[Value of absolute counts of lymphocyte subsets in the early prediction of refractory Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in children]

Development and validation of an online dynamic nomogram system for pulmonary consolidation in children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia

INTRODUCTION

The occurrence of pulmonary consolidation in children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP) can lead to exacerbation of the disease. Therefore, early identification of children with MPP in combination with pulmonary consolidation is critical. The purpose of this study was to develop a straightforward, easy-to-use online dynamic nomogram for the identification of children with MPP who are at high risk of developing pulmonary consolidation.

METHODS

491 MPP patients were chosen and divided randomly into a training cohort and an internal validation cohort at a 4:1 ratio. Multi-factor logistic regression was used to identify the risk variables for mixed pulmonary consolidation in children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP). The selected variables were utilized to build the nomograms and validated using the C-index, decision curve analysis, calibration curves, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves.

RESULTS

Seven variables were included in the Nomogram model: age, fever duration, lymphocyte count, C-reactive protein (CRP), ferritin, T8 lymphocyte percentage, and T4 lymphocyte percentage. We created a dynamic nomogram that is accessible online ( https://ertong.shinyapps.io/DynNomapp/ ). The C-index was 0.90. The nomogram calibration curves in the training and validation cohorts were highly comparable to the standard curves. The area under the curve (AUC) of the prediction model was, respectively, 0.902 and 0.883 in the training cohort and validation cohort. The decision curve analysis (DCA) curve shows that the model has a significant clinical benefit.

CONCLUSIONS

We developed a dynamic online nomogram for predicting combined pulmonary consolidation in children with MP based on 7 variables for the first time. The predictive value and clinical benefit of the nomogram model were acceptable.

[Predictive value of peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets for children with intravenous immunoglobulin-resistant Kawasaki disease]

OBJECTIVES

Based on peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets and common laboratory test indexes, this study aimed to construct a predictive scoring system for intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG)-resistant Kawasaki disease (KD).

METHODS

Children hospitalized in Tianjin Children's Hospital from January 2021 to March 2023 were included in the study (185 cases of IVIG-sensitive KD and 41 cases of IVIG -resistant KD). Forty-six healthy children matched for age and gender were selected as controls. The relative percentage and absolute counts of peripheral lymphocyte subsets were measured by flow cytometry. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify the predictive factors for IVIG-resistant KD and to construct a predictive scoring system for predicting IVIG-resistant KD.

RESULTS

The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that CD4+ T cell absolute count, natural killer cell absolute count, serum sodium level, globulin level, and total bilirubin level were identified as predictive factors for IVIG-resistant KD (P<0.05). The predictive scoring system based on these factors achieved a sensitivity of 70.7% and a specificity of 83.8% in predicting IVIG-resistant KD.

CONCLUSIONS

Peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets can serve as predictive indicators for IVIG-resistant KD in children. The introduction of this indicator and the establishment of a scoring system based on it can provide a higher accuracy in predicting IVIG-resistant KD in children.

Diagnostic value of serum LDH in children with refractory Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumoniae: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

To investigate the relationship between serum Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and refractory Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (RMPP) in juvenile individuals.

Methods

Search Chinese databases and English databases. The retrieval time limit is from the establishment of the database to 2022-04-27. And screening and inclusion of relevant diagnostic test literature. The QUADAS-2 method was used to evaluate the quality of the included literature. The random effects model was used to combine sensitivity, specificity, likelihood ratio, diagnostic odds ratio, summary receiver operating characteristic curve, and area under summary receiver operating characteristic curve to evaluate the prediction value of LDH for RMPP. Subgroup analyses were used to explore sources of heterogeneity.

Results

① A total of 29 literatures that met the criteria were included in the study, and the quality of the literature was medium and high, with a total of 702,2 patients. ② The combined sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio, diagnostic odds ratio, and area under the curve of the studies were: 0.75 (95% CI = 0.73-0.76), 0.73 (95% CI = 0.72-0.74), 3.61 (95% CI = 2.86-4.56), 0.30 (95% CI = 0.23-0.39), 13.04 (95% CI = 8.24-20.63), and 0.85(95% CI = 0.82-0.88). ③ The results of subgroup analysis showed that Compared with the subgroup with LDH threshold ≤400 IU/L, the AUC increased from 0.84 (95% CI = 0.80-0.87) to 0.89 (95% CI = 0.86-0.91).

Conclusions

The serum LDH has good accuracy for the diagnosis of RMPP and can serve as a diagnostic marker for RMPP.

Clinical analysis of the epidemiology and changes in inflammatory indexes of Mycoplasma pneumonia in acute and recovery stage pediatric patients

BACKGROUND

As Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP) is on the rise in children and adolescents, this work explored the clinical analysis of epidemiological and inflammatory changes in children with MPP during the acute and convalescent phases, and analyzed their relationship with clinical manifestations.

