ZEB2 knockdown inhibits interleukin-1ß-induced cartilage degradation and inflammatory response through the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway in human chondrocytes.

OBJECTIVE: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative disease of the joints characterized by inflammation and cartilage degeneration. Zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 2 (ZEB2) contains various function domains that interact with multiple transcription factors involved in various cellular functions. However, the function of ZEB2 in OA has not been clearly illustrated. METHOD: Interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) was used to establish an OA model in vitro. We quantified the ZEB2 expression in cartilage tissues from OA patients and IL-1ß-induced chondrocytes through reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot. We then used functional assays to explore the function of ZEB2 during OA progression. RESULTS: ZEB2 expression was increased in OA cartilage tissues and chondrocytes. The silencing of ZEB2 increased aggrecan and collagen II levels, and reduced the content of matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3), MMP-9, and MMP-13. ZEB2 knockdown inhibited the effects of IL-1ß on the production of nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2, and the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2. ZEB2 inhibition also suppressed the levels of IL-6 and tumour necrosis factor-α, and increased the IL-10 level in IL-1ß-treated cells. Mechanically, ZEB2 knockdown blocked the activation of the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway in chondrocytes. CONCLUSION: Knockdown of ZEB2 alleviated IL-1ß-induced cartilage degradation and the inflammatory response through the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway in chondrocytes.

Hepatitis E virus infection increases the risk of obstetric complications and perinatal adverse outcomes in pregnant women with chronic hepatitis B virus infection.

OBJECTIVE: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection may occur in pregnant women who had chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. This study aimed to evaluate whether HEV-HBV co-infection increases the risk of obstetric complications and perinatal adverse outcomes in pregnant women. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We investigated the clinical data of 3,251 pregnant women with chronic HBV infection. The obstetric complications and perinatal adverse outcomes were compared between patients with HEV-HBV co-infection and patients who had pure chronic HBV infection. RESULTS: Of the 3,251 pregnant women with chronic HBV infection, 98 patients (3%) had HEV-HBV co-infection. Compared with healthy controls, there is an increased risk of obstetric complications in pregnant women with pure HEV infection [odds ratio (OR)= 3.99, p < 0.001], pure chronic HBV infection (OR = 2.76, p < 0.001), and HEV-HBV co-infection (OR = 5.41,p < 0.001). The rate of obstetric complications and perinatal adverse outcomes is significantly higher in pregnant women with HEV-HBV co-infection compared with those with pure chronic HBV infection or those with pure HEV infection (all p< 0.05). The HEV-HBV co-infection is the most significant risk factor for perinatal adverse outcomes (OR = 15.47, p < 0.001), followed by pure HEV infection (OR = 10.22, p < 0.001), and pure HBV infection (OR = 5.82, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: HEV infection increases the risk of obstetric complications and perinatal adverse outcomes in pregnant women with chronic HBV infection.

[Current challenges in the diagnosis and treatment of filamentous mycosis in critically ill patients].

Influenza and coronavirus disease 2019 are independent risk factors for the development of invasive fungal disease (IFD) in critically ill patients in the intensive care unit. IFD, particularly mold infections, have a high mortality rate. The diagnosis and treatment of mold infections is challenging, and early detection and timely treatment are crucial in reducing the mortality of IFD. This review will summarize the latest epidemiology and risk factors for the development of mold infections in critically ill patients, current diagnostic criteria and challenges, as well as the treatment strategies recommended by the international clinical guidelines, aiming to provide some references for the diagnosis and treatment of mold infections in critically ill patients in clinical practice.

[Applications and challenges of large language models in critical care medicine].

The rapid development of big data methods and technologies has provided more and more new ideas and methods for clinical diagnosis and treatment. The emergence of large language models (LLM) has made it possible for human-computer interactive dialogues and applications in complex medical scenarios. Critical care medicine is a process of continuous dynamic targeted treatment. The huge data generated in this process needs to be integrated and optimized through models for clinical application, interaction in teaching simulation, and assistance in scientific research. Using the LLM represented by generative pre-trained transformer ChatGPT can initially realize the application in the diagnosis of severe diseases, the prediction of death risk and the management of medical records. At the same time, the time and space limitations, illusions and ethical and moral issues of ChatGPT emerged as the times require. In the future, it is undeniable that it may play a huge role in the diagnosis and treatment of critical care medicine, but the current application should be combined with more clinical knowledge reserves of critical care medicine to carefully judge its conclusions.

