Hepatitis C virus infection (HCV), one of the greatest causes of liver disease, is a frequent complication in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on dialysis. ESRD is defined as decreased glomerular filtration and also accompanied by impaired function of the immune system. Galectin-3 is a β-galactoside-binding lectin, involved in various biological processes including pathogenesis of chronic renal disease. The aim of our study was to estimate disease severity in ESRD HCV+ patients and analyze the serum concentrations of IL-1β, IL-4, IL-23, and IL-6; anti-HCV antibodies; and galectin-3. Also, we attempted to determine potential correlation between galectin-3 level and parameters of disease severity ALT and AST. Our results showed decreased levels of ALT and AST (p = 0.00), demonstrating less liver destruction in ESRD HCV+ patients in comparison to HCV+ patients. Increased levels of IL-6 (p = 0.03) implicate a hepatoprotective role of IL-6 in these patients. Also, level of galectin-3 (p = 0.00) in the serum of ESRD HCV+ patients was higher than that of HCV+ patients. This alteration was accompanied with negative correlation between galectin-3 and AST and ALT, respectively (p = 0.029; p = 0.033). The presence of increased systemic levels of IL-6 and Gal-3 in ESRD HCV+ patients may be an attempt to counteract or limit ongoing proinflammatory processes and to downregulate chronic inflammation, suggesting the new aspects of HCV infection in ESRD patients.

Introduction: Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) is the leading cause of chronic liver disease and is a serious global health problem. Hepatitis C infection is highly prevalent in patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD), due to frequent exposure to blood and blood products, nosocomial transmission of HCV, and prolong hemodialysis duration. The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of IL-33/ST2 signaling pathway on severity of the liver disease in ESRD HCV+ patients. Methodology: Blood samples from patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD) and hepatitis C infection (HCV), 20 patients with HCV infection, 20 patients with ESRD and 20 healthy control donor patients were taken for the examination of biochemical parameters, for the determination of the serum cytokine concentration, and for the molecular diagnostics of HCV. Results: Systemic sST2 positively correlated with serum level of urea and creatinine, respectively. Serum sST2 was significantly increased in ESRD HCV+ patients in comparison to HCV+ group. sST2/IL-1, sST2/IL-4 and sST2/IL-23 ratios were significantly increased in serum of ESRD HCV+ patients in comparison to HCV+ patients. Significantly higher systemic level of sST2 and sST2/IL-1 and sST2/IL-4 ratios were measured in ESRD patients compared to non-ESRD patients. Conclusion: These results suggested that elevated level sST2, as the consequence of renal failure, causes less destruction of liver in HCV infection.

Introduction: Immune checkpoint therapy is well- established therapeutic approach in treatment of malignant disease and is thought to be mostly based on facilitating adaptive immune responses. However, cells of innate immune response, such as NKT cells, might also be important for successful anti-programmed cell death protein 1 therapy, as they initiate anti-tumor immune response. Materials and methods: For tumor induction, 4T1 cells syngenic to BALB/c background were used after which mice underwent anti-programmed cell death protein 1 treatment.After the mice were sacrificed, NKT cells, dendritic cells and macrophages derived from spleen and primary tumor tissue were analyzed using flow cytometry. Results: Anti-programmed cell death protein 1 therapy significantly decelerates tumor growth and enhanced expression of activating molecules CD69, NKp46, NKG2D in NKT cells of tumor and spleen. Anti-programmed cell death protein 1 therapy activates pro-tumoricidic changes in dendritic cells and macrophages of primary tumor tissue. Conclusion: Anti-programmed cell death protein 1 therapy activates NKT cell directly, and indirectly via DCs. Activated NKT cells provide tumoricidic properties directly, by secreting perforin, and indirectly by stimulating M1 macrophages polarization. Since anti-programmed cell death protein 1 therapy induces significant changes in NKT cells, dendritic cells and macrophages, efficacy of overall anti-programmed cell death protein 1 therapy is increased, contributing to more efficient anti-tumor immune response.

Chronic Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is defined as persistence of HCV RNA in the blood for more than six months. HCV is a major cause of chronic liver disease and cirrhosis. It’s serious public health problem, affects about 71 million people worldwide. HCV doesn’t destroy hepatocytes directly. It activates the host's innate and acquired immune system and causes liver injury indirectly. Behind hepatic, HCV can cause extra-hepatic manifestations. One of them is renal disease which can lead to end-stage renal disease, ESRD. The prevalence of HCV infection in patients on hemodialysis is high, ranging from 5% to 60%. HCV infection is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with ESRD on hemodialysis. In this review, we discuss HCV infection and chronic renal disease as comorbidities, their severity and outcome.

Introduction. Decreased salivary flow is frequently associated with numerous diseases such as diabetes mellitus and may lead to numerous oral diseases. The aim of this study was to compare salivary flow rate and oral health status in type 2 diabetics and healthy controls. Material and methods. The study involved 90 patients, divided into the three groups: 30 with well controlled (HbA1c<9%), 30 will poorly controlled (HbA1c?9%) diabetes and 30 healthy subjects. The following clinical parameters were determined: decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMFT); plaque index (PI), sulcus bleeding index (SBI), probing pocket depth (PPD) and clinical attachment level (CAL). Culture of Candida spp. specimens were obtained from tongue dorsum and inoculated into Sabouraud Dextrose Agar. Saliva was collected using ?a spit technique?. Results. Highest mean of unstimulated salivary flow was in healthy subjects; however significant difference between groups was not observed. Stimulated salivary flow results indicate significant reduction in diabetics as well as significant relation between metabolic control and salivary flow. Unstimulated and stimulated salivary flows were negatively and significantly correlated with periodontal parameters and DMFT. Conclusion. The present findings indicate that decreased salivary flow rate could have a significant impact on oral health status in type 2 diabetics.