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Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a worldwide concern, causing liver damage and necessitating early detection to prevent its spread. Studies indicate that evaluating changes in biochemical and hematological parameters, which serve as suitable predictors of inflammation, can be a reasonable method for diagnosing hepatitis C infection., Methods: This study analyzed 100 samples from high-risk patients positively identified via quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). Anti-HCV titers, biochemical and inflammatory tests, and complete blood cell counts (CBCs) were performed for these individuals. Additionally, 100 HCV-negative individuals with normal laboratory results were selected as the control group. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted to determine the cutoff values of the laboratory parameters., Results: According to the findings, the age, average white blood cell (WBC) count, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), total bilirubin (TBIL), direct bilirubin (DBIL), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), and ferritin levels were significantly higher in HCV patients. On the other hand, red blood cell (RBC) counts, neutrophils, lymphocytes, hemoglobin-to-platelet ratio (HPR), and iron (Fe) levels were significantly lower in the case group compared to those in the control group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the ROC curve analysis revealed that lymphocyte count, neutrophil count, and PLR were very strong predictors for hepatitis C infection (p < 0.0001, AUC = 1)., Conclusion: The study highlights significant biochemical and hematological differences between HCV patients and healthy subjects. These biomarkers are crucial for early diagnosis, potentially preventing liver damage and reducing HCV transmission., (© 2024 The Author(s). Journal of Clinical Laboratory Analysis published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Cancer is the second most common cause of death globally and is a major public health concern. Managing this disease is difficult due to its multiple stages and numerous genetic and epigenetic changes. Traditional cancer diagnosis and treatment methods have limitations, making it crucial to develop new modalities to combat the increasing burden of cancer. The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) system has transformed genetic engineering due to its simplicity, specificity, low cytotoxicity, and cost-effectiveness. It has been proposed as an effective technology to enhance cancer diagnosis and treatment strategies. This article presents the most recent discoveries regarding the structure, mechanism, and delivery methods of the highly powerful genome editing tool, CRISPR-Cas9. In terms of diagnosis, the article examines the role of CRISPR-Cas9 in detecting microRNAs and DNA methylation, and discusses two popular gene detection techniques that utilize the CRISPR-Cas system: DNA endonuclease-targeted CRISPR trans reporter and specific high sensitivity enzymatic reporter unlocking. Regarding treatment, the article explores several genes that have been identified and modified by CRISPR-Cas9 for effective tumorigenesis of common cancers such as breast, lung, and colorectal cancer. The present review also addresses the challenges and ethical issues associated with using CRISPR-Cas9 as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool. Despite some limitations, CRISPR-Cas9-based cancer diagnosis has the potential to become the next generation of cancer diagnostic tools, and the continuous progress of CRISPR-Cas9 can greatly aid in cancer treatment., (© 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)