≥ 256 µg/ml). A total of 104 (63.4%) isolates carry the ermB gene alone, whereas 59 (36.0%) harbor both ermB and mefA genes. Of the 59 strains, 54 were of serotypes 19A and 19F and were identified as highly clonal and related to the Taiwan(19F)-14 clone.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The erythromycin resistance rate in IPD isolates is significantly high and is predominantly mediated by the ermB gene. Isolates that carry both ermB and mefA genes are predominantly of serotypes 19A and 19F.</p>

Alterations of SP-A, SP-D and KL-6 in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia / 中华儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the alterations and relationship of surfactant protein (SP)-A, SP-D and KL-6 in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (BALF) in children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP).</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Self-control method was used for the study on SP-A, SP-D and KL-6 in serum, infected and non-infected BALFs in 32 MMP children with only one side of MPP.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The contents of SP-A, SP-D and KL-6 in infected BALF were [mg/L;M (IQR) ]: 243 (90-468) , 187 (43-333) , 148 (47-426) ;104 (37-257) , 56 (25-131) , 35 (12-147) in non-infected BALF; 35 (25-69) , 33 (9-149) and 24 (15-62) in serum. The correlation coefficient of KL-6 between serum and infected BALF were -0.534 and -0.378 (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>There were significant correlation between the alterations of SP-A, SP-D and KL-6 in serum and lung infection in children with CAP. KL-6 in serum may be more sensitive than SP-A and SP-D.</p>

Effect of montelukast on the expression of neurokinin-1 receptor in young asthmatic rats with airway remodeling / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of montelukast on the expression of sensory neuropeptide (neurokinin-1) receptor (NK1R) in young asthmatic rats with airway remodeling.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty-four Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control group (n=8), asthma (n=8), and montelukast groups (n=8). A rat model of asthma was induced by ovalbumin (OVA) inhalation. Normal saline was used instead of sensitizing solution and 1% OVA in the control group. Each rat in the montelukast group was given montelukast (15 mg/kg) by gavage 2 h before OVA inhalation. All rats received their respective treatments for 8 weeks. Immunohistochemistry, real-time PCR and Western blot were used to measure the mRNA and protein expression levels of NK1R in asthmatic airway remolding and to evaluate the effect of montelukast on NK1R expression.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The asthma group showed significantly higher mRNA and protein expression levels of NK1R than the control group (P<0.01). The mRNA and protein expression levels of NK1R in the montelukast group were significantly lower than in the asthma group (P<0.05), but significantly higher than in the control group (P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Rats with induced asthma have upregulated NK1R expression in the airway, and montelukast can downregulate NK1R expression during airway remodeling.</p>

Molecular characteristics of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolated from Chinese children / 中华儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the molecular characteristics of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates from Chinese children in seven cities.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>A total of 134 MRSA isolates were collected from nine hospitals. Multilocus sequence typing and spa typing were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and staphylococcal chromosomal cassette mec (SCCmec) type was analyzed by multiplex PCR. The Panton-Valentine leukocidin (pvl) gene was also detected.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Most MRSA strains were isolated from pneumonia and skin and soft tissue infection (SSTIs) patients, accounting for 82.1%. Overall, 16 sequence types (STs) were obtained, and CC59 (51.7%) was found to be the most prevalent, which included ST 59 and ST 338, followed by ST239 (16.4%). SCCmec types II, III, IV, and V were also identified in the current study. SCCmec type IV was the most predominant type at 50.0%, followed by SCCmec type V at 23.9% and III at 23.9%. SCCmec subtypes IVa, IVc, and IVg were found among SCCmec type IV strains, whereas IVa was the main subtype at 77.6%. Twenty-six spa types were also identified, among which the predominant type was t437 (47.8%). The prevalence of pvl genes and the SCCmec type of strain was relevant, and the pvl gene positive rate was higher in SCCmec type IV and V-type strains than in SCCmec type II and III strains (58.6% vs. 14.3%, P < 0.05); there was a significant difference between them. In the strains isolated from pneumonia and SSTIs, ST59-MRSA-IVa(t437) was the predominant clone. There were five clones detected from the strains isolated from septicemia, with ST59-MRSA-IVa(t437) and ST59-MRSA-V(t437) as the main clones (57.1%). Various predominant clones existed in different regions. ST59-MRSA-IVa(t437) was the prevalent clone in the Guangzhou, Beijing, Chongqing, and Shenzhen areas, whereas ST239-MRSA-III(t037) was the prevalent clone in the Shanghai area. Fifty percent of the isolates from the Wenzhou area belonged to ST910-MRSA-V(t318), whereas three clinical strains isolated from the Shenyang region belonged to three different types.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The results indicate that MRSA isolates from Chinese children are largely associated with the ST59-MRSA-IV(t437) and ST239-MRSA-III(t037) clones. These two may belong to community-acquired MRSA and hospital-acquired ones, respectively. Different prevalent clones were detected in different diseases and different regions. Therefore, there is a need to conduct further research on clinical isolates, which can guide the choice of antibiotic treatment and the examination of MRSA prevalence.</p>