METHODS

One hundred and twenty MP patients (experimental group) and 100 healthy children (control group) were selected as the research objects. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the changes in tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), interleukin-10 (IL-10) and procalcitonin (PCT).

RESULTS

The proportion of children aged 3-7 years was significantly higher than that of other age groups (0-1, 1-3, and 7-14 years old) (P<0.05). The serum levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and PCT in children with MP were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). Changes in pulmonary fibrosis and serum and pleural fluid TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and PCT concentrations on chest X-ray and computed tomography (CT) in children with MP with pleural effusion significantly higher than that in children without pulmonary fibrosis (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

MPP was more common in children aged 3-7 years. In addition, the changes of inflammatory markers TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and PCT in serum and pleural effusion of children with MP were of great value for the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of the disease.

Efficacy of Gamma Globulin Combined with Azithromycin Sequential Therapy in the Treatment of RMPP and Its Effect on Th1/Th2 Cytokine Levels

Objective

To investigate the efficacy of gamma globulin combined with azithromycin sequential therapy in the treatment of children with refractory mycoplasma pneumonia and its effect on Th1/Th2 cytokine levels.

Method

From January 2021 to January 2022, 100 children diagnosed with refractory mycoplasma pneumonia were randomly divided into 2 groups (50 cases in each one), the control group was treated with azithromycin plus comprehensive basic treatment, and the treatment group was treated with combined treatment on the basis of the control group, gamma globulin therapy; the treatment effect and cytokine levels of the two groups were compared.

Results

Th1, Th2, and Th1/Th2 before treatment were not significantly different between the two groups. Th1, Th2, and Th1/Th2 in the treatment group were significantly downregulated compared with those in the control group after treatment. The levels of IgG, IgA, and IgM in the treatment group were not significantly different from those in the control group before treatment but were significantly upregulated after treatment. IL-10, IL-6, and IL-2 levels were also significantly increased in the treatment group. The disappearance time of clinical symptoms such as fever, cough, and pulmonary rales in the treatment group was significantly shorter than that in the control group, and the cure rate in the treatment group was significantly better than that in the control group.

Conclusion

The clinical effect of gamma globulin combined with azithromycin sequential therapy in the treatment of children with refractory mycoplasma pneumonia is remarkable, which can reduce inflammatory factors, improve patients' immunity, and promote disease recovery.

Computed Tomography Image Segmentation Using Edge Correction Algorithm for Refractory Mycoplasma Pneumonia in Children

Objective. It is to study the application of edge correction algorithm (ECA) in computed tomography (CT) medical image segmentation, explore its guiding significance in the analysis of clinical characteristics of children with refractory mycoplasma pneumoniae (RMPP), and discuss the therapeutic value of fiberoptic bronchoscopy bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) for RMPP. Methods. The accuracy of ECA in CT medical image segmentation of children with RMPP was compared with that of the watershed segmentation algorithm (WSA) and swarm intelligence optimization algorithm (SIOA). The clinical characteristics and the imaging characteristics of 80 children with RMPP admitted to hospital from January 2018 to January 2020 were retrospectively analyzed based on the ECA. All children were divided into a lavage group (BAL group, n = 69) and a nonlavage group (non-BAL group, n = 11) according to whether fiberoptic bronchoscopy and BAL were performed. Bronchoscopy was adopted to analyze the cytological characteristics of BAL fluid (BALF) in children, and the recovery rate and the total effective rate of the two groups of children were observed and compared. Results. The overall accuracies (OAs) of the three ECAs (Roberts operator (RO), Sobel operator (SO), and Prewitt operator (PO)) were higher than that of WSA and SIOA, their false negative rate (FNR) and false positive rate (FPR) were small, and their denoising performance was superior to that of WSA and SIOA. The main clinical manifestations of all children were high fever, irritating dry cough, and few early signs. The results of chest CT examination were mainly manifested as patchy or large-scale consolidation, two lung mesh or small nodular shadows, and atelectasis. 69 cases with fiberoptic bronchoscopy showed swelling and congestion of the bronchial mucosa at the lesion site with visible viscous secretions, which was consistent with the imaging changes. The total number of cells in the BALF of children increased ( $P<0.05$ ), which mainly represented the increase of neutrophils ( $P<0.05$ ). The recovery rate of children with lavage (81.16%) was higher dramatically than that of the nonlavage group (45.45%). Conclusion. The ECA had good accuracy and denoising performance in lung CT image segmentation. The clinical characteristics, imaging characteristics, and cytological components of children had changed when they suffered from the RMPP, and fiberoptic bronchoscopy lavage had a therapeutic effect on it.

