Burkholderia cepacia infection in children without cystic fibrosis: a clinical analysis of 50 cases.

Background: Burkholderia cepacia (B. cepacia) is an emerging pathogen of nosocomial infection in pediatric patient carrying cystic fibrosis. The clinical diagnosis and treatment of B. cepacia infection remains poorly studied. This study outlined the risk factors, antimicrobial susceptibility, and clinical characteristics aiming to improve the treatment of B. cepacia infection. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted based on the 50 cases infection caused by B. cepacia in children without cystic fibrosis, which were diagnosed in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, from January 1st, 2011 to December 31st, 2021. Results: A total of 50 children were infected with B. cepacia, of whom 68% had an underlying health condition, such as cardiovascular disease (23.5%), respiratory disease (17.6%), nervous system disease (14.7%), and neoplastic disease (14.7%). At the onset of B. cepacia infection, 42 (84%) pediatric patients were in an intensive care unit (ICU), 33 (66%) underwent endotracheal intubation, and 32 (64%) had a central venous catheter (CVC). In addition, hospital-acquired cases were 46 (92%), and healthcare-acquired cases were 4 (12%). The most common infectious sites of B. cepacia were the respiratory tract (68%), followed by the blood (20%), and the urinary tract (12%). It indicated that B. cepacia was the most sensitive to ceftazidime (95.65%), followed by trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (88.68%), meropenem (82.98%), cefepime (77.78%), and levofloxacin (55.85%). The drug resistance rate of piperacillin-tazobactam, minocycline, aztreonam, cefoperazone-sulbactam and ceftriaxone was higher than 55%. 38 cases were cured or improved, eight had treatment terminated, and four died. Conclusion: B. cepacia is an opportunistic pathogen normally found in immunocompromised pediatric patients and highly likely to lead to drug resistance. Nosocomial B. cepacia infections occurred mostly in patients in the ICU based on our observations. The surveillance of B. cepacia infections including changing epidemiology and increasing resistance of the microorganism is still very important. Treatment with effective antibiotics such as ceftazidime, meropenem, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole is associated with a favorable prognosis.

Salvia miltiorrhiza Injection Alleviates LPS-Induced Acute Lung Injury by Adjusting the Balance of MMPs/TIMPs Ratio.

Salvia miltiorrhiza injection (SMI) is a classical traditional Chinese medicine, which plays an active role in the treatment of many diseases such as promoting blood circulation, removing blood stasis, reducing inflammatory reaction, and improving acute lung injury (ALI). Previous studies have shown that matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) are involved in the pathophysiological process of ALI. However, the relationship between SMI and MMPs/TIMPs remains unclear. In this study, Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group (NC), Salvia miltiorrhiza group (SM), lipopolysaccharide group (LPS), and Salvia miltiorrhiza treatment group (Tsm). The four groups were subdivided into four time points (2, 6, 12, and 24 hours), and specimens were collected after animal sacrifice at each time point. Serum TNF-α and IL-6 levels were detected by ELISA. The degree of lung injury was determined by lung tissue hematoxylin-eosin staining, lung wet/dry weight (W/D) ratio, and lung permeability index. The changes in lung MMPs/TIMPs protein and mRNA were detected by Western blot and real-time quantitative PCR. The results showed that rats injected with LPS experience acute lung injury, and the ratio of MMPs/TIMPs in lung tissues increased gradually with time. In the Tsm group, the ratio of MMPs/TIMPs decreased gradually, and likewise, the balance was gradually restored, while indicators related to lung injury were gradually declined. These data suggest that SMI alleviates LPS-induced acute lung injury; this protective effect may be related to regulation of the balance of MMPs/TIMPs ratio.

Whole Exome Sequencing Identifies a Novel Mutation of TPK1 in a Chinese Family with Recurrent Ataxia.

TPK deficiency, also known as thiamine metabolism dysfunction syndrome 5, is a rare autosomal recessive disorder of inborn error of metabolism caused by TPK1 gene mutation. Its clinical manifestation is highly variable, ranging from spontaneous remission to fatal metabolic crisis. Here, we describe two affected siblings in a Chinese family presenting with recurrent episodes of acute ataxia. Whole exome sequencing identified a homozygous missense variant c.382C > T (p.Leu128Phe) in the TPK gene, which is located in the thiamine binding domain and affects a highly conserved amino acid. Besides, a review of the 18 previously reported patients provides a better understanding of the clinical and genetic features of this disorder. TPK deficiency may be an under-diagnosed cause of acute encephalopathy and ataxia. Given the potential benefit of early intervention, TPK deficiency should be considered in patients with episodic encephalopathy or ataxia, especially those associated with lactic acidosis and α-ketoglutaric aciduria. Significant decreased TPP in the blood is a strong hint of the disease. WES (whole exome sequencing) can help to further identify the molecular diagnosis.

