The challenge of the emergence of drug-resistant influenza strains, which is caused by wide spread utilization of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs), accelerates the research and exploration towards host targeted agents. In contrast to DAAs targeting viral replication components, host targeted agents, which regulate host factors and pathways linked to viral replication, can interfere the replication of influenza. Additionally, the innate immune system is activated by influenza during the early stage of infection, so manipulating the innate immune response may prevent the viral infection. However, the excessive inflammatory response induced at the late phase of influenza infection would lead to severe tissue injures. Thus, it is very important to explore drugs with anti-inflammatory actions to suppress these immune imbalances and tissue injures. Here we overview the current progresses about host targets related to anti-influenza drugs.
Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; pharmacology ; Antiviral Agents ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Immunity, Innate ; Influenza, Human ; drug therapy ; Virus Replication

Objective To study the apoptosis-inducing effects and mechanisms of influenza virus A H_ 3 N_ 2 on a self-established endometrial adenocarcinoma cell line JEC. Methods JEC cells were infected with different concentrations of H_3N_2, the apoptosis were detected using the HE staining, DNA agarose gel electrophoresis and flow cytometry. The expressions of Fas, FasL and TGF-? were examined by immunocytochemical staining. Results After infection, the JEC cells showed the morphological apoptosis; DNA agarose electrophoresis demonstrated a ladder-like pattern of DNA fragments; FITC/PI stained FCM showed the apoptotic rate of JEC had been decreased along with the prolonging of infected time and elevated with the increase of the virus concentrations. Immunocytochemical staining showed that enhanced expression of Fas, attenuated expression of TGF-?, and no expression of FasL after H_3N_2 infection. Conclusion Influenza virus A H_3N_2 can induce JEC cells to apoptosis in time- and concentration- dependent manners, which may be related with the expressions of Fas and TGF-?.

The study on mycoflora in bottled purified d rinking water was carried out.91 Samples of products were colleted from 59 bottl ing factories in Fujian Province and were examined and identified.461 Strains of fungi were isolated from 58(63 74%)different samples.Fungi imperfecti was the e umycetes isolated most frequently.These fungi were not closely related to the ae robic bacterial count and coliform of the studied waters but was clearly associa ted with the packaging of the products.The result confirmed that the cross conta minations on the process of post-purification were the main source of fungi in the final products.

Professor LI Zhi-dao's acupuncture technique at muscle belly and its clinical experiences for the treatment of arthralgia are introduced. From aspects of TCM, anatomical physiology and sports biomechanics, the theory basis of this technique is explained, while its method is elaborated in details from acupoint selection and manipulation combined with classic medical cases. The acupuncture technique at muscle belly is applied at the muscles which already have pathological changes, avoiding re-stimulation on the pain area. It provides new thinking methods and references for acupuncture to treat arthralgia.
Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Adult ; Aged ; Arthralgia ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

Objective To investigate the forensic characteristics of death cases of EV71 through retrospective analysis of 9 death forensic cases of Enterovirus 71 (EV71) . Methods Nine cases of EV71 death cases were collected,and the population characteristics, histopathological change,toxicology,pathology and causes of death of these cases were discussed. Results All 9 patients had fever, cough, emesis, and were treated as influenza or hand-foot and mouth disease (HFMD) in local hospitals, the condition was still deteriorating and finally died. The 9 autopsy cases were diagnosed as brain stem encephalitis and death in forensic diagnose. Conclusion The HFMD disease caused by EV71 infection progresses rapidly often leads to medical disputes, the patient's family and hospital's opinions on the causes of death in patients are often different,identifying the cause of death is conducive to resolve the disputes.

Objective To investigate the forensic characteristics of death cases of Acute Interstitial Pneumonia (AIP), so as to provide references for forensic assessment of AIP. Methods The data of 27 AIP death cases were retrospectively analyzed. The data included the population characteristics, toxicology, pathology and causes of death. Results All 27 patients had clinical symptoms including fever, cough and chest tightness, 25 patiens of them were treated as upper respiratory tract infection in local hospital, and finally died of deteriorating condition. The forensic diagnosis after autopsy showed the 27 cases were died of respiratory failure caused by AIP. Conclusion AIP is a disease with rapid progression and often leads to medical disputes,the patient's families often have different opinion on the death cause of patients with the hospital,so forensic identification of the cause of death is conducive to resolve the disputes.

This study is to investigate the effect of recombinant human interferon alpha 2b against broad-spectrum respiratory viruses in vitro. At the cellular level, the effect of the recombinant human interferon alpha 2b on influenza A virus was detected using real-time fluorescence quantitative RT-PCR. The effects of the recombinant human interferon alpha 2b on influenza B virus, parainfluenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and coronavirus were detected using cytopathic effect (CPE) method. In this study, the therapeutic index of recombinant human interferon alpha 2b anti-HPIV was 1476.63, the therapeutic index of recombinant human interferon alpha 2b anti-RSV was 141.37, the therapeutic index of recombinant human interferon alpha 2b anti-coronavirus was more than 2820.76, and the antiviral effect of recombinant human interferon alpha 2b was better than ribavirin (RBV). Recombinant human interferon alpha 2b has a stronger inhibitory effect on different influenza A virus RNA than drug control. The therapeutic index of recombinant human interferon alpha 2b anti-influenza B virus was 2.74, with modest effect. Recombinant human interferon alpha 2b in vitro has broad spectrum antiviral activities, low toxicity and high therapeutic index. Recombinant human interferon alpha 2b is expected to become the efficient medicine in clinical against respiratory viruses, as well as provide better services for prevention and treatment of respiratory viruses' infections.
Antiviral Agents ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Influenza A virus ; drug effects ; Influenza B virus ; drug effects ; Interferon-alpha ; pharmacology ; Parainfluenza Virus 1, Human ; drug effects ; Recombinant Proteins ; pharmacology ; Ribavirin

