We summarize the results of HCV RNA testing of 12 month old infants born to HCV infected mothers in Cairo, Egypt. We used real-time PCR testing and demonstrated a transmission rate of 14.3%.

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IL28B-CC genotype and 12-month postpartum undetectable viremia were the best predictors for viral decline and subsequent clearance. These 2 predictors should influence clinical decision making.

BackgroundThe association of human papillomavirus (HPV) with cervical cancer is well established.AimTo investigate HPV genotype distribution and co-infection occurrence in cervical specimens from a group of Egyptian women.MethodsA group of 152 women with and without cervical lesions were studied. All women had cervical cytology and HPV testing. They were classified according to cytology into those with normal cytology, with squamous intraepithelial lesions (SIL) and invasive squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Cervical samples were analyzed to identify the presence of HPV by PCR, and all positive HPV-DNA samples underwent viral genotype analysis by means of LINEAR ARRAY HPV Genotyping assay.ResultsA total of 26 HPV types with a prevalence of 40.8 % were detected. This prevalence was distributed as follows: 17.7 % among cytologically normal females, 56.5, 3.2, and 22.6 % among those with LSIL, HSIL and invasive SCC respectively. Low-risk HPV types were detected in 81.8 % of the cytologically-normal women, in 5.7 % of those in LSIL women, and in 14.3 % of infections with invasive SCC, while no low-risk types were detected in HSIL. High-risk HPV types were detected in 18.2 % of infections in the cytologically normal women, 14.3 % of infections in LSIL, and in 21.4 % of invasive lesions. The probable and possible carcinogenic HPV were not detected as single infections. Mixed infection was present in 80 % of women with LSIL, in 100 % of those with HSIL, and in 64.3 % of those with invasive SCC. This difference was statistically significant. HPV 16, 18 and 31 were the most prevalent HR HPV types, constituting 41.9, 29.03 and 12.9 % respectively, and HPV 6, 62 and CP6108 were the most prevalent LR HPV types constituting 11.3, 9.7 and 9.7 % respectively.ConclusionThese data expand the knowledge concerning HPV prevalence and type distribution in Egypt which may help to create a national HPV prevention program. HPV testing using the LINEAR ARRAY HPV Genotyping assay is a useful tool when combined with cytology in the diagnosis of mixed and non-conventional HPV viral types.

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Introduction: Autophagy was found to play a major role in the pathogenesis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). In this study we investigated the expression of beclin-1, Bad, Bax, Bcl-2, and Bcl-xL in patients with ALL. Material and methods: This was a comparative study conducted on 100 ALL patients (age 8-15) divided into 2 groups. The first group, the ALL group, comprised ALL cases at their initial diagnosis (46 patients), while the second group, the Remission group, comprised in-remission cases (50 patients). mRNA expression levels in patients' blood samples were determined using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: Beclin-1 levels were significantly lower in the ALL group than in the Remission group (0.22 ±0.03 vs. 196.8 ±32.47; p = 0.001). Bad levels were significantly lower in the ALL group (1.0 ±0.18 vs. 163.6 ±36.2; p = 0.001), while Bax levels were significantly higher in the ALL group than in the Remission group (131.52 ±31.4 vs. 4.29 ±0.64; p = 0.001). Bcl-2 levels were significantly higher in the ALL group (2678.91 ±575.5 vs. 7.56 ±2.9; p = 0.001), and Bcl-xL levels were also significantly higher in the ALL group (142.99 ±24.43 vs. 0.99 ±0.2; p = 0.001). There was negative correlation between immunophenotyping with beclin-1 (r =-0.725; p < 0.001), while there was a positive correlation with Bcl-2 (r = 0.533; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Our findings reveal potential prognostic value for these markers in pediatric ALL, with regard to the delicate mutual balance among them.