June 2001 Tokyo Hair Loss
Conference
June 13 - 15, Tokyo Japan
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The Third Intercontinental Meeting
of Hair Research Societies will be occurring 13th - 15th of this
month in
Tokyo, Japan. Researchers from all over the world will be
gathering at the Four Seasons Hotel Chinzan-So to present
the findings of over 170 different hair loss related research
studies and abstracts conducted over the past ~ year ~. This meeting represents the largest
triennial gathering of hair societies in the new millennium, and
provides a unique opportunity for scientists and clinicians
interested in hair biology and disorders to exchange information,
compare study results, and interact.
The keynote lecturers will be Dr.
M.J. McPhaul and Dr. I. Satokata. The scientific organizing committee, with Dr. S. Takayasu as the chair, has prepared four
workshops for the different fields and two luncheon seminars on androgenetic alopecia. The
workshops will provide the many researchers present with updated information on the hair cycle, stem cells and
morphological and molecular biological approaches. The abstracts submitted by the researchers planning to attend were
reviewed by a committed of 10, and separated based upon categories
of plenary, concurrent and poster presentations according to the scores they received from the ten reviewers.
The Myriads of
New Study Results
HairlossSucks got its dirty little
hands on the
entire list of abstracts for the over 170 study results to be
presented at the Tokyo conference. Below, we have extracted 64
of the studies we feel are of significance to you. This mountain
of new information is an invaluable resource. Do not miss these! There are jewels of information
throughout the list, such as... New Discoveries, New Research, New
Tools, Clinical Trial results for New Treatments, Herbal treatments
which showed success in clinical trials, New suggestions on
combination treatments based on actual FACTS, and much more.
Though it may seem like nothing is happening in the
world of hair loss, every day that goes by there are hundreds of
researchers compiling information and making small new discoveries
which will ultimately lead to a cure.
You are encouraged to bookmark this page, and
return here periodically until you've had a chance to read through
all of the items below. We cannot stress to you how
interesting, important, and relevant nearly all of these studies
are. There is something new found in almost every one of them. Please find a topic of
interest to you, and click the link to view the full study abstract.
We have included a "User Friendly" description of each for
those of you who are less scientifically oriented, and just want the
bottom line.
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- Irreversibility of Hair Follicle Changes after 30 Months of Androgenetic Alopecia
Study performed by Nioxin Research, Inc, providing evidence that
permanent changes in follicular structure and health (perifolllicular fibrosis) can begin to occur in men experiencing hair loss, if they do not begin treatment within 30 months of first noticing signs of hair loss. Conversely, starting treatment earlier than 30 months should prevent
irreversible collagen changes which can lead to loss of normal blood supply, miniaturization of the follicles, and disruption in the normal growth/resting
cycles.
- Study Abstract
Konstantinova N, Korotkii N.G, Sharova N, Barhunova E,
Gaevski D.
Nioxin Research Inc, Atlanta, USA
Moscow Medical University
We studied horizontal and vertical biopsy from 15
Caucasian 24-41 year old males diagnosed with bitemporal
recession Androgenetic Alopecia (AA) for 1.5 –18 years
(average 7.4 years). All 15 biopsies were stained with
H&E, Van Gieson and with other collagen specific
stainings. 1. Eleven pts with AA longer than 3 years had
perifollicular fibrosis - collagen fibers were compact
and formed a small scar-like formation around each
anagen hair follicle(HF). Two patients - 33 year old
with 18 month AA and 23 year old with 20 month AA did
not have these hair follicle changes. Two 26-year-old
patients with 30 and 36 month AA respectively were found
to have some not so severe collagen fiber changes. 2.
Infundibulum of HF dilatated 124-192 mm and most of them
covered with keratinazed plug lacking normal hair shaft
growth. 3. Decreased number of hair follicles 1.75-2,45
per sq. mm from 3.5-5 per sq. mm in control group. 4.
