Homocysteine in androgenetic alopecia: A case control study and observational experiments on mice.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between homocysteine (HCY) and androgenetic alopecia (AGA).

Methods: A case control study and two observational experiments on mice were conducted. In the first part, a total of 528 Chinese AGA patients and 500 age-matched healthy controls were included.

IGFBP-rP1 is a potential therapeutic target in androgenic alopecia.

The available interventions for androgenic alopecia (AGA), the most common type of hair loss worldwide, remain limited. The insulin growth factor (IGF) system may play an important role in the pathogenesis of AGA. However, the exact role of IGF binding protein-related protein 1 (IGFBP-rP1) in hair growth and AGA has not been reported.

Association analysis of the IKZF4 gene with Alopecia Areata in the Chinese Han population.

Objective: The IKZF4(Ikaros family zinc finger 4) gene encodes Eos, a zinc finger transcription factor that belongs to the Ikaros family. High expression of Eos on Treg cells is important for the suppression of autoimmune responses and immune homeostasis. It has been suggested that the SNP in IKZF4 may influence the pathogenesis of AA(alopecia areata).

MicroRNA-1246 Inhibits NFATc1 Phosphorylation and Regulates T Helper 17 Cell Activation in the Pathogenesis of Severe Alopecia Areata.

Background: We found microRNA (miR)-1246 to be significantly differentially expressed between severe active alopecia areata (AA) patients and healthy individuals.

Objective: To explore the role and mechanism of miR-1246 in severe AA.

Methods: Expression of miR-1246, dual-specific tyrosine phosphorylation-regulated kinase 1A (DYRK1A), and nuclear factor of activated T cells 1c (NFATc1) in peripheral CD4 T cells and in scalp tissues of patients were detected using RT-qPCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry assays.

The association between experience-based risky choice and mathematical ability.

Mathematical ability has always been considered an important influencing factor in description-based risky choices. Experience-based risky choices, which occur frequently in daily life, are very different from description-based risky choices. The association between experience-based risky choice and mathematical ability remains unknown.

Randomized trial of microneedling combined with 2% minoxidil topical solution for the treatment of female pattern hair loss in a Chinese population.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of 2% minoxidil combined with microneedling in the treatment of female pattern hair loss.

Methods: Forty female patients with female pattern hair loss were randomly divided into two groups with 20 patients each. The control group was treated with 2% minoxidil.

How Noise Can Influence Experience-Based Decision-Making under Different Types of the Provided Information.

Pervasive noise undermines many cognitive processes. Across two studies, we examined how noise influences experience-based decision-making and whether the nature of the information provided moderates this influence. Study 1 used the repeated choice paradigm and found that noise can significantly reduce people's performance in experience-based decision-making by increasing the likelihood of choosing the option with the lower expected value.

Genome-wide expression profiling of long non-coding RNAs and competing endogenous RNA networks in alopecia areata.

Background: Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) regulate gene expression in concert with microRNAs (miRNAs) and mRNAs. This study was designed to explore the potential roles of lncRNAs and their related competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks in alopecia areata (AA).

Methods: This study comprised six participants (three AA patients and three healthy individuals) whose serum lncRNA profiles were evaluated by lncRNA sequencing.

The PD-1/PD-L1 pathway in murine hair cycle transition: a potential anagen phase regulator.

Programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) is primarily recognized as an inhibitory receptor involved in the regulation of immunological tolerance. However, recent studies have indicated that PD-1/PD-L1 signaling could also regulate the functions of nonimmune cells and may be involved in regulating hair biology. In this study, we showed in a mouse model of depilation-induced hair cycling that PD-1/PD-L1 are expressed in the murine epidermis and hair follicle (HF) in a hair cycle-dependent manner.

Hyperuricemia is associated with androgenetic alopecia in men: A cross-sectional case-control study.

Background: Early androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is patterned hair loss occurring before 30 years. Early AGA is frequently reported in men and carries the risk of obesity, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular diseases. Hyperuricemia used to be a minor component of metabolic syndrome.

Serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D levels in alopecia areata, female pattern hair loss, and male androgenetic alopecia in a Chinese population.

Background: It has been suggested that low vitamin D levels may affect the development of hair loss.

Aims: Our aim was to evaluate the serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D [25(OH)D] status in Chinese patients with alopecia areata (AA), female pattern hair loss (FPHL), and male androgenetic alopecia (MAGA) compared with healthy individuals.

Methods: We performed a case-control study including 443 AA patients, 657 FPHL patients, 777 MAGA patients, and 2070 normal controls (1064 male and 1006 female healthy individuals) from 2015 to 2017 to analyze the correlation of serum 25(OH)D levels and hair loss in a Chinese population.

Identification of blood microRNA alterations in patients with severe active alopecia areata.

Background: Alopecia areata (AA) is a common inflammatory disease characterized by cellular infiltration of T cells targeting the anagen-stage hair follicle. Lack of efficacious treatment for AA may be due to little knowledge about its exact cellular mechanism. Studies have demonstrated that microRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in the regulation of inflammatory skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis and psoriasis.

