Search

Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a common cause of hair loss in adults. We aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of topical generic 5% new minoxidil foam (NMF) versus 5% minoxidil Rogaine® foam in male patients with AGA. A randomized, double-blind, controlled, phase III, equivalence trial in 10 centers in China between December 25, 2019, and June 28, 2021, was performed. In total, 417 men patients (≥18 years) with AGA were randomized to receive 5% NMF (211 patients) or 5% Rogaine® foam (206 patients) 1 g two times daily for 24 weeks. The primary outcome was the changes in nonvellus target area hair counts (TAHC) from baseline to week 24. Equivalence was concluded if the 95% confidence interval (CI) for the treatment difference between the 5% NMF and Rogaine® groups was within (−8.00, 8.00). After 24 weeks of treatment, the mean difference in the change of nonvellus TAHC between the 5% NMF group and the Rogaine® group was −3.85 ± 1.62 hair/cm2 in full-analysis set (FAS) and −3.96 ± 1.68 hair/cm2 in per-protocol set (PPS), and the 95% CI of mean difference was (−7.03, −0.67) in FAS and (−7.26, −0.66) in PPS. No significant differences were found between the two groups in hair diameter, the ratio of terminal hair to vellus hair, the global photographic assessment by investigators, and adverse events (all P > 0.05). 5% NMF is as effective as Rogaine® in increasing hair density and hair diameter in AGA patients and was found to be safe. This trial is registered with CTR20191708.

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of 2% minoxidil combined with microneedling in the treatment of female pattern hair loss.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. The combined treatment group was treated with weekly microneedling in addition to daily minoxidil. The treatment period of both groups was 24 weeks.There were no significant differences in age or duration of disease between the two groups of patients. The effective rate in the combined treatment group was 85%, which was significantly higher than that of the control group (45%). The hair counts were also higher in the combined treatment group. All of the adverse reactions observed during the treatment period were mild. No severe adverse event was observed in either group.Microneedling combined with minoxidil had better efficacy for female pattern hair loss during the treatment period and follow-up. Microneedling combined with minoxidil therapy was safe and effective.

BackgroundCOVID-19 lockdowns may lead to physical inactivity, a major risk factor for non-communicable diseases. This study aims to determine: 1) the trajectory in daily step counts before, during and after the lockdown in China, and 2) the characteristics associated with the trajectories.MethodsFrom December 2019 to July 2020, smartphone-based step counts were continuously collected in 815 Chinese adults residing in Shanghai over 202 days across three phases: before, during, and after the lockdown. Participant characteristics were reported, and height, weight and body composition measured before the lockdown. A ‘sharp’ regression discontinuity design with cluster robust standard errors was used to test the effect of the lockdown and reopening on daily steps and a linear mixed model was used to examine the characteristics associated with trajectories during the observed period.ResultsBased on 164,630 person-days of data, we found a sharp decline in daily step counts upon the lockdown (24/01/2020) by an average of 3796 (SE = 88) steps, followed by a significant trend of increase by 34 steps/day (SE = 2.5;p p = 0.029). Those who were older, married, university educated, insufficiently active, had an ‘at risk’ body composition, and those in the control group, were slower at recovering step counts during the lockdown, and those who were older, married, without university education and with an ‘at risk’ body composition recovered step counts at a slower pace after the reopening.ConclusionsDespite later increases in step counts, COVID-19 lockdown led to a sustained period of reduced physical activity, which may have adverse health implications. Governments and health professionals around the world should continue to encourage and facilitate physical activity during the pandemic.

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. Recently, increasing number of studies has proved that hyperuricemia is an independent risk factor for many cardiovascular diseases and psoriasis. However, none of these studies have examined the relationship between hyperuricemia and AGA. AIMS To determine the association between hyperuricemia and AGA in men. METHODS A cross-sectional case-control study was conducted. The medical charts and photographs of men with a clinical diagnosis of AGA were reviewed. The clinical and laboratory data of AGA and control groups were compared. RESULTS Men with AGA (n = 1312) had higher mean uric acid level (6.25 mg/dL vs 5.97 mg/dL; P

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. RESULTS Serum 25(OH)D levels stratified by age, sex, and season were compared between patients and healthy individuals. AA patients' serum 25(OH)D levels were statistically lower than that of controls (P

Background: The IKZF4 gene encodes Eos, a zinc finger transcription factor that belongs to the Ikarosfamily. 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.Aims and Objectives: The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between IKZF4 polymorphism and AA in Chinese Han population.Materials and Methods: In this study, we examined 459 patients and 434 controls using HRM analysis and direct sequencing to assess.the rs1701704 polymorphism.. Results: The prevalence of the C/C, A/C and A/A genotypes was 7.4%, 37.5% and 55.1%, respectively. There were significant differences in genotype distribution and allele frequencies between AA and control group (pConclusions: The rs1701704 SNP of IKZF4 may be a genetic marker for assessing the risk of AA in Chinese Han population.

