Hair loss news first:
— Kyocera updated its article on the biggest news of this year in the hair loss world. They plan to conduct clinical research in Japanese fiscal year 2019 (i.e., between April 1st 2018 – March 31st 2019) and put the technology into “practical use” in 2020. Interesting quote:
“While various methods are under evaluation, Kyocera’s piezoelectric technology is of particular interest as a means of discharging small amounts of viscid cells in a precise manner during the cell processing process.”
— PGD2 inhibitor Fevipiprant could be a miracle treatment for asthma. I am still hopeful that Setipiprant will be better than expected when it comes to treating hair loss. Worth listening to Kythera CEO’s interview here if you haven’t already.
— More evidence that enhancing the β-catenin signalling pathway in dermal papilla cells allows faster and denser hair growth.
— New findings from a Stanford University (US) and A*STAR (Singapore)’s Institute of Medical Biology collaboration: Wnt signalling plays a critical role in hair follicle stem cell maintenance. Interesting quote:
“Compounds, particularly those which have already been established to be Wnt activators, can now be tested against cultured HFSCs to see if they do stimulate hair regrowth. The scientific community may also be able to culture HFSCs more efficiently by tweaking Wnt signalling to the optimal levels.”
— New interview with Replicel CEO Lee Buckler. Important part is around three minutes in.
— New article that covers Dr. Christiano’s company Rapunzel as well as other relevant subjects including Samumed, Vixen/Aclaris and Dr. Joseph Greco.
— Hairlosstalk is interviewing Dr. Gail Naughton of Histogen this week. Unfortunately the questions are already finalized, but its still worth a gander through this thread.
— New study from China: “Hair follicle and sebaceous gland “de novo” regeneration with cultured epidermal stem cells and skin-derived precursors.”
— Cellmid to enter US hair loss treatment market.
— Dr. Cole’s office sent me an update on PRP and ACell recently. I think they sent out a mass e-mail on the subject since its contents were also pasted in here.
— Joe Tillman discusses his Dr. Cooley PRP treatment results.
— Healeon Medical is starting a new clinical trial in Honduras that will “evaluate the safety and efficacy of the use of a biocellular mixture of emulsified adipose-derived tissue stromal vascular fraction (AD-tSVF) and high density platelet-rich plasma concentrate (HD- PRP) as compared with adipose-derived cell-enriched SVF (AD-cSVF) + AD-tSVF and HD- PRP concentrates in treatment of androgenetic alopecia (AGA) and Female Pattern Hair Loss (FPHL).”
— Dr. Jeffrey Epstein is conducting the “first ever FDA-approved study in the US on the use of fat-derived stems cell for the treatment of hair loss in men and women.” If you are near Miami, perhaps worth a visit.
My note: All of the last four points cover treatments that are highly controversial and far from guaranteed to work. Buyer beware.
On a less serious train of thought:
— Eat curry to prevent hair loss.
— He says that black guys do not always pull off the bald look. I still think he pulls it off.
— When Homer Simpson got hair due to a miracle drug call dimoxinil.
— Our lack of body and scalp hair may have allowed our species to thrive.
And now on to medical items of interest:
— Last year I discussed the inspirational Zion Harvey after he got a double hand transplant. He had lost both his legs, both his hands and his kidney to a childhood infection. One year after his double hand transplant surgery, here is the result:
— Chinese scientists to pioneer first human CRISPR trial.
— “Bio is the new digital.” Great article from Taiwan that is a must read after translation. Boston is to biotech what Silicon Valley is to information technology. In the hair loss world, it seems like New York and San Diego (see here) are far more important than Boston, but perhaps we will see some surprises from Boston soon?!
— Two stories on aging in the Economist in the past week. Here and here.
— Dr. David Sinclair’s presentation on ageing and lifespan extension.
— At least androgens have some benefits such as telomere length extension.
— Dr. George Church on the future of genetic engineering.
— Genetic engineering will change everything. Very optimistic video:
— Gene therapy cure with a money-back guarantee.
— Using a patient’s own stem cells and a 3D printer, scientists have genetically engineered a “living hip” that will cease pain.
— Cornea cells successfully grown and implanted to cure blindness in animals.
— Peter Thiel is a fan of parabiosis.
— Update on Dr. Frankenstein. Full body transplant scheduled for December 2017.
— Scientists just created nanorobots to travel the bloodstream and fight cancerous tumors.