Expression of Raf kinase inhibitor protein is downregulated in response to Newcastle disease virus infection to promote viral replication.

Newcastle disease virus (NDV) causes a severe and economically significant disease affecting almost the entire poultry industry worldwide. However, factors that affect NDV replication in host cells are poorly understood. Raf kinase inhibitory protein (RKIP) is a physiological inhibitor of c-RAF kinase and NF-κB signalling, known for their functions in the control of immune response as well as tumour invasion and metastasis. In the present study, we investigated the consequences of overexpression of host RKIP during viral infection. We demonstrate that NDV infection represses RKIP expression thereby promoting virus replication. Experimental upregulation of RKIP in turn acts as a potential antiviral defence mechanism in host cells that restricts NDV replication by repressing the activation of Raf/MEK/ERK and IκBα/NF-κB signalling pathways. Our results not only extend the concept of linking NDV-host interactions, but also reveal RKIP as a new class of protein-kinase-inhibitor protein that affects NDV replication with therapeutic potential.

High Genetic Diversity of Newcastle Disease Virus in Wild and Domestic Birds in Northeastern China from 2013 to 2015 Reveals Potential Epidemic Trends.

Newcastle disease (ND), caused by the virulent Newcastle disease virus (NDV), is one of the most important viral diseases of birds globally, but little is currently known regarding enzootic trends of NDV in northeastern China, especially for class I viruses. Thus, we performed a surveillance study for NDV in northeastern China from 2013 to 2015. A total 755 samples from wild and domestic birds in wetlands and live bird markets (LBMs) were collected, and 10 isolates of NDV were identified. Genetic and phylogenetic analyses showed that five isolates from LBMs belong to class I subgenotype 1b, two (one from wild birds and one from LBMs) belong to the vaccine-like class II genotype II, and three (all from wild birds) belong to class II subgenotype Ib. Interestingly, the five class I isolates had epidemiological connections with viruses from southern, eastern, and southeastern China. Our findings, together with recent prevalence trends of class I and virulent class II NDV in China, suggest possible virus transmission between wild and domestic birds and the potential for an NDV epidemic in the future.

Oesophago-pericardial fistula after catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation: a case report.

Background: Oesophageal fistula is a rare complication of catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation with most fistulas being atrio-oesophageal fistulas, but oesophageal-pericardial fistula can also happen in the absence of atrial perforation. Case summary: A 68-year-old male patient presented with chest pain 10 days after catheter ablation of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. He was discharged after an initial negative workup that included a CT chest without contrast. He later presented again with severe chest pain and fever and was found to have an oesophageal-pericardial fistula. He underwent surgical and endoscopic treatment with good recovery. Discussion: Patients with oesophago-pericardial fistulas often have delayed presentation 1-4 weeks after the ablation procedure. Early diagnosis can be challenging. CT with oral and intravenous contrast is often used for diagnosis. Treatment often includes antibiotics, surgical or interventional drainage of infected spaces with oesophageal repair, clipping or stenting. In contrast to atrio-oesophageal fistulas that carry a high mortality rate, mortality for oesophago-pericardial fistulas appears to be much lower.

Effective cross-protection of a lyophilized live gE/gI/TK-deleted pseudorabies virus (PRV) vaccine against classical and variant PRV challenges.

Classical Bartha-K61 strains could not provide complete protection against the emerging highly virulent pseudorabies virus (PRV) variant strains, which has caused great economic losses to swine industry in China. In this study, a gE/gI/TK-deleted PRV vaccine strain based on a circulating PRV variant strain HeB12 was generated by serial passages in Vero cells and a lyophilized formulation was prepared as a live-attenuated PRV vaccine. Compared to commercial Bartha-K61 strains, vaccine efficacy in vivo experiments showed that the novel triple gene-deleted variant vaccine could provide complete cross-protection against the lethal challenges by the classical RA strain and variant TJ12 strain, indicating that it could be a better alternative product than the currently used Bartha-K61 strains for the control and eradication of epidemic pseudorabies in China.

Genetic analysis of avian paramyxovirus-1 (Newcastle disease virus) isolates obtained from swine populations in China related to commonly utilized commercial vaccine strains.

Newcastle disease virus (NDV) has been thought to only infect avian species. However, at least eight NDV strains were isolated from swine populations in China during 1999-2006, four of which were characterized genetically and phylogenetically. Genetic analysis revealed that JL106 and SP13 had a (112)G-R-Q-G-R-L(117) motif at the cleavage site of F protein, while JL01 and MP01 possessed a (112)G-K-Q-G-R-L(117) motif, which indicated that all of them were typical of low-virulence viruses. Phylogenetic analysis based on the full-length F gene sequences showed that JL106 and SP13 belonged to genotype II, similar to the commonly utilized commercial La Sota vaccine strain in China. While JL01 and MP01 clustered within genotype I, genetically identical to the V4 vaccine strain. The animal trials showed that JL106 can effectively infect chickens. The present results indicated that the use of live La Sota and V4 vaccines and close contact between avian and pigs maybe resulted in cross-species infection, therefore, it is necessary to further carry out swine NDV epidemiology surveillance.

