Androgenetic alopecia as an early marker of benign prostatic hyperplasia.

BACKGROUND: Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) and benign prostatic hyperplasia are both androgen-dependent entities that respond to the blocking of 5-alpha-reductase. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to determine whether prostatic volumes and urinary flow changes were higher in patients with early-onset AGA than in healthy control subjects. METHODS: This was an observational case-control study of 87 men: 45 with early-onset AGA diagnosed in the dermatology department and 42 control subjects. End-point variables were prostatic volume, measured by transrectal ultrasound, and urinary flow, measured by urinary flowmetry. A hormone study was performed on all participants, and the International Prostate Symptom Score and International Index of Erectile Function score were determined. RESULTS: The groups did not significantly differ in mean age (cases, 52.7 years vs control subjects, 49.8 years; P = .12). Patients with AGA had significantly higher mean prostate volume (29.65 vs 20.24 mL, P < .0001), International Prostate Symptom Score (4.93 vs 1.23, P < .0001), and prostate-specific antigen value (1.53 vs 0.94 ng/mL, P < .0001) and significantly lower maximum urinary flow (14.5 vs 22.45 mL/s, P < .0001) versus control subjects. Binary logistic regression analysis showed a strong association between the presence of AGA and benign prostatic hyperplasia after adjusting for age, urinary volume, urination time, International Prostate Symptom Score, abdominal obesity, glucose levels, systolic blood pressure, insulin levels, fibrinogen, and C-reactive protein (odds ratio = 5.14, 95% confidence interval 1.23-47.36, P = .041). LIMITATIONS: The study of larger sample sizes would facilitate stratified analyses according to the Ebling type of androgenetic alopecia. CONCLUSION: There is a relationship between the presence of AGA and prostate growth-associated urinary symptoms, likely attributable to their pathophysiological similarity. This study suggests that early-onset AGA may be an early marker of urinary/prostatic symptomatology. Future studies may clarify whether treatment of patients with AGA may benefit the concomitant benign prostatic hypertrophy, which would be present at an earlier stage in its natural evolution.

Osteopenia/osteoporosis in patients with calcium nephrolithiasis.

The objective of this study is to analyze the alterations in bone mineral density and bone and calcium-phosphorus metabolism in patients with calcium nephrolithiasis. We designed a study with 182 patients who were distributed among three groups: group O, 56 patients without nephrolithiasis; group A, 67 patients with calcium nephrolithiasis and mild lithogenic activity; and group B, 59 patients with calcium nephrolithiasis and severe lithogenic activity. Metabolic parameters of blood and urine that were related to calcium-phosphorous and bone metabolism and bone densitometry were assessed in all patients. A comparative study was performed on the variables of bone and calcium-phosphorus metabolism and bone densitometry as well as the presence or absence of osteopenia/osteoporosis. The patients in group B had a greater loss of bone mineral density, measured by the T-score, than the patients in groups O and A. Moreover, the proportion of patients in group B with osteopenia/osteoporosis was statistically significantly higher than the proportion of patients in groups O and A. We observed higher values of calciuria, fasting calcium/creatinine ratio, and 24-h calcium/creatinine among the patients in group B compared to the other two groups. Calciuria, citraturia, and fasting calcium/creatinine were independent factors that showed a relationship with severe lithogenic activity compared to the control group, and ß-crosslaps is an independent factor that has a relationship with severe lithogenic activity as compared to mild lithogenic activity. Patients with calcium lithiasis and severe lithogenic activity have a greater loss in bone mineral density and therefore a greater risk of osteopenia/osteoporosis.

Hypercalciuria, hyperoxaluria, and hypocitraturia screening from random urine samples in patients with calcium lithiasis.

