Impact of the COVID-19 vaccine booster strategy on vaccine protection: a pilot study of a military hospital in Taiwan

Purpose@#The global fight against the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has led to widespread vaccination efforts, yet the optimal dosing schedule for SARS-CoV-2 vaccines remains a subject of ongoing research. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of administering two booster doses as the third and fourth doses at different intervals to enhance vaccine protection. @*Materials and Methods@#This study was conducted at a military regional hospital operated by the Ministry of National Defense in Taiwan. A cohort of vaccinated individuals was selected, and their vaccine potency was assessed at various time intervals following their initial vaccine administration. The study participants received booster doses as the third and fourth doses, with differing time intervals between them. The study monitored neutralizing antibody titers and other relevant parameters to assess vaccine efficacy. @*Results@#Our findings revealed that the potency of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine exhibited a significant decline 80 days after the initial vaccine administration. However, a longer interval of 175 days between booster injections resulted in significantly higher neutralizing antibody titers. The individuals who received the extended interval boosters exhibited a more robust immune response, suggesting that a vaccine schedule with a 175-day interval between injections may provide superior protection against SARS-CoV-2. @*Conclusion@#This study underscores the importance of optimizing vaccine booster dosing schedules to maximize protection against SARS-CoV-2. The results indicate that a longer interval of 175 days between the third and fourth doses of the vaccine can significantly enhance the neutralizing antibody response, potentially offering improved protection against the virus. These findings have important implications for vaccine distribution and administration strategies in the ongoing battle against the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Further research and large-scale trials are needed to confirm and extend these findings for broader public health implications.

Genome sequence analysis of two SARS-CoV-2 virus infections in Inner Mongolia, 2022 / 中华预防医学杂志

The target gene sequences of the novel coronaviruses obtained by sequencing were compared with the reference sequences to analyze the genetic variation of the two cases of the novel coronaviruses from Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in 2022 and to explore the sources of infection. The results showed that the two sequences belonged to different evolutionary branches, Delta (AY.122) and Omicron (BA.1.1), respectively. hCoV-19/Inner Mongolia/IVDC-591/2022 had 48 single nucleotide polymorphisms on the genome sequences, sharing 40 nucleotide mutation sites with a Mongolian strain; hCoV-19/Inner Mongolia/IVDC-592/2022 genome shared 57 nucleotide mutation sites with a UK strain, and the nucleotide mutation site identity was 100% (57/57). Phylogenetic analysis showed that the target gene sequences were not directly related to domestic novel coronavirus sequences during the same period, but were related to isolates from Europe and Mongolia.

Genome sequence analysis of two SARS-CoV-2 virus infections in Inner Mongolia, 2022 / 中华预防医学杂志

The target gene sequences of the novel coronaviruses obtained by sequencing were compared with the reference sequences to analyze the genetic variation of the two cases of the novel coronaviruses from Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in 2022 and to explore the sources of infection. The results showed that the two sequences belonged to different evolutionary branches, Delta (AY.122) and Omicron (BA.1.1), respectively. hCoV-19/Inner Mongolia/IVDC-591/2022 had 48 single nucleotide polymorphisms on the genome sequences, sharing 40 nucleotide mutation sites with a Mongolian strain; hCoV-19/Inner Mongolia/IVDC-592/2022 genome shared 57 nucleotide mutation sites with a UK strain, and the nucleotide mutation site identity was 100% (57/57). Phylogenetic analysis showed that the target gene sequences were not directly related to domestic novel coronavirus sequences during the same period, but were related to isolates from Europe and Mongolia.

