The current study was designed to investigate the potential association of serum interleukin-10 and interleukin-12 with HCV infection in chronic liver disease and to evaluate their possible role as new biomarkers in HCC development. Material and Methods. Forty-one patients suffering from chronic liver disease (33 patients harbor HCV infection and 8 are HCV-negative patients) were enrolled in the present study and histopathologically diagnosed into 15 patients with HCC, 16 patients with LC, and 10 patients with liver histology compatible with precirrhotic hepatitis (PCH). Ten patients complaining of cholecystitis were included as nondisease control. Serum levels of IL-10 and IL-12 were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results. HCV-infected patients showed elevated expression of IL-10 and IL-12 compared to nondisease controls (P < 0.0001) but there is no significant difference with respect to their expression in HCV-negative patients. Serum IL-10 and IL-12 were elevated significantly with disease progression (P < 0.0001) and a positive correlation coefficient was detected between IL-10, IL-12 (r = 0.785, P < 0.0001), and transaminase values suggesting their possible role in chronic inflammation progression leading to HCC. Conclusion. IL-10 and IL-12 might be involved in chronic inflammation progression leading to HCC and their evaluation could be used as new biomarkers to reflect the degree of inflammation in HCC development.

Gentamicin (GM) is an effective antibiotic against severe gram-negative infections. However ir can produce nephrotoxicity ilz human. The Nigella sativa (NS) oil luis been subjected to several investigcuions that have revealed its amioxldant activity in different conditions. The aim of this study is to assess the toxic effects ofGM on the kidney aJui the protective value ofnigella sativa oil supplementation against gen-taJnicintoxicity. Sixty rats were equally divided into 6 groups: Group I (-ve control group), Group II (Saline group), Group 111 (Com oil group), Group fV (NS group). Group V (GM group) and Group VI (GM+NS group). The period of the study extended for 10 days . In the last 24 hours, urine was collected to estimate urinary protein eu:retion. Then, the rats were sacrificed for biochemical analysis (blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, superoxide dismutase and catalase) and renal histopathology by light and electron microscope. The results of this study showed no significam difference between the negative control, saline, corn oil and NS groups in all measured biochemical parameters. However, there was signijica11t difference in these measured biochemical par(l}lleters between GM group and the negative control group.Furthermore, there was significant difference between GM+NS group and GM group. Light microscopic examination of kidney specilnens of the rats of GM groups showed proximal tubular degeneration, necrosis, desquamation in epithelial cells of the proximal tubules, disturbed architecture and injlaJmnatory infiltrate. However, the electron microscopic e.xaminaJion of the same rats revealed detailed histopathological changes thaJ help in explanation the mechanism of toxicity of this drug. The co administration of NS with GM revealed marked improvement in histopaJhological c/UJnges of kidney by light (111d electron microscopic examination. It was concluded that gentaJuicin has toxic effects on kidney, and the use of nigel-/a sativa in combination with gentamicin could ameliorate its toxicity. 73Mansoura ].

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