Two-Step Immediate Loading of Mandibular Overdentures Retained by Mini-implants: A Prospective Clinical Study

PURPOSE

This study aimed to evaluate treatment outcomes of mandibular overdentures retained by two different mini-implant systems with ball attachments under a two-step immediate loading protocol.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This clinical trial investigated treatment outcomes of mandibular mini-implant overdentures in 45 edentulous patients. MDI implants (3M ESPE) and SlimLine implants (Dentium) were randomly selected for placement in the anterior mandible in each group (MDI = 21; SlimLine = 24) with a flapless surgical approach. The side of the tissue in the region of the complete mandibular denture where mini-implants were placed was immediately relined with soft reliner (COE-SOFT). The female components were attached on the dentures 2 months after implant placement. Clinical and radiographic data were collected during follow-up. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS software version 22.0 (α = .05).

RESULTS

A total of 177 mini-implants were inserted in the anterior mandibles of 45 totally edentulous patients. There were five implant failures (97.2% success rate) and no significant differences between the two implant groups. Most mini-implants showed stable initial Periotest values (a mean ± standard deviation of 1.03 ± 3.65 mm) and a mean marginal bone loss of 0.50 ± 0.75 mm at 12 months. Multiple regression analysis revealed that implants ≤ 2.4 mm in diameter had higher Periotest values than those ≥ 2.8 mm. Intial Periotest values significantly influenced implant failure (P < .05).

CONCLUSION

There were no significant differences in treatment outcomes between patients treated with MDI or SlimLine implants. Mini-implants with wider diameters showed higher initial stability than those with narrow diameters, which may influence implant survival.

Reliability and validity of the Atopic Dermatitis Symptom Score (ADSS)

BACKGROUND

We have developed the Atopic Dermatitis Symptom Score (ADSS) by which patients or parents can easily assess and record AD symptoms on a daily basis in a smartphone application. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability and validity of the ADSS.

METHODS

We enrolled 307 children and adolescents with AD. Parents or caregivers were asked to record daily symptoms of the patients (itching, sleep disturbance, erythema, dryness, oozing, and edema) using a scale of 0-4. Statistical analyses consisted of the test-retest reliability, concurrent validity, minimal clinically important difference (MCID), responsiveness, floor or ceiling effects, and screening accuracy. Receiver-operating characteristic analyses were conducted to evaluate the ADSS cutoff point for predicting severe AD (SCORing AD [SCORAD] ≥40).

RESULTS

Test-retest reliability between daytime and night-time ADSS was good (intraclass correlation coefficient, 0.82 [95% CI: 0.70-0.90]). An increase in ADSS was significantly associated with an increase in SCORAD (r = 0.64, P < .0001) (concurrent validity). The MCID was 4.1 points for the ADSS. There was a significant association between changes in ADSS and SCORAD (r = 0.56, P < .0001), indicating good responsiveness. At the optimal ADSS cutoff value of 7.0, sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were 88.4%, 78.6%, 21.1%, and 99.1%, respectively (screening accuracy).

CONCLUSIONS

The ADSS can be a useful tool for self-assessment of skin symptoms in children with AD.

First Determination of the Level Structure of an sd-Shell Hypernucleus, _{Λ}^{19}F

We report on the first observation of γ rays emitted from an sd-shell hypernucleus, _{Λ}^{19}F. The energy spacing between the ground state doublet, 1/2^{+} and 3/2^{+} states, of _{Λ}^{19}F is determined to be 315.5±0.4(stat)_{-0.5}^{+0.6}(syst)  keV by measuring the γ-ray energy of the M1(3/2^{+}→1/2^{+}) transition. In addition, three γ-ray peaks are observed and assigned as E2(5/2^{+}→1/2^{+}), E1(1/2^{-}→1/2^{+}), and E1(1/2^{-}→3/2^{+}) transitions. The excitation energies of the 5/2^{+} and 1/2^{-} states are determined to be 895.2±0.3(stat)±0.5(syst) and 1265.6±1.2(stat)_{-0.5}^{+0.7}(syst)  keV, respectively. It is found that the ground state doublet spacing is well described by theoretical models based on existing s- and p-shell hypernuclear data.

