Potent antiviral activity of topoisomerase I and II inhibitors against Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus.

The lytic DNA replication of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) initiates at an origin (ori-Lyt) and requires trans-acting elements, both viral and cellular. We recently demonstrated that several host cellular proteins, including topoisomerases I and II (Topo I and II), are involved in KSHV lytic DNA replication (Y. Wang, H.

N-Diphenyl-phosphanyl-N-{[diphen-yl(2-pyridyl-imino)-λ-phosphan-yl]meth-yl}pyridin-2-amine.

In the title compound, C(35)H(30)N(4)P(2), the diphenyl-phosphanyl and diphen-yl(2-pyridyl-imino)-λ(5)-phosphanyl groups are attached to the central methyl C atom with a P-C-N angle of 114.09 (16)°. The mol-ecules stack along the b axis and inter-connect through C-H(pyrid-yl)⋯N(pyrid-yl) inter-actions, forming an infinite chain structure.

Self-healing epoxy composite with heat-resistant healant.

To provide self-healing epoxy composite with adequate heat resistance for high-performance application, we developed a novel microencapsulated epoxy/mercaptan healing agent. The key measure lies in usage of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (EPON 828) as the polymerizable component and 2,4,6-tris(dimethylaminomethyl)phenol (DMP-30) as the catalyst. Because of the higher thermal stability of EPON 828 and lower volatility of DMP-30, the healing agent and the self-healing composite not only survive high-temperature curing and thermal exposure, but also offer satisfactory capability of autonomous properties restoration, as characterized by both fracture mechanics and fatigue tests.

[Simulated annealing based phase correction of interferogram in Fourier transform imaging spectrometer].

Phase correction is one of the key technologies in the spectrum recovery of the Fourier transform imaging spectrometer. The present paper proposes a correction method based on simulated annealing algorithm to calculate phase error, which overcomes the disadvantage of the existing methods that can not correct the interferogram with noise. The method determines the phase optimum solution by controlling the phase decrease function, attaining objective function value by correcting interferogram data with random phase value generated in the phase range, and determining the objective function increment in accordance with the Metropolis criterion.

Coordination of KSHV latent and lytic gene control by CTCF-cohesin mediated chromosome conformation.

Herpesvirus persistence requires a dynamic balance between latent and lytic cycle gene expression, but how this balance is maintained remains enigmatic. We have previously shown that the Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus (KSHV) major latency transcripts encoding LANA, vCyclin, vFLIP, v-miRNAs, and Kaposin are regulated, in part, by a chromatin organizing element that binds CTCF and cohesins. Using viral genome-wide chromatin conformation capture (3C) methods, we now show that KSHV latency control region is physically linked to the promoter regulatory region for ORF50, which encodes the KSHV immediate early protein RTA.

Evasion and subversion of interferon-mediated antiviral immunity by Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus: an overview.

Viral invasion of a host cell triggers immune responses with both innate and adaptive components. The innate immune response involving the induction of type I interferons (alpha and beta interferons [IFN-α and -β]) constitutes the first line of antiviral defenses. The type I IFNs signal the transcription of a group of antiviral effector proteins, the IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs), which target distinct viral components and distinct stages of the viral life cycle, aiming to eliminate invading viruses.

Crystal growth behavior of LiFePO4 in microwave-assisted hydrothermal condition: from nanoparticle to nanosheet.

By using microwave-assisted hydrothermal crystallization approach, LiFePO4 nanoparticles have been synthesized in several minutes without the use of any organic reducing agent and argon protection. The crystal structure and lattice parameters have been analyzed by using the X-ray diffraction patterns (XRD) and Rietveld refined analysis, and the full width at half-maximum (FWHM) of the characteristic peaks. A preferential orientation of crystal growth occurs upon microwave hydrothermal field.

The expression pattern of polycomb group protein Ezh2 during mouse embryogenesis.

The Polycomb group (PcG) family proteins are required for the stability of homeotic selector genes and other genes related to the regulation of mammalian development through their roles in the modulation of chromatin domains. Among them, the mammalian enhancer zeste homologue 2 (Ezh2) contributes to the transcriptional repression of these genes. Previous studies tracked the Ezh2 expression at cDNA and mRNA levels during mouse development.

[Spectral discrimination method information divergence combined with gradient angle].