OBJECTIVETo analyze the computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of small hepatocellular carcinoma to improve the accuracy in the diagnosis.

METHODSThis retrospective analysis involved 41 patients with small hepatocellular carcinoma cases confirmed by pathological examination of the biopsy samples or follow-up. These patients were assessed for CT and MRI findings including lesion size, density or signal intensity, enhancement patterns, and presence of tumor capsules.

RESULTSOn unenhanced CT images, small hepatocellular carcinomas were displayed mainly as low-density masses, and the majority of tumors presented with low signal intensity on T1-weighted unenhanced MR images with increased signal intensity on T2-weighted images in comparison with the surrounding liver parenchyma. Most of tumors showed intense enhancement during the arterial phase (CT in 15 cases and MRI in 13 cases), but some appeared isointense to the liver parenchyma (CT in 4 cases and MRI in 4 cases). In portal and delayed phases, the tumors typically had lower signal intensity than that of the surrounding liver tissues (CT in 25 cases and MRI in 12 cases) with enhancement of the tumor capsules (13 cases).

CONCLUSIONDynamic enhanced scanning can be more informative of the pathology and blood supply of small hepatocellular carcinoma. Early and late arterial phase imaging may help in detecting the small lesions and in making differential diagnosis.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Image Enhancement ; Liver Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized clinically by rigidity, akinesia, resting tremor and postural instability. It has recently been suggested that low frequency stimulation of the pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN) has a role in the therapy for Parkinsonism, particularly in gait disorder and postural instability. However, there is limited information about the mechanism of low frequency stimulation of the PPN on Parkinson's disease. The present study was to investigate the effect and mechanism of low frequency stimulation of the PPN on the firing rate of the ventrolateral thalamic nucleus (VL) in a rat model with unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine lesioning of the substantia nigra pars compacta. In vivo extracellular recording and microiontophoresis were adopted. The results showed that the firing rate of 60.71% VL neurons in normal rats and 59.57% VL neurons in 6-hydroxydopamine lesioned rats increased with low frequency stimulation of the PPN. Using microiontophoresis to VL neurons, we found the firing rate in VL neurons responded with either an increase or decrease in application of acetylcholine (ACh) in normal rats, whereas with a predominant decrease in M receptor antagonist atropine. Furthermore, the VL neurons were mainly inhibited by application of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and excited by GABA(A) receptor antagonist bicuculline. Importantly, the VL neurons responding to ACh were also inhibited by application of GABA. We also found that the excitatory response of the VL neurons to the low frequency stimulation of the PPN was significantly reversed by microiontophoresis of atropine. These results demonstrate that cholinergic and GABAergic afferent nerve fibers may converge on the same VL neurons and they are involved in the effects of low frequency stimulation of the PPN, with ACh combining M(2) receptors on the presynaptic membrane of GABAergic afferents, which will inhibit the release of GABA in the VL and then improve the symptoms of Parkinson's disease.
Acetylcholine ; metabolism ; Action Potentials ; Animals ; Cholinergic Fibers ; physiology ; Electric Stimulation ; Male ; Oxidopamine ; Parkinson Disease, Secondary ; chemically induced ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Pedunculopontine Tegmental Nucleus ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Ventral Thalamic Nuclei ; physiology

Objective To investigate the protective effect and the underlying mechanism of water soluble coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)against rotenone induced injury on PC12 cells model.Methods PC12 cells were cultured with rotenone,water-soluble CoQ1 0 was added to the culture media 3 hours prior to the rotenone incubation.We determined cell viability by CCK8;reactive oxygen species (ROS)was detected by spectrophotometer;and Bcl-2, Bax,active Caspase-3,Caspase-9 and apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF)were measured by Western blotting after 24-hour rotenone incubation.Results After the treatment by rotenone,cell viability decreased significantly (P＜0.01)and ROS level increased (P＜0.01).CoQ10 could improve PC12 cell viability (P＜0.01)and reduce the level of ROS (P＜0.01).Western blotting experiments showed that CoQ10 could reduce rotenone-induced Caspase-9 (P＜0.05),active Caspase-3 (P＜0.05)and Bax (P＜0.01)expressions,increase the expression of Bcl-2 (P＜0.01),and prevent nuclear translocation of AIF (P＜0.05).Conclusion CoQ10 has a protective effect on rotenone-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells,the mechanism of which may be through scavenging ROS in cells;decreasing caspase-9 ,active caspase-3 and Bax expressions;and increasing the expression of Bcl-2 ;and preventing AIF nuclear translocation.