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Objective. To investigate the effects of 72-hour early-initiated continuous venovenous hemofiltration (ECVVH) treatment in patients with septic-shock-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) (not acute kidney injury, AKI) with regard to serum E-selectin and measurements of lung function and hemodynamic stability. Methods. This prospective nonblinded single institutional randomized study involved 51 patients who were randomly assigned to receive or not receive ECVVH, an ECVVH group (n = 24) and a non-ECVVH group (n= 27). Besides standard therapies, patients in ECVVH group underwent CVVH for 72 h. Results. At 0 and 24 h after initiation of treatment, arterial partial pressure of oxygen/fraction of inspired oxygen (PaO2/FiO2) ratio, extravascular lung water index (EVLWI), and E-selectin level were not significantly different between groups (all p > 0.05). Compared to non-ECVVH group, PaO2/FiO2 is significantly higher and EVLWI and E-selectin level are significantly lower in ECVVHgroup (all p < 0.05) at 48 h and 72 h after initiation of treatment. The lengths of mechanical ventilation and stay in intensive care unit (ICU) were shorter in ECVVH group (all p < 0.05), but there was no difference in 28-day mortality between two groups. Conclusions. In patients with septic-shock-induced ARDS (not AKI), treatment with ECVVH in addition to standard therapies improves endothelial function, lung function, and hemodynamic stability and reduces the lengths of mechanical ventilation and stay in ICU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of Menoprogen (MPG) on ovarian granulosa cell (GC) apoptosis was investigated in vitro and in vivo in an aged rat model of menopause. Intragastric administration of Menoprogen or estradiol valerate to 14-month-old senile female rats for eight weeks increased plasma E2 levels, as well as the weight of both ovarian and uterine tissues. Flow cytometric (FCM) analysis of isolated GCs from MPG-treated aged rats showed reductions in the G0/G1 ratio and apoptotic peaks. Isolated GCs also exhibited an increase in cell size and the number of cytoplastic organelles and intracellular gap junctions, the reappearance of secretory granules, and a lack of apoptotic bodies as determined by TEM. Results from a TdT-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL) assay revealed a reduction in TUNEL-positive GCs after MPG treatment. Immunohistochemical analysis showed a downregulation of proapoptotic Bax proteins and an upregulation of antiapoptotic Bcl-2 proteins. The addition of MPG-medicated serum to the media of cultured GCs also reduced cadmium chloride-induced apoptosis and downregulated caspase-3 protein expression. This work demonstrates that Menoprogen inhibits GC apoptosis in aged female rats and thereby increases E2 production. This represents a novel mechanism of action for this herbal medicine in the treatment of menopausal symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Leucine-rich α 2 glycoprotein 1 (LRG1) is a novel cytokine, which is believed to be involved in the inflammatory process of a series of diseases. However, the relationship between LRG1 and spinal cord injury (SCI) has not been reported. The purpose of our study is to determine the predictive value of LRG1 for the prognosis of pediatric SCI (PSCI)., Methods: This study recruited 64 patients with confirmed PSCI and 40 healthy controls at Foshan Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital from January 2016 to December 2020. The clinical information of all participants at the time of admission was recorded. Peripheral blood was collected, and commercial reagents were used to detect the level of serum LRG1. At the same time, the International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury (ISNCSCI) was used to assess the severity of PSCI., Results: All participants were divided into PSCI group ( n = 64) and NC group ( n = 40). There was no significant difference in clinical information (age, gender, heart rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, sampling time from injury, white blood cells, and C-reactive protein) between the two groups ( p > 0.05). According to the interquartile range of serum LRG1, we compared the motor and sensory scores of ISNCSCI and found that serum LRG1 levels were negatively correlated with the prognosis of PSCI patients ( p < 0.001). The results of receiver operating curve (ROC) showed that the sensitivity, specificity, and AUC (Area Under the Curve) of serum LRG1 level in predicting the prognosis of PSCI were 68.4%, 69.1%, and 0.705, respectively. The cut-off value of serum LRG1 level predicting the prognosis of PSCI is 21.1  μ g/ml., Conclusions: Serum LRG1 level is significantly increased in PSCI patients, and the elevated LRG1 level is negatively correlated with the prognosis of PSCI patients. Serum LRG1 may be a potentially useful biomarker for predicting PSCI., Competing Interests: All the authors declare no conflict of interests., (Copyright © 2021 Hong Ma et al.)

The effect of Menoprogen (MPG) on ovarian granulosa cell (GC) apoptosis was investigated in vitro and in vivo in an aged rat model of menopause. Intragastric administration of Menoprogen or estradiol valerate to 14-month-old senile female rats for eight weeks increased plasma E2 levels, as well as the weight of both ovarian and uterine tissues. Flow cytometric (FCM) analysis of isolated GCs from MPG-treated aged rats showed reductions in the G0/G1 ratio and apoptotic peaks. Isolated GCs also exhibited an increase in cell size and the number of cytoplastic organelles and intracellular gap junctions, the reappearance of secretory granules, and a lack of apoptotic bodies as determined by TEM. Results from a TdT-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL) assay revealed a reduction in TUNEL-positive GCs after MPG treatment. Immunohistochemical analysis showed a downregulation of proapoptotic Bax proteins and an upregulation of antiapoptotic Bcl-2 proteins. The addition of MPG-medicated serum to the media of cultured GCs also reduced cadmium chloride-induced apoptosis and downregulated caspase-3 protein expression. This work demonstrates that Menoprogen inhibits GC apoptosis in aged female rats and thereby increases E2 production. This represents a novel mechanism of action for this herbal medicine in the treatment of menopausal symptoms.