Objective. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak is a major challenge all over the world, without acknowledged treatment. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) has been recommended to treat critical coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients in a few reviews, but the clinical study evidence on its efficacy in COVID-19 patients was lacking. Methods. 325 patients with laboratory-confirmed critical COVID-19 were enrolled from 4 government-designated COVID-19 treatment centres in southern China from December 2019 to March 2020. The primary outcomes were 28-and 60-day mortality, and the secondary outcomes were the total length of in-hospital and the total duration of the disease. Subgroup analysis was carried out according to clinical classification of COVID-19, IVIG dosage and timing. Results. In the enrolled 325 patients, 174 cases used IVIG and 151 cases did not. The 28-day mortality was improved with IVIG after adjusting confounding in overall cohort (P = 0.0014), and the in-hospital and the total duration of disease were longer in the IVIG group (P < 0.001). Subgroup analysis showed that only in patients with critical type, IVIG could significantly reduce the 28-day mortality, decrease the inflammatory response and improve some organ functions (all P < 0.05); the application of IVIG in the early stage (admission ≤ 7 days) with a high dose (> 15 g per day) exhibited significant reduction in 60-day mortality in the critical-type patients. Conclusion. Early administration of IVIG with high dose

Background: Downregulation of microRNA-338-3p (miR-338-3p) was detected in many malignant tumors, which indicated miR-338-3p might serve as a role of antioncogene in those cancers. The present study aimed to explore the roles of miR-338-3p in the growth and metastasis of ovarian cancer cells and elaborate the underlying possible molecular mechanism. Methods: Multiply biomedical databases query and KEGG pathway enrichment assay were used to infilter possible target genes and downstream pathways regulated by miR-338-3p. Overexpression miR-338-3p lentiviral vectors were transfected into ovarian cancer OVCAR-3 and OVCAR-8 cells, cell proliferation, migration and invasion were analyzed by MTT, colony formation, transwell, Matrigel assay and xenograft mouse model. One 3′-untranslated regions (UTRs) binding target gene of miR-338-3p, MACC1 (MET transcriptional regulator MACC1), and its regulated gene MET and downstream signaling pathway activities were examined by western blot. Results: Biomedical databases query indicated that miR-338-3p could target MACC1 gene and regulate Met, downstream Wnt/Catenin beta and MEK/ERK pathways. Rescue of miR-338-3p could inhibit the proliferation, migration and invasion of ovarian cancer cells, and suppress the growth and metastasis of xenograft tumor. Restoration of miR-338-3p could attenuate MACC1 and Met overexpression induced growth, epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) and activities of Wnt/Catenin beta and MEK/ERK signaling in vitro and in vivo. Conclusions: The present data indicated that restoration of miR-338-3p could suppress the growth and metastasis of ovarian cancer cells, which might due to the inhibition of proliferation and EMT induced by MACC1, Met and its downstream Wnt/Catenin beta and MEK/ERK signaling pathways.

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Highlights Thymosin α1can markedly decrease 28-day mortality (HR, 0.11, 95% CI 0.02–0.63, P = 0.013) and attenuate acute lung injury ( P = 0.036) in critical type COVID-19 patients. Thymosin α1 can markedly prolonged the hospital length of stay ( P = 0.024) as well as the total duration of the disease ( P = 0.001) in the critical type COVID-19 patients.

Objective To detect the expression of microRNA-338-3p (miR-338-3p) and MET transcriptional regulator MACC1 (MACC1) gene in different ovarian tissues, to analyze their relationships, their correlations to the clinicopathologic characteristics of epithelial ovarian cancer and their significant to the progression of ovarian cancer. Methods The expression of miR-338-3p and MACC1 gene in 20 specimens of normal ovarian tissues, 20 specimens of benign epithelial ovarian tumor and 65 specimens of epithelial ovarian cancer was detected by real-time PCR method. Their interrelationships and their correlations to the clinicopathologic characteristics of epithelial ovarian cancer were analyzed. Risk factors of recurrence and death were discussed by binary Logistic regression analysis. The relations between miR-338-3p and MACC1 expression and the survival of ovarian cancer were measured by Kaplan-Meier analysis. Results The expressions of miR-338-3p and MACC1 gene in epithelial ovarian cancer tissues were (0.331±0.038) and (0.774±0.025), significant differences were noted between epithelial ovarian cancer and normal ovarian tissues, benign ovarian tumors (F=77.916, P =1.205E-18; F=77.945, P =1.187E-18). In different ovarian tissues, miR-338-3p expression was negatively correlated to MACC1 expression (r = -0.968, P <0.0001). In epithelial ovarian cancer, lower expression of miR-338-3p and higher expression of MACC1 were associated with more advanced FIGO stage, higher histological grade and developed lymph node metastasis. Down-regulation of miR-338-3p was related with the recurrence ( P =0. 005, OR=12.862, 95%CI: 2.120~78.026) and death ( P =0. 007, OR=12.837, 95%CI: 2.205~81.389) of ovarian cancer patients, which was showed by binary Logistic regression analysis. Compared to other patients, the overall survival rate and progression free survival rate of patients with lower miR-338-3p and higher MACC1 expression were obviously poorer (χ 2 =16.955, P =7.219E-5; χ 2 =18.929, P =2.828E-5). Conclusions Down-regulation of miR-338-3p and up-regulation of MACC1 gene were closely related with the poor prognosis of epithelial ovarian cancer patients, which could served as bio-markers of the progression and recurrence of ovarian cancer.

