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Fulltext An 8-Year-Old Child with Delayed Diagnosis of Netherton Syndrome

Leung AKC, Barankin B, Leong KF

Case Rep Pediatr, 2018;2018:9434916.
PMID: 29527381 DOI: 10.1155/2018/9434916

We report an 8-year-old boy with Netherton syndrome who was misdiagnosed and treated as severe atopic dermatitis. The diagnosis of Netherton syndrome was not made until the child was 8 years of age. We discuss the pitfalls in the diagnosis and alert physicians to the proper and early diagnosis of this syndrome. The child was treated with a low dose (0.25 mg/kg) of oral acitretin and a topical moisturizer with marked improvement of his skin and pruritus in 2 months. At 6-month follow-up, the skin was almost clear of erythema and scaling, and the hair was longer and stronger. The dose of acitretin was reduced to 0.12 mg/kg for another 6 months and then discontinued.

Matched MeSH terms: Hair
Fulltext A 'Hairy' problem: Trichotillomania, trichophagia and trichobezoars

Yik YI, How AK

Singapore Med J, 2016 Jul;57(7):411.
PMID: 27439704 DOI: 10.11622/smedj.2016125
Matched MeSH terms: Hair
Fulltext Can we confidently diagnose pilomatricoma with fine needle aspiration cytology?

Wong YP, Masir N, Sharifah NA

Malays J Med Sci, 2015 Jan-Feb;22(1):84-8.
PMID: 25892955 MyJurnal

Pilomatricomas can be confidently diagnosed cytologically due to their characteristic cytomorphological features. However, these lesions are rarely encountered by cytopathologists and thus pose a diagnostic dilemma to even experienced individuals, especially when the lesions are focally sampled. We describe two cases of histologically confirmed pilomatricoma. The first case is of a 13-year-old boy with posterior cervical 'lymphadenopathy', and the second one is of a 12-year-old girl with a lower cheek swelling. Both aspirates comprised predominantly atypical basal-like cells, with prominent nucleoli. 'Ghost cells' were readily identified by cell block in case two, but cell block in case one yielded no diagnostic material. In case two, pilomatricoma was accurately diagnosed pre-operatively. A cytological suspicion of a neoplastic process was raised in case one. Despite being diagnostically challenging, pilomatricoma can be diagnosed with careful observation of two unique cytological features of the lesions: (1) pathognomonic 'ghost cells' and (2) irregular, saw-toothed, loosely cohesive basaloid cells, with prominent nucleoli. The role of thorough sampling of the lesion, with multiple passes of various sites, cannot be overemphasized.

Matched MeSH terms: Hair Diseases
Association between trace element and heavy metal levels in hair and nail with prostate cancer

Karimi G, Shahar S, Homayouni N, Rajikan R, Abu Bakar NF, Othman MS

Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2012;13(9):4249-53.
PMID: 23167323

While associations between trace elements and heavy metals with prostate cancer are still debatable, they have been considered as risk factors for prostate cancer. Thus, this study aimed to detect any links between selected minerals and heavy metals including Se, Zn, Cu, Mn and Fe with prostate cancer. A case control study was carried out among 100 subjects (case n=50, control n=50), matched for age and ethnicity. Trace elements and heavy metals level in hair and nail samples were determined by ICP-MS. Mean selenium levels in hair and nail of the cases were significantly lower as compared to controls. A similar trend was noted for zinc in both hair and nail samples, whereas the mean level of copper was significantly higher in cases than controls. Similar elevation was noted for iron and manganese (p<0.05 for all parameters). Low levels of selenium and zinc and high levels of copper, iron and manganese appear to be associated with the risk of prostate cancer. Further studies to elucidate the causal mechanisms and appropriate chemopreventive measures are needed.

