Occipital Hair Research Articles

Patient-Based Ratio Method for Permanent Zone Donor Area Calculation in Hair Transplant

Abstract Introduction Most common type of hair loss is androgenetic alopecia. Orentreich's donor dominance theory and the definition of safe donor area are the theoretical foundation of modern hair transplantation. In safe donor area no progression of permanent hair loss occurs. Its knowledge is important to prevent loss of transplanted hair. Estimation is not tailored to every patient, also in early stages, the margins are assumed to be free from future hair loss. Our study is an attempt to find and establish a relationship between safe zone dimensions and other standard scalp dimensions, and effectively predict the complete safe zone in early stages of hair loss. Materials and Methods From July to December 2022, the first 100 patients with Norwood IV onwards of hair loss were included. Then, the distance between the vertex and the point of change in occipital hair quality and density was measured, and from this point till occipital protuberance were taken. The ratio between the two was taken. In the next 100 patients of Norwood II to IVa, the applicability of the new ratio to assess the permanent zone was used. Results Ratio method takes into account the patient's measurements, that is, permanent zone and total distance from vertex occiput. The ratio range we got is:Permanent zone: total distance from vertex to occiput: 0.43–0.53Therefore, the permanent zone would be equal to = total distance from vertex to occiput × 0.43–0.53. With the lower limit being the occiput. Over 90% of the patients did not have significant reduction in density of transplanted hair. Conclusion The authors suggest the use of this ratio method to determine the dimensions of the permanent zone especially in patients with early grades of hair loss as per the Norwood scale. It is a simple, effective, and easily applicable concept that can ensure long-lasting results in patients undergoing hair transplants.

Ein höheres glabelläres Weichteilkissen geht mit einer geringeren Inzidenz von Steißbeinfisteln einher

Abstract Background Mounting evidence links cut occipital hair fragments to the formation of pilonidal sinus disease (PSD). Anatomical variations in the shape of the dorsal crest between the occiput and the upper intergluteal fold may be crucial in the downward movement of hair to the glabella sacralis region. Objective This study aims to investigate the shape and height of the glabellar cushion and their potential influence on the development of PSD. Patients and methods We established a method for capturing the shape of the thoracolumbar back down to the intragluteal fold using a structured light 3D scanning device. The soft tissue surface contour of this region was measured. We developed algorithms to extract the width and shape of the canal between the erector trunci, as well as the height of the glabellar cushion. Included were 155 individuals, 94 PSD patients and 61 without PSD. Results Glabellar height differs significantly between PSD and non-PSD cohorts. In total, PSD was associated with a 7.8 ± 3.7 mm glabellar cushion, while non-PSD patients exhibited a 9.7 ± 3.8 mm glabellar cushion (p = 0.0021). In male PSD patients, the glabellar height was 7.8 ± 3.7 mm (mean ± SD), while in female PSD patients it was 7.7 ± 3.6 mm. Conversely, non-PSD males had a glabellar cushion height of 8.9 ± 2.7 mm, and non-PSD females of 10.5 ± 4.4 mm. Conclusion A higher glabellar region is associated with a lower incidence of pilonidal sinus disease. Therefore, elevating and bolstering the glabellar region could be beneficial for preventing recurrence.

Efficacy of autologous dermal sheath cup cell transplantation in male and female pattern hair loss: A Single-Arm, Multi-Center, phase III equivalent clinical study.

A previous, proof-of-concept clinical study suggested that dermal sheath cup cell injections into the affected areas of male/female pattern hair loss (PHL) may have some amelioratory effects, the clinical efficacy of which needs further examination. A phase III equivalent clinical study was conducted to further probe the therapeutic potential of this novel approach and verify its safety and efficacy in improving the appearance of PHL. Thirty-six participants with PHL were injected with dermal sheath cup cell harvested from non-affected occipital hair follicles twice in quarterly intervals. Global photographic assessment and phototrichogram were performed in a blinded manner. Patient-reported outcomes were assessed for 12 months. On global photographic assessment, 30% of the participants showed improvement. The analysis of phototricogram data detected the increases in the cumulative hair diameter, hair cross-sectional area, and mean hair diameter of 107.6 ± 152.6 μm/cm2 , 13069.1 ± 10960.7 μm2 /cm2 , and 0.9 ± 0.9 μm (ratios vs. baseline: +1.4%, +3.4%, and +2.2%), respectively. The female and high terminal hair ratio groups achieved better improvement. Of the total participants, 62.9% noted some degree of improvement. No serious adverse events were detected. This novel approach exhibited visible effects while ensuring safety and patient satisfaction. Therefore, it holds promise as a possible therapeutic option for treating PHL, especially in women.

