Effect of androgen and schistosoniicide in murine schistomiasis mansoni: an experimental study

Impotence is aconsistent inability to sustain an erection sufficient for sexual intercourse. Testosterone administration in men with liver cirrhosis improves the sense of well-being, increase serum proteins and reduces edema without serious adverse effects. Oral, alkylated forms of testosterone can create a situation of liver toxicity. There is little evidence that other methods of administration cause liver dysfunction. Most doctors be indecisive on prescribing androgen preparations in patients with liver disease, so this work was designed to study the effect of androgen replacement [injectable form] on the murine diseased liver, and subsequently whether it can be used safely in men with chronic liver disease or not. To evaluate the effect of exogenous injectable androgen and praziquantel on the diseased liver of mice. National Hepatology and Tropical Medicine Research Institute [NHTMRI]. Materials and methods: Forty male mouse [weighing 25-30 g] were infested subcutaneously with Schistosoma mansoni [100 cercariae/animal], and then they were divided into four groups. Mice in the first group were infected only and used as infected control group. Mice of group II and IV were given the Schistosomicide, praziquantel in a dose of 0.3 mg/mouse. Androgen [Sustarion] was injected intramuscularly in a "dose of 0.125 mg/mouse, [three doses, 3 weeks apart] in group III and IV. At the end of the trial all animals were then sacrificed to study histopathologically the possible effects of androgen on the liver tissue. Liver function tests were done in animals of group I, III, and IV, first prior to study and finally by the end of study. Results of assayed liver function tests and histopathological examination were tested for statistical significant association. there were marked elevation of the liver enzymes in mice of group IV compared to the corresponding control [p<0.01] and mice of the third group [p<0.01], which reflect deterioration of hepatic function in those mice received the antibilharzial drug praziquantel. On the other hand there was statistical difference between control group [group I] and androgen treated group III [P<0.05]. Histological examination of liver sections of mice in all groups revealed the presence of typical bilharzial granulomas. The mean diameter of bilharzial granulomas clearly dropped to 283.20 micrometer in group II compared to 392.55 in corresponding control. The difference between these two groups was statistically significant [p=0.0001]. In group III there was no statistical difference in the number of egg granulomas [P>0.05] compared to group I. There was a reduction of granulomas diameter in group III and IV [animals injected with androgen] in comparison to group I [P>0.05 and P<0.01] respectively. Also comparison between the four groups as regards the type of bilharzial granulomas, it is clearly evident that the predominant type of granulomas in the androgen treated groups is the cellular type [38% and 57.1%] in group III and IV respectively and this may reflect the possible beneficial effect of androgen on the diseased liver. Our results clearly indicate that androgen have no deleterious effects on tissues of the diseased liver and hence on liver functions. In conclusion androgen therapy [injectabi form] appears to be safe in the clinical management of erectile dysfunction patients with chronic liver disease

Therapy-resistant vitiligo; treatment with autologous epidermal grafting using the tops of suction blisters-modified technique

Current treatment of vitiligo has been disappointing. In this study, emphasis was placed on treating the most refractory types of vitiligo, namely the segmental and focal varieties, none of which had responded satisfactorily to topical corticosteroids and topical or systemic psoraien and exposure to ultraviolet tight. [PUVA therapy]. Autologous epidermal grafting using the tops of suction blisters was the offered treatment to those resistant cases. Suction Mister epidermal grafting is a useful modality for treatment of resistant and stable vitiligo; however, the original apparatus is expensive one. This study attempts to develop a cheap and small apparatus, which can be assembled in the physician's, own office. Prospective study. National Hepatoiogy and Tropical Medicine Research Institute [NHTMR 1]. Twenty patients with therapy-resistant segmental or focal type of vitiligo were treated with autologous epidermal grafting using the tops of suction blisters. The epidermis was separated from underlying dermis by vacuum suction on the donor area. On the recipient area, similar blisters were raised by freezing of the skin. The busier roof induced by suction was removed and transplanted to the blister bed prepared on the depigmented area. The ventose machine used in obstetric delivery was connected to aluminum cups especially designed for that purpose and applied to obtain the suction blisters from the donor area. Ten parents exhibited almost complete repigmentation / [80%-100% improvement] at the grafted site within I to 3 months, in two patients a 70% response was achieved, while another faur patients did not respond to the treatment. Four patients lost follow up. Repigmentation that was noted in the recipient areas was retained at 1.5 years follow up. The donor areas healed well, with minimal hyperpigmentatian in most, of the cases. No unwanted effects were met with cases treated. Our results suggest that autologous epidermal grafting using the tops of suction blisters is a good treatment for the [therapy-resistant] segmental and/or focal type of vitiligo. Epidermal grafting leaves no scarring at all. The technique appears to be safe, simple, and effective. Introducing this simple suction device made the procedure also cheap and suitable to be applied on outpatient bases in our community in Egypt