Matched MeSH terms: Hair/chemistry*
The development of a fast method for recording Schroeder-phase masking functions

Rahmat S, O'Beirne GA

Hear Res, 2015 Dec;330(Pt A):125-33.
PMID: 26209881 DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2015.07.013

Schroeder-phase masking complexes have been used in many psychophysical experiments to examine the phase curvature of cochlear filtering at characteristic frequencies, and other aspects of cochlear nonlinearity. In a normal nonlinear cochlea, changing the "scalar factor" of the Schroeder-phase masker from -1 through 0 to +1 results in a marked difference in the measured masked thresholds, whereas this difference is reduced in ears with damaged outer hair cells. Despite the valuable information it may give, one disadvantage of the Schroeder-phase masking procedure is the length of the test - using the conventional three-alternative forced-choice technique to measure a masking function takes around 45 min for one combination of probe frequency and intensity. As an alternative, we have developed a fast method of recording these functions which uses a Békésy tracking procedure. Testing at 500 Hz in normal hearing participants, we demonstrate that our fast method: i) shows good agreement with the conventional method; ii) shows high test-retest reliability; and iii) shortens the testing time to 8 min.

Matched MeSH terms: Hair Cells, Auditory, Outer/physiology*
Prevalence of parasites in working pig-tailed Macaques (Macaca nemestrina) in Kelantan, Malaysia

Choong SS, Mimi Armiladiana M, Ruhil HH, Peng TL

J Med Primatol, 2019 08;48(4):207-210.
PMID: 31025372 DOI: 10.1111/jmp.12416

BACKGROUND: Coconut is an important commodity in Kelantan, and pig-tailed macaques (Macaca nemestrina) have been traditionally used for coconut-plucking for over a century. Most of these animals were sourced from the wild population, and the parasitic status of these macaques is unknown, plus the impacts caused by these parasites are usually underestimated by the owners.
METHODS: A total of 30 macaques were sampled for blood, faeces and hair plucks to detect parasite.
RESULTS: Out of 21 faecal samples examined, 11 (52%) were determined positive for one or more gastrointestinal parasites, namely Trichostrongylus spp., Strongyloides spp., Anatrichosoma spp., Capillaria spp., Trichuris spp. and Paramphisotomum spp. Filaria was detected in one (3%) of the blood samples. For ectoparasites, only lice, Pedicinus sp., were found in 9 (30%) macaques.
CONCLUSIONS: It is imperative that the parasitic status of these animals be determined so that necessary actions and preventive measures can be implemented to prevent zoonotic transmissions.

Matched MeSH terms: Hair/parasitology
Fulltext Updated parameters and expanded simulation options for a model of the auditory periphery

Zilany MS, Bruce IC, Carney LH

J Acoust Soc Am, 2014 Jan;135(1):283-6.
PMID: 24437768 DOI: 10.1121/1.4837815

A phenomenological model of the auditory periphery in cats was previously developed by Zilany and colleagues [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 126, 2390-2412 (2009)] to examine the detailed transformation of acoustic signals into the auditory-nerve representation. In this paper, a few issues arising from the responses of the previous version have been addressed. The parameters of the synapse model have been readjusted to better simulate reported physiological discharge rates at saturation for higher characteristic frequencies [Liberman, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 63, 442-455 (1978)]. This modification also corrects the responses of higher-characteristic frequency (CF) model fibers to low-frequency tones that were erroneously much higher than the responses of low-CF model fibers in the previous version. In addition, an analytical method has been implemented to compute the mean discharge rate and variance from the model's synapse output that takes into account the effects of absolute refractoriness.

Matched MeSH terms: Hair Cells, Auditory, Inner/physiology*
Fulltext A High-Yield Two-Hour Protocol for Extraction of Human Hair Shaft Proteins

Wong SY, Lee CC, Ashrafzadeh A, Junit SM, Abrahim N, Hashim OH

PLoS One, 2016;11(10):e0164993.
PMID: 27741315 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0164993

Proteome analysis of the human hair remains challenging due to the poor solubility of hair proteins and the difficulty in their extraction. In the present study, we have developed a rapid extraction protocol for hair shaft protein using alkaline-based buffer. The new protocol accelerated the procedure by reducing the extraction time from at least a day to less than two hours and showed a protein recovery of 47.3 ± 3.72%. Further analyses of the extracted protein sample through sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry analysis unveiled a total of 60 proteins, including 25 that were not previously reported. Identification of these proteins is anticipated to be crucial in helping to understand the molecular basis of hair for potential applications in the future.