None of anagen HF was situated in subcutaneous fat. We
showed a correlation between length of the AA and
severity/ thickness of perifollicular fibrosis. The
result of this study is that any treatment of AA is
recommended to start earlier than 30 months from first
signs of AA. This should prevent irreversible collagen
changes associated with “fibrotic incapsulation” of
most anagen HF in involved areas, which usually leads to
loss of normal blood supply, innervation, and subsequent
miniaturization and prevention of hair from normal
cycling.
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- Effects of Finasteride on Apoptosis and Regulation of the Human Hair Cycle
Apoptosis is the process by which normal healthy follicle cells begin to disintegrate into particles that are ultimately discharged by the body. This process has been shown to be a common factor in the follicle health of men experiencing hair loss. This study sought to determine the effect
Propecia has on the levels of Caspases (proteases that cause
hair cells to die - Apoptosis), versus levels of chemicals which
inhibit this process, called XIAP and FLIP. Before taking Propecia, there was an increase in Caspases (cell death initiators) and a decrease in XIAP (cell preservation chemicals). After taking Propecia for 6 months, both
Caspase and XIAP levels had returned to that of a normal human
being not experiencing hair loss. Further, they sought to show exactly how caspases affect the hair follicle, and it was shown that
once initiated, the process of cell death affects many functions
related to haiir growth, including keratinocytes, melanocytes, the dermal papilla, and derma fibroblasts.
Conclusions: The use of Propecia effectively eliminates the processes leading to cell death in follicular functioning, and promotes anagen, active growth in the hair cycle.
(You may have known that already, but now you know why!)
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- Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia with Combination Therapy of Oral Finasteride,
Topical Minoxidil, and Tretinoin
Previous studies have been done combining topical Minoxidil 0.5% with topical Tretinoin 0.025%. This study sought to evaluate the results of
combining Minoxidil 3%, Tretinoin, and Propecia 1mg per day. 65% of patients had excellent or good results after 1 year of use, and only 5% of patients did not respond at all. Sexual dysfunction and skin irritation was noted in 5% of patients.
Conclusions: The combination of Propecia, Minoxidil 3%, and Tretinoin 0.025% was more efficient at hair growth than using either of these treatments alone.
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- Androgenetic Alopecia and Its Relationship with Testicular Cancer
Two men participating in a hair loss study expressed that they'd had Testicular cancer in the past. The researchers decided to evaluate a group of 144 testicular cancer patients to see if there was any association between extent of hair loss and age. There were four types of testicular cancer represented: Teratoma, Seminoma, mixed Seminoma/Teratoma, and Leydig Cell)
Conclusions: There was a significant increase in mild hair loss in men with one type of testicular cancer - Seminoma. This implies that balding tends to occur earlier in men predisposed to Seminoma testicular cancer.
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- Investigation of the Systemic Bioavailability of 5% Minoxidil Topical Solution in
Young Males with Early Androgenetic Alopecia
Study done to assess whether Males under 18 are at an increased
risk of absorbing Minoxidil into their systems, and the
consequent level of safety in use of 5% Minoxidil use for this
age group. Basis of safety was centered around the levels of chemical absorbed into their bodies, and any adverse
reactions noted. Minoxidil was used twice daily for a total of 11 doses.
Conclusions: No Scalp irritation noted, some Liver function abnormalities were found however
(increased ALT). Investigators conclude that males under 18
years of age are not at higher risk for systemic absorption of Minoxidil.
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- Incidence of Androgenetic Alopecia in Males 15 to 17 Years of Age
Previously, very few if any substantial studies have been done
to determine exactly how prevalent hair loss is in men between
ages 15 and 17 years of age. This is a very easy to read
abstract, with interesting information, so click
above.
Conclusions: This study has officially established
that approximately 16% of males age 15 to 17 are beginning to
lose their hair.