The relationship between clinical characteristics including presence of exposed lesions and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with psoriasis: analysis from the nationwide epidemiologic study for psoriasis in Korea (EPI-PSODE study)

BACKGROUND

Psychological aspect and quality of life should be considered in treating patients with psoriasis.

OBJECTIVE

We sought to ascertain which clinical characteristics including presence of exposed lesions are associated with impairment of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with psoriasis.

METHODS

The EPI-PSODE study was a nationwide, multicenter, cross-sectional study conducted in Korea that included 1260 adult patients with psoriasis. In addition to clinical characteristics including presence of exposed lesions, data were collected using the Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) Screening and Evaluation (PASE), Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), MOS 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire Psoriasis (WPAI: PSO) and Medication Satisfaction Questionnaire (MSQ).

RESULTS

Patients with a DLQI score > 5 (n = 990) were younger, had an earlier onset of psoriasis, scored higher on the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), had higher body surface area (BSA) and had higher PASE scores than patients with DLQI ≤ 5 (n = 266). The group of patients with exposed lesions (n = 871) were younger and male predominance, earlier onset of psoriasis, longer disease duration, higher PASI/BSA score and a higher proportion with drinking and smoking history each than the group of patients without exposed lesions (n = 389). Presence of exposed lesions negatively influenced DLQI, 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) (mental component), presenteeism, total work productivity impairment and total activity impairment in the WPAI: PSO. In multiple regression model, PASI score was the only variable which was significantly associated with all HRQoL measures. Presence of exposed lesions was a significant factor affecting DLQI and SF-36 (mental).

CONCLUSION

The presence of exposed lesions has a negative impact on quality of life, mental health and work productivity. Therefore, effective treatments are particularly needed for psoriasis patients with exposed lesions.

Effects of rhBMP-2 Loaded Titanium Reinforced Collagen Membranes on Horizontal Bone Augmentation in Dogs

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of growth factor loaded collagen membranes on new bone formation during horizontal bone augmentation. Mandibular defects (4 × 4 × 4 mm) were surgically prepared in six male beagle dogs, which were then protected with one of three types of membranes: (1) titanium mesh, (2) titanium reinforced collagen, or (3) rhBMP-2 loaded titanium reinforced collagen. Animals were euthanized 8 and 16 weeks after surgery, and nondecalcified specimens were prepared and histomorphologically investigated to determine the degree of osteogenesis. Data were analyzed with Friedman test. With respect to the degree of osteogenesis at earlier stage (8 weeks after surgery), there was significantly higher new bone ratio in rhBMP-2 loaded membrane group (p > 0.05). However, with respect to the long-term results (16 weeks after surgery), there were no significant differences among the three membranes (p > 0.05). Based on histomorphometric analysis, there were no significant differences in horizontal bone gaining ratio (p > 0.05).

Shear bond strength of composite resin to high performance polymer PEKK according to surface treatments and bonding materials

PURPOSE

The object of the present study was to evaluate the shear bonding strength of composite to PEKK by applying several methods of surface treatment associated with various bonding materials.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

One hundred and fifty PEKK specimens were assigned randomly to fifteen groups (n = 10) with the combination of three different surface treatments (95% sulfuric acid etching, airborne abrasion with 50 µm alumina, and airborne abrasion with 110 µm silica-coating alumina) and five different bonding materials (Luxatemp Glaze & Bond, Visio.link, All-Bond Universal, Single Bond Universal, and Monobond Plus with Heliobond). After surface treatment, surface roughness and contact angles were examined. Topography modifications after surface treatment were assessed with scanning electron microscopy. Resin composite was mounted on each specimen and then subjected to shear bond strength (SBS) test. SBS data were analyzed statistically using two-way ANOVA, and post-hoc Tukey's test (P<.05).

RESULTS

Regardless of bonding materials, mechanical surface treatment groups yielded significantly higher shear bonding strength values than chemical surface treatment groups. Unlike other adhesives, MDP and silane containing self-etching universal adhesive (Single Bond Universal) showed an effective shear bonding strength regardless of surface treatment method.

