Background: In acute and chronic renal inflammatory diseases, the activation of inflammatory cells is involved in the defect of erythropoietin (EPO) production. Ras guanine nucleotide-releasing protein-4 (RasGRP4) promotes renal inflammatory injury in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Our study aimed to investigate the role and mechanism of RasGRP4 in the production of renal EPO in diabetes. Methods: The degree of tissue injury was observed by pathological staining. Inflammatory cell infiltration was analyzed by immunohistochemical staining. Serum EPO levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and EPO production and renal interstitial fibrosis were analyzed by immunofluorescence. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting were used to detect the expression of key inflammatory factors and the activation of signaling pathways. In vitro, the interaction between peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and C3H10T1/2 cells was investigated via cell coculture experiments. Results: RasGRP4 decreased the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 2-alpha (HIF2A) via the ubiquitination–proteasome degradation pathway and promoted myofibroblastic transformation by activating critical inflammatory pathways, consequently reducing the production of EPO in T2DM mice. Conclusion RasGRP4 participates in the production of renal EPO in diabetic mice by affecting the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines in PBMCs, degrading HIF2A, and promoting the myofibroblastic transformation of C3H10T1/2 cells.

Background: In acute and chronic renal inflammatory diseases, the activation of inflammatory cells is involved in the defect of erythropoietin (EPO) production. Ras guanine nucleotide-releasing protein-4 (RasGRP4) promotes renal inflammatory injury in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Our study aimed to investigate the role and mechanism of RasGRP4 in the production of renal EPO in diabetes. Methods: The degree of tissue injury was observed by pathological staining. Inflammatory cell infiltration was analyzed by immunohistochemical staining. Serum EPO levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and EPO production and renal interstitial fibrosis were analyzed by immunofluorescence. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting were used to detect the expression of key inflammatory factors and the activation of signaling pathways. In vitro, the interaction between peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and C3H10T1/2 cells was investigated via cell coculture experiments. Results: RasGRP4 decreased the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 2-alpha (HIF2A) via the ubiquitination–proteasome degradation pathway and promoted myofibroblastic transformation by activating critical inflammatory pathways, consequently reducing the production of EPO in T2DM mice. Conclusion RasGRP4 participates in the production of renal EPO in diabetic mice by affecting the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines in PBMCs, degrading HIF2A, and promoting the myofibroblastic transformation of C3H10T1/2 cells.

Background: In acute and chronic renal inflammatory diseases, the activation of inflammatory cells is involved in the defect of erythropoietin (EPO) production. Ras guanine nucleotide-releasing protein-4 (RasGRP4) promotes renal inflammatory injury in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Our study aimed to investigate the role and mechanism of RasGRP4 in the production of renal EPO in diabetes. Methods: The degree of tissue injury was observed by pathological staining. Inflammatory cell infiltration was analyzed by immunohistochemical staining. Serum EPO levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and EPO production and renal interstitial fibrosis were analyzed by immunofluorescence. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting were used to detect the expression of key inflammatory factors and the activation of signaling pathways. In vitro, the interaction between peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and C3H10T1/2 cells was investigated via cell coculture experiments. Results: RasGRP4 decreased the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 2-alpha (HIF2A) via the ubiquitination–proteasome degradation pathway and promoted myofibroblastic transformation by activating critical inflammatory pathways, consequently reducing the production of EPO in T2DM mice. Conclusion RasGRP4 participates in the production of renal EPO in diabetic mice by affecting the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines in PBMCs, degrading HIF2A, and promoting the myofibroblastic transformation of C3H10T1/2 cells.

