Project description:COVID-19 is a febrile, infectious illness that has previously been associated with telogen effluvium (TE). However, to date, no study has been conducted to determine the incidence of TE in those who have had COVID-19. To assess the frequency of TE in post-COVID-19 patients and the correlation between the development of TE and the severity of COVID-19, to understand whether emotional stress or medications are responsible for the development of TE. Totally 204 patients with a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the last 3 months were included in the study. The diagnosis of TE was made by history of excessive hair shedding, hair pull test, diffuse or bitemporal thinning, and absence of anisotrichosis in trichoscopy. Patients who did not have any TE cause other than COVID-19 and whose hair loss started after COVID-19 were considered as "COVID-19 associated TE (CATE)." We found TE in 75 (36.7%) cases and androgenetic alopecia (AGA) in 85 (41.7%) cases. CATE was present in 27.9% of cases and developed on average 53.76 (± 23.772) days after COVID-19 real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) positivity. The proportion of patients with CATE was numerically higher in hospitalized patients compared to outpatients (31.7% vs. 24.3%; p = 0.238); and significantly higher in women compared to men (42.3% vs. 6.2%; p < 0.001), in patients with hypertension compared to those without hypertension (40.4% vs. 23.1%; p = 0.014), and in patients who had respiratory symptoms compared to those who had not (31.7% vs. 14.0%; p = 0.021). The patients with and without CATE were similar in terms of stress level and usage of COVID-19 medications. Patients with AGA had a higher rate of hospitalization (69.4% vs. 35.3%; p < 0.001) and a higher incidence of fever (69.4% vs. 54.6%; p = 0.033) during COVID-19, compared to those without. TE developed in approximately one-quarter of people who have had COVID-19, and our study is the first to detect it. The time to onset of CATE, which was 7-8 weeks after the SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR positivity, was not much different from post-infectious TE. Patients with severe COVID-19 seem to be more prone to develop TE. The presence of AGA is associated with a more severe COVID-19. During the pandemic, clinicians should consider a previous SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients presenting with hair loss.
Project description:Background: Chronic telogen effluvium (CTE) may be primary or secondary to various causes, including drug reaction, nutritional deficiency and female pattern hair loss (FPHL). Oral minoxidil stimulates hair growth, and topical minoxidil is used in the treatment of FPHL and male androgenetic alopecia. minoxidil has not been used to treat CTE. This study aimed to assess the treatment of CTE with once daily oral minoxidil. Methods: Women with a diagnosis of CTE based on >6 month history of increased telogen hair shedding, no visible mid frontal scalp hair loss (Sinclair stage 1) and no hair follicle miniaturization on scalp biopsy were treated with once daily oral minoxidil. Hair shedding scores (HSS) at baseline, 6 and 12 months were analysed using the Wilcoxon rank sum test for pair-wise comparisons. Results: Thirty-six women were treated with oral minoxidil (range, 0.25-2.5 mg) daily for 6 months. Mean age was 46.9 years (range 20-83), HSS at baseline was 5.64, and duration of diagnosis was 6.55 years (range 1-27). There was a reduction in mean HSS scores from baseline to 6 months of 1.7 (p<0.001) and baseline to 12 months of 2.58 (p<0.001). Five women who described trichodynia at baseline, noted improvement or resolution within 3 months. Mean change in blood pressure was minus 0.5 mmHg systolic and plus 2.1 mmHg diastolic. Two patients developed transient postural dizziness that resolved with continued treatment. One patient developed ankle oedema. Thirteen women developed facial hypertrichosis. For 6 patients this was mild and did not require treatment; 4 had waxing of their upper lip or forehead; 3 had laser hair removal. No patients developed any haematological abnormality. All 36 women completed 12 months of treatment. Conclusions: Once daily oral minoxidil appears to reduce hair shedding in CTE. Placebo controlled studies are recommended to further assess this response.
