Cordycepin Inhibits Enterovirus A71 Replication and Protects Host Cell from Virus-Induced Cytotoxicity through Adenosine Action Pathway.

Enterovirus A71 (EV-A71) infection typically causes mild illnesses, such as hand-foot-and-mouth disease (HFMD), but occasionally leads to severe or fatal neurological complications in infants and young children. Currently, there is no specific antiviral treatment available for EV-A71 infection. Thus, the development of an effective anti-EV-A71 drug is required urgently.

Aortoesophageal fistula treated using one-stage total reconstruction: a case report from a high-volume center.

Background: Aortoesophageal fistula (AEF) is a rare but typically life-threatening condition. Although several treatment strategies exist, including conservative treatment with intraluminal stent graft and open thoracic aortic replacement, the overall outcome remains poor, ranging from 16 to 39%. Furthermore, esophageal reconstruction methods vary between hospitals.

Cordycepin inhibits ERK pathway to suppress FGF9-induced tumorigenesis with MA-10 mouse Leydig tumor cells.

Fibroblast growth factor 9 (FGF9) is a member of FGF family, and abnormal expression of FGF9 can promote tumorigenesis. Cordycepin, a major bioactive component in fungus Cordyceps sinensis, could suppress various tumors. We have shown that cordycepin could inhibit FGF9-induced testicular tumor growth in vitro and in vivo with MA-10 mouse Leydig tumor cells.

Combination treatment of cordycepin and radiation induces MA-10 mouse Leydig tumor cell death via ROS accumulation and DNA damage.

Leydig cell tumor is the most frequent non-germ cell tumors of testis. The biggest challenge of using radiotherapy to treat testicular cancer is in effectively killing cancer cells and maintaining reproductive function after treatment. Our recently published article showed that cordycepin could enhance radiosensitivity to induce mouse Leydig tumor cell apoptosis by inducing cell cycle arrest, caspase pathway and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress.

Sodium arsenite and dimethylarsenic acid induces apoptosis in OC3 oral cavity cancer cells.

Although arsenic is an environmental toxicant, arsenic trioxide (ATO) is used to treat acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) with anticancer effects. Studies have demonstrated oral cancer is in the top 10 cancers in Taiwan. High rate of oral cancers is linked to various behaviors, such as excessive alcohol consumption and tobacco use.

Cordycepin enhances radiosensitivity to induce apoptosis through cell cycle arrest, caspase pathway and ER stress in MA-10 mouse Leydig tumor cells.

Radiotherapy is a localized treatment commonly used in various types of cancer. However, major limitation of radiotherapy is the development of resistance of tumor cells to radiosensitivity. Cordycepin, a predominant functional component of the , is considered to use in treating tumor cells.

Arsenic compounds activate MAPK and inhibit Akt pathways to induce apoptosis in MA-10 mouse Leydig tumor cells.

Arsenic compounds have been applied treating acute promyelocytic 1eukemia and solid tumors with brief mechanism investigations. In fact, we have demonstrated that sodium arsenite plus dimethylarsenic acid could activate apoptosis in MA-10 mouse Leydig tumor cells by inducing caspase pathways. However, detail underlying mechanisms how caspase cascade is regulated remains elusive.

Arsenic compounds induce apoptosis by activating the MAPK and caspase pathways in FaDu oral squamous carcinoma cells.

For a number of years, oral cancer has remained in the top ten most common types of cancer, with an incidence rate that is steadily increasing. In total, ~75% oral cancer cases are associated with lifestyle factors, including uncontrolled alcohol consumption, betel and tobacco chewing, and the excessive use of tobacco. Notably, betel chewing is highly associated with oral cancer in Southeast Asia.

Progenitor Cells Derived from Drain Waste Product of Open-Heart Surgery in Children.

Human cardiac progenitor cells isolated from the same host may have advantages over other sources of stem cells. The aim of this study is to establish a new source of human progenitor cells collected from a waste product, pericardiac effusion fluid, after open-heart surgery in children with congenital heart diseases. The fluid was collected every 24 h for 2 days after surgery in 37 children.

Evaluating Singapore's CHAT Assessment Service by the World Mental Health Organisation (WHO) "Youth-Friendly" Health Services Framework.

Young people experience high rates of mental health issues. However, many do not seek professional help. In order to encourage help-seeking behavior among young people, it is important to ensure that services are youth-friendly.

Toll-Like Receptor 3 Is Involved in Detection of Enterovirus A71 Infection and Targeted by Viral 2A Protease.

Enterovirus A71 (EV-A71) has emerged as a major pathogen causing hand, foot, and mouth disease, as well as neurological disorders. The host immune response affects the outcomes of EV-A71 infection, leading to either resolution or disease progression. However, the mechanisms of how the mammalian innate immune system detects EV-A71 infection to elicit antiviral immunity remain elusive.

Correlation of Severity of Human Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus Disease and Pathogenicity in Mice.

We compared 2 tick-borne encephalitis virus strains isolated from 2 different foci that cause different symptoms in tick-borne encephalitis patients, from neurologic to mild gastrointestinal symptoms. We compared neuroinvasiveness, neurovirulence, and proinflammatory cytokine response in mice and found unique differences that contribute to our understanding of pathogenesis.