Investigation of oral finasteride enhanced occipital hair diameter index in different types of male androgenetic alopecia

Investigation of oral finasteride enhanced occipital hair diameter index in different types of male androgenetic alopecia

On the Description of the Larval Stages of Myrmica inezae Forel, 1902 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae), an Endemic Himalayan Species, with Notes on its Natural History

Of the known species groups in Myrmica, the M. inezae belong to the inezae-group which is restricted between an altitude range of 1900-3000m in Himalayas. The species in question is a relic of old fauna and closely resembles the primitive ritae-group species. Herein, a detailed description of larval instars of Myrmica inezae Forel, 1902 is provided. Three larval instars are reported in this species. The larvae exhibit pheidoloid body profile which otherwise is pogonomyrmecoid in the larval stages of genus Myrmica Latreille, 1804 reported hitherto. M. inezae differs from the earlier described larval stages of M. rugosa and M. rupestris (rugosa-group) based on number of occipital hairs (six in M. inezae while these are eight in M. hecate and M. rupestris); mandibular teeth (two in M. inezae as compared to one in M. hecate and M. rupestris) and shape of maxilla (conoidal in M. inezae whereas paraboloidal in M. hecate and M. rupestris).

Parietal and occipital hair loss patterns in initial stages of androgenic alopecia in men

Background. The initial stages of androgenetic alopecia in men are characterized by a variety of clinical manifestation in the parietal or occipital scalp regions. However, the differences in the pathogenesis of hair loss patterns are not well understood, selective treatment has not been developed.
 Aims. Trichological characteristics of patients with initial stages of androgenetic alopecia with identification of genetic and non-genetic factors that determine the hair loss in the different scalp regions, and their response to conservative therapy.
 Materials and methods: Trichograms were photodocumented using an AramoSG microcamera (Republic of Korea). The genetic factor was analyzed by mini-sequencing of single nucleotide polymorphisms rs929626, rs5919324, rs1998076, rs12565727, rs756853. The non-genetic factors study included hormonal status (total and free testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, 17OH-progesterone, dehydroepiandrostenone, SHBG) and blood content of trace elements (Mg, Ca, Zn, Cu, Se, Fe) and vitamins (B12, D, E, folic acid). Conservative treatment was topical application of a minoxidil 5% (twice-a-day, 4 months) and a micronutrient deficiencies personalized correction.
 Results. The study included 47 man with initial stages of androgenetic alopecia. Their trichological examination showed two patterns, consisting a predominant decrease in the hair density and diameter in the parietal and occipital scalp regions, which were subgroups formation criteria. An intergroup comparison revealed similar genetic risk, while hormonal parameters (increased dihydrotestosterone levels, a decrease in free testosterone) characterized the subgroup with parietal hair loss pattern. Also, a multiple deficiency of Zn, Cu, Se and vitamins B12, D, folic acid was detected in all patients. Subsequent conservative treatment had a positive effect in patients with parietal hair loss pattern, while in patients with occipital pattern no significant response was observed.
 Conclusions. The study develops ideas about differences between androgen-dependent parietal and androgen-independent occipital hair loss patterns in the initial stages of androgenetic alopecia, which requires different approaches to their conservative therapy.

