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A new study published in the Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology & Venereology presents a cost-effective and flexible Phototrichogram (PTG) software solution for quantitative hair analysis. The software allows the usage of almost any modern camera and maintains hair count accuracy even when using different camera types through a calibration method. The study demonstrates the reliability of the software in providing precise hair counts using various camera models. The software has the potential to improve the reliance and cost-effectiveness of PTG analysis for hair treatment among doctors and researchers. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) appears to be safe and effective for hair loss. Pulsed electromagnetic field therapy (PEMF) also has a positive biological effect on hair re‐growth. Objectives: We evaluated the efficacy and safety of both PBMT and PEMF for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia (AGA). Materials and Methods: This study was a 24‐week, randomized, double‐blind, sham device‐controlled trial. We recruited 80 subjects with androgenetic alopecia. The subjects got treatment every week for the 1st 12 weeks, every other week for the next 8 weeks. PBMT entails 15‐min therapy, and PEMF was carried out for 10 min. Results: The baseline hair density was 114.57 (±28.75)/cm2 and 113.31 (±30.07)/cm2 in both treatment and control groups. After 24 weeks of treatment, the mean hair density increased to 139.37 (±31.4)/cm2 in the treatment group but only to 119.78 (±31.92)/cm2 in the control group. The difference between two groups was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Based on the global assessment of independent experts, the score was 0.41 (±0.62) in the treatment group and 0.07 (±0.45) in the control group. Only very mild erythema or irritation was reported, and no serious adverse reactions were reported. Conclusions: A combination of PBMT and PEMF is a valid and safe treatment option for AGA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Many candidate genes for androgenetic alopecia (AGA) have been identified in studies of the Caucasians and some Asian populations. Aims: This study aimed to confirm the known susceptibility genes reported in previous studies and find additional candidate genes for high‐risk individuals for AGA in Korean population. Patients/Methods: We recapitulated the previously reported SNPs and identified the novel Korean AGA risk genetic variants using a Korean hospital‐based AGA case and control samples. The population was consisting of 494 individuals (275 AGA cases and 146 controls). Using the 800 K SNPs of precision medical research array (PMRA SNP microarray chip) and imputation‐based SNPs, 12 previous GWAS reports for AGA and a total of 62 160 SNPs were examined in our study samples. Also, we conducted the genome‐wide association study (GWAS) by the logistic regression analyses for AGA cases and controls with controlling the age as the covariates. Results: Among the 62 160 SNPs, a total of 1143 SNPs in 76 gene regions showed weak replication tendency with the p‐values <0.05 and same direction of effects. Additionally, the GWAS results showed 110 SNPs in 13 independent regions with the suggestive p‐values <1.00 × 10−5. The most significantly replicated SNP resided on chromosome 20, which were similar to other AGA replication studies including Chinese study. The GWAS identified two SNPs (rs11010734 and rs2420640) increasing the risk for AGA in our study population. Conclusions: Our study would be a reference of the non‐European studies to better understand AGA in different populations and ancestral contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/purpose: Ultraviolet B (UVB) laser irradiation in a targeted manner is a reasonable treatment option for localized vitiligo. Recently, narrow‐band UVB gain‐switched 311‐nm titanium:sapphire lasers (TSL) were developed for the treatment of localized vitiligo. We aimed to compare efficacy, patient satisfaction, and safety between the conventional 308‐nm excimer laser (EL) and gain‐switched 311‐nm TSL in patients with vitiligo. Methods: The 13‐paired lesions from 10 patients who had small vitiligo patches were included in this prospective intra‐patient comparison trial. Each pair was randomly assigned to each laser treatment group and treated twice weekly for 12 weeks. The global photographic assessments by dermatologists, objective numerical assessments by imaging analyzer, and patient's satisfaction were used to evaluate the effectiveness. Adverse effects were also investigated at every visit. Results: All treated lesions showed improvement of about 50% after 12 weeks. There was no significant