Background: Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) cancer susceptibility candidate gene 2 (CASC2) inhibits inflammation and multi-organ dysfunction in various ways. The present study was intended to explore the potency of blood lncRNA CASC2 as a biomarker for sepsis management.Methods: Totally, 184 sepsis patients and 30 healthy controls were enrolled. The reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to detect lncRNA CASC2 expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cell samples from the subjects. Mortality during 28 days was recorded in sepsis patients. Results: LncRNA CASC2 was decreased in sepsis patients [median (interquartile range [IQR]): 0.473 (0.241-0.773)] by comparison to healthy controls [median (IQR): 1.019 (0.676-1.685)] (p < 0.001). In sepsis patients, lncRNA CASC2 was negatively correlated with Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) (p = 0.001),Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) (p < 0.001), SOFA-respiratory system (p = 0.010), SOFA-coagulation (p = 0.020), SOFA-liver (p = 0.019), and SOFA-renal (p = 0.010) scores, but was not related to SOFA-nervous (p = 0.466) and SOFA-cardio vascular system (p = 0.059) scores. Additionally, lncRNA CASC2 was negatively related to tumor necrosis factorα (p = 0.024), interleukin (IL)-1β (p = 0.013), and IL-17A (p = 0.002), but was not linked to IL-6 (p = 0.112) or IL-10 (p = 0.074). Furthermore, lncRNA CASC2 was lower in sepsis deaths [median (IQR): 0.286 (0.166-0.475)] than in survivors [median (IQR): 0.534 (0.296-0.811)] (p < 0.001). Simultaneously, Kaplan-Meier (KM) curve analysis also observed that lncRNA CASC2 was inversely related to accumulating mortality in sepsis patients (p = 0.003). While lncRNA CASC2 could independently predict lower mortality risk. Conclusion:Circulating lncRNA CASC2 inadequacy indicates the release of inflammatory cytokines, severe multi-organ injuries, and increased mortality in sepsis patients.

Introduction: Quercetin has been reported to have anti-tumor activity of a wide range of cancers, including breast, lung, colon, prostate. Here, we investigated the protective role of quercetin in glioblastoma (GBM), which causes higher risk of morbidity and mortality, and explored the anti-tumor effects of quercetin on GBM using the U87MG and T98G cells and GBM mouse models. Methods: Cell viability and colony formation assays were performed by CCK-8 and clone formation assays. GBM xenograft mouse model was established to evaluate the tumor burden of mice treated with or without quercetin. To investigate spontaneous locomotor activity and survival rate of mice, orthotopic transplantation was performed through brain stereotaxic injection of U87 cells. Seahorse and Western blot were performed to examine the alteration of glycolytic metabolism GBM. Results: We found that quercetin administration inhibited GBM cell proliferation and promoted cell apoptosis in vitro. Quercetin suppressed GBM growth, restored spontaneous locomotor activity and improved survival rate without toxicity to peripheral organs in vivo. Moreover, quercetin inhibited glycolytic metabolism in tumor tissue. Discussion/Conclusion: Mechanistically, quercetin inhibited proliferation and angiogenesis, promoted cancer cell apoptosis, and finally improved locomotor activity and survival by inhibiting the glycolytic metabolism in GBM tissues, suggesting that quercetin is a potential drug for the treatment of GBM.

Objective. To analyze the correlation of blood glucose level with inflammatory response and immune indicators in patients with sepsis. Methods. Between February 2019 and February 2021, 30 sepsis patients and 30 sepsis patients complicated with diabetes mellitus admitted to our hospital were recruited and assigned to either the experimental group (sepsis patients) or the observation group (sepsis patients with diabetes mellitus). Another 30 healthy subjects in the same period were included as the control group. The levels of IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β, CD4+, and CD8+ in the three groups of patients were compared to analyze the correlation of blood glucose levels with inflammatory response and immune indicators in patients with sepsis. The difference of counting data was analyzed using the chi-square test, and the difference of measurement data was analyzed using the t -test. Results. The control group showed the lowest levels of IL-6 at 14.32 ± 4.98   pg / ml , followed by 18.33 ± 3.27   pg / ml in the experimental group and then 22.64 ± 5.16   pg / ml in the observation group ( P < 0.05 ). The levels of other inflammatory factors including TNF-α and IL-1β were the lowest in the control group, followed by the experimental group, and then the observation group ( P < 0.05 ). The lowest immune function indicator CD4+ and CD8+ levels were found in the observation group, followed by the experimental group, and then the control group ( P < 0.05 ). The blood glucose level of patients with sepsis was positively correlated with the levels of IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β and was negatively correlated with the levels of CD4+/CD8+. The higher the blood glucose, the lower the number of immune cells. Conclusion. The blood glucose level of patients with sepsis is positively correlated with inflammatory response and negatively with immune indicators. An increased blood sugar level is associated with aggravated inflammatory responses and a decreased number of immune cells, which provides a reference for the disease severity assessment and treatment of patients with sepsis.

Objective. To assess the clinical efficacy of oxymatrine plus antiviral therapy in the treatment of sepsis and its effects on the levels of endotoxin and inflammatory factors. Methodology. 90 patients with sepsis were selected for retrospective analysis and were assigned to receive either conventional treatment (control group) or oxymatrine plus antiviral treatment (study group). The clinical endpoint was treatment efficacy. Results. There were no significant differences in baseline patient profile between the two groups ( P > 0.05 ). The study group showed a higher efficiency versus the control group ( P < 0.05 ). Patients in the study group had a significantly shorter mechanical ventilation duration and ICU stay versus those in the control group ( P < 0.05 ). Both groups had reduced Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) score, Marshall score, levels of endotoxin, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, C-reactive protein (CRP), and procalcitonin (PCT) after treatment, with lower results in the study group versus the control group ( P < 0.05 ). Conclusion. Oxymatrine plus antiviral therapy effectively improves clinical efficacy, reduces the levels of endotoxin and inflammatory factors, protects organ function, and boosts recovery. Further clinical trials are, however, required prior to general application in clinical practice.