On the Relationship between Hair Mercury Concentrations and Cardiovascular Diseases (based on the example of the Vologda Region)

Introduction: Mercury is considered by the World Health Organization as one of the top ten chemicals of major public health concern. Fish consumption is known to be the main source of exposure to mercury. It has been previously established that freshwater fish of the water bodies of the Vologda Region can be a significant source of mercury exposure in the local population. Objective: To establish the relationship between hair mercury concentrations in residents of the Vologda Region and diseases of the cardiovascular system. Materials and methods: The study involved 849 participants (274 men and 575 women) aged 18 to 94 years living in the city of Cherepovets (Vologda Region: 59° 07' N 37° 54' E). Occipital hair was sampled in accordance with WHO recommendations and then tested using the RA-915M mercury analyzer with a PYRO-915+ pyrolysis attachment (measurement range: 0.002–200 mg/kg) without preliminary sample preparation, by atomic absorption with Zeeman correction of non-selective absorption. The measurement accuracy was verified using the NIMD-01 certified reference material with the mercury concentration of 0.794 ± 0.050 µg/g. Results: The mean hair mercury concentration in the study subjects from the Vologda Region was 0.572 ± 0.686 mg/kg, which is 3.5 and 1.5 times lower than safe mercury levels of 2.2 and 1 mg/kg established by WHO and US EPA, respectively. Mean hair mercury levels in the study participants with/without cardiovascular diseases were 0.646 ± 0.727 mg/kg and 0.459 ± 0.589 mg/kg, respectively. The highest mercury levels were observed in male subjects with myocardial infarction (> 0.73 mg/kg) and in females with stroke and acute coronary syndrome (> 0.687 mg/kg). Conclusions: Mercury in the hair of people with diagnosed cardiovascular diseases (myocardial infarction, acute coronary syndrome, cerebrovascular accident, unstable angina, etc.) and without them has been found. The accumulation of mercury in the body can be one of the risk factors for the development of vascular and heart diseases.

Mapping the hair density, thickness, and volume in normal and androgenetic alopecia subjects with the digital microscope

AbstractBackgroundScalp hair density and hair diameters were the two key parameters to the diagnosis of hair loss diseases, including androgenetic alopecia (AGA).ObjectivesTo comprehensively map the hair density and the ratio of terminal‐to‐vellus hair numbers (T/V ratio) on different scalp sites in subjects of different genders, ages, body mass index, and stages of AGA. The impact of the two parameters on visual perception of the hair volume was evaluated.MethodsNormal and AGA subjects of both genders were included. Trichosopic pictures were taken by a hand‐held digital microscope at the 11 designed anatomical sites on the scalp and the hair density and T/V ratio were measured based on the pictures. The T/V ratio was defined as the ratio of non‐vellus (terminal or intermediate) hair count to vellus hair count.ResultsIn subjects with normal scalp (n = 49), the hair density and T/V ratio were highest at the parietal and vertex sites in men and women, respectively. In AGA subjects (n = 111), the hair density was significantly decreased at the frontal, parietal and vertex sites in both genders. The hair density at the occipital sites was not significantly changed in alopecia subjects of both genders, but in female alopecia subjects the occipital hair density showed a steadily decreasing trend as the AGA severity increased. The perception of hair volume was impacted more greatly by the T/V ratio than the hair number density.ConclusionThe hand‐held digital microscope (videodermoscope) was an easily accessible and noninvasive tool to evaluate hair parameters, in which hair diameters better determined the visual perception of alopecia in AGA.

Manganese and Lead Exposure and Early Puberty Onset in Children Living near a Ferromanganese Alloy Plant.

Manganese (Mn) and lead (Pb) have been associated with the deregulation of the neuroendocrine system, which could potentially favor the appearance of precocious puberty (PP) in environmentally exposed children. This study aims to evaluate the exposure to Mn and Pb and their potential effects in anticipating puberty in school-aged children living near a ferromanganese alloy plant in Bahia, Brazil. Toenail, occipital hair and blood samples were collected from 225 school-aged children. Tanner’s scale was used for pubertal staging. Mn in blood (MnB), toenail (MnTn) and hair (MnH) and blood lead (PbB) levels were measured by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. Puberty-related hormone concentrations were determined by chemiluminescence. The age at which girls’ breasts began to develop was inversely correlated with weight-for-age, height-for-age and BMI-for-age Z-scores (p < 0.05); pubarche also had similar results. Mn biomarker levels did not present differences among pubertal classification nor among children with potential PP or not. Furthermore, Mn exposure was not associated with the age of onset of sexual characteristics for either girls or boys. However, PbB levels were positively correlated with boys’ pubic hair stages (rho = 0.258; p = 0.009) and associated with the age of onset of girls’ pubarche (β = 0.299, 95%CI = 0.055–0.542; p = 0.017). Testosterone and LH concentrations were statistically higher in boys with an increased PbB (p = 0.09 and p = 0.02, respectively). Prospective studies are needed to better assess the association between exposure to Mn and Pb and the early onset of puberty.