Relationship between nutritional factors and clinical outcome in children with tuberculous meningitis / 中华儿科杂志

Objective: To investigate the relationship between nutritional risk status and clinical outcome in children with tuberculous meningitis (TBM). Methods: The clinical data (basic information, clinical symptoms and laboratory test results) of 112 patients with TBM, who were admitted to Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases of West China Second Hospital of Sichuan University,from January 2013 to December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into the nutritional risk group and the non-nutritional risk group according to the assessment of the nutritional risk by the STRONGkids Scale. The variables of basic information, clinical symptoms and laboratory test measurements etc. were compared between the two groups by using Student t test, Rank sum test or Chi-square test. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis were used to analyze nutritional risk factors. Results: Among 112 patient with TBM, 55 were males and 57 females. There were 62 cases in the nutritional risk group and 50 cases in the non-nutritional risk group. The proportion of cases with nutritional risk was 55.4% (62/112). Patients in the nutritional risk who lived in rural areas, had symptoms of brain nerve damage, convulsions, emaciation and anorexia, with a diagnosis time of ≥21 days, and the level of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) protein were all higher than those in the non-nutritional risk group ((50 cases (80.6%) vs. 32 cases (64.0%), 20 cases (32.3%) vs.8 cases (16.0%), 33 cases (53.2%) vs. 15 cases (30.0%), 30 cases (48.4%) vs. 2 cases (4.0%), 59 cases (95.2%) vs. 1 case (2.0%),41 cases (66.1%) vs.18 cases (36.0%), 1 406 (1 079, 2 068) vs. 929 (683, 1 208) mg/L, χ2=3.91, 3.90, 6.10, 26.72, 98.58, 10.08, Z=4.35, all P<0.05). The levels of serum albumin,hemoglobin,lymphocyte count, white blood cell count, and CSF glucose were significantly lower in patients with nutritional risk ((36±5) vs. (41±4) g/L, (110±17) vs. (122±14) g/L, 1.4 (1.0, 2.0)vs. 2.3 (1.6, 3.8)×109/L, 7.8 (6.3, 10.0)×109 vs. 10.0 (8.3, 12.8)×109/L, 1.0 (0.8, 1.6) vs. 2.1 (1.3, 2.5) mmol/L, t=-6.15, -4.22, Z=-4.86, -3.92, -4.16, all P<0.05).Increased levels of serum albumin (OR=0.812, 95%CI:0.705-0.935, P=0.004) and lymphocyte count (OR=0.609, 95%CI:0.383-0.970, P=0.037) may reduce the nutritional risk of children with TBM; while convulsions (OR=3.853, 95%CI:1.116-13.308, P=0.033) and increased level of CSF protein (OR=1.001,95%CI:1.000-1.002, P=0.015) may increase the nutritional risk of children with TBM. Similarly, the rate of complications and drug-induced liver injury was higher in the nutritional risk group (47 cases (75.8%) vs. 15 cases(30.0%), 31 cases (50.0%) vs.8 cases (16.0%), χ2=23.50, 14.10, all P<0.05). Moreover, the length of hospital stay was also longer in the nutritional risk group ((27±13) vs. (18±7) d, t=4.38, P<0.05). Conclusions: Children with TBM have a high incidence of nutritional risk. Convulsive, the level of serum albumin, the level of lymphocyte count and CSF protein may affect the nutritional risk of children with TBM. The nutritional risk group has a high incidence of complications and heavy economic burden.It is necessary to carry out nutritional screening and nutritional support for children with TBM as early as possible.

A multi-center clinical study on the relationship between dry weight and protein energy wasting in patients with maintenance hemodialysis / 中国实用内科杂志