[Establish remote of sensing monitoring method and standard on wild rare medical plant].

At present the shortage of the resources of wild and rare medicinal plants is very serious in China. So grasping the situation and change tendency of medicinal plant resources comprehensive and real-timely, is vital significance to realize the sustainable using of medicinal plant resources. In order to use the remote sensing monitor technology and method to study the resources of the wild and rare medicinal plants, this article discusses the principle, method, technology and the principle and standard based on the operation and experiment of remote sensing monitor on the resources of wild rare medicinal plant.

[Selectivity rank regionalization of Paeonia lactiflora based on fuzzy method].

For optimal adaptive cultivation region selection, we used ecology factors characterized Duolun region as model area to carry out the adaptive habitat division of Paeonia lactiflora. Similar priority comparison of ecology factors.in 91 cities were calculated by Fuzzy methods, then, distance of the ecology factors were transferred to spacial model by geography information system (,GIS) and modified by soil utilization map of China. The results showed that P. lactiflora were mainly distributed in the Daxing'an Mountain, Changbaishan and qinling range which were divided into six grades of suitable regions belonging to three geographical distributed units. The most similar areas to Duolun were Huade, Xilinhaote, Suolun and Zhangbei. P. lactiflora's distribution and quality are relevant with longitude and latitude, and temperature and rainfall.

[Biomass structure analysis of Atractylodes lancea in different ecological environments].

OBJECTIVE: To study the ecological environments of Atractylodes lancea by biomass structural analysis. METHOD: Through the scientific investigation in Maoshan, the sampling spots were set up, the relation between growth and ecological environments was researched and the ecological environments of A. lancea were divided as following: the vegetation layer, the shrub layer, the shrub-weed layer and the weed layer. The ramet biomass, height, leaves and coverage of A. lancea were studied. RESULT: The several factors (ramet biomass, height, leaves and coverage) showed the regular change. Among maximum, minimum and average, the shrub layer was the biggest, the shrub and weed layer was the second biggest and the vegetation layer and the weed layer was the least. CONCLUSION: A. lancea tends to distribute in the shrub layer and the shrub-weed layer.

[Analysis in distribution of Atractylodes lancea at Maoshan regions].

OBJECTIVE: To Investigate the distribution of Atractylodes lancea at Maoshan regions. METHODS: To combine the plot sampling with GIS technology in the analysis of distribution and its factors. RESULTS: The biomass of Atractylodes lancea was related to the growth of Ouercus serrata var. brevipetiolata, slope and humidity. The distribution of Atractylodes lancea which was less in north Maoshen region, most in south region, least in middle region. CONCLUSION: The main factor of distributing sintuation is the human beings. The leading factors in the biomass of Atractylodes lancea are Ouercus serrata var. brevipetiolata and slope.

[Study on climate regionalization of Artemisia annuua in Guangxi].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the major effective factors under the climatic conditions of Guangxi which influence artemisinin content, in order to determine the best planting region. METHOD: The correlation, the gradually regression analysis with the statistical analysis system, the geography space analysis and the regionalization with GIS were used for the study. RESULT AND CONCLUSION: The temperature and the sunshine-hour were the major effective factors to artemisinin content, followed by the rainfall amount, the humidity showed less influence, and wind speed had no effect; And the climatic factors of seedling stage and the flowering season were the most influences to the artemisinin content. The artemisinin content was higher during the flowering season, in the region of temperature relatively lower and the rainfall amount smaller. The knoll and the mountainous region in northeast and southwest of Guangxi is the best suitable region for the Artemisia annua planting. The plain area in the southeast and middle of Guangxi is the not suitable region; Other areas are suitable regions for the A. annua planting.

[Statistical analysis of residues of heavy metals in Chinese crude drugs].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the residues of heavy metals in Chinese crude drugs. METHOD: The SPSS 13.0 software was used to analyze the data of Cu, Pb, As, Cd, Hg collected in literatures. And, Green Trade Standards of Importing & Exporting Medicinal Plants & Preparations was used as the standard to evaluate the pollution condition of Cu, Pb, As, Cd, Hg in Chinese crude drugs. RESULT: Chinese crude drugs were contaminated by heavy metals in different levels. The content of Cu, Pb, As, Cd, Hg exceeded the limit of the standard and the percentage was 21.0%, 12.0%, 9.7%, 28.5%, 6.9%, respectively; the phenomena of two, three and four metals exceeding limited standard simultaneity in a drug were also found and the percentage was 4.6%, 1.5%, 0.7%, respectively; the content of heavy metals in Radix Platycodi, Radix Asari and Rhizoma Coptidis was higher among the thirty-six Chinese crude drugs; All of the content of five heavy metals in Barbary Fructus Lycii Rhizoma Anemones Raddeanae, Radix Panacis Quiquefolii and Fructus Aurantii were below the limit; The pollution levels of heavy metals in different locality were different; The content of Cu, Pb in cultivated Chinese crude drugs was higher than that in wild Chinese crude drugs, while the content of As in wild Chinese crude drugs was higher than that in cultivated Chinese crude drugs. CONCLUSION: The pollution levels of heavy metals in Chinese crude drugs were detailed reported in this paper. And it provided ways for the further study of heavy metals in Chinese crude drugs.

