Screening of window HBV infection among Egyptian blood donors

Transfusion-transmitted viral infection is present worldwide among blood donors. In the present study prevalence of early acute HBV infection among the eligible blood units for donation was investigated. Sera [760] from Egyptian blood donors [636 [83.68%] males and 124 [16.32%] females], who met donor selection criteria, were routinely screened for HBsAg, HCV-Ab, HIV 1/2-Ab and Syphilis-Ab. Accepted blood units for donation were further tested for liver and kidney functions and the presence of HBc-IgM and HBV-DNA. Screening resulted in 38 [5%] HCV-Ab positive units, 9 [1.18%] HBsAg positive units and one [0.13%] Syphilis-Ab positive unit. Testing of the accepted units for donation [712, 597 [83.84%] male and 115 [16.16%] female] resulted in one [0.13%] HBc-IgM positive unit and 2/30 HBV-DNA positive units. The routine screening of blood unit, to some extent, discovered the current viral infection but failed to detect early acute or window HBV infections where HBsAg is absent. ALT and AST levels were not indicative in viral infection in accepted blood donors at window period. Our study suggests that sensitive methods for detection of HBV [e.g. PCR] may be recommended in screening of donated blood. Anti-HBc antibody should be tested routinely on all donated blood units

Correlation between some angiogenic and apoptotic factors in acute leukemias

Objective: to evaluate matrix metalloproteinase-9 [MMP-9], inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 [TIMP-I], sFas, hepatocyte growth factor [HGF] and myeloperoxidase [MPO] levels in newly diagnosed patients with acute leukemias and to correlate their levels with the patients' clinical data. We also tried to study the correlation between apoptosis and angiogenesis in acute leukemias

Patients and Methods: this study included 15 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia [ALL]. 15 patients with acute myeloblastic leukemia [AML] and 15 healthy persons of matched age and sex served as controls. The levels of serum human total matrix metailoproteinase-9 [MMP-9], human tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 [TIMP-I], human sFas and plasma concentration of hepatocyte growth factor [HGF] were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The measurement of MPO was done in peripheral blood polymorphonuclear layer

Results: elevated levels of the angiogenic factors [MMP-9. its inhibitor TIMP-I, and HGF] as well as the apoptotic factor [sFas] were detected in both acute leukemic groups when compared with controls while MPO was significantly decreased in both groups as compared to controls. Significantly higher levels of MMP-9 and MPO were present in AML group than ALL group while sFas level was significantly higher in ALL than AML group. HGF level was insignificantly different between both groups. Higher values of MMP-9, HGF and sFas were observed in M4 and M5 than other FAB subtypes and in adult than child ALL. No correlation was present between angiogenesis and apoptosis in acute leukemic patients

Conclusion: angiogenesis and apoptosis are independent processes in acute leukemias