September 15, 2000 - Now serving over 800 subscribers!

There is a lot of exciting news going on in hair loss this month, and we are happy we can be a part of bringing that news to you.  

Revivogen Updates

For information on Revivogen, please see http://www.HairlossSucks.com/revivogen.htm

As promised, we have been tracking (now over 60) Revivogen users since June 2000, and finally contacted the first very small group of 4 people who were among our first tracked participants.  Among the four only two have responded to the Survey we sent out to them.  Here are the responses:

Steven has agreed to provide photo's of his hair, before and after.  We will update you in future newsletters when we get them.  We followed up with him regarding what his comments are if some people feel he is not for real.  Here is what he had to say:

"I am just an average Joe and have no affiliation with Revivogen. I did contact them a few times (the first few times I was concerned about shedding) they told me to keep using Rogaine 5% twice a day as I had been or I would most likely shed those protected hairs. I understand everyone's skepticism. I was plenty frustrated until this year. I read the newsgroups daily and haven't had an interest in them since this regrowth started to happen. I also have had transplant work done in the hairline by NHI Doctor Roy Jones. After the procedure I was dismayed to see quite a bit of shock fall out on top and in the crown. The Revivogen and Rogaine and Proscar (which is quite an extensive treatment) regrew back all the shock fall out and substantially more. I only wish I would have waited to get the transplants until after I saw this growth with Revivogen. It may have regrown the hair in the front. I'll never know now since it's all transplanted (very good job) in the front hairline. With a little Toppik in the crown my hair loss is virtually undetectable now. This is a far cry from 2 years ago."

If you are interested in contacting any of these users directly, please email us at admin@HairlossSucks.com and we will put you in touch with them.

First ever study of hair loss tissue with Gene Chip Technology

Merck Pharmaceuticals has approved a grant intended to fund a research team of dermatologists at Cornell University Medical Center in New York City in using a new technology to analyze and compare tissue found in a balding area of the scalp with tissue found in a hair bearing area of the scalp.  The study will last approximately 1 year, and will make use of the expensive and not so widely used Gene Chip technology to run hundreds of thousands of comparative analyses between the two types of tissues on a genetic level.  Using the recently completed human genome as the foundation for the analysis, this will be the first time someone has ever been able to compare and contrast the hundreds of thousands of genes in each type of tissue in such a short period of time, and come up with a comprehensive review of the major differences between the two.  This study holds immense promise of finding a new way to inhibit hair loss, or reverse the process entirely.  

HairlossSucks performed an interview earlier this month with one of the founders and writers of the grant, Dr. Marc Avram.  To see this interview, read more about this study and what it has to offer, and vote your opinion on its potential, please click here:  http://www.HairlossSucks.com/avramiv.shtml

EHRS Conference

All this week, the European Hair Research Society is holding a major annual conference in Marburg, Germany on hair loss.  A meeting of the greatest scientists and clinicians in the hair loss research community, this conference will be a time for them to gather and discuss an extremely wide variety of current issues.  The following is a summary of what is to be covered at this landmark event.  Please review them closely, as there may be topics of interest to you.  Information for complete reviews of each topic is available in a link below the list here:

Satellite Meeting - September 15, 2000

• S. Andersson "Overview of steroidogenic isoenzymes"
  Discussion on the roles of the two types of hormones which contribute to hair loss
  
  
• R. Hoffmann "Enzymology of the hair follicle"
  Review of enzyme activity in the follicle, and announcing study results which show highest levels of 5Alpha type 2 Enzyme can be found in the dermal papilla of the follicle.
  
  
• A.O. Brinkmann "Lessons to be learned from the androgen receptor"
  Discussing the influence of the androgen receptor in the male development process, specifically with hair loss and prostate health.
  
  
• M. Sawaya  "Androgen responsive genes as they affect hair growth"
  Discussion of a study showing how DHT suppression may directly inhibit the genetic response to trigger cell death in the follicle, thus stopping hair loss.
  
  
• A. Messenger  "Susceptibility genes of balding men versus women"
  A study whose findings imply that there is one main gene responsible for hair loss in both men and women.
  
  
• V. Randall "Soluble factors involved in androgen-mediated effects on the hair follicle"
  Discussion on issues which should lead to greater understanding of androgen action and better treatment for androgen-potentiated disorders like hair loss.
  
