Induction of VCAM-1 expression by human cytomegalovirus infection in women with spontaneous abortion VCAM-1

To elucidate the possible role of Human cytomegalovirus HCMV in pregnancy loss through induction of certain pro-inflammatory adhesion molecules Paraffin embedded sections of currete samples were obtained from 34 women who had spontaneous abortion, and 5 from women who had elective termination of pregnancy [as control], and then subjected for immunohistochemistry analysis to detect human cytomegalovirus [HCMV] early protein and VCAM-1 molecule. Nine out of 34 women with spontaneous abortion were positive for HCMV early protein, with a significantly higher expression of VCAM-1 in HCMV positive cases as compared with HCMV negative and the control group [P= 0.05, 0.001; respectively]. HCMV infection may play an important role in the pathology of pregnancy loss on multidirectional bases include inducing the surface expression of pro-inflammatory adhesion molecules like VCAM-1

Serum alanine aminotransferase level among thalassemic children infected with hepatitis C virus

Hepatitis C virus is responsible for a majority of post-transfusion hepatitis in thalassemic patients. Serum aminotransferase level is a method to assess hepatitis C virus infected patients. To determine and correlate serum alanine aminotransferase level with hepatitis C virus specific antibody, RNA positivity and genotyping among children with thalassemia major. The study was performed on 269 patients with thalassemia major. All sera were tested for Hepatitis C virus specific antibody using third generation enzyme immunoassay EIA-3 Kit. Positive sera were retested using third generation immuno blot confirmatory test Lia-Tek-III Kit. RT-PCR and DNA enzyme immunoassay DIA were performed on 78 sera to determine HCV-RNA positivity with subsequent genotyping. All sera were submitted for serum Alanine Aminotransferase level measurement. Of the 269 thalassemic children. 18167.3% were positive for Hepatitis C virus specific antibody. No significant different in mean serum Alanine Aminotransferase level were seen between anti Hepatitis C virus sero-positive 15.43 +/- 19.89 IU/L and seronegative 11.23 +/- 13.79 IU/L children [t =1.79, p>0.05]. The mean serum Alanine Aminoiransferase level among HCV-RNA positive and HCV-RNA negative samples was 40.11 +/- 24.66 IU/L and 5.95 +/- 4.46 IU/L respectively showing a significant difference [t = 6.43. p=0.0001]. Three Hepatitis C virus genotypes were detected 1a, 1b and 4 with predominance of type 4. Significant difference in the mean of serum ALT level was demonstrated among various types of Hepatitis C virus especially among those with genotype 1b [F=11.74, p =0.0001]. No significant elevation in serum transaminase level among Hepatitis C virus seropositive children with thalassemia major compared with seronegative ones. There was a significant rise in serum transaminase level among HCV-RNA positive patients especially among those with genotype 1b

Sero -prevalence of hepatitis C virus specific antibody among Iraqi hemophilia patients infected with HIV

Blood transfusion is a risk factor for acquiring Human immune deficiency virus and Hepatitis C virus infections. To estimate the sero-prevalence of Hepatitis C Virus infection among hemophilic patients infected with HIV and to demonstrate the most prevalent Hepatitis C Virus genotype. A sample of 47 HIV infected hemophilic patients was screened for anti-Hepatitis C Virus specific antibodies using a third generation enzyme immunoassay. Positive results were then confirmed by third generation immunoblot assay. Polymerase chain reaction and DNA enzyme immunoassay were performed to detect Hepatitis C Virus RNA positivity and subsequent genotyping. The sero-prevalence of anti Hepatitis C Virus - specific antibodies was 65.96%. Out of 31 HCV/HIV co infected patients, 21 [67.7%] were lacking history of blood transfusion. Four Hepatitis C Virus genotypes were detected [1a, 1b, 3a and mixed 3a and 4] with prevalence of 15.38%, 61.53%, 15.38% and 7.69% respectively. Hepatitis C Virus -1b was found to be the most frequent detected genotype among Hepatitis C Virus positive Iraqi hemophilic co-infected with HIV. Contaminated factor VIII was found to be responsible for disease acquisition