Elucidation of demographic,clinical and trichoscopic features for early diagnosis of self-healing acute diffuse and total alopecia

The term “acute diffuse and total alopecia” (ADTA) has been often used as a synonym for self-regressing severe alopecia areata (AA). However, ADTA is originally defined as a rapidly-progressive subtype of AA (RP-AA) with short recovery time and favorable prognosis irrespective of interventions. Indeed, a subpopulation of ADTA recovers spontaneously. We focused on this unique subset of AA, which we coined as “self-healing ADTA” (sADTA). Prompt and accurate differentiation of sADTA from other RP-AA is important to avoid unnecessary treatments, which is still challenging due to the lack of predictive diagnostic hallmarks. In this study, 18 sADTA patients were retrospectively analyzed to delineate their demographics and clinical features, including gentle hair pull test and trichoscopic findings, followed by statistical comparison with those of RP-AA. All sADTA cases were female and the average age was 38.1 ± 15.9 years. The progression of hair loss areas peaked at 3.6 ± 1.5 months, and complete hair regrowth was achieved in 7.9 ± 1.7 months. The identified factors supporting the diagnosis of sADTA included being female; the absence of scalp pain and itch; the absence of extra-scalp hair loss; club hair predominance in hair pull test; predominant short vellus hairs; and increase in vacant follicular ostia on trichoscopy. Subsequently, a scoring system for early diagnosis of sADTA was developed by counting the number of six identified factors present in a tested case. When analyzed by the developed system, all sADTA cases, including an additional four cases, had scores of 4 or above, while all RP-AA cases had scores below 3 except one case. Therefore, the system successfully differentiated sADTA from RP-AA (P < 0.01). Despite some technical limitations, the current study suggested that sADTA is a distinctive entity with unique pathophysiology and that early diagnosis before intervention is feasible based on the characteristics.     

多个扩张器联合扩张修复大面积头皮瘢痕性秃发

目的:探讨多个扩张器联合扩张修复大面积头皮瘢痕性秃发的效果。方法:2003年5月~2013年5月间,应用2~4个扩张器联合扩张的方法修复缺损面积为50~350cm2的头皮瘢痕性秃。手术分两期:Ⅰ期根据秃发面积的大小及部位,选择适当大小、形状及数量的扩张器,并在瘢痕周围置入扩张器注水扩张;Ⅱ期根据瘢痕切除术后的缺损情况进行滑行推进或旋转皮瓣修复。结果:80例头皮瘢痕性秃发,74例取得良好效果;3例秃发面积过大,一次扩张未能完全修复,经二次扩张修复后效果良好;1例出现切口感染而取出扩张器;2例出现Ⅱ期术后头皮血肿,经处理后愈合良好。随访5个月~5年,头皮头发生长良好,缝线处无明显瘢痕增生,头部外观有明显改善,患者对手术效果均比较满意。结论:应用多个扩张器联合扩张修复大面积头皮瘢痕性秃发,可以彻底切除瘢痕,使秃发部位有毛发覆盖,头部整体外观得到明显改善,是修复大面积瘢痕性秃发较为理想的一种方法。     

Distinct temperament and character profiles in first onset vitiligo but not in alopecia areata

Alopecia areata (AA) and vitiligo (V) are diseases that are correlated with psychiatric disorders before, during and after diagnosis. The Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) is a well‐established approach for investigating personality traits in various psychosomatic diseases. The aim of this study is to compare and investigate the differences in the TCI between patients with first onset AA, patients with V and healthy controls (HC). Participants in the study included 42 patients with first onset AA, 50 adult patients with V and 60 HC who had no history or diagnoses of psychiatric or dermatological disorders. All participants were assessed with the TCI and the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). Among the temperament traits, the extravagance, disorderliness and total novelty‐seeking scores were lower, and the worry and pessimism scores were higher in patients with V compared with patients with AA and the HC. The mean score of the enlightened second nature and the total self‐directedness score of the character traits were higher in patients with V compared with patients with AA and the HC group. In the AA group, there was a negative correlation only between the reward dependence total score and the DLQI score. This study suggests that patients with first onset V have a distinct temperament, such as being unenthusiastic and unemotional, and character profiles, such as worry and pessimism, independent of their psychiatric comorbidities, and patients with AA do not have a different personality from the non‐affected population.     

“Doll #135 with vitiligo”: Are alopecia and vitiligo Barbie worth the hype?

Toy manufacturer Mattel released a new line of diverse Barbie dolls earlier this year, including dolls with alopecia and vitiligo. The new dolls have been widely celebrated, with both media and dermatologists proposing that the dolls could provide significant benefits for the low self-esteem and societal exclusion suffered by children with similar dermatoses. However, the reality may be very different. Here, we present existing research on the impact of diverse dolls on children’s play and psychology to argue that the dolls’ proposed benefits for children with alopecia and vitiligo are unlikely to materialize; rather, alopecia and vitiligo Barbie could prove more harmful than beneficial.     

雄激素性脱发的外用药治疗

雄激素性脱发外用药物包括血管扩张药物、抗雄激素药物、前列腺素F2α类似物、Wnt/β-连环蛋白途径活化剂及腺苷、褪黑素、Gly-Pro-Ile-Gly-Ser五肽，本文对以上药物的疗效进行综述。     

Variations in alanine aminotransferase levels within the normal range predict metabolic and androgenic phenotypes in women of reproductive age

Abstract

Background and aims. Obesity plays pathogenetic roles in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and hyperandrogenic states like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). We tested the hypothesis that alanine aminotransferase (ALT), a marker of NAFLD, is associated with endocrine and metabolic abnormalities in women with normal ALT. Methods and results. Fasting glucose, insulin, total testosterone, DHEA-S, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, prolactin, leptin, soluble leptin receptor, free leptin index (FLI), lipid profile, ALT, gonadotropins, and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) were measured in 200 women aged 18–48 years. Beta cell function (%B), insulin sensitivity (%S) and insulin resistance were calculated using the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR). Ninety-two women had PCOS (Rotterdam criteria); 64 had idiopathic hyperandrogenism; 44 were normal controls. ALT showed significant positive correlations with waist circumference (WC), systolic blood pressure, glucose, leptin, FLI, triglycerides, HOMA-IR and androgens and significant inverse correlations with leptin receptor, HDL-C, %S and SHBG. Correcting for WC and fat% showed that the associations between ALT and glucose, HOMA-IR, testosterone and free androgen index are independent of obesity. Binary logistic regression analyses showed significant association of ALT with PCOS and hyperandrogenemia. ALT ≥ 18 IU/L showed significant association with PCOS with Odds Ratio = 2.28 (95% Confidence Interval = 1.03–5.08), p = 0.043. Conclusions. In women of reproductive age, normal levels of ALT are associated with metabolic and androgenic phenotypes. We suggest a paradigm shift and extension of the routine use of ALT beyond the diagnosis of liver disease.