HCV recurrence represents a universal phenomenon after liver transplantation. In this study Fifty HCV patients who underwent living donor liver transplantation were enrolled and factors that may accelerate HCV reinfection of the allograft such as donor's age and degree of liver steatosis, recipient's age, gender, BMI, MELD score, liver functions, HCV viral load, type of immunosuppressive drug, and genetic polymorphisms of IL28B, OAS, and IL1B were studied. The results of disease-free survival (DFS) rates showed inverse correlation with the recipient's postoperative levels of ALT, AST, ALP (P < 0.001, <0.001, and 0.006 resp.) as well as pre- and postoperative titers of HCV RNA (P < 0.003 and <0.001 resp.). Recipient's IL28B SNP was a significant factor in predicting postoperative DFS (P < 0.025). However, SNPs in OAS and IL1B genes had no apparent correlation with DFS. Cox proportional hazards model revealed that patients with elevated levels of ALT, preoperative viral titers, IL28B CT, and IL28B TT were 8.28, 4.22, 3.35, and 1.36 times, respectively, more likely to develop recurrence. In conclusion IL28B SNP, ALT level, and preoperative HCV titer besides proper choice of immunosuppressant are helpful for predicting posttransplant HCV recurrence and DFS.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

ObjectiveTo investigate the immunohistochemical expression of p63 in bladder cancer and the variation of expression in relation to histological type, grade and stage of the tumour, and whether bilharziasis (endemic in Egypt) has an effect on its expression, in an attempt to better understand the tumour behaviour and the possibility of using p63 as a prognostic marker.Patients and methodsIn a prospective study, biopsies were taken from the bladders of 70 patients, who were divided into three groups; group A comprised 10 with a normal urothelium, group B comprised 20 with chronic cystitis (bilharzial and non-bilharzial) and group C contained 40 with bladder cancer. The biopsies were examined for the expression of p63, using immunohistochemical techniques.ResultsThe mean (SD) ages of groups A, B and C were 45.2 (9.5), 50.5 (11.7) and 60.5 (9.9) years, respectively. There was a statistically significant decrease in the expression and immunoreactivity in group C (P < 0.05), and a significant decrease with advancing tumour stage and grade (P < 0.01). In cases of squamous cell carcinoma there was a statistically significant lower immunoreactivity than in transitional cell carcinoma (P < 0.05). There was a tendency for a statistically significant decrease in the immunoreactivity in bilharzial cystitis (P < 0.05), but in the malignant group, bilharziasis had no apparent effect on the pattern of expression.Conclusionp63 might be a helpful biomarker and adjunct in predicting the biological behaviour and progression of tumours. Further studies are recommended to elucidate more clearly its role as a prognostic indicator and its utility as a tumour marker.