Effects of dietary niacinamide and CP concentrations on the nitrogen excretion, growth performance, and meat quality of pigs.

Reducing the dietary CP concentration in the formulation of low-protein diets without adverse effects on animal growth performance and meat quality remains challenging. In this study, we investigated the effects of nicotinamide (NAM) on the nitrogen excretion, growth performance, and meat quality of growing-finishing pigs fed low-protein diets. To measure the nitrogen balance, we conducted two trials: in nitrogen balance trial 1, four crossbred (Duroc × Landrace × Large White) barrows (40 ± 0.5 kg BW) were used in a 4 × 4 Latin square design with four diets and periods. The diets consisted of a basal diet + 30 mg/kg NAM (a control dose), basal diet + 90 mg/kg NAM, basal diet + 210 mg/kg NAM, and basal diet + 360 mg/kg NAM. In nitrogen balance trial 2, another four barrows (40 ± 0.5 kg BW) were used in a 4 × 4 Latin square design. The diets consisted of a basal diet + including 30 mg/kg NAM (control), basal diet + 360 mg/kg NAM, low-protein diet + 30 mg/kg NAM, and low-protein diet + 360 mg/kg NAM. To measure growth performance, two trials were conducted. In growth performance trial 1, 40 barrows (37.0 ± 1.0 kg) were randomly allocated to one of four dietary treatments (n = 10 per group), whereas in growth performance trial 2, 300 barrows (41.4 ± 2.0 kg) were randomly allocated to one of four dietary treatments, with each dietary treatment conducted in five repetitions with 15 pigs each. The four diets in the two growth performance trials were similar to those in nitrogen balance trial 2. Supplementing the diet with 210 or 360 mg/kg NAM reduced urinary nitrogen excretion and total nitrogen excretion and increased nitrogen retention comparted with the control diet (P < 0.05). Compared with the control diet, the low-protein diet with 360 mg/kg NAM reduced faecal, urinary, and total nitrogen excretion (P < 0.05) without affecting nitrogen retention and average daily gain (P > 0.05). Pigs fed the low-protein diet with 360 mg/kg NAM showed a decreased intramuscular fat content in the longissimus thoracis muscle when compared with pigs fed the control diet (P > 0.05). Our results suggest NAM as a suitable dietary additive to reduce dietary CP concentration, maximise nitrogen retention and growth performance, and decrease fat deposition in pigs.

[Establishment of a prognostic model for non-nephrotic membranous nephropathy based on unbalanced data].

Objective: To explore the construction of a machine learning model based on unbalanced data to predict the progression of non-nephrotic membranous nephropathy. Methods: The clinical and pathological data of patients diagnosed with non-nephrotic membranous nephropathy by renal biopsy in Shanxi People's Hospital from January 2018 to December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed.The prediction models were constructed based on logistic regression, support vector machine (SVM) and light gradient boosting machine (lightGBM), respectively. The mixed sampling technology was used to process the unbalanced data, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was used to evaluate the predictive performance of the models. Finally, Shapley additive explanation (SHAP) was used to interpret the results of the optimal prediction model. Results: A total of 148 patients were included in the study, including 84 males and 64 females, with a mean age of (47.2±12.5) years. The follow-up time [M(Q1, Q3)] was 14(7, 20) months. Twenty-three patients (15.5%) achieved the renal end-point event in the study. The SVM model had the highest AUC (0.868, 95%CI: 0.813-0.925), followed by logistic regression (AUC=0.865, 95%CI: 0.755-0.899) and lightGBM (AUC=0.791, 95%CI: 0.690-0.882). The feature recursive elimination cross validation (RFECV) method based on random forest (RF) and the SHAP plot based on the SVM model showed that immunohistochemistry IgG, total protein (TP), anti-phospholipase A2 receptor (anti-PLA2R), blood chloride and D-Dimer were risk factors affecting the progress of non-nephrotic membranous nephropathy. Moreover, patients with high immunohistochemistry IgG, anti-PLA2R and D-Dimer had an increased risk of achieving the renal end-point event. Conclusion: The SVM model established in this study can effectively predict the progress of non-nephrotic membranous nephropathy, and provide a new method for the early identification of high-risk patients and precision therapy.

[Study on the comparative analysis of the efficacy of transmesenteric vein extrahepatic portosystemic shunt and transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt in the treatment of cavernous transformation of portal vein].