Fulminant Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus Caused by Drug Reaction With Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS): A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), also known as drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome (DIHS) is a rare, severe cutaneous adverse drug reaction characterized by fever, skin rashes, lymphadenopathy, leukocytosis with eosinophilia, and/or atypical lymphocytosis, and multiple visceral organ involvement. Moreover, patients with DRESS are at risk of developing autoimmune diseases including thyroiditis, diabetes mellitus (DM), and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), etc. several weeks or months after the initial resolution. We described a 9-month boy who was admitted to our hospital because of severe pneumonia and developed DRESS 3 weeks later. After the withdrawal of suspicious drug and administration of systemic corticosteroids, the patient's condition improved gradually. Nevertheless, hyperglycemia was detected 20 days after the initial onset of DRESS, and subsequent fulminant type 1 diabetes mellitus (F1DM) was diagnosed requiring continuous intravenous insulin infusion. After 13 months of follow-up, the blood glucose levels are now well-controlled. Literature research in PubMed for diabetes mellitus associated with DRESS showed 16 articles and 27 related case reports. Of 27 patients with DM related to DRESS, 11 were male, 16 were female. The mean age was 46 years. The duration from the onset of DRESS to the development of DM was 21 days on average. F1DM was diagnosed in 21 patients, T1DM was confirmed in 5 patients, and T2DM was only defined in 1 patient. Glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies (GAD) were detected in 4 cases. Of 22 cases in which virus examination was carried out, evidence of virus reactivation was established in 16 cases (72.7%). Of patients with F1DM, 16 (88.9%) cases were evidenced by reactivation of herpes virus. A high frequency of HLA genotype and haplotype were found in 11 cases. DM was concomitant with acute pancreatitis in 3 patients and thyroiditis in 2 patients. No patients died from the disease. This work aims to raise awareness of long-term autoimmune sequelae in patients with DRESS.

Identification of IL2RG and CYBB mutations in two Chinese primary immunodeficiency patients by whole-exome sequencing.

BACKGROUND: Primary immunodeficiency diseases are a group of genetic disorders that lead to increased propensity to a variety of infections, sometimes with fatal outcomes. METHOD: In this study, whole-exome sequencing (WES) was used to identify mutations in two patients suspected of having primary immunodeficiency. Sanger sequencing was used to confirm the results in the patients and their family. RESULT: One patient was diagnosed as X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency (X-SCID) and another patient as X-linked chronic granulomatous disease (X-CGD) by WES. Sequencing analysis of IL2RG gene revealed a novel mutation (c.794T>A, p.I265N) and CYBB gene revealed a missense mutation (c.935T>A, p.M312K). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: This study identifies one novel mutation in the IL2RG gene and another, previously described mutation in the CYBB genes. It is the first report establishing a diagnosis of X-SCID and X-CGD using WES in Chinese patients.

[Clinicopathological feature and treatment of idiopathic membranous nephropathy in children].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinicopathological feature and treatment of idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN) in children. METHOD: A retrospective analysis of 25 cases of biopsy-proven IMN seen between January 2004 and December 2009. RESULT: The incidence of IMN was 3.81% in all the children patients who underwent renal biopsy. Of 25 patients with IMN, nine were boys and sixteen were girls. The mean age at onset was (9.4 ± 3.4) years with a range of 2 - 14 years. Renal biopsies were performed at a median 2.5 months (range 0.4 - 11 months) after onset. The clinical manifestations included nephrotic syndrome (NS) nephritic type in 21 cases (84%) and glomerulonephritis in 4 cases. All patients presented with hematuria, and 7 had macroscopic hematuria. Hypertension was noted in 4 patients. Two patients were complicated with thrombosis. One patient was in a chronic renal insufficiency(CRI)state. According to the MN staging criteria, 21 cases were in stage II IMN (84%). Six patients showed moderate or severe tubulointerstitial lesion. Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) was found in two patients. Of the 22 patients with NS and nephrotic proteinuria, 21 cases were treated with prednisone initially and in 20 of them the efficacy of corticosteroid therapy was evaluated:one of them was steroid sensitive (became steroid-resistant after relapse) and all the others were steroid-resistant (95%). The subsequent treatment: eight of them were treated with prednisone followed by a taper to alternate-day therapy. Five of them had complete remission and three partial remission. Twelve cases were treated with combined therapy of prednisone and immunosuppressive agents. Of these 12 cases together with one case who received initially combined treatment with prednisone and immunosuppressive agent and one case treated with prednisone initially for five weeks then with combined therapy contained another immunosuppressive agent, totally 14 cases, 5 had complete remission, 2 partial remission, 3 did not achieve remission, and 3 had unknown response. CONCLUSION: Of the patient cohort, the predominant presenting feature was nephrotic syndrome, and with different degree hematuria. Almost all of them were steroid resistant, but followed by a taper to alternate-day therapy, some could achieve remission. The effect of a combination of prednisone and immunosuppressive agent is needed to be further proven in children.

[Clinical and genetic analysis of Dent' s disease in 6 Chinese children with low molecular weight proteinuria].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical features and gene mutations of 6 Chinese children with Dent's disease. METHOD: The clinical and laboratory data of 6 children with Dent's disease were summarized. CLCN5 gene was analyzed using PCR amplification and DNA sequencing. RESULT: All the six patients presented with low molecular weight proteinuria and hypercalciuria, including 3/6 hematuria, 4/6 nephrocalcinosis, 3/6 hypophosphatemia, 1/6 rickets. Six mutations of the CLCN5 gene were revealed, including L594fsX595, R637X, R467X, IVS4-2A > G, S244L and V505G. The mutation L594fsX595, IVS4-2A > G and V505G was never reported before. CONCLUSION: Low molecular weight proteinuria and hypercalciuria were the main clinical features of the six Chinese boys with Dent's disease. Dent's disease could be associated with a Bartter-like syndrome, which make the gene diagnosis more important.