Chinese Herbal Medicine for the Treatment of Children and Adolescents With Refractory Mycoplasma Pneumoniae Pneumonia: A Systematic Review and a Meta-Analysis

Objectives: Chinese herb medicine (CHM) is one of the most popular complementary and alternative therapies, which has been widely used to treat Refractory Mycoplasma Pneumoniae Pneumonia (RMPP). However, the effect and safety of CHM remain controversial. Hence, we conducted this meta-analysis to evaluate whether CHM combination therapy could bring benefits to children and adolescents with RMPP. Methods: Seven databases were used for data searching through November 11, 2020 following the PRISMA checklist generally. Review Manager 5.3, Trial sequential analysis 0.9.5.10 Beta software and Stata16.0 were applied to perform data analyses. Mean difference or risk ratio was adopted to express the results, where a 95% confidence interval (CI) was applied. Results: In general, this research enrolled 17 trials with 1,451 participants. The overall pooled results indicated that CHM was beneficial for children and adolescents with RMPP by improving the clinical efficacy rate [RR = 1.20, 95% CI (1.15, 1.25), p < 0.00001], shortening antipyretic time [MD = -2.60, 95% CI (-3.06, -2.13), p < 0.00001], cough disappearance time [MD = -2.77, 95% CI (-3.12, -2.42), p < 0.00001], lung rale disappearance time [MD = -2.65, 95% CI (-3.15, -2.15), p < 0.00001], lung X-ray infiltrates disappearance time [MD = -2.75, 95% CI (-3.33, -2.17), p < 0.00001], reducing TNF-α level [MD = -5.49, 95% CI (-7.21, -3.77), p < 0.00001]. Moreover, subgroup results suggested that removing heat-phlegm and toxicity therapy had more advantages in shortening antipyretic time, cough disappearance time, lung X-ray infiltrates disappearance time and reducing TNF-α level. Meanwhile promoting blood circulation therapy seemed to be better at relieving lung rale. However, regarding adverse events, the two groups displayed no statistical difference [RR = 0.97, 95% CI (0.60, 1.57), p = 0.91]. Conclusion: Despite of the apparently positive results in relieving clinical symptoms, physical signs and reducing inflammation, it is premature to confirm the efficacy of CHM in treating RMPP because of the limitation of quality and the number of the included studies. More large-scale, double-blind, well-designed, randomized controlled trials are needed in future research.

[Value of chitinase-like protein YKL-40 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid for predicting refractory Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in children]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the value of chitinase-like protein YKL-40 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) for predicting refractory Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (RMPP) in children.

METHODS

A total of 50 children with common Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP) and 22 children with RMPP were enrolled. The two groups were compared in terms of clinical features, laboratory examination results, imaging findings, and YKL-40 levels in BALF. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the value of YKL-40 in BALF for predicting RMPP.

RESULTS

Compared with the common MPP group, the RMPP group had significantly higher incidence rates of fever, shortness of breath, lung consolidation, and pleural effusion (P < 0.05) and significantly higher serum levels of C-reactive protein and lactate dehydrogenase (P < 0.05). The RMPP group had a significantly higher level of YKL-40 in BALF than the common MPP group (P < 0.05). The ROC curve plotted based on the level of YKL-40 in BALF had an area under the ROC curve of 0.750, a sensitivity of 72.7% and a specificity of 64.0% for predicting RMPP.

CONCLUSIONS

There is an increase in the level of YKL-40 in BALF in children with RMPP, and the level of YKL-40 in BALF has a certain value for predicting RMPP.

[Clinical features of children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia and peripheral lymphocytopenia]

OBJECTIVE

To study the clinical features of children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP) and peripheral lymphocytopenia.

METHODS

A total of 310 MPP children who were hospitalized and underwent bronchoalveolar lavage from June 2018 to June 2019 were enrolled and divided into two groups: simple MPP group with 241 children (without peripheral lymphocytopenia) and MPP + peripheral lymphocytopenia group with 69 children. The two groups were compared in terms of clinical data and treatment outcome.

RESULTS

Compared with the simple MPP group, the MPP + peripheral lymphocytopenia group had significantly longer duration of fever and length of hospital stay and significant increases in C-reactive protein, lactate dehydrogenase, and Mycoplasma pneumoniae DNA copies in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (P < 0.05). Compared with the simple MPP group, the MPP + peripheral lymphocytopenia group had significantly higher incidence rates of intrapulmonary consolidation, extrapulmonary complications, and serious lesions under bronchoscopy (erosion or sputum bolt) and a significantly higher proportion of patients with severe MPP (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Children with MPP and peripheral lymphocytopenia tend to have more severe immunologic injury. Peripheral blood lymphocyte count may be used to evaluate the severity of MPP.