Efficacy of Bidens pilosa Extract against Herpes Simplex Virus Infection In Vitro and In Vivo

The development of strains of herpes simplex virus (HSV) resistant to drugs has been reported among the immunocompromised patients. Thus, there is a need to develop new therapeutic agents for HSV infections. We evaluated the anti-HSV activity of Bidens pilosa (B. pilosa), a tropical weed, in tissue culture cells and a mouse model. B. pilosa extract showed potent virucidal activity. It inhibited plaque formation and suppressed virus yield in Vero and RAW 264.7 cells infected with HSV-1 and HSV-2. Both the binding of virus to host cells and penetration of virus into cells were also blocked by B. pilosa. Furthermore, B. pilosa was effective against thymidine kinase-deficient and phosphonoacetate-resistant HSV-1 strains. B. pilosa treatment increased the survival rate of HSV-infected mice and limited the development of skin lesions. Our results indicate that B. pilosa has anti-HSV activity and is thus a potentially useful medical plant for treatment of HSV infection

Ectopic varices in a right diaphragm that ruptured into the pleural cavity.

The term ectopic varices is used to describe dilated portosystemic collateral veins in unusual locations other than the gastroesophageal region. We recently experienced a rare case of ectopic varices that developed in the right diaphragm and ruptured into the pleural cavity. A 68-year-old female with hepatocellular carcinoma complicated with liver cirrhosis was admitted due to an acute onset of dyspnea and right bloody pleural effusion. Because of the patient's advanced hepatocellular carcinoma and poor condition, conservative therapies such as hemostats and blood transfusion were selected. Even though the bleeding to the pleural cavity stopped spontaneously, the patient died due to a progression of liver failure. Autopsy revealed a huge collateral vein in the right diaphragm. The etiology, prevalence, relationship with portal hypertension, and treatment of ectopic varices are discussed herein

Unconventional charge density wave in the organic conductor alpha-(BEDT-TTF)_2KHg(SCN)_4

The low temperature phase (LTP) of alpha-(BEDT-TTF)_2KHg(SCN)_4 salt is known for its surprising angular dependent magnetoresistance (ADMR), which has been studied intensively in the last decade. However, the nature of the LTP has not been understood until now. Here we analyse theoretically ADMR in unconventional (or nodal) charge density wave (UCDW). In magnetic field the quasiparticle spectrum in UCDW is quantized, which gives rise to spectacular ADMR. The present model accounts for many striking features of ADMR data in alpha-(BEDT-TTF)_2KHg(SCN)_4.Comment: 5 pages, 6 figure

Impurity scattering in unconventional density waves: non-crossing approximation for arbitrary scattering rate

We present a detailed theoretical study on the thermodynamic properties of impure quasi-one dimensional unconventional charge-, and spin-density waves in the framework of mean-field theory. The impurities are of the ordinary non-magnetic type. Making use of the full self-energy that takes into account all ladder-, and rainbow-type diagrams, we are able to calculate the relevant low temperature quantities for arbitrary impurity concentration and scattering rates. These are the density of states, specific heat and the shift in the chemical potential. Our results therefore cover the whole parameter space: they include both the self-consistent Born and the resonant unitary limits, and most importantly give exact results in between.Comment: 11 pages, 8 figure