Background Ulcerative colitis is a heterogeneous disease in terms of disease course, location, and therapeutic response. The current study was done to assess the alteration of the gut microbiome in UC patients and its relationship to severity, response to therapy, and outcome. Patients and methods The study included 96 participants who were divided into a case group (n = 48, recent onset, treatment naive ulcerative colitis patients who were subdivided into mild, moderate, and severe subgroups based on Truelove–Witts and endoscopic severity) and a healthy control group (n = 48). All were subjected to a thorough history, clinical examination, colonoscopy, routine laboratory tests, and quantitative real-time PCR to quantify Bacteroides, Lactobacilli, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, Veillonella, and Hemophilus in fecal samples at baseline and 6 months after treatment. Results Bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed a significant reduction in the phylum Firmicutes in UC patients, with a significant predominance of the phylum Bacteriodetes. F. prausnitzii and lactobacilli were inversely proportional to disease severity, whereas Bacteroides, Hemophilus, and Veillonella were directly proportional to it. Six months after therapy, a statistically significant increase in F. prausnitzii and lactobacilli was observed, with a decrease in the levels of other bacteria. Lower baseline F. praustinizii (< 8.5) increased the risk of relapse; however, lower ESR (< 10), lower post-treatment CRP (< 6), lower Bacteroides (< 10.6) indefinitely protect against relapse. Conclusion The gut microbiome of recently diagnosed UC showed lower levels of Lactobacilli, Faecalibacterium, and higher levels of Bacteroides and Veillonella, and the change in their levels can be used to predict response to therapy.

Introduction: The liver has many haemostatic functions, including the synthesis of most coagulation factors and inhibitors as well as fibrinolytic factors. The balance between procoagulant and anticoagulant factors is essential to avoid excessive thrombin generation under physiological conditions. Therefore, advanced liver disease results in a complex pattern of defects in haemostatic functions in the form of reduced synthesis of coagulation factors, inhibitors, and abnormal clotting factors, abnormalities of fibrinolytic activity, disseminated intravascular coagulation and platelet function defects. Development of portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is asignificant milestone in the natural history of cirrhosis. It is associated with worsening liver function, ascites, and the occurrence of gastroesophageal variceal bleeding. It is clear that PVT increases morbidity and mortality associated with liver transplant and may even contraindicate it and. Thus, taken together, these data suggest that PVT is a major index of poor prognosis in patients with cirrhosis. Although spontaneous resolution of PVT has been reported in the literature specific therapeutic management is mandatory to resolve portal vein obstruction and avoid serious complications. The goal of treatment is similar correction of causal factors, prevention of thrombosis extension, and achievement of portal vein patency Objective: the aim of the work was to clarify the risk factors , clinical presentation and complications of portal vein thrombosis in patients with liver cirrhosis and to study the out come after short term follow up. Subject and methods :-A total number of 80 patients with cirrhosis were included and were classified into two main groups. Group I (50) cirrhotic patients with portal vein thrombosis. Group II (30) cirrhotic patients without portal vein thrombosis. Each group was divided in two sub groups A and B a ccording to prescence or absence of HCC respectively.The 2 groups were compared as regard risk factors and clinical presentation and out come. Result: PVT developed as result of combination of both local and systemic risk factors. HCC and abdominal infection specially spontaneous bacterial peritonitis and intervention to the portal system ,were the most important local risk factors. Protein C and S defficincy were amog systemic risk factors. Most of cases were asymptomatic and accidentally discovered , other patients presented with upper GIT bleeding or other complications of liver cell failure .Anticoagulant administration was associated with increased incidence of partial or complete recanalization without increased risk of bleeding. Conclusion and Recommendations:-Portal vein thrombosis occurs mostly in a cirrhotic patient with advanced liver disease. Patients with advanced liver cirrhosis and not so prolonged coagulation parameters might be at particular risk of developing PVT. So regular monitoring using Doppler-ultrasound should be carried out in these patients. Development of varices is a time dependent phenomenon, so it is advisabl...

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Backgrownd and study aims; One of the most frequent carcinoma through the world is hepato cellular carcinoma (HCC). It is rapidly fatal with a life expectancy of about 6 months from the time of diagnosis. The disease is more prevalent in parts of Africa and Asia with a strong etiological association with viral hepatitis, haemochromatosis, known carcinogen and toxins. There are many therapeutic options for HCC including; surgical operations, chemotherapy, radiofrequency, immune therapy and gene therapy. The use of natural products as drugs is gaining increasing interest especially due to reduced side effects, if any. In this study, we followed up hepatic patients with HCC, taking hot water extract of sterilized blue green alga, spirulina platenesis. Seven volunteers with cirrhotic liver resulting from chronic viral C hepatitis that had developed HCC were followed up in this work. All available investigations including laboratory and imaging facilities were done before starting the study and repeated monthly for follow up during the study.Results; After 10-15 months, patients are still alive, showing an improvement in the general condition with an obvious regression of the tumor size as well as, better liver functions. Also no obvious side effects were detected during the study.Conclusion; These observations may direct our attentions towards the possibility that the “water extract of sterilized blue green algae; spirulina platenesis” may be of therapeutic value in treatment and/or amelioration of symptoms of hepato cellular carcinoma especially in cirrhotic patients. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4223. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-4223

Background: Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) is the most common cause of gastric infections worldwide. Due to antibiotic resistance and adverse effects, phytotherapy and phage therapy have been a research focus as an alternative therapy for H. pylori infection. Objectives: To assess the medicinal plant extracts and bacteriophages as a treatment of H. pylori infection. Methodology: Thirty-five gastric biopsies were cultured for H. pylori isolation. Screening of medicinal plants extract efficiency was done by Disc diffusion method. Minimum inhibitory concentrations of extracts were assessed. In vivo effect of Punica granatum peel extract was tested by bacterial density and histopathology in rats. Sewage water samples were screened for H. pylori specific bacteriophages. Single plaque isolation technique was used for phage purification. Results: Ten out of 35 (28.57%) patients had positive gastric biopsy for H. pylori by culture. Four out of 10 (40%) isolates were resistant to all antibiotics. Inhibitory effect of Rosemarinus officinalis, Syzygium aromaticum, Rhus coriaria and Ammi visagna on H. pylori was detected. Punica granatum extract was the most efficient in vitro. In vivo, Punica granatum peel extract caused significant reduction of bacterial density (P<0.05) and enhanced ulcer healing. Sewage water filtrates contained 3 types of H. pylori specific bacteriophages. During phage purification, phage infectivity was lost. Conclusions: Punica granatum peel extract revealed better in vivo activity against H. pylori than standard regimen antimicrobials. Other effective plants can be beneficial in H. pylori infection management. Loss of bacteriophage infectivity may be an obstacle to phage therapy of H. pylori.