Significance of plasma osteopontin in diagnosis of hepatitis C virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma

Alfa fetoprotein [AFP] is widely used as a surveillance test for hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC] among patients with liver cirrhosis [LC]. However, the clinical use of AFP has been shown to present some important limitations in sensitivity and specificity. Osteopontin [OPN] is a secreted matrix glycoprotein that is emerging as a significant protein in the biology of HCC. The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic value of plasma OPN compared with that of AFP in the diagnosis of HCC among hepatitis C virus [HCV]-related LC. Plasma levels of OPN and AFP were measured in 69 Egyptian patients with HCV-related LC [35 with HCC and 34 without HCC] and 20 healthy controls. Both median AFP and OPN levels were significantly higher in the HCC group compared to LC and healthy control groups [p < 0.001 in each] and in LC compared to the control group [p < 0.001]. In the HCC group, both OPN and AFP levels were significantly higher in patients with Child-Pugh class C and B compared to class A [p < 0.05 in each]. There was no correlation between OPN and AFP levels. The OPN level was significantly higher in patients with multiple focal lesions than in those with single lesions [p < 0.05] and in patients with portal vein invasion compared to patients without portal vein invasion [p < 0.05]. Receiver operator characteristic [ROC] curves showed that the area under the curve [AUC] for OPN and AFP was 0.824 and 0.730, respectively. OPN is a promising tumour marker which could be used as a screening test for the diagnosis of HCC in patients with LC and, hence, improves the prognosis and survival rate of these patients. The association of OPN with the multiplicity of focal lesions and portal vein invasion suggests an additional prognostic value

Effect of chemically modified biomphalaria alexandrina snail antigen on cellular immune response in murine schistosomiasis mansoni

This study was designed to test the effect of a chemically modified Biomphalaria alexandrine snail antigen on the cellular immune response in thymus, mesenteric lymph nodes [M.L.N.] and spleen in murine Schistosomiasis mansoni. Antigen [0.16 micro g/ml] was extracted from tissues of pretreated snails with thioxanthone derivative [4-[Beta-diethylaminoethylamino] 2-cyclohexeno thiaxant- hone] Mice were divided into preimmunized group [immunization before infection], postimmunized group [immunization post infection], infected and uninfected groups. Mice were immunized subcutaneously at two weeks intervals [3 x 0.2 ml/mouse], either before or after the challenge with 200 Egyptian Schistosoma mansoni cercariae. Mice were sacrificed at two weeks post the third immunization and were compared with two groups of mice; uninfected control and infected positive control groups. The phenotypic analysis of the cellular immune response [CD3[+] pan T-cells, CD4[+] inducer/helper T-cells, CD8[+] suppressor/cytotoxic T-cells and B-cells] in thymus, mesenteric lymph nodes and spleen were assessed by direct immunoflourescence technique. A significant increase in CD3[+], CD4[+] and CD8[+] T -splenocytes and mesenteric lymph node cells were observed post 2[nd] and 3[rd] immunizations [Preimmunized group, Vacl and Vac2], as compared with negative control, as well as post-infection as compared with infected control. B-lymphocytes showed a significant increase post 2[nd] and 3[rd] immunizations preimmunized group, [Vac1 and Vac2], both in splenocytes and M.L.N. cells as compared with uninfected group, as well as post-infection as compared with infected positive control group [P

Studies on the immunological effects of nucleo-proteins isolated from different stages of biomphalaria alexandrina snails on schistosomiasis

The purpose of the present study was to find out the role of certain nucleoproteins isolated from different stages of Biomphalaria alexandrina snails in immunity of albino mice against infections with Schistosoma mansoni. These isolated nucleoproteins were used as native nucleoproteins or as physically modified by UV-irradiation. It was found that physically modified antigens have a pronounced effect on reduction of schistosoma egg laying and reduced the number of schistosoma worms in infected mice more than native nucleoproteins. Moreover, the presence of antibodies in sera of infected mice which immunized with physically modified antigens of mature stage gave an indication about the high efficiency of this antigen

Synthesis of new tetrahydronaphthyl-1,2,4-triazines of potential antibacterial activity