Matched MeSH terms: Hair/metabolism*
Fulltext Relationship between selenium and breast cancer: a case-control study in the Klang Valley

Suzana S, Cham BG, Ahmad Rohi G, Mohd Rizal R, Fairulnizal MN, Normah H, et al.

Singapore Med J, 2009 Mar;50(3):265-9.
PMID: 19352569

The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between selenium status and intake among breast cancer patients from the Klang Valley.

Matched MeSH terms: Hair/chemistry
Cutaneous adnexal neoplasms in biopsy specimens processed in the Department of Pathology, University of Malaya

Jayalakshmi P, Looi LM

Ann Acad Med Singap, 1996 Jul;25(4):522-5.
PMID: 8893922

A review of consecutive biopsies of adnexal tumours from 112 patients, received by the Department of Pathology, University of Malaya, over a 13-year period was undertaken. The age range of the patients was from 1 to 84 years, with a mean of 29.8 years. Thirty-three (32%) patients were under 20 years of age. There were 68 females with a male to female ratio of 1.0:1.5. In 105 cases (93.7%), the neoplasm was solitary. The tumour measured less than 2 cm in the largest dimension in 103 cases (92%). The common sites of occurrence were the head and neck region (59%) and extremities (25%). Neoplasms of hair follicle origin accounted for 63.4% (71 cases) of all lesions. Intra-tumour deposition of amyloid was noted in one of the 14 cases of trichoepithelioma.

Matched MeSH terms: Hair Diseases/epidemiology; Hair Diseases/pathology*
Associations between prenatal nicotine exposure, oxidative stress, and postpartum visceral fat

Loy SL, Jan Mohamed HJ

Women Health, 2014;54(2):145-60.
PMID: 24329183 DOI: 10.1080/03630242.2013.870632

This study aimed to examine the associations among prenatal nicotine exposure, oxidative stress, and postpartum visceral fat among women exposed to secondhand smoke (SHS). The study was conducted in Kelantan, Malaysia, from April 2010 to December 2012. Blood samples were collected in the second and third trimesters from 135 healthy pregnant women who were followed-up at delivery, 2 months, 6 months and 12 months postpartum. Maternal hair nicotine and oxidative stress markers during pregnancy were measured. Visceral fat was assessed by bioelectrical impedance. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that maternal hair nicotine concentration was associated with increased DNA damage (tail moment: β=0.580, p=0.001) and decreased glutathione peroxidase (β=-12.100; p=0.009) in the second trimester of pregnancy. Increased DNA damage, protein oxidation and total antioxidant capacity in the second trimester were associated with 2, 6, and 12 months postpartum visceral fat. No direct association was found between prenatal hair nicotine level and postpartum visceral fat; however, these results suggest that any relation of SHS to visceral adiposity may be indirect, mediated via enhanced oxidative stress.

Matched MeSH terms: Hair/chemistry*
Human mesenchymal stromal cells could deliver erythropoietin and migrate to the basal layer of hair shaft when subcutaneously implanted in a murine model

Mok PL, Cheong SK, Leong CF, Chua KH, Ainoon O

Tissue Cell, 2012 Aug;44(4):249-56.
PMID: 22560724 DOI: 10.1016/j.tice.2012.04.002

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) are an attractive cell-targeting vehicle for gene delivery. MIDGE (an acronym for Minimalistic, Immunologically Defined Gene Expression) construct is relatively safer than the viral or plasmid expression system as the detrimental eukaryotic and prokaryotic gene and sequences have been eliminated. The objective of this study was to test the ability of the human MSC (hMSC) to deliver the erythropoietin (EPO) gene in a nude mice model following nucleofection using a MIDGE construct. hMSC nucleofected with MIDGE encoding the EPO gene was injected subcutaneously in Matrigel at the dorsal flank of nude mice. Subcutaneous implantation of nucleofected hMSC resulted in increased hemoglobin level with presence of human EPO in the peripheral blood of the injected nude mice in the first two weeks post-implantation compared with the control groups. The basal layer of the hair shaft in the dermal layer was found to be significantly positive for immunohistochemical staining of a human EPO antibody. However, only a few basal layers of the hair shaft were found to be positively stained for CD105. In conclusion, hMSC harboring MIDGE-EPO could deliver and transiently express the EPO gene in the nude mice model. These cells could be localized to the hair follicle and secreted EPO protein might have possible role in hair regeneration.