Promising early results for keloid treatment with intralesional colchicine: a clinical and histopathological study

To evaluate the effect ofcolchicine local infiltration in the treatment of keloids. Prospective study. National Hepatology and Tropical Medicine Research Institute [NHTMRI]. In a clinical trial, 14 cases with keloids were treated by local infiltration ofcolchicine. The results were evaluated objectively and subjectively. Lesional biopsy was obtained before and after treatment and examined by light microscopy. Marked reduction of the size of the lesions and decrease of such complaints as itching and erythema were noted. Favorable results were obtained according to the patients in 83.4% and according to the opinion of the medical examiner in 91.7% of cases. Systemic complications of colchicine absorption, i.e. nausea, did not occur in any patient. Histopathological examination of the lesions after colchicine infiltration reveled marked reduction in the density of collagen bundles, which are widely dispersed through out the dermis. intralesional infiltration of colchicine is safe and effective treatment, of keloids

Reproductive effects of human interferon-alpha-2b administration on male albino mice testes. An experimental study

Recombinant human interferon alpha [rh-IFN-alpha] is used therapeutically in malignant disorders and chronic hepatitis. The phenotypic effects of this drug at the structural levels on testicular tissue were hardly ever addressed. Hence, this work was designed in adult male albino mice to study the phenotypic effects of rh-INF-alpha-2b on testicular tissue as well as assessing its effects on serum testosterone and gonadotropins levels. This research was planned to through light on the effects of interferon-alpha-2b [IFN-alpha-2b] on the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular [HPT] axis of the adult male albino mice. Experimental study. National Hepatology and Tropical Medicine Research Institute [NHTMRI]. The study was conducted from November [2004] to February [2005]. Thirty sexually mature male mice were divided into three groups [10 mice in each group], namely: the control, the experimental and the recovery groups. Mice in the experimental and recovery groups were administered recombinant human interferon alpha intraperitoneally at a dose of 3000 U / mouse weekly for 12 weeks in a volume of 1.0-microliter isotonic normal' saline, then animals in the recovery group were left to recover for a further period of two months. At the end of the experiment, serum concentrations of gonadotropins and testosterone were measured and then all animals were then sacrificed to study histopathologically the possible effects of interferon on the testicular tissue. rh-IFN-alpha-2b induced remarkable decline in the serum levels of both follicle stimulating hormone [FSH] and luteinizing hormone [LH] in mice of the experimental group compared to the corresponding control and mice of recovery group. At the same time, testosterone was moderately increased in the experimental group, and then returned to its normal levels within 2 months after cessation of treatment. Histopathologically, in the experimental group, there were focal thickening of the basement membrane, degenerative changes and clumping of the germinal epithelial cells in the center of seminiferous tubules, partial desquamation of the germinal epithelium from basement membrane, reduction in the germ cell height, partial arrest of maturation and increased number of Sertoli cells. Increased number of leydig's cells and hypervascularity were detected in the interstitial spaces. In the recovery group, there was lessening of the germ cell hypoplasia manifested by restoration of spermatogenic cells and accidental disruption in the basement membrane. Most of the spermatogenic and Sertoli cells restored their polarity, height and maturation. Our results suggest that rh-INF-alpha-2b temporally affects the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis [HPT], both centrally and peripherally [at the testicular level], through the lessening of FSH, LH, raise of testosterone serum levels and direct phenotypic effect on the testicular tissue