Hepatitis B virus DNA in the fingernails and hair of children with acute hepatitis B

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA is detectable in the nails and hair of patients with chronic HBV infection. However, it remains unclear whether HBV DNA can be detectable in the nails and hair of patients with acute HBV infection. We encountered two cases of children with acute HBV infection. HBV DNA in the nails and hair from the two children was evaluated by real-time PCR. To clarify the characteristics of HBV DNA, full-length HBV genome sequencing and phylogenetic tree analysis were performed. The levels of serum HBV DNA in children of cases 1 and 2 at day 0 were 7.6 Log IU/mL and 7.4 Log IU/mL, respectively. Nail HBV DNA was detected in both children (case 1: 4.6 Log IU/mL at day 0, case 2: 5.5 Log IU/mL at day 14). Moreover, hair HBV DNA was detectable in case 2 (4.0 Log IU/mL at day 14). Serum HBV DNA became undetectable within approximately 3–4 months after the first hospital visit. After the resolution of HBV viremia, nail and hair HBV DNA became undetectable. The sequence analysis of serum, nail and hair HBV DNA showed the same HBV genotype in each case (case1: genotype C, case 2: genotype A). In case 1, 3 nucleotides were different in the full-genome HBV sequence between the serum and nails. In case 2, the full-genome HBV sequences were identical among the serum, nails and hair. In conclusion, HBV DNA was detectable in nails and hair of children with acute HBV infection.     

Trichoscopy findings in dissecting cellulitis

Dissecting cellulitis is an inflammatory, chronic, and recurrent disease of the hair follicles that mainly affects young Afro-descendent men. Trichoscopy is a method of great diagnostic value for disorders of the scalp. Clinical and trichoscopic findings of dissecting cellulitis are heterogeneous and may present features common to non-cicatricial and scarring alopecia. This article presents the trichoscopic findings of dissecting cellulitis that help in the diagnosis and consequent institution of the appropriate therapy and better prognosis of the disease.     

Moniletrix of the scalp from almost normal aspect to total alopecia: variable intrafamilial expressiveness

Monilethrix is a rare defect of the hair shaft, with most cases showing an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance and variable clinical expression. It is characterized by hypotrichosis secondary to hair fragility. The diagnosis is made through trichoscopy, detecting typical findings such as periodic narrowing at regular intervals, giving the hair the appearance of beads in a rosary. This article reports the case of six members of a family diagnosed with monilethrix with alopecia of varying degrees.     

Immunostaining study of cytokeratins in human hair follicle development

BackgroundThe hair follicle is a unique structure, one of the most dynamic structures in mammalians, which can reproduce in every new cycle all the mechanism involved in its fetal development. Although a lot of research has been made about the human hair follicle much less has been discovered about the importance of the cytokeratins (CKs) in its development.ObjectiveStudy the immunohistochemical pattern of epithelial CKs during human hair follicle development.MethodsWe performed an immunohistochemical study using fresh post-mortem skin biopsies of human fetuses between 4 and 25 weeks of gestational age to study the expression of cytokeratins (CKs): CK1, CK10, CK13, CK14, CK16 and CK20 during human hair follicle fetal development.Study limitationsRestrospective study with a good number of makers but with a small population.Results/conclusionWe found that, the CKs were expressed in an intermediate time during follicular development. The epithelial CKs (CK1, CK14, CK10, CK13) and the epithelial CKs with a proliferative character such as CK16 were expressed first, as markers of cellular maturation and follicular keratinization. At a later phase, CK20 was expressed in more developed primitive hair follicles as previously discussed in literature.     

Determination of lead,cadmium and nickel in hennas and other hair dyes sold in Turkey

The concentrations of lead, nickel and cadmium in various hennas and synthetic hair dyes were determined by high-resolution continuum source graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (HR-CS GFAAS). For this purpose, 1 g of sample was digested using 4 mL of hydrogen peroxide (30%) and 8 mL of nitric acid (65%). The digests were diluted to 15 mL and the analytes were determined by HR-CS GFAAS. All determinations of Pb and Cd were performed using NH₄H₂PO₄ as a modifier. The analytes in hair certified reference materials (CRMs) were found within the uncertainty limits of the certified values. In addition, the analyte concentrations added to hair dye were recovered between 95 and 110%. The limits of detection of the method were 48.90, 3.90 and 12.15 ng g⁻¹ for Pb, Cd and Ni, respectively and the characteristic concentrations were 8.70, 1.42 and 6.30 ng g⁻¹, respectively. Finally, the concentrations of the three analytes in various synthetic hair dyes with different brands, shades and formulae as well as in two henna varieties were determined using aqueous standards for calibration. The concentrations of Pb, Cd and Ni in hair dyes were in the ranges of LOD-0.56 μg g⁻¹, LOD-0.011 ng g⁻¹ and 0.030–0.37 μg g⁻¹, respectively, whereas those in the two hennas were 0.60–0.93 μg g⁻¹, 0.033–0.065 ng g⁻¹ and 0.49–1.06 μg g⁻¹, respectively.