Masitinib Inhibits Hepatitis A Virus Replication.

The hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection causes acute hepatitis. HAV also induces acute liver failure or acute-on-chronic liver failure; however, no potent anti-HAV drugs are currently available in clinical situations. For anti-HAV drug screening, more convenient and useful models that mimic HAV replication are needed.

Drug Screening for Hepatitis A Virus (HAV): Nicotinamide Inhibits c-Jun Expression and HAV Replication.

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection often causes acute hepatitis, which results in a case fatality rate of 0.2% and fulminant hepatitis in 0.5% of cases.

Amantadine and Rimantadine Inhibit Hepatitis A Virus Replication through the Induction of Autophagy.

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection is a major cause of acute viral hepatitis worldwide. Furthermore, HAV causes acute liver failure or acute-on-chronic liver failure. However, no potent anti-HAV drugs are currently available in the clinical situations.

Favipiravir Inhibits Hepatitis A Virus Infection in Human Hepatocytes.

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is a causative agent of acute hepatitis and can occasionally induce acute liver failure. However, specific potent anti-HAV drug is not available on the market currently. Thus, we investigated several novel therapeutic drugs through a drug repositioning approach, targeting ribonucleic acid (RNA)-dependent RNA polymerase and RNA-dependent deoxyribonucleic acid polymerase.

Involvement of the Interferon Signaling Pathways in Pancreatic Cancer Cells.

Background/aim: To examine interferon (IFN) signaling pathways in human pancreatic cancer cells and their therapeutic application for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

Materials And Methods: We examined the effects of IFNα on cytotoxicity, migration, as well as on the levels of toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling pathway-associated genes expression in pancreatic cancer cells. We also examined the additive effects of IFNα and poly(I-C) on tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)-induced cytotoxicity.

Analysis of HBV Genomes Integrated into the Genomes of Human Hepatoma PLC/PRF/5 Cells by HBV Sequence Capture-Based Next-Generation Sequencing.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a leading cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) worldwide. The integration of HBV genomic DNA into the host genome occurs randomly, early after infection, and is associated with hepatocarcinogenesis in HBV-infected patients. Therefore, it is important to analyze HBV genome integration.

Follow-up Results of GT2 Patients After Sofosbuvir/Ribavirin Therapy: Careful Attention to Occurrence of HCC.

Background: We examined treatment the efficacy and data on long-term outcomes in real-world Japanese patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 2 treated with 12-week sofosbuvir/ribavirin combination therapy.

Patients And Methods: In a total of 86 patients who were treated with sofosbuvir/ribavirin, sustained virological response (SVR) rates and long-term-outcomes were retrospectively analyzed.

Results: The adherence to this combination therapy was 98.

Overexpression of a virus-like particle influenza vaccine in Eri silkworm pupae, using Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus and host-range expansion.

Ecological investigations of silkworms have revealed that Eri silkworms (Samia cynthia ricini) possess useful morphological and ecological characteristics for virus-like particle (VLP) production, namely non-seasonal breeding, longer lengths, and heavier weights than Bombyx mori silkworms. Furthermore, when vector DNA from Bombyx mori nuclear polyhedrosis virus (BmNPV), which is unable to replicate in Sf9 cells from Eri silkworms, was replaced with the Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcNPV) vector, three improved AcNPV influenza virus recombinants capable of replication in Sf9 cells were obtained. Although VLP antigens produced previously in silkworms were not evaluated individually, the present recombinant Fukushima (FkH5) and Anhui (AnH7) VLP antigens were detected in tissue fluids and fat bodies of Eri silkworms.

Apoptosis and non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases.

The number of patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases (NAFLD) including nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), has been increasing. NASH causes cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and is one of the most serious health problems in the world. The mechanism through which NASH progresses is still largely unknown.

Functional growth inhibition of influenza A and B viruses by liquid and powder components of leaves from the subtropical plant Melia azedarach L.

We evaluated the anti-influenza-virus effects of Melia components and discuss the utility of these components. The effects of leaf components of Melia azedarach L. on viruses were examined, and plaque inhibition tests were performed.

Addition of an EGFP-tag to the N-terminal of influenza virus M1 protein impairs its ability to accumulate in ND10.

A previous report demonstrated that influenza virus infection induces accumulation of EGFP-tagged M1 protein (EGFP-M1) in the sub-nuclear domain ND10. Here, we show that the transfection of four viral protein (NP, PB2, PB1, PA) expression vectors and eight RNA segment expression vectors induced the formation of nuclear dots of EGFP-M1 as seen in virus infections. Omission of the segment 7 RNA expression vector, however, abolished the nuclear dots of EGFP-M1.

The large-scale production of an artificial influenza virus-like particle vaccine in silkworm pupae.