  
• J. P. Sundberg "Androgenetic alopecia: in vivo models"
  Discussion of the various effective test models for scientific studies on hair loss (animals, birds, human tissue, etc.).
  
  
• D. van Neste "Hair growth and hair loss: A technical challenge for the clinician"
  The contribution of photographic and hair plucking / scalp biopsy studies in the field of clinical research will be highlighted.
  
  
• D. Whiting "Treatment of androgenetic alopecia: The finasteride experience"
  An overview of the results found in the Merck 2 year Propecia trials, a study on 200 men taking 5mg Finasteride (Proscar) and the significant hair growth found as a result, as well as a study on 136 post-menopausal women taking Finasteride (Propecia) which showed no effect on hair loss.

• J.P. Sundberg "Morphology of hair in inbred mouse mutants"
  Electron micrographs will be used to illustrate the various mutant phenotypes in laboratory mice with comparison with homologous human case material.
  
  
• R. Paus "Histology of the murine hair cycle"
  Computer-generated schematic representations of each hair cycle stage are provided with the aim of standardising further reports on follicular gene and protein expression patterns.
  
  
• C.-M. Chuong "Events during skin appendage development"
  Discussion on how molecular and cellular events work during skin appendage development.  Can help us in disease and tissue engineering involving skin and its skin appendages.
  
  
• R. Paus, Hamburg "Mechanisms of action of minoxidil as a hair growth stimulator: Open questions, hypothetical concepts"
  Further look into the mechanisms of action in Minoxidil, attempts to answer some of the unanswered questions regarding this issue.
  
  
• G.C. Davies "A comparison of two rodent models for the assessment of potassium channel openers on hair growth in vivo"
  Minoxidil and one other potassium channel opener used on a Rat as test subject showed the rat as a potentially acceptable new test subject.
  
  
• F. Ahmed "Patterns of creb and phospo-creb expression during murine hair follicle development and cycling"
  Restricted expression of CREB to the DP of telogen follicles and P-CREB to the bulge of late anagen follicles suggests possible roles for this family of transcription factors in control of the hair growth cycle.
  
  
• M.J. Peters "Neurotransmitters, neuropeptides and neurotrophins as regulators of murine hair follicle morphogenesis and cycling"
  Study suggests that the hair follicle and its innervation act both as source and as a target for neurotransmitters, and identifies new targets for therapeutic hair growth treatments.
  
  
• J. Tobin "Cathepsin l is important for catagen progression, entry into anagen and the formation of the inner root sheath and telogen club hair"
  Study suggests that Cathepsin L (involved in follicle homeostasis) plays previously unrecognized roles during normal hair follicle development and cycling.
  
  
• M. Akram "Circadian clock genes are expressed in human hair follicles"
  Study shows that there is indeed a circadium rhythm, somewhat of a biological cycle of hair growth and rest that is being regulated on a genetic level and can possibly be modified.
  
  
• F. Camacho "A practical approach to hirsutism"
  A general review of the various approaches of dealing with hirsutism, a female hair-related medical condition.
  
  
• H. Rushton "Management of diffuse hair loss in women"
  Discussion on the psychological effects of hair loss in women, the interaction with physicians who belittle the situation for the patient, and an analysis of diffuse loss in the female scalp.
  
  
• R. Sinclair "The child with funny hair"
  Review of the various hair conditions in younger patients and how what we learn from them can related to treating hair loss in general.
  
  
• D. Whiting "Minoxidil, the story of an adverse effect that became a new indication"
  Reviewing the history of Minoxidil which showed hair growth as a result of being taken orally as blood pressure medication.
  
  
• H. Wolff "Topical minoxidil solution 5% in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia in males"
  An overview of the several various studies done on Minoxidil over the past 10 years since its first release and approval by the FDA for hair loss.
  
  
• R.J. Trancik "Clinical update on use of topical minoxidil solution"
  New clinical information will be presented for the use of Minoxidil in women with hair loss.
  
  
• S. Niiyama "Steroid sulfatase is primarily expressed within the dermal papilla of human hair follicles: a new pharmaceutical target for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia?"
  Study shows that DHEA'S can be utilized by the follicle to produce DHT which implies that DHEAS contribute to hair loss, and that steroid sulfatase inhibitors could be novel drugs to treat androgen dependent disorders such as hair loss or hirsutism.
  
