Female patients complaining about hair loss: documentation of defective scalp hair dynamics with contrast-enhanced phototrichogram

BACKGROUND: The complaint of chronic hair loss frequently affects female subjects and there is little or no objective technology available in the general dermatology or even in the hair clinics to guide the observer in the management of the patient. The purpose of this report is to share the results of refined hair growth measurements that were collected in 92 female subjects complaining about hair loss. METHODS: Clinically they were classified as having a patterned hair loss according to Ludwig (L; n=50), diffuse hair loss (D; n=13) or no visible hair loss but complaining of hair shedding (N; n=29). Two scalp sites on the top of the head and one occipital site were investigated after clipping by close-up photography before and after a hair dye (contrast enhancement, CE). Forty-eight hours later a new photograph was taken after CE in view of phototrichogram analysis (CE-PTG). Finally a last hair clip was performed 30 days later and hair thickness and length determined for linear growth measurements (LHGR). RESULTS: Herein we confirm that the top of the head shows usually a higher hair density than occipital sites, a physiological observation that applies both to men and women. From the technological perspective, we also document that CE improves hair detection in all sites. Interestingly, in affected patients (L and D) the relative increase of hair counts after CE was much higher (range +22.4% to +28.3%) compared with apparently unaffected females (N; range +8.2% to +9.7%). This increase in hair counts was only due in part to the presence of less pigmented thinning hair (thickness less than 40 microm). Such thin hairs were found in statistically significantly higher proportions in younger patients with mildly severe (grade I) patterned alopecia (Ludwig: L). In other patients with hair loss and in more severe forms of patterned alopecia - especially in older patients - the thin hair is not detected in abnormal proportions. In all sites slower growth rates and decreased anagen percentages indicate a defective hair replacement programme distinguishing L patterns from diffuse hair loss and from apparently unaffected patients complaining of chronic hair loss. Globally, we also noted that increasing age is associated with significant regression of scalp hair (decreased hair counts, thinner hair and slower LHGR). CONCLUSION: On the basis of the present data together with female data from the literature and our own studies in male subjects, we suggest a three-step mechanism leading to hair loss 1.Shortening of growth phase the hair cycle with maintained thick hair, i.e. more frequent hair cycling that leads to more hair shedding. 2.Intermittent production of short thin hair, i.e. morphological evidence of miniaturisation. 3.Very occasional or almost no hair production, i.e. dormant follicles or irreversible follicular atrophy. Depending on the genetic background, hormonal microenvironment in the scalp and conditioning of individual hair follicle bio-responses, female and male patterned hair loss may end up into different phenotypes.     

Effect of Kang''''ai Injection(康艾注射液) on Serum Level of Soluble Interleukin-2 Receptor and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Patients with Esophageal Carcinoma during Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy(RT)is an important ap-proach for treatment of esophageal carcinoma(EC),especially for patients who have missedthe chance of surgical section.The efficacy ofRTis not satisfactory for its1-year,3-year and5-year survival rates being merely50%,20%,and10%respectively(1).Researches in recent years showed thatbetter efficacy can be obtained by combiningRTwith Chinese herbal medicines for EC thatincapable to be resected.Kang ai Injection(康艾注射液,KAI)is a Chinese herbal prep-arati…     

血管内皮生长因子与妊娠高血压综合征发病的关系

目的　探讨血管内皮生长因子 (VEGF)在妊娠高血压综合征发病中的作用。方法　分别采用酶联免疫吸附试验检测 40例妊高征孕妇的血清VEGF水平 ,免疫组化检测胎盘及蜕膜组织VEGF及CD3 4表达情况 ,35例正常孕妇作对照。结果　①妊高征组孕妇的外周血VEGF水平及胎盘组织MVD明显低于正常妊娠组 (P <0 0 5 ) ;②两组胎盘绒毛滋养叶细胞和蜕膜组织中均有VEGF阳性表达 ,胎盘组织强阳性表达高于蜕膜。与对照组比较 ,其胎盘组织VEGF强阳性表达的轻度妊高征无显著性差异 ;而中度和重度妊高征与对照组相比 ,则明显降低 ,差异显著 (P <0 0 5 )。各组孕妇蜕膜组织中VEGF的表达强度和差异无显著性。③孕妇外周血VEGF水平与新生儿出生体重 (r =0 2 9,P <0 0 5 )和胎盘重量 (r =0 34,P <0 0 1)均存在直线正相关关系。结论　妊高征患者血清VEGF水平和胎盘组织MVD降低 ,胎盘组织VEGF表达明显下降 ,都可能在妊高征的发病中起一定的作用。     

