Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a leading cause of liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) Noninvasive indicators for the diagnosis and follow-up of individuals with liver disorders may be found in circulating microRNAs. One such miRNA is miR-34a, which has been linked to the development of HCC. Hepatocellular carcinoma is a highly vascular tumor in which angiogenesis plays a critical role in its development. The best-known angiogenic factor, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), has been proven to have a pivotal role in the development of HCC. Objectives: To evaluate the expression profile of miRNA-34a and the serum levels of VEGF both in patients and control group and to find their association with disease progression in HCV patients and evaluate their significance as novel markers for HCV induced HCC. Subjects and Method: Including 32 CHC, 23 CHC with liver cirrhosis (LC), 20 CHC with HCC patients, and 15 healthy controls, a total of 90 people participated in the study. Real-time PCR was used to examine the miR-34a expression profile. ELISA was used to assess VEGF concentrations in serum. Results: Serum miR-34a down-regulation was observed in patients' groups compared to control group, with lower expression in HCV infection with HCC and HCV infection with LC groups than the HCV infected group. Also VEGF level increased significantly in groups HCV infection with LC and with HCC compared to the control group, in groups HCV infection with LC and with HCC groups compared to the HCV infected group and in group HCV infection with HCC compared to HCV infection with LC group. Conclusion: Expression profile of miRNA-34a and serum levels of VEGF can be used as novel markers for HCV inducing HCC with prediction of disease progression in CHC patients.

Background: Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a major health issue and it is linked to high rates of morbidity and mortality. MRSA is a multidrug resistant organism therefore, several new antimicrobial agents against MRSA are urgently needed such as those based on nanoparticles (NPs). Objectives: Detection of the antimicrobial activity of ZnO and TiO2 NPS on MRSA if used alone then evaluating their effect when combined with different types of antibiotics. Methodology: This study was carried out on 150 pus samples collected from patients with infected wounds in different wards of Benha University hospitals. Identification of MRSA isolates was performed by chromogenic media and cefoxitin disc diffusion test. The antibacterial activity of ZnO and TiO2 NPs and the effect of their combination with antibiotics were tested by measuring their inhibition zones on MRSA isolates. The effect of NPs on MRSA isolates was traced by using electron microscope. Results: The prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus (S.aureus) among samples in the present study was 61(40.6%) and the percentage of MRSA among S. aureus isolates was 60.7%. This study detected a significant antibacterial activity of ZnO and TiO2 on MRSA isolates. There was a significant increase in the mean diameters of the inhibition zones of tested antibiotics on MRSA isolates when they were conjugated with ZnO and TiO2 NPs. Conclusion: ZnO and TiO2 NPs have a significant antibacterial activity on MRSA isolates. Our results support marked synergy between NPs (ZnO and TiO2) and antibiotics when both combined against MRSA isolates.

Background: Due to the tropism of human parvovirus B19 to erythroid progenitor cells, infection in patients with an underlying hemolytic disorder such as thalassemia, hereditary spherocytosis, sickle cell disease and Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency leads to suppression of erythrocyte formation, referred to as transient aplasia crisis (TAC), which may be life-threatening. Objectives: Detection of parvovirus B19 DNA and its IgG antibodies in the serum of children with chronic hemolytic anemia and in apparently healthy children in Benha University Hospitals. Methodology: The study was conducted on 80 children. Forty of them with chronic hemolytic anemia, they were subdivided into 2 groups, Group (1a) included 20 patients without history of aplastic crisis, Group (Ib) included 20 patients with a history of aplastic crisis and 40 age and sex-matched apparently healthy children representing control (Group II). All patients were subjected to full history taking, clinical examination and laboratory investigations. Parvovirus B19 IgG was measured using anti-parvovirus B19 ELISA kits (SUNRED), and parvovirus B19 DNA was detected by using nestedpolymerase chain reaction. Results: The seroprevalence of parvovirus B19 IgG was significantly higher (P value =0.016) in Group Ia (50%) (10 out of 20) and Group Ib (45%) (9 out of 20) than the control group (Group II) (17.5%) (7 out of 40). There was a significant positive correlation between anti-parvovirus B19 IgG and age of all patients, frequency of blood transfusion. The prevalence of parvovirus B19 DNA was 10% (2 out of 20) in group Ia and 30% (6 out of 20) in group Ib and no viral DNA was detected in the controls (P value=0.001). Although 42.3% (11 out of 26) of children with β thalassemia major had a detectable level of antiparvovirus B19 virus IgG antibodies, only (23.1%) (6 out of 26) of them had B19 DNA. Anti-parvovirus B19 IgG antibodies were detected in 4 children out of 5 children of sickle cell anemia (80%) but the the prevalence of Parvovirus B19 DNA was 20% among them. Conclusion: Measures to keep away from iatrogenic and nosocomial infection transmission should be implemented including screening of donated blood for parvovirus B19 especially blood given to patients with blood disorders. Recommendation: Data from this study support the need for introduction of an approved vaccine that mainly protects children with chronic hemolytic anemia against that infection.

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