Observing the clinical efficacy of combined serum microneedle therapy for moderate to severe androgenetic alopecia in scalp repair.

OBJECTIVE: In this study, the safety and efficacy of scalp repair serum microneedles combined with oral drug administration and topical medication were investigated for the treatment of moderate to severe androgenetic alopecia. METHODS: Twenty patients, consisting of 4 males and 16 females, who sought treatment for moderate to severe androgenetic alopecia at our hair medicine research center alopecia specialty clinic between August and December 2022 were randomly selected for the study. Male patients underwent oral administration of finasteride topical application of 5% minoxidil, and biweekly scalp repair serum microneedle therapy. Female patients were administered spironolactone or Diane-35 orally and applied 2% minoxidil topically, paired with biweekly scalp repair serum microneedle therapy sessions. After seven treatments, the scalp repair serum microneedle was discontinued, but oral administration and topical applications were continued, followed by a 1-month follow-up. Using a hair dermoscopy, hair follicles in a fixed region on the top of the head were manually counted per unit area to evaluate the hair restoration status of the patients quantitatively. RESULTS: All 20 patients completed 3 months of combined therapy and a 1-month follow-up. On average, the patients experienced an increase of 42.6 hairs, with an efficiency rate of 100%. Significant differences were observed in hair count between any two of the first seven treatments (p < 0.001). A significant negative correlation was discovered between the initial pre-treatment hair count and the total improvement of hair (p < 0.001), indicating that the greater the degree of hair loss before treatment, the more pronounced the improvement. CONCLUSION: Scalp repair serum microneedle combined therapy in moderate to severe androgenetic alopecia significantly reduces the number of microneedle treatments required, enhances treatment efficacy, and improves therapeutic outcomes.

A study of the biological effects of low-level light.

Low-level light therapy (LLLT), also known as photo biomodulation (PBM), is a type of optical therapy that uses red or near-infrared lasers or light-emitting diodes (LEDs) for medical treatment. The laser wavelengths involved in PBM typically range between 600-700 nm and 780-1100 nm, with power densities ranging between 5 mW/cm2 and 5 W/cm2. PBM is a series of biochemical cascades exhibited by biological tissues after absorbing a certain amount of energy from light. PBM has been widely used in clinical practice in the past 20 years, and numerous clinical trials have demonstrated its biological efficacy. However, the underlying mechanisms have not yet been fully explored. In this paper, we have summarized the research into PBM over the past two decades, to identify the important mechanisms of the biological effects of PBM from the perspective of molecular mechanisms, cellular levels, and tissue changes. We hope our study provide a theoretical basis for future investigations into the underlying mechanisms.

Use of biologics in patients with psoriasis - A retrospective analysis based on real-world data.

OBJECTIVE: To summarize and analysis the application of biologic agents in patients with psoriasis in the real world. METHODS: Relying on collected data from June 2020 to September 2021 in the database of China Psoriasis Standardized Diagnosis and Treatment Center, 2529 cases of psoriasis patients treated with biologic agents in 188 different tertiary hospitals across China were retrospective analyzed. The collected information mainly includes demographic data (age, gender, psoriasis history), curative effectiveness of used biologics drug withdrawal and its reason. According to the collected information, condition of the usage for each category of biologics and influencing factor of biologics replacement were analyzed. RESULT: A total of 2529 patients were analyzed, which included 1626 male (64.29%) and 903 female (35.71%) with an average age of 42.12 ± 14.70 (17 âˆ¼ 85) years old; 2336 (92.37%) patients were aged from 19 to 60 years old. Within these patients, 2362 of them (93.40%) had a psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) score, and 1776 of these patients had moderate to severe cases (75.19%). According to the patient's self-evaluation of the past efficacy of biological agents, secukinumab was chosen by the most people to have the highest efficacy (1140 cases, 93.60%). The main reason for the withdrawal of secukinumab is that the disease is already well controlled at the time of withdrawal (67 cases, 38.95%); for TNF- α inhibitor is the poor curative effect; for ustekinumab and ixekizumab were the non-affordable price. CONCLUSIONS: In the current biotherapy of psoriasis in China, the efficacy of secukinumab is thought by most people to be the highest. Secukinumab is the first choice when the needs of changing biologics appear.

Assessment of 5-Aminolaevulinic Acid Photodynamic Therapy (ALA-PDT) in Chinese patients with actinic keratosis: Correlation of dermoscopic features with histopathology.