The present paper proposes a spectral discrimination method combining spectral information divergence with spectral gradient angle (SID x tan(SGA(pi/2)) which overcomes the shortages of the existing methods which can not take the whole spectral shape and local characteristics into account simultaneously. Using the simulation spectra as input data, according to the interferogram acquirement principle and spectrum recovery algorithm of the temporally and spatially modulated Fourier transform imaging spectrometer (TSMFTIS), we simulated the distortion spectra recovery process of the TMSFTIS in different maximum mix ratio and distinguished the difference between the recovered spectra and the true spectrum by different spectral discrimination methods. The experiment results show that the SID x tan(SGA(pi/2)) can not only identify the similarity of the whole spectral shapes, but also distinguish local differences of the spectral characteristics.

[Effects of electric stimulation at the cerebellar fastigial nucleus on astrocytes in the hippocampus of neonatal rats with hypoxic-ischemic brain damage].

Objective: To study the effects of electric stimulation at the cerebellar fastigial nucleus on astrocytes in the hippocampus of neonatal rats with hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD) and the possible mechanism.

Methods: One hundred and eighty 7-day-old neonatal Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: sham-operation (control group) and HIBD with and without electric stimulation (n=60 each). The HIBD model of neonatal rats was prepared by the Rice-Vennucci method.

Immunoadjuvant effects of hemagglutinating virus of Japan envelope (HVJ-E) on the inactivated H9 subtype avian influenza virus vaccine.

Avian influenza viruses (AIV) of the H9 subtype cause serious health problems in chickens, resulting in great economic losses to the poultry industry worldwide. The killed vaccine (KV) against H9 subtype AIV has been widely used in China since 1998 but has been linked with side effects in chickens and only partial protection. A few studies have demonstrated the immunostimulatory effects of the hemagglutinating virus of Japan envelope (HVJ-E) in cancer therapy.

[Mechanism of phosphorus adsorption and immobility by sediments in innercity heavily polluted canal].

The mechanisms of phosphorus (P) adsorption and immobility were investigated in laboratory experiments. The sediments and waters used were taken from an inner-city heavily polluted canal. Addition of KH2PO4 into the operated experimental units, with and without (i.

Urotensin II inhibits the proliferation but not the differentiation of cardiac side population cells.

Urotensin II (UII) induces the development of cardiac remodeling and atherosclerosis by promoting hypertrophy of cardiomyocytes and mitogenesis of fibroblasts and vascular smooth muscle cells. But its effect on cardiac side population cells (CSPs), one of somatic stem cells, is unclear. The present study examined the influences of UII on the differentiation and proliferation of CSPs.

Evidence from Chile that arsenic in drinking water may increase mortality from pulmonary tuberculosis.

Arsenic in drinking water causes increased mortality from several cancers, ischemic heart disease, bronchiectasis, and other diseases. This paper presents the first evidence relating arsenic exposure to pulmonary tuberculosis, by estimating mortality rate ratios for Region II of Chile compared with Region V for the years 1958-2000. The authors compared mortality rate ratios with time patterns of arsenic exposure, which increased abruptly in 1958 in Region II and then declined starting in 1971.

Ultrasonographic characteristics of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm of the pancreas.

Objective: To analyze the clinical and ultrasonographic imaging features of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) of the pancreas.

Methods: Twelve patients with IPMN underwent surgery between May 2005 and December 2008, including 4 (33.3%) with adenoma and 8 (66.

Functional characterization of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus open reading frame K8 by bacterial artificial chromosome-based mutagenesis.

The open reading frame K8 of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) encodes a basic leucine zipper (bZip) protein that binds to the origin of viral DNA replication and is an integral component of viral lytic DNA replication complex. Moreover, K8 physically interacts with replication and transcription activator (RTA) and represses its transactivation activity on several viral promoters. To investigate the role of this protein in viral life cycle, we constructed two K8-null recombinant mutant viruses (BAC-ΔK8 and BAC-stopK8) by using a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) system.

Vaccination with dendritic cell/tumor fusion cells results in cellular and humoral antitumor immune responses in patients with multiple myeloma.