The present work emphasized the syntheses of new asymmetric triazines incorporated at position -5 with a tetrahydronaphthyl moiety which is known by its inhibitory effect on anaerobic glycolysis[1] The desired compounds were obtained by allowing 6-acetyl-tetraline [2] to undergo selenium dioxide oxidation to give the corresponding tetralyl glyoxal [1]. This upon reaction with methylthiosemicarbazide hydrogen iodide, cyclization occurred to give 3-methylthio-5-[l,2,3, 4-tetrahydronaphth-6-yl]-l,2,4-triazine [2]. The [1]H NMR of 2 [Delta ppm, CDCl[3]] revealed 8 protons [m,m] of four methylenes of the tetraline ring at 1.82,2.90; 3 protons [s] of SCH[3] at 2.7 and 4 aromatic protons [m] at 7.1-7.9 ppm. The IR spectrum of 2 showed bands at 1600 cnr1[C=N] and at 1570-1480 cm[-1][C=C]

Synthesis of tetralylthiazole dithiocarbamate and hydrazine derivatives

The interesting pharmacological properties of both tetraline and thiazole moities, led us to synthesize a new series of compounds incorporating both moities for the sake of getting compounds of possible biological activity. Thus, chloroacetylation of 2-amino-4-[2-tetralyl] thiazole [II] with chloroacetyl chloride in dry benzene afforded 2-chloroacetylamino4-[2-tetralyl] thiazole [III]. It serves as a useful starting material for the synthesis of dithiocarbamate derivatives known to be biologically active compounds. Compound II was prepared by the condensation of 2-bromoacetyItetralin [I] with thiourea. Furthermore, treatment of III with ammonium salt of substituted dithiocarbamic acids IV gave the corresponding dithiocarbamate derivatives, namely, S-[2-acylamino-4-[2-tetralyl]] thiazole-N-substituted dithiocarbamates Va-e. On the other hand, it has been reported that Schiff s bases are biologically active compounds. So, it is of interest to synthesize the Schiff's bases of 2-amino4-[2-tetralyl] thiazole [II]. Therefore, condensation of II with different aromatic aldehydes, yielded the corresponding arylidene derivatives Vla-c. In addition, 2-hydrazino-4-[2-teralyl] thiazole [VII] was obtained through the condensation of 6-bromoacetyltetralin [I] with 1-acetylthiosemicarbazide in ethanol followed by hydrolysis with hydrochloric acid The hydrazones Vllla-e were prepared either by the condensation of VII with different aromatic aldehydes or by the reaction of thiosemicarbazone derivatives IXa-e with compound I. Hydrazones VIHa-e were separated as their hydrobromides and all attempts to obtain the free hydrazone derivatives were unsuccessful and gave tarry products

Some new thiopyranoquinoline derivatives of possible biological activity

The interesting pharmacological activity of the quinoline derivatives led us to synthesis and study a new series of quinoline compounds fused with a thiopyrano moiety in a trial to obtain compounds of anticipated biological value. Thus, in continuation to our previous world, thiopyranoquinoline derivative 2, was chosen as starting material. This was obtained through the condensation of 2-methyl-4-chloroquinoline with thiosalicylic acid in presence of alcoholic sodium hydroxide solution to give 2-methyl-4- [7-chloroquinolinoyl] -2-carboxyphenylsulphide [1], followed by cyclization with polyphosphoric acid to yield 3-chloro-6-methyl-benzothiopyranoquinolin-7-one [2]. Furthermore, treatment a solution of 2 in acetic acid with hydrogen peroxide afforded the corresponding sulpone derivative 3. In addition, oxidation of 3 with selenium dioxide in dioxane solution yield the 3-chloro -6-carboxaldehyde - benzothiopyranoquinolin-7-one 12, 12-dioxide [4 a]. On the other hand compound 4 a was achieved directly through selenium dioxide oxidation of the thiopyrano derivative 2

One step synthesis and some reactions of 2-oxo-3-cyanobenzo [h] quinoline derivatives Part I

The photolysis of p-quinoneimines have been casully explored. In the present investigation we examine the photolysis of 2-chloro-p-benzoquinonedibenzenesulphonimide [I] in ethanol