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Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) levels have been found to correlate with measurements of bone mineral density (BMD) in liver diseases. This study investigated the relationship between IGF-1, insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3) and BMD in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus. This study was conducted for 30 patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection (16 patients without and 14 patients with cirrhosis) and 11 healthy controls. Serum levels of IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 and BMD of the proximal femur and lumbar spine were measured in all subjects. Osteoporosis of the proximal femur and lumbar spine was found in 42.9% and 21.4%, respectively, of the patients with cirrhosis. Patients with liver cirrhosis and osteoporosis of the proximal femur and lumbar spine had lower IGF-1 (P<0.001, P=0.04, P=0.04 respectively). BMD of the proximal femur was lower in cirrhotic patients compared with controls (P<0.01). Patients with liver cirrhosis had lower IGFBP-3 than patients without cirrhosis and controls (P<0.001). Patients with osteoporosis of the proximal femur had lower IGFBP-3 than those without osteoporosis (P<0.01). IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels were lower in patients with liver cirrhosis. IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 may play a role in hepatic osteoporosis.

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AIM:To determine the relation between serum microRNAs and apoptotic markers as regards development of HCC to understand the underlying mechanism of HCV related hepatocarcinogenesis.PATIENTS AND METHODS:A total of 65 serum samples (25 samples from controls, 20 samples from hepatitis and 20 samples from HCC patients) were collected for miRNAs (mir 21, mir 199-a, and mir 155) detection. Human Programmed cell death protein-4 (PDCD-4) and Human Cytochrome-C (CYT-C) were determined.RESULTS:miRNAs 21 and 155 were over expressed in sera of patients with HCC compared to patients with chronic hepatitis (p < 0.0001). While serum means values of miR 199a was significantly decreased among HCC group patients when compared to patients with chronic hepatitis (p < 0.0001). The serum levels of PCDC4 and CYTC were increased in patients with HCC when compared to chronic hepatitis patients. They were also increased in patients with chronic hepatitis when compared to controls (p < 0.05, significant). There was direct correlations between apoptotic markers and oncomirs miRNAs 21 and 155 while apoptotic markers were inversely correlated with miRNA 199-a.CONCLUSION:Both microRNAs and apoptotic markers have roles in HCC pathogenesis. It seems that oncogenic microRNAs induce liver carcinogenesis in HCV patients irrespective of suppression of apoptosis.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a condition defined by significant lipid accumulation (5-10%) in hepatic tissue in the absence of significant chronic alcohol consumption. We aim to detect frequency of fatty liver among overweight/obese adults and children and associated clinical; anthropological measures; biochemical; genetic and imaging studies. Eighty three consecutive adults and 72 children included in the study. All patients underwent clinical measurements of height, body weight, body mass index (BMI), waist and hip circumference. Biochemical investigations were done to all subjects including liver function tests; lipid profile; fasting blood glucose; insulin resistance (IR); high sensitivity C reactive protein (hs-CRP); adiponectin and genotyping of adiponectin genes. Abdominal ultrasonography was done to search for fatty liver; to measure subcutaneous fat thickness (SFT) and visceral fat thickness (VFT). Fatty liver was detected in 47 (65.3%) children and in 52 (62.7%) adults. Correlation analysis in both groups revealed that enlarged liver was highly positively correlated to age; BMI, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP); waist circumference; hip circumference, subcutaneous fat thickness (SFT) and Visceral fat thickness (VFT), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase/alanine aminotransferase (AST/ALT). In addition in adults to fasting blood glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL), IR and hs-CRP. Homozygous T adiponectin genotype at position +276 was significantly increased among children with enlarged liver size and hs-CRP. NAFLD affects a substantial portion of adults and children; it is associated with the metabolic syndrome.