S.A. Batool 1 , S.Z. Abbas 1 1 Department of Gastroenterology, Muhammad Hospital, Mirpurkhas, Pakistan Background: Hepatitis C viraus (HCV) infection is common in our region. Data is not available on success rates of conventional Interferon (INF) based products here. We attempted to find out the dominant genotype, and to determine the success rate of conventional INF-based treatment in eradicating HCV. Methods: Retrospective case series study of HCV infected patients' records treated with 14 different brands of INF. Results: 320/1858 (17%) of all patients tested were positive for HCV antibodies. HCV-RNA was tested by PCR for 1022 patients, of which 904 (88%) turned out to be positive. Genotype type 3 was the dominant genotype -found in 118/168 (70%) patients. 101 men and 57 women were treated with various brands of INF with the same manufacturer's brand of Ribavirin. The overall ETR achieved was 100/142 (70%) -58/85 (68%) men and 42/57 (74%) women. 41/62 (66%) of genotype 3 achieved ETR. There was no significant difference in average ages for those who achieved good ETR and those who did not (39 years each). The ETR achieved by different brands ranged from 48% to 91%. SVR was achieved by 17/30 patients. Conclusions: 17% of all people tested positive for HCV antibodies, of which about 88% had evidence of active HCV infection. ETR achieved by different brands averaged 70%. This was 74% in female sex, although age did not appear to be a factor in determining a favourable ETR. Patients & Methods: A total of 439 consecutive diabetic patients of either sex were evaluated for HCV and HBV infection by using Enzyme Linked Immunosorbant Assay (ELIZA-3) along with serum ALT levels. On the basis of this test, the patients were divided into two groups, sero +ve and sero -ve. Different variables were: Age, sex, BMI, area of residence (rural or urban), type and duration of DM, smoking, literacy and ALT. Results: Males 50.3% and females 49.7%. Age ranged from 18 to 95. Majority were married (98.4%), from rural area (70.4%), had type-2 DM (99.8%), normal weight (39.2%), normal ALT(60.1%) and non-smokers (78.6%). Seroprevalence for HCV, HBV and both were 25.1%, 1.8% and 1.6%. Two groups were made, sero +ve and sero -ve. Raised ALT (59.2%) was significant (P<0.05) factor while all others variables were insignificant (P>0.05). Conclusion: HBV and HCV infections are more prevalent in DM with increased ALT levels. While HCV infection is more common than HBV in patients with DM. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) envelope proteins (E1 and E2) mediate the entry of virus into host cells by binding to its cellular receptors and resulting in the fusion of the viral membrane with host cell membrane. The expression and secretion of biologically active envelope proteins in vitro have proven to be a difficult task due to the high degree of glycosylation and the existence of hydrophobic domains within these sequences. In order to obtain glycosylated, correctly-folded HCV envelop proteins in large quantities, we optimized the DNA sequences of HCV envelop proteins by substituting the encoded sequence with human preferable codons and expressed them in human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells. Both proteins were detected intracellularly, with a small portion secreted into supernatant. In order to enhance secretion, truncated forms of envelop proteins including E2 TM, E2384-661, E2484-661 were also expressed. Both full-length and truncated forms of envelop proteins were glycosylated and expressed at high level. In addition, we also expressed the codon-optimized HCV receptors CD81 and Claudin-1 in 293 cells. By comparing the expression level of codon-optimized sequences and the sequences that were obtained from cDNA library by PCR, we found that codon-optimization enhance protein expression significantly in 293 cells. These results not only lay solid foundation for further research concerning the mechanism of HCV entry, including the optimal pH and right protein conformation for fusion, cell types that permit viral entry; but also potentiate a useful cell model for testing antiviral agents. Background: Prolactin (PRL) is an immunoregulatory hormone secreted from lymphocytes, however, PRL induction in relation to Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has not been elucidated. Methods: Serum PRL levels were measured in both 232 subjects of our HCV cohort study and 31 male patients of the hospital, who were chronically infected with HCV. Furthermore, serum PRL levels were compared in 27 male patients before and after interferon therapy. We measured expression of PRL mRNA level in PBMCs in 12 male patients, and also investigated PRL mRNA of PBMCs collected from 5 healthy men that stimulated by HCV produced by Huh7.5 cells in vitro. Result: Serum PRL levels were significantly higher in the HCV-infected subjects than in the controls (p< 0.01). They were significantly higher in HCV-infected male subjects than in the controls (p< 0.001). Serum PRL levels were significantly higher in male patients than in the controls (p<0.01). Serum PRL levels decreased significantly after interferon therapy in patients with sustained virological response to therapy (p<0.05). The levels of PRL mRNA in PBMCs derived from HCV-infected patients were significantly higher in 12 male patients than in the controls (p<0.001). Conclusion: The high levels of PRL expression are associated with HCV infection in carriers. Background and Objectives: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of chronic liver hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma.Current clinic standard therapy is interferon alpha (IFN-) combination with ribavirin, but this treatment is associated with adverse effects and often fails to induce a sustained response. Until recently, development of a HCV cell culture system (HCVcc) provides a suitable tissue culture system to study the complete HCV life cycle. In this study, we tested the effect of IFN omega (IFN-)-a member of type interferon on HCV compared with IFNbased on HCV 1b replicon and HCVcc. Methods: We compared IFN-and IFN-2a effects on HCV RNA replication and protein expression, as measured by ribozyme protection assay and western blot. We also compared the intracellular protein level of phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (p-STAT1) treated with different interferon type and concentration with western blot analysis. Results: HCV RNA and protein level were inversely related with IFNconcentration and compared with IFN-2a, at the same concentration, the HCV RNA and protein levels treated with IFN-were lower than that treated with IFN-2a p 0.05 .Also based on the HCV RNA analysis, EC50 of IFN-was 10 folds lower than IFN-2a. IFNs increased intracellular p-STAT1 level at a dose dependent manner and compared the same concentration of IFN-and IFN-2a, p-STAT1 protein level was higher in IFN-treated group p 0.05 . Conclusions: These results demonstrate distinct antiviral effect of IFNcompared with IFN-2a and this difference maybe partly caused by the stronger stimulation of IFN receptor . Outstanding antiviral activity of IFNmay be useful for developing new HCV treatment strategies. Background & Aim: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection with undetectable levels of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) is called an occult infection, which although has been described among subjects with chronic hepatitis C liver disease in the western world, it's prevalence and clinical significance are still ambiguous in the Indian subcontinent. Materials and Methods: We investigated HBV-DNA PCR in serum samples of 260 HBsAg negative subjects with chronic HCV-related liver disease, and 70 apparently healthy volunteers negative for HBsAg and anti-HCV as control. Results: Serum samples found positive by at least two independent PCR assays were considered HBV DNA positive. HBV-DNA was detected among 19 HCV-related chronic liver disease (CLD) patients (7.3%), which was higher (p = 0.2) as compared with the control volunteers (4.3%). It was more frequent (37.5%) in 24 anti-HBs negative/anti-HBc positive patients than in 180 anti-HBs/anti-HBc positive (5 %, p < 0.05). HCV RNA by qualitative PCR was significantly (p <0.001) higher in occult HBV compare to non-occult. HCV genotype 1b was predominantly associated with occult HBV (73%), especially among subjects with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (p<0.05) as compared to non-occult HBV cases. Though not significant, frequency of occult HBV infection was higher than healthy controls and HCV 1b genotype was significantly associated in patients with HCC. Conclusion: This study suggests that in all HBV-endemic areas, the possibility of occult HBV in patients with HCV should be considered and HBV-DNA should be performed.