Background: In acute and chronic renal inflammatory diseases, the activation of inflammatory cells is involved in the defect of erythropoietin (EPO) production. Ras guanine nucleotide-releasing protein-4 (RasGRP4) promotes renal inflammatory injury in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Our study aimed to investigate the role and mechanism of RasGRP4 in the production of renal EPO in diabetes. Methods: The degree of tissue injury was observed by pathological staining. Inflammatory cell infiltration was analyzed by immunohistochemical staining. Serum EPO levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and EPO production and renal interstitial fibrosis were analyzed by immunofluorescence. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting were used to detect the expression of key inflammatory factors and the activation of signaling pathways. In vitro, the interaction between peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and C3H10T1/2 cells was investigated via cell coculture experiments. Results: RasGRP4 decreased the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 2-alpha (HIF2A) via the ubiquitination–proteasome degradation pathway and promoted myofibroblastic transformation by activating critical inflammatory pathways, consequently reducing the production of EPO in T2DM mice. Conclusion RasGRP4 participates in the production of renal EPO in diabetic mice by affecting the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines in PBMCs, degrading HIF2A, and promoting the myofibroblastic transformation of C3H10T1/2 cells.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the frequency and related factors of ineffective triggering (IT) and double triggering (DT) in patients with acute brain injury undergoing invasive mechanical ventilation. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using data from a single-center observational trial. Patients with acute brain injury [traumatic brain injury, stroke, and post-craniotomy for brain tumors] undergoing mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit (ICU) of Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University between June 2017 and July 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Demographic and clinical data were collected. Respiratory parameters and waveforms during the first 3 days of mechanical ventilation were recorded, with 15-minute waveform segments collected 4 times daily. Airway occlusion pressure (P_0.1) was measured via end-expiratory hold at the end of each recording. IT and DT were identified based on airway pressure, flow, and esophageal pressure waveforms, and the ineffective triggering index (ITI) and DT incidence were calculated. Multivariate Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with IT and DT. RESULTS: A total of 94 patients with acute brain injury were ultimately enrolled, including 19 cases of traumatic brain injury (20.2%), 39 cases of stroke (41.5%), and 36 cases of post-craniotomy for brain tumor (38.3%). Supratentorial injury was observed in 49 patients (52.1%), while infratentorial injury was identified in 45 patients (47.9%). A total of 94 patients with 1 018 datasets were analyzed; 684 (67.2%) datasets were on pressure support ventilation (PSV), and 334 (32.8%) were on mandatory ventilation. IT was detected in 810 (79.6%) datasets, with a median incidence of 2.1% (0.3%, 12.0%). Datasets demonstrating IT were characterized by lower P_0.1, higher tidal volume (VT), reduced respiratory rate (RR), and decreased minute ventilation (MV) compared to those without IT. The proportion of datasets exhibiting IT was higher during PSV than in mandatory ventilation [83.8% (573/684) vs. 71.0% (237/334), P < 0.05], while, the prevalence of ITI ≥ 10% was lower [23.8% (163/684) vs. 33.5% (112/334), P < 0.05]. DT was detected in 305 datasets (30%), with a median incidence of 0.6% (0.4%, 1.3%). Datasets exhibiting DT were characterized by higher VT, reduced RR, and lower pressure support levels. The incidence of DT was lower in PSV compared to mandatory ventilation modes [0% (0%, 0.3%) vs. 0% (0%, 0.5%), P < 0.05]. The post-craniotomy for brain tumors group exhibited higher ITI, lower RR, reduced MV, and a greater proportion of infratentorial lesions, compared to the TBI group. The infratentorial lesion group demonstrated higher ITI and incidence of DT compared to the supratentorial lesion group [ITI: 3.1% (0.7%, 17.8%) vs. 1.5% (0%, 8.3%), incidence of DT: 0% (0%, 0.5%) vs. 0% (0%, 0%), both P < 0.05]. After adjusting for confounding factors through multivariate logistic regression analysis, infratentorial lesion [odds ratio (OR) = 2.029, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) was 1.465-2.811, P < 0.001], lower P_0.1 (OR = 0.714, 95%CI was 0.616-0.827, P < 0.001), and mandatory ventilation (OR = 1.613, 95%CI was 1.164-2.236, P = 0.004) were independently associated with IT. Additionally, infratentorial lesion (OR = 1.618, 95%CI was 1.213-2.157, P = 0.001), large tidal volume (OR = 1.222, 95%CI was 1.137-1.314, P < 0.001), lower pressure support levels (OR = 0.876, 95%CI was 0.829-0.925, P < 0.001), and mandatory ventilation (OR = 2.750, 95%CI was 1.983-3.814, P < 0.001) were independently associated with DT. CONCLUSION IT and DT were common in patients with acute brain injury. Infratentorial lesions and mandatory ventilation were independently associated with both IT and DT.
