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Millions of men and women suffer from alopecia, especially androgenic alopecia (AGA), which is considered the most common form of hair loss. The available treatments for hair loss include multiple approaches, with the most popular being synthetic drugs including minoxidil and finasteride, in addition to natural products. However, synthetic drugs have shown many undesirable side effects, on the contrary, the specifications of the commonly used natural drugs have not been reported in most of the previous studies, despite the high market preference for them. One of these natural drugs is soybean (Glycine max), an economically important bean that has been reported in several studies to effectively prevent hair loss in humans and is widely used in many products treating alopecia. However, no reports were traced on the specification and standardization of the used soybean extract, which may lead to unreproducible results. Thus, in this study, we investigated the effects of different concentrations; 1%, 3%, and 5% (v/v) of a specified soybean extract (SSE) in coconut oil, using a testosterone-induced model of alopecia in adult male Wistar rats in comparison with a 2% finasteride solution. Visual and microscopical evaluations of follicular diameter, length, and density were performed. The data showed that 5% of SSE exhibited the highest activity with results comparable to standard 2% finasteride for hair diameter, length, and density, which could be attributed to the extract's isoflavone content. Genistin and diadzin isoflavones were isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction of the SSE. The total extract was standardized using high-performance liquid chromatography using genistin as a marker and showed a content of 6.2 µg/mL. Accordingly, the formulated 3% and 5% SSEs (containing 0.186 and 0.31 µg/mL of genistin, respectively) could be considered as a promising natural treatment for AGA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Finasteride and dutasteride are used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and reduce the risk of developing prostate cancer. Finasteride blocks only the type 2 form of 5-alpha-reductase, whereas dutasteride blocks both type 1 and 2 forms of the enzyme. Previous studies suggest the possibility that dutasteride may be superior to finasteride in preventing prostate cancer. We directly compared the effects of finasteride and dutasteride on the risk of prostate cancer in patients with BPH using a pooled analysis of 15 real-world databases. Materials and Methods: We conducted a multicenter, cohort study of new-users of finasteride and dutasteride. We include patients who were prescribed 5 mg finasteride or dutasteride for the first time to treat BPH and had at least 180 days of prescription. We excluded patients with a history of prostate cancer or a prostate-specific antigen level ≥ 4 ng/mL before the study drug prescription. Cox regression analysis was performed to examine the hazard ratio (HR) for prostate cancer after propensity score (PS) matching. Results: A total of 8,284 patients of new-users of finasteride and 8,670 patients of new-users of dutasteride were included across the 15 databases. In the overall population, compared to dutasteride, finasteride was associated with a lower risk of prostate cancer in both on-treatment and intent-to-treat time-at-risk periods. After 1:1 PS matching, 4,897 patients using finasteride and 4,897 patients using dutasteride were enrolled in the present study. No significant differences were observed for risk of prostate cancer between finasteride and dutasteride both on-treatment (HR=0.66, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.44–1.00; p=0.051) and intent-to-treat time-at-risk periods (HR=0.87, 95% CI: 0.67–1.14; p=0.310). Conclusions: Using real-world databases, the present study demonstrated that dutasteride was not associated with a lower risk of prostate cancer than finasteride in patients with BPH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is a long‐standing debate if finasteride, a medication used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and androgenetic alopecia (AGA), can cause psychiatric side effects. Objective: The goal of this large‐scale population‐based study was to determine whether finasteride therapy for BPH and AGA is associated with the emergence of mental health conditions. Methods: This observational case–control study compared the data from patients with BPH who received finasteride 5 mg daily and patients with AGA who received finasteride 1 mg daily with age‐ and gender‐matched controls. The incidence of psychological health outcomes such as depression, anxiety, neuroses, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, psychoses and alcohol abuse within 2 years of the initiation of finasteride therapy has been evaluated and compared between the finasteride groups and controls. Results: The BPH group included 307 men with a mean age of 61.5 (±17.4) years and 1218 controls. Mental health outcomes recorded in 2.3% of the patients, with no significant increase in rate when compared to controls. The AGA group consisted of 23,227 men with a mean age of 31.4 (±10.3) years and 39,444 controls. One percent of AGA patients developed psychiatric disorders. In comparison to controls, patients with AGA had higher rates of anxiety and