酪氨酸激酶抑制剂对气管上皮细胞生长的影响

目的探讨酪氨酸激酶抑制剂(Tyrosine kinase inhibitor,TKI)对培养气管上皮细胞生长的影响.方法通过MMT法、3H-胸腺嘧啶(3H-TdR)掺入法及流式细胞计数,观察3种TKIs:Tyrphostin AG1478、Genistein(Sigma)及金转停对原代培养的大鼠气管上皮细胞增殖、周期及凋亡的影响,以及TKIs对表皮生长因子(EGF)的阻断作用.结果MTT法显示3种TKI均对气管上皮细胞的生长具有时间和剂量依赖性抑制作用,同时,TKI阻断EGF对气管上皮细胞生长的刺激作用,3种TKIs的作用无明显差异;1μmol/L的Tyrphostin AG1478、Genistein及金转停分别使气管上皮细胞的TdR掺入率降低18.3%、20.9%及19.7%,与MTT比色法结果一致.同时,Tyrphostin AG1478不仅加速气管上皮细胞的凋亡而且阻止细胞有丝分裂.TKIs可阻断表皮生长因子(EGF)对气管上皮细胞生长的刺激作用.结论TKIs不仅抑制对原代培养的大鼠气管上皮细胞的生长,加速其凋亡,而且可阻断EGF对气管上皮细胞生长的刺激作用,3种抑制剂的作用无明显差异.     

Hypoxia‐inducible factor 1α may be a marker for vasculitic neuropathy

Neuromuscular biopsy is still an essential method for diagnosing vasculitic neuropathy, although its diagnostic sensitivity is at most 60%. Our objective was to examine the expression of hypoxia‐inducible factor 1α (HIF‐1α) in peripheral nerves and to evaluate its usefulness in diagnosing vasculitic neuropathy, especially for discrimination from other axonal neuropathies. Forty‐one patients with vasculitic neuropathy consisting of 20 definite, 14 probable and seven possible diagnoses, 15 patients with metabolic neuropathy, five with motor neuron disease and six with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy were included. Nerve biopsy specimens were immunohistochemically examined for HIF‐1α and various cell markers. Distinct immunoreactivity (IR) was observed in nuclei of endoneurial cells in 54% (22/41) of vasculitic patients, while specimens from metabolic neuropathies showed less nuclear IR and the difference of mean density of HIF‐1α‐positive nuclei was significant. Two patients with possible vasculitis who showed HIF‐1α‐positive nuclei in endoneurium, were later confirmed to have vasculitis by skin biopsies. Most of the cells expressing HIF were demonstrated to be Schwann cells. There was a trend in the vasculitic patients with early phase nerve damage to display higher endoneurial HIF‐1α‐IR. HIF‐1α may be an immunohistochemical marker for vasculitic neuropathy, especially when the observed section contains no vasculitic lesions.     

The structure and mode of action of different botulinum toxins

The seven serotypes (A–G) of botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) are proteins produced by Clostridium botulinum and have multifunctional abilities: (i) they target cholinergic nerve endings via binding to ecto‐acceptors (ii) they undergo endocytosis/translocation and (iii) their light chains act intraneuronally to block acetylcholine release. The fundamental process of quantal transmitter release occurs by Ca²⁺‐regulated exocytosis involving sensitive factor attachment protein‐25 (SNAP‐25), syntaxin and synaptobrevin. Proteolytic cleavage by BoNT‐A of nine amino acids from the C‐terminal of SNAP‐25 disables its function, causing prolonged muscle weakness. This unique combination of activities underlies the effectiveness of BoNT‐A haemagglutinin complex in treating human conditions resulting from hyperactivity at peripheral cholinergic nerve endings. In vivo imaging and immunomicroscopy of murine muscles injected with type A toxin revealed that the extended duration of action results from the longevity of its protease, persistence of the cleaved SNAP‐25 and a protracted time course for the remodelling of treated nerve–muscle synapses. In addition, an application in pain management has been indicated by the ability of BoNT to inhibit neuropeptide release from nociceptors, thereby blocking central and peripheral pain sensitization processes. The widespread cellular distribution of SNAP‐25 and the diversity of the toxin's neuronal acceptors are being exploited for other therapeutic applications.     

