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Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) Jun 2024Medical and public recognition of "long-COVID or post-COVID syndrome", as well as its impact on the quality of life (QoL), is required to better address the disease... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
Medical and public recognition of "long-COVID or post-COVID syndrome", as well as its impact on the quality of life (QoL), is required to better address the disease burden. Objectives: We aimed to describe the persistence of COVID-19 symptoms and QoL among patients at three and twelve months after their discharge from the hospital. We conducted an observational, prospective, and longitudinal analytic study from September 2021 to April 2022. To measure QoL, we used a validated version of the 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36). We included 68 patients in the study. A total of 54 (79.4%) patients reported at least one persistent symptom at three months vs. 52 (76.4%) at twelve months ( = 0.804). Some persistent symptoms (myalgia, alopecia, and cough) decreased significantly at twelve months (50% vs. 30.9%, 29.4% vs. 13.2%, and 23.5% vs. 7.4%; respectively, = 0.007); in contrast, other persistent symptoms (sleep-wake and memory disorders) were more frequent (5.9% vs. 32.4% and 4.4% vs. 20.6%; respectively, = ≤0.001). Regarding QoL, a statistically significant improvement was observed in some scores over time, = ≤0.037. At twelve months, dyspnea, myalgia, and depression were risk factors associated with a poor physical component summary (PCS), = ≤0.027, whereas anxiety, depression, and fatigue were associated with a poor mental component summary (MCS), = ≤0.015. As the proportion of persistent symptoms at twelve months is high, we suggest that patients must continue under long-term follow up to reclassify, diagnose, and treat new onset symptoms/diseases.
Topics: Humans; COVID-19; Quality of Life; Female; Male; Middle Aged; Prospective Studies; Patient Discharge; Longitudinal Studies; Aged; SARS-CoV-2; Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome; Adult; Myalgia; Time Factors; Cough; Alopecia
PubMed: 38929561
DOI: 10.3390/medicina60060944 -
International Journal of Molecular... Jun 2024Aging (senescence) is an unavoidable biological process that results in visible manifestations in all cutaneous tissues, including scalp skin and hair follicles....
Aging (senescence) is an unavoidable biological process that results in visible manifestations in all cutaneous tissues, including scalp skin and hair follicles. Previously, we evaluated the molecular function of adenosine in promoting alopecia treatment in vitro. To elucidate the differences in the molecular mechanisms between minoxidil (MNX) and adenosine, gene expression changes in dermal papilla cells were examined. The androgen receptor (AR) pathway was identified as a candidate target of adenosine for hair growth, and the anti-androgenic activity of adenosine was examined in vitro. In addition, ex vivo examination of human hair follicle organ cultures revealed that adenosine potently elongated the anagen stage. According to the severity of alopecia, the ratio of the two peaks (terminal hair area/vellus hair area) decreased continuously. We further investigated the adenosine hair growth promoting effect in vivo to examine the hair thickness growth effects of topical 5% MNX and the adenosine complex (0.75% adenosine, 1% penthenol, and 2% niacinamide; APN) in vivo. After 4 months of administration, both the MNX and APN group showed significant increases in hair density (MNX + 5.01% ( < 0.01), APN + 6.20% ( < 0.001)) and thickness (MNX + 5.14% ( < 0.001), APN + 10.32% ( < 0.001)). The inhibition of AR signaling via adenosine could have contributed to hair thickness growth. We suggest that the anti-androgenic effect of adenosine, along with the evaluation of hair thickness distribution, could help us to understand hair physiology and to investigate new approaches for drug development.
Topics: Alopecia; Humans; Male; Receptors, Androgen; Adenosine; Hair Follicle; Signal Transduction; Minoxidil; Female; Animals; Hair
PubMed: 38928239
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126534 -
Journal of the European Academy of... Jun 2024
PubMed: 38925559
DOI: 10.1111/jdv.20197 -
Skin Research and Technology : Official... Jul 2024MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small RNA molecules that play a regulatory role in various biological processes by acting as intracellular mediators. They hold great potential as...