depression (0.6% vs. 0.4%, p = 0.04, and 0.5% vs. 0.4%, p = 0.007, respectively). In multivariate regression models, finasteride was found as one of the risk factors for anxiety (OR 1.449, p = 0.002) and depression (OR 1.439, p = 0.003) when stratified to age, sector, socioeconomic status and comorbidities. Conclusions: According to our research, finasteride users had a very low rate of adverse mental health effects, with no increase in psychological sequelae in BPH patients and a slight increase in anxiety and depression in AGA patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the effect of Urtica dioica roots etheric extract (UDEE) on oxidative stress, and urine obstruction with histopathological examinations of prostatic and renal tissues,and suggests computational methods as a complementary method, to make a hypothesis on the overall effect of UDEE in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry was utilised to characterise UDEE.BPH was induced in rats through daily subcutaneous injections of testosterone propionate. Rats were also orally administered UDEE or a vehicle. After four weeks, prostate weight, urine output, and biochemical markers were evaluated. UDEE treatment demonstrated significant regression of prostatic enlargement, improved biochemical and histopathological characteristics, and regulation of antioxidant activity levels. Phytosteroids stand out, act by inhibiting 5α-reductase and aromatase. This study provides an insight into treatment of BPH, demonstrating safety of this compound towards the kidney compared to finasteride without severe side effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objective: Symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) results in several symptoms including the lower urinary tract symptoms. Consequently, BPH may affect the bladder and finally the kidneys. There are various pharmacological options for the treatment of BPH including 5-Alpha Reductase Inhibitors (5-ARIs) (finasteride or dutasteride). Recent researchers have demonstrated that using 5-ARIs for treating BPH may have unfavorable adverse effects. Therefore, this study aimed to compare finasteride and dutasteride in terms of their efficacy, safety, and adverse effects. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 170 patients, 77 patients who received finasteride and 93 patients who received dutasteride, the data obtained retrospectively from medical databases and file sheets were reviewed and selected according to inclusion and exclusion criteria followed by the comparison between two groups regarding baseline characteristics, prostate volume and the incidence of adverse effects. Results: Similarity observed between two groups at baseline characteristics. Statistically, no significant differences were identified between dutasteride and finasteride in the reduction of prostate volume. However, dutasteride and finasteride significantly reduced prostate volume at 1-year follow-up. No significant differences were observed between two agents regarding the incidence of adverse effects. Conclusion: Finasteride and dutasteride improved lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) at one-year follow-up by reducing prostate volume. The incidence rate of adverse effects for finasteride and dutasteride was similar over one year.

Abstract Background Based on our observations at the largest outpatient urology clinic in Iran, patients for whom finasteride is prescribed as a secondary drug to tamsulosin tend to experience earlier and more severe sexual side effects without any difference in the amelioration of symptoms. This study aimed to compare the time lag, efficacy, and side effects of combination therapy with varying doses of dutasteride or finasteride added to tamsulosin for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) treatment. Methods In this study 165 were randomized into 5 groups (each N = 33); receiving tamsulosin 0.4mg plus either of A: finasteride 3mg, B: placebo, C: dutasteride 0.25mg, D: finasteride 5mg or E: dutasteride 0.5mg. During the 6-month period of the study, International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), post-void residual urine (PVR), International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5), prostate volume (PV), prostate specific antigen (PSA) and maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax) were evaluated at baseline and at the 1st, 3rd and 6th month. The differences between each time point and baseline were then compared between groups. Results At 3-month follow-up, group E exhibited a higher decrease in PSA but a greater increase in Qmax compared to group A (p = 0.047 and 0.006, respectively). Group C showed higher Qmax increase compared to group A at 3 and 6 months (p = 0.003 and 0.014) and concurrently a more pronounced PV decrease at 1 and 3 months (p = 0.047 and 0.003, respectively). Group D had a significantly more decrease in their IIEF-5 compared to group A at one-month visit (p = 0.006). Conclusions In summary, at the sixth-month follow-up, dutasteride demonstrated superiority over finasteride solely in enhancing Qmax. Therefore, dutasteride may be marginally more beneficial as a secondary component of combination therapy in BPH. Trial registration IRCT, IRCT20120516009772N2. Registered 18 January 2021 Retrospectively registered, https://irct.behdasht.gov.ir/search/result?query=IRCT20120516009772N2 .

