Alopecia areata of dental origin in a child.

Alopecia areata (AA) is a chronic inflammatory disease that involves the hair follicle. Current evidence indicates that hair follicle inflammation in AA is caused by a T-cell-mediated autoimmune mechanism occurring in genetically predisposed individuals. AA has a reported incidence of 0.1%-0.2%, with a lifetime risk of 1.7%. It has also been found that AA accounts for roughly 2% of new dermatology outpatient cases in the US and the UK, 3.8% of cases in China and 6.7% of cases in Kuwait. Pediatric AA constitutes approximately 20% of all AA cases. AA affects males and females equally. The most common site to be affected is the scalp (90%). The face, eyebrows, eyelashes, beard, underarm hair, and pubic hair may be affected and, sometimes, even the entire body. AA requires combined therapy, involving topical or intralesional corticosteroids, immune therapy with diphenylcyclopropenone, and even psychotherapy. In some cases, treatment consists of simply eliminating the dental infectious process. This case report describes AA of dental origin in a 9-year-old girl, which resolved after management of the dental problem.

Antifertility effect of Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) stem extract in male rats.

Oral administration of 70% methanolic extract of T. cordifolia stem to male rats at the dose level of 100 mg/rat/day for 60 days did not cause body weight loss but decreased the weight of testes, epididymis, seminal vesicle and ventral prostate in a significant manner. Sperm motility as well as sperm density were reduced significantly which resulted in reduction of male fertility by 100%. The stem extract brought about an interference with spermatogenesis. The round spermatids were decreased by 73.12%. However, the population of preleptotene and pachytene spermatocytes were decreased by 47.60% and 52.85% respectively, followed by secondary spermatocytes (48.10%). Leydig cell nuclear area and mature Leydig cell numbers were significantly reduced when compared with controls. Serum testosterone levels showed significant reduction after Tinospora extract feeding. Seminiferous tubule diameter, Leydig cell nuclear area as well as cross sectional surface area of Sertoli cells were reduced significantly when compared to controls. Biochemical parameters i.e. protein, sialic acid, glycogen contents of testes decreased significantly. Seminal vesicular fructose also depleted whereas, testicular cholesterol was elevated significantly followed by a reduction in testosterone levels. These results suggested antifertility effects of the stem extract of T. cordifolia in male rats.