BMC infusion into hepatic artery of patients with advanced chronic liver disease is safe and feasible. In addition, a decrease in mean serum bilirubin and INR levels and an increase in albumin levels are observed. Our data warrant further studies in order to evaluate the effect of BMC transplantation in patients with advanced chronic liver disease.

Transplantation of autologous BMC into the hepatic artery improved liver function in patients with advanced cirrhosis in the first 90 days. However, larger studies are necessary to define the role of BMC therapy in cirrhotic patients. Repeated autologous BMC infusions or combination therapy with granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor might improve or sustain the treatment response.

Malnutrition hampers the course of schistosomiasis mansoni infection just as normal growth of adultKey words: Schistosoma mansoni -undernutrition -confocal scanning laser microscopy Schistosomiasis is a very widespread disease in the developing world and is one of the most important helminth infections. Malnutrition and schistosomiasis mansoni are both serious publichealth problems in Northeast Brazil and often overlap in the same geographical area (Coutinho et al. 1997a). Meanwhile, the role played by the nutritional status of the host on the development of schistosomiasis and vice versa is not clearly understood (Ferreira & Coutinho 1999

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