difference between EL‐ and TSL‐treated groups. Patient satisfaction and preference among the groups were also similar. Regarding safety, there were no serious adverse effects requiring cessation of the treatments; however, the severity score for persistent erythema (lasting >24 hours) was significantly lower in the TSL group than in the EL group. Conclusions: The gain‐switched 311‐nm TSL exhibited similar efficacy to the 308‐nm EL in treating vitiligo as well as improved safety. Therefore, the 311‐nm TSL is considered as a candidate device to replace the EL as a new and promising treatment option for localized vitiligo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hair growth, a complex process, has long been the subject of intense research. Recent developments in material technology have revealed boehmite as a new therapeutic modality for use in wound healing and scar reduction, indicating its beneficial effects. Nonetheless, the biological bases of the beneficial effects of boehmite remain unknown. We investigated the hair growth properties of boehmite in vitro and in vivo and observed dose‐dependent proliferation of human dermal papilla cells (hDPCs) in vitro and hair regrowth in a mouse model. To investigate the effects of boehmite on the promotion of cell transition to the anagen phase, we evaluated hDPC viability, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, protein expression and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secretion in vitro and assessed the anagen‐promoting effects of boehmite via gross observation and histological analysis in a mouse model. Boehmite increased hDPC viability, ALP activity, AKT/GSK3ß/ß‐catenin pathway activity, anagen‐related gene expression and VEGF secretion; moreover, it accelerated hair regrowth in a catagen‐anagen transition model via upregulation of β‐catenin signalling and follicular cell proliferation. Collectively, our results indicate that boehmite accelerates hair growth, partly via its effects on critical events in the active phase of the hair follicle cycle, including the promotion of the proliferation of hDPCs and their immediate progeny to the follicle base. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Histopathological features of early-stage MF include a lichenoid lymphocytic infiltrate, linear accumulation of atypical lymphocytes along the basal epidermis and epidermotropism of atypical lymphocytes, without spongiosis. We report a rare case of early-stage MF showing a CD4/CD8 double-negative immunophenotype with CD30 expression. Moreover, loss of CD4 with acquisition of CD30 expression in the early-stage MF does not necessarily imply disease progression, but merely represents an activated T-cell phenotype. [Extracted from the article]

Summary: Background: A 595‐nm pulsed dye laser (PDL) and the fractional 532‐nm potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP) laser have also been demonstrated to be effective for facial telangiectasias. Objective: To compare the clinical therapeutic effects of a fractional 532‐nm KTP laser with those of a 595‐nm pulsed dye laser (PDL) for treating facial erythematous skin lesions. Methods: Twenty healthy adults with facial erythematous skin lesions were treated using a fractional 532‐nm KTP laser on one side of the face and a 595‐nm PDL on the other cheek. Three treatments were administered at 4‐week intervals. The degree of improvement in facial telangiectasias was evaluated by colorimeter analysis, a physician's assessment using clinical photographs, and the subject's self‐assessment. Results: In the physician's assessment with clinical photography, a significant improvement was observed from baseline to posttreatment in both groups. As measured by a colorimeter, the a* value decreased from 16.23 (±2.81) to 12.22 (±2.75) in the 595‐nm PDL group and from 16.02 (±2.93) to 12.77 (±2.77) in the fractional 532‐nm KTP laser group. The a* value showed a significant reduction in both groups (P < .0001). There was no significant difference in efficacy between the two groups. In the subjective self‐assessment, scores improved by 1.68 (±0.95) in the fractional 532‐nm KTP laser group and by 1.78 (±0.92) in the 595‐nm PDL group. Conclusion: A fractional 532‐nm KTP laser is a valid option for the treatment of facial erythematous skin lesions with telangiectasia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various patterns of nail plate destruction are common features in subungual melanoma ( SUM), but there has been no reports regarding their clinical significance according to the pattern of nail plate destruction in terms of tumor thickness. We tried to find a relationship between dermal invasion of SUM and proximal nail plate destruction ( PNPD). Clinical information of