Objective: To compare the safety and efficacy of transmesenteric vein extrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TEPS) and transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) in the treatment of cavernous transformation of the portal vein (CTPV). Methods: The clinical data of CTPV patients with patency or partial patency of the superior mesenteric vein treated with TIPS or TEPS treatment in the Department of Vascular Surgery of Henan Provincial People's Hospital from January 2019 to December 2021 were selected. The differences in baseline data, surgical success rate, complication rate, incidence rate of hepatic encephalopathy, and other related indicators between TIPS and TEPS group were statistically analyzed by independent sample t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, and Chi-square test. Kaplan-Meier survival curve was used to calculate the cumulative patency rate of the shunt and the recurrence rate of postoperative portal hypertension symptoms in both groups. Results: The surgical success rate (100% vs. 65.52%), surgical complication rate (6.67% vs. 36.84%), cumulative shunt patency rate (100% vs. 70.70%), and cumulative symptom recurrence rate (0% vs. 25.71%) of the TEPS group and TIPS group were statistically significantly different (P < 0.05). The time of establishing the shunt [28 (2141) min vs. 82 (51206) min], the number of stents used [1 (12) vs. 2 (15)], and the length of the shunt [10 (912) cm vs. 16 (1220) cm] were statistically significant between the two groups (t = -3.764, -4.059, -1.765, P < 0.05). The incidence of postoperative hepatic encephalopathy in the TEPS group and TIPS group was 6.67% and 15.79% respectively, with no statistically significant difference (Fisher's exact probability method, P = 0.613). The pressure of superior mesenteric vein decreased from (29.33 ± 1.99) mmHg to (14.60 ± 2.80) mmHg in the TEPS group and from (29.68 ± 2.31) mmHg to (15.79 ± 3.01) mmHg in TIPS group after surgery, and the difference was statistically significant (t = 16.625, 15.959, P < 0.01). Conclusion: The best indication of TEPS is in CTPV patients with patency or partial patency of the superior mesenteric vein. TEPS improves the accuracy and success rate of surgery and reduces the incidence of complications.

[Study of incubation period of infection with 2019-nCoV Omicron variant BA.5.1.3].

Objective: To study the incubation period of the infection with 2019-nCoV Omicron variant BA.5.1.3. Methods: Based on the epidemiological survey data of 315 COVID-19 cases and the characteristics of interval censored data structure, log-normal distribution and Gamma distribution were used to estimate the incubation. Bayes estimation was performed for the parameters of each distribution function using discrete time Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm. Results: The mean age of the 315 COVID-19 cases was (42.01±16.54) years, and men accounted for 30.16%. A total of 156 cases with mean age of (41.65±16.32) years reported the times when symptoms occurred. The log-normal distribution and Gamma distribution indicated that the M (Q1, Q3) of the incubation period from exposure to symptom onset was 2.53 (1.86, 3.44) days and 2.64 (1.91, 3.52) days, respectively, and the M (Q1, Q3) of the incubation period from exposure to the first positive nucleic acid detection was 2.45 (1.76, 3.40) days and 2.57 (1.81, 3.52) days, respectively. Conclusions: The incubation period by Bayes estimation based on log-normal distribution and Gamma distribution, respectively, was similar to each other, and the best distribution of incubation period was Gamma distribution, the difference between the incubation period from exposure to the first positive nucleic acid detection and the incubation period from exposure to symptom onset was small. The median of incubation period of infection caused by Omicron variant BA.5.1.3 was shorter than those of previous Omicron variants.

["Graded early warning system" of RET germline mutation carriers in MEN2A/MEN2B families and total thyroidectomy (report of 7 cases)].

Objective: To explore the reasonable time of prophylactic thyroidectomy for RET gene carriers in multiple endocrine neoplasia(MEN) 2A/2B families. Methods: From May 2015 to August 2021, RET gene carriers in MEN2A/MEN2B families were dynamically followed up at the Department of Thyroid Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Tongren Hospital of Capital Medical University. The high-risk patients were encouraged to undergo prophylacitc total thyroidectomy according to the principle of "graded early warning system", namely the evaluation of gene detection, calcitonin value and ultrasound examination successively. Seven cases underwent the surgery, including 3 males and 4 females, aged from 7 to 29 years. According to the risk stratification listed in the guidelines of the American Thyroid Association in 2015, there were 2 cases of the highest risk, 2 cases of the high risk and 3 cases of the modest risk. Calcitonin index remained within the normal range in 3 cases and elevated in 4 cases before operation. All 7 patients underwent thyroidectomy with lymph node dissection of the level Ⅵ performed in 4 patients. Results: The time from suggestion to operation was 2 to 37 months, with an average of 15.1 months. The 6 patients were medullary thyroid carcinoma and 1 case with C-cell hyperplasia. The follow-up time was 2 to 82 months, with an average of 38.4 months. Postoperative serum calcitonin levels of all cases decreased to normal level, with biochemical cure. There was no sign of recurrence on ultrasound examination. All 7 patients had no serious complications, no obvious thyroid dysfunction. Their height, weight and other indicators of pediatric patients were similar to those of their peers, with normal growth and development. Conclusion: For healthy people with MEN2A/MEN2B family history, prophylactic thyroidectomy can be carried out selectively based on the comprehensive evaluation of "graded early warning system" with strict screening and close monitoring.

