[Evaluation of the Epidemiological, Clinical and Radiological Features of Pneumonia Cases Caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae in Childhood]. / Çocukluk Çaginda Mycoplasma pneumoniae'nin Etken Olarak Saptandigi Pnömoni Olgularinin Epidemiyolojik, Klinik ve Radyolojik Özelliklerinin Degerlendirilmesi.

The current study aimed to investigate the clinical, laboratory and radiological findings of the pneumonia cases in children that were confirmed as M.pneumoniae by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing and to reveal the factors that can be decisive in the diagnosis. Seventy-seven children were included in this study. The median age of the patients was 31 months (1 month-17 years 4 months). The 63.6% of the patients were younger than five years of age, 53.2% were girls and 46.8% were boys. During the eight-year research period, the frequency of M.pneumoniae in the patients hospitalized with the diagnosis of pneumonia was found to be 3.1%. The rate of M.pneumoniae as the underlying factor of pneumonia was found to be statistically significantly lower in patients aged 0-60 months compared to the patients aged 61-216 months. In patients with M.pneumoniae accompanied by viruses, the age group was more likely to between 0-60 months. The most common symptoms were cough (96.1%) and fever (74%). Physical examinations revealed that 70.1% of the patients had rales, 63.6% had tachypnea, 45.5% had oropharyngeal hyperaemia, 35.1% had subcostal-intercostal retraction, 31.2% had long expiration period, 26% had rhonchus, 24.7% had decrease in breath sounds, 15.6% had cervical lymphadenopathy, 13% had tachycardia, 3.9% had otitis media, 3.9% had tonsil hypertrophy and 2.6% had a maculopapular rash. The rate of hypoxemia was found to be 42.2%. When the physical examination findings of patients with only M.pneumoniae detected in multiplex PCR analysis and those with accompanying viruses in M.pneumoniae were compared, tachypnea, oropharyngeal hyperemia and decreased breath sounds were found to be statistically significantly higher in patients with M.pneumoniae only. Retraction was detected more frequently in patients with accompanying viruses. When the laboratory results of the patients were evaluated according to age, leukocytosis was detected in only 18.2% of the patients, while the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were found to be high in 75% and 85.7% of the patients, respectively. In the multiplex PCR analysis, the CRP values of the patients with only M.pneumoniae were found to be higher than the patients with accompanying viruses. M.pneumoniae was accompanied by viruses at the rate of 40.3%. The most common accompanying viruses were rhinovirus, adenovirus, bocavirus and metapneumovirus. The 55.8% of the patients had lobar-segmental consolidation, 46.8% had parahilar-peribronchial thickening, 18.2% had atelectasis, 11.7% had pleural effusion, 9.1% had increase in reticulonodular density, 6.5% had lymphadenopathy whereas no abnormality was observed in 5.2% of them. No diffuse interstitial involvement was recorded. The CRP value of the patients who had lobar segmental consolidation which was detected through chest X-rays were statistically higher than those without consolidation. In multiplex PCR analysis, the rate of parahilar-peribronchial thickening detected in chest X-ray findings was found to be higher in patients with M.pneumoniae accompanied by viruses compared to those with only M.pneumoniae. The rate of the patients who were given empirical antibiotics against atypical agents was 45.5%. The rate of empirically administered antibiotic treatment for atypical agents after being hospitalization was higher in patients diagnosed with only M.pneumoniae compared to patients with M.pneumoniae and viruses. One patient (1.3%) died. As there are no typical clinical, laboratory or radiological findings specific to M.pneumoniae pneumonia, all of the findings should be assessed as a whole to establish a diagnosis. Besides, for the detection of M.pneumoniae, diagnostic tests which are cost effective, with rapid results and are capable of distinguishing colonisation from active infection should be developed.

Does recombinant human erythropoietin administration in critically ill COVID-19 patients have miraculous therapeutic effects?

An 80-year-old man with multiple comorbidities presented to the emergency department with tachypnea, tachycardia, fever, and critically low O2 saturation and definitive chest computerized tomography scan findings in favor of COVID-19 and positive PCR results in 48 hours. He received antiviral treatment plus recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) due to his severe anemia. After 7 days of treatment, he was discharged with miraculous improvement in his symptoms and hemoglobin level. We concluded that rhEPO could attenuate respiratory distress syndrome and confront the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 virus through multiple mechanisms including cytokine modulation, antiapoptotic effects, leukocyte release from bone marrow, and iron redistribution away from the intracellular virus.

