February 201419
In a small randomized trial, topical valproic acid in men was found to increase hair count versus placebo. In a pilot trial, a cold X5 laser device was reported to raise hair counts, though sham failure undermined its control. In mice, JAM-A–modified mesenchymal stem cells were found to remodel follicles and improve hair formation. In cultured cells, dermal papilla cells from balding scalp were found to secrete less IGF-1 than non-balding cells, a possible mechanism.
- Topical valproic acid increases the hair count in male patients with androgenetic alopecia: A randomized, comparative, clinical feasibility study using phototrichogram analysis In a small randomized trial, topical 8.3% valproic acid spray significantly increased hair count versus placebo over 24 weeks in men with androgenetic alopecia.
- “Cold” X5 Hairlaser™ used to treat male androgenic alopecia and hair growth: an uncontrolled pilot study A pilot study found hair counts rose significantly over 26 weeks with a cold X5 laser device, but sham device failure undermined the control group.
- Mesenchymal Stem Cells With Modification of Junctional Adhesion Molecule A Induce Hair Formation In nude mice, human mesenchymal stem cells engineered to overexpress JAM-A remodeled follicles and improved hair formation, cutting abnormal follicles by 80%.
- Effects of Lycopersicon esculentum extract on hair growth and alopecia prevention. In mice, lycopene-based tomato extract tonic promoted hair growth comparable to 3% minoxidil, boosting VEGF and IGF-1 expression without skin irritation.
- Tooth, hair and claw: Comparing epithelial stem cell niches of ectodermal appendages A review comparing adult stem cell niches in mouse teeth, hair follicles and claws to guide future regenerative research.
- Transgenic Flash Mice for In Vivo Quantitative Monitoring of Canonical Wnt Signaling to Track Hair Follicle Cycle Dynamics Researchers built a bioluminescent mouse model that live-tracks Wnt/β-catenin activity to monitor hair follicle cycling across the skin.
- Does prostaglandin D<sub>2</sub> hold the cure to male pattern baldness? A review of prostaglandin D2, elevated in balding scalp, as a potential drug target for androgenetic alopecia via its receptor GPR44.
- NF-κB Activity Is Required for Anagen Maintenance in Human Hair Follicles In Vitro NF-kB activity is required to maintain the growth phase in cultured human hair follicles.
- Insulin-like growth factor-1: roles in androgenetic alopecia Dermal papilla cells from balding scalp secreted significantly less IGF-1 and its binding proteins than non-balding cells, a possible baldness mechanism.
- Dynamic Wnt5a expression in murine hair follicle cycle and its inhibitory effects on follicular In mice, Wnt5a expression peaked late in the hair cycle and experimentally raised Wnt5a inhibited hair follicle growth in vivo.
- A role of placental growth factor in hair growth Placental growth factor enhanced hair shaft elongation in organ culture and prolonged anagen growth in a depilation model, a possible new therapeutic target.
- Frontal fibrosing alopecia: A multicenter review of 355 patients In 355 frontal fibrosing alopecia patients, eyelash loss and facial papules marked severity, and antiandrogens like finasteride or dutasteride helped most.
- At the dawn of hair research – testing the limits of hair follicle regeneration A commentary revisiting 1960s rodent hair follicle recombination studies as benchmarks for today's cell-based hair regeneration efforts.
- The Inhibitory Effect of Scutellaria baicalensis Extract and Its Active Compound, Baicalin, on the Translocation of the Androgen Receptor with Implications for Preventing Androgenetic Alopecia In lab dishes, baicalin from Scutellaria baicalensis blocked androgen receptor activation and boosted growth of human dermal papilla cells.
- How effective is intralesional injection of triamcinolone acetonide compared with topical treatments in inducing and maintaining hair growth in patients with alopecia areata? A Critically Appraised Topic An evidence appraisal of intralesional triamcinolone for patchy alopecia areata, weighing regrowth efficacy, dosing and adverse events like skin atrophy.
- Androgenetic alopecia. A review summarizing androgenetic alopecia causes, patterns, dermoscopy diagnosis, and standard treatments like minoxidil and 5-alpha reductase inhibitors.
- Additional methods for diagnosing alopecia and appraising their severity. A review of non-invasive, semi-invasive and invasive methods for diagnosing and grading hair diseases and monitoring treatment response.
- Treatment for alopecia. A review noting evidence-based treatment exists only for alopecia areata and androgenetic alopecia, with scarring alopecias remaining a therapeutic challenge.
- [Experimental study on vascular endothelial growth factor 165 gene-modified rat hair follicle stem cells mediated by lentiviral vector]. Rat hair follicle stem cells were engineered to overexpress VEGF165 as candidate seed cells for tissue-engineered hair follicles.