Investigation of selenium nutritional status and dietary pattern among children in Kashin-Beck disease endemic areas in Shaanxi Province, China using duplicate portion sampling method.

Selenium deficiency is a primary risk factor of Kashin-Beck disease (KBD). This study aimed to investigate whether children in endemic areas could maintain sufficient selenium intake after termination of selenium supplement administration, and evaluate their comprehensive nutritional status and dietary structure. Duplicate portion sampling combined with a questionnaire was adopted to collect data on categories and quantity of all food ingested in three consecutive days. Occipital hair was also collected to detect selenium content by hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry (HGAFS). CDGSS3.0 software and factor analysis were integrated to assess the children's comprehensive nutritional status and dietary structure. This study included 240 sex-matched (1:1) children aged 7-12years from KBD endemic (n=120) and non-endemic (n=120) areas. Overall, 720 solid food, 720 liquid, and 240 hair samples were collected for selenium determination. The mean selenium level in hair of children in endemic areas (0.38±0.16mg/kg) was significantly lower than that in children in non-endemic areas (0.56±0.28mg/kg, Z=-5.249, p<0.001). The dietary selenium intake of children in endemic areas was 40.0% lower than that in children in non-endemic areas (Z=-9.374, p<0.001). Children in endemic areas consumed significantly less diverse dietary items leading to significantly less intake of multiple nutrients compared to children in non-endemic areas. The dietary selenium intake of most children in endemic areas was less than the recommended amount. The dietary structure of children was undiversified, which limited the intake of multiple nutrients. Therefore, comprehensive nutrition rather than sole selenium intake should be the primary concern in the future.

Oral minoxidil for the treatment of late alopecia in cancer survivors.

12022 Background: Late alopecia is defined as incomplete hair regrowth &gt; 6 months following cytotoxic chemotherapy or from initiation of endocrine therapy. It has been reported in up to 25-30% of cancer survivors and is associated with decreased quality of life and reduced dose intensity of cancer therapies. Minoxidil is an aminopyridine potassium channel opener, resulting in vasodilation and premature entry of resting hair follicles into the anagen (growth) phase and increase in hair follicle size. This study aims to assess clinical outcomes and adverse events of oral minoxidil for the treatment of cancer therapy-related late alopecia. Methods: We retrospectively assessed all women with late alopecia treated with oral minoxidil (1.25 mg daily) evaluated at an oncodermatology referral program between 1/2018-5/2021. Outcomes were assessed by standardized photography (4 views) and trichoscopy (HairMetrix, Canfield Scientific, Inc.). Trichoscopy recorded hair density (hair count/cm2) and hair thickness (shaft diameter) at uniform frontal and occipital target areas (12 and 36 cm midline from the glabella, respectively). Adverse events were recorded and graded using CTCAE v5.0. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the patient demographics and clinical characteristics. Changes in trichoscopy measurements from baseline to follow-up were estimated using paired t-tests. Results: Two hundred and sixteen patients (mean age 57.8±13.7) were included for analysis. Thirty-one (14%) received chemotherapy alone, 65 (30%) endocrine monotherapy, and 120 (56%) chemotherapy followed by endocrine therapy. The majority of patients (n = 170, 79.1%) had a history of breast cancer. Standardized photography assessments (n = 119) after a median of 105 days (IQR = 70) on oral minoxidil revealed clinical improvement in 88 (74%). Trichoscopy assessments (n = 42) after a median of 91 days (IQR = 126) demonstrated increased frontal hair density (124.2 vs 153.2 hairs/cm2, p = 0.008) and occipital hair density (100.3 vs 123.5 hairs/cm2, p = 0.004). There was no statistically significant difference in average frontal or occipital hair thickness (69.3 vs 67.3 μm, p = 0.22, and 70.3 vs 69.9 μm, p = 0.84, respectively). No patients reported discontinuation of oral minoxidil due to adverse effects. Conclusions: Oral minoxidil may benefit both frontal and occipital late alopecia in cancer survivors treated with cytotoxic and/or endocrine therapy. This regimen was well tolerated by patients. Prospective, controlled studies are needed to confirm these observations.

