Hair regrowth following fecal microbiota transplantation in an elderly patient with alopecia areata: A case report and review of the literature

BACKGROUND Alopecia areata is a hair loss disease associated with genetics,autoimmunity,and other factors.There is an intriguing link between alopecia areata and gut dysbiosis.Fecal microbiota transplantation(FMT)has been recommended to treat Clostridium difficile(previously known as Clostridioides difficile)infection,and has also shown potentials in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease,irritable bowel syndrome,and non-alcohol fatty liver disease.CASE SUMMARY An 86-year-old man,with a history of sigmoid colon carcinoma,suffered from recurrent abdominal pain and distension,and diarrhea for six months,with inappetence.At admission,he was also diagnosed with depression.Upon physical examination,the patient presented with a 1.5 cm×2.0 cm alopecia areata on his right occiput.Due to the negative results of laboratory testing,capsule endoscopy,and colonoscopy,the patient was diagnosed with noninfectious diarrhea,depressive disorder,and patchy alopecia areata.Considering that noninfectious diarrhea in the elderly patient was mainly caused by gut dysbiosis,he was given six rounds of FMT.His diarrhea improved remarkably one month after FMT,with improved appetite and disappearance of abdominal pain,distension,and depressive symptoms.Surprisingly,he reported new hair growth on the affected region of his scalp,with some of his white hair gradually turning to black,without taking any other therapies for alopecia areata before and after FMT.CONCLUSION FMT might act as a potential therapy for patients who suffer from alopecia areata.Large and well-designed studies are required to confirm the role of FMT in alopecia areata.

Breeding and preliminarily phenotyping of a congenic mouse model with alopecia areata

In the current study, the alopecia areata gene was introduced into the C57BL/6 （B6） mouse through repeated backcrossing/intercrossing, and the allelic homozygosity of congenic AAtJmice （named B6.KM-AA） was verified using microsatellites. The gross appearance, growth characteristics, pathological changes in skin, and major organs of B6.KM-AA mice were observed. Counts and proportions of CD4＋ and CD8＋ T lymphocytes in peripheral blood were determined by flow cytometry. Results show that congenic B6.KM-AA mice were obtained after 10 generations of backcrossing/intercrossing. B6.KM-AA mice grew slower than B6 control mice and AA skin lesions were developed by four weeks of age. The number of hair follicles was reduced, but hair structures were normal. Loss of hair during disease progression was associated with CD4＋ and CD8＋ T lymphocytes infiltration peri- and intrahair follicles. No pathological changes were found in other organs except for the skin. In the peripheral blood of B6.KM-AA mice, the percentage of CD4＋ T cells was lower and percentage of CD8＋ T cells higher than in control mice. These findings indicate that B6.KM-AA mice are characterized by a dysfunctional immune system, retarded development and T-cell infiltration mediated hair loss, making them a promising new animal model for human alopecia areata.

Cure of alopecia areata after eradication of Helicobacter pylori:A new association?

Alopecia areata is a disease of the hair follicles,with strong evidence supporting autoimmune etiology.Alopecia areata is frequently associated with immune-mediated diseases with skin manifestations such as psoriasis and lichen planus,or without skin manifestations such as autoimmune thyroiditis and idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori) infection is present in around 50% of the world's population and has been associated with a variety of immune-mediated extra-digestive disorders including autoimmune thyroiditis,idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura,and psoriasis.A case of a 43-year old man with an 8-mo history of alopecia areata of the scalp and beard is presented.The patient was being treated by a dermatologist and had psychiatric support,without any improvement.He had a history of dyspepsia and the urea breath test confirmed H.pylori infection.The patient went into remission from alopecia areata after H.pylori eradication.If such an association is confirmed by epidemiological studies designed for this purpose,new therapeutic options could be available for these patients,especially in areas where infection with H.pylori is highly prevalent.

TREATMENT OF 42 CASES OF ALOPECIA AREATA WITH PLUM-BLOSSOM NEEDLE

In the present study, 42 cases of alopecia areata were treated by tapping the locus with plum-blossom needle and rubbing the local skin with fresh ginger. After 1 - 3 courses of treatment, 41 cases were cured, with the cure rate being 97. 62%.

