Follicular proteoglycans are key players with structural, functional, and regulatory roles in the growth and cycling behaviour of the hair follicles. The expression pattern of specific proteoglycans is strongly correlated with follicular phase transitions, which further affirms their functional involvement. Research shows that bioactive proteoglycans, e.g., versican and decorin, can actively trigger follicular phase shift by their anagen-inducing, anagen-maintaining, and immunoregulatory properties. This emerging insight has led to the recognition of "dysregulated proteoglycan metabolism" as a plausible causal or mediating pathology in hair growth disorders in both men and women. In support of this, declined expression of proteoglycans has been reported in cases of anagen shortening and follicular miniaturisation. To facilitate scientific communication, we propose designating this pathology "follicular hypoglycania (FHG)," which results from an impaired ability of follicular cells to replenish and maintain a minimum relative concentration of key proteoglycans during anagen. Lasting FHG may advance to structural decay, called proteoglycan follicular atrophy (PFA). This process is suggested to be an integral pathogenetic factor in pattern hair loss (PHL) and telogen effluvium (TE). To address FHG and PFA, a proteoglycan replacement therapy (PRT) program using oral administration of a marine-derived extract (Nourkrin® with Marilex®, produced by Pharma Medico Aps, Aarhus, Denmark) containing specific proteoglycans has been developed. In clinical studies, this treatment significantly reduced hair fall, promoted hair growth, and improved quality of life in patients with male- and female-pattern hair loss. Accordingly, PRT (using Nourkrin® with Marilex®) can be recommended as an add-on treatment or monotherapy in patients with PHL and TE.

Postpartum effluvium is a well-known clinical fact. However, following some minor research activities in the 1960s, very little has happened on the research front of the subject. It was hypothesized that postpartum hair loss might be a manifestation of a change in the hair growth cycle occurring normally during pregnancy. Recently, new research has been published trying to explain the mechanism of action behind this frequently occurring hair growth disruption, and to develop a functional treatment schedule and regime. Under normal circumstances, postpartum effluvium will disappear by itself as a function of time, and therefore adequate information to the patient is important in order to reduce the anxiety that it will not be a permanent problem. However, in some subjects it can manifest itself for longer stages and even become permanent. At the present time, treatments aim at correcting underlying hormonal imbalances and at improving overall cosmetic appearance. Several treatments in the form of thyroid supplementation, topical progesterone and estradiol lotions, and even oral contraceptive have been studied. All the available studies have significant limitations in their scientific basis, such as small sample size, absence of control group, or highly subjective measurement of treatment response. It is evident from the available studies that no specific treatment has been investigated thoroughly enough to justify recommendation in clinical treatment or to be termed "effective." Without the ability to provide a pathogenic diagnosis or causality criteria, chances are low that a treatment by trial and error will adequately be able to control hair effluvium. Current hair treatment strategies are symptomatic and nonspecific; therefore, future research must aim at developing new and targeted methods with a point of departure in observing concomitant biological mechanisms. Based on the research in the 1960s, current knowledge about the hair follicle and the regulation of the hair cycles, we believe that an anagen inducer in the form of a specific proteoglycan replacement therapy (Nourkrin® with Marilex® from Pharma Medico) could be a proper solution to shorten the hair eclipse phenomenon - and give the patient a feeling of control and empowerment.

The stress hormone, cortisol, is known to affect the function and cyclic regulation of the hair follicle. When cortisol is present at high levels it has been demonstrated to reduce the synthesis and accelerate the degradation of important skin elements, namely hyaluronan and proteoglycans by approximately 40%. The following discussion outlines the relationship between stress, cortisol, and the effect on the normal function of the hair follicle. As a result of this connection, important correlations have been established in the literature to form a basis for novel, effective treatments of stress-related hair growth disorders. Amongst various treatment methods and substances, oral supplementation with a specific bioavailable proteoglycan stands out as a promising new therapeutic treatment method. J Drugs Dermatol. 2016;15(8):1001-1004.

Protein in white clover (Trifolium repens L.) is poorly utilised by ruminants because of its extensive degradation to ammonia in the rumen. However, white clover produces condensed tannins (CT) in its flowers, which can reduce rumen proteolysis. Effects of increasing proportions of clover dry matter (DM) as flowers (and therefore floral CT) on soluble protein, ammonia and volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations were determined with in vitro incubations. Minced mixtures of 0, 250, 500, 750 and 1000g/kg of DM as white clover flower (F) with the remainder as white clover leaf, were incubated in vitro and sampled after 0, 2, 4, 8, 12 and 24h. Treatments contained 0, 13, 26, 39 and 52g CT/kg DM, respectively. A further treatment with 500g/kg DM as flower and 500g/kg DM as leaf had polyethylene glycol added to remove effects of CT. Increasing the proportion of white clover as flowers from 0 to 1000g/kg DM reduced net conversion of plant N to ammonia N from 290 to 120mM/M at least partly due to reduced solubility of the protein. Treatments with 750g/kg DM or more as clover flowers reduced ammonia concentrations to levels likely to limit microbial growth. Total VFA production was not affected by flower content, although the proportion of acetate to propionate increased. The contribution of CT to treatment effects was small compared to effects attributed to difference in chemical composition between flowers and leaves.

