Hui and Fu contributed equally to the work.Ye and Cai contributed equally to the work.

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to investigate the long intergenic non-coding RNA (lincRNA) of the NED25 gene, and the microRNA (miR)-125b, STAT3, nitric oxide (NO), and procalcitonin (PCT) pathway in sepsis.Material/MethodsSeventy-five age-matched and sex-matched patients were divided into three groups: 25 patients with sepsis only; 25 patients with septic shock; and 25 healthy control subjects. Computational analysis and a luciferase assay confirmed that the STAT3 and PCT genes were target genes of miR-125b, whereas the lincRNA of the NED25 gene was validated as an endogenous lincRNA competing with miR-125b for binding to STAT3 and PCT. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Western blot measured the expression of miR-125b, STAT3, and PCT in peripheral blood monocytes (PBM) transfected with miR-125b mimics, miR-125b inhibitors, or small interfering (siRNA).ResultsThe expression of miR-125b, the PCT position ratio, the expression of PCT mRNA and protein were increased when compared with healthy individuals. When compared with the siRNA negative control, miR-125b and the lincRNA of the NED25 gene mimics, as well as STAT3 siRNA significantly downregulated the mRNA and protein expression of STAT3 and PCT; mRNA and protein expression of STAT3 and PCT in cells transfected with miR-125b inhibitors were significantly increased. Intracellular nitric oxide (NO) production was upregulated by miR-125b inhibitors and downregulated by miR-125b mimics or siRNA.ConclusionsDownregulation of the lincRNA of the NED25 gene was associated with sepsis in patients by modulating the signaling pathways downstream of miR-125b/STAT3/PCT/NO signaling pathway.

Background Since December 2019, there has be an outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in Wuhan, China. Nowadays, it rapidly spread across the country and then the worldwide. We aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics of patients with COVID-19.Methods The patients with confirmed COVID-19 admitted between January 25 and February 10, 2020, were enrolled. Epidemiological, demographic, clinical, laboratory, radiological data, and antivirus therapies, were retrospectively collected and analyzed. The 90-day follow-up of these patients was also performed.Results A total of 107 patients were included. The median age was 55.0 years (range from 18.0 to 85.0 years), and 72 (67.3%) were female. Ninety-three (86.9%) of the patients had a history of contacting with residents from Wuhan (n=31), or contacting with confirmed COVID-19 patients (n=62) within 2 weeks. Fifty-eight (54.2%) had a family cluster onset. Fever and cough were the most common symptoms. Only two patients had diarrhea. The most common underlying disease was hypertension. Lymphopenia was observed in 26 patients. Fifty-two patients with an elevated level of IL-6. On admission, bilateral patchy shadowing and ground-glass opacity were the typical radiological findings on chest computed tomography. Six patients had an intensive care unit (ICU) stay. Antivirus therapy was performed to all patients. 105 patients discharged with an improved condition, and no death was occurred during our 90-day follow-up for these patients.Conclusions Patients with COVID-19 in our hospital had relatively mild symptoms, and good prognosis. This study also highlights the importance of human-to-human transmission in COVID-19.