Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy has been considered as a promising treatment for androgenetic alopecia (AGA). The aim of the study was comparative evaluation of the clinical efficacy of PRP-therapy, minoxidil, and their combination in the treatment of men with AGA and to evaluate the effects of PRP on the proliferation of hair follicle (HF) cells in skin biopsy. Materials and Methods: The study involved 69 men who were divided into 3 groups who received PRP therapy, minoxidil, and their combination. The clinical efficacy of the therapy was evaluated by the dynamics of morphometric of hairs. To assess cell proliferation antibodies to β-catenin, CD34, Ki67, and to Dkk-1 were used. Results. PRP treatment was more effective than minoxidil therapy (p = 0.005). Complex therapy turned out to be more effective than minoxidil monotherapy (p < 0.0001) and PRP monotherapy (p = 0.007). After applying PRP the absolute and relative values of the β-catenin and CD34 expression area increased; an increase in Ki67+ index was also significant. Conclusions: PRP can be considered as a treatment option for AGA. Combined PRP and minoxidil use seems promising for the treatment of AGA. PRP increase in the proliferative activity of HF cells and improves hair morphology in patients with AGA.

The aim of the study was morphological substantiation of clinical efficacy of platelet rich plasma (PRP) in the treatment of patients with androgenetic alopecia (AGA). Materials and Methods: The study included 25 men aged from 20 to 43 years. AGA degree II-IV on the Hamilton-Norwood scale was diagnosed in 23 (92%) patients and degree I in 2 patients. All patients received intradermal injections of PRP. The course of treatment consisted of 4 procedures with an interval of 4 weeks between each procedure. The clinical efficacy of the therapy was evaluated by the dynamics of morphometric indicators of hair growth. The morphological analysis included an assessment of indicators in horizontal sections and was carried out at 4 levels: at the level of subcutaneous adipose tissue, sweat glands, sebaceous glands, and mouths of hair follicle (HF). Sections were stained with H&E. Histological examination was performed before and after treatment. Against the background of treatment with PRP, hair density increased by 12% (P=0.000), average hair diameter by 12% (P=0.002), and the share of vellus and telogen hair decreased by 17% (P=0.002) and 16% (P=0.028), respectively. At the same time, the amount of anagen hair in relation to telogen hair increased by 18% (P=0.016). Histologically, the increase in hair density was accompanied by a significant increase in the number of HF at the mouth level (∆+96%, P=0.004) and at the level of sweat glands (∆+54%, P=0.037), as well as a tendency for their number to increase at the level of the sebaceous glands. These increases were combined with a significant decrease in the proportion of telogen hair (∆-43%, P=0.023) and vellus hair (∆-29%, P=0.037). Conclusion: The positive clinical effect of PRP therapy is due to significant morphofunctional changes in hair follicles.

The aim of this study was to investigate the possible influence of exposure to steroid hormones early in life on the susceptibility of animals as adults to chemical carcinogens. CBA male and female mice received a single subcutaneous injection of 0.5 mg testosterone propionate (TP) in olive oil within 24 h after birth. At the age of 2 months, neonatally androgenized and control mice started receiving weekly subcutaneous injections of 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH). By the end of the experiment, 90% of neonatally androgenized females treated with DMH developed uterine sarcoma against 9% in control females treated with DMH, this difference being attributed to the hyperoestrogenization of androgenized females. In neonatally androgenized males treated with DMH 79% developed pararenal sarcoma and 71% colon tumours versus 25 and 32% respectively of control males treated with DMH.

During the last decade, much attention has centered on melatonin, which was considered to be only a hormone of the pineal gland for many years. As soon as highly sensitive antibodies to indolealkylamines became available, melatonin was identified not only in the pineal gland, but also in extrapineal tissues and cells, e.g. the retina, Harderian gland, gut mucosa, cerebellum, airway epithelium, liver, kidney, adrenals, pancreas, thyroid gland and thymus. Also, melatonin has been found in some non-endocrine cells, e.g. mast cells, natural killer cells, eosinophilic leukocytes, platelets and endothelial and other cells. Functionally, melatonin-producing cells are part and parcel of the diffuse neuroendocrine system as a universal system of response, control and organism protection. The influence of aging upon melatonin-synthesizing cells in the gut is summarized. Melatonin synthesis in the visual system and its hormone level, similarly to the pineal gland, reflect the interaction between the circadian clock and the photic environment. Since retinal melatonin does not contribute to circulating levels and melatonin receptors are present in the retina, its effects on the visual system are primarily mediated by a paracrine mechanism. Although the physiological role of melatonin in the visual system is not exactly determined yet, it apparently includes regulation of gene expression, visual sensitivity and the protection of ocular structures from oxidative damage.

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