Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a very common disease that affects 25-30% of the population in western countries. Many studies have observed the importance of H. pylori infection in the development of insulin resistance, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, and liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. However, the evidence from different studies was controversial. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between H. pylori infection and NAFLD in a developing country. Patients and Methods: This cross-sectional study included all the attending outpatient clinics at four Major University hospitals and two research and clinical institutes in a developing country in the period between June and October 2019. Patients were assessed for the diagnosis of H. pylori infection as detected by H. pylori antigen in stool; they were also assessed for the diagnosis of NAFLD by ultrasound, fibroscan, and CAP. Results: The study was conducted on 646 patients; H. pylori infection was found to be present in 538 patients (83.3%). NAFLD (diagnosed by both U/S and Fibroscan with CAP), ALT, AST, hepatomegaly, hypertension, fasting blood sugar were significantly higher in H. pylori +ve group than H. pylori −ve group. After performing Linear regression of independent risk factors of NAFLD to prove or to refute the role of Helicobacter; H. pylori positivity, total cholesterol, degree of fatty liver by ultrasound, fasting blood sugar and diastolic blood pressure were independent risk factors for NAFLD. Conclusion: Helicobacter pylori infection was independent risk factors for NAFLD and correlated with increased degree of steatosis.

Background and aimsEgypt is considered to have the highest rate of hepatitis C virus (HCV) prevalence worldwide. However, HCV prevalence is currently declining due to the improvement of health education programs, improved environmental sanitation, and the introduction of novel treatment regimens. The aim of this work was to determine the HCV seroprevalence among Menoufia University students.MethodsThe current study included 48,972 students from Menoufia University, Egypt. Blood sample was obtained from every patient for HCV seromarker testing. In anti-HCV-positive subjects, quantitative PCR for HCV RNA was done.ResultsOverall, HCV antibody prevalence rate was 1%. This prevalence was higher in females (304/27,421; 1.1%) than in males (194/21,371; 0.9%). HCV-RNA PCR was positive in 355/48,972 (0.7%); the percentage of HCV PCR positive among the anti-HCV-positive was 71.3% (355/498 patients), with a higher prevalence among females than in males but without statistical significance. In addition, rural areas showed more prevalent HCV seroprevalence than urban areas.ConclusionThese prevalence rates for HCV infection are lower than that previously reported in the same age group denoting a new evidence for the reduction of prevalence and a hope for successful eradication of HCV in the forthcoming years.

RFA+HS and TACE+RFA are safe and equally effective treatments for medium to large HCC.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the role of Dickopff 1 (DKK1) serum levels as a marker for early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to compare it with alphafetoprotein (AFP) after non-surgical intervention (microwave ablation, radiofrequency ablation) in HCC. Patients and methods: This prospective study was conducted in Al-Mahalla hepatology teaching hospital from June 2015 to June 2017. One hundred and twenty patients were included. They were classified into four groups: Group A: 40 patients with chronic liver disease; Group B: 40 patients with HCC which were divided into 2 main sub groups, group Ba which included HCC patients who were not eligible for ablative therapy and group Bb which included HCC patients who were eligible for ablative therapy; Group C: 20 healthy control subjects matched for age and sex; Group D: 20 HCC patients with negative AFP, DKK1 was done for them. Results: There was a highly significant difference (p < 0.001) between groups regarding serum level of Dickpoff 1 with mean of 1 ng/mL in group A (cirrhotic), 2.38 ng/mL in group B (HCC), and 1.83 ng/mL in group D (AFP negative HCC) in comparison to control group C with mean of 0.54 ng/mL. There was a highly statistically significant difference (p value less =0.01) in the studied groups regarding serum Dickpoff 1 before and after intervention with a mean of 2.38 ng/mL before intervention and mean of 1.37 ng/mL after 1 month of intervention. Conclusion: Serum Dkk-1 has higher sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy in early diagnosis of HCC than AFP.

B OTH hepatitis C virus and Helicobacter pylori infections are commonly found in Egypt. Correlation among Helicobacter pylori and HCV has been assisted. This work aim was to research H. pylori DNA inside the liver tissue of Egyptian suffers with persistent hepatitis C and find the relation among HP invasion and HCV.This prospective study was conducted with 49 participants. Helicobacter pylori Standard Kit (H.pylori) genome is designed for the in vitro H.pylori genomes from liver tissues patients with chronic hepatitis C quantitatively. A TaqMan® principle was used by the primer and probe. During PCR amplification, primers of bidirectional hybridize to the H.pylori DNA. DNA probe was Labeled with a 5`-dye and a 3`-quencher forms the fluorogenic probe. During PCR amplification, the indicator dye and the quencher are separated and the probe is split. The increase in fluorescence can be detected by PCR platforms.