Body Hair Growth Research Articles

Distribution of Body Hair in Young Australian Women and Associations With Serum Androgen Concentrations.

An important element of the diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome is hyperandrogenism. To determine the distribution of modified Ferriman-Gallwey (mF-G) scores, as a measure of facial and body hair growth, and associations between the mF-G scores and serum androgen concentrations, including 11-oxygenated androgens. Cross-sectional study of non-health-care-seeking women, aged 18 to 39 years, recruited from the eastern states of Australia from November 2016 to July 2017. Participants provided an mF-G self-assessment that corresponded to their appearance when not using treatment for excess hair. Androgens were measured in 710 women by liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry. The distribution of the mF-G scores was right-skewed. The median (range) mF-G score of all participants (73.1% Caucasian) was 5 (0-36). The mF-G scores were negatively associated with age (rs = 0.124; P < 0.0001) and positively associated with body mass index (BMI) (rs = 0.073; P < 0.0001). Only androstenedione remained significantly associated with mF-G scores when controlling for age and BMI. Cluster analysis identified 2 groups with mF-G score of < 10 and ≥ 10. Repeating the cluster analysis using the combined vector of mF-G score and androstenedione returned a similar cluster structure, and again separated the 2 groups at a mF-G score < 10 versus ≥ 10. A self-assessed mF-G score ≥ 10 is indicative of excess body hair. Androstenedione, as well as testosterone, should be measured when hyperandrogenism is being evaluated. The lack of association between mF-G scores and the 11-oxygenated androgens highlights the need for a better understanding of these steroids.

Age at onset of different pubertal signs in boys and girls and differential DNA methylation at age 10 and 18years: an epigenome-wide follow-up study.

STUDY QUESTIONIs the age of onset of pubertal markers related to subsequent changes in DNA methylation (DNAm)?SUMMARY ANSWERWe identified 273 cytosine-phosphate-guanine (CpG) dinucleotides in girls and 67 CpGs in boys that were related to puberty and that were replicable in two other investigations.WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADYPreviously, 457 CpGs (not gender-specific) and 347 (in girls) and 50 (in boys), respectively, were found to be associated with puberty, according to investigations of studies from Denmark (20 girls and 31 boys) and North America (30 girls and 25 boys).STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATIONThe study was based on a birth cohort of 1456 participants born in 1989/90, with follow-up at age 10 and 18 years.PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODSThe follow-up included 470 participants with information on DNAm and age of pubertal onset (244 girls and 226 boys). Age of pubertal onset was ascertained retrospectively at age 18 years. Using the Pubertal Development Scale, both genders were asked about ages of onset of growth spurt, body hair growth and skin changes. Ages at voice deepening and growth of facial hair were inquired from boys; ages at breast development and menarche from girls. Blood samples were collected at 10 and 18 years of age. DNA was extracted using a standard salting out procedure. The methylation level for each CpG site was assessed using one of two different platforms. DNAm was measured by a ratio of intensities denoted as β values for each CpG site. After quality control, 349 455 CpG sites were available for analysis. M values were calculated (log2(β/(1−β)) to approximate a normal distribution, and their levels were adjusted for blood cell proportions. Linear mixed models were applied to test the association between age of pubertal markers and repeated measurement of DNAm at 10 and 18 years.MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCEIn girls, a total of 63 019 CpGs statistically significantly changed after occurrence of any of the five pubertal events and 13 487 were changed subsequent to all five events: the respective number is boys were 3072 and 301. To further exclude false-positive findings, we investigated which CpGs were replicable in prior studies from Denmark or North America, resulting in 273 replicable CpG in girls and 67 CpGs in boys (236 and 68 genes, respectively). Most identified genes are known to be related to biological processes of puberty; however, genetic polymorphisms of only four of these genes were previously linked to pubertal markers in humans.LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTIONThe relative age of pubertal onset to the age of DNAm measurements does not allow causal inference, since DNAm at an earlier age may have affected the pubertal age or pubertal age may have altered later DNAm. This investigation concentrates on autosomes. CpGs on X and Y chromosomes are not included in the current study.WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGSAssessment of biological processes involved in pubertal transitions should include epigenetic information. Differential DNAm related to puberty needs to be investigated to determine whether it can act as an early marker for adult diseases known to be associated with puberty.STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S)This work was supported by NIH grants R03HD092776 (Epigenetic characterization of pubertal transitions) and R01AI121226. The 10-year follow-up of this study was funded by National Asthma Campaign, UK (Grant No 364), and the 18-year follow-up by a grant from the National Heart and Blood Institute (R01 HL082925). The authors have no conflicts to report.

