The inhibitive effect of Thevetia peruviana on the corrosion behavior of carbon steel in 1 M HCl was studied using the weight loss method, polarization, AC electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and electrochemical frequency modulation techniques. The inhibition efficiency was found to depend on the concentration of the extract and the temperature of the medium. Results showed that this extract acts as a mixed-type inhibitor. The charge transfer resistance increases but the double layer capacitance decreases by increasing the extract concentration. It was found that the investigated extract acts via adsorption on the carbon steel surface and obeys the Temkin adsorption isotherm. The effect of temperature on the corrosion rate in the absence and presence of the extract was investigated, some activated, and the adsorption parameters were calculated. The results of the electrochemical methods were in good agreement with the weight loss measurement results.

Objective: Cluster of differentiation 163 (CD163) is a receptor that binds haptoglobin-hemoglobin complexes and is mainly expressed on macrophages and monocytes. As a result of shedding, the extracellular portion of CD163 circulates in the blood as a soluble CD163 (sCD163). This study aimed to measure serum sCD163 levels in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and to assess its association with the clinical, laboratory, and radiological features of the disease. Material and Methods:We measured serum sCD163 levels in 24 patients with SSc and in 30 healthy controls. Complete history of the patients was recorded and thorough clinical, rheumatological, and dermatological examinations were performed. For SSc, the skin thickness score was scored according to the modified Rodnan skin score method and pulmonary involvement was assessed in all patients using high-resolution computed tomography and by performing pulmonary function tests. Results:The mean serum sCD163 levels in patients with diffuse and limited SSc (61.64±19.57 and 60.8±21.43 ng/mL, respectively) demonstrated a highly statistically significant increase compared with the mean serum levels in healthy controls (36.97±16.37 ng/ mL) (p<0.001). Patients with SSc having elevated serum sCD163 levels had significantly higher pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) than those with normal serum sCD163 levels (p<0.05). Furthermore, the serum sCD163 levels were significantly correlated with PASP (r=0.53, p<0.05) in patients with SSc. The mean serum sCD163 level in patients with SSc having digital ulceration (DU) (70.82±18.3 ng/mL) demonstrated a statistically significant increase (p<0.05) compared with that in SSC patients without DU (53.23±18.09 ng/mL). Conclusion:The elevated serum sCD163 levels in patients with SSc and its association with pulmonary hypertension suggest a possible role of macrophages in the pathogenesis and vascular involvement of SSc.

Transfusion-transmitted virus (TTV) is a single-stranded DNA virus that was identified in patients with post-transfusion hepatitis of non-A-to-G type. Patients with chronic renal failure on maintenance hemodialysis (HD) have a higher risk of viral infections, and the prevalence of TTV infection is common. The aim of our study was to detect TTV-DNA and its genotype in HD patients. A case-control study compromising of 63 patients on maintenance HD therapy at the Nephrology Center of Central Arar Hospital and 100 healthy individuals who were tested for TTVDNA and its genotype by semi nested-polymerase chain reaction with primers derived from the conserved open reading frame 1 (ORF1) region followed by digestion with NdeI and PstI restriction enzyme. The results show that the prevalence of TTV in HD patients was high and statistically significant; 42.9% compared with 19% in the control group. History of blood transfusion was the only significant predictor, and we found that age of patients, duration of HD, hepatitis B and C infection, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels were not significant predictors of TT virus positivity in HD patients. TTV genotype 1 (G1) was found to be the most common genotype among both HD and healthy controls. The prevalence of TTV among HD patients was significantly higher than that in healthy individuals. History of blood transfusion was the only significant predictor of TTV positivity among them. Genotype 1 was the most predominant type among HD and healthy individuals. Further studies on TTV in peritoneal dialysis patients and transplant patients are needed.

No abstract

The study's objective was to evaluate the clinical significance of sCD40L in HCV-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCV-HCC) patients. Sera concentration of circulating sCD40L and IL-10 were assayed using ELISA in 30 HCVpositive patients with HCC, 30 HCV-positive patients with liver cirrhosis and 30 age-matched healthy volunteers with negative anti-HCV-Ab as a control group. Serum sCD40Lshowed statistically-significant high levels in HCV-HCC patients compared to HCV-cirrhotic patients and normal controls (P < 0.001). Serum sCD40L had higher diagnostic value in HCC patients compared with serum AFP. High sensitivity and specificity of sCD40L was observed compared to AFP (90%, 86.7% and 83% and 80% respectively). Significant positive correlation was detected between serum sCD40L and IL-10(r = 0.85 P < 0.001), AFP (r = 0.62 P < 0.05) and tumour staging (r = 0.5 P < 0.05). The study concluded that sCD40L is a valuable diagnostic tool in early diagnosis and screening for HCV and HCC as well as routine follow up of HCV cirrhosis patients. Assessment of serum IL-10 levels in HCV patients may provide a possible predictive marker for disease progression.