We have developed a tumor vaccine in which patient-derived myeloma cells are chemically fused with autologous dendritic cells (DCs) such that a broad spectrum of myeloma-associated antigens are presented in the context of DC-mediated costimulation. We have completed a phase 1 study in which patients with multiple myeloma underwent serial vaccination with the DC/multiple myeloma fusions in conjunction with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor. DCs were generated from adherent mononuclear cells cultured with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, interleukin-4, and tumor necrosis factor-α and fused with myeloma cells obtained from marrow aspirates.

Heterogeneity Between Ducts of the Same Nuclear Grade Involved by Duct Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS) of the Breast.

Purpose: Nuclear grade of breast DCIS is considered during patient management decision-making although it may have only a modest prognostic association with therapeutic outcome. We hypothesized that visual inspection may miss substantive differences in nuclei classified as having the same nuclear grade. To test this hypothesis, we measured subvisual nuclear features by quantitative image cytometry for nuclei with the same grade, and tested for statistical differences in these features.

Mechanisms of autoinhibition of IRF-7 and a probable model for inactivation of IRF-7 by Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus protein ORF45.

IRF-7 is the master regulator of type I interferon-dependent immune responses controlling both innate and adaptive immunity. Given the significance of IRF-7 in the induction of immune responses, many viruses have developed strategies to inhibit its activity to evade or antagonize host antiviral responses. We previously demonstrated that ORF45, a KSHV immediate-early protein as well as a tegument protein of virions, interacts with IRF-7 and inhibits virus-mediated type I interferon induction by blocking IRF-7 phosphorylation and nuclear translocation (Zhu, F.

Lung function in adults following in utero and childhood exposure to arsenic in drinking water: preliminary findings.

Purpose: Evidence suggests that arsenic in drinking water causes non-malignant lung disease, but nearly all data concern exposed adults. The desert city of Antofagasta (population 257,976) in northern Chile had high concentrations of arsenic in drinking water (>800 μg/l) from 1958 until 1970, when a new treatment plant was installed. This scenario, with its large population, distinct period of high exposure, and accurate data on past exposure, is virtually unprecedented in environmental epidemiology.

Functional characterization of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus small capsid protein by bacterial artificial chromosome-based mutagenesis.

A systematic investigation of interactions amongst KSHV capsid proteins was undertaken in this study to comprehend lesser known KSHV capsid assembly mechanisms. Interestingly the interaction patterns of the KSHV small capsid protein, ORF65 suggested its plausible role in viral capsid assembly pathways. Towards further understanding this, ORF65-null recombinant mutants (BAC-∆65 and BAC-stop65) employing a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) system were generated.

[Spectrum recovery methods for nonuniform sampling interferogram].

The interferogram acquired by imaging Fourier transform spectrometer (IFTS) can't be used directly and must be recovered. The spectrum recovery processes based on fast Fourier transform (FFT) is the traditional method which is used widely. For some IFTS, the nonuniform sampling of the interferogram is often occurrs.

Individual differences in arsenic metabolism and lung cancer in a case-control study in Cordoba, Argentina.

In humans, ingested inorganic arsenic is metabolized to monomethylarsenic (MMA) then to dimethylarsenic (DMA), although in most people this process is not complete. Previous studies have identified associations between the proportion of urinary MMA (%MMA) and increased risks of several arsenic-related diseases, although none of these reported on lung cancer. In this study, urinary arsenic metabolites were assessed in 45 lung cancer cases and 75 controls from arsenic-exposed areas in Cordoba, Argentina.

Design of the anti-tuberculosis drugs induced adverse reactions in China National Tuberculosis Prevention and Control Scheme Study (ADACS).

Background: More than 1 million tuberculosis (TB) patients are receiving the standard anti-TB treatment provided by China National Tuberculosis Prevention and Control Scheme (CNTS) in China every year. Adverse reactions (ADRs) induced by anti-TB drugs could both do harm to patients and lead to anti-TB treatment failure. The ADACS aimed to explore ADRs' incidences, prognoses, economical and public health impacts for TB patients and TB control, and build a DNA bank of TB patients.

Antagonism of host antiviral responses by Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus tegument protein ORF45.

Virus infection of a cell generally evokes an immune response by the host to defeat the intruder in its effort. Many viruses have developed an array of strategies to evade or antagonize host antiviral responses. Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is demonstrated in this report to be able to prevent activation of host antiviral defense mechanisms upon infection.