MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are important regulators of multiple cellular processes, and the deregulation of miRNA is a common event in diverse human diseases, particularly cancer. However, the mechanisms underlying the relationship between disordered miRNA expression and tumorigenesis have remained largely unknown. In this study, we demonstrated the down-regulation of miR-125b in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues and HCC cell lines by Northern blot and quantitative RT-PCR analyses. The ectopic expression of miR-125b reduced the cellular proliferation and cell cycle progression of HCC cells by targeting Mcl-1 and IL6R. Furthermore, the miR-125b-induced inhibition of cell proliferation was rescued by the expression of Mcl-1 or IL6R variants that lacked 3′ UTRs. Thus, this study revealed the differential expression of miR-125b in HCC cells and elucidated its potential as a tumor suppressor in HCC development.

A newly identified coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which causes the infectious coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), emerged in December 2019 in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, and now poses a major threat to global public health. Previous studies have observed highly variable alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels in patients with COVID-19. However, circulating levels of the cholangiocyte injury biomarker gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) have yet to be reported in the existing COVID-19 case studies. Herein, we describe the relationship between GGT levels and clinical and biochemical characteristics of patients with COVID-19. Our study is a retrospective case series of 98 consecutive hospitalized patients with confirmed COVID-19 at Wenzhou Central Hospital in Wenzhou, China, from January 17 to February 5, 2020. Clinical data were collected using a standardized case report form. Diagnosis of COVID-19 was assessed by symptomatology, reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and computed tomography scan. The medical records of patients were analyzed by the research team. Of the 98 patients evaluated, elevated GGT levels were observed in 32.7%; increased C-reactive protein (CRP) and elevated ALT and AST levels were observed in 22.5%, 13.3%, and 20.4%, respectively; and elevated alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and triglycerides (TGs) were found in 2% and 21.4%, respectively. Initially, in the 82 patients without chronic liver disease and alcohol history, age older than 40 years (P = 0.027); male sex (P = 0.0145); elevated CRP (P = 0.0366), ALT (P < 0.0001), and ALP (P = 0.0003); and increased TGs (P = 0.0002) were found to be associated with elevated GGT levels. Elevated GGT (P = 0.0086) and CRP (P = 0.0162) levels had a longer length of hospital stay. Conclusion: A sizable number of patients with COVID-19 infection have elevated serum GGT levels. This elevation supports involvement of the liver in persons with COVID-19. (Hepatology Communications 2020;0:1-7). C oronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), an infectious disease characterized by fever and pneumonia, is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Deep-sequencing analysis from lower respiratory tract samples indicated that this pathogen is a novel coronavirus. (1) COVID-19 may progress rapidly to acute respiratory distress syndrome with considerable

Convenient and sensitive detection of tumors marked in serum samples is of great significance for the early diagnosis of cancers. Facile fabrication of reagentless electrochemical immunosensor with efficient sensing interface and high sensitivity is still a challenge. Herein, an electrochemical immunosensor was easily fabricated based on the easy fabrication of immunoassay interface with electron transfer wires, confined redox probes, and conveniently immobilized antibodies, which can achieve sensitive and reagentless determination of the tumor marker, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). Carboxyl multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were firstly modified with an electrochemical redox probe, methylene blue (MB), which has redox potentials distinguished from those of redox molecules commonly existing in biological samples (for example, ascorbic acid and uric acid). After the as-prepared MB-modified MWCNT (MWCNT-MB) was coated on the supporting glassy carbon electrode (GCE), the MWCNT-MB/GCE exhibited improved active area and electron transfer property. Polydopamine (PDA) was then in situ synthesized through simple self-polymerization of dopamine, which acts as the bio-linker to covalently immobilize the anti-CEA antibody (Ab). The developed immunosensor could be applied for electrochemical detection of CEA based on the decrease in the redox signal of MB after specific binding of CEA and immobilized Ab. The fabricated immunosensor can achieve sensitive determination of CEA ranging from 10 pg/ml to 100 ng/ml with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.6 pg/ml. Determination of CEA in human serum samples was also realized with high accuracy.