Hepatitis C virus-NS3P in relation to p53, p21waf, mdm2, p21-ras and c-erbB2 in hepatocarcinogenesis.

Background: The non-structural protein 3 (NS3P) of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genome was linked to the neoplastic transformation of normal hepatocytes in chronically infected patients. However, the exact mechanisms involved in this process are unidentified yet, especially in the Egyptian population where the commonest type is genotype 4.

Methods: We investigated 32 HCV reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) positive hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cases and 18 morphologically normal hepatic tissues distant to tumors (MNT) for the correlation between HCV-NS3P, p53, p21(waf), mdm2, p21ras and c-erbB2 and DNA content by immunohistochemistry and image analysis.

Class-specific antibody in human dermatophytosis reactive with Trichophyton rubrum derived antigen.

Dermatophyte infections induce a humoral immune response and an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect specific antibody classes against antigen derived from Trichophyton rubrum. Sera from 19 acute patients, 18 chronic patients, and 27 normal controls were evaluated. Mean IgG titers against dermatophyte antigen were significantly higher in all patients than in controls.

The presence of avian adenoviruses and adeno-associated viruses in healthy chickens.

Avian adenoviruses were isolated from 56 of 106 fecal and rectal tissue samples taken from apparently healthy young chickens on 4 farms. Only one isolation was made from the 37 samples from 3- and 4-week-old chicks, while the isolation frequency was 64-100% in groups 5 weeks old and older. The 56 adenovirus isolates were classified into 6 serotypes.

Potentiation of hamster tumors by normal cells or charcoal.

Admixed spleen cells from normal animals or from animals given injections of Syrian hamster type C virus significantly potentiated the growth of the transplanted D9 lymphoma of random-bred hamsters. Potentiation was measured by an increase in incidence of tumors, a shortened latent period, and a decreased 50% tumor-producing dose of tumor cells. Intermediate doses of spleen cells (10 to 100 spleen cells per tumor cell) produced the greatest potentiation.

Detection and serological identification of adeno-associated virus in avian adenovirus stocks.

Eleven avian adenovirus strains were tested for the presence of avian adeno-associated viruses (AAAV). Six strains contained AAAV. Electron microscopy using rabbit anti-AAAV serum was useful in detecting the satellite virus.

Isolation and characterization of an Avian adenovirus-associated virus.

An 18- to 20-nm virus particle was isolated from the Olson strain of quail bronchitis, an avian adenovirus. On density gradient separation the small virions were primarily found at densities of 1.39 and 1.