Calcium lithiasis is the most frequently diagnosed renal lithiasis and is associated with a high percentage of patients with metabolic disorders, such as hypercalciuria, hypocitraturia, and hyperoxaluria. The present study included 50 patients with recurrent calcium lithiasis. We conducted a random urine test during nocturnal fasting and a 24-h urine test, and examined calcium, oxalate, and citrate. A study of the linear correlation between the metabolites was performed, and the receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves were analyzed in the random urine samples to determine the cutoff values for hypercalciuria (excretion greater than 200 mg), hyperoxaluria (excretion greater than 40 mg), and hypocitraturia (excretion less than 320 mg) in the 24-h urine. Linear relationships were observed between the calcium levels in the random and 24-h urine samples (R = 0.717, p = 0.0001), the oxalate levels in the random and 24-h urine samples (R = 0.838, p = 0.0001), and the citrate levels in the random and 24-h urine samples (R = 0.799, p = 0.0001). After obtaining the ROC curves, we observed that more than 10.15 mg/dl of random calcium and more than 16.45 mg/l of random oxalate were indicative of hypercalciuria and hyperoxaluria, respectively, in the 24-h urine. In addition, we found that the presence of less than 183 mg/l of random citrate was indicative of the presence of hypocitraturia in the 24-h urine. Using the proposed values, screening for hypercalciuria, hyperoxaluria, and hypocitraturia can be performed with a random urine sample during fasting with an overall sensitivity greater than 86%.

Sex hormone-binding globulin and risk of hyperglycemia in patients with androgenetic alopecia.

BACKGROUND: Low circulating levels of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) are a strong predictor of the risk of type 2 diabetes. Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) has been related to an increase in cardiovascular risk, but the mechanism of this association has not been elucidated. AGA can be associated with low levels of SHBG and insulin resistance, which could be related to hyperglycemia and type 2 diabetes. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate SHBG and blood glucose levels in men and women with early-onset AGA and control subjects to determine whether low levels of SHBG are associated with hyperglycemia. METHODS: This case-control study included 240 patients consecutively admitted to the outpatient clinic (Dermatology Department of San Cecilio University Hospital, Granada, Spain), 120 with early-onset AGA (60 men and 60 women) and 120 control subjects (60 men and 60 women) with skin diseases other than alopecia. RESULTS: Of patients with AGA, 39.1% presented with hyperglycemia (>110 mg/dL) versus 12.5% of controls (P < 0.0001). AGA patients with hyperglycemia or diabetes presented lower significant levels of SHBG than alopecic patients without hyperglycemia or type 2 diabetes, respectively. Patients with AGA and hyperglycemia presented significantly lower levels of SHBG than controls with hyperglycemia (22.3 vs 39.4 nmol/L for AGA patients and controls, respectively, P = .004). No significant differences in SHBG levels were noticed between patients and controls without hyperglycemia. Binary logistic regression showed a strong association between lower SHBG levels and glucose levels greater than 110 mg/dL in patients with AGA even after additional adjustment for sex, abdominal obesity, and free testosterone (odds ratio = 3.35; 95% confidence interval = 1.9-5.7; P < .001). LIMITATIONS: The study of a wider sample of AGA patients would confirm these findings and would permit analysis of the pathogenic mechanisms underlying the increase in cardiovascular risk in patients with AGA. CONCLUSION: An association between early-onset AGA, hyperglycemia/diabetes, and low levels of SHBG was observed in the current study. Low levels of SHBG could be a marker of insulin resistance and hyperglycemia/diabetes in patients with AGA.

A comparative study of dyslipidaemia in men and woman with androgenic alopecia.

Several studies have analyzed the relationship between androgenetic alopecia and cardiovascular disease (mainly heart disease). However few studies have analyzed lipid values in men and women separately. This case-control study included 300 patients consecutively admitted to an outpatient clinic, 150 with early onset androgenetic alopecia (80 males and 70 females) and 150 controls (80 males and 70 females) with other skin diseases. Female patients with androgenic alopecia showed significant higher triglycerides values (123.8 vs 89.43 mg/dl, p = 0.006), total cholesterol values (196.1 vs 182.3 mg/dl, p = 0.014), LDL-C values (114.1 vs 98.8 mg/dl, p = 0.0006) and lower HDL-C values (56.8 vs 67.7 mg/dl, p <0.0001) versus controls respectively. Men with androgenic alopecia showed significant higher triglycerides values (159.7 vs 128.7 mg/dl, p = 0.04) total cholesterol values (198.3 vs 181.4 mg/dl, p = 0.006) and LDL-C values (124.3 vs 106.2, p = 0.0013) versus non-alopecic men. A higher prevalence of dyslipidemia in women and men with androgenic alopecia has been found. The elevated lipid values in these patients may contribute, alongside other mechanisms, to the development of cardiovascular disease in patient with androgenic alopecia.

