Central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia: a deeper insight into the disease.

Central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (CCCA) is a scarring alopecia of multifactorial etiology that presents on the vertex as patchy areas of hair loss, spreading centrifugally over the scalp. It most commonly affects women of African descent, but cases among other ethnicities have also been reported. CCCA typically starts with thinning and breaking of the hair as the first sign of presentation, which eventually progresses to hair loss over the central part of the scalp, spreading symmetrically outwards to involve a larger area. Currently, there is no definitive cure for the disease; however, multiple management options are available, which should aim to be tailored to the individual patient. Owing to its cosmetic outcomes, the quality of life (QoL) of patients with central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia is also disturbed, as patients may face psychological and social stress due to their permanent hair loss. This article focuses on various aspects of the pathogenesis, clinical trials, quality of life, barriers faced by patients, and treatment of central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia.

Life of an amputee: predictors of quality of life after lower limb amputation.

Lower limb amputations (LLA) have a significant impact on global morbidity. Approximately 2 million people are living with lower limb amputation in the United States and this figure is expected to rise. LLA lead to physical disabilities and can cause restriction in functionalities in the everyday life of amputees. Patients lose their independence, which can be very debilitating and eventually causes physical, behavioral, and psychical changes. These changes after amputations should be properly addressed and must be incorporated into rehabilitation to improve and regain better adjustment to life among amputees. This article focuses on determining various factors and their effect on quality of life after lower limb amputations.

Association between sex and Huntington's disease: an updated review on symptomatology and prognosis of neurodegenerative disorders.

Huntington's disease is a rare autosomal dominant disorder presenting with chorea, rigidity, hypo-/akinesia, cognitive decline, and psychiatric disturbances. Numerous risk factors have been defined in the onset of this disease. However, the number of CAG repeats in the genes are the most crucial factor rendering patients susceptible to the disease. Studies have shown significant differences in onset and disease presentation among the sexes, which prompts analysis of the impact of different sexes on disease etiology and progression. This article therefore discusses the evidence-based role of sex in aspects of symptomatology, pathogenesis, biomarkers, progression, and prognosis of Huntington's disease, with a secondary review of sex-linked differences in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.