Project description:BackgroundTelogen effluvium (TE) is a form of alopecia characterized by diffuse hair shedding. Vitamin D receptor (VDR) plays a role in hair cycle regulation as it is expressed in follicular keratinocytes and dermal papilla cells.PurposeTo investigate the association between Cdx1 and Taq1 VDR gene polymorphisms and chronic TE.MethodsThirty female patients with chronic TE were selected and 30 healthy, age- and sex-matched volunteers were included as a control group. Detection of VDR gene polymorphisms Taq1 and Cdx1 was done by real-time polymerase chain reaction.ResultsRegarding Taq 1, CC genotype was present in 30% of cases versus 3.3% of controls. TC genotype was present in 33.3% of cases and 36.7% of controls. CC genotype was significantly associated with cases (P=0.01). It increases the risk of chronic TE by 14.7 folds. C allele was significantly associated with patient group (P=0.004). It increases the risk of disease occurrence by 3.1 folds. Regarding Cdx1, AA genotype was present in 6.7% of cases versus 3.3% of controls. GA genotype was present in approximately 30% of cases and 6.7% of controls. GA genotype was significantly associated with cases (P=0.03). It increases the risk of chronic TE by 6.3 folds. A allele was significantly associated with patient group (P=0.007). It increases the risk of disease occurrence by 3.8 folds.LimitationsThe main limitation is the small number of cases due to the time and financial constraints. Only chronic TE was analyzed, therefore, other types should be investigated in the following studies.ConclusionAfter exposure to primary physical or mental stressor, hair follicles are stimulated to enter prematurely into telogen and shed out. In individuals with Taq1 and Cdx1 polymorphisms, the disease persists as a result of prevention of new anagen growth and inhibition of hair follicle stem cell proliferation.
Project description:BackgroundDementia is often underdiagnosed and this problem is more common among some ethnoracial groups.ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to examine racial and ethnic disparities in the timeliness of receiving a clinical diagnosis of dementia.Research designThis was a prospective cohort study.SubjectsA total of 3966 participants age 70 years and above with probable dementia in the Health and Retirement Study, linked with their Medicare and Medicaid claims.MeasuresWe performed logistic regression to compare the likelihood of having a missed or delayed dementia diagnosis in claims by race/ethnicity. We analyzed dementia severity, measured by cognition and daily function, at the time of a dementia diagnosis documented in claims, and estimated average dementia diagnosis delay, by race/ethnicity.ResultsA higher proportion of non-Hispanic Blacks and Hispanics had a missed/delayed clinical dementia diagnosis compared with non-Hispanic Whites (46% and 54% vs. 41%, P<0.001). Fully adjusted logistic regression results suggested more frequent missed/delayed dementia diagnoses among non-Hispanic Blacks (odds ratio=1.12; 95% confidence interval: 0.91-1.38) and Hispanics (odds ratio=1.58; 95% confidence interval: 1.20-2.07). Non-Hispanic Blacks and Hispanics had a poorer cognitive function and more functional limitations than non-Hispanic Whites around the time of receiving a claims-based dementia diagnosis. The estimated mean diagnosis delay was 34.6 months for non-Hispanic Blacks and 43.8 months for Hispanics, compared with 31.2 months for non-Hispanic Whites.ConclusionsNon-Hispanic Blacks and Hispanics may experience a missed or delayed diagnosis of dementia more often and have longer diagnosis delays. When diagnosed, non-Hispanic Blacks and Hispanics may have more advanced dementia. Public health efforts should prioritize racial and ethnic underrepresented communities when promoting early diagnosis of dementia.