Professor Yanping Bai’s experience in treating alopecia areata

To summarize and analyze Professor Bai Yanping’s clinical experience in treating alopecia areata.Prof.Bai thinks the etiology of alopecia areata is a combination of liver-kidney depletion,qi and blood deficiency,qi stagnation and blood stasis,always along with wind-heat,damp-heat,blood heat and insomnia.It is indispensable to enrich and nourish the liver and kidney,supplement and nourish the qi and blood,invigorate blood and dissolve stasis,and at the same time,the usage of messenger drug and plum-blossom needle is important and formula has to vary from person to person on the basis of commonality.

Targetoid Polycyclic Concentric Hair Regrowth Pattern Is a Sign of Immunological Recovery in Alopecia Areata

Background: Alopecia areata is a common autoimmune disease, where there are many topical and systemic therapies, during which hair growth appears in a uniform pattern. In certain cases, hair regrowth takes a polycyclic pattern simulating a target, so called targetoid phenomena. Objective: To screen all cases of treated alopecia areata for hair targetoid regrowth pattern. ?Methods: This is an observational study, was conducted in Dermatology Department of Baghdad Teaching Hospital in Iraq, during the period, August 2017 to October 2017. All cases treated for alopecia areata with IM triamcinolone 20 - 40 mg injection every 2 weeks with topical clobetasone ointment and zinc sulfate 2 mg/kg/day for 2 months, were examined for the targetoid concentric hair regrowth pattern. Result: Among all cases of alopecia areata, seven patients were recorded to have the targetoid concentric hair pattern, which seen 2 - 4 weeks after therapy, their ages ranged from 4 to 25 years old with a mean 14.5, all of them were males. All these patients returned back with hair growth in a form of rings of hair growth alternating with rings of little or no hair growth forming a typical picture of target. Conclusion: Targetoid polycyclic concentric hair regrowth pattern is an important phenomenon seen in patients receiving treatment for alopecia areata, which is a good sign of recovery where its etiopathogenesis could not well be elucidated but alternating immunological reactions could explain this targetoid pattern.

HLA antigens in individuals with down syndrome and alopecia areata

AIM: To describe human leukocyte antigen(HLA) alleles in individuals with Down syndrome and alopecia areata. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted, which evaluated 109 individuals. Ten with down syndrome(DS) and alopecia areata(AA), ten with DS without AA and ten with AA without DS, and their fami-lies. The individuals were matched by gender and age. The following data were computed: gender, age, ethnic group, karyotype, clinical presentation and family history of alopecia areata. Descriptive analysis: measures of central tendency and frequency distribution. Inferential analysis: Fisher's exact test to compare categorical data between the three groups and Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA test for numerical data.RESULTS: Seventy per cent of evaluated individuals in the DS and AA group were male; presented mean age of 18.6(SD ± 7.2) years and 70% were Caucasian. We observed involvement of the scalp, with a single lesion in 10% and multiple in 90% of subjects. It was observed that there is no significant difference in the frequency distributions of the alleles HLA loci A, B, C, DRB1 and DQB1 of subjects studied. However, according to Fisher's exact test, there is a trend(P = 0.089) of DS group to present higher proportions of HLA-A 36 and HLA-B 15 than the AA group and AA and DS group.CONCLUSION: There was a tendency for the DS group, to present proportion of HLA-A 36 and HLA-B 15 higher than the AA group and group of individuals with AA and DS. However, there was no significant difference in the frequency distribution of the alleles.

Clinical Research Progress of Fire Needle Acupuncture in the Treatment of Alopecia Areata

Alopecia areata is a common disease in dermatology.It is a localized non-inflammatory alopecia that occurs in the head.Its etiology is unclear,but it is thought to be related to a number of factors.At present,there are many methods of treatment with different curative effects.Fire needle acupuncture directly acts on skin lesions,dredges meridians,and regulates Qi and blood.It has a good curative effect.This paper reviews current research progress of fire acupuncture in the treatment of alopecia areata,in order to provide some diagnostic and treatment suggestions for the management of alopecia areata.

