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Background: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the most common cancers in the world, the detection and prognosis of which are still unsatisfactory. Thus, it is essential to explore the factors that may identify ESCC and evaluate the prognosis of ESCC patients., Results: Both protein and mRNA expression levels of BIRC5 are upregulated in ESCC group rather than non-ESCC group (standardized mean difference > 0). BIRC5 mRNA expression is related to the age, tumor location, lymph node stage and clinical stage of ESCC patients (p < 0.05). BIRC5 expression makes it feasible to distinguish ESCC from non-ESCC (area under the curve > 0.9), and its high expression is related to poor prognosis of ESCC patients (restrictive survival time difference = -0.036, p < 0.05). BIRC5 may play an important role in ESCC by influencing the cell cycle pathway, and CDK1, MAD2L and CDC20 may be the hub genes of this pathway. The transcription factors-MAZ and TFPD1 -are likely to regulate the transcription of BIRC5, which may be one of the factors for the high expression of BIRC5 in ESCC., Conclusions: The current study shows that upregulation of BIRC5 may have essential clinical value in ESCC, and contributes to the understanding of the pathogenesis of ESCC.

Ribavirin is a broad-spectrum inhibitor against several unrelated DNA or RNA viruses in vitro and in vivo. In this paper the in vitro and in vivo study of anti-influenza virus activity of ribavirin (RBV) injection had been reported. The in vitro antiviral activity of ribavirin injection against influenza virus A and B was studied by CPE. The in vivo protective action of ribavirin injection against influenza A/FM/1/47(H1N1) mouse adapted strain infected mouse was studied with mouse model. The results showed ribavirin injection has strong inhibitory activity against 7 virus strains tested in vitro. Ribavirin injection could significantly increase virus infected mouse survival rate and survival days and improve lung pathogen and lung index.

Influenza virus is a virus causing upper respiratory tract infection disease with high morbidity and mortality. China is considered as an area with high rate of influenza morbidity. Prevention and treatment of influenza currently rely on vaccines and antiviral agents in the world. In addition, traditional Chinese medicines also have been used in clinical for influenza therapy. In vitro anti-influenza virus activities of 10 traditional Chinese medicines were studied by cytopathic effect (CPE). Qingre Jiedu oral liquid (factory H) had strong antiviral activity against influenza virus A/Guangdong Luohu/219/2006 (H1N1); Yinhuang oral liquid had strong antiviral activity against influenza virus A/Hanfang/359/95 and A/Yuefang/243/72 (H3N2). Qingkailing oral liquid (factory G) had strong antiviral activity against influenza virus A/Jifang/15/90 (H3N2). Qingre Jiedu oral liquid (factory H) had strong antiviral activity against influenza virus A/Jifang/15/90, A/Yuefang/243/72 (H3N2) and virus B.

Cycloheximide (CHX) inhibits protein synthesis in most eukaryotic cells and it is a well-known tool commonly used in biochemical research. In this paper, the antiviral spectrum of CHX against several DNA and RNA viruses have been evaluated. CHX showed strong inhibitory activities against several RNA viruses such as HIV-1, influenza viruses, coxsackie B virus, enterovirus (EV71) and several DNA viruses such as HSV and HCMV. Especially the strong inhibitory activities of CHX against coxsackie B virus and enterovirus caught our attention, since effective drugs available in clinic are limited. The SAR of CHX derivatives also has been discussed in the paper. The hydroxyl group at C-2' and carbonyl group at C-2" of CHX are essential for its antiviral activity. And modification to these groups results its derivatives' antiviral activities reduced or lost.