BMI1 gene expression in myeloid leukemias and its impact on prognosis.

Background: BMI1 is a polycomb group (PcG) protein and is overexpressed in leukemia. It plays a key role in the self-renewal of stem cells. Leukemic cells lacking BMI1 underwent proliferation arrest and showed signs of differentiation and apoptosis.

Vaccination with Toxoplasma lysate antigen and CpG oligodeoxynucleotides: comparison of immune responses in intranasal versus intramuscular administrations.

Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is one of the most successful intracellular protozoan parasites on earth and highly prevalent in most warm-blooded vertebrates. There are no drugs that target the chronic cyst stage of this infection; therefore, development of an effective vaccine would be an important advance in disease control.

Human leukocyte antigen class I alleles can predict response to pegylated interferon/ribavirin therapy in chronic hepatitis C Egyptian patients.

Background: Racial differences and broad spectrum response to anti-hepatitis C (anti-HCV) therapy suggest a possible role for host genetic diversity in treatment outcomes. We aim to determine the association and predictive value of certain human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I alleles with either susceptibility to viral clearance or persistence following pegylated interferon (Peg-IFN) plus ribavirin therapy in chronic hepatitis C (HCV) genotype 4 patients in Egypt. 

Methods: This study included 200 unrelated chronic HCV patients who received Peg-IFN plus ribavirin therapy [112 patients with sustained virological response (SVR) and 88 non-responders (NR)].

Effect of Mirazid in Schistosoma japonicum-infected mice: parasitological and pathological assessment.

Conflicting reports are found in the literature about the antischistosomal efficacy of Mirazid (MZ), which is a special formulation of myrrh obtained from the stem of the plant Commiphora molmol. This initiated the present study to assess this drug for the first time in experimental schistosomiasis japonicum. Mice were divided into four groups: infected untreated control (I); infected treated with MZ, 500 mg/kg (II); infected treated with MZ, 250 mg/kg (III); and infected treated with praziquantel (PZQ), 200 mg/kg (IV).