Cyclooxygenase-2 expression is associated with elevated AST level in hepatocellular carcinoma

Cyclooxygenase-2, the inducible rate-limiting enzyme of prostaglandins biosynthesis, has been reported to be involved in the pathogenesis of a variety of chronic inflammation-related human malignancies including Hepatocellular Carcinoma [HCC]. However, its clinical significance in HCC remains obscure. Our objectives were to evaluate COX-2 expression in HCC and correlate its expression to the different clinicopathological parameters and to assess its impact on patient survival. The present study was conducted on 17 HCC and 21 adjacent non-tumor liver tissues obtained from 22 HCC patients underwent curative hepatectomy at the National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Egypt. Eight normal liver tissues taken from normal donors and HepG2 cell line were used as controls. Total RNA from tissues and cells was extracted and COX-2 mRNA was detected by RT- PCR and correlated to the clinicopathological criteria as well as to patient's survival. COX-2 mRNA was detected in 58.8% of the HCC tissues and in 28.6% of the adjacent non-tumor liver tissues. COX-2 expression was significantly associated with elevated levels of serum aspartate aminotransferase [AST] with high specificity for the detection of the disease. However, there was no significant correlation between COX-2 expression and any of the histopathological criteria. COX-2 expression may be involved in HCC carcinogenesis with high specificity for the detection of the disease It was significantly associated with elevated AST levels indicating disease severity. However cox2 expression seems to be an independent factor with no correlation to any of the clinicopathological data or patient's survival

Occult hepatitis B and carcinogenesis markers in chronic hepatitis C infection

The presence of HBV-DNA in the patient's serum without detectable HBV surface antigen [HBsAg.] called occult infection. Detection of occult HBV infection in chronic hepatitis C virus patients was investigated by using qualitative PCR. Co-infection with occult HBV in chronic HCV patients increases the risk for progression to hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC].Detection of CD45-CD90+ as a biomarker in HCC patients by flow cytometry. We searched for serum HBV DNA in 30 patients with histologically verified HCV-related chronic liver disease, in addition to 10 healthy control subjects collected at National Liver Institute in Shebin El-Kom, Monofiya University, Egypt from January, 2010 to October, 2010. Off 40 patients, the sera of 9 [15.0%] were positive for HBV DNA by the different PCR assays, documenting an occult HBV infection. It found that 5 patient samples are positive for HBV DNA [Surface gene] [12.5%] of total 40 patient samples, also 3 patient samples are positive for HBV DNA [X gene] [7.5%] of total 40 patient samples, and only one patient sample was positive HBV DNA [core gene] [2.5%] of total 40 patient samples. Only two samples from the nine positive samples were positive for both Xgene and Surface gene. In conclusion these data suggest that occult HBV infection may have clinical significance in chronic hepatitis C patients

Evaluation of procalcitonin, C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 level in neonatal sepsis

Bacterial sepsis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in neonates. Diagnosis of neonatal sepsis may be difficult because clinical presentations are often nonspecific, bacterial cultures are time-consuming and other laboratory tests lack sensitivity and specificity. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the diagnostic use of procalcitonin, circulating cytokine [IL-6] and CRP in neonates with suspected sepsis. Blood was collected from 40 neonates admitted to neonatal intensive care units for suspicion of neonatal sepsis as well as 32 healthy controls. Sepsis group was subdivided into S1 [Proven sepsis n=16] and S2 [clinical sepsis n=24] according to the results of blood culture. Serum IL-6 was measured by Elisa, CRP was measured by nephlelometery and procalcitonin by Immunoluminometric assay. In sepsis group, level of CRP was significantly elevated compared to healthy controls P < 0.05. As regard to IL-6 level, it was significantly elevated in sepsis group compared to healthy control [P < 0.001], in addition it was increased in both patients subgroups S1, S2 with no statistically significant difference between both subgroups. Serum PCT concentration were significantly higher in sepsis group in comparison with the healthy control [P< 0.05]. PCT concentration were also significantly higher at initial suspicion and at 12-24 h and 36-48 h after the onset of symptoms in S1 than S2 subgroups. PCT seems to be a better marker of neonatal sepsis. Also, the combination of IL-6+CRP presented accuracy for differentiation between septic and non septic patients during the first 24 h of suspected sepsis

role of nitric oxide in determination of the severity of liver cirrhosis

Increased synthesis of nitric oxide, a potent vasodilator belongs to the endothelial derived. Relaxing factor [EDRE], is implicated in the hemodynamic consequences of cirrhosis. The present study was designed to find the correlation between the levels of nitric oxide [NO] and the severity of liver disease. Fifty-eight patients with chronic liver disease of varying severity were studied versus a control group of healthy people. Nitrate level was measured in the serum of patients and controls, which is used as an index for No.Our results have shown that NO level in the serum of all patient groups was elevated with a statistically significant value as compared with the controls [P<0.02]. The resistant ascites group [group III] showed higher levels of NO than the decompensated group [group II] with a statistical significance [P<0.01]. Extreme significance [P<0.001], when comparing liver function tests [Alb, Tp, ALT, Tbil, Proth] with NO in all studied groups. We concluded that the increased level of nitric oxide is associated with the severity of liver damage suggesting a role of NO in the definitive pathophysiological process of cirrhotics. Further research in this direction may elucidate the obvious role of NO in liver cirrhosis which may form the basis for future preventive strategies and or novel therapeutic