Abstract Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) may decrease patient quality of life and often leads to acute urinary retention and surgical intervention. While effective treatments are available, many BPH patients do not respond or develop resistance to treatment. To understand molecular determinants of clinical symptom persistence after initiating BPH treatment, we investigated gene expression profiles before and after treatments in the prostate transitional zone of 108 participants in the Medical Therapy of Prostatic Symptoms (MTOPS) Trial. Unsupervised clustering revealed molecular subgroups characterized by expression changes in a large set of genes associated with resistance to finasteride, a 5α-reductase inhibitor. Pathway analyses within this gene cluster found finasteride administration induced changes in fatty acid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, immune response, steroid hormone metabolism, and kinase activity within the transitional zone. We found that patients without this transcriptional response were highly likely to develop clinical progression, which is expected in 13.2% of finasteride-treated patients. Importantly, a patient’s transcriptional response to finasteride was associated with their pre-treatment kinase expression. Further, we identified novel expression signatures of finasteride resistance among the transcriptionally responded patients. These patients showed different gene expression profiles at baseline and increased prostate transitional zone volume compared to the patients who responded to the treatment. Our work suggests molecular mechanisms of clinical resistance to finasteride treatment that could be potentially helpful for personalized BPH treatment as well as new drug development to increase patient drug response.

Background: The most widespread conditions that affected on primarily male population is Benign hyperplasia of the prostate BPH. Flax seeds has been reported to antiproliferation properties and exhibit antitumor. Aim: We assessed the impact of Flax seeds ethanolic excerpt on BPH within testosterone propionate induced model of rats. Methods: A pre-3-week daily injection of testosterone propionate (3 mg/kg BW) was used to induce BPH. Twenty male rats (200-240 gm) were randomly divided to 4 equal groups (n=5) negative Group under control was given PBS orally, corn oil S/C, BPH induced rats received 3mg/kg BW TP for 3 weeks, extract group received 50 mg/Kg extract twice daily for 2 weeks Finasteride group received standard drug 10 mg/Kg BW for 2 weeks. When the course of treatment is over, rats were sacrificed and the blood was collected and separated, the prostate of the rats were harvested for histological examination. Results: The results showed that flax seeds ethanolic extract could significantly (P [Open Vet J 2024; 14(8.000): 1928-1935]

We aimed to review the clinical research using PRP for the treatment of Androgenic alopecia. Furthermore, our other objective was to compare the PRP therapy with the traditional finasteride treatment to assess the better treatment in terms of efficacy. This systematic review was conducted by following the protocol defined by Khan et al.8 containing 5 step procedure to access high-quality relevant literature. Best Evidence Topic (BET) reports protocol was used for accessing the protocol, patient characteristics, intervention or defining question and relevant outcomes. All articles from Google scholar, PubMed, Conference Proceedings, Medline, and Cochrane Central Register for Controlled Trials were used in the first screening for gathering relevant information. Two independent authors were assigned to evaluate the study design. Only 5 studies of platelet-rich plasma and 5 studies of finasteride treatment were included. All the evidence was fulfilling the level 2 CEMB criteria. A total of 3538 patients were suffering from baldness. None of the study achieved 10 points. Only two platelet rich plasma studies while single study of finasteride treatment, were given 9 score. Results concluded that PRP is far way better than finasteride in terms of high hair growth in less duration, with minimum to no side effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays androgenetic alopecia (AGA) has become a common concern of affected subjects of both sexes. Finasteride is approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of male AGA. There is no clear evidence to support the use of dutasteride in male AGA. In female AGA, the effectiveness of dutasteride and finasteride is still under debate, and there is no clear evidence to use any of them in female AGA. A systematic review was conducted to compare dutasteride and finasteride in treating both male and female AGA and their efficacy, safety, and side effects with effective dosage. The review was done using several databases including: PubMed, Ovid Medline, Google Scholar, and Cochrane, using the following search terms/key