T-cell immunity in human chronic toxoplasmosis.

Toxoplasmosis is a disease affecting 500 million people worldwide. The seroprevalence varies (from 5% to 90%), depending on geographical location, age, habit of eating raw meat or unwashed fruit and vegetables, and general level of hygiene. The incidence of infections is higher in warmer and humid climate and increases with age.

Pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines profile in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by severe joint deformities due to bony erosions and tendon damage. Cytokines are protein mediators of inflammation and are produced as a result of the activation of various cellular reactions. They are the final mediators and/or regulators of the inflammatory process.

Assessment of humoral immune response in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection.

Hepatitis C infection is a major public health problem worldwide. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has been identified as a major causative agent of post-transfusion hepatitis. The host immune response to HCV infection is composed of both non- specific immune response, including interferon (IFN) production and natural killer (NK) cell activity and a virus-specific immune response, including humoral and cellular components.

Mutant p53 protein in the serum of patients with colorectal cancer: Correlation with the level of carcinoembryonic antigen and serum epidermal growth factor receptor.

Introduction: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used for analysis of serum mutant p53 protein, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Serum samples were obtained from 48 patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) and a control group of twenty healthy individuals.

Results: The results demonstrated a significant increase of serum mutant p53, EGFR, and CEA levels in CRC patients compared to the control group (P<0.

Different cytokine patterns in patients coinfected with hepatitis C virus and Schistosoma mansoni.

Schistosoma mansoni (S. mansoni) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfection is common in Egypt and other developing countries. Patients coinfected with HCV and schistosomiasis exhibit a unique clinical, virological and histological pattern manifested by viral persistence with high HCV RNA titers as well as higher necroinflammatory and fibrosis scores in their liver biopsy samples.

The effect of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography on the serum IL-18 and erythrocytes antioxidative capacity in biliary obstructive jaundice.

Introduction: Obstructive jaundice is an important clinical problem. It may cause transient hemolysis and shortened erythrocyte life span as well as cytokine induction. An increase in lipid peroxidation has been noted as evidence of oxidative damage in red cells due to cholestasis.