Screening for androgen excess in women: accuracy of self-reported excess body hair growth and menstrual dysfunction

Screening for androgen excess in women: accuracy of self-reported excess body hair growth and menstrual dysfunction

Особенности субъективных проявлений, стадийность неоплазии половых органов в постменопаузальный период

The objective: to determine the structure, the stage of detecting ,the severity of subjective manifestations in the presence of tumor processes of the reproductive organs. Materials and methods. A retrospective analysis of case histories of 301 patients with tumors of the reproductive organs in the postmenopausal period was carried out. The average age of patients was 61.6±0.4 years. The duration of the postmenopausal period ranged from 11.0±0.6 years. Results. It was established that 28.9% of postmenopausal women have uterine fibroids, 29.4% have endometrial hyperplasia, 21.6% have endometrial cancer, 10.6% – ovarian cancer, 5.6% – benign ovarian tumors, 5.6% – cervical cancer, 1.7% of patients have uterine sarcoma. In 68.8% of patients, ovarian cancer is diagnosed in the late stages with a predominance of disease detection at stage III of the tumor process (62.5%). Endometrial cancer is diagnosed in 86.2% of patients in the early stages of the tumor process. The frequency of diagnosis of endometrial cancer in the later stages is 4.6%. From the clinical manifestations of genital tumors in postmenopausal, vaginal bloody discharge and/or bleeding, abdominal pain, rapid heartbeat and excessive body hair growth predominate. Conclusion. The results obtained allowed to establish that the postmenopausal period is a period of high risk for the development of neoplastic processes of the reproductive organs. Key words: genital tumors, postmenopausal period, endometrial cancer, ovarian cancer, uterine myoma, uterine sarcoma, endometrial hyperplasia.

