Outcomes of Renal Transplantation in ANCA-Associated Vasculitis.

BACKGROUND Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis is characterized by small-vessel inflammation and ANCA-positive serology that often lead to end-stage kidney disease. This study investigated the outcomes of renal transplantation in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis. MATERIAL AND METHODS A comprehensive search of PubMed, Scopus, and Embase databases was done to retrieve studies that reported on the outcomes of renal transplantation in these patients. Data on mortality, survival, infection, and relapse rates were analyzed. The quality of the included studies was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for cohort studies. RESULTS Twenty-three retrospective cohort studies were included in this review. Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis was associated with high post-transplantation mortality rates, with a pooled rate ratio of 11.99 per 100 patient-years, but relatively favorable survival rate (hazard rate of 0.80). After renal transplantation, these patients had elevated infection rates (pooled rate ratio of 52.70 per 100 patient-years), and high risk of relapse (pooled rate ratio of 6.96), emphasizing the importance of vigilant post-transplantation monitoring. CONCLUSIONS End-stage kidney disease patients with vasculitis, undergoing renal transplantation, are at elevated risk of mortality and postoperative infection compared to patients without antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis. The risk of relapse is also high in these patients. However, renal transplantation offers a survival advantage for vasculitis patients who survive the early post-transplantation period.

Theoretical study of Mo2N supported transition metal single-atom catalyst for OER/ORR bifunctional electrocatalysis.

The rational design and development of an efficient bifunctional catalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is the key to developing new renewable energy storage and conversion technologies. Transition metal nitrides (TMNs) have shown excellent energy storage and electrochemistry potential due to their unique electronic structure and physicochemical properties. In this paper, based on the first-principles method of density functional theory (DFT), a series of efficient and stable bifunctional single-atom catalysts (SACs) were designed on Mo2N by introducing transition metal atoms as active sites, and the effects of different TM atoms on the catalytic performance of 2D-Mo2N (Two dimensional Mo2N) were evaluated. The calculation results show that TM@Mo2N exhibits excellent stability and good conductivity, which is conducive to electron transfer during the electrocatalytic reaction. Among these SACs, the Au@Mo2N single-atom catalyst has a very low OER overpotential (0.36 V), exhibiting high OER activity. Meanwhile, Au@Mo2N also exhibits excellent ORR performance with a low overpotential of 0.4 V, indicating that Au@Mo2N is the best OER/ORR bifunctional catalyst. This work provides a feasible solution for developing transition metal bifunctional electrocatalysts. Au@Mo2N is expected to replace traditional commercial Pt catalyst materials and become a catalyst with excellent performance in fuel cell modules.

Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (POI) Induced by Dynamic Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy via P13K-AKT-FOXO3a in Rat Models.

This study is aimed to investigate the mechanisms of radiation-induced mouse models of premature ovarian insufficiency (POI). Wistar female rats were grouped into the control, 3.2 Gy, 4.0 Gy, and 4.8 Gy groups. Overall ovarian functions were assessed with the H&E staining and ELISA. Proinflammatory cytokine secretion was analyzed ELISA, and the reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were analyzed with immunohistochemistry. Protein expressions were analyzed by Western blot analysis. The 4.0 Gy and 4.8 Gy groups had significantly lower ovarian weight coefficients than the control and 3.2 Gy groups (after only one irradiation therapy). The 3.2 Gy radiation group induced periodic disturbance and hormone change at 4 weeks after radiation. In the 4.0 Gy and 4.8 Gy groups, the preantral follicles and antral follicles were decreased, while Atresia follicles were increased. E2 was decreased, while FSH and LH secretions were increased. The ovaries in the 4.0 Gy group were not completely atrophied, and some preantral follicles remained. Ovarian atrophy and follicular Atresia were found in the 4.8 Gy group. Inflammatory and oxidative markers were upregulated. PI3K and AKT were downregulated in the 4.0 Gy and 4.8 Gy groups, while FOXO3a was upregulated. Ovarian injuries may lead to oxidative damages and inflammatory injuries, downregulate the expression of P13k and Akt, upregulate the expression of FOXO3a, and lead to follicular atresia in the ovary.

Study on metabonomics of Chinese herbal medicine in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus complicated with community-acquired pneumonia.

INTRODUCTION: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is the main acute complication of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and the main cause of hospitalization for infectious diseases. Unfortunately, in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus complicated with community-acquired pneumonia (T2DM-CAP), modern medicine is still faced with enormous challenges because of insulin resistance and drug-resistant bacteria. In recent decades, clinical and experimental evidence shows that Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) has a certain beneficial effect on diabetes and pneumonia. Therefore, this trial aims to assess the efficacy and safety of CHM plus western medicines for the treatment of T2DM-CAP. METHODS: We propose a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized superiority trial.A total of 92 participants with T2DM-CAP will be randomly allocated at a 1:1 ratio to either the experimental group, which will receive modified Ban-Xia-Xie-Xin-Decotion and basic treatment, or the control group, which will receive basic treatment only. The study duration will be 14 days. The primary outcome will be the total clinical effective rate. The secondary outcomes are traditional Chinese medicine symptom score scale, pneumonia severity index, usage time of antibiotic, time required for blood sugar to reach the required level, frequency of hypoglycemia, and chest CT. Liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometry method will be used to explore the blood metabolism profiles of the subjects, to explore the pathogenesis of T2DM-CAP and the mechanism of CHM on T2DM-CAP. Adverse events will also be evaluated. DISCUSSION: This trial will provide evidence of the effectiveness and safety of traditional CHM in treating patients with T2DM-CAP. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ChiCTR2000035204.