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- Stabilization of Hair Loss with Use of Minoxidil Topical Solution
Study presented by Pharmacia (Makers of Minoxidil) to
determine long term efficacy of Minoxidil on stabilizing hair
loss (stopping further negative progression). They're
calling it an 11,000 participant post-marketing study, and the
results are as follows:
Conclusions: 4 out of 5 Minoxidil 2% and Minoxidil
5% users were shown to maintain HAIR COUNT after 5 years of
use. This implies an 80% effectiveness rate at maintaining
hair count on Minoxidil Those of you who are familiar with
the other well established Minoxidil studies will realize that
these results differ greatly. Click the link above and
review the specific numbers. This is a fairly new study,
and new studies do outweigh old ones, typically.
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- Clinical Survey Evaluating Minoxidil Topical Solution in the Treatment of
Androgenetic Alopecia in Patients Under 18 Years of Age
This study was done to evaluate a large cross section of the
population by survey's of Dermatologists, in order to determine
the number of patients under the age of 18 that are being
treated with Topical Minoxidil Solution for hair loss, and to
determine level of side effects, and effectiveness.
Conclusions: To get a true understanding of the
results, please read the abstract by clicking above. In
general, approximately half of the teenagers using Minoxidil for
a year to a year and a half had seen improvement or a stoppage
of hair loss. About 6% of them complained of irritation at
the application site. Investigators concluded that
Minoxidil is being widely used in treating hair loss in males
and females around the age of 15-18, and it is showing to be
effective and well tolerated.
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- Effect of Hair Growth of HEM-13/HDC Hair Tonic (Herbal Extract Mixtures) in
Androgenetic Alopecia as Measured by Phototrichogram
Yes, that's right, a Herbal
Tonic that works. In Korean folk
medicine, several herbs have been known to improve blood flow
and been used for wound and inflammation, which are: Angelicae
Radix, Cnidii Rhizoma, Salviae Miltiorhizae Radix, Persicae
Semen, Sinomeni Caulis et Rhizoma, Viticis Fructus, Zanthoxylum
piperitum and Carthami Flos.
Conclusions: These herbs in the form of a treatment
known as HEM-13/HDC Hair Tonic were tested on human subjects for
a period of 9 months, and on Mice subjects along with
Minoxidil. In Human subjects, 85% showed a cessation of
loss or hair growth. In mice models, the herbal treatment
had a similar rate of success as minoxidil.
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- The Hair-Growing Activity of Procyanidin Oligomers
Apple Juice Extract. As a follow-up to a previous study on
Procyanidin's (extracted liquid from un-ripened apples) effect
on hair loss, this more elaborate study was completed on human
models. 21 people used the extract twice a day for a total
of 1 year.
Conclusions: After 1 year of twice a day
application, 71% of men showed an increase hair count compared
to baseline. Incidence of side effects was zero.
They're calling it a potential cure to hair loss. Check
out the abstract by clicking above.
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- Quantifying Progression or Reversal of Follicular Miniaturization in Androgenetic
Alopecia by Image Analysis
This study was performed in an attempt to improve the method by
which hair counts, and treatment progress is ascertained in
clinical studies. Typically manual microscopic hair counts
are performed, which are tedious, time consuming, flawed, and
expensive. The investigators in this study used Digital imaging
to provide reproducible information which can be more precise than that derived from visual microscopic examination. A method of image analysis was developed to
determine hair counts and to size individual follicles. A Nikon D1 digital camera was attached to an Olympus BX 40 microscope. The apparatus was linked to a Dell Dimension XPS T500 desktop computer. An imaging program was used, and data was handled with automated computer analysis.
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- Histology and Hormonal Activity in Senescent Thinning in Males
Many people (including we here at HairlossSucks) have
hypothesized about the possibility of "riding out the DHT
storm". The idea behind this theory is that it's
typically understood that it is the hormonal changes occurring
in men during their 20's and 30's that is the cause for most
Male Pattern Baldness. Consequently, the theory follows,
that if one can effectively inhibit these hormonal changes, or
usurp them via a growth stimulant through the years of greatest
threat (20 - 50), one might logically be able to cease treatment
of hair loss at some time in his future.
