Predicting brain edema and outcomes after thrombectomy in stroke: Frontal delta/alpha ratio as an optimal quantitative EEG index.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to determine whether quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG) measures have predictive value for cerebral edema (CED) and clinical outcomes in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients with anterior circulation large vessel occlusion who underwent mechanical thrombectomy (MT). METHODS: A total of 105 patients with AIS in the anterior circulation were enrolled in this prospective study. The occurrence and severity of CED were assessed through computed tomography conducted 24 h after MT. Clinical outcomes were evaluated based on early neurological deterioration (END) and 3-month functional status, as measured by the modified Rankin scale (mRS). Electroencephalography (EEG) recordings were performed 24 h after MT, and QEEG indices were calculated from the standard 16 electrodes and 2 frontal channels (F3-C3, F4-C4). The delta/alpha ratio (DAR), the (delta + theta) / (alpha + beta) ratio (DTABR), and relative delta power were averaged over all electrodes (global) and the F3-C3 and F4-C4 channels (frontal). The predictive effect and value of QEEG indices for CED and clinical outcomes were assessed using ordinal and logistic regression models, as well as receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. RESULTS: Significantly, both global and frontal DAR were found to be associated with the severity of CED, END, and poor functional outcomes at 90 days, while global and frontal DTABR and relative delta power were not associated with outcomes. In ROC analysis, the best predictive effect was observed in frontal DAR, with an area under the curve of approximately 0.80. It exhibited approximately 75% sensitivity and 71% specificity for radiological and clinical outcomes when a threshold of 3.3 was used. CONCLUSIONS: QEEG techniques may be considered an efficient bedside monitoring method for assessing treatment efficacy, identifying patients at higher risk of severe CED and END, and predicting long-term functional outcomes. SIGNIFICANCE: QEEG can help identify patients at risk of severe neurological complications that can impact long-term functional recovery in AIS patients who underwent MT.

Central GLP-1 Resistance Induced by Severe Traumatic Brain Injury Was Associated with Persistent Hyperglycemia in Humans.

INTRODUCTION: Whether central glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1)/GLP-1 receptor system mediated peripheral glucose homeostasis in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) is not clear. We aim to determine if plasma GLP-1 level could distinguish the non-survivors from the survivors during the first 14 days after TBI that could prognose 6 months mortality. METHODS: Metabolic, inflammatory, and hematologic profiles were examined in 73 patients with TBI in neurological intensive care unit. Factors that discriminate non-survivors from survivors were determined by two-way ANOVA. Biomarkers associated with mortality were determined by binary logistic regression and Cox proportional hazard regression. RESULTS: The non-survivors had higher infectious SOFA scores (p < 0.001), lower first 3 days' body temperature (p = 0.017), greater chance of cerebral hernia (p = 0.048), and decompressive craniectomy (p = 0.001) than the survivors. Higher 14-day plasma GLP-1 (p < 0.0001), glucose (p = 0.002), and IL-6 (p = 0.005) levels, in contrast with lower insulin level at days 4-7 (p = 0.020) were found in non-survivors than in survivors. Except the survivors who had an increased 14-day platelet number (p < 0.001), the two groups did not differ in hematological profile and intestinal barrier function. Although GLP-1 correlated closely with IL-6 in both the groups, it correlated with neither insulin nor glucose in each group. GLP-1 on days 8-10 and IL-6 on days 1-3 were positively, while insulin on days 4-7 was negatively associated with mortality. CONCLUSION: Persistent higher GLP-1 level in non-survivors over the survivors may present more severe central resistance to endogenous GLP-1 in non-survivors, which may be associated with progressive hyperglycemia with increased mortality in TBI.

Prognostic Significance of Plasma Insulin Level for Deep Venous Thrombosis in Patients with Severe Traumatic Brain Injury in Critical Care.