Project description:IntroductionALRV5XR treatment of androgenetic alopecia (AGA) and telogen effluvium (TE) has early evidence of regenerating a normal scalp hair phenotype in both sexes.DesignWe performed two 24-week double-blinded placebo-controlled comparison trials, one in each sex, on the ALRV5XR treatment effect on hair regeneration, in AGA and TE, in 92 AGA subjects (24 also had TE). Forty-six women (age 24-64 years) and 46 men (age 22-63 years) were randomized 1:1 to either ALRV5XR or placebo regimens (one b.i.d. oral capsule and daily administration of shampoo, conditioner, and follicle serum).EvaluationPrimary outcomes: Absolute and relative changes in terminal hair (TH) density. Secondary outcomes: Response rate, changes in vellus hair (VH) density, TH/VH ratio, hair diameter, growth, and shedding rate.ResultsForty-one women (20 ALRV5XR, 21 placebo) and 36 men (17 ALRV5XR, 19 placebo) completed the trials. TH outcome was evaluable for 18 and 21 women and 11 and 11 men (ALRV5XR, placebo, respectively). Efficacy in women: 30.1 THs/cm2 (p = 0.0002) and 19.7% (p = 0.0016). Efficacy in men: 21.0 THs/cm2 (p = 0.0014) and 16.4% (p = 0.0012). 66.7% of women and 100% of men responded to ALRV5XR. TH/VH ratio for men increased 33.0% (p = 0.0033). Growth rate in women increased by 30.7 μm/24 h (p < 0.0001) and 10.0% (p < 0.0001). There were no adverse events reported.Conclusion and relevanceALRV5XR induced significant regrowth of TH. Accelerating regrowth by reactivation of dormant telogen follicles were the dominant effects in women. Thickening of miniaturized hair and regrowth of dormant telogen follicles contributed equally to the increased TH seen in men (see Graphical Abstract).
Project description:To date, there has been limited data available to understand the associations between race/ethnicity and socioeconomic and related characteristics with novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccination in the United States. I leveraged the large, nationally-representative cross-sectional surveys of the U.S. Household Pulse Survey between January and March 2021 with relatively complete race/ethnicity and socioeconomic data to examine national trends in levels of COVID-19 vaccine initiation and intention in adults aged 18-85 years. I further estimated the multivariable associations between race/ethnicity, education, income, and financial hardship with the adjusted prevalence odds ratios of: 1) receipt of ≥1 COVID-19 vaccine dose; and 2) among those unvaccinated, the definite intention to receive a vaccine. I observed persistent disparities in vaccine initiation for non-Hispanic Blacks, Hispanics, and non-Hispanic multiracial/other race persons, and vaccine intention for Blacks and multiracial/other race persons, compared to non-Hispanic Whites and Asians. In late March 2021, the prevalence estimates of Hispanics and Blacks receiving a vaccine were 12-percentage points and 8-percentage points lower than for Whites, respectively. Education and income exhibited dose-response relationships with vaccine initiation (P for trend ≤0.01 and <0.001, respectively). Substantial financial hardship was linked to 35-44% lower adjusted odds of vaccination (P<.001). In this large, nationally-representative study, I found persistent racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in vaccine initiation and intention, more than three months after COVID-19 vaccines first became available. Addressing these persistent racial/ethnic and socioeconomic inequities in vaccination is essential to mitigate the pandemic's higher risks of infection and adverse health outcomes in Hispanic, Black, and socioeconomically-disadvantaged communities.
Project description:Previous research demonstrates that pandemics, including COVID-19, have disproportionate effects on communities of color, further exacerbating existing healthcare inequities. While increasing evidence points to the greater threat posed by COVID-19 to Latinx communities, less remains known about how identification as Latinx and migration status influence their perception of risk and harm. In this article, we use cross-sectional data from a large national probability sample to demonstrate a large positive association between ethnic identity and migration status and perceptions of harm from COVID-19 in the US. We find that individuals identifying as Hispanic/Latinx and first-generation immigrants report significantly greater risks of becoming infected by COVID-19 in the next three months, and dying from the virus if they do contract it. Further, subgroup analysis reveals that health risks are especially felt by individuals of Mexican descent, who represent the largest share of US Latinxs. Collectively, our results provide evidence about how the pandemic places increased stress on people from Latinx and immigrant communities relative to White non-Hispanic individuals in the US.