Clinical Snippets: Dermatological Findings and Insights
TLDR A hormone affects hair growth, certain molecules may prevent skin damage, a skin disease is linked to immune cells, glycerol helps skin hydration, and psoriasis treatment trials need improvement.
The document "Clinical Snippets" from May 2003 discussed several dermatological findings. It highlighted that hair length in mice with the Angora mutation was due to the absence of FGF-5, and that PTHrP and its receptor also regulated the anagen to catagen transition, with overexpression shortening hair by 30-40%. Inhibitors of PTHrP could potentially promote longer human hair. Additionally, two small molecules, Genistein and N-acetylcysteine, were found to block UVB-induced collagenase production, which is linked to photoaging. The role of mast cells in bullous pemphigoid was identified, suggesting new treatment avenues. The Asebia mouse mutation study showed that glycerol is crucial for stratum corneum hydration, supporting its use in moisturizers. Lastly, an analysis of 249 psoriasis treatment trials revealed many lacked proper blinding and entry criteria, emphasizing the need for more rigorous and practical clinical trials.