words: "Dutasteride", "Finasteride", "Male pattern hair loss", "Female pattern hair loss", "Efficacy", "Tolerability", "Side effects", and "Comparison". Articles related to the efficacy, tolerability, and side effects of dutasteride and finasteride in the treatment of male and female AGA were specifically sought, considering the doses used for each medication. The review encompassed a total of nine studies. Four randomized controlled trials, one single-arm trial, two prospective cohorts, and two retrospective cohort studies. Seven studies exclusively enrolled male participants, while only two included female participants. All groups receiving various doses of dutasteride and finasteride exhibited a significant increase in hair count compared to the placebo group. Notably, dutasteride (0.5 mg) and dutasteride (2.5 mg) were significantly more effective than finasteride (1 mg) in increasing hair counts. Furthermore, no significant difference in adverse events was observed between finasteride and dutasteride. Dutasteride is more potent than finasteride in treating AGA in both males and females. All the adverse events between finasteride and dutasteride were comparable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a non-fatal disease prevalent worldwide. However, mixed efficacy has been observed among different therapies for hair regrowth in AGA patients. Thus, a nano-platform with synergistic treatments based on a hybrid extracellular vesicle encapsulating gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and finasteride (Hybrid/Au@Fi) was constructed through membrane fusion between hair follicle stem cell (HFSC)-derived extracellular vesicles and liposomes. These hybrid vesicles (HVs) not only fuel hair regrowth by providing cellular signals in extracellular vesicles, but also improve storage stability, follicle retention, and drug encapsulation efficiency (EE%) for finasteride inhibiting 5α-reductase, and nano-size AuNPs that simulate low-level laser therapy (LLLT) with similar photothermal effects in vitro. The EE% of finasteride in these HVs reached 45.33%. The dual administration of these extracellular vesicles and finasteride showed a strong synergistic effect on HFSCs in vitro. In an AGA mouse model, once-daily topical Hybrid/Au@Fi (115.07 ± 0.32 nm, −7.50 ± 1.68 mV) gel led to a faster transition of hair follicles (HFs) from the catagen to the anagen, increased hair regrowth coverage, and higher quality of regrowth hair, compared to once-daily 5% minoxidil treatment. Compared to topical minoxidil, the multifaceted synergistic therapy of Hybrid/Au@Fi through topical administration offers a new option for intractable AGA patients with low side effects. [Display omitted] • These hybrid vesicles improved storage stability for cargos, follicle retention, and drug encapsulation efficiency (EE%) for finasteride. • The Hybrid/Au@Fi (115.07 ± 0.32 nm, −7.50 ± 1.68 mV) facilitated simulated in vitro layered dermal papilla cell (DPC) migration and angiogenesis with favorable cell dynamic behavior and no cytotoxicity. • In an AGA mouse model, once-daily topical application of Hybrid/Au@Fi gel exhibited a faster transition of hair follicles from the catagen to the anagen, higher hair regrowth coverage, and improved quality of regrowth hair, compared to once-daily 5% minoxidil treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Oral finasteride and topical minoxidil are the current standard of care for male androgenetic alopecia and a combination of the two treatments can be considered for greater efficacy. Clinical trials of topical finasteride have also yielded promising results, but routine care data are lacking. Aims: To examine patient‐reported outcomes of men with androgenetic alopecia who received topical finasteride admixed with minoxidil compared to the current standard of care (oral finasteride). Methods: Retrospective, cross‐sectional study with data from a German direct‐to‐consumer teledermatology platform between December 2021 and January 2023. Patient‐reported outcomes were collected through voluntary follow‐up questionnaires provided after 6 weeks on topical finasteride/minoxidil or oral finasteride treatment. Results: A total of 1545 patients who received topical finasteride/minoxidil treatment were included; 238 (15.4%) participated in the follow‐up questionnaire. At week six, 62.2% (148/238) reported positive changes in their hair appearance, and 44.1% (105/238) reported an improvement of self‐esteem. Treatment‐related adverse events were reported in 11.8% (28/238). Full treatment adherence was observed in 74.4% (177/238). Comparing the topical treatment group to those receiving oral finasteride, lower treatment adherence was reported, along with higher rates of local adverse events; no difference was found in the incidence of sexual adverse events. Conclusion: Based on patient‐reported outcomes, topical finasteride/minoxidil seems to be effective and well tolerated, but