Time course detection of dihydrocodeine in body hair after a single dose

When head hair is not suitable or not available, body hair, such as leg or beard hair might be the most suitable sample for drug hair analysis. Drugs may be detected in beard, from the first day up to more than one week. Specific information about the time course detection of drugs, after a single intake, in body hair has not been yet well documented for the different body hair samples. The aim of this study was to determine and compare the detection window of dihydrocodeine in frequently shaved legs and beard after a single intake. Unshaved hair from head hair, chest hair, leg hair, and/or arm hair were also analysed. Before a single intake of 12 mg dihydrocodeine by test subject 1 (female), the leg hair was shaved in the morning. The second test subject 2 (male) shaved his beard in the morning and 30 min later he had a dose of 10 mg of dihydrocodeine. The samples were washed with water and shampoo, dried and collected as follows: subject 1: every 3-days shaved leg hair ( n = 10) and 1-month-later head hair ( n = 1). Subject 2: daily shaved beard hair ( n = 15), 2 months later head hair ( n = 50, different regions), and every 20 days unshaved arm, leg and chest hair (from different regions) ( n = 4/area). The samples were analysed for dihydrocodeine using a validated liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method with a limit of quantification (LOQ) of 16 pg/mg for dihydrocodeine. About 20 mg of hair samples were weighted, washed with dichloromethane, centrifuged, dried, and pulverized in the same disposable tubes. Then the samples were incubated with methanol (under sonication at 45 °C) during 4 h. After centrifugation, the supernatant was evaporated and a cation exchange solid phase extraction followed by separation and quantification using ultra performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UHLC-MS/MS) was carried out. Chromatographic separation was achieved using a BEH phenyl column eluted with 0.1% formic acid: methanol (0.1% formic acid). The UPLC-MS/MS method was validated and used in routine for drug hair analysis for already several years [1] . In the present study leg hair was collected every 3 days, as an average of frequent shaved hair in western woman population. Leg hair was very limited and only one hair sample from both woman legs was available per analysis. Beard was collected daily and in a higher amount. Dihydrocodeine was detected in leg hair from the first sample (3 days after the intake). Maximum concentration at 68 pg/mg for the single intake was obtained after 15 days (± 2 days), decreasing later to the LOQ from the 21st day. Beard hair was already positive from the first day sample, and the maximum concentration was observed at 66 pg/mg, 6 days after the intake, decreasing later to the LOQ from day 10. This may be explained by the ‘Richards–Meharg body and head hair growth table, where it indicates that legs have only 20% of growing hairs in anagen phase, while beard goes from 50 to 70%. In other body hair samples, dihydrocodeine was negative or detected from 1 month after the intake. Body hair presents different time course window detection due to the different growth rates. Frequently shaved leg and beard hair may be suitable samples for recent single dihydrocodeine dose detection from the first days up to 21 or 13 days after the intake, respectively, when an LOQ of 16 pg/mg is applied.

MON-323 Metastatic Adrenocortical Carcinoma Presenting with Mixed Cushing's and Virilization Syndrome along with Bilateral Pulmonary Emboli

Background: Adrenocortical carcinoma is a rare, often aggressive tumor that is more common in women than men. The tumors are more often than not biochemically active in adults, and the majority secrete glucocorticoids alone (1,2).Clinical case: A 57yo woman w/ longstanding hypertension and history of total abdominal hysterectomy presented with shortness of breath. She reported worsening of her hypertension over the past six months associated with male pattern balding, body hair growth, anxiety, facial and abdominal swelling for the past four months. Computed tomography PE protocol showed bilateral pulmonary emboli and multiple pulmonary nodules. Subsequent computed tomography chest/abdomen/pelvis revealed pulmonary nodules in both lungs, the largest being 3.7cm x 2.5cm in the right upper lobe, and a large right retroperitoneal mass centered at the expected position of the right adrenal gland measures 12.4cm x 10.5cm causing mass effect on the inferior surface of the liver along with bulky mediastinal, hilar, paratracheal, gastrohepatic, portocaval, and retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy. Exam was significant for cushingoid habitus with central obesity, rounded facies, supraclavicular and dorsocervical fat pads, proximal muscle weakness, frontotemporal balding, severe hirsutism consistent with modified ferriman-gallwey score of 13, and an annular, scaly rash along gluteal cleft. 8am serum cortisol was 65mcg/dL. 24 hour urinary cortisol was 450mcg/24 hour. ACTH was undetectable <2.0pg/mL. Total Testosterone was 835ng/dL. DHEAS was 1,000mcg/dL. Renin, aldosterone, plasma fractionated metanephrines were normal. Excisional supraclavicular lymph node biopsy was positive for metastatic adrenocortical carcinoma. Subsequent FDG PET/CT also showed metastatic disease in the liver, right humeral head, sacrum, and bilateral iliac bones. Punch biopsy of the rash was consistent with tinea cruris. The patient was moved to the oncology service and started on therapy with mitotane, cisplatin, doxorubicin and etoposide.Conclusion: Rapid virilization is concerning for an underlying malignancy and should always include androgen evaluation with a high index of suspicion for ovarian or adrenal tumors.