CONCLUSION

Mechanical surface treatment behaves better in terms of PEKK bonding. In addition, self-etching universal adhesive (Single Bond Universal) can be an alternative bonding material to PEKK irrespective of surface treatment method.

Suggested new breakpoints of anti-MERS-CoV antibody ELISA titers: performance analysis of serologic tests

To provide optimal cut-off values of anti-Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) serologic tests, we evaluated performance of ELISA IgG, ELISA IgA, IFA IgM, and IFA IgG using 138 serum samples of 49 MERS-CoV-infected patients and 219 serum samples of 219 rRT-PCR-negative MERS-CoV-exposed healthcare personnel and patients. The performance analysis was conducted for two different purposes: (1) prediction of neutralization activity in MERS-CoV-infected patients, and (2) epidemiologic surveillance of MERS-CoV infections among MERS-CoV-exposed individuals. To evaluate performance according to serum collection time, we used ‘days post onset of illness (dpoi)’ and ‘days post exposure (dpex)’ assessing neutralization activity and infection diagnosis, respectively. Performance of serologic tests improved with delayed sampling time, being maximized after a seroconversion period. In predicting neutralization activity, ELISA IgG tests showed optimal performance using sera collected after 21 dpoi at cut-off values of OD ratio 0.4 (sensitivity 100% and specificity 100%), and ELISA IgA showed optimal performance using sera collected after 14 dpoi at cut-off value of OD ratio 0.2 (sensitivity 85.2% and specificity 100%). In diagnosis of MERS-CoV infection, ELISA IgG exhibited optimal performance using sera collected after 28 dpex, at a cut-off value of OD ratio 0.2 (sensitivity 97.3% and specificity 92.9%). These new breakpoints are markedly lower than previously suggested values (ELISA IgG OD ratio 1.1, sensitivity 34.8% and specificity 100% in the present data set), and the performance data help serologic tests to be practically used in the field of MERS management.

Cumulative survival rate and associated risk factors of Implantium implants: A 10-year retrospective clinical study

PURPOSE

The objective of this study was to determine the cumulative survival rate (CSR) and associated risk factors of Implantium implants by retrospective clinical study.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients who received Implantium implants (Dentium Co., Seoul, Korea) at Korea University Guro Hospital from 2004 to 2011 were included. The period between the first surgery and the last hospital visit until December 2015 was set as the observation period for this study. Clinical and radiographic data were collected from patient records, including all complications observed during the follow-up period. Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed to examine CSR. Multiple Cox proportional hazard model was employed to assess the associations between potential risk factors and CSR.

RESULTS

A total of 370 implants were placed in 121 patients (mean age, 56.1 years; range, 19 to 75 years). Of the 370 implants, 13 failed, including 7 implants that were lost before loading. The 10-year cumulative survival rate of implants was 94.8%. The multiple Cox proportional hazard model revealed that significant risk factor of implant failure were smoking and maxillary implant (P<.05).

CONCLUSION

The 10-year CSR of Implantium implants was 94.8%. Risk factors of implant failure were smoking and maxillary implant.

Ethanol Ablation of Ranulas: Short-Term Follow-Up Results and Clinicoradiologic Factors for Successful Outcome

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Surgical excision of an affected sublingual gland for treatment of a ranula can carry a potential of a nerve damage or postoperative complications. However, there have been little studies about effective minimally invasive therapeutic method, yet. Our aim was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ethanol ablation of ranulas and the clinicoradiologic factors that can predict outcome.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective study evaluated 23 patients with ranulas treated by percutaneous ethanol ablation. Treatment outcome was assessed in 20 patients followed for at least 6 months. The duration of symptoms before ethanol ablation, pretreatment volume, and parapharyngeal extension on sonography and/or CT were correlated with the outcome. The Mann-Whitney U test and Fisher exact test were used for comparison of the factors according to the outcome.