[Analysis of enterovirus infection type among acute respiratory tract infection cases in Luohe City, Henan Province from 2017 to 2021].

Objective: To understand the infection status of Enterovirus (EV) in cases of acute respiratory infections (ARIs) in Luohe City, Henan Province from 2017 to 2021, and analyze the prevalence and type composition of EV in ARIs. Methods: From October 2017 to May 2021, pharyngeal swab samples were collected from 1 828 patients with ARIs in Luohe Central Hospital and the clinical epidemiological data of these cases were also collected. EV-positive samples were identified by Quantitative Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR). The 5'-untranslated region (5'UTR) was amplified by Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR). The results of 5'UTR region were initially typed by Enterovirus Genotyping Tool Version 1.0. Based on the typing results, the full-length of VP1 region was amplified by RT-PCR. The EV typing was identified again by VP1 region. Results: Among 1 828 cases of ARIs, 56.7% (1 036) were males. The median (Q1, Q3) age was about 3 (1, 5) years. Patients under 5 years old accounted for 71.6% (1 309 cases). Among all cases, a total of 71 EV-positive samples were identified by qPCR, with a detection rate of 3.88% (71/1 828). The EV detection rates for men and women were 3.28% (34/1 036) and 4.67% (37/792), without statistically significant differences (χ2=2.32, P=0.14). The EV detection rates for 2 to <6 years, 6 months to <2 years, 6 to <10 years, and <6 months were 6.29% (48/763), 3.00% (18/600), 2.52% (4/159), and 1.67% (1/60) (χ2=27.91, P<0.001). The EV detection rate was 0.92% (3/326) in autumn and winter of 2017. The EV detection rates were 1.18% (6/508), 2.47% (12/485) and 8.31% (34/409) in each year from 2018 to 2020, with an increasing trend year by year(χ2trend=29.76, P<0.001). The main prevalent seasons were summer and autumn. The detection rate in spring of 2021 was 4.00% (4/100). A total of 12 types were identified and classified as CVA2, CVA4, CVA5, CVA6, CVA10, CVB3, CVB5, E5, E11, E30, PV-1, and EV-D68. The types of CVA2, CVA10, CVA6, and CVB3 were the dominant phenotypes. In 59 sample of EV typing, the main clinical manifestation was upper respiratory tract infection (36/59, 61.01%). The dominant types detected in upper respiratory tract infections were CVA10 (10/36, 27.78%), CVA6 (9/36, 25.00%) and CVB3 (8/36, 22.22%). The dominant type detected in lower respiratory tract infections was CVA2 (7/19, 36.84%). Conclusion: In Luohe City, Henan Province from 2017 to 2021, EV infection in ARIs cases has clear seasonal and age-specific patterns, and the dominant types of upper and lower respiratory tract infections are different.

[Clinical characteristics of 272 437 patients with different histopathological subtypes of primary esophageal malignant tumors].