[Clinical analysis of 4 children with cryptogenic organizing pneumonia].

Objective: To analyze the clinical features of children with cryptogenic organizing pneumonia (COP) confirmed by pathology. Methods: The clinical manifestations, imaging, pathology, treatment and outcome data of 4 children with COP confirmed by thoracoscopic lung biopsy were retrospectively analyzed, who were hospitalized at Respiratory Department of Shenzhen Children's Hospital from January 2004 to December 2022. Results: All of the 4 patients were male, the age ranged from 1 year 3 months to 14 years. The time from onset to diagnosis was 3 months to 3 years. The follow-up duration was 6 months to 6 years. All the 4 cases had cough, 2 cases had tachypnea and wheezing, 1 case had expectoration, 1 case had chest pain, 1 case had decreased activity tolerance and weight loss. Rales in 2 cases and hypoxemia in 1 case. Pulmonary high resolution CT showed diffuse distribution, involvement of both lungs in 3 cases, and single lung combined migration in 1 case.Three cases showed ground-glass opacity, consolidation, patchy or fibrous strips, and 1 case presented air bronchogram and "reversed halo sign". All the 4 cases were performed thoracoscopic lung biopsy, and the pathological findings showed cellulose exudate or small nodules filled with granulation tissue or fibroblasts in the alveolar cavity and small airways, and 1 case was Masson corpuscle positive. Three patients achieved remission after glucocorticoid therapy. Spontaneous remission without treatment was seen in 1 patient.Two cases were followed up for 17 months and 6 years, respectively, who had excellent outcome. Conclusions: The manifestations of COP in children include cough, expectoration and chest pain. Infants and young children may have tachypnea and wheezing. The most common chest CT findings are diffuse distribution of ground-glass opacity, patchy and consolidation in both lungs. Diagnosis should depend on pathological examination. The effect of glucocorticoid therapy is good.

Antibiotic treatment schemes for very severe community-acquired pneumonia in children: a randomized clinical study.

OBJECTIVE: To compare clinical response to initial empiric treatment with oxacillin plus ceftriaxone and amoxicillin plus clavulanic acid in hospitalized children diagnosed with very severe community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). METHODS: A prospective randomized clinical study was conducted among children 2 months to 5 years old with a diagnosis of very severe CAP in the pediatric ward of São Paulo State University Hospital in Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil, from April 2007 to May 2008. Patients were randomly divided into two groups by type of treatment: an oxacillin/ceftriaxone group (OCG, n = 48) and an amoxicillin/clavulanic acid group (ACG, n = 56). Analyzed outcomes were: time to clinical improvement (fever and tachypnea), time on oxygen therapy, length of stay in hospital, need to widen antimicrobial spectrum, and complications (including pleural effusion). RESULTS: The two groups did not differ statistically for age, sex, symptom duration before admission, or previous antibiotic treatment. Time to improve tachypnea was less among ACG patients than OCG patients (4.8 ± 2.2 versus 5.8 ± 2.4 days respectively; P = 0.028), as was length of hospital stay (11.0 ± 6.2 versus 14.4 ± 4.5 days respectively; P = 0.002). There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups for fever improvement time, time on oxygen therapy, need to widen antimicrobial spectrum, or frequency of pleural effusion. CONCLUSIONS: Both treatment plans are effective in treating very severe CAP in 2-month-to 5-year-old hospitalized children. The only analyzed outcome that favored amoxicillin/clavulanic acid treatment was time required to improve tachypnea. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT01166932.

Geographically linked risk factors for enrolment into a fast breathing child pneumonia trial in Lilongwe, Malawi: an Innovative Treatments in Pneumonia (ITIP) secondary analysis.