not superior to oral finasteride. Lower treatment adherence for topical usage must be considered when considering treatment options. Additional real‐world data are needed to further evaluate the efficacy and safety of topical finasteride/minoxidil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a common skin disease characterized by gradually miniaturized hair follicles, which manifests as progressive hair thinning and produces a bald appearance. Currently, finasteride is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of AGA, but its efficacy remains poor in some patients. Summary: Compared to finasteride, oral dutasteride has better efficacy and similar tolerability, and most adverse events are mild and reversible, making it an effective option for AGA, but its sexual adverse events and potential psychiatric risks still need to be concerned. Mesotherapy with dutasteride and microneedling combined with dutasteride solution can reduce adverse events caused by oral medication and exhibit certain efficacy, but standardized treatment protocols and large-scale clinical trials are still needed in the future. Liposomes or nanoparticles of dutasteride are under development and may become an efficient topical formulation. Key Messages: We have summarized the efficacy and AEs of dutasteride in treating AGA under different administration methods and the promise of novel topical drug carriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate the effect of Angelica gigas Nakai ethanol extract (AGNEX) on benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) models induced by castration and testosterone propionate (TP) injection. Methods: 30 rats were randomly divided into six groups of five rats each. One group was used as a normal control (CON) and the other groups were castrated and injected intraperitoneally with TP to induce BPH. Positive control group (PCON) was administered finasteride (5 mg/kg) for 4 weeks and BPH-induced group without treatment was used as negative control (NCON). Groups administered AGNEX (1.25 mg/kg (AG1.25), 5 mg/kg (AG5), or 10 mg/kg (AG10)) instead of finasteride were assigned as study groups. The complete blood cell and lipid profiles, liver and kidney function assays, serum 5α-reductase activity and DHT levels as well as the histological examination of prostate tissues were determined. Results: The prostate volume of AG10 group decreased by approximately 35 % compared to BPH induced group (NCON). The prostate weight ratio decreased by 10 % in BPH + finasteride group compared to NCON group, and by 24 and 22 % in the AG5 and AG10 groups, respectively. AG10 group exhibited the lowest levels of 5α-reductase and dihydrotestosterone. Histopathological observations of prostate tissue showed normal cell shapes and reduced intraluminal polyp formation in the control and AGNEX-administered groups. Conclusion: The administration of 10 mg/kg of AGNEX is optimal dose for protective effect against BPH. Therefore, AGNEX has potentials for further investigations as source of lead agents for BPH management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This prospective, experimental study aims to evaluate the association between administration of α-blocker, 5α-reductase inhibitor, or anxiolytic medications and intraoperative floppy iris syndrome (IFIS) using a rabbit animal model. A total of 31 Metis rabbits were distributed into four groups as follows: 10 rabbits given tamsulosin, 10 rabbits given finasteride, 5 rabbits who received lorazepam, and 6 treatment-naive animals in the control group. Dosing was calculated according to body surface area ratio of man to rabbit, with a dosing duration of 43 days for all groups. Phacoemulsification maneuvers were performed by a single surgeon, who was blinded to group allocation. Any intraoperative billowing of the iris was noted and subsequently graded from 0 to 3. Higher incidences of iris billowing were found in the tamsulosin-dosed animals [OR = 8.33 (CI 95% 0.63–110.09)], (p = 0.13), the finasteride group [OR = 11.6 (CI 95% 0.92–147.6)], (p = 0.11), and the lorazepam group [OR = 7.5 (CI 95% 0.45–122.8)], (p = 0.24), as opposed to the control. Administration of α-blocker tamsulosin, 5α-reductase inhibitor finasteride, or anxiolytic medication lorazepam induces altered intraoperative iris behavior. These results correspond with previous studies and further solidify the hypothesis that systemic medication, administered both long and short-term, influences surgical parameters in cataract surgery. The present study can become the basis for further clinical or experimental research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Finasteride is commonly prescribed for androgenic alopecia and benign prostatic hyperplasia. However, concerns regarding its safety have been growing as cases of cognitive dysfunction have been reported. A disproportionality analysis was conducted on data collected between 1967 and 2022 to