RESULTS

The study evaluated 14 males and 9 females with a median age of 26 years (range, 3-41 years). Among 20 patients who were followed for at least 6 months (median, 20 months; range, 6-73 months), 9 patients (45%) demonstrated complete disappearance of the ranulas and 11 (55%) showed an incomplete response. When the patients were divided according to the duration of symptoms before ethanol ablation, the complete response rate was significantly higher in patients with ≤12 months of symptoms (73%, 8/11) than that in others (11%, 1/9) (P = .010). Pretreatment volume and parapharyngeal extension were not significantly different between the 2 groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Ethanol ablation is a safe and noninvasive treatment technique for ranulas with a significantly better outcome in patients with ≤12 months of symptoms. Therefore, it could be considered an alternative nonsurgical approach for ranulas with recent onset of symptoms.

Effects of desensitizing agents for cervical dentin hypersensitivity: A randomized clinical trial

PURPOSE

To evaluate the clinical efficacy of five commercially available desensitizing agents with different mechanisms applied to hypersensitive teeth.

METHODS

A randomized clinical trial was conducted on subjects suffering dentin hypersensitivity in Korea University Guro Hospital from October 2013 to April 2015. A total of 64 subjects met the selection criteria and were randomly assigned to five commercially available desensitizing agents, and applied according to the manufacturers' instructions. Before and after application of desensitizing agents, subjects were evaluated with the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) at baseline, 1 week, 1 month and 3 months. The difference between the degree of reduction of hypersensitivity in relation to time were evaluated with the repeated-measures ANOVA (P<0.05).

RESULTS

Practitioner and subject-measured VAS values at 1 week, 1 month and 3 months showed a significant difference in all products compared with the first visit. On the other hand, no statistically significant differences between the products was shown. Desensitizing agents used in this clinical trial relieved dentin hypersensitivity up to 3 months.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

The five tested desensitizing agents with different mechanisms were clinically effective in relieving dentin hypersensitivity up to 3 months and showed statistically significant pain reduction when compared to baseline scores.

Sterile Neutrino Search at the NEOS Experiment

An experiment to search for light sterile neutrinos is conducted at a reactor with a thermal power of 2.8 GW located at the Hanbit nuclear power complex. The search is done with a detector consisting of a ton of Gd-loaded liquid scintillator in a tendon gallery approximately 24 m from the reactor core. The measured antineutrino event rate is 1976 per day with a signal to background ratio of about 22. The shape of the antineutrino energy spectrum obtained from the eight-month data-taking period is compared with a hypothesis of oscillations due to active-sterile antineutrino mixing. No strong evidence of 3+1 neutrino oscillation is found. An excess around the 5 MeV prompt energy range is observed as seen in existing longer-baseline experiments. The mixing parameter sin^{2}2θ_{14} is limited up to less than 0.1 for Δm_{41}^{2} ranging from 0.2 to 2.3 eV^{2} with a 90% confidence level.

Implant- and Tooth-Supported Fixed Prostheses Using a High-Performance Polymer (Pekkton) Framework

The type of prosthetic restoration used in implant rehabilitation greatly contributes to the recovery of masticatory function as well as quality of life in patients. Frameworks for implant-supported prostheses are typically made by casting metal or milling either titanium or zirconia. Recently, nonmetal, polymer-type materials were suggested as framework materials. Polyetherketoneketone (PEKK), a high-performance polymer, was recently introduced in the dental field with potentially wide-ranging applications. This case history report describes implant- and tooth-supported fixed prostheses created using a new high performance polymer (Pekkton, Cendres+Metaux) framework for a fully edentulous maxilla and partially edentulous mandible.

Limited Dorsal Myeloschisis and Congenital Dermal Sinus: Comparison of Clinical and MR Imaging Features

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

While limited dorsal myeloschisis is a distinctive form of spinal dysraphism, it may be confused with congenital dermal sinus. The aim of this study was to describe clinical and MR imaging findings of limited dorsal myeloschisis that can distinguish it from congenital dermal sinus.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the clinical and MR imaging findings of 12 patients with limited dorsal myeloschisis and 10 patients with congenital dermal sinus. Skin abnormalities, neurologic deficits, and infectious complication were evaluated on the basis of clinical information. We evaluated the following MR imaging features: visibility of the tract along the intrathecal course, attachment site of the tract, level of the conus medullaris, shape of the spinal cord, and presence of intradural lesions such as dermoid/epidermoid tumors.