Linking of psoriasis with osteopenia and osteoporosis: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Psoriasis is a multisystem disease which has been related to vitamin-D deficiency through chronic inflammation. This psoriasis-related inflammatory state and vitamin-D deficiency may induce bone mineral density loss. The purpose of this study is to assess the relationship of psoriasis with bone mineral density, by comparing psoriatic patients with healthy controls and patients with osteopenia/osteoporosis. METHODS: A total of 185 subjects were studied; 58 psoriatic patients who had not been under systemic or biological treatment were included. Age, gender, body mass index, phosphocalcic metabolic parameters and hip and lumbar (L4) bone mineral density data were collected. These variables were compared with those collected in 61 healthy controls and 67 patients with osteopenia/osteoporosis. RESULTS: Psoriatic patients showed worse hip and lumbar spine bone mineral density levels than healthy controls (P = 0.001) and better levels than osteoporotic patients (P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis demonstrated a negative association of age and a positive association of body mass index in hip bone mineral density in psoriatic patients. LIMITATIONS: The main limitations are those of cross-sectional studies, such as a lack of follow up period, and a male predominance in the psoriatic group, which is corrected employing a multivariate analysis with an adjusted model for confounding factors. CONCLUSIONS: Bone mineral density levels in psoriatic patients are situated halfway between healthy controls and patients with osteopenia/osteoporosis. In addition, the higher body mass index in patients with psoriasis appears to confer a protective effect against further development of lower bone mineral density.

The value of hypercalciuria in patients with osteopenia versus osteoporosis.

The aim of this study was to analyze the presence of lithogenic metabolic factors in the blood and urine of patients with osteopenia versus osteoporosis. This is a cross-sectional study including 67 patients who were divided into two groups according to the presence of either osteopenia or osteoporosis as measured by bone densitometry: group 1-40 patients with osteopenia (22 men and 18 women) and group 2-27 patients with osteoporosis (13 men and 14 women). Metabolic studies were performed on the blood and urine; statistical analysis was performed comparing means and conducting linear correlation and multivariate analyses with SPSS. Statistical significance was considered to be p ≤ 0.05. The mean age of patients in group 1 was 52.9 ± 12.8 years versus 50.3 ± 11.4 in group 2; the difference was not statistically significant. In group 2, higher levels of osteocalcin, ß-crosslaps, urinary calcium, fasting urine calcium/creatinine, 24 h urine calcium/creatinine and 24 h oxaluria were observed compared to group 1. In the multivariate analysis, only the ß-crosslaps and urinary calcium were independently associated with osteoporosis. It would be advisable to determine the urinary calcium levels in patients with osteoporosis since altered levels may necessitate modifying the diagnostic and therapeutic approach to osteoporosis.

Bone remodeling markers as lithogenic risk factors in patients with osteopenia-osteoporosis.

PURPOSE: To analyze the presence of phosphocalcic metabolism disorders in patients with osteopenia-osteoporosis without nephrolithiasis with respect to a control group. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in patients with osteopenia-osteoporosis without nephrolithiasis (n = 67) in lumbar spine or femur and in a control group (n = 61) with no lithiasis or bone disorders. Blood bone markers, phosphocalcic metabolism, fasting urine, 24-h urine lithogenic risk factors, and densitometry were recorded in both groups. SPSS 20.0 was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: In comparison with the controls, significantly higher blood calcium (9.27 ± 0.36 vs. 9.57 ± 0.38, p = 0.0001), intact parathormone (45.6 ± 14.9 vs. 53.8 ± 18.9, p = 0.008), and alkaline phosphatase (61.9 ± 20.9 vs. 70.74 ± 18.9, p = 0.014) levels were found in patients with osteopenia-osteoporosis. In the 24-h urine test, citrate (1010.7 ± 647.8 vs. 617.6 ± 315.8, p = 0.0001) and oxalate (28.21 ± 17.65 vs. 22.11 ± 16.49, p = 0.045) levels were significantly lower in osteopenia-osteoporosis patients than in controls, with no significant difference in calcium (187.3 ± 106.9 vs. 207.06 ± 98.12, p = 0.27) or uric acid (540.7 ± 186.2 vs. 511.9 ± 167.06, p = 0.35) levels. Patients with osteopenia-osteoporosis had significantly higher levels of lithogenic risk factors associated with bone remodeling, including significantly increased ß-crosslaps and osteocalcin values and higher ß-crosslaps/osteocalcin ratios. CONCLUSION: Patients with osteopenia-osteoporosis without nephrolithiasis showed phosphocalcic metabolism disorders as well as lower urinary citrate and higher ß-crosslaps/osteocalcin and fasting calcium/creatinine ratios, which would increase the risk of nephrolithiasis. Hence, prospective studies are warranted to evaluate the long-term risks.