可溶性肿瘤坏死因子样凋亡弱诱导因子在斑秃病人血清及皮损中的表达及临床意义

目的检测可溶性肿瘤坏死因子样凋亡弱诱导因子(sTWEAK)在斑秃病人血清及皮损中的表达水平,并探讨其在斑秃发病过程中的作用及临床意义。方法以2017年10月至2018年11月在首都医科大学附属北京友谊医院确诊并治疗的斑秃病人70例为斑秃组,依据病情分为轻症组(44例)、重症组(26例)。同期该院因色素痣或皮肤良性肿瘤进行头皮手术的人群65例作为对照组。比较各组sTWEAK及相关细胞因子白细胞介素(IL)-4、IL-12、γ干扰素(IFN-γ)蛋白及mRNA表达水平;采用Pearson法分析两指标间相关性。多元线性回归分析各指标与sTWEAK或脱发严重度工具(SALT)评分的关系。结果斑秃组血清及皮损中sTWEAK表达水平[(196.73±32.48)ng/L,(2.35±0.62)ng/L]高于对照组[(121.75±19.62)ng/L,(1.49±0.45)ng/L](P<0.05)。斑秃组血清及皮损中细胞因子IL-12、IFN-γ表达水平高于对照组(P<0.05),IL-4表达水平比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。斑秃病人血清及皮损中sTWEAK表达水平与IL-12及IFN-γ呈正相关,与IL-4表达水平无明显相关性。轻症组血清及皮损中sTWEAK[(173.25±26.84)ng/L,(2.04±0.57)ng/L]、IL-12及IFN-γ表达水平低于重症组[(236.47±42.02)ng/L,(2.87±0.70)ng/L](P<0.05);轻症组、重症组血清及皮损中IL-4表达水平差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);斑秃病人血清、皮损处sTWEAK、IL-12、IFN-γ与SALT评分均呈正相关(P<0.05)。多元线性回归分析显示,IL-12、IFN-γ与血清和皮损处sTWEAK呈显著正相关;血清及皮损处sTWEAK、IL-12、IFN-γ与SALT评分存在正相关性(P<0.05)。结论斑秃病人血清及皮损中sTWEAK表达水平增加,与IL-12及IFN-γ呈正相关,sTWEAK、IL-12及IFN-γ均与斑秃病情严重程度密切相关,sTWEAK可能参与斑秃炎症反应过程。

非剥脱点阵激光联合侧柏叶酊对斑秃小鼠IL-7/IL-7Rα信号通路和Tregs细胞亚群的影响

目的:研究1565 nm非剥脱点阵激光联合侧柏叶酊(Platycladus orientalis tincture,POT)对斑秃(Alopecia areata,AA)小鼠治疗作用以及对白细胞介素7(Interleukin 7,IL-7)/白细胞介素7受体α(Interleukin-7 receptorα,IL-7Rα)信号通路和调节性T细胞(Regulatory T cells,Tregs)亚群的影响。方法:将50只成年雄性C3H/HeJ小鼠随机分为对照组(C组),模型组[M组,环磷酰胺(Cyclophosphamide,CTX)诱导AA模型],M+1565 nm组(1565 nm非剥脱点阵激光治疗AA),M+POT组(POT治疗AA)、M+1565 nm+POT组(1565 nm非剥脱点阵激光联合POT治疗AA),每组10只。流式细胞术检测C组和M组皮损组织中Tregs细胞亚群的比例和所有组血液中单个核细胞中Tregs细胞亚群的比例。Western blot法检测各组小鼠皮损组织中IL-7和IL-7Rα的表达。结果:与C组比,M组皮肤组织IL-7和IL-7Rα的表达均明显增加,而且Tregs细胞比例明显减少(P<0.05)。与M组比,M+1565 nm组和M+POT组IL-7的表达均降低(P<0.05)。与M组比,M+1565 nm+POT组IL-7和IL-7Rα的表达均降低,且Tregs细胞比例都显著增加(P<0.05)。结论:1565 nm非剥脱点阵激光联合POT治疗可以抑制斑秃小鼠IL-7/IL-7Rα信号并减少Tregs细胞的比例。

