Surfactant Therapy for Respiratory Distress Syndrome in High- and Ultra-High-Altitude Settings.

Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate the therapeutic effect of surfactant replacement therapy (SRT) on respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in premature infants in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Materials and Methods: This multi-center retrospective cohort study collected and screened reasonable clinical data of 337 premature infants with RDS from 10 hospitals in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau from 2015 to 2017. We grouped the cases by rationally analyzing their baseline characteristics, using logistic analysis to evaluate each factor's effect on the prognosis of the infants, and comparing the short-term improvement in blood gas and mortality after SRT treatment at different altitudes, in high-altitude (1,500-3,500 m) and ultra-high-altitude (3,500-5,500 m) groups. Results: Independent of altitude, the mortality rate of children with RDS in the SRT group was significantly lower than that of children in the non-SRT group (both P < 0.05). The effect of SRT on preterm infants with RDS in the high-altitude group [odds ratio (OR) = 0.44, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.22-0.87, P = 0.02] was better than that in the infants in the ultra-high-altitude group (OR = 0.26, 95% CI = 0.13-0.58, P < 0.01), with death rates of 34.34 and 49.71%, respectively. Similarly, after SRT, the improvement of PaO2/FiO2 and pH of children at high altitude was significantly better than those of children at ultra-high altitude (all P < 0.01). Conclusions: SRT plays a prominent role in curing infants with RDS in both high- and ultra-high-altitude regions, although with better effects at high rather than ultra-high altitude. This study provides a basis for further large-scale studies on SRT for RDS treatment at high altitudes.

[Analysis of relevant risk factors to Henoch-Schönlein purpura in Tibetan children].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze probable risk factors to Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) in Tibetan children so as to bring evidences for correct identification of high-risk children in plateau areas. METHODS: 140 high-altitude Tibetan children with HSP admitted to Shannan People's Hospital of Tibet Autonomous Region from October 2015 to October 2018 were enrolled, and 140 high-altitude Tibetan healthy children and 140 plain area HSP children were selected as the control. Gender, age, family history, allergy, past history (rheumatic disease, autoimmune disease, asthma), clinical phenotype, biochemical markers (antibody positive rate, platelet count and hemoglobin), clinical efficacy and recurrence were retrospective analyzed. The risk factors of HSP in the high-altitude Tibetan children were analyzed by univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: It was shown by univariate analysis that the proportion of allergic history and past history of high-altitude HSP children was higher than those of high-altitude healthy children (allergic history: 35.7% vs. 11.4%, past history: 21.4% vs. 5.7%, both P < 0.05). Compared with plain area HSP children, the age of high-altitude HSP children was increased (years old: 6.5±2.3 vs. 5.3±2.2), the clinical phenotype was more complex (37.9% vs. 57.1% for simple skin and limb type, 21.4% vs. 14.3% for abdominal type, 28.6% vs. 21.4% for renal type, 7.1% vs. 5.0% for brain or lung type, 5.0% vs. 2.2% for complex type), the positive rate of antibody was increased (64.3% vs. 50.0%), platelet count was decreased (×109/L: 116.2±12.3 vs. 176.8±35.4), hemoglobin level was increased (g/L: 125.6±15.7 vs. 113.8±10.9), recurrence rate was lower (4.3% vs. 10.7%), and the difference was statistically significant (all P < 0.05). It was shown by multivariate Logistic regression analysis that age, allergic history and past history were independent risk factors for HSP in high-altitude Tibetan children [age: odds ratio (OR) = 1.263, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) = 1.063-1.968; allergic history: OR = 1.765, 95%CI = 1.326-2.452, past history: OR = 1.421, 95%CI = 1.102-2.232, all P < 0.05]. Clinical phenotypic and biochemical indexes were important risk factors affecting the clinical efficacy of high-altitude Tibetan HSP children (non-simple skin and limb type: OR = 2.123, 95%CI = 1.623-2.869; antibody positive: OR = 1.865, 95%CI = 1.502-2.768; both P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: It is different of HSP occurrence in Tibetan children from plateau and plain areas. Attention should be paid to screening age, allergy history, past history, clinical phenotype, antibody positive and other high risk children. Early and effective intervention can improve clinical curative effect and reduce recurrence.

[Clinical analysis of childhood Henoch-Schonlein purpura on the Tibetan Plateau, China].

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical characteristics of childhood Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP) on the Tibetan Plateau, China. METHODS: One hundred and twenty-five HSP children admitted to Shannan People's Hospital, Tibet, were assigned to the observation group, and 96 HSP children admitted to Wuhan Children's Hospital were assigned to the control group. The disease characteristics, clinical manifestations, treatment, and prognosis in both groups were retrospectively analyzed and compared. RESULTS: The mean age of HSP onset and the female-to-male ratio in the observation group were both significantly higher than in the control group (P<0.05). There was a significant difference in seasonal onset between two groups. Significant differences in the etiological factors were observed between the two groups (P<0.05). The gastrointestinal manifestation was more prominent in the observation group compared with that in the control group (P<0.05). Laboratory findings showed that the mean erythrocyte sedimentation rate, counts of white blood cells and platelets, and percentage of neutrophil leucocytes were significantly lower, while the hemoglobin level was significantly higher in the observation group than in the control group (P<0.05). A total of 124 HSP patients (99.2%) in the observation group had a full recovery or improvement, and the overall cure rate and improvement rate showed no significant differences between two groups (P>0.05). Only 2.4% of the patients (3 cases) in the observation group had recurrent attack during follow-up, which was significantly lower than that in the control group (16.7%; P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Childhood HSP on the Tibetan Plateau shows partial differences in disease characteristics, clinical manifestations, and laboratory measurements compared with that in the plain area. The overall prognosis is better and the recurrent rate is lower among HSP children on the Tibetan Plateau.