Hair disorders cause significant distress. The main, but limited, treatment for hair loss is minoxidil, an ATP-sensitive potassium (KATP) channel opener whose mechanism of stimulation is unclear. The regulatory component of KATP channels has three forms: SUR1, SUR2A and SUR2B which all respond to different molecules. Minoxidil only opens SUR2B channels, though SUR1 and SUR2B are present in human hair follicles. To expand our understanding, the red deer hair follicle model was used initially. Deer follicles expressed the same KATP channel genes as human follicles when growing (anagen), but no channels were detected in resting follicles. This reinforces the importance of KATP channels in active hair growth and the usefulness of the deer model. To assess whether SUR1 KATP channels are actually involved in human hair growth, the effects of a selective SUR1 channel opener, NNC55-9216, on scalp follicle growth in organ culture was examined. NNC55-9216 stimulated anagen; its effect was augmented by minoxidil. This creates the potential for more effective pharmaceuticals to treat hair loss via SUR1 channels, either alone or in combination with minoxidil. The dermal papilla plays a crucial regulatory role in hair follicle activity determining the type of hair produced. Minoxidil had no effect on dermal papilla cell proliferation, but altered the profile of proteins produced when assessed by proteomics. Further research into the roles of KATP channels and greater understanding of the significance of these protein changes should enhance our knowledge of hair biology and help the development of new, improved therapies for hair pathologies.

The aim of this study was to research how the self-image of women changes after a chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer. Previous research has been focusing on the implications of hair loss in relation to self-image, in this study more aspects of self-image in relation to a chemotherapy treatment is being researched. Nine semi-structured interviews with women between the ages of 40-60 years have been conducted. The result shows a large variation in how the self-image has changed. Some recurring themes are an increased insight of being mortal, a new perception of the body and an experience of being different. Counselors who work in hospitals are often part of the team that work with women who suffer from breast cancer. Hopefully this study will contribute to a deeper understanding amongst counselors and others who work with these clients of which factors affect how the self-image develops. / Syftet med den här studien var att undersöka hur självbilden hos kvinnor eventuellt påverkas av att genomgå en cytostatikabehandling mot bröstcancer. Tidigare forskning har främst fokuserat på håravfallet i relation till självbilden, i denna studie undersöks fler aspekter av självbilden kopplat till en cytostatikabehandling. Nio semi-strukturerade intervjuer med kvinnor i åldrarna 40–60 år har genomförts. Resultatet visar på en stor variation i hur intervjupersonernas självbild har påverkats. Några återkommande teman är: en ökad insikt om sin egen dödlighet, en förändrad bild av kroppen och en upplevelse av sig själv som annorlunda. Sjukhuskuratorer är en del av det team som finns runt bröstcancerdrabbade kvinnor på sjukhus. Min förhoppning är att studien kommer bidra till en ökad kunskap hos kuratorer och andra som arbetar med denna klientgrupp gällande vilka faktorer som påverkar hur självbilden utvecklas.

Yes / The development of androgenetic alopecia is associated with a risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, but the association of alopecia areata with cardiovascular diseases in humans is largely unexplored. We measured the plasma level of two common cardiovascular disease markers, cardiac troponin I and Creactive protein, in alopecia areata and androgenetic alopecia-affected subjects. Also, we investigated the possible presence of pro-apoptotic factors in the plasma of hair loss subjects. The mean plasma cardiac troponin I level was highest in alopecia areata subjects, moderately higher in androgenetic alopecia subjects, and lowest in subjects without hair loss (p < 0.05). Alopecia areata subjects not receiving treatments had highest levels of cardiac troponin I (p < 0.05). Alopecia areata plasma samples with high cardiac troponin I levels also induced significantly higher rates of cardiomyocyte apoptosis in cell culture assays. The results suggest the potential for increased heart remodelling. Close monitoring of cardiovascular health in alopecia areata subjects, as well as subsets of androgenetic alopecia patients, may be appropriate. / Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR; MOP-82927). EW is the recipient of a Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship (SAC-92845).