MON-221 Recalibrating the Modified Ferriman-Gallwey Score in Middle Eastern Women: Population Study

INTRODUCTION Hirsutism is defined as excessive growth of terminal hair in androgen-dependent areas of the body in women. The most widely used scoring system for hirsutism was first developed by Ferriman and Gallwey in 1961, the system was derived from a population study of white women in England and a cutoff point of > 8 defining hirsutism. Unfortunately Ferriman and Gallwey score carries many limitations. One of the main limitations is the racial impact on hair growth, where different races have different degree of hair growth even with the similar androgen levels. Another limitation is that it depends on physician based assessment which may be skewed due to cosmetic treatment aimed at minimizing hair growth appearance in women particularly in the Middle East. The literature is devoid of strong evidence for the use of the modified Ferriman and Gallwey (mFG) score to define hirsutism in Middle Eastern with any particular cut-off. We therefore tried to tackle these two limitations with a large population based study for self-assessment of hair growth amongst women in the Middle East to identify the average hair growth quantity and help with identifying a more relevant cut-off point. METHODS An online survey was launched through social media applications in Middle East targeting women aged 13 and above in the period between 1-31 January 2018. Data were collected regarding self-assessment of hirsutism based on mFG score. The survey included 18 questions that focused on the 9 locations of hair growth outlined in the mFG score. Additional questions aimed to uncover any possible androgen disturbance states. RESULTS 21,445 responses were received, 14,411 (67.2%) of them were adequately completed. The majority of the completed responses were from Saudi Arabia and Kuwait 10,323 (72%). 10,513 (73%) women denied having any hormonal problems, consuming anti-androgens or oral contraceptive pills or having irregular cycles. The 95th percentile of mFG score of those women was 13. 9,989 women had a mFG score >13 with 4,095 (41%) perceived themselves as being hirsute while 524 women had a mFG score ≤13 with 474 (90.5%) believing that they suffer from hirsutism. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION This study appears to be the largest of its kind done in this region of Asia to the best of our knowledge. Self-perception of hirsutism appears to be more prevalent amongst the population studied which may reflect underlying social beliefs. Self- perception can help overcome any obstacles of cosmetic therapy that may impair clinical assessment of hair growth and distributions. Middle Eastern women appear to have a greater quantity of body hair growth at baseline. A cut off point using mFG score of >13 may be a better standard for used to define hirsutism and prompting work-up in females originating from this area. Further prospective studies to correlate these findings with clinical assessment are needed.

Endocrinology of Transgender Medicine.

Gender-affirming treatment of transgender people requires a multidisciplinary approach in which endocrinologists play a crucial role. The aim of this paper is to review recent data on hormonal treatment of this population and its effect on physical, psychological, and mental health. The Endocrine Society guidelines for transgender women include estrogens in combination with androgen-lowering medications. Feminizing treatment with estrogens and antiandrogens has desired physical changes, such as enhanced breast growth, reduction of facial and body hair growth, and fat redistribution in a female pattern. Possible side effects should be discussed with patients, particularly those at risk for venous thromboembolism. The Endocrine Society guidelines for transgender men include testosterone therapy for virilization with deepening of the voice, cessation of menses, and increases of muscle mass and facial and body hair. Owing to the lack of evidence, treatment of gender nonbinary people should be individualized. Young people may receive pubertal suspension, consisting of GnRH analogs, later followed by sex steroids. Options for fertility preservation should be discussed before any hormonal intervention. Morbidity and cardiovascular risk with cross-sex hormones is unchanged among transgender men and unclear among transgender women. Sex steroid-related malignancies can occur but are rare. Mental health problems such as depression and anxiety have been found to reduce considerably following hormonal treatment. Future studies should aim to explore the long-term outcome of hormonal treatment in transgender people and provide evidence as to the effect of gender-affirming treatment in the nonbinary population.

