Virological profiles of HBV and HCV in hepatocellular carcinoma in Egypt and Yemen

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC] is one of the very frequent malignancies that has poor prognosis. Chronic hepatitis B is the most important risk factor in the world particularly in developping countries. In developed world, HCC occurs in the background of chronic infection with HCV or alcohol abuse. Several factors affects the development of HCC in chronic hepatitis patients including viral genotype

Objectives:The aim of this study was to determine HCV and HBV viral profile in Egyptian and Yemeni HCC patients. Additionally, HCV and HBV were genotyped to investigate any possible correlation with HCC development

Methodology:Thirty HCC Egyptian patients admitted to the Hepatology Unit, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University and thirty HCC Yemeni patients attending the oncology center in Al-Gomhory hospital in Sanaahave been enrolled in this study.Hepatitis B surface Ag [HBs-Ag] was not detected in Egyptian HCC patients but in 36.7% of Yemeni HCC patients. On the other hand, anti-HCV antibodies were detected in 93.3% of the Egyptian HCC patients and in 16.7% only in Yemeni patients.HBV genotyping by direct sequencing of pol gene showed 11 cases of genotype D and 1 case of genotype E among HCC Yemeni patients. HCV genotyping by sequencing of NS5b and 5'UTR showed 21 cases of genotype 4 and 2 cases of genotype 1 and genotype 2 among Egyptian HCC patients

Conclusion:From the current study HCC appears to be significantly associated with HBV and HCV chronic infections in Yemen and Egypt respectively. In Egypt, occult HBV co-infection might escalate the danger of HCC development among HCV patients

Efficacy of Human Platelet Rich Fibrin Exudate vs Fetal Bovine Serum on Proliferation and Differentiation of Dental Pulp Stem Cells

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The imperative role of dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) in regenerative therapy demands an in-vitro expansion which must deal with the safety and ethical problems associated with fetal bovine serum (FBS). The primary aim of this study was to compare the effects of human platelet rich fibrin (hPRF) exudate Vs FBS on proliferation and osteodifferentiation of human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs). The secondary one was to determine the optimum concentration of hPRF exudate inducing hDPSCs proliferation and osteodifferentiation. METHODS: The direct method was used to prepare hPRF exudate. hDPSCs were isolated from impacted mandibular third molars of twelve donors by the outgrowth method. For cell viability and proliferation rate testing, 96 well plates were used and the assay was done in duplicate and the trial repeated four times under the same conditions. Six wells were used to contain 10% FBS, serum free media, 1%, 5%, 10% and 20% concentrations of hPRF exudates, respectively. The proliferation assay was carried out by MTS tetrazolium cell proliferation assay kit and Elisa reader. The study design for osteodifferentiation protocol was exactly as the proliferation one and instead the assay was carried out by alizarin red with Elisa reader. RESULTS: Compared to 10% FBS, 10% hPRF exudate was the optimum concentration for hDPSCs proliferation, while 1% hPRF exudate was the optimum concentration for osteodifferentiation of hDPSCs. CONCLUSIONS: Avoiding the risk of zoonosis which may be occurred with FBS, it is recommended to use 10% hPRF exudate for proliferation and 1% for osteodifferentiation.

Effect of some dietary animal and plant protein on the lipid profile in hyperlipidemic rats

The present study evaluates the effect of some dietary animal and plant protein on the hp1d profile m experimental animals'. Sixty· four adult male albino rats of Sprague Dawely strain weighing [160+/- 8.4 g] were divided into eight groups every group contain 8 rats. The first group served as negative control, fed on standard diet. The second group served as positive control, fed on hyperlipidemic diet contain 10% level casein. Moreover, the remaining 6 groups fed on hyperlipidemic diet at 10%, level of, protein obtained from the following protein sources: whey; soy; meat; [meat protein + whey protein, 1:1]; [meat protein+ soy protein, 1:1] and [meat protein+ soy protein +Whey protein, 1: 1: 1 ]. The result revealed that serum total lipids of all groups were significantly lowered [P:S 0.01] except group fed on meat, serum Total cholesterol; triglycerides; low density lipoprotein [LDL-C] and high density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C] of all groups were significantly reduced [P:S 0.01] as compared with positive control group. Fecal excretion of neutral steroids of all groups were significantly elevated [P: S 0.01] except the group fed on mixture of [meat protein+ soy protein +Whey protein] as compared with positive control group

Bronchial mucosal changes in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection

Hepatitis C virus [HCV], being both a hepatotropic and lymphotropic virus represents a chronic stimulus for the immune system. So, various extra hepatic immunologic abnormalities have been shown to occur frequently in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus. Among the systemic manifestations of chronic HCV infection, lung involvement has been described. Also the possibility that HCV infects extra hepatic cells has been widely discussed. So we aimed in this study to detect HCV antigen in the bronchial mucosa and broncho-alveolar lavage [BAL]. Together with, the study of histopathological changes in the bronchial biopsy and the cellular content of the BAL in patients with chronic HCV infection.Our study included 50 patients suffering from chronic liver disease due to Hepatitis C virus infection complaining of recurrent cough with negative clinical chest finding and normal X-ray chest.The patients were subdivided into: three groups according to Child-pugh classification.Bronchoalveolar lavage and bronchial biopsy were obtained through the use of fibre optic bronchoscopy. And detection of HCV antigen in the BAL and biopsy using immunohistochemistry was done. Alsostudy of the histopathological changes of bronchial biopsy and lavage were performed

In our results, HCV in bronchial biopsy and BAL fluid was detected in 42% [21/50] of our patients. And BAL showed increase in the neutrophils and lymphocytes percentage especially in patients in group II "Child B".Pulmonary permeability is mostly affected in cases of HCV infection, noticed by increase of the albumin level in the BAL of patient of Child "C" [group III]. Also Variable degrees of pathological changes have been noticed in the bronchial mucosa of the patients. These variations are affected by the severity of liver disease.So we conclude that the presence of inflammatory cell infiltration together with pathological changes of the bronchial mucosa may induce bronchial inflammation as a sequel of HCV infection which could explain the occurrence of the recurrent cough in our patients, and may lead to progressive fibrosingalveolitis