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Background Since its first description in 1994, frontal fibrosing alopecia ( FFA) has become increasingly common, suggesting that environmental factors are involved in the aetiology. Objectives To identify possible causative environmental factors in FFA. Methods A questionnaire enquiring about exposure to a wide range of lifestyle, social and medical factors was completed by 105 women with FFA and 100 age- and sex-matched control subjects. A subcohort of women with FFA was patch tested to an extended British standard series of allergens. Results The use of sunscreens was significantly greater in the FFA group compared with controls. Subjects with FFA also showed a trend towards more frequent use of facial moisturizers and foundations but, compared with controls, the difference in frequencies just failed to reach statistical significance. The frequency of hair shampooing, oral contraceptive use, hair colouring and facial hair removal were significantly lower in the FFA group than in controls. Thyroid disease was more common in subjects with FFA than controls and there was a high frequency of positive patch tests in women with FFA, mainly to fragrances. Conclusions Our findings suggest an association between FFA and the use of facial skin care products. The high frequency of sunscreen use in patients with FFA, and the fact that many facial skin care products now contain sunscreens, raises the possibility of a causative role for sunscreen chemicals. The high frequency of positive patch tests in women with FFA and the association with thyroid disease may indicate a predisposition to immune-mediated disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Non-response bias in surveys occurs when non-respondents differ from respondents. Methods of dealing with this include measuring 'response propensity'. We propose that response propensity has a trait-like component, measurable within the survey. Covariance of this component with survey items could indicate non-response bias. Aims To measure and validate trait-like response propensity, to test whether it co-varied with survey items during a routine stress audit and to test whether a prior staff attitude survey may have been biased. Methods Stress survey sent to government employees during a routine audit. We designed two new items to measure trait-like response propensity and completion of a prior staff survey. We calculated an odds ratio, correlations and Mann-Whitney U-tests to assess relationships between trait response propensity, completion of the prior staff survey and current stress survey scores. Results There were 71 respondents; response rate 68%. The trait response propensity item predicted completion of a prior staff survey (odds ratio 8.75, 95% confidence interval 2.32-33.08). Trait response propensity significantly correlated with two of the 40 survey items and did not significantly correlate with any of the eight 'stressor' sub-scales. Non-respondents to the prior staff survey had a significantly lower risk of stress on two of the eight stressor scales. Conclusions Trait response propensity seems to be a valid construct. The weight of evidence does not provide an indication of non-response bias (yet neither does it assure freedom from non-response bias). The prior staff survey may have been affected by non-response bias. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the result of a study which examined estrogen receptor 1 (ESR2) in a sample of Australian female pattern hair loss (FPHL) with single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP). The Australian sample was compared with FPHL samples from hair clinic outpatients from Germany and Great Britain. Nominal significance was found for three SNP variants which are then classified as either early-onset, mild or severe cases.

A novel application of X-ray micro-computed tomography is described, which can be used to rapidly characterize chemical populations of natural olivine crystals in erupted basalts. This technique can be deployed during volcanic crises to directly track changes in magma components of an erupting system in near-real-time. Such changes are fundamental in controlling eruption style, duration and intensity. We demonstrate a method that can generate data from hundreds of crystals within hours, which allows time-series petrological data to be recorded and interpreted alongside various complementary monitoring techniques (e.g. seismicity, ground deformation). Our direct-detection will allow greater understanding of the dynamics of sub-volcanic magma plumbing systems, and can provide important insights into how an eruption may evolve. The same technique can also be used to generate rich baseline datasets from eruption sequences in the geological record in a more efficient manner than conventional methods allow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The aetiology of female pattern hair loss (FPHL) is largely unknown. However, it is hypothesized that FPHL and male pattern baldness (AGA) share common susceptibility alleles. The two major susceptibility loci for AGA are the androgen receptor ( AR)/ectodysplasin A2 receptor ( EDA2R) locus on the X-chromosome, and a locus on chromosome 20p11, for which no candidate gene has yet been identified. Objectives To examine the role of the AR/ EDA2R and 20p11 loci in the development of FPHL using 145 U.K. and 85 German patients with FPHL, 179 U.K. supercontrols and 150 German blood donors. Methods Patients and controls were genotyped for 25 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at the AR/ EDA2R locus and five SNPs at the 20p11 locus. Results Analysis of the AR/ EDA2R locus revealed no significant association in the German sample. However, a nominally significant association for a single SNP (rs1397631) was found in the U.K. sample. Subgroup analysis of the U.K. patients revealed significant association for seven markers in patients with an early onset ( P = 0·047 after adjustment for the testing of multiple SNPs by Monte Carlo simulation). No significant association was obtained for the five 20p11 variants, either in the overall samples or in the analysis of subgroups. Conclusions The observed association suggests that the AR/ EDA2R locus confers susceptibility to early-onset FHPL. Our results do not implicate the 20p11 locus in the aetiology of FPHL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Background Nickel is a frequent allergen throughout the world. However, the extent to which nickel is relevant as an occupational contact allergen as opposed to being simply a reflection of jewellery exposure has been unclear. Some thresholds for cutaneous nickel exposure to induce a dermatitis reaction in nickel-allergic individuals have been defined. Over recent years it has become possible to measure accurately the quantity of nickel on the skin of individuals in a number of occupations. Objectives To measure the quantities of nickel on the skin of the fingers in workers employed in occupations for which nickel has been suspected as a contact allergen. To define the threshold for a dermatitis reaction after the single application of a quantity of nickel to the skin of nickel-allergic individuals when read at 2 days. Methods We employed the 'finger immersion' technique for sample collection and induction coupled plasma mass spectrometry for the nickel measurement. Nickel platers, cashiers, sales assistants, caterers, healthcare assistants, office workers, dental nurses and hairdressers were studied (five in each group except for seven cashiers). A correction was made for the fact that the finger immersion method underestimates the amount of nickel on the fingertip. The threshold for reactivity to a single application of nickel was studied by the application of various concentrations of nickel (μg cm−2) [0·05 (two subjects), 0·5 (two subjects), 2·5 (three subjects), 5·0 (21 subjects), 15 (19 subjects), 30 (19 subjects) and 45 (18 subjects)] in 21 subjects overall using Finn chambers on forearm skin. The reading was made at 2 days and reactions were graded using the International Contact Dermatitis Research Group classification. Results Nickel levels on the fingers of platers, cashiers, sales assistants, caterers, and even office staff, were at or above the 0·035 μg cm−2 level at which 22% of nickel-allergic subjects will react (after applying a correction). The single open application of nickel study demonstrated a dose-response relationship, with no subjects reacting to ≤ 2·5 μg cm−2, but increasing numbers reacting at the higher concentrations as follows: six of 21 (28%) at 5·0 μg cm−2, six of 19 (31%) at 15 μg cm−2, seven of 19 (37%) at 30 μg cm−2 and 11 of 18 (61%) at 45 μg cm−2. Conclusions This study confirms that nickel levels on the skin in coin handling occupations and some others are sufficient to induce an allergic contact dermatitis in some nickel-allergic subjects. A single application of 5 μg cm−2 when read at 2 days induced a dermatitis reaction in six of 21 nickel-allergic subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented which discusses the occurrence of female pattern hair loss (FPHL) associated with aromatase gene encoding (CYP19A1) among caucasian women.

A response is presented by N. Aldoori and colleagues to a letter to the editor on their article "Frontal fibrosing alopecia: Possible association with leave-on facial skin care products and sunscreens; a questionnaire study."