Purpose. Evaluated the effects of continuous electrical current (CEC) or zinc administrated by transdermal iontophoresis (Zn+TDI). Methods. 120 male Wistar rats were submitted to an incision surgery at the anterior region of abdomen and distributed into 6 experimental groups with 40 animals: 3 diabetic groups and 3 normal groups, untreated and treated with CEC alone or with Zn + TDI. Each group was further divided into 4 subgroups with 10 rats each to be evaluated on the 4th, 7th, 14th, and 21st day after surgery. In each period, clinical and laboratory parameters from the animals were analyzed. Results. The analysis by optical and scanning electron microscopy showed a delay in the phases of wound healing in diabetic rats without treatment in all periods of the experiment; breaking strength (BS) was significantly reduced in skin scars of untreated diabetic rats when compared to other groups. In contrast, BS in skin scars of nondiabetic groups and diabetic rats treated with Zn + TDI showed significant increase in those, besides not presenting delayed healing. Conclusion. Electrical stimulation of surgical wounds used alone or in association with zinc by TDI is able to consistently improve the morphological and ultrastructural changes observed in the healing of diabetic animals.

No abstract

The fingernail growth rate (NGR) is approximately 3 mm/month and varies according to sex, age, labour activities, systemic diseases, seasonality, dominant hand and trauma. 1 The slow growth of nails may have functional and cosmetic impact, such as nail fragility and delayed renewal of the nail plate. 2 Few studies have evaluated pharmacological interventions to increase NGR.

PURPOSE:To investigate the effect of zinc sulphate administered by transdermal iontophoresis (TDI) on mechanical resistance of surgical wounds performed in the skin of diabetic rats. METHODS:One hundred and sixty male Wistar rats weighing approximately 250g were submitted to an incision surgery at the anterior region of abdomen and randomly distributed into four experimental groups with 40 non-diabetic control animals (G1) and 40 untreated diabetic animals (G2), both without any treatment of incisions; 40 non-diabetic animals (G3) and 40 untreated diabetic animals (G4), both with incisions treated with zinc sulphate, administered for a period of four consecutive days after surgery, in sessions of ten minutes duration, using a continuous-current electrostimulator (Zn + TDI). Each experimental group was further divided into four subgroups with ten rats each to be evaluated on the 4th, 7th, 14th, and 21st day after surgery. In each period were analyzed clinical and laboratory from the animals, and measured the breaking strength and hydroxyproline content (OH-P) of the skin scars. RESULTS:Breaking strength (BS) was significantly reduced (p<0.05) in skin scars of untreated diabetic rats (G2) on the 7 th , 14 th , and 21st postoperative days when compared to non-diabetic control rats (G1). In contrast, BS in skin scars of non-diabetic and untreated diabetic rats (G3, G4) treated with Zn + TDI showed significant increase (p<0.05) in those periods when compared with their respective controls with untreated incisions. The OH-P content of the scars did not show statistically significant variation in all studied groups at four different times evaluated after surgery. CONCLUSIONS:Zinc sulphate administered by transdermal iontophoresis had beneficial effect on the mechanical resistance of scars produced in the skin of diabetic rats. This therapeutic may have potential to reduce the complications observed in surgical wounds of the skin in diabetic subjects, mainly in most vulnerable stages of incisions to dehiscences, leakages and infections.

In Brazil, alternatively, there has been a rise in the prescription and use of MXS-based formulations due to its pharmaceutical solubility [6,7]. However, in addition to the issue of its higher molecular weight, MXS is naturally unstable in aqueous solution, negatively affecting its bioavailability to the hair follicle and increasing its irritation potential to the scalp. Therefore, efficacy of MXS compared to MX base for the treatment of AGA may be impaired, and the same efficacy may not be expected as in the original clinical trials with MX base.The MX sulfotransferase activity is not the same in every individual. MXS represents an alternative with advantage over MX in individuals with low MX sulfotransferase activity, since the demonstration of an association between MX response and the degree of MX sulfatation [8]. However, in order to compensate such decreased response, MXS would have to be used at higher concentrations (10-15%) due to its decreased capacity of transcutaneous absorption and packaged in small volumes, because of its high degree of degradation.Indeed, a Swiss retrospective study of 44 patients with AGA (13 males with Hamilton-Norwood type AGA class III or above and 31 females with Ludwig type AGA I-III) unresponsive to a minimum of 6 months of 5% MX solution b.i.d. showed increase in hair growth in 97.7% using a 10% MXS solution once daily during a mean treatment period of 4.09 months. The treatment was well tolerated by patients, among whom 6.8% suffered from irritation, erythema, and folliculitis of the scalp. No major adverse effect was noted [9].We aim to emphasize the differences between topical formulations of MX and MXS available on the Brazilian market, i.e., penetration and stability issues for MXS formulations, and the problem of low sulfotransferase activity for MX prescriptions. Our opinion is that topical MX base remains the first-line topical agent for treatment of male and female AGA, unless the patient proves to be unresponsive, then a formulation of MXS at probably higher concentrations may present an alternative with enhanced efficacy. For this purpose, a novel enzymatic assay may predict MX response [10].Comparative clinical trials and pharmacological studies with different formulations, either ready for use or custom made, with MX base or MXS, should be conducted in order to make final recommendations for optimal use in AGA treatment. Disclosure StatementThe authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose. Dear Editors,Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) represents an important cause of hair loss affecting 73% of men and 57% of women until the age of 80 years [1][2][3], with an age-dependent increase in frequency, and the perspective of rising incidence due to a general increase in life expectancy [2]. Due to its emotional impact with a negative effect on patient's quality of life, it is important to establish an early diagnosis and treatment plan in order to avoid progression of hair loss.The drugs currently available for treatment of AGA with approval of the US Food and Drug A...

O prazer por desvendar o novo, compartilhar conhecimento e experiências já adquiridos e, especialmente, o amor genuíno pela docência serviram de combustível na criação desta obra, a qual, mais do que proporcionar informação médica atual e de excelência, visa trazer a experiência de grandes nomes da tricologia dos cenários nacional e internacional, para que o aprendizado seja suave, duradouro e pautado em um misto de evidências científicas e prática diária.

Scalp microneedling as a complementary therapy for female pattern hair loss RESUMOA alopecia de padrão feminino figura dentre as queixas mais frequentes no consultório dermatológico e afeta até 50% das mulheres no climatério e na pós-menopausa. Apesar da existência de múltiplas terapias hoje disponíveis, algumas pacientes mostram-se refratárias aos tratamentos convencionais, sendo necessária a associação de tratamentos de segunda linha para a obtenção de bons resultados estéticos. Este trabalho ilustra as vantagens do microagulhamento nesse cenário por meio do relato de uma paciente de 48 anos de idade que não apresentou boa resposta clínica à associação do minoxidil tópico e à finasterida oral. Palavras-chave: Alopecia; Doenças dos anexos; Terapia combinada.