Inhibin B, A putative marker of spermatogenesis: its value in assessment of patients with varicocele

This study was an attempt to evaluate the significance of estimating serum levels of inhibin B among different categories of varicocele patients, to find out the relationship between thin protein and serum levels of FSH as well as sperm parameters and to detect the influence of varicocelectomy on this protein. Serum levels of inhibin B for 48 patients with varicocele were studied in comparison with 20 healthy fertile non-varicocele controls using a one-step two- site ELISA technique. It was found that serum inhibin B levels for patients with varicocele were significantly lower than that of fertile non- varicocele men and were not correlated with serum FSH levels or sperm parameters. Varicocelectomy restored the serum levels of inhibin B to its normal values that was associated with a significant improvement of seminal parameters

Atopic nature of prurigo of hebra [PoH]: a comparative study of the clinicoimmunological picture in PoH, atopic and normal children

Twenty children with clinical features of both severe [Prurigo Ferox] and mild forms [Prurigo Mitis] of Prurigo of Hebra [PoH] were clinically studied to assure freedom of any allergic disorders. IgE IgG, IgA and IgM were estimated and compared with those of children with atopic disorders namely; atopic dermatitis and bronchial asthma. They were also compared with immunoglobulins of normal control children. IgE, IgG and IgM main levels in children with PoH showed a highly significant elevation over that of the normal control children. IgE mean level almost equalized that of bronchial asthma children. IgE mean level in children with atopic dermatitis was still higher than in those with PoH or bronchial asthma. IgG levels in Ferox form was as high as that in atopic dermatitis. Factors determining severity and distribution of PoH need to be clarified