Humans ; Respiration, Artificial/methods* ; Retrospective Studies ; Brain Injuries/therapy* ; Intensive Care Units ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Brain Injuries, Traumatic/therapy* ; Logistic Models ; Aged ; Adult

Objective:To investigate the risk factors for aneurysm rupture and post-intervention complications in intracranial arterial stenosis patients with intracranial aneurysms.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed; 238 intracranial arterial stenosis patients with intracranial aneurysms (306 intracranial aneurysms) admitted to Cerebrovascular Disease Department, Neurosurgery Center, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University from January 2018 to August 2022 were chosen. Ruptured group and unruptured group were divided according to the rupture of intracranial aneurysms. Additionally, 139 patients who underwent interventional therapy and had complete follow-up data were divided into 2 groups according to occurrence of post-intervention complications. Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analyses were used to identify the risk factors for aneurysm rupture and post-intervention complications.Results:(1) Of 238 patients, 269 unruptured aneurysms and 37 ruptured aneurysms were noted. Univariate regression analysis showed that significant difference was noted between the ruptured group and unruptured group in female ratio, aneurysm distribution, proportion of irregular shaped aneurysms, percentages of patients with increased white blood cell count, neutrophil count, total cholesterol and D-2 polymer, and percentage of patients with decreased blood lymphocyte count ( P<0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that irregular shaped aneurysms ( OR=12.393, 95% CI: 4.114-37.332, P<0.001), elevated neutrophil count ( OR=18.753, 95% CI: 6.555-53.648, P<0.001), and increased D-2 polymer ( OR=4.410, 95% CI: 1.758-11.065, P=0.002) were independent risk factors for aneurysm rupture in intracranial arterial stenosis patients with intracranial aneurysms. (2) Of the 139 patients, 57 had complications and 82 had no complications. Univariate regression analysis showed that the proportion of patients with hypertension history, distribution of arterial stenosis, and proportion of patients with elevated blood D-2 polymer were significantly different between patients with and without complications ( P<0.05); while multivariate Logistic regression analysis did not identify these 3 indexes as independent risk factors for post-intervention complications ( P>0.05). Conclusion:Patients with irregular shaped aneurysms, elevated blood neutrophil count and D-2 polymer trend to have aneurysm rupture; hypertension history, arterial stenosis, and elevated D-2 polymer have impact on postoperative complications in intracranial arterial stenosis patients with intracranial aneurysms.

Objective:To investigate the safety and efficacy of stent-assisted coil embolization in acute intracranial ruptured wide-necked aneurysms, and explore the safety of different antiplatelet drug regimens during perioperative period and the risk factors for prognoses.Methods:A perspective multicenter study was performed. A total of 417 patients with intracranial ruptured wide-necked aneurysms treated by stent-assisted coil embolization in Neurosurgery Departments of 4 hospitals (First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University [ n=41], Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University [ n=111], Tangdu Hospital of Air Force Military Medical University [ n=100], and Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University [ n=165]) from June 2017 to January 2020 were included. According to the different antiplatelet drugs regimens used in perioperative period, these patients were divided into loaded clopidogrel group ( n=87), loaded clopidogrel combined with aspirin group ( n=212), and tirofiban group ( n=118). Clinical data and perioperative complications of 3 groups were compared. Modified Rankin scale (mRS) was used to evaluate the prognoses of patients at discharge; differences of clinical data between the poor prognosis group and good prognosis group were compared. Independent risk factors for prognoses of patients with intracranial ruptured wide-necked aneurysms were analyzed by multivariate Logistic regression analysis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyze the predictive values of risk factors in poor prognosis. Results:Degrees of aneurysm embolization immediately after surgery: Raymond grading I was noted in 351 patients (84.2%), grading II in 44 patients (10.6%), and grading III in 22 patients (5.2%). Perioperative complications were noted in 44 patients (10.6%), and death was noted in 4 (1%). Intraoperative thrombosis incidence of the loaded clopidogrel group, loaded clopidogrel combined with aspirin group and tirofiban group was 5.7% (5/87), 5.7% (12/212) and 0.8% (1/118); that in tirofiban group was significantly lower than that in the loaded clopidogrel group and loaded clopidogrel combined with aspirin group ( P<0.05). At discharge, 360 patients (86.3%) had good prognosis and 57 patients (13.7%) had poor prognosis. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed age≥60 years ( OR=3.407, 95% CI: 1.620-7.166, P=0.001), preoperative Hunt-Hess grading 3 ( OR=11.445, 95% CI: 3.584-36.547, P<0.001), preoperative Hunt-Hess grading 4 ( OR=88.951, 95% CI: 14.519-544.948, P<0.001), preoperative Hunt-Hess grading 5 ( OR=64.949, 95% CI: 12.809-329.325, P<0.001), and multiple stenting ( OR=4.709, 95% CI: 1.215-18.248, P=0.025) were independent risk factors for poor prognosis of these patients. ROC curves showed that area under the curve of combination of age, number of implanted stents, and preoperative Hunt-Hess grading in predicting poor prognosis of these patients was 0.821, with optimal diagnostic threshold of 0.500, sensitivity of 0.667, and specificity of 0.833. Conclusion:Stent-assisted coil embolization is safe and effective in acute intracranial ruptured wide-necked aneurysms; tirofiban is safe as perioperative antiplatelet drug; patients with old age, preoperative Hunt-Hess grading≥3, and multiple stents are prone to have poor prognosis.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between double-triggering and abnormal movement of air in the lungs (pendelluft phenomenon) under pressure support ventilation (PSV).Methods:A prospective observational study was conducted, postoperative patients admitted to department of critical care medicine of Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University from April 1, 2019 to August 31, 2020 and received invasive mechanical ventilation with PSV mode were enrolled. Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) monitoring was performed. Airway pressure-time, flow-time, global and regional impedance-time curves were synchronously collected and analyzed offline. The volume of abnormal movement of air in the lungs at the beginning of inspiration was measured and defined as pendelluft volume. Double-triggered breaths were identified by trained researchers. Pendelluft volume during double-triggering was measured including the first triggered breath, the double-triggered breath, and the breath immediately following the double-triggered breath. Pendelluft volume was also measured for normal breath during the study. According to the frequency of double-triggering, patients were divided into severe (≥1 time/min) and non-severe double-triggering group. Pendelluft volume, parameters of respiratory mechanics, and clinical outcomes between the two groups were compared.Results:In 40 enrolled patients, a total of 9 711 breaths [(243±63) breaths/patient] were collected and analyzed, among which 222 breaths (2.3%) were identified as double-triggering. The Kappa of interobserver reliability to detect double-triggering was 0.964 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) was 0.946-0.982]. In 222 double-triggered breaths, pendelluft volume could not be measured in 7 breaths (3.2%), but the pendelluft phenomenon did exist as shown by opposite regional impedance change at the beginning of double-triggered inspiration. Finally, pendelluft volume was measured in 215 double-triggered breaths. Meanwhile, 400 normal breaths (10 normal breaths randomly selected for each patient) were identified as control. Compared with normal breath, pendelluft volume significantly increased in the first breath, the double-triggered breath, and the following normal breath [mL: 3.0 (1.4, 6.4), 8.3 (3.6, 13.2), 4.3 (1.9, 9.1) vs. 1.4 (0.7, 2.8), all P < 0.05]. Patients in severe double-triggering, pendelluft volume of normal breath and double-triggered breath were significantly higher than those in non-severe double-triggering group [mL: 1.8 (0.9, 3.2) vs. 1.1 (0.5, 2.1), P < 0.001; 8.5 (3.9, 13.4) vs. 2.0 (0.6, 9.1), P = 0.008]. Patients in severe double-triggering group had significantly higher respiratory rate than that in the non-severe double-triggering group (breaths/min: 20.9±3.5 vs. 15.2±3.7, P < 0.001). There were no significant differences in other respiratory mechanics parameters and main clinical outcomes between the two groups. Conclusions:During PSV, the abnormal movement of air in the lungs (pendelluft phenomenon) was more likely to occur in double-triggering especially in double-triggered breath. The more frequent the double-triggering occurred, the more serious the pendelluft phenomenon was. A higher pendelluft volume of normal breath and a higher respiratory rate were related to severity of double-triggering.

Atrial fibrillation, also known as atrial fibrillation, is a common cardiac arrhythmia, and its incidence increases with age. Catheter ablation is considered to be an effective means to treat atrial fibrillation and maintain sinus rhythm. The common ablation technologies are radiofrequency ablation and cryoablation. However, the existing catheter ablation technology has a "zero-sum effect", and it is difficult to control the optimal dose clinically. In this study, a new method of pulsed electric field ablation for atrial fibrillation was proposed, which effectively solved the "zero-sum effect" problem of temperature ablation. The clinical application results show that the proposed technology effectively overcomes the shortcomings of existing temperature ablation, and can form durable pulmonary vein isolation.