BACKGROUND
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small RNA molecules that play a regulatory role in various biological processes by acting as intracellular mediators. They hold great potential as therapeutic agents for targeting human disease pathways; however, there is still much to be uncovered about their mechanism of gene regulation. Alopecia areata (AA) is a commonly occurring inflammatory condition characterized by the infiltration of T cells that specifically target the anagen-stage hair follicle. The limited understanding of its precise cellular mechanism may be the reason behind the scarcity of effective treatments for AA.
AIM
The significance and function of hsa-miR-193a-5p as a genetic marker for AA and its potential influence on the advancement of the disease.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS
A case-control study comprised 77 individuals diagnosed with AA who were matched with 75 healthy controls. In order to measure the expression of miR-200c-3p in both groups, the real-time PCR technique was utilized. The prediction of suitable genes for hsa-miR-193a-5p, as well as the identification of pathways and gene-gene interactions, were carried out using bioinformatic tools.
RESULTS
The levels of hsa-miR-193a-5p expression were notably elevated in AA patients in comparison to healthy controls. Our prediction suggests that the involvement of hsa-miR-193a-5p in the development of AA is significant due to its influence on the inositol phosphorylation pathway and the Phosphatidylinositol signaling system, achieved through its direct impact on the IPPK gene.
CONCLUSION
For the first time, our study demonstrates the significant over-expression of a new miRNA, hsa-miR-193a-5p, in the blood of AA patients compared to controls, and highlights its impact on the IPPK gene and the inositol phosphorylation and Phosphatidylinositol signaling pathways, suggesting a potential therapeutic role for hsa-miR-193a-5p in AA.
Topics: Humans; Alopecia Areata; MicroRNAs; Male; Case-Control Studies; Female; Adult; Inositol; Middle Aged; Young Adult; Genetic Markers; Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor)
PubMed: 38925555
DOI: 10.1111/srt.13800 -
Actas Dermo-sifiliograficas Jun 2024
PubMed: 38925452
DOI: 10.1016/j.ad.2024.06.004 -
Skin Research and Technology : Official... Jul 2024
Topics: Humans; Male; Cross-Sectional Studies; Alopecia; Hair; Adult; Middle Aged; Young Adult; Scalp
PubMed: 38924143
DOI: 10.1111/srt.13771 -
International Journal of Dermatology Jun 2024
PubMed: 38924107
DOI: 10.1111/ijd.17339 -
International Journal of Dermatology Jun 2024
PubMed: 38924046
DOI: 10.1111/ijd.17348 -
International Journal of Dermatology Jun 2024
PubMed: 38923417
DOI: 10.1111/ijd.17345 -
Journal of Cellular and Molecular... Jun 2024Hair follicle development and hair growth are regulated by multiple factors and multiple signalling pathways. The hair follicle, as an important skin appendage, is the... (Review)
Review
Hair follicle development and hair growth are regulated by multiple factors and multiple signalling pathways. The hair follicle, as an important skin appendage, is the basis for hair growth, and it has the functions of safeguarding the body, perceiving the environment and regulating body temperature. Hair growth undergoes a regular hair cycle, including anagen, catagen and telogen. A small amount of physiological shedding of hair occurs under normal conditions, always in a dynamic equilibrium. Hair loss occurs when the skin or hair follicles are stimulated by oxidative stress, inflammation or hormonal disorders that disrupt the homeostasis of the hair follicles. Numerous researches have indicated that oxidative stress is an important factor causing hair loss. Here, we summarize the signalling pathways and intervention mechanisms by which oxidative stress affects hair follicle development and hair growth, discuss existing treatments for hair loss via the antioxidant pathway and provide our own insights. In addition, we collate antioxidant natural products promoting hair growth in recent years and discuss the limitations and perspectives of current hair loss prevention and treatment.
Topics: Hair Follicle; Humans; Antioxidants; Oxidative Stress; Signal Transduction; Animals; Hair; Alopecia; Biological Products
PubMed: 38923380
DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.18486