Exploration of the meridian differentiation law in polycystic ovarian syndrome of hirsutism based on data mining technology

To analyze the distribution characteristics of hirsutism and the law of meridian differentiation in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). For the patients of PCOS, the modified Ferriman-Gallwey score (mF-G score) was adopted to evaluate the hirsutism distribution. The clementine data mining software was used to analyze the distribution region of hirsutism and the correlation with meridian. A total of 141 patients of PCOS participated in the study. The most common regions of hirsutism were in the upper lip (50.35%) and the lower abdomen (34.04%). The higher frequencies of hirsutism at two regions were at the upper lip and lower abdomen (24.82%), the upper lip and chest (12.06%) and the upper lip and thigh (11.35%). In the analysis on the correlation of the upper lip, lower abdomen and chest with other regions, hirsutism was more common in the nearby regions. In reference to the running course of meridian, the frequencies of hirsutism from high to low were the conception vessel (63.12%), the thoroughfare vessel (61.70%), the liver meridian of foot-jueyin (58.16%) and the stomach meridian of foot-yangming (57.45%). According to Miraculous Pivot: Yinyang Twenty-Five Persons, the high incidence of hirsutism (59.57%） resulted from the change of qi and blood in yangming meridian. . Blood plays the important role in the growth of body hair. Regarding the yinyang attribution, the incidence of hirsutism at the yin regions is higher than the yang regions. The occurrence of hirsutism is closely related to qi and blood changes in meridians. The conception vessel, the thoroughfare vessel, the liver meridian of foot-jueyin and yangming meridian act highly on the disease.

Understanding and Addressing Hair Disorders in Transgender Individuals.

In the United States, an increasing number of individuals are identifying as transgender. Males at birth who identify as females are called male-to-female (MTF) transgender individuals or trans women, and females at birth who identify as males are called female-to-male (FTM) transgender individuals or trans men. The transgender patient population possess unique health concerns disparate from those of the general populace. Exogenous hormone therapy for transgender patients leads to changes in the distribution and pattern of hair growth. Exogenous testosterone can lead to male pattern hair loss and hirsutism, while estrogen therapy usually results in decreased facial and body hair growth and density. A thorough understanding of the hormonal treatments that may be used in transgender individuals as well the unique and complex biologic characteristics of the hair follicle is required for appropriate diagnosis, counseling and treatment of patients. The aim of this article is to provide a framework for understanding hair disorders in transgender individuals and effective treatment options.

Plaque Psoriasis Formation and Body Hair (Re)Growth: A Common Pathway Activation?

Plaque Psoriasis Formation and Body Hair (Re)Growth: A Common Pathway Activation?

Role of Barever Natural Hair Inhibitor in Reducing Unwanted Body Hair Growth; As an Adjuvant Therapy with Waxing and with Normal Hair Removal Cream

Background: Unwanted facial and body hair plays role in one’s cosmetic look, although unwanted hair is not detrimental to health but it is considered to affect the perfect look of person. Unwanted hair on the visible body parts like hands, legs, face and back are perceived as a problem for the picture perfect cosmetic look. People do use various methods so as to reduce the growth of unwanted hair and even tries permanent hair removal techniques. The permanent hair removal techniques tried by individual includes laser hair removals and other home and herbal remedies. Various reports have demonstrated the efficacy of herbal remedies for the reduction of hair growth especially the role of papaya in reduction of hair growth. Papaya contains an enzyme called papain 1 which acts on the hair follicles by wreaking their action to help grow hair. The appropriate combination of papain with other herbal ingredients having role in hair reduction can effectively restricts the growth of hair and help in achieving permanent hair growth reduction. Barever Natural Hair Inhibitor is the scientific combination of herbal ingredients which includes carica papaya, Gymnema Sylvestre and others effectively restricts the growth of the hair resulting in permanent hair growth reduction. Barever natural hair inhibitor if applied after hair removal seeps into the follicle cell level of hair and inhibits the growth of hair. This study examines the effectiveness of Barever natural hair inhibitor in long term hair reduction.