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between dry weight setting and the related parameters of PEW of multicenter hemodialysis patients in Guizhou. in order to provide the basis for setting dry weight in patients. METHODS: We conducted the research in patients of 11 hemodialysis center in Guizhou province. We collected demographic data(age, gender, nationality, marital status, education level, income status and so on) by questionnaire; are collected dry weight, ECW, ICW, fat mass,lean body mass and so on by bioelectrical impedance analysis, and then we also collected physical measurement indexes, such as waist circumference, hip circumference, medium arm circumference(MAC), tricep fold thickness(TSF)and crus diameter. The data is divided into three groups according to the dry weight setings. Group 1: dry weight setting was slightly lower(dry weight setted by doctors was slightly lower than bioelectrical impedance analysis results,withen 1 kg); group 2: dry weight setting was normal; group 3: dry weight setting slightly higher group(dry weight setted by doctors was slightly higher than bioelectrical impedance analysis results,withen 1 kg). We used Chi-square analysis to analyze PEW prevalence, compared differences of the PEW indications by variance analysis, and then we used Spearman correlation analysis to analyze the correlation between PEW and the indications. Influence of various factors on the PEW was analyzed by logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The PEW morbidity of group 3 was higher than the other two groups. PEW indicators such as upper arm midpoint diameter, tricep fold thickness, hip circumference, fat mass, BMI, Hb, Alb and prealbumin were lower than the other two groups, the difference being statistically significant(P<0.05). Correlation analysis results show that the degree of the factors associated with the PEW was as follows in turn BMI(r=-0.677, P<0.05), dry weight(r=0.636, P<0.05), upper arm midpoint diameter(r=-0.589, P<0.05), albumin(r=-0.562, P<0.05) and hip circumference(r=-0.475, P<0.05). Logistic regression showed that the factors affecting PEW were albumin(OR = 0.883, 95%CI: 0.782-0.997, P<0.05), BMI(OR = 0.671, 95%CI: 0.509-0.884, P<0.05), upper arm midpoint diameter(OR = 0.457, 95% CI: 0.318-0.655, P<0.05) and dry weight(OR = 1.191, 95%CI: 1.041-1.363, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The dry weight setting too high, insufficient amount of ultrafiltration and inadequate dialysis can increase the occurrence of PEW.

Efficacy of inactivated autologous porous bone flap and BAM bone-induced artificial bone for repairing skull defect in rats / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of BAM bone grafting combined with inactivated autologous porous bone flap in repairing skull defect in rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Seventy-two Wistar rats with skull defect were randomly divided into control group, inactivated autologous bone flap group (AB group), BAM bone-induced artificial bone material group (BAM group), and inactivated autologous bone flap with BAM bone-induced artificial bone group (BAM+AB group). The bone healing was evaluated with micro-CT and the new bone formation was assessed with histological staining at 1, 2, and 3 months after modeling.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Inactivated porous bone flap combined with BAM bone-induced artificial bone effectively induced vascular and fibrous tissue regeneration and osteogenesis in the cranial defects. With the inactivated porous bone flap as the scaffold, BAM bone-induced artificial bone obviously promoted the restoration of the skull appearance in the rats with cranial defects.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Inactivated autologous bone flap group and BAM bone-induced artificial bone material can promote skull healing and restoration of the original skull appearance, and can be used for reconstruction of the local anatomy of the skull surface.</p>

Research advances in nutritional assessment methods in children with chronic liver diseases / 中国当代儿科杂志

Malnutrition is commonly seen in children with chronic liver diseases, and there are interactions between them. Chronic liver diseases can cause malnutrition and this can affect the prognosis of children with chronic liver diseases. Due to the complexity of nutritional assessment in children with chronic liver diseases, there are still no unified standards for the diagnosis of malnutrition. Early identification of malnutrition and related intervention helps to improve the prognosis of children with chronic liver diseases. This article reviews the features of nutrition in children with chronic liver diseases and related nutritional assessment methods.

Current status of research on infantile cholestatic liver disease in China: a visualization analysis / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the current status of research on infantile cholestatic liver disease in China and future research trends.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A co-word analysis was performed in October 2016. Document retrieval and screening were performed in the Chinese databases CNKI and Wanfang Data using "cholestasis" and "infant" as key words. Excel 2010 was used to establish a co-occurrence matrix of high-frequency key words, and Ucinet 6.0 and Netdraw were used to develop a visualized network of these high-frequency key words.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 383 articles were included. The co-occurrence analysis showed that "infant" and "cholestasis" were the core of research in this field, and "infantile hepatitis syndrome", "neonate", "intrahepatic", "biliary atresia", "heredity and metabolism", "hepatitis", "cytomegalovirus", "jaundice", and "conjugated bilirubin" were main research topics. Most of the other articles focused on "parenteral nutrition", "hepatobiliary imaging", "gene mutation", and "liver biopsy". There were relatively few articles on surgical diagnostic techniques and treatment for this disease.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The research on infantile cholestatic liver disease in China focuses on etiology and differential diagnosis, and genetic diagnosis has become a hot topic in recent years. The research on treatment should be enhanced, and new diagnostic techniques are the research interest in future.</p>