[Remote sensing resource monitoring on Atractylodes lancea].

Remote sensing technology was used for investigation of the resources of Atractylodes lancea. Firstly, the general situation of Jiangshu Maoshan and A. lancea in Maoshan was introduced; Secondly, the methods of remote sensing on the resource of the wild drugs were explained. Thirdly, the TM images were interpret according to the differences of the objects reflex spectrum, and growth environments in Damao mountain, Ermao mountain and Xiaomao mountain were divided into different sub-areas according to the results of the field investigations. Finally, the resource of A. lancea in Jiangshu Maoshan was estimated.

[Comparing of different methods on habitat adaptive division of Chinese material medica].

OBJECTIVE: To comparing two kinds habitat adaptive division of Chinese material medica with different models. METHOD: The habitat adaptive divisions of A. lancea according essential oil accumulation with two kinds pattern, model pattern and template pattern were carrid and compared. RESULT: Two habitat adaptive divisions of A. lancea maps according essential oil accumulation were gotten. CONCLUSION: Both model pattern and template pattern were efficient on habitat adaptive division of Chinese material medica, but they shoud bu used with different processesd and based different background [corrected]

[Plant hydroponics and its application prospect in medicinal plants study].

This article introduced the theorem and method of hydroponics. Some examples of studies in agriculture and forestry were presented, the effects of elements, environmental stress and hormones on physiology of medicinal plants by using hydroponics were analyzed. It also introduced the feasibility and advantage of hydroponics in intermediate propagation and allelopathy of medicinal plant. And finally it made the conclusion that the way of hydroponics would be widely used in medicinal plant study.

[Remote sensing monitoring methods for medicinal plants resource in different types of ecological environment].

Different remote sensing monitoring methods are needed for the medicinal plant resource in different types of ecological environment. This paper explained remote sensing monitoring methods for the resource of the wild medicinal plants and cultivated plants, and analyzed the rare species, generous species and species in special ecological environment in detail. It provides a new method to all kind of medicinal plants resources' remote sensing monitoring.

[Application of multivariate statistical methods in research of Chinese medicinal materials resource ecology].

In this paper the application of multivariate statistical methods in research of Chinese medicinal materials resource ecology was introduced. The importance of multivariate statistical analysis used in research on analyzing ecological environment factors and region suitability of Chinese crude drugs has been pointed out. Several frequent used multivariate statistical methods have been presented.

[Study on dynamical changes of Ginkgo biloba resources in Pizhou city of Jiangsu Province base on RS and GIS].

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the dynamical changes of the Ginkgo biloba's resources from 2001 to 2006, in Pizhou city, Jiangshu province by useing spatial analytical function of GIS and RS technology. METHOD: Use the GIS and RS technology, extracted the information of G. biloba by scientific investigation, researched the spatial distribution and dynamical changes of G. biloba based on landsat 5 TM: the Apr. 3rd, 2001; Jan. 16th, 2005; July 30th, 2006. RESULT: Ginkgo biloba's resource was 1.61 x 10(5) hm2 in 2001, 1.84 x 10(5) hm2 in 2005, 1.88 x 10(5) hm2 in 2006. CONCLUSION: Ginkgo biloba's resource rised from 1.61 x 10(5) hm2 to 1.88 x 10(5) hm2 from 2001 to 2006, showed the gradually rise.

A Raf kinase inhibitor demonstrates antiviral activities both in vitro and in vivo against different genotypes of virulent Newcastle disease virus.

Newcastle disease (ND) is still one of the major plagues of birds worldwide. Combat actions are limited to vaccines, highlighting the urgent need for new and amply available antiviral drugs. Previous results have shown that Newcastle disease virus (NDV) downregulates the intracellular Raf kinase inhibitor protein (RKIP) expression for efficient replication, suggesting that this molecular may be a suitable target for antiviral intervention. In the present work, we investigated whether or not the Raf kinase inhibitor V (RKIV), which functions in the same way as RKIP by targeting the intracellular Raf kinase, is able to suppress the propagation of enzootic virulent NDV in vitro and in vivo. In vitro antiviral activity of RKIV was assessed by cell-based assay, and in vivo activity was determined in the chicken model. Our results clearly showed that RKIV treatment protected the cells from NDV-induced CPE with the effective concentrations on nM level, and inhibited virus replication in the lungs of infected chickens in a dose-dependent manner and protected chickens from the lethal infection by NDV. Thus, we conclude that the Raf kinase inhibitor compound RKIV, by inhibiting the host cellular target Raf kinase, might be very promising as a new class of antivirals against the enzootic virulent NDV infection.