Expression of RANTES in the lung tissue of asthmatic rats, and the intervention effect of vitamin D on RANTES expression / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of vitamin D on the expression of chemokine regulated on activation, normal T cells expressed and secreted (RANTES) in the lung tissue of asthmatic rats, and the role of vitamin D in the control of asthmatic airway inflammation and the synergistic action of hormones.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty female Wistar rats were randomly and equally divided into normal control, asthma, vitamin D intervention, budesonide intervention, and budesonide+vitamin D intervention groups. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to observe pathological changes in the lung tissue. Immunohistochemistry was used to measure the protein expression of RANTES in lung tissue. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure the level of RANTES in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Real-time quantitative PCR was used to measure the mRNA expression of RANTES.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The asthma group showed the most significant pathological changes in the lung tissue, including inflammatory cell infiltration, bronchial stenosis and distortion and smooth muscle rupture, while the intervention groups showed fewer pathological changes. Of the intervention groups, the budesonide intervention group showed fewer pathological changes than the vitamin D intervention group, and the budesonide+vitamin D intervention group showed the mildest pathological changes, which were similar to those observed in the normal control group. Protein expression of RANTES in the lung tissue and BALF was significantly higher in the asthma group than in the normal control group (P<0.05), while it was lower in the intervention groups than in the asthma group, exhibiting significant differences between each intervention group and the asthma group (P<0.05) (except the difference in protein expression of RANTES in BALF between the vitamin D intervention and asthma groups). The budesonide+vitamin D intervention group showed less protein expression of RANTES in the lung tissue and BALF than both the budesonide intervention and vitamin D intervention groups (P<0.05). The mRNA expression of RANTES was significantly higher in the asthma group than in the normal control group (P<0.05), while it was significantly lower in three intervention groups than in the asthma group (P<0.05), however no significant difference was found between the intervention groups in this regard. The budesonide+vitamin D intervention group showed the lowest level of RANTES mRNA, with no significant difference from the normal control group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The mRNA and protein expression of RANTES in BALF and lung tissue increases significantly in asthmatic rats. Vitamin D intervention can decrease the expression of RANTES, suggesting that vitamin D can reduce airway inflammation by regulating the expression of RANTES. Vitamin D can be used together with budesonide to further decrease the mRNA and protein expression of RANTES.</p>

Changes to surfactant proteins in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and serum of children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the changes to surfactant proteins in the serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (BALF) of children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP) and their significance.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Self-control method was used in the study. Forty-seven MPP children were divided into single lung infected (n=32) and bilateral lung infected groups (n=15) according to lung CT results. Surfactant proteins SP-A, B, C and D were measured using ELISA in the serum and BALF in the two groups. The correlations between SP-A, B, C and D content in the serum and BALF were evaluated by Spearman correlation analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>SP-A, B, C and D content in BALF from the majorly infected or infected lung were significantly higher than from the opposite lung and serum (P<0.01). SP-A, B and C content in serum was significantly lower than in BALF from the non-infected lung in the single-side infected lung group (P<0.01 or 0.05), but there was no significant difference between serum SP-D content and BALF SP-D content from the non-infected lung. There were no significant differences in SP-A, B, C and D content in serum and BALF from the minorly infected lung in the bilateral lung infected group. Serum SP-D content was positively correlated with BALF SP-D content from the majorly infected lung in the bilateral lung infected group (P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Serum SP-D content may serve as a biomarker for evaluating the severity of pulmonary infection in children with community-acquired pneumonia.</p>

Effects of Streptococcus pneumoniae on the ultrastructure of alveolar epithelial cells type Ⅱ in the lung tissues of mice and children / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the possible mechanisms of lung necrosis by examining the effects of Streptoccus pneumoniae (S.p) on the ultrastructure of alveolar epithelial cells type Ⅱ(AEC-Ⅱ) in the lung tissues of mice and children.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The suspended solutions of S.p strains cultured from the blood of a child with pneumococcal necrotizing pneumonia (PNP) (0.3 mL, CFU: 1×108/L) were instilled into the trachea of pathogen-free mice to prepare PNP model. The same amount of normal saline was given for the control group (10 mice). The samples (1 mm3) from the lower lobe of right lung of the mice were obtained 92 hrs later and fixed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde. Normal and abnormal lung tissues (1 mm3) were obtained while operation for the left lower lobe pulmonary cavity excision in the child with PNP. The specimens were fixed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde and stored at 4℃. A transmission electron microscope was employed for the examination of the ultrastructure of AEC-Ⅱ in the lung tissues.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Quantitative reduction and exfoliation of microvilli in S.p-infected AEC-Ⅱ were observed in both mice and this child compared with the control. Enlarged size, enhanced evacuation and reduced density of the lamellar bodies were also presented. The number of mitochondria was obviously reduced. The nucleolus chromatin concentrated and showed an inhomogeneous distribution.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>S.p infection results in comparable damage to the ultrastructure of AEC-Ⅱ in mice and children that may represent one of the primary causes responsible for S.p-induced lung tissue necrosis.</p>