This phase III study aimed to compare the efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity of SCT630 with the reference adalimumab.A total of 367 Chinese patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis were randomly assigned to receive 80 mg of SCT630 or adalimumab subcutaneously at week 1, 40 mg at week 2, then 40 mg biweekly. At week 16, those with 50 % or more improvement in psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) were eligible to enter an extension period up to week 52. Patients on SCT630 continued the same treatment, whereas patients receiving adalimumab were re-randomized at a ratio of 1:1 to adalimumab or SCT630 group. The primary endpoint was percentage improvement in PASI at week 16. Other endpoints included PASI 50/75/90/100, Physician's Global Assessment, Dermatology Life Quality Index, safety, and immunogenicity.PASI improvement at week 16 was 85.07 % for SCT630 and 84.82 % for adalimumab. The mean difference (3.10 %, 95 % CI: -1.875 %, 8.066 %) was within the equivalence interval. Other efficacy endpoints, safety and immunogenicity profiles were similar across the two groups. There were no safety or immunogenicity difference between switched/continued groups.This phase III study demonstrated the equivalences in efficacy, safety and immunogenicity of SCT630 to adalimumab in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis.

Background: Eczema is the most common allergic skin disorder in the world. The treatment of eczema with western medicine generally involves antihistamines, antibiotics, glucocorticoids, and immunomodulatory preparations, which are limited by common relapse events following drug withdrawal. Many traditional Chinese medicines have demonstrated significant effects on eczema; however, high-quality clinical studies are lacking.Objectives: We performed a multi-center, randomized, double-blind, clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a Chinese herbal medicine, Qinzhuliangxue (QZLX) granules, and its effect on recurrence of eczema.Methods: A total of 342 patients with eczema who met the inclusion criteria were recruited and randomly divided into a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatment group, a Western medicine (WM) treatment group, and a TCM plus WM treatment group, according to random numbers generated using the central stratified zone group random method. The Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) score and the level of pruritus were set as the primary outcome measures, and the Dermatology Quality of Life Index (DLQI) score served as the secondary outcome measure. In this study, a two-sided p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The median EASI score and the pruritus level at baseline were not statistically significant. However, as the treatment period progressed, the EASI score (including the total score and scores for the head, upper limb, trunk, and lower limb) and pruritus level decreased significantly in all three treatment groups. Repeated measures Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) demonstrated that the DLQI scores in the TCM, WM, and TCM+WM groups decreased significantly over time. Limitations: Basic experiments need to be increased.Conclusions: The Chinese herbal medicine QZLX granules significantly improved the EASI score and decreased the pruritus level in eczema patients, with good safety and no obvious adverse reactions.Trial RegistrationThe protocol for this study was registered with the Clinical Trials database (NCT02517957). Registered 1 May 2015, Xia Shi Surgical Treatment for Eczema Multi-center Clinical Research - Full Text View - ClinicalTrials.gov

BACKGROUND Due to the large population of hypertensives in Shanghai, the limited manpower of community health services, and the uneven level of management services, the follow-up of hypertensives in the community is inefficient and lacks quality, especially the telephone follow-up. Improving the blood pressure control rate and management is challenging. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficiency and reliability of artificial intelligence (AI) telephone follow-up in the management of hypertension. METHODS During May 18 and June 30, 2020, 350 hypertensives managed by the Pengpu Community Health Service Center of Jingan District in Shanghai were recruited for follow-up, once by AI and once by a human. The second follow-up was conducted within 3~7 days (mean 5.5 days) after the first survey. Cohen's Kappa coefficient was used to evaluate the reliability of the results between the two follow-up visits. RESULTS The mean length time of AI calls was shorter (4.15 minutes) than that of manual calls (5.22 minutes). The answers related to the hypertension symptoms showed moderate to substantial consistency (Kappa coefficient: 0.482–0.642), and those related to the complications showed fair consistency (Kappa coefficient: 0.363). In terms of lifestyle, the answer related to smoking showed a very high consistency (Kappa coefficient: 0.918), while those addressing salt consumption, alcohol consumption, and exercise showed moderate to substantial consistency (Kappa coefficient: 0.405–0.640). There was substantial consistency in regular usage of medication (Kappa coefficient: 0.609). The overall satisfaction of AI and manual follow-up was 93.1% and 99.5%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that AI telephone follow-up takes less time and is equivalent to manual follow-up to a high degree. Residents have high satisfaction, and AI telephone follow-up is reliable for the follow-up and management of hypertension patients.

