Mild encephalitis/encephalopathy with a reversible splenial lesion: five cases and a literature review.

The aim of this study was to explore the clinical characteristics and etiology of mild encephalitis/encephalopathy with a reversible splenial lesion (MERS) in China by retrospectively analyzing five MERS cases from the Jiangsu Provincial Hospital within a total of 27 reported MERS cases from available Chinese literature. Most of the 27 cases originated near the eastern and southern parts of China. Ages for 23 MERS cases were under 30 years and the female-to-male ratio was 1:1.25. The major causes of MERS included infection, antiepileptic drug withdrawal, high-altitude cerebral edema, and cesarean section (C-section). Hyponatremia was also observed in 10 MERS cases. All patients had a complete recovery within a month. Steroids and IVIG were the most commonly used therapy for MERS, but their efficiency remained questionable.

Is there a potential link between vitamin D and pulmonary morbidities in preterm infants?

BACKGROUND: There hasn't been conclusive proof about the association between vitamin D and pulmonary morbidities of prematurity. METHODS: 106 preterm infants were retrospectively included into this study. Clinical data and blood samples of all the patients were collected within 24 h of admission. RESULTS: (1) Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) patients were mainly concentrated in "≤30 weeks" stage when compared with other two gestational age groups. The only significant decrease of vitamin D concentration between RDS and non-RDS patients reflected in "≤30 weeks" stage (RDS vs. non-RDS: 29.48 ± 13.06 vs. 40.47 ± 20.52 nmol/l). (2) Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) patients were also concentrated in "≤30 weeks" stage. Vitamin D concentration showed significant difference both in "≤30 weeks" stage and "30-34 weeks" stage (≤30 weeks stage, BPD vs. non-BPD: 33.20 ± 16.51 vs. 39.21 ± 16.65 nmol/l; 30-34 weeks stage, BPD vs. non-BPD: 30.36 ± 15.50 vs. 41.21 ± 20.40 nmol/l). (3) Though vitamin D concentration in mechanical ventilation (MV) group was lower than non-MV group, there're no significant differences. (4) Vitamin D concentration in dead cases was significant lower than survival patients at discharge. (5) It showed a good correlation between vitamin D concentration and serum Ca, serum P, duration of MV and duration of oxygen support in "≤30 weeks" stage. CONCLUSION: The significant decrease of vitamin D concentration between RDS and non-RDS patients only reflected in "≤30 weeks" stage. And significant decrease of vitamin D concentration in BPD patients was both showed in "≤30 weeks" stage and "30-34 weeks" stage, which is consistent with "duration of oxygen support". However, the overall effect did not show any difference in all preterm infants. It seems that the appropriate concentration of vitamin D is beneficial to lung maturation of human. Certainly, large sample, multi-center randomized controlled trials are necessary.