[Prevalence of androgenetic alopecia among women between 20-70 years old in Isfahan province in 2008-2009]

Androgenetic alopecia is an extremely common disorder affecting both men and women. The incidence is generally considered to be greater in males than females, although some evidence suggests that the apparent differences in incidence may be a reflection of different expression in males and females. This genetically determined disorder is progressive through the gradual conversion of terminal hairs into indeterminate hairs and finally to vellus hairs. Patients have a reduction in the terminal-to-vellus hair ratio, normally at least 2:1. Following miniaturization of the follicles, fibrous tracts remain. Patients with this disorder usually have a typical distribution of hair loss. This is a cross sectional study that conducted in Isfahan health center in 2007-2008. Using simple random sampling, we selected 1800 women in urban health center areas for hair loss. We evaluated the type of hair loss by Ludwig classification. The data was collected through administration of a specifically designed questionnaire and was analyzed using SPSS software. The chi-square and student tests were used for data analysis. According to results of this study the of 1800 women, 712 [39.6%] had hair loss. Mean age of females who had hair loss was 50.4 +/- 13 years. Thyroid disorders, ferritin serum level and androgenic hormones may play role in hair loss and their existance should be assessed

[Evaluation of effectivness of Nigella sativa extracts and topical honey application versus topical honey alone along with intralesional injection of Glucantime in the treatment of acute cutaneous leishmaniasis]

There are some reports regading the anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effect of honey and Nigella sativa and their therapeutic effects in improvement of wound healing. This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of adding honey and Nigella sativa extract compared to honey alone in patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis receiving intralesional Glucantime. In this clinical trial, 150 patients with confirmed cutaneous leishmaniasis were randomly allocated into two groups. One group was treated with topical honey twice daily along with weekly intralesional injection of Glucantime. In the second group, patients were treated with topical honey and 60% hydroalchoholic Nigella sativa extract instead of honey alone. The patients were treated until complete healing of the ulcer or for maximum of 12 weeks. At 12 weeks, complete cure was achieved in 61 [81.3%] of patients treated with topical honey and 60% hydroalchoholic Nigella sativa extract versus 48 [64%] in the second group [P=0.002]. The efficacy of adjunct honey and Nigella sativa extract along with intralesional Glucantime is more than honey alone in increasing complete cure rate and decreasing the residual scar size and the required dose of Glucantime