Introduction: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections remain an increasingly prevalent and emergent health problem worldwide, causing a wide spectrum of liver diseases. Combination therapy with pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) of peginterferon alfa-2a and oral ribavirinis currently recognized as the standard treatment of chronic HCV infection. Several complex immunological mechanisms are involved during the course of HCV treatment using interferons. The role of endogenous interferon gamma (IFNγ) in Egyptian patients infected with chronic HCV and treated with PEG-IFN/ribavirin is uncertain. The goal of this study was to evaluate the association of IFNγ and chronic HCV infection among patients treated with combination therapy of PEG-IFN/ribavirin. Methodology: Samples from 20 patients infected with HCV genotype-4 (HCV-4) and 20 non-infected individuals as healthy controls were used in this retrospective study. IFNγ levels in peripheral blood monocytes were analyzed, along with liver enzyme alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of the myxovirus resistance-A (MxA) gene. Results: The results showed that an increase of IFNγ and a decrease of ALT levels in chronic HCV-infected patients after 12 weeks of treatment with combination therapy. Conclusion: Enhanced IFNγ secretion and decreased liver enzyme ALT production are indicative of HCV clearance and improvement of liver function. In addition, the SNP of the MxA gene is an important host genetic factor that independently influenced the response to IFNα in patients with chronic HCV infection, especially in those with a low viral load.

Backgrownd and study aims; One of the most frequent carcinoma through the world is hepato cellular carcinoma (HCC). It is rapidly fatal with a life expectancy of about 6 months from the time of diagnosis. The disease is more prevalent in parts of Africa and Asia with a strong etiological association with viral hepatitis, haemochromatosis, known carcinogen and toxins. There are many therapeutic options for HCC including; surgical operations, chemotherapy, radiofrequency, immune therapy and gene therapy. The use of natural products as drugs is gaining increasing interest especially due to reduced side effects, if any. In this study, we followed up hepatic patients with HCC, taking hot water extract of sterilized blue green alga, spirulina platenesis. Seven volunteers with cirrhotic liver resulting from chronic viral C hepatitis that had developed HCC were followed up in this work. All available investigations including laboratory and imaging facilities were done before starting the study and repeated monthly for follow up during the study.Results; After 10-15 months, patients are still alive, showing an improvement in the general condition with an obvious regression of the tumor size as well as, better liver functions. Also no obvious side effects were detected during the study.Conclusion; These observations may direct our attentions towards the possibility that the “water extract of sterilized blue green algae; spirulina platenesis” may be of therapeutic value in treatment and/or amelioration of symptoms of hepato cellular carcinoma especially in cirrhotic patients. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4223. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-4223

Conclusion: These results suggest the binding of secreted DENV NS1 to endothelial cells may induce the proinflammatory responses which may contribute to the vascular leakage in DHF/DSS.

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