Werewolf syndrome associated with gingival fibromatosis: A rare case report

Hypertrichosis is a rare disorder that causes abnormal excessive body hair growth. Hypertrichosis has informally been called werewolf syndrome because the appearance is similar to that of a werewolf. It is often associated with additional anomalies including gingival hyperplasia, deafness, cardiomegaly and bone abnormalities. The association of gingival fibromatosis and a coarse facies could further worsen the esthetics. Thus, a multidisciplinary approach involving a psychologist, a dentist as well as a dermatologist would be mandatory. We present this rare syndrome describing a case of a 9-year-old boy with congenital hypertrichosis and gingival fibromatosis. The growth being normal, the features of this boy were similar to hypertrichosis. Hypertrichosis has informally been called werewolf syndrome because the appearance is similar to the werewolf.

Assessing new terminal body and facial hair growth during pregnancy: toward developing a simplified visual scoring system for hirsutism

To study the distribution and progression of terminal hair growth in pregnant women and to determine the feasibility of a simplified scoring system for assessing hirsutism. Prospective follow-up observational study. Academic hospital. A total of 115 pregnant women (discovery cohort) and 1,159 women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) (validation cohort). Facial and body terminal hair growth assessed by modified Ferriman and Gallwey score system (mFG score), and total testosterone (TT) level detected by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. Degree of facial and body terminal hair growth. The serum TT level and mFG score increased as pregnancy progressed. Both the prospective study and receiver operating characteristics curve indicated that the body areas with the greatest contribution to hirsutism (defined as an mFG score ≥5) with new terminal hair growth were the upper lip, lower back, lower abdomen, and thigh. A simplified mFG scoring system (sFG) was developed, and a cutoff value of ≥3 was defined as hirsutism. Pregnant hirsute women were distinguished from nonhirsute women with an accuracy of 95.2%, sensitivity of 96.8%, and specificity of 94.3% for detecting hirsutism. This was further validated in the PCOS population with a sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value of 97.6%, 96.4%, and 96.4%, respectively. This study suggests that the upper lip, lower back, lower abdomen, and thigh may be an effective simplified combination of the mFG system for the evaluation of excess hair growth in Chinese women. ChiCTR-OCH-14005012.

Comparison of two contraceptive pills containing drospirenone and 20 μg or 30 μg ethinyl estradiol for polycystic ovary syndrome

To compare the effects of 30 μg and 20 μg ethinyl estradiol (EE) among women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). In a randomized study, patients with PCOS, a history of six or fewer menstrual cycles in the previous 12 months, and abnormal body hair growth were enrolled at a center in Kolkata, India, between May 1, 2012, and January 31, 2014. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1) using a computer-generated randomization table to receive an oral contraceptive pill containing 3mg drospirenone and either 30 μg EE or 20 μg EE. Patients were followed up after 6 and 12 months. The primary outcome was the absolute change in the free androgen index. Participants were masked to group assignment but investigators were not. Analyses were by intention to treat. Overall, 112 patients were enrolled. At 6 months, the free androgen index had decreased by 4.96±6.01 among patients receiving 30 μg (n=55) and by 4.81±6.03 among those receiving 20 μg (n=57; P=0.89). At 12 months, the decrease from baseline was 5.23±5.79 with 30 μg and 4.99±5.86 with 20 μg (P=0.82). Among patients with PCOS, an oral contraceptive pill containing 20 μg EE has similar effects on androgen levels to those of a pill containing 30 μg. CTRI/2012/04/002571.

Greater arousal in response to expansive female pubic hair is linked to more positive reactions to female sterility among heterosexual men

Because testosterone increases body hair growth and infertility in women, greater pubic hair expanse could function as a visual heuristic of female infertility for men. Heterosexual male Canadian undergraduate students (N=63) completed a measure of sociosexuality, rated their reactions to their own/a female partner's hypothetical sterility, and reported their arousal in response to a range of female pubic hair expanses (from completely bare to extending beyond the pubic mound). As hypothesized, although the absence of pubic hair was rated as most arousing overall (especially among higher sociosexuality scorers), men's greater comfort with a female partner's sterility predicted greater arousal in response to the most expansive female pubic hair patterns. Thus, along with breast size and waist-to-hip ratio, pubic hair expanse may be a secondary sex characteristic that can function as a visual heuristic of female (in)fertility among heterosexual men.