The role of the poly(A) tract in the replication and virulence of tick-borne encephalitis virus.

The tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is a flavivirus transmitted to humans, usually via tick bites. The virus causes tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) in humans, and symptoms range from mild flu-like symptoms to severe and long-lasting sequelae, including permanent brain damage. It has been suggested that within the population of viruses transmitted to the mammalian host, quasispecies with neurotropic properties might become dominant in the host resulting in neurological symptoms.

miR-106b promotes cancer progression in hepatitis B virus-associated hepatocellular carcinoma.

Aim: To investigate the effect of miR-106b on tumor progression in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: A total of 120 patients who underwent liver resection for HCC at National Cheng Kung University Hospital were enrolled in the present study. MicroRNA (miRNA) array was first used to screen the miRNA expression profiles in HCC patients.

Enterovirus 71 Proteins 2A and 3D Antagonize the Antiviral Activity of Gamma Interferon via Signaling Attenuation.

Unlabelled: Enterovirus 71 (EV71) infection causes severe mortality involving multiple possible mechanisms, including cytokine storm, brain stem encephalitis, and fulminant pulmonary edema. Gamma interferon (IFN-γ) may confer anti-EV71 activity; however, the claim that disease severity is highly correlated to an increase in IFN-γ is controversial and would indicate an immune escape initiated by EV71. This study, investigating the role of IFN-γ in EV71 infection using a murine model, showed that IFN-γ was elevated.

Making in-roads across the youth mental health landscape in Singapore: the Community Health Assessment Team (CHAT).

Aim: Adolescence and early adulthood is marked by physical, emotional and psychological changes, and is the peak onset of mental disorders. Internationally, one-fifth of children and adolescents have serious mental health problems, yet services catering to them are scarce. Locally, traditional mental health services are associated with much stigma.

Fast measurement of automotive headlamps based on high dynamic range imaging.

The headlamp of the automobile is a very important device for the safety of driving in the dark. Therefore, the distribution of the light designed to provide forward and lateral illumination needs to meet the requirements of various regulations. Traditional measurement of the distribution has been based on a point-by-point approach using a goniophotometer.

Enterovirus 71 blocks selectively type I interferon production through the 3C viral protein in mice.

Type I interferons (IFNs) represent an essential innate defense mechanism for controlling enterovirus 71 (EV 71) infection. Mice inoculated with EV 71 produced a significantly lower amount of type I IFNs than those inoculated with poly (I:C), adenovirus type V, or coxsackievirus B3 (CB3). EV 71 infection, however, mounted a proinflammatory response with a significant increase in the levels of serum and brain interleukin (IL)-6, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, tumor necrosis factor, and IFN-γ.

Exogenous interleukin-6, interleukin-13, and interferon-γ provoke pulmonary abnormality with mild edema in enterovirus 71-infected mice.

Background: Neonatal mice developed neurological disease and pulmonary dysfunction after an infection with a mouse-adapted human Enterovirus 71 (EV71) strain MP4. However, the hallmark of severe human EV71 infection, pulmonary edema (PE), was not evident.

Methods: To test whether EV71-induced PE required a proinflammatory cytokine response, exogenous pro-inflammatory cytokines were administered to EV71-infected mice during the late stage of infection.

Formaldehyde-inactivated human enterovirus 71 vaccine is compatible for co-immunization with a commercial pentavalent vaccine.

In this study we tested the effectiveness of a formaldehyde-inactivated EV71 vaccine and its compatibility for co-immunization with a pentavalent vaccine that contained inactivated poliovirus (PV) vaccine. The inactivated EV71 vaccine (C2 genogroup) elicited an antibody response which broadly neutralized homologous and heterologous genogroups, including B4, C4, and B5. Pups from vaccinated dams were resistant to the EV71 challenge and had a high survival rate and a low tissue viral burden when compared to those from non-vaccinated counterparts.

Methylene blue-mediated photodynamic inactivation as a novel disinfectant of enterovirus 71.

Objectives: We tested whether methylene blue, an inexpensive and safe photosensitizer, is feasible for photodynamic inactivation of enterovirus 71 (EV71) in the environment.

Methods: By escalating light doses and photosensitizer concentrations, photoinactivation of EV71 and other enteroviruses was examined in vitro. Viral transmission in the environment was simulated with a neonatal mouse model in vivo.

Immunity to avirulent enterovirus 71 and coxsackie A16 virus protects against enterovirus 71 infection in mice.

In this study, we sought to determine whether intratypic and intertypic cross-reactivity protected against enterovirus 71 (EV71) infection in a murine infection model. We demonstrate that active immunization of 1-day-old mice with avirulent EV71 strain or coxsackie A16 virus (CA16) by the oral route developed anti-EV71 antibodies with neutralizing activity (1:16 and 1:2, respectively). Splenocytes from both EV71- and CA16-immunized mice proliferated upon EV71 or CA16, but not coxsackie B3 virus (CB3), antigen stimulation.

Retrograde axonal transport: a major transmission route of enterovirus 71 in mice.

Inoculation of enterovirus 71 (EV71) by the oral (p.o.), intramuscular (i.