Relations between vitamin D3, total and specific IgE for house dust mites in atopic dermatitis patients

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic recurrent inflammatory skin disease. There are a lot of evidences on the importance of vitamin D and house dust mite (HDM) allergens in the etiology and course of AD. The objectives of this study are to evaluate the relation between vitamin D3 level and house dust mites (HDM) Dermatophagoidspecies sensitization in pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis. Cross-sectional design study was conducted on 50 atopic dermatitis patients. Blood analysis were done to determine level of vitamin D3, total IgE by fluorescent immunoassay & specific IgE for HDM (d1, d2) & other inhalant allergens by ELISA test. There was significant high negative correlation with the specific IgE for HDM (r =  −0. 62, p < 0.001) and vitamin D3. & there was non-significant minimal negative correlation with the specific IgE and other inhalant allergens (r = − 0.10, p > 0.05). There was a statistically significant relation between level of vitamin D3 and atopic dermatitis severity and sensitization to HDM and other allergens.

25-Hydroxy cholecalciferol, anti-Müllerian hormone, and thyroid profiles among infertile men

BACKGROUND AND AIM

We examined the relationship among vit.D₃, AMH, FT3, FT4, and TSH, in addition to the serum levels of reproductive hormones (FSH, LH, prolactin, and free testosterone), in oligoasthenoteratozoospermia and azoospermia patients in a cohort of infertile men from Egypt to establish a clinical marker/cause-effect relationship.

METHODS

This cross-sectional cohort study was carried out on 301 men (105 males with oligoasthenoteratozoospermia and 96 males with azoospermia), in addition to 100 controls. Measurements of serum vit.D₃, AMH, FT3, FT4, and TSH levels, in addition to reproductive hormone assays, were performed on all included subjects, using ELISA kits.

RESULTS

Overall, results showed significantly lower serum levels of vit.D₃ in infertile men than in the controls, with a greater decrease observed in men with azoospermia than in oligoasthenoteratozoospermia patients, (p < .05 for all). Significantly higher serum TSH and FSH levels and significantly lower serum free testosterone levels were observed in males with azoospermia than in males with oligoasthenoteratozoospermia and the controls (p < .05 for both). There were no significant differences between the studied groups in terms of AMH, FT3 or FT4 levels. LH levels were negatively correlated with TSH levels and positively correlated with AMH levels among men with oligoasthenoteratozoospermia, while among men with azoospermia, LH levels were positively correlated with vit.D₃ levels (p < .05 for all).

CONCLUSION

Decreased Vit.D₃ could play a role in male infertility, in addition to abnormal thyroid function, which needs further investigation.

Men with idiopathic oligoasthenoteratozoospermia exhibit lower serum and seminal plasma melatonin levels: Comparative effect of night-light exposure with fertile males

Melatonin is a darkness hormone secreted by the pineal gland, which serves a role in idiopathic oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (iOAT). The present study aimed to evaluate the seminal plasma and serum melatonin levels of 50 patients with iOAT and 50 normal fertile controls and the effects of exposure to light at night on semen parameters. Semen analyses were performed according to the World Health Organization 2010 guidelines. Measurements of serum and seminal plasma melatonin, serum TSH, FT3, FT4, free testosterone, prolactin, FSH and LH were performed using ELISA. The overall results revealed that the serum and seminal plasma levels of melatonin were lower in patients with iOAT compared with the control subjects (P=0.0004 and 0.01, respectively). Patients with iOAT who were exposed to light at night exhibited lower serum and seminal plasma melatonin levels compared with those who were not exposed to light at night (P<0.0001 and 0.02, respectively). Additionally, similar significant differences were identified in control subjects exposed to light at night when compared to non-exposed controls. There was a significantly positive correlation between serum melatonin levels and sperm motility in the entire iOAT patient cohort (r=0.614; P<0.0001) and a significantly positive correlation between the serum and seminal plasma melatonin levels in the non-exposed iOAT patient subgroup (r=0.753; P<0.001). Thus, darkness and sleep at night may improve the semen parameters of patients with iOAT, as evidenced by the effects of light exposure at night on the serum and seminal plasma levels of melatonin and, consequently, on semen parameters.

Fractional Erbium-YAG Laser and Platelet-Rich Plasma as Single or Combined Treatment for Atrophic Acne Scars: A Randomized Clinical Trial

INTRODUCTION

Acne scarring is a common undesirable complication of acne vulgaris. Fractional erbium-yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) 2940 nm laser and platelet-rich plasma have been used in treating acne scars with variable outcomes. The objective of this study is to assess the efficacy of fractional erbium-YAG 2940 nm laser and platelet-rich plasma as a single line of treatment in comparison with combined treatment in atrophic postacne scars.

METHODS

Seventy-five patients were included in this trial and randomized into three equal groups (25 each). Group A was subjected to six sessions of erbium-YAG laser for 6 months, group B was treated with 12 sessions of platelet-rich plasma over the same period, and group C was subjected to six sessions of erbium-YAG laser plus 12 sessions of platelet-rich plasma over the same period. Each subject was evaluated by acne scar grading, photography, and subjective evaluation.

RESULTS

Both treatment modalities showed improvement of acne scars, but the improvement with combined treatment was better than that with erbium-YAG laser or platelet-rich plasma alone regarding scar grade improvement (P = 0.007 and 0.001), clinical improvement (P = 0.001 and 0.001), and patient satisfaction (P = 0.005 and 0.001), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The combination of platelet-rich plasma plus erbium-YAG laser is superior to either treatment alone for acne scars, with trivial side effects for all treatment modalities.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier; NCT03933033.