重度斑秃的长期管理

斑秃是一种常见的非瘢痕性脱发,轻症有自愈倾向,而重度斑秃病程长、易复发,且与多种合并症相关,使得重度斑秃的治疗面临诸多挑战,给病人身心造成巨大负担。本文就斑秃治疗方案及病人的长期管理策略展开探讨,以期提高患者生活质量。

三种特应性疾病与斑秃发生风险的因果关系:两样本孟德尔随机化研究

目的:应用两样本孟德尔随机化分析哮喘、特应性皮炎、过敏性鼻炎与斑秃发生风险之间的因果关系。方法:根据全基因组关联研究的汇总数据集,提取与哮喘、特应性皮炎和过敏性鼻炎显著相关的单核苷酸多态性(single nucleotide polymorphism,SNP)作为工具变量,使用逆方差加权法、MR-Egger回归、加权中位数、简单模型和加权模型评估三种特应性疾病与斑秃之间的因果关联。结果:选取64个、61个、3个分别与哮喘、特应性皮炎、过敏性鼻炎相关的SNP作为工具变量,逆方差加权法证明哮喘、特应性皮炎是斑秃发生的危险因素(OR:1.45;95%CI:1.67~1.97;OR:1.79;95%CI:1.28~2.51);加权中位数和加权模型方法进一步支持因果关联的显著性。结论:哮喘、特应性皮炎与斑秃发病风险之间存在显著的正向因果关系。

基于文献计量与数据挖掘的脱发病中医临床证治特征分析

目的探讨脱发病的中医研究现状,分析斑秃和雄激素性脱发的临床证治特征,为中医临床诊疗提供参考。方法分别检索中国知网、万方数据知识服务平台、维普网中关于中医治疗脱发的研究文献,通过Notexpress去重后运用CiteSpace及VOSviewer软件进行文献计量分析,并聚焦中医内治斑秃和雄激素性脱发的随机对照研究(randomized controlled trial,RCT),运用数据挖掘法分析对二者的临床证治特征。结果中医治疗脱发病的文献共2954篇,研究类型以临床研究为主。临床证治特征分析表明,斑秃的主要病机为肝肾不足、气血两虚等,常用中药为何首乌、熟地、川芎、女贞子等,而雄激素性脱发的主要病机为湿热蕴结、阴虚湿热等,以侧柏叶、泽泻、茯苓、薏苡仁等为常用中药。结论中医药治疗脱发病的文献呈上升趋势,斑秃和雄激素性脱发中医临床证治特征存在差异,在临床治疗脱发病的遣方用药中值得注意。

朱仁康治疗斑秃经验

斑秃是皮肤科门诊中最常见的脱发疾病之一,本病影响美观,愈后容易复发,给部分患者带来严重心理负担。朱仁康认为斑秃多由情志异常引起气血失和,继而引动内风所致。治风先治血,强调从血论治,临证根据斑秃病情进展,辨证治疗分三期三证:急性进展期多属血热生风证,以凉血为主;缓解恢复期多属血虚生风证,以养血为主;慢性期及全秃、普秃多属血瘀生风证,以活血为主。

巴瑞替尼治疗新冠疫苗接种后弥漫性斑秃一例

本文报道一例巴瑞替尼成功治疗新冠疫苗接种后发生弥漫性斑秃的患者,给予巴瑞替尼每日4 mg,治疗6个月后停药,新生白色短发,停药1个月后,白发转为黑发。停药后随访10个月,至今仍未复发。

基于“形气神一体观”探讨斑秃的诊疗思路

形气神一体观是中医整体观念的表现,也是中医独特地从物质形态、能量功能、精神思维三个层面探索人体的认知体系。斑秃作为临床常见的心身疾病,从形、气、神的视角出发,认为该病的发生与形质病变、气化失常、神志异常有关。“形质病变”是斑秃最突出的外在表现,脱发或被毛区的毛发损伤均可归于不同程度的“形变”,而该类“形变”的微观基础是玄府的病理变化,故“玄府形变”为斑秃发生的病理基础;“气化失常”是斑秃发生的中心环节,包括先后天脏腑虚衰和人体气机失常;神志异常古称“神不使”,贯穿于疾病的始终,是斑秃发生的关键因素。因此,斑秃的发生发展多由形、气、神三个层次的结构功能紊乱所致。本文从形气神一体观来诊疗斑秃,并依此提出急以固形、缓以治气、统以调神的治疗原则,以期为临床治疗斑秃提供又一新的思路。