Restoration of spermatogenesis and male fertility using an androgen receptor transgene.

Androgens signal through the androgen receptor (AR) to regulate male secondary sexual characteristics, reproductive tract development, prostate function, sperm production, bone and muscle mass as well as body hair growth among other functions. We developed a transgenic mouse model in which endogenous AR expression was replaced by a functionally modified AR transgene. A bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) was constructed containing all AR exons and introns plus 40 kb each of 5' and 3' regulatory sequence. Insertion of an internal ribosome entry site and the EGFP gene 3’ to AR allowed co-expression of AR and EGFP. Pronuclear injection of the BAC resulted in six founder mice that displayed EGFP production in appropriate AR expressing tissues. The six founder mice were mated into a Sertoli cell specific AR knockout (SCARKO) background in which spermatogenesis is blocked at the meiosis stage of germ cell development. The AR-EGFP transgene was expressed in a cyclical manner similar to that of endogenous AR in Sertoli cells and fertility was restored as offspring were produced in the absence of Sertoli cell AR. Thus, the AR-EGFP transgene under the control of AR regulatory elements is capable of rescuing AR function in a cell selective, AR-null background. These initial studies provide proof of principle that a strategy employing the AR-EGFP transgene can be used to understand AR functions. Transgenic mice expressing selective modifications of the AR-EGFP transgene may provide crucial information needed to elicit the molecular mechanisms by which AR acts in the testis and other androgen responsive tissues.

Genetic analysis of a murine QTL for diet restriction on chromosome 15.

Diet restriction (DR), the implementation of a reduced calorie diet, without starvation, increases lifespan in a number of model organisms including mammals. How DR extends lifespan remains unclear. Genetic studies have shown that life extension is not a universal response to DR; instead, the effects of DR are strain dependent. We previously mapped a quantitative trait locus (QTL) specifying differential response to DR to chromosome 15 in the inbred long-sleep (ILS) × inbred short-sleep (ISS) recombinant inbred panel of mice. This QTL named Fedr2 (fuel efficiency response to DR)-2 modifies body weight (BW) and hair growth (HG) in response to DR. The QTL has been previously mapped using the ISS.Lore5(LA) (5LA) congenic strain. Here, we have used the reciprocal congenic strain ILS.Lore5(SA) (5SA) to further investigate Fedr2. The 5LA congenic showed increased ability to maintain BW and HG under DR. For the reciprocal congenic, 5SA, we expected the reciprocal response that the 5SA congenic would have a lesser ability to maintain BW and HG under DR. This expectation was mostly met. The Fedr2 (S) allele conferred lower BW maintenance under DR in both females and males. For females, the difference in BW was significant for the entirety of DR, and for males, the difference became significant at week 17 of DR. For HG, the Fedr2 (S) allele conferred decreased HG ability under DR in males, but not for females. These results highlight the genetic basis for variation in DR response and support the previous observations that Fedr2 mediates BW and HG during DR.

Semiquantitative assessment of hirsutism in 850 PCOS patients and 2,988 controls in China.