Matched MeSH terms: Hair/cytology*
Relation of distortion product otoacoustic emission with tinnitus

Ami M, Abdullah A, Awang MA, Liyab B, Saim L

Laryngoscope, 2008 Apr;118(4):712-7.
PMID: 18176342 DOI: 10.1097/MLG.0b013e318161e521

To investigate cochlear outer hair cell function based on distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) in patients with tinnitus.

Matched MeSH terms: Hair Cells, Auditory, Outer/physiology*
Correlation of Arsenic Levels in Smokeless Tobacco Products and Biological Samples of Oral Cancer Patients and Control Consumers

Arain SS, Kazi TG, Afridi HI, Talpur FN, Kazi AG, Brahman KD, et al.

Biol Trace Elem Res, 2015 Dec;168(2):287-95.
PMID: 25975948 DOI: 10.1007/s12011-015-0355-y

It has been extensively reported that chewing of smokeless tobacco (SLT) can lead to cancers of oral cavity. In present study, the relationship between arsenic (As) exposure via chewing/inhaling different SLT products in oral cancer patients have or/not consumed SLT products was studied. The As in different types of SLT products (gutkha, mainpuri, and snuff) and biological (scalp hair and blood) samples of different types of oral cancer patients and controls were analyzed. Both controls and oral cancer patients have same age group (ranged 30-60 years), socio-economic status, localities, and dietary habits. The concentrations of As in SLT products and biological samples were measured by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrophotometer after microwave-assisted acid digestion. The validity and accuracy of the methodology were checked by certified reference materials. The resulted data of present study indicates that the concentration of As was significantly higher in scalp hair and blood samples of oral cancer patients than those of controls (p<0.001). It was also observed that the values of As were two- to threefolds higher in biological samples of controls subjects, consuming SLT products as compared to those have none of these habits (p>0.01). The intake of As via consuming different SLT may have synergistic effects, in addition to other risk factors associated with oral cancer.

Matched MeSH terms: Hair/chemistry
Fulltext Maternal intake of dietary virgin coconut oil modifies essential fatty acids and causes low body weight and spiky fur in mice

Gunasekaran R, Shaker MR, Mohd-Zin SW, Abdullah A, Ahmad-Annuar A, Abdul-Aziz NM

BMC Complement Altern Med, 2017 Jan 28;17(1):79.
PMID: 28129764 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-017-1600-z

Coconut oil is commonly used as herbal medicine worldwide. There is limited information regarding its effects on the developing embryo and infant growth.

Matched MeSH terms: Hair/drug effects*
Fulltext The effects of Secondhand Smoke (SHS) exposure on microvascular endothelial function among healthy women