A logical study then, would be to evaluate the hormonal makeup
of scalps in men over the age of 60 who are just starting to
lose hair, and see how it compares to scalps of men in their
20's and 30's who are undergoing Androgenetic Alopecia (Male
Pattern Baldness due to Hormonal changes). This study did
just that.
Conclusions: Please read the abstract for important
information. Investigators found that men who lose their
hair in their 20's have nearly twice as much androgen related
activity going on in their scalp as men just beginning to lose
hair in their 60's. This type of hair loss, known as
"Senescent" thinning, therefore, is assumed to be due
to much different causes than typical Male Pattern Baldness,
and, with a little stretch of the imagination, could imply that
at this stage in life, inhibiting hormonal processes to stop
hair loss may no longer be necessary.
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- High Efficacy Gene Therapy of Growing Hair Shafts
A new gene therapy technology of hair follicles has been developed which results for the first time in efficient genetic and phenotype alteration of the hair shaft.
Conclusions: These experiments demonstrate that it
is possible to genetically modify hair follicles by removing a
small number of follicle cells, introducing new genetic
material, and re-implanting the engineered cells into a an
organism. This process has for the first time shown the
ability to transfer follicular genetic traits from one organism
to another with high efficiency. The process resulted in extensive
modifications to the hair shaft after having been implanted into
the new organism. This new technology indicates the possibility of efficient clinical genetic modification of the hair shaft such as during
a hair transplant process.
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- TrichoScan: Combining Epiluminescence Microscopy with Digital Image Analysis for
the Measurement of Hair Growth in vivo
The ability to truly monitor the rate of hair growth has been done manually for the most part up until now. A new technology known as the Trichoscan has the ability to digitally analyze Hair Density, Hair Diameter, Hair Growth Rate, and Anagen/Telogen ratio. They took 30 volunteers, and photographed a portion of scalp hair every 3 months.
Conclusions: The tool effectively analyzed the Anagen/Telogen ratio, determining exactly which hairs were and were not being affected by Male Pattern Baldness, and the hormonal processes related. They also effectively determined an average growth rate of hair was 0.31 millimeters per day. More importantly, they were able to assess accurately that hair number and hair diameter did not change over the 6 month evaluation (these patients were not on any hair loss treatments, and some were / were not experiencing hair loss, so this result is expected).
Importance of This New Technology: This tool can now far more accurately assess hair counts, changes in hair thickness, rate of growth, and % of hairs under onslaught by male pattern baldness for clinical trials on new treatments. This tool will enable researchers to more accurately evaluate effectiveness of certain treatments, and will be used widely for Alopecia Areata as well as AGA.
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- Effect of Coapplication of Capsaicin and Minoxidil on the Murine Hair Growth
Hypothesis was developed that Capsaicin in conjunction with
Minoxidil might yield better results than the typically vellus
(thin, as opposed to thick and coarse) hairs that Minoxidil is
able to produce.
Conclusions: Conclusions on this study seem a little
confusing. They sought to determine the effect of both
treatments in combination, and had a Minoxidil-only, Capasaicin-only,
and Combination group of subjects. Then they say that
Capsaicin quickly induced anagen, as did Minoxidil. In
this abstract they don't seem to have elaborated on the effect
of the combination treatment. Then again, this is study
number 200 we've looked at today, so we could be missing
something...
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Eyes
Getting Tired?
| Here's
a little Something for the Men: |
And
a little something for the Ladies: |
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Ok, Now Where Were We? More
Relevant Study Results from the upcoming Tokyo Conference
Here are the remainder of
studies we felt would be of interest to you, extracted from the
conference schedule. Once again, the entirety of the studies
presented here still only make up less than half (~60) of the total
studies being presented at the conference (170). If you are
interested in receiving the entire list, we will be glad to provide
it to you. Simply email your request to info@HairlossSucks.com
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