PRP在脱发类疾病中的应用研究进展

富血小板血浆(platelet-rich plasma,PRP)作为第一代自体血制取的生长因子,不断有研究者将PRP应用于脱发类疾病的治疗,成为治疗脱发的有效辅助治疗方法。本文对近年来PRP在治疗脱发类疾病中的作用机制及临床应用进展进行综述。

基于WGCNA联合免疫浸润探讨斑秃发病机制及靶向中药预测分析

目的应用WGCNA联合免疫浸润方法,分析斑秃发病的核心差异基因及免疫浸润情况并预测斑秃治疗的有效中药。方法下载基因芯片数据集GSE68801,通过表达差异和模块分析筛选差异基因,在CTD和STRING平台对差异基因进行富集分析及PPI网络构建,应用Cytoscape筛选PPI网络中的核心基因并通过ROC曲线预测诊断效能,并以GSE45512数据集对核心基因进行验证。采用CIBERSORT分析AA组织中免疫细胞浸润情况,通过spearman筛选与免疫浸润相关的核心基因,并通过CoremineMedical数据库预测有效中药。结果筛出差异基因255个,主要参与头发周期、细胞因子与细胞因子受体相互作用、趋化因子信号通路、Th1和Th2细胞分化等。PPI网络中具有诊断效能的核心基因主要有BMP2、CCL5、CXCL10、CXCL9、IL10RA、CD2、CD3D、CD8A、ITGAL,免疫浸润主要为T cells gamma delta、Macrophages M1和Macrophages M2的浸润程度明显增多,而Mast cells resting浸润程度下降,相关核心基因为BMP2、CD8A、CXCL10、IL10RA、ITGAL等,预测的有效中药主要为枸杞子、当归、丹参、人参、红花、甘草等。结论通过生物信息学方法获得与AA免疫浸润高度相关的核心基因,并预测有效中药,为深入探索AA发病机制及靶向治疗提供理论依据。

310例儿童斑秃回顾性临床分析及中医辨证分型的相关性研究

目的:总结分析儿童斑秃的临床特点及中医证型的相关性,探讨中重度斑秃发生的危险因素。方法:回顾性分析310例斑秃患儿的临床资料,按照脱发严重程度分轻度、中重度两组,比较两组在性别、年龄、实验室检查、合并疾病、中医证型的差异,并采用多因素Logistic回归分析中重度斑秃发生的危险因素。结果:①310例斑秃患儿,平均发病年龄(6.65±3.06)岁。②斑秃患儿的脱发类型以斑片型为主,两组在性别、年龄段分布上有统计学差异(P<0.05)。③血清25羟基维生素D降低、IgE异常、甲状腺抗体阳性、伴随特应性皮炎、伴随甲状腺功能亢进的患者人数比例在两组间具有统计学差异(P<0.05)。④中医辨证为脾虚湿蕴证的患儿143例,血热生风证患儿88例,肾精不足证患儿34例,气血两虚证患儿45例。⑤通过多因素Logistic回归分析,发现幼儿期发病、血清25羟基维生素D降低、IgE异常、伴随特应性皮炎、中医辨证为脾虚湿蕴证对斑秃严重程度的影响具有统计学意义。结论:幼儿期发病、血清25羟基维生素D降低、IgE异常、伴随特应性皮炎、中医辨证为脾虚湿蕴证是中重度斑秃发生的危险因素。

局部外用小分子药物治疗斑秃的研究进展

斑秃(AA)是一种常见的毛囊自身免疫性疾病,外用药物的应用对轻中度AA具有重要作用。传统局部外用药物,如糖皮质激素、米诺地尔、局部刺激剂等对于部分患者仍缺乏满意疗效,且长期使用受到副作用的限制。随着对AA发病机制的进一步了解,酪氨酸蛋白激酶(JAK)抑制剂、磷酸二酯酶抑制剂等小分子药物给斑秃的治疗带来了新的希望。目前仍需要更多研究证明其有效性及安全性。