Frontal-Temporal Triangle Area Hair for Eyebrow Restoration in Asians: A Comparative Study With Periauricular and Occipital Hair.

The frontal-temporal triangle area (FTTA) hair has a slow growth rate and thin caliber, which are similar to those of eyebrow hair. However, a comparison of cosmetic outcomes between FTTA and other scalp hair grafts in eyebrow transplantation has not been performed. To compare the cosmetic outcomes of FTTA hair and periauricular and occipital area (POA) hair in eyebrow restoration. A retrospective analysis of 155 patients with FTTA or POA hair transplants was performed. Comparative variables included patient characteristics, hair density, diameter, percentage of one-hair follicular units (FUs), number of transplanted FUs, harvesting time, transection rate, hair survival rate, frequency of eyebrow trimming, and patient satisfaction. There was a significant difference in hair density, diameter, percentage of one-hair FUs, and harvesting time between the FTTA and POA hair transplants. The FTTA hair grew significantly slower than the POA hair did. The patients in the FTTA group trimmed their postoperative eyebrows at a significantly longer interval than those in the POA group. The percentage of patients who were very satisfied with the surgery results was higher in the FTTA group. The FTTA hair grafts can provide aesthetically pleasing cosmetic results in eyebrow restoration.

Clinical, trichoscopy, and light microscopic findings in hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia: Report of 21 patients and a review of the literature.

Hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia (HED) is a genetic condition typified by alterations in skin structures including sweat glands, hair, nails, and teeth. Hair findings in HED have been poorly characterized in larger series. To characterize scalp and hair findings of patients with HED clinically and with trichoscopy and light microscopy. A cross-sectional study in 21 pediatric HED patients was performed using available clinical and scalp dermatoscopic images, as well as pulled-hair samples for clinical evaluation, trichoscopic, and light microscopic analyses. Seventeen out of 21 patients (81%) were men. Twenty patients had straight hair. Sixteen patients had decreased hair density, 6 of whom had hair loss mainly in the temporal and occipital regions. Fourteen patients had hair whorls. On trichoscopy, we observed: single-hair follicular units (n=19, 90%), scalp hyperpigmentation (n=13, 62%), variable diameter of the hair shafts (n=12, 57%), perifollicular scales (n=8, 38%), scalp erythema (n=8, 38%), and short curly pigtail hairs (n=6, 29%). On light microscopy, findings included: hair shafts with irregular diameter (n=7, 33%), heterogeneous hair color (n=6, 29%), trichoptilosis (n=2, 10%), and pili torti (n=1, 5%). In this series, hair findings in HED were similar to those described in previous studies. However, we describe two new clinical and two trichoscopic findings: decreased hair density mainly in the temporal and occipital regions, oblique upwards occipital hair follicles orientation, angled hairs, and short curly pigtail hairs. These heterogeneous findings may reflect the multiple factors and signaling pathways that can be affected in these syndromes.

Frontal fibrosing alopecia and genital Lichen sclerosus: Single-center experience.

Despite the incidence of Frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) has been increasing in last two decades, the pathophysiology and trigger factors of FFA have not been yet fully understood. The aim of this study was to describe epidemiology, clinical and trichoscopic features and comorbidities of FFA patients, in order to improve the understanding of this disease. A retrospective, observational monocentric study was conducted from 2003 to 2019. Data concerning epidemiology (age, gender, age of menopause, and age of FFA onset), comorbidities, current therapies, localization of FFA (such as frontotemporal hairline, occipital, eyebrow, eyelash, beard, sideburns, and body hair), presence of papules and sign of Lichen planus (LP) at skin, mucosae and/or nail were collected for each patient included. A total of 119 Caucasian, adult patients (8 men and 111 female) with FFA were enrolled in the study. Cutaneous, mucosal, or nail localization of LP were found in 16% of our subjects. Interestingly, 15 out of 119 subjects (10.61%) were affected by concomitant genital Lichen sclerosus (LS) and 5 out of these 15 patients (4.38%) presented both LS and LP in association with FFA. Considering the high prevalence of LS in FFA patients in our case series, and the frequency of autoimmune comorbidities in both LS and FFA, it is possible to hypothesize an autoimmune process in both conditions. Further studies are needed for a better understanding of the nature of the association between LS and FFA.