BACKGROUND: Whether insulin resistance underlies deep venous thrombosis (DVT) development in patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) is unclear. In this study, the association between plasma insulin levels and DVT was analyzed in patients with severe TBI. METHODS: A prospective observational study of 73 patients measured insulin, glucose, glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), inflammatory factors, and hematological profiles within four preset times during the first 14 days after TBI. Ultrasonic surveillance of DVT was tracked. Two-way analysis of variance was used to determine the factors that discriminated between patients with and without DVT or with and without insulin therapy. Partial correlations of insulin level with all the variables were conducted separately in patients with DVT or patients without DVT. Factors associated with DVT were analyzed by multivariable logistic regression. Neurological outcomes 6 months after TBI were assessed. RESULTS: Among patients with a mean (± standard deviation) age of 53 (± 16 years), DVT developed in 20 patients (27%) on median 10.4 days (range 4-22), with higher Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II scores but similar Sequential Organ Failure Assessment scores and TBI severity. Patients with DVT were more likely to receive insulin therapy than patients without DVT (60% vs. 28%; P = 0.012); hence, they had higher 14-day insulin levels. However, insulin levels were comparable between patients with DVT and patients without DVT in the subgroups of patients with insulin therapy (n = 27) and patients without insulin therapy (n = 46). The platelet profile significantly discriminated between patients with and without DVT. Surprisingly, none of the coagulation profiles, blood cell counts, or inflammatory mediators differed between the two groups. Patients with insulin therapy had significantly higher insulin (P = 0.006), glucose (P < 0.001), and GLP-1 (P = 0.01) levels and were more likely to develop DVT (60% vs. 15%; P < 0.001) along with concomitant platelet depletion. Insulin levels correlated with glucose, GLP-1 levels, and platelet count exclusively in patients without DVT. Conversely, in patients with DVT, insulin correlated negatively with GLP-1 levels (P = 0.016). Age (P = 0.01) and elevated insulin levels at days 4-7 (P = 0.04) were independently associated with DVT. Patients with insulin therapy also showed worse Glasgow Outcome Scale scores (P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Elevated insulin levels in the first 14 days after TBI may indicate insulin resistance, which is associated with platelet hyperactivity, and thus increasing the risk of DVT.