patients with SUM was reviewed retrospectively from seven dermatology training hospitals in Korea. The PNPD was defined as a visible loss of full thickness of nail plate touching the eponychium at the most proximal part of it. We evaluated whether there are correlations between patients' age, sex, location of SUM, Breslow thickness ( BT) and the presence of PNPD. Among 93 patients with SUM, 36 (38.7%) showed PNPD. Sex and BT showed significant correlations with the presence of PNPD in univariate analysis ( P < 0.05). BT, age and sex showed significant correlations with the presence of PNPD in multivariate analysis ( P < 0.05). Among them, BT showed the strongest correlation with the presence of PNPD (area under the curve, 0.722) and the cut-off value was 1.25 mm. In conclusion, we suggest that PNPD in SUM could be a possible predictor of invasiveness of more than 1.25 mm BT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 75-year-old man presented with multiple, scaly, erythematous, grouped papules, nodules and plaques with tenderness ranging from the right forearm to hand dorsum and the right lower leg for 2-3 months. Five months prior to presentation, the patient had received an antibiotic skin test on his right forearm. Lesions appeared approximately 2-3 months after the antibiotic skin test, slowly progressing without clinical improvement. Culture for fungus on the right forearm revealed growth of Scedosporium apiospermum. The tissue acid-fast bacilli ( AFB) culture for the right forearm and right leg revealed growth of non-tuberculous mycobacteria which was Mycobacterium chelonae, and subsequent tissue polymerase chain reaction of both sites reported positive signs of M. chelonae. On diastase periodic acid- Schiff stain of the biopsy specimen of the right forearm, fungal hyphae were found while rod-shaped bacilli could be seen in AFB stain for the biopsy specimen of the right leg. The patient was treated with oral clarithromycin and ciprofloxacin along with an oral antifungal agent for 13 weeks. After the treatment, the lesions subsided and left a scar. We report a rare case of co-infection of S. apiospermum and M. chelonae in an immunocompetent host. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the increasing use of topical tacrolimus, there is little information about its effect on skin wound healing. To determine effects on acute cutaneous wound healing, two full-thickness skin wounds were imparted on the backs of 45 hairless mice, which were then divided into vehicle-, topical tacrolimus- and topical steroid-treated group. Each drug was topically applied once daily. The wound area was assessed by using dermoscopic images every two days after wounding. At 3, 7 and 11 days after wounding, 10 wounds in each group were collected for semi-quantitative analysis of histological features including re-epithelialization, polymorphonuclear leucocytes, fibroblasts and collagen. We also checked the mRNA expression levels of EGF, TGF-β, TNF-α and IL-1α. While topical application of clobetasol propionate was found to delay re-epithelialization and infiltration of polymorphonuclear leucocyte, topical treatment with tacrolimus showed patterns similar to that of the vehicle. In the tacrolimus-treated group, mRNA expression levels of IL-1α and TGF-β were slightly decreased, while the others were similar with the vehicle-treated group. Unlike steroid, topical tacrolimus, therefore, did not disturb the wound healing process in a murine skin wound model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The treatment of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is a repositioning maneuver in order to remove otolithic debris. We use a new device (the DizzyFIX) to assist in the performance of the modified Epley maneuver (MEM). The purpose of this study is to find out the effect of the dizzyFIXR in the treatment of BPPV. Method: Sixty cases of posterior semicircular canal BPPV were studied. All patients were treated by MEM. They were divided into 2 groups. The first group (group A, 30 patients) was only MEM group. The second group (group B, 30 patients) was instructed to use the dizzyFIXR in MEM. Results: In group A and B, dizziness handicap inventory(DHI) scores were found in pre‐ and post‐MEM. (The DHI scores pre‐ and post‐MEM in group A were 40.12 ± 6.58 and 19.42 ± 3.29, p in group A were 6.5 ± 0.5 and 3.4 ± 0.4, and in group B were 6.7 ± 0.4 and 2.2 ± 0.3, P <. 05) was noted. Conclusion: From the analysis of this study, the use of this new device to assist in the performance of MEM for the treatment of posterior BPPV may be effective to relieve anxiety related to unsteadiness in BPPV patients and to increase satisfaction of MEM in BPPV patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]