Research advances in association between childhood obesity and gut microbiota / 中国当代儿科杂志

In recent years, more and more studies have noted the close association between gut microbiota and the development and progression of obesity. Gut microbiota may act on obesity by increasing energy intake, affecting the secretion of intestinal hormones, inducing chronic systemic inflammation, and producing insulin resistance. This article reviews the association between childhood obesity and gut microbiota, as well as possible mechanisms, in an attempt to provide a reference for the etiology, prevention and treatment of childhood obesity.

A clinical study of invasive fungal disease in children without underlying diseases / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the clinical features of invasive fungal disease (IFD) in children without underlying diseases.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical data of 49 children without underlying diseases who were diagnosed with IFD were retrospectively studied.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Fungal pathogens were detected in 37 (76%) out of 49 patients, including Cryptococcus neoformans (17 children, 46%), Candida albicans (10 children, 27%), Aspergillus (3 children, 8%), and Candida parapsilosis (3 children, 8%). Fungal pneumonia (17 children, 46%) was the most commonly seen disease, with Candida albicans as the major pathogen (9 children, 53%). The 49 children had at least one high-risk factor for infection, including the use of antibiotics, a long length of hospital stay, and invasive procedures. Of all the children, 82% did not respond well to antibiotic treatment or experienced recurrent pyrexia. Among the 24 children who underwent G tests, 17 (71%) showed positive results. All the children were given antifungal therapy, and among these children, 37 (75%)were cured, 3 (6%) were still in the treatment, 5 (10%) died, and 4 (8%) were lost to follow-up.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>In IFD children without underlying diseases, Cryptococcus neoformans and Candida are the main pathogens, and lung infection is the most common disease. Long-term use of high-dose antibiotics may be an important risk factor for fungal infection. The IFD children without underlying diseases are sensitive to antifungal drugs and have a satisfactory prognosis.</p>

A visualization study of research papers on childhood tuberculous meningitis in China and abroad over the past decade / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To introduce co-word analysis into the analysis of the current research status of childhood tuberculous meningitis, to compare the similarities and differences in research topics of the field in China and abroad over the past decade, and to discover the advantages and weak links in the study field in China.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>PubMed, CNKI, VIP, and Wanfang Data were searched for the articles which met the inclusion criteria. Ucinet 6.0 and Netdraw were used for co-occurrence analysis, and the co-article relationship between high-frequency key words was visualized.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 226 articles abroad and 186 Chinese articles on childhood tuberculous meningitis were obtained. The figures for co-occurrence analysis of high-frequency key words in research articles on childhood tuberculous meningitis in China and abroad were successfully plotted. Compared with the studies in China, the studies abroad were more sophisticated and well-developed, with more studies on drug-resistant tuberculosis, the relationship between tuberculosis and AIDS, and the epidemiology of tuberculosis. The key words listed in the studies abroad were more standard. The studies in China on childhood tuberculous meningitis concentrated on vaccination and nursing.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>In general, the studies on childhood tuberculous meningitis in China and abroad have the same directions. The studies abroad have a complicated network and use more standard key words. The studies on childhood tuberculous meningitis are well conducted in China. However, more studies are needed for drug-resistant tuberculosis, the relationship between tuberculosis and AIDS, and the epidemiology of tuberculosis in future.</p>

A young boy with elevated aminotransferases in physical examination--Two novel missense mutations associated with Wilson's disease were found / 中国当代儿科杂志

