[Epidemiology, clinical characteristics and treatment in 278 patients with coronavirus disease 2019 in Guangzhou].

Objective: To retrospective analyze the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, treatment and prognosis in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methods: A total of 278 patients with COVID-19 admitted to Guangzhou Eighth People's Hospital from January 20 to February 10, 2020 were selected. The general demographic data, epidemiological data, clinical symptoms, laboratory examinations, lung CT imaging, treatment and prognosis were analyzed. Results: There were 130 male patients (46.8%) and 148 females (53.2%) with age (48.1±17.0) years and 88.8% patients between 20-69 years. Two hundred and thirty-six (84.9%) patients had comorbidities. Two hundred and eleven cases (75.9%) were common type. The in-hospital mortality was 0.4% (1/278). The majority (201, 72.3%) were imported cases mainly from Wuhan (89, 44.3%). The most common clinical manifestations were fever (70.9%) and dry cough (61.5%). In some patients, hemoglobin (10.4%), platelets (12.6%) and albumin (55.4%) were lower than the normal range. Other biochemical tests according to liver and function were normal, while lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) was elevated in 61 patients (21.9%), creatine kinase increased in 26 patients (9.4%). Prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) was seen in 52 patients (18.7%), D-dimer higher than normal in 140 patients (50.4%), while 117 patients (42.1%) had elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. Typical CT manifestations included single or multiple ground glass shadows especially in lung periphery in early disease which infiltrated and enlarged during progressive stage. Diffuse consolidation with multiple patchy density in severe/critical cases and even "white lung" presented in a few patients. Two hundred and forty-two patients (87.1%) received one or more antiviral agents, 242 (87.1%) combined with antibacterials, 191 (68.7%) with oxygen therapy. There were 198 patients (71.2%) treated with traditional Chinese medicine. Conclusions: COVID-19 could attack patients in all ages with majority of common type and low mortality rate. Clinical manifestations involve multiple organs or systems. Progression of the disease results in critical status which should be paid much attention.

Cryptanshinone extract of Salvia miltiorrhiza stimulates pediatric acute myeloid leukemia stem cell apoptosis and the anti-inflammatory mechanism via accelerating microRNA-211-5p to supress Janus kinase 2/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 signaling pathway activation.

This study was designed to explore cryptanshinone (CPT) extract of Salvia miltiorrhiza stimulating pediatric acute myeloid leukemia (AML) stem cell (LSC) apoptosis and anti-inflammatory mechanism via accelerating microRNA (miR)-211-5p to restrain Janus kinase 2 (JAK2)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) pathway activation. Obtaining blood samples from pediatric acute myeloid leukemia patients and healthy volunteers and detecting miR-211-5p and JAK2 were performed. Purchase of the human AML cell line KG1a was conducted, and sorting of KG1a cells was to gain LSC. Test of miR-211-5p and JAK2, the phosphorylation of JAK2/STAT3 was implemented. Pretreatment of LSCs was with CPT. Variation of miR-211-5p and JAK2 in LSCs was via plasmid transfection to explore their actions in cell advancement with apoptosis and inflammation. Identification of the targeting of miR-211-5p with JAK2 was implemented. In results: MiR-211-5p was declined in endometrial cancer, while JAK2 was elevated; CPT was available to boost LSC apoptosis and restrain the inflammation; elevated miR-211-5p or repressive JAK2 was available to strengthen the acceleration of CPT on LSCs apoptosis and the repression of inflammation; MiR-211-5p targeted JAK2; augmented JAK2 was available to turn around the action of elevated miR-211-5p. We conclude that CPT extract of Salvia miltiorrhiza stimulated pediatric LSC apoptosis and restrained the inflammation via accelerating microRNA (miR)-211-5p to suppress JAK2/STAT3 pathway activation.

MiR-451a suppresses cell proliferation, metastasis and EMT via targeting YWHAZ in hepatocellular carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been identified to participate in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the function of miR-451a in HCC remains unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the function of miR-451a by construction of several experiments in HCC tissues and cells. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The expression level of miR-451a in 69 paired of HCC and adjacent normal tissue samples was detected using quantitative Real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). MiR-451a expression in HCC derived cell lines was detected as well. By transfecting with miR-451a mimics or inhibitor, the expression level of miR-451a in HepG2 or Huh-7 cells was up- or down-regulated. MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay and colony formation analysis were employed to evaluate the changes of cell proliferation. Cell migration and invasion abilities were measured via transwell assay. Meanwhile, the underlying mechanism of miR-451a in HCC was demonstrated and verified by dual-luciferase assay and Western blotting, respectively. Rescue experiments were used to identify the downstream molecule of miR-451a in HCC. RESULTS: MiR-451a expression in HCC tissue samples was significantly lower than that of adjacent normal samples. Meanwhile, the level of miR-451a in HCC cell lines was significantly down-regulated when compared with normal human hepatic cell line LO2. MTT assay and colony formation analysis showed that over-expressed miR-451a remarkably inhibited proliferation of HepG2 cells, whereas down-regulated miR-451a promoted growth of Huh-7 cells. Transwell results indicated that up-regulation of miR-451a significantly decreased HCC cell invasion and migration, while down-regulation remarkably increased cell metastasis. Furthermore, YWHAZ was identified as a direct target for miR-451a in HCC cells. CONCLUSIONS: The expression level of miR-451a was decreased in HCC tissues and cell lines. Moreover, miR-451a inhibited the proliferation, invasion and migration of HCC cells via targeting YWHAZ. Our findings indicated that miR-451a could serve as a novel target for HCC diagnosis and biological therapy.