Androgenic alopecia; the risk–benefit ratio of Finasteride

Finasteride is currently approved and largely used as a therapeutic option for androgenetic alopecia. Apparently a safe drug and effective at the onset of its application, several concerns have since appeared over the years regarding the frequency and magnitude of finasteride adverse effects, which in some cases appear irreversible even after drug termination. This paper discusses the use of finasteride for androgenic alopecia from two distinct perspectives. On the one hand, androgenic alopecia is a condition that especially affects a person’s self-image and esteem, aspects that are subjectively-constructed and thus relative and changeable. On the other hand, this condition involves a multifactorial etiology, with androgens being only partly responsible. Because androgens have important and unique physiological roles within the body, any procedure that results in androgenic suppression should be advised with caution. Furthermore, adverse effects induced by finasteride are neither fully documented nor easily treated. Finally, as alternative therapeutic approaches (such as topical finasteride) become available, the oral administration of finasteride for androgenic alopecia should, in our opinion, be reevaluated. Due to such concerns, a detailed and informed discussion should take place with patients considering therapy with finasteride for androgenic alopecia

Tridiagonal realization of the anti-symmetric Gaussian β\beta-ensemble

The Householder reduction of a member of the anti-symmetric Gaussian unitary ensemble gives an anti-symmetric tridiagonal matrix with all independent elements. The random variables permit the introduction of a positive parameter $\beta$, and the eigenvalue probability density function of the corresponding random matrices can be computed explicitly, as can the distribution of $\{q_i\}$, the first components of the eigenvectors. Three proofs are given. One involves an inductive construction based on bordering of a family of random matrices which are shown to have the same distributions as the anti-symmetric tridiagonal matrices. This proof uses the Dixon-Anderson integral from Selberg integral theory. A second proof involves the explicit computation of the Jacobian for the change of variables between real anti-symmetric tridiagonal matrices, its eigenvalues and $\{q_i\}$. The third proof maps matrices from the anti-symmetric Gaussian $\beta$-ensemble to those realizing particular examples of the Laguerre $\beta$-ensemble. In addition to these proofs, we note some simple properties of the shooting eigenvector and associated Pr\"ufer phases of the random matrices.Comment: 22 pages; replaced with a new version containing orthogonal transformation proof for both cases (Method III

THE USE OF HORMONAL METHODS ON GILTS REPRODUCTIVE CYCLES

The main purpose of the current research was to conduct the reproductive cycle ongilts, using hormonal methods to induce estrus in non-cycling and late pubertal giltsand to group in a short period of time the breedings and, in the same time, to inductfarrowings. The gilts that have made the object of this experiment were distribute intwo equal lots and they were treated with PG 600 (400 I.U. PMSG and 200 I.U.hCG) to induce estrus in two consecutive weeks. The main reproductive objectivesthat we have observed were the percentage of gilts that came into heat, the timerange when the gilts showed signs of estrus and the gestation rate after pregnancycheck at 28 and 56 days from breeding. The percentage of the gilts that were in heatafter PG 600 was 67 %. The majority (44.8 %) of gilts were in heat after 72-96hours from PG 600. The gestation rate at 28 days after insemination was 64.6 % andat 56 days after insemination was 53.0%

PROSTAGLANDIN F2α SUPPLEMENTED SEMEN IMPROVES LANDRACE BOARS SPERM MOTILITY

This study investigated whether the sperm motility from Landrace boars improveswhen PGF2α (Dinolytic®; 5 mg PGF2α /ml) was added to diluted semen. Boars fromone large production unit, were manually collected; semen was either enriched withPGF2α (group 1, n=38), either untreated (group 2, n=32). Total volume of semencollected, percent of motility and number of obtained doses were recorded. Thehighest sperm volume collected from the two groups is corresponding to ejaculatesfrom Landrace boars with PGF2α supplemented semen (267.6 m)l. Regardingmotility, the sperm collected from Landrace boars with PGF2α supplemented semenwas higher from the one collected from Landrace boars with untreated semen(81.37%) and very significant differences were statistically determined. Theejaculates with highest number of obtained doses is corresponding to the onescollected from boars with PGF2α supplemented semen (25.21). Only boars from thefirst group (with PGF2α supplemented semen) showed motility over 70% and even100%. The untreated semen showed motility values around 65-70%