Epidemiology of viral hepatitis in Saudi Arabia: Are we off the hook?

Some 400 million people worldwide are currently infected with the hepatitis B virus (HBV), and the infection is common in the Middle East. Another 170 million people around the globe presently live with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Both HBV and HCV represent a worldwide epidemic. Despite significant decline in the prevalence of HBV and HCV infection in Saudi Arabia, these viral diseases cause significant morbidity and mortality, and impose a great burden on the country′s healthcare system. On the other hand, Saudi epidemiology studies have shown that the hepatitis A virus seroprevalence in the country has reduced considerably over the past two decades. The progress in mapping the epidemiological pattern of viral hepatitis in Saudi Arabia has not only aided our understanding of the disease, but has also exposed the small but relevant gaps in our identification of the intricate details concerning the disease′s clinical expression. In this review, we aim to document the timeline of viral hepatitis epidemiology in Saudi Arabia, while summarizing the relevant published literature on the subject

Elevated Levels of Interleukin-8 in Serum Are Associated with Hepatitis C Virus Infection and Resistance to Interferon Therapy

Hepatitis C virus (HCV), a major cause of liver disease worldwide, is frequently resistant to the antiviral alpha interferon (IFN). We have recently found that the HCV NS5A protein induces expression of the proinflammatory chemokine IL-8 to partially inhibit the antiviral actions of IFN in vitro. To extend these observations, in the present study we examined the relationship between levels of IL-8 in serum, HCV infection, and biochemical response to IFN therapy. Levels of IL-8 were significantly elevated in 132 HCV-infected patients compared to levels in 32 normal healthy subjects and were also significantly higher in patients who did not respond to IFN therapy than in patients who did respond to therapy. This study suggests that HCV-induced changes in levels of chemokine and cytokine expression may be involved in HCV antiviral resistance, persistence, and pathogenesis

Seasonal occurence of aquatic fungi in tigris river during 2002

Studied Seen fungi water in nine stations or selected sites along the Tigris River began from the city of Mosul in the north to Qurna in episodes were measured some chemical agents and Alvezaúah water ranged pH values ??(11p) between 7.0 to 8.3 either temperatures ranged between 10to 28 m study showed isolated 22 species of 14 genera of fung

LCZ696 mitigates diabetic-induced nephropathy through inhibiting oxidative stress, NF-κB mediated inflammation and glomerulosclerosis in rats

Background Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is among the most common microvascular complications of diabetes resulting in end-stage renal disease and therefore search for candidates which can ameliorate the kidney function is needed simultaneously with standard diabetic pharmacotherapy. The current study was aimed to investigate the effect of long term sacubitril/valsartan therapy (LCZ696) in diabetic rats to assess its ameliorative impact against various pathological parameters such as oxidative stress, inflammation and glomerulosclerosis associated with chronic DN. Methods A single dose (60 mg/kg/day) of STZ was used to induce type 1 diabetes in adult male wistar rats. 2 weeks after diabetes induction, these rats were treated orally with valsartan (31 mg/kg) or LCZ696 (68 mg/kg) for 6 weeks. At end of the treatment period, serum and kidney samples were collected and analyzed. The serum levels of glucose, insulin, urea, creatinine, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-10 levels were estimated. In renal tissue homogenate, the levels of inflammatory markers such as TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, NF-kB along with oxidative stress biomarkers including thiobarbituric acid-reacting substances (TBARs), glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione S-transferase (GST) were assessed. Histological changes were observed in kidney. Results Time course therapy withLCZ696 and valsartan in diabetic rats resulted in significant reduction of serum glucose, urea and creatinine levels (P < 0.05). Additionally, serum of treated diabetic rats showed a diminution in inflammatory (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6) and increment in anti-inflammatory (IL-10) cytokines levels (P < 0.05). Tissue homogenate of the kidney extracted from LCZ696 and valsartan treated diabetic rats revealed a substantial reduction in the levels of inflammatory markers such as TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, NF-kB and sufficient restoration of anti-oxidant enzyme levels (P < 0.05). Finally, in the histological sections of the kidney, prevention of renal injury was observed with limited necrosis and inflammatory cells infiltration. Conclusion Present data suggest that LCZ696 has sufficient therapeutic potential to restrict DN progression through inhibiting inflammation, oxidative stress and glomerulosclerosis

Protective Role of Loranthus regularis against Liver Dysfunction, Inflammation, and Oxidative Stress in Streptozotocin Diabetic Rat Model

Earlier studies revealed the potential therapeutic values of Loranthus regularis (L. regularis). This study evaluated Loranthus regularis (L. regularis) extract systemic antidiabetic effects and benefits against diabetic hepatocellular injuries through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory pathways using the streptozotocin (STZ) model in Wistar albino rats. After diabetes induction, animals were orally treated with L. regularis extract for 4 weeks. Serum levels of glucose, insulin, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total cholesterol (TC), total triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) were estimated. Furthermore, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), caspase-3, nitric oxide (NO), and prostaglandin E-2 (PGE-2) were estimated in serum. In liver, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARSs) and reduced glutathione (GSH) as well as the proinflammatory cytokines and enzymatic activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reeducates (GR), and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) were assayed. Finally, the degree of hepatic tissue damage was evaluated histologically. Treatment of the diabetic rats with L. regularis extract markedly reduced the elevated serum levels of glucose, ALT, AST, TC, TG, LDL, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, caspase-3, NO, and PGE-2. L. regularis extract also improved serum levels of insulin and HDL. The elevated TBARS, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 levels in hepatic tissue of diabetic animals were reduced by L. regularis. Moreover, L. regularis extract significantly restored the diminished hepatic GSH level and enzymatic activities of SOD, CAT, GPx, GR, and GST in diabetic animals. The biochemical protective effects of L. regularis were associated with improved histological hepatocellular integrity and architecture. Taken together, L. regularis has therapeutic effects against diabetic-induced hepatic complications. The restored liver functions and cellular damage might be mediated through free radicals scavenging and proinflammatory cytokine inhibition