pH-sensitive polyelectrolytes provide enormous opportunity for siRNA delivery. Especially, their tertiary amine structures can not only bind genes but also act as pH-sensitive hydrophobic structure to control genes release. However, the influence of molecular structures on siRNA delivery still remains elusive, especially for the asymmetric alkyl substituents of the tertiary amine groups. Herein, a library of N-methyl-N-alkyl aminoethyl methacrylate monomers (MsAM) with asymmetric alkyl substituents on the tertiary amine group is synthesized and used to prepare a series of tri-block polycationic copolymers poly(aminoethyl methacrylate)-block-poly (N-methyl-N-alkyl aminoethyl methacrylate)-block-poly(ethylene glycol methacrylate) (PAMA-PMsMA-PEG). And the properties of these polycations and their self-assembled micelles are characterized, including molecular structure, proton buffering capacity, pH-sensitivity, size, and zeta potential. With the length increase of one alkyl substituent, the proton buffering capacity of both monomers and polycations is demonstrated to be narrowed down. The siRNA delivery efficiency and cytotoxicity of these micelles are also evaluated on HepG2 cells. In particular, poly(aminoethyl methacrylate)-block-poly(N-methyl-N-ethyl aminoethyl methacrylate)-block-poly(ethylene glycol methacrylate) (PAMA-PMEMA-PEG) elicited the best luciferase knockdown efficiency and low cytotoxicity. Besides, PAMA-PMEMA-PEG/siRRM2 also induced significant anti-tumor activity in vitro. These results indicated PAMA-PMEMA-PEG has potential for further use in the design of gene vehicles with the improved efficiency of siRNA delivery.

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. Following differential expression analysis, and function enrichment analysis, a lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA network was then constructed using various bioinformatics tools and validated using quantitative reverse-transcription PCR (qRT-PCR). Results We identified 220 mRNAs and 166 lncRNAs that were differentially expressed in AA patients. The differentially expressed mRNAs were predominantly associated with cytokine-cytokine receptor interactions, MAPK signaling and Ras signaling pathways. The differentially expressed lncRNAs were primarily associated with cytokine-cytokine receptor interactions, chemokine signaling pathways, axon guidance, and legionellosis. In addition, qRT-PCR analyses verified the upregulation of AC005562.1, AF131217.1, and RP11-251G23.5 and downregulation of RP11-231E19.1 in AA patients. Conclusion We constructed a complex ceRNA network for AA and discovered that various RP11 lncRNAs including RP11-251G23.5 and RP11-231E19 may play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of AA via the regulation of the cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction pathway, which could serve as a therapeutic target for alopecia areata in clinical interventions.

Background The gut microbiota is known to play a key role in autoimmune diseases. Objectives To identify and compare the characteristics in the gut microbial composition of patients with alopecia areata (AA) and healthy controls (HCs). Methods In a cross-sectional discovery cohort, we enrolled 33 patients with AA and 35 HCs from the same geographic location in Shanghai, China. The 16S rRNA gene sequencing and bioinformatic analyses were conducted to analyze DNA extracted from the subjects. Results The α-diversity of the AA group demonstrated no statistically significant differences compared with the HC group (P > 0.05). However, the overall gut microbial communities in the AA group were distinct from the HCs (P = 0.0096). We also adopted a random forest model to select three AA-associated OTU biomarkers: OTU1237(Achromobacter), OTU257(Megasphaera), and OTU1784(Lachnospiraceae Incertae Sedis). Conclusion The overall gut microbial composition for AA was distinct from that of HCs. The gut microbial markers we identified may potentially be used for earlier diagnosis and as therapeutic targets.

Additional file 1.

