study of the androgen receptor gene polymorphism and the level of expression of the androgen receptor in androgenetic alopecia among Egyptians

Androgenetic alopecia [AGA] occurs in men and women. The nature of the genetic predisposition to androgenetic alopecia is still unresolved. The aim of the work is to study the genotype of the androgen receptor gene [Stui polymorphism] and its relationship to AGA in a case control study and to determine the level of androgen receptor expression [AR] in the balding scalp relative to the non-balding scalp area. This study was conducted on one hundred individuals; 60 cases with AGA [36 males and 24 females] and 40 age and sex matched control patients [20 males and 20 females]. Stui restriction fragment length polymorphism [RFLP] of exon 1 was detected by PCR based assay using genomic DNA of subjects with AGA and controls. Immunohistochemical detection of the androgen receptor [AR] using antihuman AR antibody was implemented to compare its level in the balding scalp and in the non-balding area in individuals having AGA. Analysis of Stul restriction fragment length polymorphism in exon 1 of the androgen receptor [AR] gene revealed a relatively commoner incidence of the cut allele in males with AGA relative to age and sex matched controls [the association was of border line significance p = 0.07. Interestingly, all persons who had maternal uncles suffering from AGA had the Stui cut variant of AR gene [p = 0.03 using Chi square test]. Semiquantitative immunohistochemical analysis of AR in the bold scalp biopsies showed higher expression in the level of AR than the non bold bioposies within the same individual. To the best of our knowledge this is the first study of AR gene polymorphism and AR expression in AGA amongst Egyptians. This study contributes in the understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of AGA which could help in finding better therapeutic alternatives for such trait in the future

Tretinon peeling versus glycolic acid peeling in the treatment of melasma

The present study was designed to evaluate the result of applying chemical peel by l% tretinoin versus glycolic acid 70%in the treatment of melasma. The study included 30 patients presented with epidermal melasma, tretinoin 1%solution was applied on the left side of the face while glycolic acid 70% was applied on the right side at weekly interval for 12 weeks. Assessment of patients was done at the end of the study for the improvement of melasma and the presence of associated complications. 30 caces [22 F: 8 M] were collected, the mean age of females was 37.09 +/- 8.8, and the mean age of males was 33 +/- 113. All patients are of skin type II, III and IV. After 12 weeks of treatment by glycolic acid 70% [right side] ,most of the patients showed good response. After 12 weeks of treatment by tretinoin 1% [left side] most of the patients showed good response. Tretinoin 1% solution is as effective as glycolic acid 70%peel in the treatment of melasma and it is less irritant and more tolerable than glycolic acid as a peeling agent