Objective: To characterize the histopathological subtypes and their clinicopathological parameters of gender and onset age by common, rare and sparse primary esophageal malignant tumors (PEMT). Methods: A total of 272 437 patients with PEMT were enrolled in this study, and all of the patients were received radical surgery. The clinicopathological information of the patients was obtained from the database established by the State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment from September 1973 to December 2020, which included the clinical treatment, pathological diagnosis and follow-up information of esophagus and gastric cardia cancers. All patients were diagnosed and classified by the criteria of esophageal tumor histopathological diagnosis and classification (2019) of the World Health Organization (WHO). The esophageal tumors, which were not included in the WHO classification, were analyzed separately according to the postoperative pathological diagnosis. The χ2 test was performed by the SPSS 25.0 software on count data, and the test standard α=0.05. Results: A total of 32 histopathological types were identified in the enrolled PEMT patients, of which 10 subtypes were not included in the WHO classification. According to the frequency, PEMT were divided into common (esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, ESCC, accounting for 97.1%), rare (esophageal adenocarcinoma, EAC, accounting for 2.3%) and sparse (mainly esophageal small cell carcinoma, malignant melanoma, etc., accounting for 0.6%). All the common, rare, and sparse types occurred predominantly in male patients, and the gender difference of rare type was most significant (EAC, male∶ female, 2.67∶1), followed with common type (ESCC, male∶ female, 1.78∶1) and sparse type (male∶ female, 1.71∶1). The common type (ESCC) mainly occurred in the middle thoracic segment (65.2%), while the rare type (EAC) mainly occurred in the lower thoracic segment (56.8%). Among the sparse type, malignant melanoma and malignant fibrous histiocytoma were both predominantly located in the lower thoracic segment (51.7%, 66.7%), and the others were mainly in the middle thoracic segment. Conclusion: ESCC is the most common type among the 32 histopathological types of PEMT, followed by EAC as the rare type, and esophageal small cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma as the major sparse type, and all of which are mainly occur in male patients. The common type of ESCC mainly occur in the middle thoracic segment, while the rare type of EAC mainly in the lower thoracic segment. The mainly sparse type of malignant melanoma and malignant fibrous histiocytoma predominately occur in the lower thoracic segment, and the remaining sparse types mainly occur in the middle thoracic segment.

[Ventilatory management in shared airway surgery: current status, challenges, and future directions].

A shared airway during anesthesia refers to maintaining the airway and ventilation of the patient by the anesthesiologist as the surgeon performs the procedures in the same anatomic space. Due to the narrow airway space in shared airway surgery, the difficulty lies both in the exposure of surgery field and implementation of the optimized airway management strategy and maintaining the airway safety in clinical practice. In recent years, many new visualized airway management tools and supraglottic ventilation devices have been invented and verified in clinical settings. Especially, the development of tubeless supraglottic oxygenation and ventilation technique provides new insights into the airway management. This review intends to provide a reference for future innovations in airway management tools and ventilation techniques by summarizing previous airway management strategies of shared airway surgery to benefit more patients.

[Reality and expectation of machine learning in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury].

The prediction model constructed by machine learning can early predict acute kidney injury (AKI) in critically ill patients, which contributes to taking preventive measures to reduce incidence of AKI as soon as possible. Machine learning can also identify AKI subtypes in real time, so as to facilitate the implementation of precise treatments for their subtypes in the future, which may improve the prognosis of patients. In this article, the construction of forecasting model of AKI and identification of AKI subtypes in critically ill patients and it's precise treatment with machine learning, limitations and development trend of machine learning in the field of AKI in critically ill patients is addressed for clinical reference.

[Analysis of the short-and medium-term curative effect of TIPS approach combined with AngioJet thrombus aspiration technology treatment in acute portal vein thrombosis].

Objective: To evaluate the short- and medium-term clinical efficacy of TIPS approach combined with AngioJet thrombus aspiration technology treatment in acute portal vein thrombosis. Methods: 63 cases with acute portal vein thrombosis treated in our center from May 2017 to July 2019 were studied retrospectively, including 49 males and 14 females, aged 35-61 (46 ± 5) years. TIPS approach (with/without) combined with Angiojet thrombus aspiration and gastroesophageal varices embolization was performed simultaneously according to the patient's condition. Regular follow-up for 3-33 (22 ± 3) months after surgery was used to observe the curative effect. Results: The technical success rate was 100%. Portal vein and superior mesenteric vein blood flow were returned to normal after the operation. Two cases of biliary tract injury were untreated. Simultaneously, two cases of intrahepatic arteriovenous fistula were treated with superselective arterial embolization. During the follow-up period, 47 cases (74.61%) had complete portal vein recanalization, 13 cases (20.63%) had partial recanalization, 3 cases (4.76%) had complete portal cavernoma, 7 cases (11.11%) had symptomatic hepatic encephalopathy, 1 case had received artificial liver treatment (1.59%), 1 case had peptic ulcer (11.11%), 6 cases (9.52%) had lost to follow-up, and there was no portal hypertension-related bleeding or death. Conclusion: TIPS approach combined with AngioJet thrombus aspiration technology is safe, effective and feasible in the treatment of acute portal vein thrombosis, and the short- and medium-term clinical effects are satisfactory.