A 3-year-old boy had abnormal liver function, which was found in physical examination, for 5 months before admission. He had no symptoms such as anorexia, poor appetite, and jaundice, had normal growth and development, and showed no hepatosplenomegaly. Laboratory examination revealed significantly reduced ceruloplasmin (35 mg/L), as well as negative hepatotropic virus, cytomegalovirus, and Epstein-Barr virus. There were normal muscle enzymes, blood glucose, and blood ammonia and negative liver-specific autoantibodies. The boy had negative K-F ring and normal 24-hour urine copper (0.56 μmol/L). The ATP7B gene testing for the boy, his sister, and their parents detected two novel missense mutations in the boy and his sister, i.e., compound heterozygous mutations in exon 7 (c.2075T>C, p.L692P) and exon 13 (c.3044T>C, p.L1015P), which were inherited from their father and mother, respectively. Wilson's disease was confirmed by genetic diagnosis in the boy and his sister. The boy and his sister were given a low-copper diet. The boy was administered with penicillamine for decoppering and zinc supplement against copper uptake. His sister received zinc supplement alone because no clinical symptoms were observed. The boy showed normal liver function in the reexamination after 3 months of treatment.

Right hemicolectomy and multivisceral resection of right colon cancer: A report of 21 cases / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

The long- and short-term outcomes in 21 patients with right colon cancer after right hemicolectomy and multivisceral resection surgery were investigated. Short-term therapeutic effects and long-term survival rate were retrospectively analyzed in patients with right colon cancer. These individuals underwent right hemicolectomy in combination with multivisceral resections including pancreatic head, duodenum, kidney, liver, gallbladder, and abdominal wall at the Department of General Surgery in the Henan Tumor Hospital between January 2003 and August 2014. The patients had an average age of 58.9 years (range: 39-78). Three patients had metastatic invasion only to the duodenum; meanwhile 18 patients had invasion to the duodenum and other adjacent organs. The median survival time was 41 months (95% CI: 6.972-75.028) with one death in the perioperative period. No patients lost follow-up. One-, 3-, and 5-year survival rate was 75%, 56%, and 43%, respectively. It was concluded that indications for surgery should be tightly controlled. Favorable clinical outcomes of right hemicolectomy and multivisceral resection surgery were demonstrated for patients with right colon cancer at the T4 stage.

Right hemicolectomy and multivisceral resection of right colon cancer: A report of 21 cases / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

The long- and short-term outcomes in 21 patients with right colon cancer after right hemicolectomy and multivisceral resection surgery were investigated. Short-term therapeutic effects and long-term survival rate were retrospectively analyzed in patients with right colon cancer. These individuals underwent right hemicolectomy in combination with multivisceral resections including pancreatic head, duodenum, kidney, liver, gallbladder, and abdominal wall at the Department of General Surgery in the Henan Tumor Hospital between January 2003 and August 2014. The patients had an average age of 58.9 years (range: 39-78). Three patients had metastatic invasion only to the duodenum; meanwhile 18 patients had invasion to the duodenum and other adjacent organs. The median survival time was 41 months (95% CI: 6.972-75.028) with one death in the perioperative period. No patients lost follow-up. One-, 3-, and 5-year survival rate was 75%, 56%, and 43%, respectively. It was concluded that indications for surgery should be tightly controlled. Favorable clinical outcomes of right hemicolectomy and multivisceral resection surgery were demonstrated for patients with right colon cancer at the T4 stage.