Background: Pneumonia is the leading infectious killer of children less than 5 years of age worldwide. In addition to vaccines that help prevent pneumonia, understanding the environmental and socioeconomic risk factors for child pneumonia is critical to further prevention. Methods: Data from children with fast breathing pneumonia enrolled in a non-inferiority clinical trial assessing the effectiveness of 3-day placebo versus antibiotic treatment in Lilongwe, Malawi were used to examine environmental and socioeconomic characteristics within the study population. Location of residence was collected for enrolled children, and spatial enrolment rates were compared across Lilongwe using a spatial scan statistic. Results: Data from 1101 children were analysed. Three urban subdistricts (locally known as 'Areas') (Areas 24, 36 and 38) out of 51 were identified with higher than expected enrolment. These three areas were associated with higher rates of poverty (37.8% vs 23.9%) as well as informal settlements and poorer sanitation (42.4% vs 7.4%) than other areas. Parents of enrolled children from these areas also had lower rates of secondary education compared with parents of children enrolled from other areas (55% vs 67% (p<0.01) among fathers; 47% vs 54% (p<0.01) among mothers). Conclusion: In Lilongwe, areas with higher rates of poverty, informal settlements and poor sanitation contributed higher than expected enrolment of children to our fast breathing child pneumonia clinical trial when compared with other areas. Additional research is needed to evaluate the impact of environmental and socioeconomic risk factors, along with vaccination status, on the incidence of fast breathing pneumonia in children living in this region.

Analysis of serious adverse events in a paediatric fast breathing pneumonia clinical trial in Malawi.

Introduction: Pneumonia is the leading infectious killer of children. We conducted a double-blind, randomised controlled non-inferiority trial comparing placebo to amoxicillin treatment for fast breathing pneumonia in HIV-negative children aged 2-59 months in Malawi. Occurrence of serious adverse events (SAEs) during the trial were examined to assess disease progression, co-morbidities, recurrence of pneumonia and side effects of amoxicillin. Methods: Enrolled children with fast breathing for age and a history of cough <14 days or difficult breathing were randomised to either placebo or amoxicillin for 3 days, and followed for 14 days to track clinical characteristics and outcomes. Medical history, physical exam, laboratory results and any chest radiographs collected at screening, enrolment and during hospitalisation were evaluated. All SAE reports were reviewed for additional information regarding hospitalisation, course of treatment and outcome. Results: In total, 102/1126 (9.0%) enrolled children with fast breathing pneumonia were reported to have a SAE. Seventy-five per cent (n=77) of SAEs were pneumonia-related (p<0.01). Children<2 years of age represented the greatest proportion (61/77, 79.2%) of those with a pneumonia-related SAE. In the amoxicillin group, there were 46 SAEs and 5 (10.9%) cases were identified as possibly related to study drug (4 gastroenteritis and 1 fever). There were no life-threatening pneumonia SAEs or deaths in either group, and by the time of exit from the study, all children recovered without sequelae. Discussion: In this fast breathing pneumonia clinical trial, SAEs occurred infrequently in both the amoxicillin and placebo groups, and amoxicillin was well tolerated. Trial registration number: NCT02760420. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02760420?term=ginsburg&rank=9.

Clinical features of children with pulmonary microscopic polyangiitis: report of 9 cases.

Kidneys and lungs are the most common organs involved in microscopic polyangiitis (MPA). A retrospective analysis of pediatric MPA patients with pulmonary lesions over the past 10 years was performed to investigate clinical features of MPA in children with pulmonary lesions. There were 9 patients enrolled in our study, including 2 boys and 7 girls, with a median age of 6.6 years at the time of disease onset and a median disease course of 2 months. All of the patients exhibited tachypnea, and 7 exhibited cough and hemoptysis. The most common presentation on pulmonary imaging was ground glass or patchy shadows, which were observed in 6 cases. Seven patients manifested with hematuria and proteinuria, with renal histopathology of fibrinoid necrosis/exudation of the glomerular capillaries. All of the patients presented with normocytic normochromic anemia. Of the 9 patients, 7 were positive for perinuclear antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (p-ANCA) and/or myeloperoxidase (MPO), and 2 were positive for p-ANCA/MPO and cytoplasmic ANCA/proteinase 3. Eight patients had normal complement 3 (C3) levels, and one had an elevated C3 level. Five of the 9 patients were positive for antinuclear antibody ANA, and 4 were positive for double strand DNA (ds-DNA) antibody (3 were positive for both). The 7 patients who exhibited renal involvement received steroid plus cyclophosphamide (CTX) treatment. Of these patients, 4 achieved various degrees of remission, 2 were at the beginning of induction therapy, and one was lost to follow-up. Two patients with isolated pulmonary involvement received steroid plus leflunomide treatment and achieved complete remission. Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage was the most frequent presentation of lung involvement in children with MPA, and tachypnea, cough, hemoptysis and anemia were the common clinical symptoms. The majority of these patients exhibited hematuria, proteinuria and renal insufficiency. The efficacy of steroid plus CTX or leflunomide was evident in these patients.

Cardiorespiratory effects induced by 2-nitrate-1,3-dibuthoxypropan are reduced by nitric oxide scavenger in rats.

