A preliminary observation: Male pattern hair loss among hospitalized COVID‐19 patients in Spain – A potential clue to the role of androgens in COVID‐19 severity

A preliminary observation of high frequency of male pattern hair loss among admitted COVID‐19 patients and suggest that androgen expression might be a clue to COVID‐19 severity.     

青年男性雄激素性秃发与动脉粥样硬化的相关性及机制研究

目的分析雄激素性秃发与动脉粥样硬化之间的相关性;探讨雄激素性秃发与动脉粥样硬化之间相关性的可能机制。方法采用病例对照研究方法,比较雄激素性秃发患者与健康对照者血压（BP）、体重指数（BMI）、总胆固醇（TC）、甘油三酯（TG）、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（LDL—C）、空腹血糖（FPG）、超敏C反应蛋白（hs—CRP）等动脉粥样硬化危险因素,超声前臂反应性充血试验（FMD）、脉搏波传导速度（PWV）、大动脉顺应性／小动脉顺应性（C1／C2）,外周血中内皮祖细胞的数量、培养7d后的内皮祖细胞迁移和粘附能力等,分析雄激素性秃发与动脉粥样硬化之间的相关性及其相关性的可能机制。结果雄激素性秃发患者BMI、BP、TC、LDL—C、TC／HDL-C、LDL-C及PWV较无秃发的健康体检者均明显增高,FMD、外周血内皮祖细胞的数量以及体外的迁移、粘附能力明显降低。结论青年男性雄激素性秃发与动脉粥样硬化存在明显相关性;外周血中内皮祖细胞的数量和功能减低引起的血管内皮功能下降可能是青年男性雄激素性秃发与动脉粥样硬化相关性的机制。     

Possible advantage of imiquimod and diphenylcyclopropenone combined treatment versus diphenylcyclopropenone alone: An observational study of nonresponder patients with alopecia areata

The topical contact sensitiser diphenylcyclopropenone (DCP) remains one of the most effective treatment modalities for alopecia areata (AA). However, some patients (nonresponders) do not respond to this treatment because they do not have an allergic reaction to DCP. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential role of imiquimod in inducing an allergic reaction to DCP in nonresponders. In all, 20 nonresponders were recruited from a group of DCP‐treated AA patients. Of these patients, 10 were treated with DCP and topical imiquimod and 10 were treated with DCP alone. A significantly better therapeutic outcome was measured in the DCP plus imiquimod group than in the group treated with DCP alone. The potential mechanism of imiquimod may involve the role of interleukin‐12, as previously suggested in an animal model. These findings suggest that imiquimod may have the potential to improve prognosis in nonresponder AA patients treated with DCP.     

The role of hydroxychloroquine in the treatment of lichen planopilaris: A retrospective case series and review

A variety of systemic agents are used to treat lichen planopilaris (LPP) with a limited evidence base. The aim of our study was to retrospectively review the response rate to and tolerability of hydroxychloroquine in a cohort of patients with LPP in an effort to add to the evidence base for its use. Twenty‐three patients with a clinical and histopathological diagnosis of LPP who had been treated with hydroxychloroquine for their disease in a single center were identified. A retrospective review of these patients' medical records was performed and physician rated response was documented. Complete response was observed in 61% of our patients, and a further 9% of patients demonstrated partial response. Thirteen percent of patients withdrew from treatment because of suspected adverse effects. Our sample size was small, and data was collected retrospectively. We found hydroxychloroquine to be a reasonable therapeutic choice in LPP.