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. During HF morphogenesis, PD-1 expression was strongly decreased during the anagen phase compared with the catagen and telogen phases. PD-L1 expression was enhanced during the catagen phase compared with the anagen and telogen phases. Moreover, direct blockade of PD-L1 not only accelerated hair anagen phase onset but also delayed catagen progression. In conclusion, our findings indicated that PD-1/PD-L1 signaling may act as a negative regulator of hair cycle transition. Anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy may thus be a promising strategy for treating anagen-reduced hair loss.

To estimate the incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) in Chinese diabetes patients and to evaluate the effect of blood glucose on PTB risk, a retrospective cohort study was built based on the diabetes management system in Shanghai and included 240,692 adults aged 35 or above. Incidences of PTB in all diabetes patients and by subgroups were calculated and compared. Multivariable Cox regression models with restricted cubic splines were used to evaluate the association of fasting plasma glucose (FPG) with the risk of PTB. A total of 439 incident PTB cases were identified in the cohort after an average of 3.83 years of follow-up. The overall PTB incidence rate was 51.3/100,000 in diabetes patients, and annual incidence remained higher than that in general population. The PTB incidence rate of diabetes patients was higher in men than in women (86.2 vs. 22.1 per 100,000) and was highest in patients with body mass index (BMI) 2 (215.2/100,000) or FPG ≥ 10 mmol/L (143.2/100,000). Our results suggest that the risk of tuberculosis may be greater at higher levels of FPG in diabetes patients of normal weight. Specific tuberculosis screening strategies for different characteristic diabetes population should be provided to prevent and control tuberculosis in China.

Background Adults with chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, or lung disease are more likely to develop complications from a number of vaccine-preventable diseases, including influenza and pneumonia. In this study, we use the data from a chronic disease management information system in Shanghai to estimate vaccination coverage and characterize predictors of seasonal influenza and 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) vaccination among people with chronic disease in Shanghai. Methods The Shanghai Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have information systems related to chronic disease management, hospital records, and immunizations. Data from individuals with hypertension, diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) were abstracted during July 2017. The main outcome was coverage of pneumococcal and influenza vaccination. Vaccination coverage was calculated across demographic groups. Significance in bivariate associations was assessed through Pearson’s chi-square tests, and in multivariable models through logistic regression models with a forward stepwise method to select variables. Results In the sample of 2,531,227 individuals ≥15 years, 22.8% were vaccinated for pneumonia from January 2013 to July 2017, and the vaccination coverage of influenza in the 2016/17 influenza season was 0.4%. Vaccination coverage was highest in those 70–79 and lowest in those younger than 60. Compared to urban areas, uptake in rural areas was higher for pneumonia vaccination (OR: 2.43, 95% CI: 2.41, 2.45), but lower for influenza vaccination (OR: 0.55, 95% CI: 0.51, 0.59). Having a greater number of chronic diseases was associated with higher likelihood of pneumonia vaccination (3 vs 1: OR: 1.68, 95% CI: 1.64, 1.71), but this relationship was not statistically significant for influenza vaccination. Conclusions We found low levels with of pneumococcal vaccination, and extremely low uptake of influenza vaccination among individuals with high risk conditions in Shanghai who should be priority groups targeted for vaccination. Interventions could be designed to target groups with low uptake – like younger adults, and individuals who have not yet retired.

Allergen-specific immunotherapy is widely used for allergic rhinitis and asthma treatment worldwide. This study explored the efficacy and safety of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) with the extracts...

Background: Both type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and tuberculosis (TB) bring heavy disease burden around the world. Their causal relationship, however, remains unclear. In this study, we estimated incidence of TB in Chinese T2DM patients and evaluated the effect of glucose level on TB risk based on the management data in Shanghai. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was built based on the diabetes management system in Shanghai and included 240 692 adults aged 35 or above, diagnosed with T2DM between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2015 and free of TB at diagnosis. Baseline information was from the system which was routinely collected for each patient at diagnosis of T2DM. Incident TB cases were identified through record-linkage with the Shanghai TB Surveillance System and Mandatory Notification System using the unique identification card number of each individual. Incidence of TB in all diabetes patients and by subgroups were calculated and compared. Multivariable Cox regression models with restricted cubic splines were used to evaluate the association of fast plasma glucose (FPG) level with the risk of TB. Findings: A total of 439 incident TB cases were identified in the cohort after an average of 3·83 years of follow-up. The overall incidence was 51·3/100 000 in diabetes patients and remained higher than that in general population from 2010 to 2015, with range from 44·5 to 76·4/100 000 vs. 28·1 to 31·0/100 000. The incidence was higher in men than in women (86·2 vs. 22·1 per 100 000), and was highest in patients with body mass index (BMI)