Sanip Z, Hanaffi SH, Ahmad I, Yusoff SS, Rasool AH, Yusoff HM

Tob Induc Dis, 2015;13(1):32.
PMID: 26346914 DOI: 10.1186/s12971-015-0052-9

BACKGROUND: Studies have demonstrated that secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure could impair endothelial function. However, the effect of SHS exposure specifically on microvascular endothelial function is not well understood. This study aimed to determine the effects of SHS exposure on microvascular endothelial function among non-smoking, generally healthy women.
FINDINGS: We studied 127 women; and based on their hair nicotine levels measured using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, 25 of them were categorized as having higher hair nicotine levels, 25 were grouped as having lower hair nicotine and 77 women were grouped into the non-detected group. The non-detected group did not have detectable levels of hair nicotine. Anthropometry, blood pressure (BP), lipid profile and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) were measured accordingly. Microvascular endothelial function was assessed non-invasively using laser Doppler fluximetry and the process of iontophoresis involving acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside as endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent vasodilators respectively. The mean hair nicotine levels for higher and lower hair nicotine groups were 0.74 (1.04) and 0.05 (0.01) ng/mg respectively. There were no significant differences in anthropometry, BP, lipid profile and hsCRP between these groups. There were also no significant differences in the microvascular perfusion and endothelial function between these groups.
CONCLUSION: In this study, generally healthy non-smoking women who have higher, lower and non-detected hair nicotine levels did not show significant differences in their microvascular endothelial function. Low levels of SHS exposure among generally healthy non-smoking women may not significantly impair their microvascular endothelial function.

Matched MeSH terms: Hair
Fulltext The Therapeutic Effect and In Vivo Assessment of Palmitoyl-GDPH on the Wound Healing Process

Fadilah NIM, Rahman MBA, Yusof LM, Mustapha NM, Ahmad H

Pharmaceutics, 2021 Feb 01;13(2).
PMID: 33535623 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13020193

The standard treatment of open wounds via the direct usage of therapeutic agents is not without limitations with respect to healing. Small peptides can create a favorable milieu for accelerating the healing of wounds. This study presents the potential of a novel fatty acid conjugated tetrapeptide (palmitic acid-glycine-aspartic acid-proline-histidine; Palmitoyl-GDPH) in alleviating wound healing. Tetracycline was employed as a standard control drug following its significance in wound healing including biologically active and antimicrobial effects. The peptide in liquid form was applied on to a 4 cm2 full thickness wound surgically induced at the dorsum of Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. The in vivo wound treatment with Palmitoyl-GDPH for eighteen days, histologically demonstrated an almost perfect healing exhibited by increased re-epithelialization, enhanced collagen deposition, and diminished scar formation compared to the controls. In addition, the well-developed epidermal-dermal junction and ultimate stimulation of hair follicle-growth in the Palmitoyl-GDPH treated group indicated the wound to have healed as functionally viable tissues. In general, the much lower hemogram values in the Palmitoyl-GDPH group indicated that the ongoing healing is en route to an earlier recovery. Additionally, the liver, kidney, and pancreas function biomarkers being within normal limits indicated the relatively non-toxic nature of Palmitoyl-GDPH at the used dosage. These results indisputably supported the great potential of this newly synthesized Palmitoyl-GDPH to be used as an effective therapeutic agent for wound healing (this actually means creating a new wound).

Matched MeSH terms: Hair Follicle
Health status of aboriginal children in Post Brooke, Kelantan

Tengku Ariff, R.H., Mohd Nazi, M.Z., Mohd Rizam, M.Z., Mohd Shahriman, M.S., Zakaria, Y., Kamal Nazmir, K., et al.

Malaysian Journal of Child Health, 1997;9(1):60-65.
MyJurnal

This study was conducted to determine the health status of aboriginal ("Orang Asli') children aged 0-12 years in Post Brooke, Gua Musang, Kelantan. This is done by appraising the environmental status, patterns of illnesses including communicable diseases and usage of health resources. Six villages were selected randomly from 12 villages in the area; 179 families were interviewed, 200 under-12-year-olds were examined and their blood samples taken for haemoglobin (HB) estimation as well as malarial screening. Water supply through Gravity Feed System (GFS) was used by 134 families (70.2%) whilst the rest obtained water direct from the river for the purpose. Only 63.6% of families boiled their drinking water 56.4% families threw rubbish indiscriminately, while 82.1% used the river as their toilets. Eighty-seven percent of the families saw the village medicine man first when ill. Forty (22.2%) children had had serious illnesses including malaria and 24 were admitted to hospitals. 15% of the children had never been immunized. A total of 102 (51%) children were pale and 90 (45%) had brown hair. Eighty nine (44.5%) of the children were anaemic (Hb < 10 gm/di). Sixty-nine children (34%) had dental caries. Forty-two (21%) had distended abdomen and 37 (18.5%) had hepatomegaly. Out of 84 stool samples examined, 67 (79.8%) had helminthic ova. Of all families, 47.1% gave a past history of at least one baby among their children who had died due to one reason or another. The health status of this community (especially children) was low that it warrants special attention.