Micro-expressions, as fleeting facial expressions, are very important for judging people’s true emotions, thus can provide an essential behavioral clue for lie and dangerous demeanor detection. From embodied accounts of cognition, we derived a novel hypothesis that facial feedback from upper and lower facial regions has differential effects on micro-expression recognition. This hypothesis was tested and supported across three studies. Specifically, the results of Study 1 showed that people became better judges of intense micro-expressions with a duration of 450 ms when the facial feedback from upper face was enhanced via a restricting gel. Additional results of Study 2 showed that the recognition accuracy of subtle micro-expressions was significantly impaired under all duration conditions (50, 150, 333, and 450 ms) when facial feedback from lower face was enhanced. In addition, the results of Study 3 also revealed that blocking the facial feedback of lower face, significantly boosted the recognition accuracy of subtle and intense micro-expressions under all duration conditions (150 and 450 ms). Together, these results highlight the role of facial feedback in judging the subtle movements of micro-expressions.

Objective To investigate the mechanism of LncRNA H19 in Th17 cell differentiation and endometrial stromal cells (ESCs) proliferation in endometriosis (EMS). Methods LncRNA H19, miR-342-3p and IER3 expressions were detected by qRT-PCR and western blot. The percentage of Th17 cells/CD4+ T cells was detected by flow cytometry. IL-17 level was measured by ELISA. The interaction of miR-342-3p and IER3 was confirmed by Luciferase reporter assay. Results LncRNA H19 and IER3 expressions were down-regulated in mononuclear cells from peritoneal fluid (PFMCs) of patients with EMS or under Th17 differentiation conditions, whereas miR-342-3p expression was up-regulated and the percentage of Th17 cells was increased in PFMCs of patients with EMS or under Th17 differentiation conditions. Over-expression of LncRNA H19 decreased IL-17 level and the percentage of Th17 cells/CD4+ T cells. Besides, we confirmed that miR-342-3p could target to IER3 and negatively regulate IER3 expression. LncRNA H19 over-expression suppressed Th17 differentiation and ESC proliferation through regulating miR-342-3p/IER3. In vivo experiments showed LncRNA H19 over-expression suppressed the growth of Th17 cell differentiation-induced endometriosis-like lesions. Conclusion LncRNA H19 was down-regulated in PFMC of patients with EMS or under Th17 polarizing conditions, and LncRNA H19 over-expression suppressed Th17 cell differentiation and ESCs proliferation through miR-342-3p/IER3 pathway.

Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread around the world, until now, the number of positive and death cases is still increasing. Therefore, it remains important to identify risk factors for death in critically patients. Methods We collected demographic and clinical data on all severe inpatients with COVID-19. We used univariable and multivariable Cox regression methods to determine the independent risk factors related to likelihood of 28-day and 60-day survival, performing survival curve analysis. Results Of 325 patients enrolled in the study, Multi-factor Cox analysis showed increasing odds of in-hospital death associated with basic illness (hazard ratio [HR] 6.455, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 1.658–25.139, P = 0.007), lymphopenia (HR 0.373, 95% CI 0.148–0.944, P = 0.037), higher Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score on admission (HR 1.171, 95% CI 1.013–1.354, P = 0.033) and being critically ill (HR 0.191, 95% CI 0.053–0.687, P = 0.011). Increasing 28-day and 60-day mortality, declining survival time and more serious inflammation and organ failure were associated with lymphocyte count < 0.8 × 109/L, SOFA score > 3, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) score > 7, PaO2/FiO2 < 200 mmHg, IL-6 > 120 pg/ml, and CRP > 52 mg/L. Conclusions Being critically ill and lymphocyte count, SOFA score, APACHE II score, PaO2/FiO2, IL-6, and CRP on admission were associated with poor prognosis in COVID-19 patients.