The results from a clinical study performed in 12 healthy volunteers with different coffee products containing glucose show that instant coffee enriched with chlorogenic acid induced a reduction in the absorption of glucose of 6.9% compared with the control. No such effects were seen with normal or decaffeinated instant coffee. In a second, comparative, randomized, double-blind, 12-week study we investigated the effect on the body mass of 30 overweight people, compared with normal instant coffee. The average losses in mass in the chlorogenic acid enriched and normal instant coffee groups were 5.4 and 1.7 kg, respectively. We conclude that chlorogenic acid enriched instant coffee appears to have a significant effect on the absorption and utilization of glucose from the diet. This effect, if the coffee is used for an extended time, may result in reduced body mass and body fat when compared with the use of normal instant coffee.

This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was designed to investigate the efficacy and tolerability of Nourkrin®, a new natural agent for the treatment of hair loss based on marine proteins, and minerals and vitamins. Fifty-five subjects with hair loss of different aetiologies participated in the 6-month blinded phase of the study. Objective assessments showed a significant positive effect of treatment on hair growth. Intake of the active preparation for a further 6 months in an open phase indicated a subjective further improvement in hair growth. Exposure of the patients previously treated with placebo to the active preparation for 12 months gave similar results. Tolerability was good and no side-effects were reported. Nourkrin® may provide an alternative to pharmacotherapy for the treatment of hair-loss problems in individuals with androgenetic alopecia.

In this double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 40 women with ageing symptoms of the skin were randomized to receive DermaVite, a new preparation containing marine proteins, alpha-lipoic acid, pine bark extract, vitamins and minerals (n = 20), or placebo (n = 20) twice daily for 6 months. Objective measurements of skin thickness and elasticity, together with subjective clinical assessments of various parameters (fine wrinkles, coarse wrinkles, tactile roughness and teleangiectasia) were used to evaluate changes after 2, 4 and 6 months' treatment. Self-evaluations were also made by the study participants. There was a significant improvement in skin quality in both objective and subjective parameters after treatment with Dermavite compared with placebo. Participants' self-evaluations also showed a statistically significant difference in favour of the active treatment. The treatment was very well tolerated. Based on this efficacy and tolerability study, DermaVite can be considered a suitable therapy for ageing symptoms of the skin.

Elderberry has been used in folk medicine for centuries to treat influenza, colds and sinusitis, and has been reported to have antiviral activity against influenza and herpes simplex. We investigated the efficacy and safety of oral elderberry syrup for treating influenza A and B infections. Sixty patients (aged 18-54 years) suffering from influenza-like symptoms for 48 h or less were enrolled in this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study during the influenza season of 1999-2000 in Norway. Patients received 15 ml of elderberry or placebo syrup four times a day for 5 days, and recorded their symptoms using a visual analogue scale. Symptoms were relieved on average 4 days earlier and use of rescue medication was significantly less in those receiving elderberry extract compared with placebo. Elderberry extract seems to offer an efficient, safe and cost-effective treatment for influenza. These findings need to be confirmed in a larger study.

This study was designed to investigate the efficacy and tolerability of daily conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) in healthy exercising humans. This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in 20 healthy humans of normal body weight and body mass index less than 25.0 kg/m2, who did standardized physical exercise in a gym for 90 min three times weekly. Participants took either placebo (hydrogel) or CLA 0.6 mg, three times daily, as two capsules during meals, for 12 weeks. Body fat, measured using near infrared light, was significantly reduced in the CLA group during the study, but not in the placebo group. No effects on body weight were observed. Tolerability was good and similar in the two groups. Compliance, as judged by the number of returned capsules, was more than 80% of the recommended dose for all participants. Thus CLA reduces body fat but not body weight in healthy exercising humans of normal body weight.

This randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study was designed to investigate the efficacy and tolerability of a new agent for the treatment of hair loss, based on a marine protein, minerals and vitamins. Sixty subjects with hair loss of different aetiologies participated in the 6-month blinded phase of the study. Objective assessments indicated that the treatment was effective and subjective assessments showed a statistically significant positive effect of treatment. Exposure to the active preparation for a further 6 months in an open phase indicated a further improvement in hair growth. Exposure of the patients previously treated with placebo to the active preparation for 12 months gave similar results. Tolerability was good and no side-effects were reported. The product investigated may provide an alternative to pharmacotherapy for the treatment of hair-loss problems in individuals with androgenic alopecia.

