OBJECTIVES:To evaluate the Immunomodulatory, apoptosis induction and antitumor effects of aqueous and methanolic extracts of Calvatia craniiformis regarding the size of tumour mass, caspase-8 expression and apoptotic index (AI%) in mice transfected with murine hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (H22) as an experimental therapeutic system for human hepatocellular carcinoma.MATERIAL AND METHODS:Forty-eight Balb/C albino mice were transfected in legs with H22 cells. Tumour size was measured twice a week. Caspase-8 protein expression and apoptotic index determination evaluated by Immunohistochemistry.RESULTS:Tumor size significantly differed between the two groups of mice transfected with H22 cells; the first was treated with C. craniiformis aqueous extract (0.3, 0.6, 1.2) mg/kg and the second group was treated with C. craniiformis methanolic extract (0.25, 0.5, 1.0) mg/kg compared with control group. The inhibitory activity of aqueous and methanolic extracts was dose and duration dependent. The size of the tumour mass was reduced up to 87.9% when treated with 1.2 mg/kg aqueous extract and 1 mg/kg for methanolic extract. Caspase-8 expression was increased in a dose-dependent manner among H22 bearing mice treated with C. craniiformis aqueous extract (0.3, 0.6, 1.2) mg/kg. At 0.3 mg/kg, the intensity of expression was strong in (33.33%) and very strong in (66.67%). While at 0.6 mg/kg and 1.2 mg/kg the intensity of expression was strong in (33.33%) and very strong in (100%) with a significant difference (P ≤ 0.001). H22 bearing mice treated with (0.25, 0.5, 1.0) mg/kg C. craniiformis methanolic extract shows increased caspase-8 expression in a dose-dependent manner. At 0.25 mg/kg, the intensity of expression was strong in (33.33%) and very strong in (66.67%). While at 0.5 mg/kg, the intensity of expression was strong in (33.33%) and very strong in (100%). At 1.0 mg/kg, the intensity of expression was strong in (16.67%) and very strong in (83.33%) with significant difference (P ≤ 0.001). AI% of H22 bearing mice treated with C. craniiformis aqueous and methanolic extracts were significantly increased (P ≤ 0.05) compared with the untreated control group. No significant difference was reported in AI% between aqueous and methanolic extracts treated groups.CONCLUSIONS:Extracts of C. craniiformis were highly efficient in tumour growth inhibition, causing a reduction in the tumour size clinically and increase the expression of caspase-8 gene product in tumour tissue, causing increase apoptotic index of H22 cells taken from the legs of inoculated mice leading to loss of legs due to bone necrosis. Antitumor activity of C. craniiformis aqueous, and the methanolic extract was dose and duration dependent.

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Background: Varices are a serious consequence of portal hypertension, and variceal bleeding is a life-threatening complication occurring in up to 30% of patients with cirrhosis. Despite the great improvement in diagnosis and the available therapeutic modalities, mortality from acute variceal bleeding may still reach up to 20%. Therefore, our aim was to assess the role of noninvasive score modalities in the prediction of the presence of EVs & to predict EVs severity. Methods: This Comparative cross-sectional study was conducted on a cohort of 90 cirrhotic patients. All patients were subjected to investigations include complete blood count, liver and kidney function tests, bleeding profile, random blood sugar, and serum sodium. The following scores were estimated: Child-Pugh score, MELD -Na + score, AAR, APRI, FIB-4, and King's score. Upper GI endoscopy was done for evaluation of presence or absence of EVs. Results: Our results revealed that Kings Score is the most sensitive and specific score in predicting the presence of EVs, followed by APRI score while AAR score has the least sensitivity and specificity.FIB-4 score is the most sensitive scoring system in predicting severe EVs, followed by APRI, Kings, and AAR scores. Regarding specificity, King's Score is the most specific one followed by FIB-4, APRI and AAR. Conclusions: King's score has the highest sensitivity and specificity in EVs prediction followed by APRI. Regarding severe EVs, FIB-4 score is the most sensitive scoring system in the prediction of severe EVs. However, King's score is the most specific one.

Background: Alkaloid narciclasine extraction of Zephyranthes candida are microtubular toxins of chemically similar nature that disrupt microtubule function by binding to a site on β-tubulin and suppressing microtubule dynamics.effect in hepatic cell line. Objective: To evaluate biological activity of alkaloid narciclasine extraction of Zephyranthes candida on microtubule HepG2 cell line by used GF tubulin with alcoholic extraction. Patients and Methods:The experiments work in China (Wuhan) 2016 need about 6 months , we used TLC technology to extraction alkaloids narciclasine from by used different concentration 20,40,80,100,200,400 μg/ml for one hours to microtubule cell line of HepG2 cell line and used high concentration 1000,2000 μg/ml to investigate the action of alkaloids narcilacsine onto the network of microtubule to one hours . Results: Increased the number of the cell effect by extraction in microtubule by used GF tubulin inside the cell by alkaloid or alcoholic extraction see the results by immunofluorescence microscope, the microtubule is effect by high concentration of extraction see apoptosis and thinned down, and individual fibres have a wavelike shape. Anther experimental work was conducted to determine the biological activity of alkaloids Narcilasine on microtubule in concentration 20 μg/ml in (12,10,8,6) hours incubation and 400 μg/ml for 10 min to study cell line and the recovery of its disruption.Cells were treated with alkaloids at various concentrations from 20 μg/ml to 400 μg/ml for 60 min microtubules were recovered and network is nearly restored.the results show the microtubulesis back normal after reduce extraction alcoholic and alkaloids in 12 hours by used indirect immunofluorescence. Conclusion:The cells showed changes in the arrangement of microtubules even at the 80 μg/ml concentration of cytostatics after 60-min exposition. Its damage increased with increasing concentration of cytostatics.