The search for new nitric oxide donors is warranted by the limitations of organic nitrates currently used in cardiology. The new organic nitrate 2-nitrate-1,3-dibuthoxypropan (NDBP) exhibited promising cardiovascular activities in previous studies. The aim of this study was to investigate the cardiorespiratory responses evoked by NDBP and to compare them to the clinically used organic nitrate nitroglycerine (NTG). Arterial pressure, heart rate and respiration were recorded in conscious adult male Wistar rats. Bolus i.v. injection of NDBP (1 to 15mg/kg; n=8) and NTG (0.1 to 5mg/kg; n=8) produced hypotension. NDBP induced bradycardia at all doses, while NTG induced tachycardia at three lower doses but bradycardia at higher doses. Hydroxocobalamin (20mg/kg; HDX), a NO scavenger, blunted hypotension induced by NDBP (15mg/kg), and its bradycardic effect (n=6). In addition, HDX blunted both hypotension and bradycardia induced by a single dose of NTG (2.5mg/kg; n=6). Both NDBP and NTG altered respiratory rate, inducing a biphasic effect with a bradypnea followed by a tachypnea; HDX attenuated these responses. Our data indicate that NDBP and NTG induce hypotension, bradycardia and bradypnea, which are mediated by nitric oxide release.

Prelimbic prefrontal cortex mediates respiratory responses to mild and potent prolonged, but not brief, stressors.

The prefrontal cortex is one of the key areas of the central mechanism of cardiovascular and respiratory control. Disinhibition of the prelimbic medial prefrontal cortex elicits tachypnoeic responses in anesthetized rats (Hassan et al., J. Physiol. 591: 6069-6088, 2013). The current study examines the effects of inhibition of the prelimbic prefrontal cortex during presentation of stressors of various lengths and intensities in conscious unrestrained rats. 8 Wistar rats were implanted with bilateral guide cannulas targeting the prelimbic prefrontal cortex and received microinjections of either saline of GABAA agonist muscimol prior to recording sessions. Inhibition of the prelimbic prefrontal cortex significantly attenuated respiratory responses to a novel environment stress, 30s light stimulus and restraint stress. It did not affect respiratory responses to 500 ms acoustic stimuli of varying intensities (40-90 dB). We conclude that the prelimbic prefrontal cortex contributes to generation of tachypnoeic responses to prolonged stressors, but does not contribute to respiratory arousal in response to brief stressors.

Scientific rationale for study design of community-based simplified antibiotic therapy trials in newborns and young infants with clinically diagnosed severe infections or fast breathing in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.

BACKGROUND: Newborns and young infants suffer high rates of infections in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Timely access to appropriate antibiotic therapy is essential for reducing mortality. In an effort to develop community case management guidelines for young infants, 0-59 days old, with clinically diagnosed severe infections, or with fast breathing, 4 trials of simplified antibiotic therapy delivered in primary care clinics (Pakistan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya and Nigeria) or at home (Bangladesh and Nigeria) are being conducted. METHODS: This article describes the scientific rationale for these trials, which share major elements of trial design. All the trials are in settings of high neonatal mortality, where hospitalization is not feasible or frequently refused. All use procaine penicillin and gentamicin intramuscular injections for 7 days as reference therapy and compare this to various experimental arms utilizing comparatively simpler combination regimens with fewer injections and oral amoxicillin. CONCLUSION: The results of these trials will inform World Health Organization policy regarding community case management of young infants with clinical severe infections or with fast breathing.

Treatment of fast breathing in neonates and young infants with oral amoxicillin compared with penicillin-gentamicin combination: study protocol for a randomized, open-label equivalence trial.

BACKGROUND: The World Health Organization recommends hospitalization and injectable antibiotic treatment for young infants (0-59 days old), who present with signs of possible serious bacterial infection. Fast breathing alone is not associated with a high mortality risk for young infants and has been treated with oral antibiotics in some settings. This trial was designed to examine the safety and efficacy of oral amoxicillin for young infants with fast breathing compared with that of an injectable penicillin-gentamicin combination. The study is currently being conducted in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya and Nigeria. METHODS/DESIGN: This is a randomized, open-label equivalence trial. All births in the community are visited at home by trained community health workers to identify sick infants who are then referred to a trial study nurse for assessment. The primary outcome is treatment failure by day 8 after enrollment, defined as clinical deterioration, development of a serious adverse event including death, persistence of fast breathing by day 4 or recurrence up to day 8. Secondary outcomes include adherence to study therapy, relapse, death between days 9 and 15 and adverse effects associated with the study drugs. Study outcomes are assessed on days 4, 8, 11 and 15 after randomization by an independent outcome assessor who is blinded to the treatment being given. DISCUSSION: The results of this study will help inform the development of policies for the treatment of fast breathing among neonates and young infants in resource-limited settings.

