Hair follicle generation by injections of adult human follicular epithelial and dermal papilla cells into nude mice

Objective: Dermal papilla and hair epithelial stem cells regulate hair formation and the growth cycle. Damage to or loss of these cells can cause hair loss. Although several studies claim to reconstitute hairs using rodent cells in an animal model, additional research is needed to develop a stable human hair follicle reconstitution protocol. In this study, we have evaluated hair induction by injecting adult cultured human dermal papilla cells and a mixture of hair epithelial and dermal papilla cells in a mouse model

Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, discarded human scalp skins were used to obtain dermal papilla and hair epithelial cells. After separation, cells were cultured and assessed for their characteristics. We randomly allocated 15 C57BL/6 nude mice into three groups that received injections in their dorsal skin. The first group received cultured dermal papilla cells, the second group received a mixture of cultured epithelial and dermal papilla cells, and the third group [control] received a placebo [phosphate-buffered saline [PBS-]]

Results: Histopathologic examination of the injection sites showed evidence of hair growth in samples that received cells compared with the control group. However, the group that received epithelial and dermal papilla cells had visible evidence of hair growth. PKH tracing confirmed the presence of transplanted cells in the new hair

Conclusion: Our data showed that injection of a combination of adult human cultured dermal papilla and epithelial cells could induce hair growth in nude mice. This study emphasized that the combination of human adult cultured dermal papilla and epithelial cells could induce new hair in nude mice

effects of Adiantum capillus-veneris on wound healing: an experimental in vitro evaluation

A lot of remedies, mostly plant based, were mentioned in the Persian old pharmacopoeias for promoting of burn and wound healing and tissue repairing. The efficacy of most of these old remedies is unexplored till now. Adiantum capillus-veneris from Adiantaceae family is one of them that was used to treating of some kinds of chronic wounds. Methanol extract was fractionated to four different partitions that is, hexane, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, and aqueous. The potential of A. capillus-veneris fractions in wound healing or prevention of chronic wounds were evaluated through angiogenesis and fibroblast proliferation, in addition to in vitrotests for protection against damage to fibroblasts by oxygen free radicals. The aqueous part of A. capillus-veneris promoted significant angiogenesis [P < 0.05] through both capillary-like tubular formations and proliferation of endothelial cells in vitro. In addition, in the tests for protection against damage to fibroblasts by oxygen free radicals, aqueous and butanol fractions showed significant protective effects in the concentrations 50, and 500 microg/ml [P < 0.05] in comparison with a control group. In the toxicity testing, it showed weak irritation in the Hen's egg test chorioallantoic membrane [CAM] bioassay at the vascular level on the CAM of the chicken and no significant cytotoxicity in the MTT assays on normal human dermal fibroblasts. Angiogenic effects and protective effects against oxygen free radicals suggested aqueous partition of A. capillus-veneris local application for prevention of late-radiation-induced injuries after radiation therapy and healing of external wounds similar to bedsores and burns

[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

Successful Treatment of Lupoid Cutaneous Leishmaniasis with Glucantime and Topical Trichloroacetic Acid (A Case Report)

Lupoid leishmaniasis is a unique form of cutaneous leishmaniasis characterized by unusual clinical features and a chronic relapsing course, mostly caused by infection with Leishmania tropica. In this clinical form, 1-2 yr after healing of the acute lesion, new papules and nodules appear at the margin of the remaining scar. Herein, we describe a case of this clinical form that was resistant to 2 courses of treatments: systemic glucantime and then a combination therapy with allopurinol and systemic glucantime. However, marked improvement was seen after a combination therapy with topical trichloroacetic acid solution (50%) and systemic glucantime, and there were no signs of recurrence after 1 yr of follow-up.

[ efficacy of topical treatment with concentrated boiled extract and hydroalcoholic extract of cassia fistula in comparison with intralesional injection of glucantime in the treatment of acute leishmaniasis]

Cutaneous leishmaniasis is an endemic disease in Iran. Although there are many different treatments for this disease, there is not any effective treatment yet. Since there has been a number of different reports on the effectiveness of Cassia fistula plant in the treatment of leishmaniasis, the efficacy of concentrated boiled extract and hydro alcoholic extract of Cassia fistula on the leishmaniasis disease was compared with intralesional injection of Glucantime in this study. In this randomized clinical trial a total of 165 patients, 6 to 60 years old, who had a positive leishmania smear refered to the Isfahan Skin and Leishmaniasis Research Center were divided into three groups using list of random numbers and were treated with: concentrated boiled extract of Cassia fistula, hydroalcholic extract of Cassia fistula, or intralesional injection of Glucantime. The patients were treated for 4 weeks and followed for three months after the study started. The efficacy of treatment was reported as complete cure, partial improvement and no improvement on the basis of clinical and parasitological evidence. In the present study 63/6% of patients treated with the concentrated boiled extract, 52/7% of the hydroalcoholic extract and 45/5% of the Glucantime group were men. 22 patients [40%] of the concentrated boiled extract of Cassia fistula, 20 pateints [36/4%] of the hydroalcoholic extract of Cassia fistula group and 36 patients [65/5%] of the Glucantime group showed complete cure. The efficacy in the third group was much more than the first [P<0.02] and second groups [P<0.005], but there was not any difference between concentrated boiled extract and hydroalcoholic extract of Cassia fistula. The results of this study showed that this plant might be used topically along with Glucantime for decreasing the time and dose of treatment with Glucantime

[Efficacy of combination of topical honey with intralesional injection of glucantime in the treatment of acute cutaneous leishmaniasis]

Cutaneous leishmaniasis [CL] is an edemic disease widely spread in Iran. Although several treatments have been tried, none has been found as simple and effective. Honey has been used in the treatment of chronic ulcers and its anti-leishmanial effects have also been reported. So we assessed the efficacy of honey in acute CL. In a randomized clinical trial, 100 patients with CL referred to Skin and Leishmaniasis Research Center were treated with either weekly intra-lesional injection of Glucantime alone or combined with twice daily topical application of honey. The patients were evaluated clinically 2,3 and 4 months after treatment. Ninety patients completed the study, forty-five patients were treated in each group. At the end of trial, 32 patients [71/1%] of these treated with Glucantime alone and 23 patients [51/1%] treated with honey were cured [P=0.04]. Drug interference and inhibition of bioavailability of Glucantime by honey may decrease the efficacy of Glucantime in treatment of CL