Acute cardiac injury and acute kidney injury associated with severity and mortality in patients with COVID-19.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence and risk factors for acute cardiac injury (ACI) and acute kidney injury (AKI), and then investigate their effect on severity and mortality in patients with COVID-19. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 1249 patients with COVID-19 were included in this retrospective study. Predictors of ACI and AKI were investigated. Multivariable-logistic regression models were used to determine the association of ACI (or AKI) with severity and mortality. RESULTS: Median age of patients was 36 years and 61.9% were male. ACI and AKI were observed in 53 (4.2%) and 91 (7.3%) of patients, respectively. Patients with age > 60 years, chronic heart disease, decreased lymphocyte and increased CRP, PCT, and ESR on hospital admission, and Lopinavir/Ritonavir use showed higher odds of ACI. Patients with age > 60 years, male, obesity, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, decreased lymphocyte and increased CRP, PCT, and ESR on hospital admission showed higher odds of AKI. Increased Hs-cTnI (> 300 ng/L), Pro-BNP (> 2500 pg/ml) and decreased e-GFR (< 60 ml/min) revealed higher adjusted mortality. CONCLUSIONS: ACI and AKI were not common in COVID-19 patients in Shanghai, China. However, patients with ACI/AKI had higher severity-rate and mortality-rate when compared to those without ACI/AKI.

Dynamics of cytokines and lymphocyte subsets associated with the poor prognosis of severe COVID-19.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to study the dynamics of cytokines and lymphocyte subsets and their correlation with the prognosis of patients with severe COVID-19. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The lymphocyte subsets and cytokines of 31 patients with severe COVID-19 (7 deaths and 24 survivals) were longitudinally analyzed. RESULTS: The mean age of enrolled patients was 64 years, 24 (77.4%) patients were men, and 23 (74.2%) patients had comorbidities. Compared with survival group, the death group showed significant and sustained increases in the levels of IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 from baseline to 28 days after admission (all p<0.05). No significant differences were observed in the levels of TNF-α, IL-1b, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-12P70, IL-17, IFN-α, and IFN-γ between the death group and survival group during the follow-up (all p>0.05). The absolute counts of CD3+ T cells, CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, and CD45+ T cells were lower in both survival group and death group patients from hospital admission to 3 days after admission, and gradually recovered in 4 to 35 days in the survival group, but continually stayed at low levels in the death group during the follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The kinetic changes of cytokines and lymphocyte subsets are related with the prognosis of patients with severe COVID-19.

Upregulation of SNHG12 accelerates cell proliferation, migration, invasion and restrain cell apoptosis in breast cancer by enhancing regulating SALL4 expression via sponging miR-15a-5p.

Breast cancer (BC) is malignant cancer that threatens the health of millions of females worldwide. Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) small nucleolar RNA host gene 12 (SNHG12) has been identified as an oncogene in multiple cancers. However, the regulatory role of SNHG12 in BC cell progression is still obscured. The levels of SNHG12, miR-15a-5p, and Sal-like 4 (SALL4) in BC tumor tissues and cells were measured by qRT-PCR. Cell viability, apoptosis, migration, and invasion were examined by CCK8, flow cytometry, and transwell assay, respectively. The interaction between miR-15a-5p and SNHG12 or SALL4 was evaluated by dual-luciferase reporter assay. Protein expression of SALL4 was analyzed by western blot. Xenograft mice were established by subcutaneously injecting BC cells stably transfected with sh-SNHG12 and sh-NC. SNHG12 and SALL4 expressions were upregulated whereas miR-15a-5p was downregulated in BC tumors compared with normal tissues. Besides, miR-15a-5p was correlated with SNHG12 and SALL4 inversely as calculated by Pearson's correlation coefficient. More importantly, SNHG12 knockdown attenuated BC tumor growth in vitro and in vivo. Subsequently, dual-luciferase reporter assay confirmed the interaction between miR-15a-5p and SNHG12 or SALL4. The rescue experiments revealed that miR-15a-5p inhibitor restored SNHG12 silencing induced inhibition on BC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and promotion of apoptosis. Additionally, SNHG12 was found to accelerate BC cell progression by absorbing miR-15a-5p to enhance SALL4 expression. SNHG12 promotes cell proliferation, migration, and invasion but suppresses apoptosis in BC by upregulating SALL4 expression via sponging miR-15a-5p, representing potential targets for the development of novel diagnosis and treatment methods.