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. Results: The CAG biallelic mean length was 23.73 ± 2.04 repeats in Han Chinese FPHL patients and 23.90 ± 2.13 repeats in healthy controls, without any significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.481). In addition, neither the shorter nor the longer CAG repeat numbers were significantly different between FPHL and control subjects (p = 0.726, p = 0.383). Conclusion: The polymorphism of CAG repeat numbers of the AR gene may not be the genetic marker of FPHL in a Chinese population.

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. Although large amounts of research have focused on the pathogenesis of sarcoidosis, little is known about the link between cutaneous sarcoidosis and pulmonary sarcoidosis. Moreover, the gene expression profiles provide a novel way to find diagnostic or prognostic biomarkers. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in pulmonary sarcoidosis and cutaneous sarcoidosis patients and to compare them to healthy individuals. DEGs and their biological functions are dynamically dysregulated, and several common disease-related genes and mutual disease progression-related genes were identified which linked pulmonary sarcoidosis and cutaneous sarcoidosis together. The biological functional pathways regulated by these DEGs may allow to define the common mechanism shared by different type of sarcoidosis, providing novel insight into the common pathogenesis of sarcoidosis and opening the way to the development of new therapeutic strategies.

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. Based on bioinformatics generated from miRcode, starBase, and miRTarBase, we constructed an lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA network (ceRNA network) in alopecia areata. Results We found 154 differentially expressed lncRNAs and 46 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). The functional enrichment indicated that the DEGs mainly regulated the pathways of focal adhesion, Mucin type O-glycan biosynthesis, and so on. The differentially expressed lncRNA (DElncRNA) involved in the pathway of thyronamine and iodothyronamine metabolism and so on. Through integrated lncRNA-mRNA and miRNA-mRNA pairs, the ceRNA network was constructed, thereafter, six ceRNA subnetworks were identified and subnetwork 1 were found to be significantly associated with the occurrence of alopecia areata. Conclusion Our results showed blood lncRNA expression patterns and a complex ceRNA network in alopecia areata. However, futher studies on blood and tissue verification of these lncRNAs and relative pathways are needed.

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. However, little is known about the role of miRNAs in AA. Objective The present study aimed to explore the blood miRNAs alterations in patients with severe active AA. Methods We constructed a bipartite miRNA-messenger RNA (mRNA) regulatory network by the validated miRNA-mRNA relationships. Subsequently, the miRNA-miRNA synergistic network was formed in consideration of the Gene Ontology function enrichment of coregulated target genes. Lastly, the functional network was identified by the ingenuity pathway analysis. Results By using an Agilent microarray that covers 2549 human miRNAs, we identified 36 significantly differentially expressed miRNAs in severe active AA patients. miRNA target gene prediction and functional annotation analysis showed significant enrichment in several pathways including the ribosome, cancer, cell cycle, insulin signaling, transforming growth factor-βsignaling, and p53 signaling pathways. Analysis of the three kinds of network showed that miR-185-5p, miR-125b-5p, and miR-186-5p might play important and synergistic roles in the active phase of AA. According to the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, several miRNAs were selected for the quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction validation. Among the miRNAs, miR-210 and miR-1246 had high prediction with high accuracy. Conclusion Blood dysregulated miRNAs are potentially associated with the severe active AA. These miRNAs could function synergistically and might be promising targets for the development of novel treatments for AA in the future.

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. PBMC of 177 patients with AA (test group) and 42 healthy controls and scalp tissues of 33 patients and 15 healthy controls were collected. Levels of Th17 and Treg subsets were then determined via flow cytometry and immunohistochemical staining, correlating results in test subjects with clinical features of AA. Th17 levels were significantly higher in patients, whereas Treg levels were lower by comparison. Furthermore, Th17 levels in patients with disease of short duration or in the active phase were significantly higher, relative to their respective counterparts. Th17 levels also negatively correlated with disease duration. While Treg levels were higher in severe AA than in mild AA. Results of lesions were parallel to findings of PBMC. Our data indicates an imbalance in the immune state of patients with AA.

