Using animals for organ donors have been tried for years, but cross species transplants have done very poorly over time. Now the use of CRISPER can tolerate organ donation much like Dolly the Sheep. Genetic material are used in pig cells in the early embryo and implanted in sows. The plan is to create pigs that have also been altered to make them more immunologically similar to people. In theory, this should mean transplanted organs are less prone to attack by a recipient’s immune system. This work is being done by Robin Weiss of University College London as reported in the New Scientist August 19, 2017 issue.
Criticism of Strip Suture Line
This is a beautiful skin closure, but it has a problem in that the hairs inside of these sutures are being strangulated and will probably die. This will then leave a scar the width of the suture line. What we do is (1) either use surgical stables which go far back from the wound and never strangle the hairs or (2) put very fine sutures (5-0 absorbable) within 1mm or less of the edge so that we make sure that the hairs are not in the suture pull. That minimizes the scar even further.
2020-06-22 04:00:482020-06-23 15:21:40Criticism of Strip Suture Line
Cutis Verticis Gyrata and Hair Loss
I have a condition that is called ‘cutis verticis gyrata’ where the scalp grows ridges or abnormal lines on the surface. I have had this condition for some time, but have never been concerned before because I have hair that covers the ridges in my head. I’m in the beginning stages of MPB, and have been taking propecia for about a month. I don’t know if my hair loss will ever be extensive enough to show the condition of my scalp, but it causes great concern because I do not want this to happen. I am 32 years old. Have you ever dealt with this issue before? I have read a little on the internet to try to see what people have done with this, but there is not much out there about it. I have read that it has been treated with scalp reduction, which sounds reasonable, but then what? Any ideas?
After receiving your email, I wrote to a group of well-respected doctors to inquire about experience in this area, and the general consensus was that this should not be treated surgically. Most of the doctors I wrote to were dermatologists who may have an aversion to scalp reductions in this situation. You need to be evaluated by a surgeon, perhaps a very specialized plastic surgeon who has experience doing this surgery in a patient with your diagnosis. Logically, scalp reductions should work, but I wouldn’t recommend that you be the first patient to attempt surgery to correct this condition.
If you are concerned about balding (which might make the appearance more detectable) then I strongly suggest a miniaturization study to see what degree of hair is at risk of falling out, followed up by a Master Plan. If I was your doctor, I would explore your options after you became my patient, but I simply cannot give you an in-depth answer as I have not examined your scalp or your hair.
Image from DermAtlas
Cutting Finasteride Tablets
I cut all of my pills the day i get my prescription refilled. Is this bad practice? Do the pills lose potency when exposed to air?
Yes this is a bad approach because the cut pills will absorb water from the atmosphere, and lose their value over time.
2020-01-21 04:00:042019-11-22 15:29:43Cutting Finasteride Tablets
Crown thinning in a 35 year old male
Curis and Hair Loss
How long will you think CURIS take to be produced commercially? Also, does it have capability to grow hair on already balded areas?
This is a most interesting and exciting technology in its early stages. A great deal of work will be required to take this from the animal study into the human realm and it may not transport easily. What this does show is the many faces of the regrowth phenomenon in hair regeneration. Generally this process, under FDA regulation, will take years. To answer your question, I really do not know exactly how the medication works, but as I find out more, I will let the blog readers know. Thanks for pointing this out to me.
For those interested in learning more, please see Curis Presents Study Showing Stimulation of Hair Growth by Small Molecule Hedgehog Pathway Agonist.
Curious About The Hairline My Transplant Doctor Gave Me
I recently had a hair transplant done and I was curious about the way my doctor had done it. I naturally have had a widow’s peak but it has receded some. The way the doctor put the graphs in was sort of also in a M shaped form just out to the sides. Will this restore my natural hairline?
I cannot answer your question without seeing a current photo and comparing it to what you looked like before you lost your hair. More importantly, you should have addressed this before the surgery to make sure that your doctor understood your goals and expectations.
The standard practice at NHI is for the physician to draw a hairline with an erasable marker prior to surgery and have the patient look at the general shape and position so that he/she can approve or modify what the doctor planned. Generally this take a few minutes as the patient has specific concerns and requests (such as adding a widow’s peak). In the end, both patient and doctor are on the same page in agreement before the surgery starts and we take good pictures to document what we had agreed to. After the hairs grow in, we can then go back to the drawing on the head and see if the hairline we had tried to produce, was actually produced.
cut my dose of finasteride by half and the sexual side effects went away
I posted a while back asking if anybody had any anecdotes for taking smaller doses to alleviate sides. Well I bit the bullet and bought a pill cutter last Thursday and from then until Monday took 0.5mg fin every day. It was by the Monday that I woke up with proper morning wood for the first time in weeks and had the horn all day. At this point I noticed more hair in my hands than normal after washing, so went back to 1mg Monday night.
You should probably stay on the half dose as it is 80% as effective as the full dose.
2019-11-04 04:41:172019-05-10 12:43:14cut my dose of finasteride by half and the sexual side effects went away
Cutis Verticals Gyrata (photo)
Cutis verticis gyrata describes a scalp condition with convoluted folds and deep furrows that resemble the surface of the brain. Cutis verticis gyrata is a progressive condition. It is mainly troublesome due to the cosmetic appearance. Rarely, it can be complicated by malignant melanoma developing within a melanocytic naevus. Cutis verticis gyrata occurs more commonly in males. The primary form of cutis verticis gyrata has a reported male-to-female ratio of 5:1. The incidence of cutis verticis gyrata may be reported as lower in women because longer hair may camouflage the condition (Ref: Dermnet NZ).
This is a cosmetic issue for those who have it. As you can see in this photo, styling the hair can be a problem.
2020-05-04 04:00:182020-05-04 12:39:19Cutis Verticals Gyrata (photo)
Cutting Generic Finasteride
Dr. Rassman,
Good info is provided in this blog, I want to ask you a question regarding a previous posters comment on Generic Finasteride. Your response to the blogger was to purchase Generic Finasteride at Cosco or Wallgreens instead of ordering generic Finasteride online. How is this possible when Merck was granted an extended patent until 2013 (See Wikipedia on Finasteride)?
Also do you think its safe cutting the 5mg into 4ths which will be 1.25mg approx? Thanks!
Generic Propecia (1mg finasteride) isn’t legally available in the US due to the U.S. and International patents held by Merck, but generic Proscar (5mg finasteride) is available in the US and that’s what I was referring to. When cutting the 5mg pill, you’ll likely have some crumbs, so it might be a little less than 1.25mg. Regardless, I don’t think it’ll be a problem. If you can cut it into 5 equal pieces, that would be ideal… but not practical and the dose clearly does not have to be exact (as discussed elsewhere on today’s posts).