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

Combination of Q-switched ND:YAG and fractional erbium:YAG lasers in treatment of melasma: a randomized controlled clinical trial

Introduction: Ablative and nonablative lasers have been used to treat melasma. We aimed to assess and compare the combining Q-switched Nd:YAG laser [QSNYL] and fractional erbium:YAG laser [FEYL] with QSNYL alone in treatment of melasma

Methods: This randomized controlled clinical trial was performed in our Research Center during 2013-2014. Women with melasma and without a history of keloid formation, hypersensitivity to hydroquinone, or pigmentary changes due to laser therapy were randomly allocated to receive four sessions of either QSNYL-FEYL combination or QSNYL alone. All patients received topical treatment with Kligman's formula. Before laser therapy and 4 weeks after the last treatment session, patients' skin was assessed for changes in skin color, melanin content, and erythema intensity of melasma lesions quantitatively

Results: Finally, 21 patients in QSNYL-FEYL and 20 in QSNYL group [mean age, 38.57 [5.60] and 42.60 [8.44] years, respectively] completed study. The skin color had become lighter in both groups [mean [SD] percentage change of 56.95 [40.29] and 29.25 [13.20] in QSNYL-FEYL and QSNYL groups, respectively] with significantly better results in QSNYL-FEYL group [P = 0.006]. Percentage of decrease of melanin content was significantly higher in QSNYL-FEYL group [22.01 [10.67] vs. 7.69 [4.75]; P < 0.001]. After adjustment for baseline values, the post treatment intensity of erythema was significantly lower in QSNYL-FEYL group [P < 0.001]. The patients reported no adverse events

Conclusion: QSNYL-FEYL was significantly more effective in decreasing melanin content of lesions than QSNYL and led to a lighter skin

Cutaneous leishmaniasis with unusual clinical and histological presentation: report of four cases

Old world cutaneous leishmaniasis [OWCL] usually causes a single, self-healing and uncomplicated lesion mainly on the exposed area of body. This report presents four cases of OWCL from Iran that misdiagnosed with sarcoidosis, lymphoma, and acne agminata. Two out of four patients showed a history of purplish red plaques for at least 5 years who misdiagnosed as sarcoidosis because of histological and clinical characteristics. The other one presented with flesh-colored nodules disseminated all over his skin that was misdiagnosed as lymphoma for ten years. The last patient was misdiagnosed as acne agminata due to tuberculoid reactions in examination of the lesion biopsy. All the patients responded to the treatment with meglumine antimonate