Assessment of proinflammatory th[1] cytokines [IL[18]-IFN gamma] and th[2] cytokine [IL[13]] concentrations in patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases [systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid artharitis and systemic sclerosis]

Several cytokines play a role in the production of autoantibodies and the pathogenesis of rheumatic diseases including systemic lupus erythematosus [SLE], rheumatoid arthritis [RA] and systemic sclerosis [SS]. This study investigated serum concentration of the proinflammatory Th[1] cytokine; IL[18] and its inducer IFN[gamma], the study also investigated serum concentration of proinflammatory Th[2] cytokine; IL[13], to explain the role of Th[1] and Th[2] in the pathogenesis of autoimmune rheumatic diseases [SLE, RA and SS]. IL[18], IFN[gamma] and IL[13] levels were evaluated by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA]. Four groups were included in this study. Group I: Comprised [15] patients of SLE. Group II: Comprised [15] patients of RA. Group III: Comprised [15] patients with SS. Group IV: Control group consisted of [15] sex and age matched healthy controls. Serum levels of IL[18] was significantly higher in SLE [3138.200 +/- 1413.096 pg/ml] and RA [3336.667 +/- 921.839 pg/ml] than control group [86.647 +/- 35.370 pg/ml], while IL[18] in SS had no statistically significant difference between patients [103.634 +/- 50.593 pg/ml] and control group [86.647 +/- 35.370 pg/ml].The cut off level was 257.75 pg/ml. IFN[gamma] was significantly higher in SLE patients [5.439 +/- 1.430 lU/ml] and RA patients [2.973 +/- 0.598 lU/ml] than control group [0.580 +/- 0.234 lU/ml] ,while IFN[gamma] in SS had no statistically significant difference [0.592 +/- 0.245IU/ml] than control group [0.580 +/- 0.234 lU/ml] .The cut offlevelwasl.2IU/ml. As regard IL[13] it was significantly higher in SLE patients [55.673 +/- 6.892 pg/ml] ,RA patients [59.587 +/- 12.183 pg/ml] and SS [61.550 +/- 12.047 pg/ml] than control group [21.427 +/- 7.274 pg/ml] .The cut off level was 44.4 pg/ml .There was significant positive correlation of IL[18]/ IL[13] and IFN[gamma] / IL[13] ratio in SLE and RA, while significant negative correlation of IL[18]/IL[13] and IFN[gamma]/IL[13] ratio in SS. There was a significant increase of both Th[1] cytokines [IL[18] and IFNgamma and Th[2] cytokine [IL[13] in SLE and RA with Th[1] predominance,while predominance of Th[2] cytokine [IL[13] in SS than Th[1]i cytokine [IL[18] and IFN[gamma]. This result suggests that IL[18], INF[gamma] and IL[13] could be involved in the pathogenesis of autoimmune rheumatic diseases

Role of inhibin B as a marker of spermatogenesis in infertile patients with varicocele

Varicocele is a state of varicosity and tortousity of the pampiniform plexus around the retrograde blood flow. There is strong association between varicocele and subfertility so treating varicocele may be helping improvement of fertility. Inhibin B levels reflect the functional state of seminiferous epithelium and have been considered as sensitive index of spermatogenesis. This study was to detect the role of serum inhibin B concentration in infertile men with varicocele before and after varicocelectomy. Twenty patients with varicocele were included in this study. Serum inhibin B, serum FSH and semen analysis were performed before and after 6 months after varicocelectomy. There was a significant increase of inhibin B levels [P < 0.01] after varicocelectomy and a significant decrease of serum FSH levels was observed after surgery P < 0.01]. A significant improvement of semen analysis, sperm concentration [P < 0.01] and progressive motility [P < 0.05] was showed after treatment. Serum Inhibin B level in infertile men may provide a useful information about spermatogenesis and could be used as a more direct marker of spermatogenesis than FSH. Moreover, varicocelectomy improves the level of inhibin B and semen parameters in those patients