This study investigated the prevalence of psoriasis and trends in prescription of medications for pa...

Although adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) show promise for cell therapy, there is a tremendous need for developing ASC activators. In the present study, we investigated whether or not vitamin C increases the survival, proliferation, and hair-regenerative potential of ASCs. In addition, we tried to find the molecular mechanisms underlying the vitamin C-mediated stimulation of ASCs. Sodium-dependent vitamin C transporter 2 (SVCT2) is expressed in ASCs, and mediates uptake of vitamin C into ASCs. Vitamin C increased the survival and proliferation of ASCs in a dose-dependent manner. Vitamin C increased ERK1/2 phosphorylation, and inhibition of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway attenuated the proliferation of ASCs. Microarray and quantitative polymerase chain reaction showed that vitamin C primarily upregulated expression of proliferation-related genes, including Fos, E2F2, Ier2, Mybl1, Cdc45, JunB, FosB, and Cdca5, whereas Fos knock-down using siRNA significantly decreased vitamin C-mediated ASC proliferation. In addition, vitamin C-treated ASCs accelerated the telogen-to-anagen transition in C ₃ H/HeN mice, and conditioned medium from vitamin C-treated ASCs increased the hair length and the Ki ₆₇ -positive matrix keratinocytes in hair organ culture. Vitamin C increased the mRNA expression of HGF, IGFBP6, VEGF, bFGF, and KGF, which may mediate hair growth promotion. In summary, vitamin C is transported via SVCT2, and increased ASC proliferation is mediated by the MAPK pathway. In addition, vitamin C preconditioning enhanced the hair growth promoting effect of ASCs. Because vitamin C is safe and effective, it could be used to increase the yield and regenerative potential of ASCs.

The aim of our study was to investigate the risk of alopecia areata occurrence in patients with sleep disorders. This study was a retrospective cohort study based on the National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort database of patients with a sleep disorder, along with age- and sex-matched control subjects from 2003 to 2013. The hazard ratio (HR) of alopecia areata was compared between the patients with sleep disorders and control subjects adjusting comorbid diseases which could affect the incidence of alopecia areata. We also compared the prevalence of comorbid diseases in the patients with sleep disorders and control subjects. Among the 25,800 patients with sleep disorders and the 129,000 control subjects, patients with sleep disorders were at a significantly increased risk for alopecia areata when compared with control subjects (adjusted HR 1.651 [95% CI 1.382–1.974]), especially in younger age groups (0–24 and 25–44 years). In a multivariate logistic analysis, sleep disorders were not only associated with alopecia areata (OR 1.913 [95% CI 1.717–2.171]), but also with other comorbid diseases, including solid-organ cancers (OR 1.099 [95% CI 1.049–1.151]), Graves’ disease (OR 1.717 [95% CI 1.562–1.886]), Hashimoto thyroiditis (OR 1.641 [95% CI 1.413–1.905]), vitiligo (OR 1.539 [95% CI 1.236–1.917]), and rheumatoid arthritis (OR 1.886 [95% CI 1.780–1.998]). This study demonstrated that sleep disorder is an independent risk factor for alopecia areata, especially in individuals under the age of 45 years old.

BACKGROUND Childhood nevus of Ota is likely to be more superficial than the adult nevus, therefore early laser treatment of nevus of Ota might have some beneficial effects in children. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the beneficial effects of early treatment of nevus of Ota with a low-fluence 1,064-nm Q-switched neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser. MATERIALS AND METHODS The authors performed a retrospective study of 31 Korean patients (Fitzpatrick skin Type IV) with nevus of Ota. The patients received a series of 6 to 32 treatment sessions at 2- to 3-week intervals with a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser at settings of 7- or 8-mm spot, 1.9 to 5.0 J/cm² mean fluence. RESULTS The mean fluence was less in patients younger than 10 years (2.2 ± 0.3 J/cm²) than in those older than 10 years (2.8 ± 0.8 J/cm²) (p = .006). Patients who started their first treatment earlier required fewer treatment sessions to reach moderate, marked, and near total improvement (p < .05). By starting treatment early, low mean fluence was required to reach the end point in each session (p < .001). Post-treatment hyperpigmentation was observed in 1 patient. CONCLUSION This treatment was clinically effective and safe for early nevus of Ota using a low-fluence Q-switched Nd:YAG laser.