Introduction: The purpose of this paper is to study the type, the clinical presentation, and the best diagnostic methods for pleural solitary fibrous tumors (PSFTs), as well as to evaluate which is the most appropriate treatment, especially as PSFTs represent a rare occurrence in the thoracic pathology. Material and Method: A retrospective study was conducted on a group of 45 patients submitted to surgery between January 2015 and December 2019. In most cases, the diagnosis was established through imaging studies—thoracic computed tomography (CT) scan with or without contrast—but also using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or positron emission tomography (PET) scans when data from CT scans were scarce. All patients were submitted to surgery with curative intent. Results: Most patients included in this study were asymptomatic, with this pathology being more common in patients over 60 years of age, and more common in women. The occurrence of malignant PSFT in our study was 17.77% (8 cases). All cases were submitted to surgery with curative intent, with a single case developing further recurrence. In order to achieve complete resection en bloc resection of the tumor with the chest wall, resection was performed in two cases, while lower lobectomy, pneumectomy, and hemidiaphragm resection, respectively, were needed in each case. Postoperative mortality was null. Conclusion: Thoracic CT scan remains the most important imagistic investigation in diagnosing. MRI is superior to thoracic CT, especially in cases that involved the larger blood vessels within the thorax, spinal column, or diaphragm. Complete surgical resection is the gold standard in treatment of PSFT, and the prognosis in benign cases is very good.

Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a benign condition with variable psychosocial impact, with some individuals adapting well while others needing therapeutic support. Although 5α-reductase inhibitors like finasteride and dutasteride have proven effective in ameliorating AGA, their use/selection is currently a subject of debate. Areas covered: Treatment of AGA with 5α-reductase inhibitors lead to variable adverse effects and relatively unstable results (therapeutic efficacy ending with treatment cessation), so the choice of optimal therapy is not straightforward. This paper presents a general perspective regarding AGA based on studies listed in PubMed, to better understand/appreciate the opportunity for long term use of medication for a biological condition having non-life threatening implications. Studies focussed on adverse effects suggest that finasteride should be used with caution in AGA, due to considerable and persistent side effects induced in some men. In contrast, efficacy data indicate that dutasteride (a stronger inhibitor) presents superior therapeutic results compared to finasteride. Expert opinion: This paper argues that finasteride should be preferred to dutasteride in the treatment of AGA. Thus, finasteride preserves important physiological roles of dihydrotestosterone (unrelated to AGA) and, in addition, its adverse effects seem to be (at least in part) predictable.

Nowadays, finasteride is a relatively frequently prescribed drug in the therapeutic management of male androgenic alopecia. The reported adverse effects are notable in some patients, consisting in signs and symptoms that are encountered both during finasteride administration and after treatment cessation. Clinical and imagistic data show that cognition and sexuality are two distinct but interrelated environmental functions, most probable due to lateralization process of the brain. Specific for our topic, relatively recent published studies found that frequency and severity of finasteride adverse effects could be interrelated with hand preference and sexual orientation of the respective subjects. This paper tries to explain/support this interrelation through a psychophysiologic approach, to suggest how this premise could be further proved in dermatological practice, and to highlight its relevance in respect to therapeutic approach of male androgenic alopecia. As a possible therapeutic application, subjects having preference for a certain sexual orientation and/or predisposition for a given dominant hand could be advised before finasteride administration, that present an increased risk/sensitivity to develop adverse effects. Finally, even if finasteride and post-finasteride symptoms overlap to a large extent they should be, however, viewed as distinct physiopathologic entities, which could require perhaps different therapeutic approaches.

Recent clinical and imaging studies suggest that sex hormones modulate sexuality according to a psychophysiologic process of lateralization of the brain, with androgens playing a greater role in sexual functioning of left hemibrain/right handedness and estrogens possibly for right hemibrain/left handedness. Based on this perspective, the current study attempted to specify the relationship between hand preference, estrogens, and sexual function in subjects with male breast cancer, taking into account the sexual side effects of tamoxifen as the agent for inhibiting estrogen action. Twenty-eight Romanian men-17 right-handed and 11 left-handed-undergoing treatment with tamoxifen for male breast cancer participated in this study. These men were assessed both prior to and during tamoxifen treatment using the International Index of Erectile Function, a standardized instrument used for the evaluation of various aspects of sexual functioning, including erectile function (EF), orgasmic function (OF), sexual desire (SD), and overall functioning (OF). A main effect for handedness was found on EF, OF, SD, and OS scales, with right-handed men showing higher functioning than left-handed men. Regarding interaction effects, the left-handed group of men showed greater decreased sexual functioning during tamoxifen (on three subscales: OF, SD, OS) compared to right-handed men. Further research should be conducted in order to support and refine this potential lateralized process of sexual neuromodulation within the brain.