There is considerable individual and racial variation in the degree and pattern of body hair among PCOS patients. The purposes of this study were to define: 1) a suitable standard of hirsutism for Chinese women with PCOS and the general Chinese population; 2) the characteristics of hair distribution and degree in Chinese women with PCOS and the general population; and 3) the correlation of PCOS and FG score in Chinese women. This retrospective study in Chinese women with PCOS in the reproductive centre of Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, comprised 850 patients with PCOS and 2,988 members of the general population. It was conducted crosssectionally by interview, physical examination, ultrasound scan, and modified Ferriman-Gallwey score. Eight hundred and fifty Chinese women with PCOS (aged 20-41) underwent an interview, blood drawing, physical and ultrasound examination. Body hair at nine sites (lip, chin, arm, thigh, chest, upper belly, lower belly, upper back and lower back) were evaluated using the scoring system described by Ferriman and Gallwey; 2,988 healthy women (aged 20-45) underwent an interview, physical examination, ultrasound scan and FG score evaluation by trained gynaecologists. Terminal body hair growth was assessed using the mFG scoring system in Chinese women with PCOS and the control group; nine body areas were scored from 0-4 for terminal hair growth distribution. Our findings showed that of the 850 patients, 367 had a FG score equal to or greater than 5 points [43.2% (367/850)], 282 patients had a FG score equal to or greater than 6 points [33.18% (282/850)], and 21% had a score of at least 8 points. Nobody's FG score was equal to or greater than 24 points. Hirsutism was significantly higher in PCOS patients (score ≥ 5 = 43.2%) than in the general population (score ≥ 5 = 10%). The lip is the most common place (score 0-3) where terminal hair grows in 850 PCOS patients and the general population. Next came the upper back and chest, and the number of 4 points was only recorded for the region of the lip (16), thigh (3), lower belly (3), arm (1), chest (1), and lower back (1). None of the PCOS patients displayed a score of more than 4 points for the chin, upper belly and upper back. Our data indicates that: 1) an mFG score of 5 or above is out of the norm for the general unselected population and forms almost half of the possibility of diagnosing PCOS in Chinese women; 2) lips and upper back are the most common places that hair grows (score 1-2), but in terms of the serious situation (score 3-4), lips and thighs are the most common places that hair grows; 3) there is a good predictive value to diagnose PCOS by FG score for Chinese people; and 4) hirsutism is more common in PCOS than in the general population in China.

Gonadal suppressive and cross-sex hormone therapy for gender dysphoria in adolescents and adults.

Individuals with gender dysphoria experience distress associated with incongruence between their biologic sex and their identified gender. Gender dysphoric natal males receive treatment with antiandrogens and estrogens to become feminized (transsexual females), whereas natal females with gender dysphoria receive treatment with androgens to become masculinized (transsexual males). Because of the permanence associated with cross-sex hormone therapy (CSHT), adolescents diagnosed with gender dysphoria receive gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogs to suppress puberty. High rates of depression and suicide are linked to social marginalization and barriers to care. Behavior, emotional problems, depressive symptoms, and global functioning improve in adolescents receiving puberty suppression therapy. Gender dysphoria, psychological symptoms, quality of life, and sexual function improve in adults who receive CSHT. Within the first 6 months of CSHT, changes in transsexual females include breast growth, decreased testicular volume, and decreased spontaneous erections, and changes in transsexual males include cessation of menses, breast atrophy, clitoral enlargement, and voice deepening. Both transsexual females and males experience changes in body fat redistribution, muscle mass, and hair growth. Desired effects from CSHT can take between 3 and 5 years; however, effects that occur during puberty, such as voice deepening and skeletal structure changes, cannot be reversed with CSHT. Decreased sexual desire is a greater concern in transsexual females than in transsexual males, with testosterone concentrations linked to sexual desire in both. Regarding CSHT safety, bone mineral density is preserved with adequate hormone supplementation, but long-term fracture risk has not been studied. The transition away from high-dose traditional regimens is tied to a lower risk of venous thromboembolism and cardiovascular disease, but data quality is poor. Breast cancer has been reported in both transsexual males and females, but preliminary data suggest that CSHT does not increase the risk. Cancer screenings for individuals of both natal and transitioned sexes should occur as recommended. More long-term studies are needed to ensure that CSHT regimens with the best outcomes can continue to be prescribed for the transsexual population.