Inhibitory Effect of MiR-449b on Cancer Cell Growth and Invasion through LGR4 in Non-Small-Cell Lung Carcinoma

Non-small-cell lung carcinoma （NSCLC） is one of the most frequently diagnosed malignancies worldwide. Previous studies have shown that microRNA-449b （miR-449b） functions as a tumor suppressor in many cancers. However, the role of miR- 449b in NSCLC is still unknown. In the present study, miR-449b was significantly down- regulated in NSCLC samples and cell lines. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that 3＇-UTR region of leucine rich repeat containing G protein-coupled receptor 4 （LGR4） mRNA had putative complementary sequences to miR-449b, which was further confirmed by the luciferase assay. Western blotting showed that restoration of miR-449b in NSCLC cells decreased the expression of LGR4. Interestingly, over-expression of miR-449b inhibited growth and invasion of NSCLC cells in vitro. Furthermore, ectopic expression of LGR4 reversed miR-449b-suppressed proliferation and invasion of NSCLC cells. Therefore, the data of the present study demonstrate that miR-449b inhibits tumor cell growth and invasion by targeting LGR4 in NSCLC.

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Therapy for Critically Ill Coronavirus Disease 2019 Patients in Wuhan,China:A Retrospective Multicenter Cohort Study

Currently,little in-depth evidence is known about the application of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation(ECMO)therapy in coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)patients.This retrospective multicenter cohort study included patients with COVID-19 at 7 designated hospitals in Wuhan,China.The patients were followed up until June 30,2020.Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the risk factors associated with unsuccessful ECMO weaning.Propensity score matching was used to match patients who received veno-venous ECMO with those who received invasive mechanical ventilation(IMV)-only therapy.Of 88 patients receiving ECMO therapy,27 and 61 patients were and were not successfully weaned from ECMO,respectively.Additionally,15,15,and 65 patients were further weaned from IMV,discharged from hospital,or died during hospitalization,respectively.In the multivariate logistic regression analysis,a lymphocyte count≤0.5×10^(9)/L and D-dimer concentration>4×the upper limit of normal level at ICU admission,a peak PaCO_(2)>60 mmHg at 24 h before ECMO initiation,and no tracheotomy performed during the ICU stay were independently associated with lower odds of ECMO weaning.In the propensity scorematched analysis,a mixed-effect Cox model detected a lower hazard ratio for 120-day all-cause mortality after ICU admission during hospitalization in the ECMO group.The presence of lymphocytopenia,higher D-dimer concentrations at ICU admission and hypercapnia before ECMO initiation could help to identify patients with a poor prognosis.Tracheotomy could facilitate weaning from ECMO.ECMO relative to IMV-only therapy was associated with improved outcomes in critically ill COVID-19 patients.

Aortic Dissection Research in China:Analysis of Studies Funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China

Objective The National Natural Science Foundation of China(NSFC)has made great progress in promoting the development of aortic dissection research in recent years.This study aimed to examine the development and research status of aortic dissection research in China so as to provide references for future research.Methods The NSFC projects data from 2008 to 2019 were collected from the Internet-based Science Information System and other websites utilized as search engines.The publications and citations were retrieved by Google Scholar,and the impact factors were checked by the InCite Journal Citation Reports database.The investigator’s degree and department were identified from the institutional faculty profiles.Results A total of 250 grant funds totaling 124.3 million Yuan and resulting in 747 publications were analyzed.The funds in economically developed and densely populated areas were more than those in underdeveloped and sparsely populated areas.There was no significant difference in the amount of funding per grant between different departments’investigators.However,the funding output ratios of the grants for cardiologists were higher than those for basic science investigators.The amount of funding for clinical researchers and basic scientific researchers in aortic dissection was also similar.Clinical researchers were better in terms of the funding output ratio.Conclusion These results suggest that the medical and scientific research level of aortic dissection in China has been greatly improved.However,there are still some problems that urgently need to be solved,such as the unreasonable regional allocation of medical and scientific research resources,and the slow transition from basic science to clinical practice.

Preventive and protective management for coronavirus disease 2019 patients undergoing emergent cardiac surgery

The coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic has recently put global health services under escalating pressure.For patients who are known to be COVID-19 positive or at high suspicion for COVID-19 infection,although non-operative treatment is preferred for stable cardiovascular diseases to reduce the exposure,emergent cardiac surgery is still necessary when the primary concern is life-threatening and there is no alternative option.