[The predictive value of dynamic changes of coagulation function for the occurrence and progression of isolated distal deep vein thrombosis of lower limbs in patients with acute brain injury].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze risk factors for the occurrence and progression of isolated distal deep vein thrombosis (IDDVT) of lower limbs, and to explore the predictive value of dynamic changes of coagulation index D-dimer on the occurrence and progression of IDDVT in acute brain injury (ABI) patients during perioperative period. METHODS: A retrospective case-control study was conducted. Perioperative ABI patients admitted to department of neurocritical care unit (NCCU) of the First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China from September 2019 to May 2020 were enrolled. Patients' baseline characteristics, disease characteristics, treatment approaches, outcomes and coagulation function index at 1, 2-4, 5-7 and > 7 days post operation were analyzed between patients with IDDVT and patients with progressive IDDVT. Risk factors for IDDVT occurrence and progression were identified by multivariate Logistic regression. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC curve) were drawn to assess the predictive value of coagulation indexes for IDDVT occurrence and progression. RESULTS: A total of 164 ABI patients were enrolled. Most of the patients were elderly [age was 60 (51, 69) years], male [99 cases (60.4%)], and severe cases [Glasgow coma score (GCS) at admission was 6 (5, 8)]. The rates of IDDVT occurrence and progression were 61.6% (101 cases) and 16.8% (17 cases), respectively, the rate of proximal deep venous thrombosis (DVT) was 12.8% (21 cases). Compared with the IDDVT group (101 patients), patients without IDDVT group were younger (years: 55±13 vs. 62±13), length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay were shorter (days: 12±6 vs. 15±7), body mass index (BMI) and GCS at admission were higher [59 patients, BMI (kg/m2): 23±5 vs. 19±8, GCS scores: 7±2 vs. 6±2], the differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). Compared with patients with IDDVT progression group, male patients were fewer [61.9% (52/84) vs. 88.2% (15/17)], the proportion of transfusion of red blood cell and anticoagulant therapy were lower [8.3% (7/84) vs. 29.4% (5/17) and 47.6% (40/84) vs. 94.1% (16/17)], the proportion of cerebral herniation was higher [42.9% (38/84) vs. 11.8% (2/17)] in patients without IDDVT progressive group. All of the differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). D-dimer were increased in two groups of whether IDDVT occurrence or not over time. D-dimer peaked on 5-7 days after surgery in IDDVT occurrence group, and then decreased. D-dimer peaked at > 7 days after surgery in patients without IDDVT. With time, D-dimer were increased in groups of whether IDDVT progression or not, both peaked at 5-7 days postoperation, and then decreased. Compared with non-IDDVTgroup, D-dimer was significantly increased in IDDVT group from 2-4 days after surgery [mg/L: 4.1 (2.3, 8.0) vs. 2.4 (1.7, 3.4), P < 0.05], and lasted until 5-7 days [mg/L: 5.5 (3.3, 11.4) vs. 3.9 (2.6, 5.8), P < 0.05]. Compared with IDDVT group, D-dimer was significantly increased in IDDVT progressive group from 2-4 days [mg/L: 11.2 (4.7, 20.0) vs. 3.7 (2.1, 6.8), P < 0.05], and lasted until 7 days [mg/L: 11.0 (3.0, 18.9) vs. 4.1 (2.6, 6.5), P < 0.05]. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that age > 60 years [odds ratio (OR) = 3.43, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) was 1.69-6.96, P = 0.001], GCS score at admission > 8 (OR = 0.35, 95%CI was 0.17-0.76, P = 0.008), length of ICU stay > 13 days (OR = 2.25, 95%CI was 1.08-4.70, P = 0.031) were risk factors for IDDVT. Gender (OR = 0.19, 95%CI was 0.02-0.71, P = 0.019), transfusion of red blood cell (OR = 6.50, 95%CI was 1.33-31.94, P = 0.021), cerebral herniation (OR = 0.18, 95%CI was 0.37-0.90, P = 0.036) were risk factors for IDDVT profression. ROC curve analysis showed that age and D-dimer at 5-7 days were predicators of IDDVT [the area under curve ROC (AUC) were 0.68 and 0.72, 95%CI were 0.60-0.75 and 0.64-0.80, both P value were 0.000 1]. When the cut-off value of age was 60 years old and the D-dimer was 5.4 mg/L, the sensitivity were 60.6% and 54.4%, specificity were 71.2% and 80.9%, respectively, positive predictive value were 78.7%, 84.5%, negative predictive value were 51.2%, 48.1%, respectively. The elevation of D-dimer to 3.9 times at days 5-7 compared with day 1 of NCCU stay was a predicator of IDDVT progression (AUC = 0.81, 95%CI was 0.71-0.88, P = 0.000 1). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 76.5%, 74.6%, 41.9% and 93.0%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: IDDVT occurrence and progressiveare common in severe ABI patients during perioperative period. The dynamic change of D-dimer, especially at days 5-7, is a valuable predictor of IDDVT progressionin ABI patients, which is helpful for guiding implementation of deep vein ultrasound of lower limb.

HMGB1/TLR4 Signaling Affects Regulatory T Cells in Acute Lung Injury.

BACKGROUND: High-mobility group box-1 protein (HMGB1) serves as the prototypic damage-associated molecular pattern molecule, and TLR4 is considered a receptor for HMGB1. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play a crucial role in infectious diseases. The role of HMGB1 in the modulation of Tregs is of great interest. METHODS: Serum HMGB1 and Treg proportions were detected in 58 patients with acute lung injury (ALI) and 36 healthy volunteers. The correlations of these parameters with disease severity were analyzed. The WT and TLR4-/- mice were administered HMGB1 by intratracheal injection. After 48 h, the mice were sacrificed. The morphological changes and wet/dry ratio of the lung were measured. Spleen CD4+CD25+ Tregs were sorted from spleen cells, the expression of FOXP3 and CTLA-4, and releasing of cytokines was detected. CD4+CD25+ Tregs were cocultured with effector T cells, the inhibitory effect, and release of cytokines was detected. RESULTS: Significantly increased plasma levels of HMGB1 and reduced CD4+CD25+CD127low Tregs were detected in ALI patients. In the mouse model, lung injury was significantly increased after HMGB1 instillation in the WT and TLR4-/- groups compared with control group. The lung wet/dry ratio and the TNF-α and IL-1ß contents in BALF were significantly increased, and the severity of WT mice was higher than that of TLR4-/- mice. The expression of FOXP3 and CTLA-4 in TLR4-/- mice was significantly increased compared with that in WT mice and was associated with a similar trend of IL-10 and TGF-ß levels (p<0.05). In coculture with effector T cells, Tregs isolated from TLR4-/- mice exhibited decreased IL-2 and IFN-γ and increased IL-4 levels compared with Tregs from WT mice. Increased polarization of TLR4-/- CD4+CD25+ Treg cells to Th2 cells was observed. CONCLUSION: In HMGB1-induced lung injury, HMGB1 affects the expression of FOXP3 and CTLA-4 through TLR4, thus reducing the immunosuppressive function of Treg cells.