  
• V.H. Price "Histology and hormonal activity in senescent thinning in males"
  Study shows that natural hair thinning after age 60 (senescent) is similar to Androgenic Alopecia but biochemically different and may not be a result of androgens.
  
  
• V. Vaisse "Postmenopausal frontal fibrosing alopecia: 20 cases"
  Study suggests the hypothesis that antigenic targets could be revealed in-patients with genetic predisposition during some attacks of the hair follicle as dermatoheliosis and, or hair loss.
  
   
• S. Kauser "Expression of pro-opiomelanocortin-derived peptides in hair follicle melanocytes is inversely correlated with pigmentation level"
  Study shows that pro-opiomelanocortin peptides could be down regulated in terminally differentiated hair follicle melanocytes and a-MSH and ACTH could be directly involved in differentiation and/or survival of these cells.
  
  
• R. Grimalt "Red scalp syndrome"
  Study done on 18 patients found 13 of them with hair loss showed a curious reddish coloring to their scalp.  Study results were not conclusive as to the reason.
  
  
• R. Cerundolo "Histopathology features of a canine syndrome characterised by alopecia and abnormality of steroidogenesis"
  Animals may offer a model to further study mammalian steroidogenesis and its relationship with hair follicle development. Similarities with congenital adrenal hyperplasia in man are likely.
  
  
• R..M. Porter "Defolliculated: A hair cycle mouse mutant which loses its pelage follicles completely"
  A spontaneous mouse mutant which develops hair normally but then loses it is discussed.
  
  
• M. Zöller "Introductory lecture: The role of T and dendritic cells in autoimmunity"
  The complexity of the disturbed interplay between T cell activation, regulatory cytokines, costimulatory molecules and induction of apoptosis will be demonstrated in a model of chronic inflammatory bowel disease, which can be prevented by the blockade or absence of CD44v7, one of the costimulatory molecules on antigen presenting cells. 
  
  
• R. Tazi Ahnini "Interleukin-1 gene cluster polymorphisms in alopecia areata: strong association of IL-1RN and IL-1L1 genotypes with severe disease an early age at onset"
  Study results suggest that these polymorphisms within IL1L1 & IL1RN themselves or a gene in linkage disequilibrium with IL1L1 & IL1RN predispose to the severe form of alopecia areata.

Needless to say, this conference is huge, and will have an incredible amount of new news that will interest all of us.  The complete review of the EHRS Conference along with more in depth descriptions of each of the above topics as well as a whole batch of other topics covered on the third day of the conference can be seen at the EHRS web site:  http://www.ehrs.org/conference/index.htm

More Genes in the News...

Pfizer along with OCI Pharmaceuticals have also begun to take steps into determining the genetic causes for hair loss.  Slowing or even eliminating hair loss, is the newest endeavor. Researchers are in the early lead-seeking stage to develop molecules involved in inhibiting the development of hair loss. New information suggests that men and women who are losing hair retain their ability to grow hair, although the genetic mechanism for producing hair from hair follicles is turned off. We are focused on developing topically applied compounds designed to switch these genes back on, then restoring hair growth. 

For more information:  http://www.osip.com/programs/cosmeceuticals

And yep - you guessed it, more Gene Research news!

The Skin Biology Research Center of Johnson and Johnson Pharmaceuticals is searching for the gene causing male pattern baldness. By identifying the gene they hope to generate a treatment for prevention of hair loss. In an effort to find this gene, they are seeking men who have early-age balding, yet extensive balding, to participate in the study.  What is required is hair loss that has rendered the male completely smooth on top middle, extending to the back.  Some visual examples of what are needed can be found at their site http://www.thethinker.com/baldgene/  If you are interested in participating in the study, you can reach them at:

1-800-325-9821 extension 6999 (United States only)
Or email them at: kstenn@cpius.jnj.com

Continuing to expand HairlossSucks.com

We have recently added two new sections to the HairlossSucks web site.  Both of them feature information on some of the non-pharmaceutical options for hair loss out there, including surgical alternatives and hair systems.  Please take a moment to check them out.  If you have ever had any questions exactly what they're about, this is a great place to learn.  Please note that we are still building these sections so they are in their very "young" stages.  

Surgical Alternatives:  http://www.HairlossSucks.com/hairtransplants.htm
Hair Systems/Pieces/Units:  http://www.HairlossSucks.com/hairreplacement.htm