Orientador: Helio Amante Miot / Resumo: Introdução: Minoxidil tópico é o único medicamento com aprovação pelo FDA (Food and Drug Administration) para tratamento da alopecia de padrão feminino (APF). Muitas pacientes interrompem o tratamento prematuramente devido a falta de eficácia, intolerância ou por alteração na textura dos fios de cabelo. Minoxidil oral mostrou-se efetivo para tratamento da APF em estudo não controlado. Objetivo: Comparar eficácia, segurança e tolerabilidade do minoxidil 1 mg oral uma vez ao dia versus minoxidil 5% solução tópica uma vez ao dia no tratamento da APF. Métodos: Estudo prospectivo, randomizado, paralelo, comparativo, avaliador cego com duração de 24 semanas conduzido em um único centro de janeiro de 2017 a março de 2018 incluindo 52 mulheres (18-65 anos) com APF. Participantes foram randomizadas para receber minoxidil oral 1 mg ao dia ou minoxidil 5% tópico uma vez ao dia. O desfecho primário foi a variação na densidade de fios na área alvo. Desfechos secundários: variação na densidade de fios terminais na área alvo, escore na avaliação fotográfica panorâmica por avaliadores cegos, variação no escore da escala de queda, variação no escore do Women's Androgenetic Alopecia Quality of Life Questionnaire (WAA-QoL). Resultados: Participantes de ambos os grupos apresentaram melhora na densidade de fios na área alvo (p<0,01), porém, sem diferença entre os grupos (p=0,09): oral 12% (IC95%: 8,0 – 16,1%) e tópico 7,2% (IC95%: 1,5 - 12,9%). Houve melhora na densidade de fios terminais: oral 6... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Introduction: Topical minoxidil is the only FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approved drug for female pattern hair loss (FPHL). Many patients discontinue treatment prematurely due to lack of efficacy, intolerance or altered hair texture. Oral minoxidil was effective for FPHL in uncontrolled studies. Objectives: To compare the efficacy, safety and tolerability of once-daily treatment with 1 mg oral minoxidil versus once-daily 5% minoxidil solution applied topically for FPHL. Methods: A 24-week, prospective, randomized, open-label, parallel, two-arm comparative, evaluator-blinded study conducted in a single center from January 2017 through March 2018 including 52 women (18-65 years old) with FPHL. Participants were randomly assigned to receive once daily minoxidil 1 mg orally or once a day minoxidil 5% solution applied topically. The primary endpoint was change from baseline in hair density from a target area at week 24. Secondary endpoints were change in terminal hair density, global photographic assessment by three group-blinded evaluators, hair shedding score, and the Women's Androgenetic Alopecia Quality of Life Questionnaire (WAA-QoL). Results: Participants of both groups had improvement of hair density in the target area (p<0.01), without difference between the groups (p=0.09): oral 12% (CI95%: 8.0- 16.1%) and topical 7,2% (CI95%: 1.5-12.9%). There was improvement on terminal hair density: oral 6% (IC95%: 2.9 – 8.6%) and topical 2,7% (IC95%: -1.4 – 6.8%), with no differ... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

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This thesis examines representations of cancer in contemporary art, with a particular focus on unruly, un-idealized bodies at risk. In bringing together the discourses of art history and medicine, its aim is to engage conventions of visualizing cancer, and more importantly, to highlight the ways in which contemporary artists challenge dominant representations, re-imagining the cancerous body from an embodied perspective. Chapter One provides a context for images of cancer by examining an artistic account of how medicine constructs the body against an artists representation of her own cancerous body. Theorizing cancer as an abject condition, Chapter Two examines representational strategies for visualizing cancer that trouble distinctions between inside/outside, self/other, subject/object, healthy/diseased. Building on themes of gender, health, and identity, Chapter Three considers representations of chemotherapy-induced hair loss and baldness as the most visible signs of cancer, but highly unstable and performative ones that call the representational status of the disease into question. / History of Art, Design and Visual Culture