Efficacy of pegylated interferon plus ribavirin in combination with corticosteroid for two cases of combined hepatitis C and autoimmune hepatitis

The treatment strategy for cases of combined autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) and chronic hepatitis C (CHC) has not yet been established. A 47-year-old woman and a 53-year-old-woman were hospitalized for treatment of CHC. Ultrasonography and histological findings revealed that their liver was not cirrhotic but did have chronic damage. The histological findings of both patients were suggestive of AIH. The patients were systematically treated with pegylated interferon-alpha 2b plus ribavirin which was preceded by and combined with corticosteroid (CS), and showed sustained virological responses and normal liver function. Although these two patients with combined AIH and CHC were successfully treated with this regimen, careful attention to exacerbation of hepatic inflammation is needed because hepatitis C viral load was increased due to immunosuppression during CS treatment

Hepatitis C Virus Antibodies and Vitiligo Disease

Vitiligo is a common skin disorder, characterized by depigmented patches due to selective destruction of melanocytes. The etiology of this disease is unknown. A number of hypotheses including viral theory have been proposed to explain the etiology. To determine the prevalence of antibody to hepatitis C virus infection in vitiligo patients, the present study was performed. Third generation ELISA test was used for detection of antibodies to HCV in human sera. All normal controls were anti-HCV negative whereas only one patient was positive for anti-HCV and there was no significant difference in the prevalence of anti-HCV between patients and controls. These results indicate that hepatitis C virus has not a direct causal role in the pathogenesis of vitiligo, however, this does not rul out a "hit and run" virus induced disease

Standardization and in-house ELISA setup for helicobacter pylori serologic diagnosis

Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) is the most prominent causative agent of gastroduodenal diseases all over the world. Other manifestations such as urticaria and coronary heart diseases, also are suspected to be induced by H.pylori. Non invasive methods are preferred for diagnosis; and ELISA, because of its reliability, speed, sensitivity and specificity is widely preferred as diagnostic tool. Previously we have used IFA, and here, we report an indirect ELISA technique for H.pylori diagnosis. First, 9 strains, of H.pylori isolated from biopsies, were cultured, and the soluble crude antigen was used to coat ELISA plates. Antigen concentration and conjugated antiserum dilution were optimised using checker board method. In this study the gold standard was: rapid urease test, culture and direct smear. Patient serum dillution and the cut-off value was determind, using 22 negative and 30 positive confirmed samples according to ROC curve and the results were compared with a commercial kit. The sensitivity and specificity of this method were 93.2 percent and 95.4 percent respectively. A commercial ELISA Kit, was used and compared simultaneously. The sensitivity and specificity were 87.8 percent and 73 percent respectively. Therefore, regarding the acceptable sensitivity and specificity, ease of work of ELISA, being economical and non-invasive, it can be employed in diagnosis of H.pylori infection and also in epidemiological studies

Th1/Th2 Cytokines in Psoriasis

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the Th1 and Th2 serum cytokines, in patients with psoriasis and to com¬pare their cytokine levels with those of normal control subjects. Methods: Serum levels of Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), Interleukin-2 (IL-2), Interleukin-4 (IL-4), and Interleukin-10 (IL-10) were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay in 40 patients with psoriasis and in 40 normal controls. Results: Compared with control subjects, patients with psoriasis had elevated levels of IFN-γ and IL-2 (P<0.001). In addi¬tion a positive correlation was found between the levels of IFN-γ, IL-2 and disease severity. Conclusion: Th1 secreting inflammatory cytokines may contribute to the pathogenesis of psoriasis

Comparison of Apoptosis, Circulating Levels of Tumor Necrosis Factor-α and Tumor Necrosis Factor Type-I Receptor in Iranian Patients with Sepsis and Normal Controls

Background and Aim: The present study was designed to compare the cell death, circulating levels of tumor necrosis factor-α and tumor necrosis factor type-I receptor in Iranian patients with sepsis and normal controls.Materials and methods: Twenty-two patients with sepsis were included in this study. After blood collection, the serum circulating levels of TNF- and TNFRI measured with ELISA kits. The PBMCs isolated from blood samples and proportion of apoptotic cells measured by flowcytometry at the time of blood draws (0 time) and after 24-h incubation. PBMCs incubated at 37°C in culture (spontaneous apoptosis) and in the presence of rTNF that is capable of inducing apoptosis in activated T cells expressing the TNF family of receptors.Results: PBMCs obtained from the patients showed significantly higher (P<0.001) proportion of apoptotic cells than PBMCs of controls at 0 time, indicated that a higher fraction of PBMCs were undergoing apoptosis in vivo in patients but not in controls. After 24-h incubation, spontaneous ex vivo apoptosis of PBMCs was nearly as high as that of TNF- induced apoptosis, indicating that activated T cells had been preprogrammed in vivo to die.Discussion and Conclusion: The circulating levels of both TNF- and TNFRI showed significantly higher in patients (P<0.001) than controls and this increase is proportional (r=0.908) in both indicating that TNFRI may have a protective effect in the early stage of sepsis