Antibiotic treatment schemes for very severe community-acquired pneumonia in children: a randomized clinical study / Esquemas de tratamiento antibiótico para la neumonía extrahospitalaria muy grave en niños: estudio clínico aleatorizado

OBJECTIVE: To compare clinical response to initial empiric treatment with oxacillin plus ceftriaxone and amoxicillin plus clavulanic acid in hospitalized children diagnosed with very severe community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). METHODS: A prospective randomized clinical study was conducted among children 2 months to 5 years old with a diagnosis of very severe CAP in the pediatric ward of São Paulo State University Hospital in Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil, from April 2007 to May 2008. Patients were randomly divided into two groups by type of treatment: an oxacillin/ceftriaxone group (OCG, n = 48) and an amoxicillin/clavulanic acid group (ACG, n = 56). Analyzed outcomes were: time to clinical improvement (fever and tachypnea), time on oxygen therapy, length of stay in hospital, need to widen antimicrobial spectrum, and complications (including pleural effusion). RESULTS: The two groups did not differ statistically for age, sex, symptom duration before admission, or previous antibiotic treatment. Time to improve tachypnea was less among ACG patients than OCG patients (4.8 ± 2.2 versus 5.8 ± 2.4 days respectively; P = 0.028), as was length of hospital stay (11.0 ± 6.2 versus 14.4 ± 4.5 days respectively; P = 0.002). There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups for fever improvement time, time on oxygen therapy, need to widen antimicrobial spectrum, or frequency of pleural effusion. CONCLUSIONS: Both treatment plans are effective in treating very severe CAP in 2-month-to 5-year-old hospitalized children. The only analyzed outcome that favored amoxicillin/clavulanic acid treatment was time required to improve tachypnea.

OBJETIVO: Comparar la respuesta clínica al tratamiento empírico inicial con oxacilina más ceftriaxona frente a amoxicilina más ácido clavulánico en niños hospitalizados con diagnóstico de neumonía extrahospitalaria muy grave. MÉTODOS: Se llevó a cabo un estudio clínico prospectivo aleatorizado en niños de 2 meses a 5 años de edad con diagnóstico de neumonía extrahospitalaria muy grave en la sala de pediatría del Hospital Universitario del Estado de São Paulo en Botucatu, São Paulo, Brasil, entre abril del 2007 y mayo del 2008. Los pacientes se dividieron aleatoriamente en dos grupos según el tratamiento administrado: un grupo recibió oxacilina/ceftriaxona (n = 48) y otro amoxicilina/ácido clavulánico (n = 56). Los criterios de valoración analizados fueron el tiempo hasta la mejoría clínica (de la fiebre y la taquipnea), el tiempo de administración de oxigenoterapia, la duración de la internación, la necesidad de ampliar el espectro antibiótico y las complicaciones (como el derrame pleural). RESULTADOS: Los dos grupos no presentaban diferencias estadísticas con respecto a la edad, el sexo, la duración de los síntomas antes de la internación o el tratamiento previo con antibióticos. El tiempo hasta la mejoría de la taquipnea fue menor en los pacientes tratados con amoxicilina/ácido clavulánico que en los que recibieron oxacilina/ceftriaxona (4,8 ± 2,2 días frente a 5,8 ±2,4 días, respectivamente; P = 0,028), y también fue menor la duración de la internación (11,0 ± 6,2 días frente a 14,4 ± 4,5 días, respectivamente; P = 0,002). No hubo diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre los dos grupos en relación con el tiempo hasta la mejoría de la fiebre, el tiempo de administración de oxigenoterapia, la necesidad de ampliar el espectro antibiótico ni la frecuencia de derrame pleural. CONCLUSIONES: Ambos esquemas de tratamiento son eficaces para tratar la neumonía extrahospitalaria muy grave en niños de 2 meses a 5 años de edad hospitalizados. El único criterio de valoración analizado que favoreció el tratamiento con amoxicilina/ ácido clavulánico fue el tiempo hasta la mejoría de la taquipnea.