Analysis of vitamin D deficiency in calcium stone-forming patients.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to analyse the percentage of hypovitaminosis D, as well as its relationship with the various parameters of calcium-phosphate metabolism. METHODS: A case control study was conducted on 366 patients, divided into two groups: Group 1: 127 non-stone-forming patients, and Group 2: 239 calcium stone forming. A study was performed on calcium-phosphate metabolism and urinary lithogenic factors. The percentage of vitamin D deficiency (25-OH-vitamin D levels <20 ng/ml) between the groups was analysed and compared. The SPSS 20.0 statistics program was used for the analysis, with a p ≤ .05 being considered significant. RESULTS: The mean age of Group 1 was 52.1 years compared to 49.6 years in Group 2, with no significant differences (p = .07). Vitamin D levels were lower in Group 2 compared to Group 1 (25.7 vs. 28.4 ng/ml, p = .02). A vitamin D deficiency was observed in 28 % of the Group 2 stone-forming patients versus 15.7 % in Group 1 (p = .009), with an odds ratio (OR) of 2.09 (95 % CI; 1.19-3.63). In the stone-forming patients with a vitamin D deficiency, the only difference observed was the higher levels of iPTH compared to those stone-formers with a normal vitamin D (56.9 vs. 45.5 pg/ml, respectively; p = .0001). CONCLUSION: Calcium stone-forming patients have lower mean levels of vitamin D and a higher percentage of hypovitaminosis D than in non-stone-forming patients. This was only related to increased iPTH levels, with urine calcium and other lithogenic parameters having no obvious effect.

Retrospective review of serum and urinary lithogenic risk factors in patients with osteoporosis and osteopenia.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze differences in bone remodeling markers, lithogenic factors and bone densitometry among the 3 groups of patients (controls, patients with relapsing calcium renal lithiasis, and patients with loss of bone mineral density without lithiasis). MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study including 203 patients who were divided in 3 groups: group 1 (controls), group 2 (patients with relapsing calcium renal lithiasis), and group 3 (patients with osteopenia and/or osteoporosis in the lumbar spine or hip). Bone densitometry, calcium-phosphorous and bone metabolism analysis, and analysis of lithogenic risk factors in fasting urine samples and 24-hour urine samples were performed. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS 17.0. A P ≤.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Patients in group 2 presented greater calcium excretion and a lower citrate excretion in 24-hour urine samples as compared with the other 2 groups. The proportion of hypercalciuria and hypocitraturia was higher in group 2. In addition, patients in group 2 presented a lower loss of bone mineral density as well as altered bone remodeling markers as compared with those in group 1. Patients in group 3 also presented alterations in urine calcium and citrate excretion with respect to the control group, with elevated fasting calcium and citrate levels and calcium-to-citrateratio. CONCLUSION: Lithogenic risk factors are altered in patients with osteopenia and/or osteoporosis without renal lithiasis although to a lesser extent than patients with calcium renal lithiasis.

The importance of calciuria as lithogenic factors in patients with osteopenia/osteoporosis.

PURPOSE: Recurrent kidney stones are associated with bone mineral density loss, altered bone remodeling markers, hypercalciuria and increased in fasting calcium/creatinine ratio. The objective was to determine biochemical alterations in urine in patients with osteopenia/osteoporosis without calcium kidney stones compared with patients with calcium kidney stones. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study including 142 patients who were divided in two groups: Group 1 (patients with recurrent calcium kidney stones) and Group 2 (patients with osteopenia/osteoporosis in the lumbar spine or hip). Analyses of bone mineral density, calcium-phosphorous and bone metabolism and lithogenic risk factors in fasting urine samples and 24-h urine samples were performed. Statistical analysis was carried out with SPSS 17.0. A p ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Patients in Group 2 presented greater loss of bone mineral density and more elevated alkaline phosphatase, iPTH, phosphorous and ß-crosslaps levels, as compared to patients in Group 1. However, Group 1 presented greater urine calcium, oxalate and uric acid and a higher proportion of hypocitraturia, hypercalciuria and hyperoxaluria, as compared to Group 2. Multivariate analysis revealed that advanced age and ß-crosslaps levels are risk factors for bone mineral density loss, while low urinary calcium excretion was protective against bone demineralization. CONCLUSION: Patients with osteopenia/osteoporosis without lithiasis present some urinary biochemical alterations. This would explain the lack of lithogenic activity, although low calcium excretion in 24-h urine samples is a protective factor against the loss of bone mineral density.

