Reactivation of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) from latency to the lytic cycle is required for the production of viral particles. Here, we examine the capacity of resveratrol to inhibit the EBV lytic cycle. Our results show that resveratrol inhibits the transcription of EBV immediate early genes, the expression of EBV lytic proteins, including Rta, Zta, and EA-D and reduces viron production, suggesting that this compound may be useful for preventing the proliferation of the virus.

Abstract:Polygonum cuspidatum is widely used as a medicinal herb in Asia. In this study, we examined the ethyl acetate subfraction F3 obtained from P. cuspidatum root and its major component, emodin, for their capacity to inhibit the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) lytic cycle. The cell viability was determined by the MTT [3-(4,5-dimethyldiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] method. The expression of EBV lytic proteins was analyzed by immunoblot, indirect immunofluorescence and flow cytometric assays. Real-time quantitative PCR was used to assess the EBV DNA replication and the transcription of lytic genes, including BRLF1 and BZLF1. Results showed that the F3 and its major component emodin inhibit the transcription of EBV immediate early genes, the expression of EBV lytic proteins, including Rta, Zta, and EA-D and reduces EBV DNA replication, showing that F3 and emodin are potentially useful as an anti-EBV drug.

No abstract

Fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is a highly accurate tool for the diagnosis of pleomorphic adenomas; however, this common salivary gland neoplasm can be diagnostically challenging, causing pitfalls in cytodiagnosis. A 50-year-old woman suffered from a painless, slowly-growing mass in the right posterior upper neck for 5 months. FNAC from this mass revealed many discohesive parakeratotic cells and keratin flakes, and a few stromal elements. Under the impression of metastatic well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma, the tumor mass was totally excised. Histology confirmed a pleomorphic adenoma with marked squamous metaplasia and frequent keratin pearl formations without the evidence of malignancy. Pleomorphic adenoma occasionally reveals focal squamous metaplastic changes, when extensive, it may be misdiagnosed as metastatic well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma in FNAC, particularly in the neck region.

No abstract