Biological therapy as a natural modality in management of hepatocellular carcinoma

Biological therapy as a natural modality in management of hepatocellular carcinoma ABST: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of Viscum Fraxini as a biological therapy in the management of hepatocellular carcinoma. Thirty patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma were subjected to weekly injection of 3 ml of Viscum Fraxini extract. According to the duration of treatment, they were divided into four groups. The impact of the drug on liver enzymes, liver and kidney function tests, blood picture, alpha fetoprotein level, quality of life and tumor size was investigated and compared between the individual groups. The drug significantly affected the quality of life with a considerable improvement of the appetite, increase in sleeping hours and remarkable decrease in pain in right hypochondrium. The drug led to a reduction in alpha fetoprotein level, improved Hb level and RBCs count; and its effect on the tumor size was promising, but not significant. It was concluded that Viscum Fraxini is safe and valuable therapy for the management of hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatic candidiasis in immunocompromised patients: diagnosis and treatment first Egyptian experience

This study included HSC, 4 of them were receiving intensive chemotherapy and 2 were undergoing bone marrow transplantation [BMT], one for aplastic anemia and the second for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Blood culture using the lysis centrifugation method was positive in 3 cases and revealed Candida albicans. Histopathological examination done through percutaneous liver biopsy CT guided was done in one case and revealed yeasts and pseudohyphae surrounded by an intense inflammatory reaction. The last 2 cases were diagnosed on clinical and laboratory grounds and different imaging modalities. All cases received amphotericin B as an initial treatment, however, 2 of them were shifted to fluconazole due to intolerable side effects in one of them and failure to respond in the second. All cases had been recovered following at least 4 weeks of antifungal therapy