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) has been shown to reduce body fat mass (BFM) in animals. To investigate the dose-response relationships of conjugated linoleic acid with regard to BFM in humans, a randomized, double-blind study including 60 overweight or obese volunteers (body mass index 25-35 kg/m(2)) was performed. The subjects were divided into five groups receiving placebo (9 g olive oil), 1.7, 3.4, 5.1 or 6.8 g conjugated linoleic acid per day for 12 wk, respectively. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was used to measure body composition [measurements at wk 0 (baseline), 6 and 12]. Of the 60 subjects, 47 completed the study. Eight subjects withdrew from the study due to adverse events; however, no differences among treatment groups were found regarding adverse events. Repeated-measures analysis showed that a significantly higher reduction in BFM was found in the conjugated linoleic acid groups compared with the placebo group (P: = 0.03). The reduction of body fat within the groups was significant for the 3.4 and 6.8 g CLA groups (P: = 0.05 and P: = 0.02, respectively). No significant differences among the groups were observed in lean body mass, body mass index, blood safety variables or blood lipids. The data suggest that conjugated linoleic acid may reduce BFM in humans and that no additional effect on BFM is achieved with doses > 3.4 g CLA/d.

The main objective of the study was to investigate the safety of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) in healthy volunteers. The effect of CLA on body composition was also investigated.The trial design was a randomized, double-blind placebo controlled study including 60 overweight or obese volunteers (body mass index (BMI) 27.5-39.0 kg/m(2)). The subjects were divided into two groups receiving 3.4 g CLA or placebo (4.5 g olive oil) daily for 12 weeks. The safety was evaluated by analysis of blood parameters and by clinical examinations at baseline and week 12. Vital signs and adverse events were registered at baseline, week 6, and week 12. Bio Impedance Assessment was applied for body composition measurements.55 subjects completed the study. Adverse events occurred in 10% of the subjects. No difference in adverse events or other safety parameters was found between the treatment groups. Small changes in the laboratory safety data were not regarded as clinically significant. Moreover, no clinically significant changes in vital signs were observed in any of the groups.In the CLA group, mean weight was reduced by 1.1 kg (paired t-test p = 0.005), while mean BMI was reduced by 0.4 kg/m(2) (p = 0.007). However, the overall treatment effect of CLA on body weight and BMI was not significant. There were no differences found between the groups with regard to efficacy parameters.The results indicate that CLA in the given dose is a safe substance in healthy populations with regard to the safety parameters investigated.

A randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled parallel group clinical trial was performed to investigate the therapeutic effect of Kanjang mixture in the treatment of uncomplicated upper respiratory tract infections (common cold). Sixty-six patients aged between 18 and 40 years participated. Medication was taken three times daily for a minimum of 5 days or a maximum of 10 days.The primary outcome measures were: the effect on coughing; quality of sleep; mucus discharge in the respiratory tract; nasal congestion; and a global evaluation of the clinical situation and medication tolerability, Assessments were recorded by patients using visual analogue scales 2, 4 and 10 days after the start of treatment.Sixty patients completed the study according to the protocol. The improvement in symptoms following treatment with Kanjang mixture was significantly better on the day 2 and 4 assessments compared with placebo, while the day 10 scores were not significantly different.Tolerability of both treatments was excellent and no side-effects were reported in either of the two groups. Treatment with the herbal mixture Kangjang significantly eased the symptoms related to uncomplicated upper respiratory tract infections. Combined with the excellent tolerability, Kangjang mixture can be an attractive alternative for the treatment of such ailments. (C) 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The authors report the fabrication of OEICs incorporating DFB lasers, 3dB couplers, Mach-Zehnder interferometers, monitor photodiodes and high speed pin signal detectors, providing functionality for low cost, bidirectional telephony and unidirectional broadband communication links for access networks. This work represents the first time that these subcomponents have been monolithically integrated into an OEIC to support such a link. The process and design is compatible with solder bump packaging and enhanced coupling efficiency waveguide couplers.

Blink rates (BR) and alpha brain waves were studied in 13 schizophrenic and 13 healthy smokers under conditions of smoking deprivation as well as smoking saturation and under different task conditions of smooth pursuit eye movements. Task conditions significantly changed BR and alpha power; smoking enhanced BR and alpha frequency, the latter effect being especially pronounced in schizophrenics for F3-F4 leadings. Concerning BR, groups differed significantly as long as smoking quantity was not statistically controlled. BR, alpha power and smoking quantity were consistently correlated above chance levels. Results are discussed with respect to the blink alpha neurocircuit model.