We successfully established a mass production system for an influenza virus-like particle (VLP) vaccine using a synthetic H5 hemagglutinin (HA) gene codon-optimized for the silkworm. A recombinant baculovirus containing the synthetic gene was inoculated into silkworm pupae. Four days after inoculation, the hemagglutination titer in homogenates from infected pupae reached a mean value of 0.

H1N1/09 influenza A virus infection of immortalized first trimester human trophoblast cell lines.

Problem: Although high maternal mortality was reported in the most recent pandemic of swine-origin influenza A H1N1/09 (H1N1/09), its direct effects on the feto-placental unit are unknown. In the present study, we examined the susceptibility of immortalized human trophoblasts to clinical isolates of pandemic 2009 H1N1 influenza A (H1N1/09) virus.

Method Of Study: The H1N1/09 virus was isolated from a patient with influenza, sequenced and identified as the A/Narita/2009 (H1N1) strain.

Pleomorphic adenoma originating from the trachea showing the appearance of a follicular tumor of the thyroid on ultrasonography.

Pleomorphic adenoma (PA) is the most common tumor of the salivary gland. This report presents a case of a PA originating from the trachea that looked like a thyroid neoplasm on ultrasonography, showing a well-circumscribed, hypovascular, solid, and hypoechoic tumor within the thyroid. The tumor was resected with the right lobe of the thyroid and the first tracheal ring, which revealed a PA impacted within the thyroid.

H3N2 influenza A virus replicates in immortalized human first trimester trophoblast cell lines and induces their rapid apoptosis.

Problem: Epidemiological data suggested that pandemic influenza increased the risks of spontaneous abortion and premature labor, while seasonal influenza also increased the risk of schizophrenia in adolescence. However, their pathogenesis is so far unknown.

Method Of Study: The first trimester trophoblast cell lines, namely, Swan71 and HTR8 cells were challenged with A/Udorn/72 influenza virus (H3N2).

Immunofluorescence imaging of the influenza virus M1 protein is dependent on the fixation method.

The distribution of the matrix (M1) protein of influenza virus in infected cells was examined using immunostaining. The fixation method influenced strongly the immunofluorescence pattern of the M1 protein. The M1 protein was distributed uniformly in both the cytoplasm and in nuclei when cells that had been infected with virus were fixed with paraformaldehyde.

Anti-influenza virus activity of Chaenomeles sinensis.

Aim Of The Study: This investigation evaluated anti-influenza virus activity of 50% ethanol extract of the fruit of Chaenomeles sinensis K(OEHNE), which is widely used as a traditional Chinese medicine to treat throat diseases.

Material And Methods: Type A and B influenza viruses were treated with the extract at various concentrations for 1h at room temperature; then the plaque titers of the treated viruses were determined. The neutralizing component in the extract was partially purified using HP20 column chromatography.

A case of malignant eccrine spiradenoma metastatic to intramammary lymph node.

Eccrine spiradenoma (ES) is a fairly common, benign, cutaneous tumor originating from the sweat glands. In contrast, the malignant counterpart of ES, malignant eccrine spiradenoma (MES), is extremely rare. A long-standing lesion rarely begins to enlarge rapidly.

Prognostic significance of gastric cancer metastasis in second-tier lymph nodes detected on reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry.

To determine the prognostic significance of the methods used to determine the presence of metastasis in second-tier lymph nodes of patients with gastric cancer, the authors studied lymph nodes surgically removed from 100 patients with gastric cancer (55 with early cancer, 45 with progressive). The results of HE staining were compared with those of immunohistochemistry using the anticytokeratin (CK) antibody and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays. Lymph node 7 or 8a was obtained intraoperatively, then mRNA was extracted using an immunobeads method, and RT-PCR with CK19 mRNA was performed.

Clinicopathologic roles of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and CD8-positive lymphocytes in lung cancer imprint smears in squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma.

Objective: To investigate the presence of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and CD8-positive lymphocytes (CD8s) in lung cancers and to examine the prognostic significance of their relationship with clinicopathologic parameters.

Study Design: Primary tumor imprint smears from 83 lung cancers were consecutively obtained at surgery at Tsuchiura Kyodo General Hospital between 1996 and 1998. TILs were observed in Papanicolaou-stained smears, and CD8s were immunocytochemically visualized.

An inhibitory effect of A20 on NF-kappaB activation in airway epithelium upon influenza virus infection.

Influenza is a major disease in humans. The reemergence of avian influenza A viruses has indicated that hyperinflammatory responses are closely related to the severity of disease. Influenza virus infection induces nuclear transcription factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) activation.

The usefulness of immunostaining in washed cell cytological smears for differential diagnosis of B cell type malignant lymphoma.

We investigated the usefulness of immunostaining on washed cell cytological smears for the differential diagnosis of B-cell type malignant lymphoma. Twenty-eight cases with possible malignant lymphoma were examined. The tissues were squashed in a test tube of isotonic saline.