Clinical characteristics and treatment of severe encephalitis associated with neurogenic pulmonary edema caused by enterovirus 71 in China / 世界急诊医学杂志（英文）

BACKGROUND:Hand-foot-mouth disease has become a major public health issue in children in China. In the present prospective study we investigated the clinical characteristics and emergency management of children with severe encephalitis associated with NPE caused by enterovirus 71. METHODS:The study was conducted in 2 pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) over a 2-month period. Clinical records were reviewed of critically ill children with severe encephalitis associated with NPE caused by EV71 who were admitted to PICUs during the period of May to June 2008 in Fuyang. RESULTS:We reviewed the complete records of 36 children, of whom 23 (63.9％) were male and 13 (36.1％) female. Their age ranged from 4 to 48 months, with an average of 15.8 months. Al children except one were under 3 years of age. The overal mortality in these children was 19.4％. The average duration of critical life threatening signs and symptoms was 2.1 days (12 hours-5 days). Nervous system diseases included brainstem encephalitis in 27 children (75％), brainstem encephalitis associated with myelitis in 6 children (16.7％), and general encephalitis in 3 chidren (8.3％), respectively. In 12 patients of NPE (33.3％) pink or bloody bubble sputum and asymmetric pulmonary edema or hemorrhage was the primary manifestation but no typical exanthema was observed. Five children died of acute onset of NPE and / or pulmonary hemorrhage with rapid progression of cardiopulmonary failure within hours after admission. Therapeutic management consisted of mechanical ventilation and administration of mannitol, methylprednisolone, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and vasoactive drugs, associated with the need of fluid volume resuscitation in 9 (25％) of the 36 children. CONCLUSIONS:In children less than 3 years of age found to be affected by severe EV71 encephalitis associated with NPE, one fifth may die. The major organ systems infected by severe EV71 include the central nervous system, the respiratory system, and the cardiovascular system. Early diagnosis and evaluation, respiratory support, treatment of intracranial hypertension, and mainttenance of function of the cardiovascular system are the most important therapeutic measures.

Relationship between alveolar epithelial type II cells and pulmonary surfactant protein A levels in young rats with acute lung injury / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>This study examined the relationship between the ultrastructural alterations of alveolar epithelial cells type II (AEC-II) and pulmonary surfactant protein A (SP-A) levels in the lung tissue of young rats with acute lung injury (ALI) in order to explore the possible mechanism of ALI.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty-eight young Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control and ALI groups. The rats in the ALI group were intraperitoneally injected with 4 mg/kg of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in order to induce ALI. The control subjects were injected with the same volume of normal saline. Rats were sacrificed at 24, 48 and 72 hrs after LPS or NS injection. Lung samples were obtained from the lower parts of the left lung and fixed with 2.5% glutaraldehyde for transmission electron microscope examination and for Western blot test of SP-A.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The microvilli of AEC-II disappeared 24 hrs after LPS injection. After 24 and 48 hrs of LPS injection, lamellar body (Lb) increased in number, enlarged in size and reduced in density, and the ring-like arrangement of Lb was present. By 48 hrs after LPS injection, giant Lb with vacuole-like deformity appeared. The contents of lung SP-A in the ALI group 24 hrs (6.52+/-0.62 vs 5.02+/-0.35; P<0.01) and 48 hrs (6.65+/-0.62 vs 5.01+/-0.36; P<0.01) after LPS injection were significantly higher than those in the control group. By 72 hrs after LPS injection, Lbs ruptured and were reduced in number. The shape of the nuclei was irregular and the border was blurred. The content of lung SP-A was greatly reduced in the ALI group 72 hrs after LPS injection compared with that in the control group (3.87+/-0.50 vs 5.22+/-0.36; P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The alterations of AEC-II and lung SP-A were time-dependent in young rats with ALI induced by LPS. In the early stage of ALI, the lung SP-A content showed a compensatory increase. With the increasing injury of AEC-II cells, the secretion of SP-A presented with a decompensation and the lung SP-A content decreased. This may be one possible mechanism for the development of ARD.</p>