Epidemiological study on nasal carriage in hospitalized children infected with Staphylococcus aureus / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the relationship between nasal carriage and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) infection in hospitalized children.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty-six hospitalized children infected with S. aureus were recruited in this study. Nasal swabs were collected and cultured, and the nasal carriage rate of S. aureus was examined. PVL virulence gene and mecA resistance gene were both detected in clinical strains and nasal carriage strains by PCR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Twenty-two (39%) of the 56 children had nasal carriage of S. aureus, and most of them (18 cases) were younger than one year. Among these 22 children, 11 (50%) had previous hospitalization over the past year. In the infected strains, the rate of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) was 29% (16/56), while it was 32% (7/22) in carriage strains. The mecA positive results in clinical strains were consistent with the results in nasal carriage strains. Among 5 PVL-positive nasal carriage strains, 4 (90%) could be matched with their clinical strains, all of which were MRSA.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Nasal carriage is a potential risk factor for S. aureus infection. Nosocomial transmission may lead to nasal carriage, which can cause S. aureus infection. The isolation rate of MRSA is high in hospitalized children infected with S. aureus, which implies that more attention is needed for this situation. The isolates from noses may be clonally identical to the isolates from clinical secretions, and the homology between them needs to be confirmed by multi-locus sequence typing.</p>

Detection of PLA2R1 in renal biopsy specimens of patients with idiopathic membranous nephropathy / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the prevalence of PLA2R1 in renal biopsy specimens of patients with idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN) and explore the relationship between PLA2R1 and IMN.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 108 adult patients with biopsy-proved glomerular diseases were enrolled in this study, including 41 with IMN, 2 with hepatitis B-associated membranous nephropathy, 8 with V lupus nephritis, 27 with IgA nephropathy, 19 with minimal change nephropathy, 5 with mild mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis, and 6 with focal segmental glomeruloselerosis (FSGS). Indirect immunofluorescence assay was used to detect PLA2R1 in the biopsy specimens and the clinical variables of the IMN patients were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In 35 of the 41 (85.37%) patients with IMN, PLA2R1 was detected with a fine granular pattern in the subepithelial deposits along the glomerular capillary loops. PLA2R1 antigen was not detected in patients with other glomerulopathies. No significant differences were found in age, serum creatinine, serum albumin, or 24-h urinary protein level between PLA2R1-positive and negative patients with IMN (P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>According to our results, 85.37% of adult patients with biopsy-proven IMN are positive for PLA2R1 antigen, which, however, does not contribute to variations of the patients' clinical manifestations.</p>

Research on syndrome distribution features, etiologies, and pathogeneses of Japanese encephalitis / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore Chinese medical syndrome distribution features of Japanese encephalitis (JE), and to analyze its correlation between syndromes and features of etiologies and pathogeneses.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Recruited were 277 patients with confirmative diagnosis of JE from Wuhan Medical Treatment Center, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Chongqing Medical University, Fifth People's Hospital of Guiyang City, Hangzhou Sixth People's Hospital, and Chengdu Hospital of Infectious Diseases between July to September 2012. Chinese medical syndrome distribution features were summarized from their general materials and detailed records of clinical data, including medical history, symptoms and signs, tongue fur, and pulse figures.The frequency of symptoms and signs was calculated according to mild, ordinary, severe, extreme severe degrees. The distribution of Chinese medical syndromes was summarized. And its correlation between syndromes and features of etiologies and pathogeneses were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After clustering analysis, Chinese medical syndromes of JE could be categorized as four groups: toxicity accumulation in Fei and Wei syndrome (TAFWS), brain collateral impaired by poison syndrome (BCIPS), depression of toxicity in the pericardium syndrome (DTPS), exhaustion of yin and yang syndrome (EYYS). BCIPS and DTPS were dominated, accounting for 74.0% (205 cases). The main causes covered evil of summer heat [accounting for 92.42% (256/277 cases)], heat [accounting for 87.73% (243/277 cases)], and toxin [accounting for 99.64% (276/277 cases)].</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The four Chinese medical syndrome types of JE met Chinese medical clinical features of encephalitis. It is induced by infestation of dampness-heat, resulting in toxicity accumulation in Fei and Wei, brain collateral impaired by poison, depression of toxicity in the pericardium. Yin fluid and blood is exhausted as time goes by. Qi and yin are impaired to form intermingled deficiency and excess, and finally causing exhaustion of yin and yang.</p>