外消旋聚乳酸复合神经生长因子缓释导管促周围神经再生的形态学研究

目的 建立外消旋聚乳酸复合神经生长因子（poly-D，L-lactic acid／nerve growth factor，PDLLA／NGF）可吸收性缓释导管桥接修复大鼠坐骨神经缺损的动物模型，观察复合导管对大鼠坐骨神经缺损再生的促进作用。方法利用溶剂挥发法制备PDLLA单纯导管和PDLLA／NGF缓释导管，每根缓释导管含NGF450U。SD大鼠40只随机分成4组，每组10只，切除中段坐骨神经10mm之后分别行自体神经移植（A组）、单纯导管桥接（B组）、单纯导管加一次性给药（C组）、PDLLA／NGF缓释导管桥接（D组）修复坐骨神经，除A组外，均保留10mm缺损。术后3个月观察神经再生情况，比较各组光镜、电镜及图像分析等指标。结果术后3个月导管与周围组织粘连松，并开始降解，但外形仍保持完整。再生神经均顺利通过导管腔，组织学观察A组和D组内神经纤维数目多，大小均匀，成熟良好；B组和C组纤维结缔组织多，神经纤维细小，髓鞘薄。图像分析显示除神经纤维计数D组高于A组外，A组和D组在纤维直径、轴突直径和髓鞘厚度方面差异均无统计学意义（P〉0．05），并明显优于B组和C组（P〈0．05）。结论 PDLLA／NGF缓释导管能够有效促进大鼠坐骨神经缺损再生，组织学观察指标接近自体神经移植。     

Attempts to make models for Alzheimer''s disease

Profound reductions in cortical acetylcholine levels together with degeneration of cholinergic neurons in the basal forebrain have been reported in patients with Alzheimer's disease. A similar loss of the cholinergic neurons of the basal forebrain and impairment of learning and memory occur in animals injected with a nerve growth factor-diphtheria toxin conjugate, suggesting that this animal model is suitable to analyze cholinergic roles on learning and memory processes, and also the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. In addition, animal models constructed by electrolytic or neurotoxic lesioning of the basal magnocellular nucleus, and models made by transgenetic technology were described.     

多效蛋白在大肠癌恶性化过程中的作用

目的了解多效蛋白在大肠癌中的表达情况 ,以及对大肠癌恶性化的影响。方法采用RT PCR和免疫组化染色 ,对 2 4例大肠癌组织和 19例大肠癌癌旁组织的多效蛋白mRNA表达情况进行分析。结果 2 4例大肠癌组织和 19例癌旁正常组织中表达多效蛋白mRNA的各有 18例。多效蛋白不但表达在肿瘤细胞 ,还表达在其他间质细胞中。大肠癌组织中多效蛋白的表达明显高于癌旁正常组织 (34%vs.9% ,P <0 0 5 )。 (94 % )大肠癌多效蛋白mRNA主要由内源性多效蛋白转录 ,且表达在肿瘤的 4个分期中 ,而人类内源性逆转录病毒 多效蛋白仅融合转录在Ⅲ、Ⅳ期肿瘤上 (31% )。结论多效蛋白尤其是人类内源性逆转录病毒 多效蛋白与大肠癌的恶性化有关。     

表皮生长因子及其受体与流产关系的探讨

采用放射免疫竞争抑制饱和分析法，检测４７例难免流产患者，６５例人工流产及２０例健康非孕妇女血清表皮生长因子（ＥＧＦ）水平；同时采用免疫组织化学法检测流产者胚胎组织中表皮生长因子受体（ＥＧＦＲ）表达程度。结果：人工流产组血清ＥＧＦ水平高于自然流产及非孕妇女，而自然流产与非孕妇女差异无显著性；胚胎组织中ＥＧＦＲ阳性表达率人工流产组明显高于自然流产组。提示：ＥＧＦ通过与其受体结合对妊娠维持、胚胎及胎儿的