Background: Aflatoxins are the secondary metabolites produced by the flavi section of Aspergillus. Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is hepatocarcinogen, teratogen and mutagen. Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) is the hydroxylated metabolite of AFB1. The liver protects the body by lowering the toxicity of AFB1 to form different hydroxylates like AFM1. According to the synergistic effect of Hepatitis and also AFB1 as the parent molecule of AFM1, the main purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between the mean levels of AFM1, in the Hepatitis-C-virus (HCV) -positive patients compared to healthy individuals.Methods: After the tests of liver function enzymes, the level of AFM1 was measured and compared in the urine sample of 71 patients with HCV and 71 healthy individuals. The AFM1 of urine samples were tested using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Besides, the levels of serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin and direct bilirubin were assessed in the blood samples.Findings: The urine of 29.7% of HCV-positive patients and 19.71% of healthy individuals consisted of some amount of AFM1. The mean level of AFM1 was 2.45 and 1.66 pg/ml in patients and controls, respectively; which was significantly different (P=0.005). The mean levels of SGPT and alkaline phosphatase were significantly more among HCV-positive patients with AFM1 compared to those without AFM1 (P=0.012). But, there was not any significant difference between the mean levels of SGOT and total and direct bilirubin between the HCV-positive patients with and without AFM1.Conclusion: The mean levels of SGPT and Alkaline phosphatase, which are more exclusive to survey of liver function, were significantly different between HCV-positive patients with and without AFM1. Consequently, progression of the chronic liver disease is caused by the existence of AFB1 in HCV-positive patients; therefore, the reduction of AFM1 via improving the food consumption pattern can prevent this progression.

Nowadays viral Hepatitis is one of the most common and important causes of chronic liver disorders in the world. Extrahepatic manifestations of viral Hepatitis consist a main part of the disease. The main viruses causing Hepatitis include Hepatitis A, B, and C viruses. Herein common skin manifestations in Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is discussed. Chronic Hepatitis causes skin disorders both directly and indirectly. HCV is a RNA virus and is considered as one of the most important causes of acute and chronic Hepatitis. HCV is mainly transmitted through blood transfusion or using shared infected needles. People who inject narcotics, cocaine users and health personnels are at risk more than others.

Background: More than 170 million people in the world are infected with Hepatitis C virus (HCV). Determination of HCV genotype before starting the treatment is required, because HCV genotype affects the course of treatment and drug dosage.Objectives: We aimed to evaluate HCV genotypes among patients with positive results for anti-HCV in Bandar Abbas from 2011 to 2012.Patients and Methods: Five hundred and nine consecutive patients with established chronic HCV infection referred to Behavioral Diseases Consultation Center, Blood Transfusion and Center for Special Diseases from March 2011 to March 2012 were enrolled in this cross sectional study. Five mL of peripheral blood was taken from precipitants and viral RNA extracted after plasma separation. Hepatitis C virus RNA was detected by reverse transcriptase-nested polymerase chain reaction (RT-nested PCR) assay and then HCV genotypes analyzed using restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) method.Results: In overall, 509 patients enrolled to this study. The mean age of these patients was 38.87 ± 9.55 years ranging from 1 to 90 years. Routs of transmission were: 238 (46.7%) inject of substance, 149 (29.3%) unknown rout, 62 (12.2%) blood transfusion, 50 (9.8%) sexual contact, and 10 (2%) mother to child. Frequency of HCV genotypes were: 316 (62.1%) 1a, 117 (23%) 1b, and 76 (14.9%) 3a. there was no significant association between HCV genotypes and gender, educational degree, risk factor of Hepatitis C, job, monthly income, HIV infection, Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, Intravenous drug injection, and underlying disease (P>0.05).Conclusions: This results the same as many similar studies demonstrated that common HCV genotypes in Iranian patients were 1a, 3a and 1b, respectively. Patients with 1a and 1b genotypes have lower responses to interferon treatment, and it is reasonable to perform early screening to diagnose and determine HCV genotype for effective treatment and diagnose high-risk cases.