Differential expression patterns of specific long noncoding RNAs and competing endogenous RNA network in alopecia areata.

Background: Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) regulate gene expression by acting with microRNAs (miRNAs) and indirectly interact with messenger RNA (mRNAs). However, the roles of specific lncRNA and its related competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNA) network in alopecia areata (AA) are not fully understood.

Methods: The blood lncRNA profiles were obtained by microarray from 10 samples, including five alopecia areata samples and five normal samples.

Exploring the dynamic changes between pulmonary and cutaneous sarcoidosis based on gene expression.

Sarcoidosis is a disease involving the growth of abnormal inflammatory granulomas and affecting multisystems. It has an unknown etiology. The lung and the skin are the most commonly involved organs.

Low-concentration hydrogen peroxide can upregulate keratinocyte intracellular calcium and PAR-2 expression in a human keratinocyte-melanocyte co-culture system.

Hydrogen peroxide (HO) may have a biphasic effect on melanin synthesis and melanosome transfer. High HO concentrations are involved in impaired melanosome transfer in vitiligo. However, low HO concentration promotes the beneficial proliferation and migration of melanocytes.

Polymorphic CAG Repeat Numbers in the Androgen Receptor Gene of Female Pattern Hair Loss in a Han Chinese Population.

Objective: To investigate the association of CAG repeat numbers in the androgen receptor (AR) gene with female pattern hair loss (FPHL) in a Chinese population.

Methods: A total of 200 Han Chinese patients with FPHL (142 Ludwig II and 58 Ludwig III cases) and 200 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. The polymorphism of CAG repeat numbers was analyzed by the fluorescent amplified fragment length polymorphism technique.

Identification of Differentially Expressed Genes in Kawasaki Disease Patients as Potential Biomarkers for IVIG Sensitivity by Bioinformatics Analysis.

Kawasaki disease (KD) is a leading cause of acquired heart disease predominantly affecting infants and young children. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) is applied as the most favorable treatment against KD, but IVIG resistant remains exist. Although several clinical scoring systems have been developed to identify children at highest risk of IVIG resistance, there is a need to identify sufficiently sensitive biomarkers for IVIG treatment.

Association of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in the CYP19A1 Gene with Female Pattern Hair Loss in a Chinese Population.

Background: It has been suggested that the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of the CYP19A1 gene encoding aromatase may affect the development of female pattern hair loss (FPHL).

Objective: Our aim was to investigate the association of CYP19A1 gene SNPs with FPHL in a Chinese population.

Methods: Two hundred Chinese Han patients with FPHL and 200 controls were enrolled into our study.

Imbalance of T-helper 17 and regulatory T cells in patients with alopecia areata.

There is mounting evidence that T helper (Th)17 cells and regulatory T cells (Treg) play parts in the pathogenesis of autoimmune disease. Hence, levels of these T-cell subsets in patients with alopecia areata (AA) merit investigation. Our goal was to assess Th17 and Treg levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and scalp lesions of patients with AA, correlating the findings with clinical characteristics.

Combined treatment with oral finasteride and topical minoxidil in male androgenetic alopecia: a randomized and comparative study in Chinese patients.

Finasteride at 1 mg/day and 5% topical minoxidil are effective in male androgenetic alopecia (MAGA). However, studies describing their effects in Chinese individuals are scarce. 450 Chinese MAGA patients were randomly assigned to receive finasteride (n = 160), minoxidil (n = 130) and combined medication (n = 160) for 12 months.

Trichoscopic findings of androgenetic alopecia and their association with disease severity.

Trichoscopy is a novel tool for the diagnosis of hair loss disorders such as androgenetic alopecia (AGA), but there are still few reports on the association between trichoscopic findings and disease severity, especially in the Chinese population. A case-control observational study was conducted to observe the trichoscopic findings of AGA and to evaluate their relationship with disease severity. Trichoscopic examination was performed with a handheld dermoscope on 750 Chinese male AGA (MAGA) and 200 female AGA (FAGA) patients, along with 100 male and 50 female normal controls.

Identification of melanoma biomarkers based on network modules by integrating the human signaling network with microarrays.

Background: Melanoma is a leading cause of cancer death. Thus, accurate prognostic biomarkers that will assist rational treatment planning need to be identified.

Methods: Microarray analysis of melanoma and normal tissue samples was performed to identify differentially expressed modules (DEMs) from the signaling network and ultimately detect molecular markers to support histological examination.

Pimecrolimus cream 1% in the management of atopic dermatitis in pediatric patients: a meta-analysis.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of pimecrolimus cream 1% in the treatment of AD in the pediatric population.

Methods: PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science and Cochrane library databases were searched till July 2013. The randomized and nonrandomized blinded studies of pimecrolimus cream 1% applied twice daily with Jaded score ≥ 3 in pediatric patients with AD were included.