Common types of massive intraoperative haemorrhage, treatment philosophy and operating skills in pelvic cancer surgery / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the common types of massive intraoperative bleeding, clinical characteristics, treatment philosophy and operating skills in pelvic cancer surgery.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We treated massive intraoperative bleeding in 19 patients with pelvic cancer in our department from January 2003 to March 2012. Their clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. The clinical features of massive intraoperative bleeding were analyzed, the treatment experience and lessons were summed up, and the operating skills to manage this serious issue were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In this group of 19 patients, 7 cases were of presacral venous plexus bleeding, 5 cases of internal iliac vein bleeding, 6 cases of anterior sacral venous plexus and internal iliac vein bleeding, and one cases of internal and external iliac vein bleeding. Six cases of anterior sacral plexus bleeding and 4 cases of internal iliac vein bleeding were treated with suture ligation to stop the bleeding. Six cases of anterior sacral and internal iliac vein bleeding, one cases of anterior sacral vein bleeding, and one case of internal iliac vein bleeding were managed with transabdominal perineal incision or transabdominal cotton pad compression hemostasis. One case of internal and external iliac vein bleeding was treated with direct ligation of the external iliac vein and compression hemostasis of the internal iliac vein. Among the 19 patients, 18 cases had effective hemostasis. Their blood loss was 400-1500 ml, and they had a fair postoperative recovery. One patient died due to massive intraoperative bleeding of ca. 4500 ml.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Most of the massive intraoperative bleeding during pelvic cancer surgery is from the presacral venous plexus and internal iliac vein. The operator should go along with the treatment philosophy to save the life of the patient above all, and to properly perform suture ligation or compression hemostasis according to the actual situation, and with mastered crucial operating hemostatic skills.</p>

Factors influencing short-term prognosis of tuberculous meningitis in children / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the factors influencing short-term prognosis of tuberculous meningitis (TBM) in children.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical data of 137 hospitalized children with TBM between January 2007 and February 2011 were retrospectively reviewed. A total of 30 potential factors influencing short-term prognosis of TBM were evaluated by univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Clinical staging showed that of the 137 children 21 cases (15.3%) were in the early stage, 67 cases (48.9%) in the medium stage and 49 cases (35.8%) in the late stage of TBM. The univariate analysis revealed 8 factors associated with a poor short-term prognosis: clinical stage of TBM (late), coma, positive Babinski signs, cranial nerve involvements, paralysis, seizures, obvious abnormalities in brain computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and elevated protein concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Factors associated with a favourable short-term prognosis for TBM included glucocorticoid steroids therapy, positive reaction of PPD skin test and an increased length of stay in hospital. Multivariate logistic analysis revealed two independent risk factors for a poor short-term prognosis: clinical stage of TBM (late) (OR: 11.168, 95%CI: 3.521-35.426) and positive signs of meningeal irritation (OR: 4.275, 95%CI: 1.043-17.521). An increased length of stay in hospital was shown as a favorable factor (OR: 0.893, 95%CI: 0.825-0.968).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Late-stage TBM and positive signs of meningeal irritation suggest a poor prognosis, while an appropriately longer length of stay in hospital may contribute to a favorable short-term prognosis for children with TBM.</p>

Clinical features of drug-induced liver injury in children / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the clinical features of drug-induced liver injury in children.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical data of the hospitalized children with drug-induced liver injury over 5 years were retrospectively reviewed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Of 641 cases of hospitalized children with liver injury, there were 64 cases (10%) of drug induced liver injury. Hepatocellular injury was the most common type of drug-induced liver injury (81%). The major drugs causing drug-induced liver injury included chemotherapy drugs, antibiotics and anti-tuberculosis drugs. Rash (16%), gastrointestinal reaction (15%), fever (14%) and liver intumescence (12%) were common clinical symptoms. A part of patients with drug-induced liver injury (11%) had no symptoms and signs.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Drug-induced liver injury is one of the common causes of liver damage in hospitalized children. Some children with drug-induced liver injury have no symptoms and signs. Hepatocellular injury is a major type of drug-induced liver injury in children, resulting less severe liver damage.</p>