The Modulation of Regulatory T Cells via HMGB1/PTEN/ß-Catenin Axis in LPS Induced Acute Lung Injury.

Sepsis-induced acute lung injury (ALI)/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) remains the leading complication for mortality caused by bacterial infection. The regulatory T (Treg) cells appear to be an important modulator in resolving lung injury. Despite the extensive studies, little is known about the role of macrophage HMGB1/PTEN/ß-catenin signaling in Treg development during ALI. Objectives: This study was designed to determine the roles and molecular mechanisms of HMGB1/PTEN/ß-catenin signaling in mediating CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Treg development in sepsis-induced lung injury in mice. Setting: University laboratory research of First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University. Subjects: PTEN/ß-catenin Loxp and myeloid-specific knockout mice. Interventions: Groups of PTENloxp/ß-cateninloxp and myeloid-specific PTEN/ß-catenin knockout (PTENM-KO/ß-cateninM-KO) mice were treated with LPS or recombinant HMGB1 (rHMGB1) to induce ALI. The effects of HMGB1-PTEN axis were further analyzed by in vitro co-cultures. Measures and Main Results: In a mouse model of ALI, blocking HMGB1 or myeloid-specific PTEN knockout (PTENM-KO) increased animal survival/body weight, reduced lung damage, increased TGF-ß production, inhibited the expression of RORγt and IL-17, while promoting ß-catenin signaling and increasing CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Tregs in LPS- or rHMGB-induced lung injury. Notably, myeloid-specific ß-catenin ablation (ß-cateninM-KO) resulted in reduced animal survival and increased lung injury, accompanied by reduced CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Tregs in rHMGB-induced ALI. Furthermore, disruption of macrophage HMGB1/PTEN or activation of ß-catenin significantly increased CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Tregs in vitro. Conclusions: HMGB1/PTEN/ß-catenin signaling is a novel pathway that regulates Treg development and provides a potential therapeutic target in sepsis-induced lung injury.

Use of immunoproteomics to identify immunogenic proteins in a rat model of acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a common and life­threatening clinical syndrome, and seeking biomarkers of ARDS has been an area of continuing research. The present study hypothesized that alterations to certain immunogenic substances occur in injured lungs and are able to specifically bind with corresponding proteins in the blood, and that these proteins may be readily detected. To investigate this hypothesis, a rat model of ARDS was established by cecal ligation and puncture surgery, and an immunoproteomics approach, using serum as the primary antibody in a western blot analysis, was used with the aim of identifying immunogenic proteins in the injured lungs. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) was used for bioinformatics analysis, and mass spectrometric analysis was used to identify a total of 38 differentially expressed immunogenic proteins. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that the top canonical pathways in which the identified proteins may be involved were gluconeogenesis I, glycolysis I, choline degradation I, NADH repair and heme degradation. IPA Biomarker Filter analysis with the terms 'acute respiratory distress syndrome/acute lung injury' was used to screen 13 proteins as candidate biomarkers. These proteins were described as antigens, and suggested that paired antibodies may be detected in the plasma of patients at high risk of ARDS. Analysis of these identified proteins may provide novel insights into the potential pathological mechanisms of ARDS.