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J Dermatol 2002 Apr;29(4):197-201
Ultrastructural study of acquired pili torti-like hair defects accompanying pseudopelade.
Acquired structural hair defects are caused by various physical and chemical manipulations. Plucked hairs and hair follicle biopsy specimens of pili torti-like hairs that arose from pseudopelade scalp were studied. In scanning electron microscopy, the hair shafts had a segmental pili torti-like appearance, accompanied by oblique or longitudinal grooves and ridges. In light microscopy, the hair follicles showed an asymmetric hair bulb and inner root sheath, and a shortened keratogenous zone within sclerosing fibrous connective tissue. In transmission electron microscopy, the numbers and thickness of the hair cuticle cells were different on the opposite sides of the hair shaft. The hair cuticle was irregularly shaped and formed asymmetric waves. The tonofilaments in the hair cortex ran almost parallel to the hair axis. From these findings, it was clear that the grooves and ridges were produced by the deformed hair cuticle and cortex, whose shapes were modulated by the asymmetric inner root sheath. This asymmetry most likely resulted from a dysfunctional dermal papilla, which was affected by fibrosis. The pili torti-like appearance appeared to be caused by the grooves and ridges that ran obliquely on the hair shaft surface.
J Altern Complement Med 2002 Apr;8(2):143-52
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to determine the effectiveness of botanically derived inhibitors of 5-alpha-reductase in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia.
BACKGROUND: Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is characterized by the structural miniaturization of androgen-sensitive hair follicles in susceptible individuals and is anatomically defined within a given pattern of the scalp. Biochemically, one contributing factor of this disorder is the conversion of testosterone (T) to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) via the enzyme 5-alpha reductase (5AR). This metabolism is also key to the onset and progression of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Furthermore, AGA has also been shown to be responsive to drugs and agents used to treat BPH. Of note, certain botanical compounds have previously demonstrated efficacy against BPH. Here, we report the first example of a placebo-controlled, double-blind study undertaken in order to examine the benefit of these botanical substances in the treatment of AGA. OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study was to test botanically derived 5AR inhibitors, specifically the liposterolic extract of Serenoa repens (LSESr) and beta-sitosterol, in the treatment of AGA. Subjects: Included in this study were males between the ages of 23 and 64 years of age, in good health, with mild to moderate AGA. RESULTS: The results of this pilot study showed a highly positive response to treatment. The blinded investigative staff assessment report showed that 60% of (6/10) study subjects dosed with the active study formulation were rated as improved at the final visit. CONCLUSIONS: This study establishes the effectiveness of naturally occurring 5AR inhibitors against AGA for the first time, and justifies the expansion to larger trials.
J Invest Dermatol 2001 Dec;117(6):1342-8
Steroid sulfatase in the human hair follicle concentrates in the dermal papilla.
5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone is known to play a crucial part in the regulation of hair growth and in the development of androgenetic alopecia. 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone is formed locally within the hair follicle from the systemic precursor testosterone by cutaneous steroid 5 alpha-reductase. Moreover, adrenal steroids such as dehydroepiandrosterone are converted to 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone by isolated hair follicles, which may provide an additional source of intrafollicular 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone levels. Elevated urinary dehydroepiandrosterone and serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate have been reported to be present in balding young men. These reports suggest that dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate may act as an important endocrine factor in the development of androgenetic alopecia. Hence the question arises whether the dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate can be metabolized within the hair follicles to yield dehydroepiandrosterone by the microsomal enzyme steroid sulfatase, and where steroid sulfatase might be localized. We therefore performed immunostaining for steroid sulfatase on human scalp biopsies as well as analysis of steroid sulfatase enzyme activity in defined compartments of human beard and occipital hair follicles ex vivo. Using both methods steroid sulfatase was primarily detected in the dermal papilla. Steroid sulfatase activity was inhibited by estrone-3-O-sulfamate, a specific inhibitor of steroid sulfatase, in a concentration-dependent way. Furthermore, we show that dermal papillae are able to utilize dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate to produce 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone, which lends further support to the hypothesis that dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate contributes to androgenetic alopecia and that steroid sulfatase inhibitors could be novel drugs to treat androgen-dependent disorders of the hair follicle such as androgenetic alopecia or hirsutism.
Br J Nurs. 2003 May 8-21;12(9):550-8.
Case study of alopecia universalis and web-based news groups.
This article presents findings from an 18-month case study of a web-based news group used by individuals with alopecia universalis. Content analysis of 228 episodes of web-based communication that occurred in relation to themes of discussion was undertaken, supported by the use of concept mapping (Northcott, 1996). Analysis identified a core concept relating to that of a community of shared experience together with four supportive themes. The themes were the search for understanding and meaning, carrying on, seeking balance between past, present and future, and relating to new self, others, and the world. The article discusses the increased growth in the use of the web as a vehicle for exploring health concerns and the specific ethical and methodological issues raised by research in this area.
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