Asghar Muhammad Umer, Haneef Kabeer, Fatima Fizza, Asghar Aisha, Ain Noor Ul
Institute of Microbiology, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
Oman Med J. 2023 Sep 28;38(5):e549. doi: 10.5001/omj.2023.102. eCollection 2023 Sep.
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and bacterial vaginosis (BV) coinfection generate sustained inflammation with bulk production of reactive oxygen species. They have the potency to cause hepatocellular carcinoma, vaginal apoptosis, disturb pregnancy, and influence drug treatment and follow-up. This case-control study aimed to compare the redox status in HCV and BV coinfection with respect to BV mono-infection among pregnant females (PFs).
Blood samples and vaginal secretions were drawn from 75 PFs divided into three groups: coinfection (n = 25), monoinfection (n = 25), and control PFs (n = 25) who are presumed healthy subjects. Blood samples were analyzed for HCV detection based on conserved 5' untranslated region via real-time polymerase chain reaction and hematological parameters. Markers of oxidative stress (malondialdehyde and peroxidase) and antioxidants (catalase and superoxide dismutase) were checked in plasma as well as vaginal secretions of patients among all three groups.
Hematological analysis reveals that hemoglobin levels, platelets, and lymphocytes decreased significantly ( < 0.050) among the coinfection followed by mono-infection group compared to the control group. Moreover, the higher isolation frequency of pathogenic bacteria ( spp.) and Nugent score trend was observed among the coinfection group. Antioxidant levels were significantly lower ( < 0.050) among the vaginal secretions and blood plasma of patients having coinfection with respect to the mono-infection and control groups. While oxidative stress marker was significantly highest ( < 0.050) among vaginal secretions and blood plasma of coinfection followed by mono-infection and control group. These results validate that overall redox severity was more among the coinfection compared to the mono-infection and control groups.
Redox indexes should be considered in early diagnosis and treatment of HCV and BV coinfection which may also facilitate the better treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma and vaginal apoptosis.
丙型肝炎病毒（HCV）与细菌性阴道病（BV）合并感染会产生持续炎症，并大量产生活性氧。它们有可能导致肝细胞癌、阴道细胞凋亡、扰乱妊娠，并影响药物治疗及随访。本病例对照研究旨在比较妊娠女性（PFs）中HCV与BV合并感染相对于BV单一感染的氧化还原状态。
从75名PFs中采集血液样本和阴道分泌物，这些PFs被分为三组：合并感染组（n = 25）、单一感染组（n = 25）和对照PFs组（n = 25），后者为假定的健康受试者。基于保守的5'非翻译区，通过实时聚合酶链反应和血液学参数对血液样本进行HCV检测分析。在三组患者的血浆以及阴道分泌物中检测氧化应激标志物（丙二醛和过氧化物酶）和抗氧化剂（过氧化氢酶和超氧化物歧化酶）。
血液学分析显示，与对照组相比，合并感染组其次是单一感染组的血红蛋白水平、血小板和淋巴细胞显著降低（< 0.050）。此外，在合并感染组中观察到病原菌（ spp.）的分离频率更高以及Nugent评分趋势。与单一感染组和对照组相比，合并感染患者的阴道分泌物和血浆中的抗氧化剂水平显著降低（< 0.050）。而氧化应激标志物在合并感染组的阴道分泌物和血浆中显著最高（< 0.050），其次是单一感染组和对照组。这些结果证实，与单一感染组和对照组相比，合并感染组的总体氧化还原严重程度更高。
在HCV与BV合并感染的早期诊断和治疗中应考虑氧化还原指标，这也可能有助于更好地治疗肝细胞癌和阴道细胞凋亡。