explore the potential association. Cases of cognitive dysfunction associated with finasteride use were identified, and the reporting odds ratio (rOR) was calculated with 95% confidence intervals to determine the strength of the association between the two variables. Sensitivity analyses were conducted to account for confounding by indication. Among the 54,766 cases of adverse events reported for finasteride use, 1,624 (2.97%) were associated with cognitive dysfunction. The study found a significant disproportionality for cognitive dysfunction related to finasteride use (rOR 5.43, 95% CI 5.17–5.71). Most cases were considered serious (65.83%), with no signs of recovery (58.37%). Sensitivity analyses showed that patients younger than 45 years (rOR 7.30, 95% CI 6.39–8.35) and those with alopecia (rOR 5.52, 95% CI 5.15–5.91) reported more cognitive dysfunctions than their counterparts. This study showed an increased reporting of cognitive dysfunction associated with finasteride use, especially among younger alopecia patients. Finasteride should be prescribed with caution, especially to younger alopecia patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The direct and indirect electrochemical behavior of finasteride was studied using a differential pulse technique coupled with a three-electrode detection system consisting of 2 mm diameter glassy carbon as a working electrode, 2 mm diameter platinum wire as an auxiliary electrode, and silver/silver chloride saturated potassium chloride as reference electrode (Ag/AgCl sat KCl). The finasteride gives a weak reduction peak at -0.68 V. The calibration curve of finasteride was constructed using Briton-Robinson buffer solution (pH = 3), the plot of reduction peak current and concentration gives a linear relationship within the concentration range of 0.999×10-5-19.607×10-5 M, with a correlation coefficient of 0.9903. To increase the sensitivity of the method, an indirect determination of finasteride through its interaction with cupric ion was investigated in acetate buffer solution (pH=2) and followed the decrease in reduction peak current of cupric ion as a result of adding sequence addition of finasteride solution. The calibration curve for finasteride was also constructed for its interaction with cupric ions by measuring the decrease of cupric reduction peak current with the sequence additions of finasteride. The calibration curve was linear within the concentration range of 4.997×10-6-476.191×10-6 M, with a correlation coefficient of 0.9930. The binding constant (K) and the Thermodynamic parameters (ΔG, ΔH, and ΔS) for Cu2+-finasteride interaction were calculated. The suggested method was successfully applied for the determination of finasteride in tablets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The most widespread condition that affected on primarily the male population is Benign hyperplasia of the prostate benign prostatic hyper-plasia (BPH). Flax seeds have been reported to have antiproliferation properties and exhibit antitumor. Aim: We assessed the impact of flax seeds ethanolic excerpt on BPH within a testosterone propionate (TP)-induced model of rats. Methods: A pre-3-week daily injection of TP (3 mg/kg BW) was used to induce BPH. Twenty male rats (200–240 gm) were randomly divided into 4 equal groups (n = 5) negative Group under control was given PBS orally, corn oil S/C, BPH-induced rats received 3 mg/kg BW TP for 3 weeks, extract group received 50 mg/Kg extract twice daily for 2 weeks Finasteride group received standard drug 10 mg/Kg BW for 2 weeks. When the course of treatment is over, rats were sacrificed and the blood was collected and separated, the prostate of the rats was harvested for histological examination. Results: The results showed that flax seeds ethanolic extract could significantly (p < 0.05) reduce the prostate gland weight, prostate index, serum level of PAS, testosterone, and 5-a reductase enzyme in BPH-induced rats and improve the tissue morphology of the prostate. Conclusion: Based on our results, the extract suggested that have a promising role in the treatment of benign hyperplasia of the prostate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

LDOM has enhanced treatment options for female AGA, yet its combined efficacy with therapies such as spironolactone, finasteride, or dutasteride remains inadequately explored. This study aims to compare the efficacy and safety of LDOM in combination with spironolactone versus LDOM with finasteride or dutasteride in women with AGA. Our analysis revealed that both combination therapies produced similar improvements in hair growth and had comparable safety profiles. Although the LDOM with finasteride/dutasteride group showed a greater average increase in hair width and density, these differences were not statistically significant. These results endorse the use of LDOM in combination with either spironolactone or finasteride/dutasteride for female AGA, and