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. The patients returned to the clinic every 3 months for efficacy evaluation. And efficacy was evaluated in 428 men at treatment end, including 154, 122, and 152 in the finasteride, 5% minoxidil, and combination groups, respectively. All groups showed similar baseline characteristics, including age at enrollment, and duration and severity of alopecia (p > 0.05). At 12 months, 80.5, 59, and 94.1% men treated with finasteride, 5% minoxidil and the combination therapy showed improvement, respectively. Adverse reactions were rare (finasteride, 1.8%; minoxidil, 6.1%), and disappeared right after drug withdrawal. In conclusion, finasteride is superior to 5% minoxidil, while the combined medication showed the best efficacy.

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. SNaPshot technology was used to detect CYP19A1 gene candidate SNPs. Results: The allele frequencies and distributions of rs6493497 and rs7176005 were significantly different between FPHL and control subjects (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001 vs. p < 0.001 and p = 0.003). Conclusion: The rs6493497 and rs7176005 SNPs of the CYP19A1 gene may be genetic markers that influence the risk of FPHL in this Chinese population.

Introduction The efficacy of the current therapy for alopecia areata (AA) remains unsatisfactory, due to disease recurrence and drug side effects. This study was designed to evaluate the clinical efficacy, recurrence rate, and safety of the new therapy with oral glycyrrhizin in adult patients with mild to moderate active AA. Methods This was a randomized controlled trial using two oral tablets of 25 mg glycyrrhizin three times per day (tid) for test group (65 patients), or two oral tablets of 25 mg cystine tid for the control (56 cases). Patients in both groups were also treated with topical 0.05% halometasone cream twice daily (bid). The treatment period was 24 weeks, including 12 weeks of active therapy, followed by another 12 weeks of observation. Results The complete regrowth rate and total efficacy of the test group were significantly higher than the control group (16.92% vs. 5.36%, and 63.08% vs. 30.36%, p 0.05), and no severe adverse events were observed. Conclusions Glycyrrhizin treatment is safe and effective for adult patients with mild to moderate active AA. This therapy has higher therapeutic efficacy in patients with moderate AA or short duration of the disease.

Using BMI, WC and WHR to investigate and compare these screening tool for IFG, IGT and diabetes subjects in Shanghai China; and to identify the optimal cut-off points of BMI, WC and WHR for screening pre-diabetes (Pre-DM) and diabetes (DM) over 35 years old people. Totally 3,195 aged 35 years old and above people who attended community epidemiological survey of diabetes mellitus. Using ADA criteria (2010), the participants were classified as normal, Pre-DM or DM according to test results of blood glucose. The area under ROC curve (AUROC) for BMI, WC and WHR were calculated; as well as the sensitivity, specificity and Youden index under different BMI or WHR cut-off points. Among these people, age is (61.07±10.08), and BMI and WHR are respectively (25.12±3.29) and (0.87±0.06). The positive rate of screening of DM is 11.36% and that of Pre-DM is 38.57%. There are correlation between blood glucose and BMI or WHR (p

Background: Interleukin-2 receptor subunit alpha (IL2RA) is highly expressed on CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells and is important for immune homeostasis and the suppression of autoimmune responses. It has been suggested that the single nucleotide polymorphism in IL2RA may affect the pathogenesis of alopecia areata (AA). Objective: Our aim was to investigate the link between IL2RA polymorphism and AA in a Chinese population. Methods: We examined 427 patients and 430 controls in this study. The rs3118470 polymorphism was evaluated using high-resolution melting analysis and direct sequencing. Results: The prevalence of the C/C, T/C and T/T genotypes was 16.2, 48.2 and 35.6%, respectively. The genotype distribution and allele frequencies were significantly different between AA and control subjects (p < 0.0001). The C allele frequency was significantly higher in the AA group (p < 0.0001), and the frequencies of C allele and C/C genotype were higher in the patients with family history (p = 0.034; p < 0.0001). Conclusions: The rs3118470 single nucleotide polymorphism of IL2RA may be a genetic marker to assess the risk of AA in a 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. Results: The CAG biallelic mean length was 23.73 ± 2.04 repeats in Han Chinese FPHL patients and 23.90 ± 2.13 repeats in healthy controls, without any significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.481). In addition, neither the shorter nor the longer CAG repeat numbers were significantly different between FPHL and control subjects (p = 0.726, p = 0.383). Conclusion: The polymorphism of CAG repeat numbers of the AR gene may not be the genetic marker of FPHL in a Chinese population.