RESULTS

A crater covered with pale epithelium was the most common skin lesion in limited dorsal myeloschisis (10/12, 83%). Infectious complications were common in congenital dermal sinus (6/10, 60%), whereas none were found in limited dorsal myeloschisis (P = .003). The following MR imaging findings were significantly different between the 2 groups (P < .05): 1) higher visibility of the intrathecal tract in limited dorsal myeloschisis (10/12, 83%) versus in congenital dermal sinus (1/10, 10%), 2) the tract attached to the cord in limited dorsal myeloschisis (12/12, 100%) versus various tract attachments in congenital dermal sinus, 3) dorsal tenting of the cord in limited dorsal myeloschisis (10/12, 83%) versus in congenital dermal sinus (1/10, 10%), and 4) the presence of dermoid/epidermoid tumors in congenital dermal sinus (6/10, 60%) versus none in limited dorsal myeloschisis.

CONCLUSIONS

Limited dorsal myeloschisis has distinct MR imaging features: a visible intrathecal tract with dorsal tenting of the cord at the tract-cord union. Limited dorsal myeloschisis was not associated with infection and dermoid/epidermoid tumors.

A model-free test for detecting disease association signals with multiple genetic variants and covariates

Discoveries and analyses of genetic variants at a gene or exome based on high-throughput sequencing technology are increasingly feasible. Although many well-known association tests have already been proposed in literature for testing whether a group of variants in a target region is associated with a disease of interest, however, the analytic challenges still remain profound. The power performance of these tests generally depends on the sample size, numbers of causal and neutral variants, variant frequency, effect size, and direction. Some of these factors are not easily controllable in practical applications. Further complications arise from missing genotype, population stratification or misspecification of the working model. Previous studies showed that many model-based tests might create false positive results or decrease power when there was population stratification effect or missing genotype and simple imputation was used. Here, we demonstrate by simulations that type I errors of the well-known model-based tests are often inflated as well, even the working model deviates slightly from the true model. We propose a model-free test and show this test to be almost uniformly most powerful among the competing tests under very general simulation conditions with covariates. This test does not require genotype data to be complete and hence difficult imputation can be avoided. We also discuss how to adjust for the effect of population stratification based on principal components, and use a Shanghai Breast Cancer Study to demonstrate application of the new test.

Addressing Selection Bias in Dental Health Services Research

When randomization is not possible, researchers must control for non-random assignment to experimental groups. One technique for statistical adjustment for non-random assignment is through the use of a two-stage analytical technique. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the use of this technique to control for selection bias in examining the effects of the The Supplemental Program for Women, Infants, and Children’s (WIC) on dental visits. From 5 data sources, an analysis file was constructed for 49,512 children ages 1–5 years. The two-stage technique was used to control for selection bias in WIC participation, the potentially endogenous variable. Specification tests showed that WIC participation was not random and that selection bias was present. The effects of the WIC on dental use differed by 36% after adjustment for selection bias by means of the two-stage technique. This technique can be used to control for potential selection bias in dental research when randomization is not possible.

Late paradoxical lymph node enlargement during and after anti-tuberculosis treatment in non-HIV-infected patients

SETTINGS

A tertiary referral centre in South Korea.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the incidence, clinical characteristics and outcomes of late paradoxical response (>4 months after the initiation of anti-tuberculosis treatment) during and after anti-tuberculosis treatment in non-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected patients with lymph node tuberculosis (TB).

DESIGN

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of non-HIV-infected patients with lymph node TB between 1997 and 2007, and prospectively enrolled patients with newly diagnosed lymph node TB between 2008 and 2013.

RESULTS

Of 467 patients with confirmed and probable lymph node TB, 83 (18%) displayed a paradoxical response: 57 of these (69%) were classified as early and 26 (31%) as late paradoxical response. Patients with late paradoxical response (median 12 months) received more prolonged anti-tuberculosis treatment than those with early (median 9 months, P < 0.001) or no paradoxical response (median 9 months, P < 0.001). The frequency of post-treatment lymph node enlargement increased progressively from those without any paradoxical response (6%), through those with an early response (12%) to those with a late response (23%).