Autologous cell–based therapy for male and female pattern hair loss using dermal sheath cup cells: A randomized placebo-controlled double-blinded dose-finding clinical study

Feweffective treatments are available for male pattern hair loss (MPHL) or, especially, for female pattern hair loss (FPHL). Recently, cell-based therapies using autologous or allogeneic cells have been used clinically. We examined the safety and efficacy of autologous cell-based therapy using dermal sheath cup (DSC) cells to treat MPHL and FPHL. DSCs dissected from occipital hair follicles were cultured to manufacture DSC cells. Participants with MPHL or FPHL received single injections of 7.5×106, 1.5×106, or 3.0×105 DSC cells or a placebo in 4 randomized separate regions on the scalp, and hair densities and diameters were measured for 3, 6, 9, and 12months. Fifty men and 15 women aged 33 to 64years were injected with DSC cells. Total hair density and cumulative hair diameter at the 3.0×105 DSC cells injection site was significantly increased compared with the placebo after 6 and 9months. Men and women showed similar improvements, and there were no serious adverse events. No lower cell numbers were tested, and the positive effect was temporary until 9months. The results suggest that cell therapy with autologous DSC cells may be useful as a new therapeutic method for treating MPHL and FPHL.

Large-Scale Beard Extraction Enhances the Cosmetic Results of Scalp Hair Restoration in Advanced Androgenetic Alopecia in East Asian Men: A Retrospective Study.

IntroductionBeard hair serves as an important additional donor supply to support hair transplantation in hirsute patients with extensive alopecia and lacking sufficient occipital hair. However, the efficacy and safety of large-scale beard hair extraction have not been studied extensively in the East Asian population.MethodsData obtained from hirsute patients with extensive alopecia who underwent hair transplantation between March 2017 and December 2018 at Nanfang Hospital were analyzed. Occipital and beard hair were evaluated separately during the pre-, intra-, and post-operative periods. Individual beard hair follicular units (FUs) were harvested under tumescence using a hollow punch with an outer diameter of 0.8–0.9 mm. Follow-up examinations were scheduled at 3–5 days, 1 month, and 9 months postoperatively to check for complications, determine the survival rate of mixed, transplanted FU grafts, and assess patient satisfaction. Data were collected and analyzed statistically.ResultsA total of 36 hirsute, male patients with advanced androgenetic alopecia (AGA) (Norwood-Hamilton V–VI) were included in this study. The density of the occipital and beard areas was 78.6 ± 4.6 and 48.4 ± 9.3 FU, respectively. It took 3.1 ± 0.9 h to harvest 3135 ± 863 FUs from the occipital area and 2.1 ± 0.6 h to harvest 2352 ± 599 FUs from the beard area. The transection rate for occipital FUs and beard FUs was 3.7 ± 0.4 and 3.9 ± 0.2%, respectively. Completion of the operation took approximately 10.0 ± 0.9 h, and no serious complications were reported 5 days after the procedure. An FU survival rate of 95.7 ± 1.6% was observed at 9 months after transplantation, with no visible hypopigmented scars observed in the bare areas. All patients were satisfied with the resulting cosmetic appearance.ConclusionLarge-scale beard extraction, when combined with occipital hair extraction, is a safe and effective treatment to enhance the cosmetic appearance of East Asian men with advanced AGA.

313 Different polyamine levels in the vertex and occipital hair of pattern hair loss patients

313 Different polyamine levels in the vertex and occipital hair of pattern hair loss patients

Investigation on Microecology of Hair Root Fungi in Androgenetic Alopecia Patients.

