Effect of PUVA therapy on: soluble interleukin-2 receptor [sIL-2R] and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-I [sICAM-I] in psoriatic patients

This study aimed to evaluate disease activity of psoriasis both clinically using psoriasis area severity index [PASI] and serologically using sIL-2R and sICAM-1 by ELISA technique as well as to compare between two lines of therapy [PUVA alone and PUVA with topical steroid] in the treatment of psoriasis. The study was conducted on 40 psoriatic patients as well as ten healthy controls. The results showed that psoriatic patients had significantly higher serum level of sIL-2R and sICAM-1 and these levels were significantly decreased after PUVA therapy. These findings suggested that immunological factors played an important role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. The two lines of therapy used in this study resulted in a significant lowering of PASI and serum levels of sIL-2R and sICAM-1. PUVA with a topical steroid was more effective treatment than PUVA alone both clinically and serologically

Free radicals, total antioxidant status and interleukin-6 in seminal plasma of fertile and infertile men.

This work aimed to assess total antioxidant status, lipid peroxides [LPO], nitric oxide [NO] and interleukin-6 [IL-6] in seminal plasma of infertile men [n = 45] compared with fertile men [controls, n = 30]. The infertile men included asthenozoospermic [n = 17], asthenoteratozoospermic [n = 25] and oligozoospermic patients [n = 3]. The semen samples from fertile men showed antioxidant capacity at a higher value than equivalent samples from infertile men. Moreover, the inverse relationship between antioxidant capacity and lipid peroxidation in seminal plasma strongly suggested that impaired defenses play an important role in infertile disorders. Furthermore, the increased oxidative stress observed in infertile men may modulate the level of IL-6

Correlation of infection with mycoplasma-ureaplasma and alterations of seminal parameters

30 infertile patients were included in this study according to certain criteria, which are harboring Mycoplasma or Ureaplasma and being free from any other systemic or local factor that might influence semen. Another 30 patients whose semen samples were free from these organisms were included as control. Complete semen analysis, cytology and culture were done and data obtained were analyzed statistically. The study showed that Ureaplasma urealyticum has a significant effect on the following semen parameters: pH and liquefaction [increased], sperm motility [depressed], sperm concentration and viability [decreased] with increased percentage of abnormal forms. On the other hand, mycoplasma showed a significant effect only on the increased production of abnormal forms. These results point to the necessity for culture of these organisms, especially in the long standing idiopathic asthenozoosperm and/or increased percentage of abnormal forms in any barren marriage

Cutaneous side effects of hormonal contraceptives

Hormonal contraceptives can induce changes in the skin and its appendages. This study was carried out to compare the effects of progesterone only contraceptives [Norplant[R]] and Uniplant[R]] versus combined oral contraceptive pills on skin and its appendages. Women received IUDs were used as controls. A significant relation was found between the use of progesterone only contraceptives [Norplant[R]] and Uniplant[R]] and hair loss, seborrheic dermatitis, melasma and generalized pruritis. On the other hand there was a significant relation between the use of combined OCs and hair loss, melasma and vaginal candidiasis. Other skin manifestations reported showed insignificant difference in comparison to controls. Large prospective studies are recommended to elucidate the cutaneous side effects of progesterone only contraception versus combined oral contraceptive pills