Hair transplantation in alopecia due to radiation

Two cases of alopecia due to radiation of the scalp are presented in which it has been possible to achieve a technically and cosmetically satisfactory reconstruction by punch hair grafting. This does not mean that every case is suitable, but it does mean that those without contraindications should at least be given a try.     

Hair transplantation for men with advanced degrees of hair loss

In the field of surgical hair restoration, there is probably no greater challenge than treating the individual with advanced male pattern hair loss. Recent developments in follicular unit grafting and recognition of the natural appearance of the transplanted frontal forelock have now made it possible to obtain excellent, undetectable results in these patients. Over a 22-month period, the onset correlating with the time when the author began to use the technique of follicular unit grafting, 61 of 322 hair transplant procedures (approximately 20 percent) performed for male pattern hair loss were on men with, or at high risk of developing, advanced male pattern hair loss. Uniformly, the creation of some type of frontal forelock provided excellent results and high patient satisfaction. The concept of the frontal forelock is not new. Developments in aesthetic principles, enhanced understanding of its applicability, and the applied advantages of follicular unit grafting allow for the first time, truly undetectable results.     

Tension headaches

In order to assess the effectiveness of verbal relaxation instructions and EMG relaxation training on the relief of tension headaches, 18 medically documented tension-headache sufferers were randomly assigned to one of three conditions:(1) Jacobson-Wolpe autogenic-relaxation training,(2) EMG relaxation training, or(3) EMG relaxation training combined with Jacobson-Wolpe autogenic instructions. The two EMG-assisted groups showed significantly better results, compared to the verbal group, in terms of reduction of headache activity and the rate at which reduction took place. Thus, EMG-assisted relaxation procedures seem the treatment method of choice for relief of tension headaches.     

Traumatic-event headaches

Background  

Chronic headaches from head trauma and whiplash injury are well-known and common, but chronic headaches from other sorts of physical traumas are not recognized.     

Skin temperature biofeedback and migraine headaches

To assess the relative contribution of specific and nonspecific effects of skin temperature biofeedback upon migraine headache, 11 migraine patients were taught to increase the temperature of their hand. Training to decrease the skin temperature of the hand served as a control for 12 other migraine patients. An additional 11 control subjects were not trained but kept records of migraine activity. Under carefully controlled double-blind procedures, migraine patients who learned to raise finger temperatures showed statistically significant and clinically therapeutic improvement during a 6-week follow-up period. However, they were not significantly better than those trained to lower finger temperatures, those who did not meet a learning criterion, or those receiving no training. While these groups did show some significant improvement when compared to subjects who learned to decrease finger temperature, the results are most parsimoniously explained through nonspecific rather than specific factors. The necessity of using double-blind procedures in evaluating therapeutic effectiveness is again stressed.This article was presented as a Citation Award Paper at the Biofeedback Society of America meetings, San Diego, 1979. The work was supported in part by Rehabilitation Services Administration Grant No. 16-P-56810/5-17 to the University of Minnesota Medical Rehabilitation Research and Training Center and by a grant from the Division of Health Care Psychology, University of Minnesota. We would like to acknowledge the advice and support of Lee Willerman and John Belknap. We are grateful for the assistance of John Hendrickson, Dale Armin Miller, and Stephanie Waddingham in conducting the study and for the technical assistance of Robert Patterson, Steve Sheffield, P. Thain Marston, Kathy Guttormson, and Nancy Belknap.     

Association of headaches and the metals

Lack of specific markers constitutes a problem during diagnosis of headache syndromes. Recently, some metals have gained importance as biological parameters for the diagnosis and during treatment. Low-ionized Mg and high-ionized Ca/Mg in patients with daily migrainous headaches were noted. The blood Na level was shown to increase before and during headache. Headache is also a symptom of the common cold for which zinc may be an effective therapy. The existing relationship between genetic markers of the cluster headache and the efficacy of lithium salts therapy was noted. Headache was also found to be associated with toxic metals. When the health effects of mercury were investigated, the most frequently observed symptom was cephalalgia. Continuous exposure to lead was concomitant with the appearance of symptoms such as headache. In relation to some metabolic links, metals may be introduced as possible biological markers for the diagnosis and during the therapy of different headache syndromes in future clinical trials and laboratory measurements.     