OBJECTIVES: The study examines the changes in dermoscopic features of actinic keratosis (AK) after photodynamic therapy, and delineates the association between AK dermoscopic and histopathological findings. METHODS: A total of 21 patients (23 lesions) with pathologically confirmed actinic keratosis who received 5-aminolaevulinic acid (ALA) photodynamic therapy (ALA-PDT) were enrolled. The numbers of PDT treatments were: 1, n = 1; 2, n = 2; 3, n = 10; 4, n = 6; 5, n = 2; 6, n = 2). The dermoscopic features before and after the PDT were compared. RESULTS: There were statistically significant decreases in the positive rates of dermoscopic features including scales (P < 0.001), follicular plugs with whitish halo (P = 0.013), and red pseudonetwork (P = 0.022) among patients treated with ALA-PDT. Dermoscopic feature was significantly associated with pathological grade (P < 0.001). Histopathological hyperkeratosis was significantly associated with dermoscopic red pseudonetwork (P = 0.034) and wavy vessel (P = 0.005). Parakeratosis was associated with wavy vessels (P = 0.001). For vascular hyperplasia in dermal papillae, the significant correlates included scales (P = 0.011), follicular plugs with whitish halo (P = 0.011), red pseudonetwork (P < 0.001); coiled vessels (P = 0.003) and rosette sign (P = 0.004). Wavy vessels was the only feature correlating keratosis pilaris (P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the present study support dermoscopy as having potential to be useful for diagnosing and monitoring of actinic keratosis.

[Assessment of fetal superior mesenteric artery and vein by three-dimensional power Doppler sonography].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the application of three-dimensional power Doppler sonography (3-DPDS) in evaluation of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) and superior mesenteric vein (SMV) in second-trimester fetus. METHODS: Three-dimensional volume probe was used to collect the 3-DPDS blood flow images in 50 normal fetuses of 22+0-24+6 weeks and 50 fetuses of 30+0-32+6 weeks, respectively. The characteristics of three-dimensional ultrasound were analyzed. The clinical and imaging data of 4 fetuses of 26+3-32+1 weeks with midgut volvulus were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: The display rates of SMA and SMV were 93%in normal group by 3-DPDS and those in volvulus group were 4/4 and 3/4, respectively. The SMV trunk was parallel to and on the right side of the SMA in the normal group, while 3 cases in volvulus group showed the characteristic relationship of SMV swirling around SMA. CONCLUSIONS: 3-DPDS can be used to observe the spatial relationship of SMA and SMV visually in fetus during the second trimester and is of value to diagnose and predict the outcome of midgut volvulus.

Diagnostic Efficiency of Quantitative Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound Indicators for Discriminating Benign From Malignant Solid Thyroid Nodules.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to determine the most efficient quantitative parameters to establish a contrast-enhanced ultrasound (US) assessment system for distinguishing between benign and malignant thyroid nodules. METHODS: A total of 167 patients with thyroid solitary nodules had the diagnosis confirmed by surgery or fine-needle aspiration. Quantitative contrast-enhanced US indicators (time to peak, time from peak to one-half, ascend slope, descend slope, peak intensity, and area under the curve [AUC]) were gathered in nodule and perinodule areas. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed. Receiver operating characteristic curves were generated. Sensitivities, specificities, and positive and negative predictive values were calculated to identify the best cutoff value. RESULTS: The univariate logistic regression model showed that the peak intensity, ascend slope, descend slope, and AUC were significant indicators for discriminating benign from malignant nodules under contrast-enhanced US (P < .0001). For thyroid nodules, low peak intensity, ascend slope, and AUC and high descend slope values were significant indicators of malignancy. However, in perinodule areas, high peak intensity, ascend slope, and AUC and low descend slope values were significantly associated with malignancies. The cutoff values for the nodule peak intensity, ascend slope, descend slope, and AUC were 20.75, 0.91, -0.2, and 1818.23, respectively. The cutoff values for the ratios of the nodule versus perinodule peak intensity, ascend slope, descend slope, and AUC were 0.90, 0.95, 0.96, and 0.96. The nodule-to-perinodule peak intensity ratio showed the best diagnostic efficiency, with 80.41% sensitivity and 80.00% specificity. CONCLUSIONS: Quantitative contrast-enhanced US indicators help discriminate benign from malignant thyroid nodules. The nodule-to-perinodule peak intensity ratio showed the best diagnostic efficiency.