In Vitro Antiviral Activity of Germacrone Against Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is one of the most serious diseases affecting the swine industry worldwide; however, there is no efficient control strategies against PRRSV at present. Therefore, development of new antiviral treatment strategies is urgently needed. As reported, germacrone can efficiently impair influenza virus replication. In this study, we exploited whether germacrone has the potential to inhibit PRRSV infection. Our results showed that the germacrone significantly inhibited replication of PRRSV in vitro and repressed the synthesis of viral RNA and protein. However, it did not block PRRSV binding and entry. Further studies confirmed that germacrone impaired PRRSV replication at an early stage, and inhibited infection of both classic and highly pathogenic type II PRRSV strains. Collectively, our findings imply that the germacrone has the potential to be used as an anti-PRRSV drug.

Hydrothermal Synthesis of Hierarchical SnO2 Nanostructures for Improved Formaldehyde Gas Sensing.

The indoor environment of buildings affects people's daily life. Indoor harmful gases include volatile organic gas and greenhouse gas. Therefore, the detection of harmful gas by gas sensors is a key method for developing green buildings. The reasonable design of SnO2-sensing materials with excellent structures is an ideal choice for gas sensors. In this study, three types of hierarchical SnO2 microspheres assembled with one-dimensional nanorods, including urchin-like microspheres (SN-1), flower-like microspheres (SN-2), and hydrangea-like microspheres (SN-3), are prepared by a simple hydrothermal method and further applied as gas-sensing materials for an indoor formaldehyde (HCHO) gas-sensing test. The SN-1 sample-based gas sensor demonstrates improved HCHO gas-sensing performance, especially demonstrating greater sensor responses and faster response/recovery speeds than SN-2- and SN-3-based gas sensors. The improved HCHO gas-sensing properties could be mainly attributed to the structural difference of smaller nanorods. These results further indicate the uniqueness of the structure of the SN-1 sample and its suitability as HCHO- sensing material.

[Effect of electroacupuncture on ultrastructural changes of facial nerve in rabbits with facial nerve injury].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on ultrastructure of facial nerve and Schwann cells in facial nerve injury rabbits so as to explore its mechanism underlying improving facial palsy. METHODS: A total of 60 Japanese white rabbits were randomly assigned to normal control (normal, n = 6), sham-operation (sham, n = 18), model (n = 18) and EA (n = 18) groups. The facial nerve injury model was established by clamping the right facial nerve for 5 min by using a pair of forceps. EA (1.5 V, 3 Hz/60 Hz) was applied to "Yifeng" (TE 17)-"Hegu" (LI 4), and "Dicang" (ST4)-"Jiache" (ST6) on the affected side for 30 min, respectively, once daily for 3 weeks. Morphologic changes of the myelin sheath and Schwann cells of the facial nerve were observed by using electron microscope after 1, 2 and 3 weeks' treatment. RESULTS: Compared with the normal control group, the number of the myelin sheaths and the thickness values of the facial nerve after treatment of 1, 2 and 3 weeks in the model group were decreased significantly (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). While in comparison with the model group, the thickness value of the facial nerve 2 weeks after modeling in EA group was increased considerably (P < 0.01). In the model group, there were many vacuoles in the cytoplasm of Schwann cells instead of organells in the facial nerve. In the sham group, the demyelination was milder than that of the model group, and majority of myelin sheaths showed integral structure after 2 and 3 weeks, being similar to the normal group. Compared with the model group, the extent of demyelination was less distinct, with relatively more abundant organells in the facial nerve of the EA group, especially after 1 week of treatment. Among the three time points in the EA group, demyelination was milder in the 1st week not in the other time points. In contrast, along with the continuous EA treatment, the situation became worse after 3 weeks of treatment in the EA group. CONCLUSION: In the acute stage of facial nerve injury, EA intervention can play a positive effect on the repair of the nerve and Schwann cells. However, continuous 3- weeks' EA intervention may worsen the facial nerve injury.