Matched MeSH terms: Hair
Prevalence and predictors of pediculosis capitis among primary school children in Hulu Langat, Selangor

Lye MS, Tohit NF, Rampal L

Med J Malaysia, 2017 02;72(1):12-17.
PMID: 28255134 MyJurnal

INTRODUCTION: Pediculosis capitis infestation is endemic in both developing and developed countries leading to various physical, economical and psychological consequences. Our main objective was to determine the prevalence and predictors of pediculosis capitis among primary school children in Hulu Langat District, Malaysia.
METHODS: An analytic cross-sectional study using cluster random sampling method was carried out in Hulu Langat District, Malaysia. Self-administered pretested questionnaires were used to collect the data. Hair and scalp examination was also carried out. Multivariate logistic regression was used to control for potential confounding and determine the predictors.
RESULTS: The overall mean age of the 1,336 respondents was 9.3 years. Majority were males (52.8%), Malays (79.5%) and 81.3% of the fathers had secondary or tertiary education as compared to 77.3% for the mothers. The overall prevalence of pediculosis capitis was 15.3%. The prevalence of pediculosis was significantly higher among females (28.4%) than males (3.7%, p=0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age 10 years or more (Odds Ratio (OR) = 2.34, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) = 1.673 to 3.272), female gender (OR = 10.26, 95% CI = 6.620 to 15.903), history of contact with an infested person (OR = 2.11, 95% CI = 1.506 to 2.960), Indian compared to Chinese (OR = 3.55, 95% CI = 1.282 to 9.860), Malay to Chinese (OR = 2.59, 95% CI = .994 to 6.774) were associated with pediculosis capitis.
CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of pediculosis capitis among children aged 7 - 12 years in Hulu Langat District was high. There is a need for screening and treatment of pediculosis capitis in primary schools.

Matched MeSH terms: Hair
Fulltext A biomarker feasibility study in the South East Asia Community Observatory health and demographic surveillance system

Partap U, Young EH, Allotey P, Sandhu MS, Reidpath DD

Glob Health Epidemiol Genom, 2018;3:e14.
PMID: 30263138 DOI: 10.1017/gheg.2018.13

Background: Integration of biomarker data with information on health and lifestyle provides a powerful tool to enhance the scientific value of health research. Existing health and demographic surveillance systems (HDSSs) present an opportunity to create novel biodata resources for this purpose, but data and biological sample collection often presents challenges. We outline some of the challenges in developing these resources and present the outcomes of a biomarker feasibility study embedded within the South East Asia Community Observatory (SEACO) HDSS.
Methods: We assessed study-related records to determine the pace of data collection, response from potential participants, and feedback following data and sample collection. Overall and stratified measures of data and sample availability were summarised. Crude prevalence of key risk factors was examined.
Results: Approximately half (49.5%) of invited individuals consented to participate in this study, for a final sample size of 203 (161 adults and 42 children). Women were more likely to consent to participate compared with men, whereas children, young adults and individuals of Malay ethnicity were less likely to consent compared with older individuals or those of any other ethnicity. At least one biological sample (blood from all participants - finger-prick and venous [for serum, plasma and whole blood samples], hair or urine for adults only) was successfully collected from all participants, with blood test data available from over 90% of individuals. Among adults, urine samples were most commonly collected (97.5%), followed by any blood samples (91.9%) and hair samples (83.2%). Cardiometabolic risk factor burden was high (prevalence of elevated HbA1c among adults: 23.8%; of elevated triglycerides among adults: 38.1%; of elevated total cholesterol among children: 19.5%).
Conclusions: In this study, we show that it is feasible to create biodata resources using existing HDSS frameworks, and identify a potentially high burden of cardiometabolic risk factors that requires further evaluation in this population.

Matched MeSH terms: Hair

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