Association of severe calcium lithogenic activity and bone remodeling markers.

OBJECTIVE: To establish cutoff points for markers of bone remodeling that allow for screening of patients at risk for serious lithogenic activity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study with 182 patients (aged between 25 and 60 years) divided into 3 groups: group 1, 56 patients without lithiasis; group 2, 67 patients with light calcium lithiasis; and group 3, 59 patients with severe calcium lithiasis. The criteria for inclusion in and exclusion from the study were established, and light and severe lithogenic activity were defined. Metabolic variables in blood and urine, along with bone densitometry, were studied for the groups. Statistical analysis of the results and preparation of receiver operating characteristic curves to establish optimal cutoff points were performed. RESULTS: The patients in group 3 showed the greatest bone mineral density loss and the highest values for markers of bone remodeling, together with increased 24-hour calciuria. Using the receiver operating characteristic curves developed and based on statistical significance (P = .0001), the following cutoff points for severe lithogenic activity, with a sensitivity between 75% and 85%, were established: ß-crosslaps >0.331 ng/mL; osteocalcin >13.2 ng/mL; ß-crosslaps/osteocalcin >0.024; 24-hour calciuria >306.6 mg; and fasting urine calcium/creatinine >0.105. CONCLUSION: Patients with calcium lithiasis and elevated values for osteocalcin, ß-crosslaps, ß-crosslaps/osteocalcin, 24-hour calciuria, and fasting urine calcium/creatinine may present a high risk of severe lithogenic activity.

MTNR1A receptor expression in normal and pathological human salivary glands.

AIM: To analyze and compare the expression of MTNR1A receptor in normal and pathological major and minor salivary glands. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty samples of major and minor salivary glands and 10 with Warthin's tumor were studied. Expression of the MTNR1A receptor (goat polyclonal antibody raised against a peptide mapping at the N-terminus of MEL-1A R of human origin) was analyzed. RESULTS: The excretory ducts of major salivary glands demonstrated intense intracytoplasmic positivity but scant cytoplasmic membrane positivity for MTNR1A. The studied Warthin's tumors showed intense cytoplasmic positivity for MT1 receptor in all cylindrical epithelial cells lining spaces and a less intense positivity in basal cells. The lymphoid component accompanying the tumor was negative for MT1 receptor. CONCLUSION: Intense intracytoplasmic positivity for the MTNR1A receptor in the excretory ducts of human major and minor salivary glands and Warthin's tumor was found. The intense expression of MTNR1A receptors observed in this study in the excretory ducts of major and minor salivary glands may be related to salivary regulation.

Cardiovascular risk factors in patients with lichen planus.

BACKGROUND: Chronic inflammation was found to play an important role in the development of cardiovascular risk factors. Recently a case-control study found that lichen planus was associated with dyslipidemia in a large series of patients. However, no data were presented about lipid values, glucose levels, or blood pressure. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this case-control study was to evaluate cardiovascular risk factors included in Adult Treatment Panel III criteria for metabolic syndrome in men and women with lichen planus and in healthy controls. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This case-control study included 200 patients, 100 with lichen planus (50 men and 50 women) and 100 controls consecutively admitted to the outpatient clinic in Dermatology departments in Granada, Spain. RESULTS: Analysis of metabolic syndrome parameters revealed a higher significant prevalence of dyslipidemia in patients with lichen planus. No significant differences were observed in glucose levels, abdominal obesity, or blood pressure. Elevated levels of C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and fibrinogen were noted in patients with lichen planus. Adjusted odds ratio for dyslipidemia in patients with lichen planus was 2.85 (95% confidence interval, 1.33-5.09; P=.001). CONCLUSION: Chronic inflammation in patients with lichen planus may explain the association with dyslipidemia. Lipid levels screening in men or women with lichen planus may be useful to detect individuals at risk and start preventive treatment against the development of cardiovascular disease.

Foreskin trapped by zipper: a case report.

We present an 84 year-old-male patient with foreskin trapped by his zipper. After several failed attempts with scissors, screwdriver and others we practise an elliptic incision to resolve the problem. Foreskin injuries are frequent in children but are rare in adult men. There are some techniques described for solving the problem using scissors, screwdriver, traction and surgery.