This study focused on the differences in hairy root fungal microecology between androgenetic alopecia patients and healthy individuals. Light microscopy was used to observe the morphology of hairy roots. Morphological observations were also performed in the positive specimens using scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The high-throughput sequencing method was used to detect the fungal microecology of hairy roots at different sites. Moreover, the comparison of fungal loads of Malassezia in different group and scalp area were tested by PCR. The fungi in the hair root observed by optical microscopy are mainly Malassezia yeast. The positive rate of Malassezia in the hair loss group (60%) was higher than that in the control group (40%). The detection efficiency of Malassezia examined by scanning electron microscopy was higher than that by light microscopy. Results acquired from high-throughput molecular sequencing of fungi suggested that Ascomycota was the dominant species, whereas in the occipital hair roots of the control group Basidiomycota was the dominant species in the hair loss group. Malassezia followed by Trichosporon were the most abundant fungal genera. The changes in abundance at the top and occipital region of the control group were more significant than those of the genus Fusarium, followed by Epicoccum and Malassezia. The load of Malassezia located on calvaria in the alopecia group was significantly higher than that in the control group. In the alopecia group, the load of Malassezia on the scalp was higher than that on the occipital region. The load of Malassezia globosa and Malassezia restricta in the hair loss group was higher on calvaria and occipital areas. Malassezia had a positive correlation with the incidence of androgenic alopecia.

Microbiome in the hair follicle of androgenetic alopecia patients.

Androgenetic alopecia is the most common form of hair loss in males. It is a multifactorial condition involving genetic predisposition and hormonal changes. The role of microflora during hair loss remains to be understood. We therefore analyzed the microbiome of hair follicles from hair loss patients and the healthy. Hair follicles were extracted from occipital and vertex region of hair loss patients and healthy volunteers and further dissected into middle and lower compartments. The microbiome was then characterized by 16S rRNA sequencing. Distinct microbial population were found in the middle and lower compartment of hair follicles. Middle hair compartment was predominated by Burkholderia spp. and less diverse; while higher bacterial diversity was observed in the lower hair portion. Occipital and vertex hair follicles did not show significant differences. In hair loss patients, miniaturized vertex hair houses elevated Propionibacterium acnes in the middle and lower compartments while non-miniaturized hair of other regions were comparable to the healthy. Increased abundance of P. acnes in miniaturized hair follicles could be associated to elevated immune response gene expression in the hair follicle.

Hair multi-bioelement profile of Kashin-Beck disease in the endemic regions of China

BackgroundKashin-Beck disease (KBD) is a serious chronic osteochondral disease that is endemic in humans. Selenium (Se) has been considered in hypotheses of the aetiology of KBD, but few studies have explored the relationship between other elements and KBD. ObjectiveThis study explored the relationship between 39 elements and KBD. Methods: In this retrospective study, 150 boys aged 6 to 14 years were randomly selected from a total population of 1,214 children. Subjects from endemic areas were divided into five groups: (KBD -Bin, N = 30; KBD + Se-Yongshou, N = 30; Control -Bin, N = 30; Control + Se -Yongshou, N = 30; and Control External -Chang’an, N = 30). Samples of occipital hair were collected from each subject, and thirty-nine elements, including 15 toxic elements, 19 nutrient elements, and 5 other elements were assayed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Correlation analysis of the elements in each group was performed by ggcorrplot (visualization of a correlation matrix using 'ggplot2') and PerformanceAnalytics packages in the program R Project. ResultsAmong the 15 toxic elements, the levels of aluminum (Al) and bismuth (Bi) in the KBD -Bin were significantly higher than in the other groups, and the levels of silver (Ag), beryllium (Be), platinum (Pt), antimony (Sb), tin (Sn) and lead (Pb) in the KBD -Bin were significantly lower than in the other groups. Among the 19 nutrient elements, the levels of selenium (Se), iodine (I), sulfur (S), and boron (B) in the KBD -Bin were significantly lower than in the other groups. The levels of calcium (Ca), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), chromium (Cr), strontium (Sr) and phosphorus (P) in the KBD -Bin were significantly higher than in the other groups. Correlations between various elements were remarkably different among the groups. There were positive correlations between As and Pb, Cd and Sb, Pb and Sb, Sb and U in the Control External -Chang’an, between Al and Ni, Cd and Pb, Tl and Ni, Ti and U in the Se-S KBD, and between B and I, B and Mo, Mn and V in the Control External -Chang’an. ConclusionsThese findings indicate that the interactions between elements do not represent a simple reciprocal relationship in the occurrence of KBD. In fact, KBD was associated with an imbalance in multiple elements that play a dynamic and interactive role in the development of the disease.