underscore the necessity for further research to validate these findings and assess long-term treatment outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) is a common age-related chronic condition. Its pathogenesis involves androgen imbalance, inflammation, oxidative stress, and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. This study aims to assess the protective effect of finasteride, a 5α-reductase inhibitor, against testosterone propionate (TP)-induced BPH in rats and explore its potential mechanism of action. Materials and Methods: TP-induced BPH rats received either saline or finasteride (1 mg/kg) orally once a day for 7 weeks. Prior to sacrificing the animals, blood samples were collected. After sacrifice, prostate and tissue around the prostate were dissected from seminal vesical for further analysis. Body weight, prostate weight, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), 5α-reductase type 2 (5-AR2), and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels were measured. In addition, HIF-1α, VEGF, MMP-2 expressions in prostate, oxidative stress, inflammation, and ER stress responses were analyzed to understand the mechanism of action of finasteride. Results: Finasteride administration inhibited prostate enlargement, DHT, 5-AR2, and PSA levels in BPH rats. Additionally, finasteride inhibited angiogenesis markers such as HIF-1α, VEGF, and MMP-2. Moreover, components of oxidative stress, inflammation, and ER stress responses were significantly regulated by finasteride treatment. Conclusions: This study suggests that finasteride prevents BPH-associated symptoms by regulating angiogenesis, reactive oxygen species, ER stress responses, and inflammation, another mechanism to explain the effect of the 5α-reductase against BPH.

Background Recent studies suggest that 5α-reductase inhibitors (5ARIs) for benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) result in abnormal retinal anatomical alteration. Objective To compare age-related macular degeneration (AMD) incidence in BPH patients receiving 5ARIs or tamsulosin. Design Retrospective, population-based cohort study using new-user and active-comparator design. Setting General population. Subjects Males with BPH, newly receiving 5ARIs or tamsulosin from 2010 to 2018. Methods Data were extracted from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database. We used Cox proportional hazards model with 1:4 propensity score (PS) matching, based on intention-to-treat analysis to determine the risk of incident AMD. Sensitivity analyses included an as-treated approach and weighting-based PS methods. We also separately reported the risks of incident AMD in patients receiving finasteride and dutasteride to determine risk differences among different 5ARIs. Results We included 13 586 5ARIs users (mean age: 69 years) and 54 344 tamsulosin users (mean age: 68.37 years). After a mean follow-up of 3.7 years, no differences were observed in the risk of incident AMD between 5ARIs and tamsulosin users [hazard ratio (HR): 1.06; 95% confidence intervals (95% CI): 0.98–1.15], with similar results from sensitivity analyses. However, increased risk of incident age-related macular degeneration was observed in patients receiving dutasteride [HR: 1.13; 95% CI: 1.02–1.25], but not in those receiving finasteride [HR: 0.99; 95% CI: 0.87–1.12], in the subgroup analyses. Conclusions We found no difference between 5ARIs and tamsulosin regarding the incidence of AMD in BPH patients. However, the risk profiles for AMD differed slightly between dutasteride and finasteride, suggesting that the potency of androgen inhibition is a factor related to AMD incidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Androgenetic alopecia is the most common type of hair loss. Although the exact cause of this condition is not fully understood, it is known to involve excessive amounts of dihydrotestosterone. There are various treatment options available for androgenetic alopecia that aim to target these mechanisms. The FDA-approved therapies for this condition include topical minoxidil, oral finasteride, and low-level light therapy. This review will discuss the potential benefits of using spironolactone, dutasteride, and bicalutamide as alternative treatment options for androgenetic alopecia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Hair loss is driven by multiple factors, including genetics. Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a condition in which treatments necessitate prolonged compliance with prescribed medications. We have developed IVL3001, a long-acting injectable (LAI) formulation of finasteride encapsulated within poly lactic-co-glycolic acid microspheres, to enhance the efficacy of the finasteride and to achieve consistent positive outcomes in adults. An open-label, sequential, single-dose phase I clinical trial was designed to evaluate the safety, pharmacokinetic (PK), and pharmacodynamic (PD) of IVL3001. Methods: A total of 40 non-smoking, healthy adult males were divided into three cohorts where the IVL3001 group received a single subcutaneous injection of 12–36 mg IVL3001 and 1 mg finasteride (Propecia®) once daily for 28 days. The plasma concentrations of finasteride, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and testosterone were measured using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. The tolerability of the injections was assessed, and compartment models were developed to predict the effective dose and assess PK/PD profiles. Results: IVL3001 and finasteride 1 mg tablets were well tolerated. IVL3001 showed consistent plasma concentrations without bursts or fluctuations. Consistent with its mechanism of action, IVL3001 reduced DHT levels. Simulation data showed that the administration of 12–36 mg of IVL3001 every 4 weeks achieved plasma concentrations similar to finasteride, with comparable DHT reduction. Conclusion: The present study represents the first clinical trial to evaluate the safety, pharmacokinetic (PK), pharmacodynamic (PD), and tolerability of finasteride long-acting injectables (LAI) in adults. The rapid onset of action sustained effective drug concentration and the prolonged half-life of IVL3001 suggest that it offers multiple benefits over conventional oral formulations in terms of therapeutic response and compliance. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier, NCT04945226. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most common type of alopecia in women is female androgenetic alopecia (FAGA), characterized by progressive hair loss in a patterned distribution. Many oral therapies, including spironolactone (an aldosterone antagonist), androgen receptor blockers (e.g., flutamide/bicalutamide), 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors (e.g., finasteride/dutasteride), and oral contraceptives, target the mechanism of androgen conversion and binding to its respective receptor and therefore could be administered for the treatment of FAGA. Despite significant advances in the oral treatment of FAGA, its management in patients with a history of gynecological malignancies, the most common cancers in women worldwide, may still be a concern. In this review, we focus on the safety of antiandrogens for the treatment of FAGA patients. For this purpose, a targeted literature review was conducted on PubMed, utilizing the relevant search terms. To sum up, spironolactone seems to be safe for the systemic treatment of FAGA, even in high-risk populations. However, a general uncertainty remains regarding the safety of other medications in patients with a history of gynecologic malignancies, and further studies are needed to evaluate their long-term safety in patients with FAGA and risk factors to establish an optimal risk assessment and treatment selection protocol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Finasteride, a 5α-Reductase inhibitor, is used to treat male pattern baldness and benign prostatic hyperplasia. Several clinical studies show that chronic finasteride treatment induces persistent depression, suicidal thoughts and cognitive impairment and these symptoms are persistent even after its withdrawal. Previous results from our lab showed that repeated administration of finasteride for six days induces depression-like behavior. However, whether short-term finasteride administration induces anxiety-like behavior and memory impairment and alters synaptic plasticity are not known, which formed the basis of this study. Finasteride was administered to 2–2.5 months old male Wistar rats for six days and subjected to behavioral evaluation, biochemical estimation and synaptic plasticity assessment. Anxiety-like behavior was evaluated in the elevated plus maze (EPM), open field test (OFT), light/dark test (LDT), and novelty suppressed feeding test (NSFT), and learning and memory using novel object recognition test (NORT) and novel object location test (NOLT) and depression-like behavior in the sucrose preference test (SPT). Synaptic plasticity in the hippocampal Schaffer collateral-CA1 was evaluated using slice field potential recordings. Plasma corticosterone levels were estimated using ELISA. Finasteride administration induced anxiety-like behavior in the EPM, OFT, LDT and NSFT, and depression-like behavior in the SPT. Further, finasteride induced hippocampal dependent spatial learning and memory impairment in the NOLT. In addition, finasteride decreased basal synaptic plasticity and long-term potentiation (LTP) in the hippocampus. A trend of increased plasma corticosterone levels was observed following repeated finasteride administration. These results indicate the potential role of corticosterone and synaptic plasticity in finasteride-induced effects and further studies will pave way for the development of novel neurosteroid-based therapeutics in neuropsychiatric diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]