6-Gingerol Inhibits Hair Shaft Growth in Cultured Human Hair Follicles and Modulates Hair Growth in Mice

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) has been traditionally used to check hair loss and stimulate hair growth in East Asia. Several companies produce shampoo containing an extract of ginger claimed to have anti-hair loss and hair growth promotion properties. However, there is no scientific evidence to back up these claims. This study was undertaken to measure 6-gingerol, the main active component of ginger, on hair shaft elongation in vitro and hair growth in vivo, and to investigate its effect on human dermal papilla cells (DPCs) in vivo and in vitro. 6-Gingerol suppressed hair growth in hair follicles in culture and the proliferation of cultured DPCs. The growth inhibition of DPCs by 6-gingerol in vitro may reflect a decrease in the Bcl-2/Bax ratio. Similar results were obtained in vivo. The results of this study showed that 6-gingerol does not have the ability to promote hair growth, on the contrary, can suppress human hair growth via its inhibitory and pro-apoptotic effects on DPCs in vitro, and can cause prolongation of telogen phase in vivo. Thus, 6-gingerol rather than being a hair growth stimulating drug, it is a potential hair growth suppressive drug; i.e. for hair removal.     

Corrugator supercilii muscle resection and migraine headaches

This study was conducted to determine whether there is an association between the removal of the corrugator supercilii muscle and the elimination or significant improvement of migraine headaches. Questionnaires were sent to 314 consecutive patients who had undergone corrugator supercilii muscle resection during endoscopic, transpalpebral, or open forehead rejuvenation procedures. The patients were queried as to whether they had a history of migraine headaches and, if so, whether the headaches significantly improved or disappeared after surgery. If the answer was affirmative, then the patients were further questioned about the duration of the improvement or cessation of the headaches and the relationship to the timing of the surgery. After an initial evaluation of the completed questionnaires, a telephone interview was conducted to confirm the initial answers and to obtain further information necessary to ensure that the patients had a proper diagnosis based on the International Headache Society criteria for migraine headaches. The charts of the patients who had migraine headaches were studied to ascertain and classify the type of surgery they had undergone. Patient demographics were reviewed, and the results were statistically analyzed. Of the 314 patients, 265 (84.4 percent) either responded to the questionnaire, were interviewed, or both responded to the questionnaire and were interviewed. Of this group, 16 patients were excluded because of the provision of insufficient information to meet the International Headache Society criteria, the presence of organic problems, and other exclusions mandated by study design. Thirty-nine (15.7 percent) of the remaining 249 patients had migraine headaches that fulfilled the Society criteria. Thirty-one of the 39 (79.5 percent) with preoperative migraine noted elimination or improvement in migraine headaches immediately after surgery (p < 0.0001; McNemar), and the benefits lasted over a mean follow-up period of 47 months. When the respondents with a positive history of migraine headaches were further divided, 16 patients (p < 0.0001; McNemar) noticed improvement over a mean follow-up period of 47 months, and 15 (p < 0.0001; McNemar) experienced total elimination of their migraine headaches over a mean follow-up period of 46.5 months. When divided by migraine headache type, 29 patients (74 percent) had nonaura migraine headaches. Of these patients, the headaches disappeared in 11 patients, improved in 13 patients, and did not change in five patients (p < 0.0001). Ten patients experienced aura-type headaches, which disappeared or improved in seven of the patients and did not change in three of the patients (p < 0.0001). This study proves for the first time that there is indeed a strong correlation between the removal of the corrugator supercilii muscle and the elimination or significant improvement of migraine headaches.     

Hair and Physiological Baldness

Human hair is one of the structures of the body about which little is generally known. Disease affecting the hair is often minimized or ignored by physicians because of lack of knowledge of this rudimentary organ. However, the patient''s attitude toward hair loss is very different from the doctor''s and he feels great concern about such loss. The development, growth and morphology of human hair are briefly presented. Experimental work which will increase our knowledge of hair growth and loss is reviewed. The various forms of physiological alopecia from birth onward are discussed, with special emphasis on the least-known type of physiological baldness, “male-pattern baldness” in the adult female.