ABSTRACT
Pumpkin seed oil (PSO) has been shown to block the action of 5-alpha reductase and to have antiandrogenic effects on rats. This randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study was designed to investigate the efficacy and tolerability of PSO for treatment of hair growth in male patients with mild to moderate androgenetic alopecia (AGA). 76 male patients with AGA received 400 mg of PSO per day or a placebo for 24 weeks. Change over time in scalp hair growth was evaluated by four outcomes: assessment of standardized clinical photographs by a blinded investigator; patient self-assessment scores; scalp hair thickness; and scalp hair counts. Reports of adverse events were collected throughout the study. After 24 weeks of treatment, self-rated improvement score and self-rated satisfaction scores in the PSO-treated group were higher than in the placebo group (P = 0.013, 0.003). The PSO-treated group had more hair after treatment than at baseline, compared to the placebo group (P < 0.001). Mean hair count increases of 40% were observed in PSO-treated men at 24 weeks, whereas increases of 10% were observed in placebo-treated men (P < 0.001). Adverse effects were not different in the two groups.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: In order to assess the determinants of non-compliance with a lipid-lowering therapy, a prospective study of the hyperlipidemic Korean subjects was carried out. METHODS: A total of 1019 patients was observed by 46 family physicians for the period of 1 year from January 1999 to January 2000. To ascertain the compliance associated with a lipid lowering drug (Simvastatin), we regularly followed up the hyperlipidemic patients at intervals of 4, 12 and 24 weeks. The criterion for evaluating compliance is to measure clinic attendance. Using a structured questionnaire, patients and physicians were asked about risk factors for the compliance. RESULTS: During the first 24 weeks of treatment, the lipid-lowering medication was continued by 52.3% and discontinued by 19.7%. The remaining 28% dropped out. Patient-related factors for non-compliance were young age, current smoker, lack of low fat diet and exercise, new user, no concomitant medication, and occurrence of adverse reactions. Physician-related factors for non-compliance were low patients' satisfaction with the physician, small number of hyperlipidemic patients per month and working in a relatively small hospital. CONCLUSIONS: Compliance with the lipid-lowering therapy was relatively low and several factors for non-compliance were detected.