CONCLUSIONS

Paradoxical response presents late in about one third of non-HIV-infected patients with lymph node TB who experience a response. Although anti-tuberculosis treatment is commonly prolonged in patients with late paradoxical response, post-treatment lymph node enlargement is more frequent in these patients.

Innocent BN bond substitution in anthracene derivatives

Extended azaborine heterocycles are promising biomedical and electronic materials. Herein we report the synthesis of a novel family of azaborine anthracene derivatives and their structural, electrochemical and spectroscopic characterization. We observe that the properties of these materials are remarkably similar to the parent hydrocarbons, suggesting the innocence of the CC to BN bond substitution. Our results support the prospective stability to long-term usage of extended azaborines and the feasibility of using such materials in device applications.

Clinical importance of inflammatory facet joints of the spine in ankylosing spondylitis: a magnetic resonance imaging study

OBJECTIVES

The aims of this study were to assess the reliability of a novel magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scoring system for inflammatory lesions of facet joints and to clarify the clinical significance of facet joint inflammation in ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

METHOD

A total of 53 AS patients (45 males, 84.9%) were assessed for active inflammatory lesions involving the facet joints, as indicated by bone marrow oedema, at 23 discovertebral units (DVUs) between C2 and S1 using a novel scale, the AS Activity of the Facet joint (ASAFacet). The reliability of the ASAFacet was evaluated using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) and Bland-Altman plots.

RESULTS

ICC values for the ASAFacet scores were 0.857 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.741-0.919] for inter-observer and 0.941 (95% CI 0.873-0.969) for intra-observer reliability. Inflammatory activity scores in facet joints were evenly distributed at all spine levels (p = 0.294 for ASAFacet), whereas vertebral body inflammation was more prominent in the thoracic spine than in the cervical and lumbar spine [p < 0.001 for the AS spine MRI activity (ASspiMRI-a) score, p = 0.002 for the Berlin method, and p < 0.001 for the Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium of Canada (SPARCC) MRI index]. ASAFacet scores were closely associated with erythrocyte sediment rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels (p < 0.05, respectively). Patients with peripheral arthritis had fewer lesions involving the vertebral bodies or facet joints than patients without peripheral arthritis (p < 0.001 for the four different MRI activity indexes).

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that recognition of facet joint inflammation has the potential to contribute to our understanding of clinical outcomes in AS.

Morphological and morphometric study of the androgenetic alopecic scalp using two- and three-dimensional analysis comparing regional differences

BACKGROUND

Androgenetic (male-type) alopecia (AGA) is caused by genetic and androgenetic effects. The progression of baldness results in smaller hair papillae, thinner hair and a shortened hair cycle. Alopecia occurs mainly in the frontal region and, to a lesser extent, in the occipital region.

OBJECTIVES

The morphological differences in the hair follicular units between the alopecic frontal scalp and the vertex and occipital regions were compared using cross-sectional histology and three-dimensional reconstruction.

METHODS

Skin specimens were obtained from the frontal, vertex and occipital regions of 24 male human cadavers with fully progressed AGA, and from the frontal region of 32 normal cadaveric scalps. These specimens were fixed, processed using routine histological methods, serially sectioned at a thickness of 10 μm and then stained with Masson's trichrome. The serial sections were reconstructed three-dimensionally using 'Reconstruct' software.

RESULTS

The ratios between the numbers of terminal and vellus hairs in the frontal and occipital regions in the AGA scalps were 0·2 : 1 and 3·5 : 1, respectively. Almost all of the hair follicles in the frontal region were vellus hair follicles. The sebaceous gland and arrector pili muscle were larger in the frontal region than in the occipital region.

CONCLUSIONS

The morphology of the AGA scalp has been characterized. The terminal-to-vellus hair ratio in the occipital (normal) region was different from that in the frontal (alopecic) region. Moreover, sebaceous glands were larger in the frontal alopecic region than in the occipital region. These larger glands may be associated with other dermatological pathologies, such as seborrhoeic dermatitis.