Toxocara canis is a major parasite that infects many animals with high risk of human infections. This study aims at assessing the immunization with gamma radiationattenuated infective stage on rats challenged with non-irradiated dose. Level of vaccine protection was evaluated in liver and lung regarding parasitological, histopathological, biochemical and molecular parameters. Fifty rats were enrolled in three groups: group A (10 rats) as normal control; group B (20 rats) subdivided into subgroup B1 (infected control) and subgroup B2 infected then challenged after 14 days with the same dose of infection (challenged infected control); and group C (20 rats) subdivided into subgroup C1 vaccinated with a dose of 800 gray (Gy) gamma-radiated infective eggs (vaccine control) and subgroup C2 vaccinated then challenged on 14th day with same number of infective eggs (vaccinated-challenged). Tissues were stained with Haematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) for histopathological studies. Biochemical studies through detection of nitric oxide (NO) and Caspase-3 were conducted. Extent of DNA damage by Comet assay was assessed. Vaccinated-challenged subgroup revealed a marked reduction in larvae in tissues with mild associated histological changes. In addition there was accompanied reduction of NO, Casepase-3 level and DNA damage compared to the control infected group. It could be concluded that vaccination of rats with a dose of 800Gy gamma radiation-attenuated infective stage improves immune response to challenge infection and drastically reduces the morbidity currently seen.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in Egypt is the most serious health problem. Identifying HCV-positive persons at high risk of early complications can help prioritize treatment decisions. Recently, attention has been directed to non-invasive, accurate alternatives using serum biochemical markers. The transforming growth factor β 1/interleukins pathway plays an important role in the process of cell injury and inflammation. Thus, TGF-β1 and IL-17 were assessed in serum of chronic HCV patients with correlation to hepatic inflammatory and fibrotic status. The quantitative serum levels of TGF-β1 and IL-17 were analyzed among chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients (n=75) and normal control (NC) subjects (n=15). Disease severity in patients was assessed using the Child-Pugh scores and METAVIR. Serum levels of TGF-β1 and IL-17 were significantly increased in HCV patients compared to control group. Furthermore, the levels of TGF-β1 and Il-17 were positively correlated to serum transaminases and alpha-fetoprotein and they were negatively correlated with serum albumin and platelets. Additionally, the serum levels of TGF-β1 and Il-17 were associated with inflammation grades and stages of liver fibrosis. TGF-β1 and IL-17 may be hopeful serum biomarkers concerned in the progression of liver inflammation and fibrosis accompanying chronic HCV infection. Therefore, they could be used in the future as targets for anti-fibrotic therapy of chronic HCV to ameliorate the disease progress.

Prediabetes is a condition in which blood glucose level is above the normal but below the diagnostic value of diabetes mellitus. Hyperglycaemia can upregulate markers of chronic inflammation and contribute to the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which ultimately causes increased oxidative stress. This leads to beta-cell dysfunction and insulin resistance, which are involved in the pathogenesis of prediabetes status. Proper treatment of hyperglycaemia, inhibition of ROS overproduction, and suppression of inflammation are crucial for delaying the onset of diabetes. Therefore, it is essential to determine and understand the mechanisms involved in prediabetes. This review discusses the relationship between oxidative stress and prediabetes, along with the inflammation’s role in prediabetes. Additionally, the effects of some biomarkers of oxidative stress in prediabetes, inflammatory markers, and their influence on chronic inflammation are also briefly reviewed. Finally, the role of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory markers are discussed.