***TASK*** the task is to summarize an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***INPUT*** the input is a biomedical literature 
    ***OUTPUT*** the output is the summary of an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***DOCUMENTATION*** 
    ***EXAMPLES*** 
    Input: BACKGROUND Finasteride , an inhibitor of type 2 5alpha-reductase , decreases serum and scalp dihydrotestosterone ( DHT ) by inhibiting conversion of testosterone to DHT and has been shown to be effective in men with and rogenetic alopecia ( AGA ) . The effects of finasteride in women with AGA have not been evaluated . OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of finasteride in postmenopausal women with AGA . METHODS In this 1-year , double-blind , placebo-controlled , r and omized , multicenter trial , 137 postmenopausal women ( 41 - 60 years of age ) with AGA received finasteride 1 mg/day or placebo . Efficacy was evaluated by scalp hair counts , patient and investigator assessment s , assessment of global photographs by a blinded expert panel , and histologic analysis of scalp biopsy specimens . RESULTS After 1 year of therapy , there was no significant difference in the change in hair count between the finasteride and placebo groups . Both treatment groups had significant decreases in hair count in the frontal/parietal ( anterior/mid ) scalp during the 1-year study period . Similarly , patient , investigator , and photographic assessment s as well as scalp biopsy analysis did not demonstrate any improvement in slowing hair thinning , increasing hair growth , or improving the appearance of the hair in finasteride-treated subjects compared with the placebo group . Finasteride was generally well tolerated . CONCLUSION In postmenopausal women with AGA , finasteride 1 mg/day taken for 12 months did not not increase hair growth or slow the progression of hair thinning The aim of this study was to assess the usefulness of ketoconazole as a therapeutic alternative to polycystic ovary syndrome . The study group comprised 37 women with signs of hyper and rogenism ( hirsutism , acne ) and oligomenorrhea . A low dose ( 400 mg/day ) of ketoconazole was tested in a 9-month prospect i ve clinical study . Clinical response ( Ferriman & Gallway score , acne ) and modifications in hormone pattern ( luteinizing hormone , follicle-stimulating hormone , estradiol , testosterone , prolactin , 17-hydroxy-progesterone , and rostenedione , steroid hormone-binding globulin , dehydroepi and rosterone sulfate , cortisol , adrenocorticotropin ( ACTH ) and free testesterone index ) were measured , and ACTH stimulation tests were performed . Tolerance and side-effect also were assessed . After 9 months of ketoconazole treatment , the patients ' Ferriman & Gallway scores ( 18.26 + /- 4.6 vs 12.4 + /- 4.1 ; p < 0.001 ) and acne had improved markedly . Hormone patterns also became more favorable , with decreases in and rogenic steroids ( testosterone , and rostenedione , free testosterone index and dehydroepi and rosterone sulfate ; p < 0.01 ) and increases in estradiol ( p < 0.01 ) . Basal cortisol levels and cortisol after ACTH stimulation were not changed significantly , remaining within the reference range . Increases in ACTH were observed only in the 3rd month ( p < 0.01 ) . Initial levels of and rogenic steroids were correlated inversely with their percentage decrease in successive samplings . Decreases in adrenal and rogenic steroids were associated with an increase in steroid hormone-binding globulin . The side-effects of treatment , although not severe , caused some discomfort and led to a high drop-out rate ( 30 % ) . ( ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS BACKGROUND Topical minoxidil and oral finasteride have been used to treat men with and rogenetic alopecia ( AGA ) . There are concerns about side effects of oral finasteride especially erectile dysfunction . OBJECTIVE To compare the efficacy and safety of the 24 weeks application of 3 % minoxidil lotion ( MNX ) versus combined 3 % minoxidil and 0.1 % finasteride lotion ( MFX ) in men with AGA . MATERIAL AND METHOD Forty men with AGA were r and omized treated with MNX or MFX .  Efficacy was evaluated by hair counts and global photographic assessment . Safety assessment was performed by history and physical examination . RESULTS At week 24 , hair counts were increased from baseline in both groups . However paired t-test revealed statistical difference only in MFX group ( p = 0.044 ) . Unpaired t-test revealed no statistical difference between two groups with respect to change of hair counts at 24 weeks from baseline ( p = 0.503 ) . MFX showed significantly higher efficacy than MNX by global photographic assessment ( p = 0.003 ) . There was no significant difference in side effects between both groups . CONCLUSION Although change of hair counts was not statistically different between two groups , global photographic assessment showed significantly greater improvement in the MFX group than the MNX group . There was no sexual side effect .  MFX may be a safe and effective treatment option OBJECTIVE To determine the effectiveness of various anti and rogens for the treatment of premenopausal women with hyper and rogenic alopecia . DESIGN R and omized , unmasked trial of three treatments in 36 hyper and rogenic women with alopecia and observation , without treatment , in 12 other similar patients . SETTING Endocrinologic outpatient practice in Italy . PARTICIPANT(S ) A total of 48 hyper and rogenic women with alopecia and 30 age- and weight-matched controls for the assessment of and rogen levels . INTERVENTION(S ) R and omization to cyproterone acetate ( 50 mg ) with ethinyl estradiol ( EE ) in a reverse sequential regimen ; flutamide ( 250 mg ) or finasteride ( 5 mg ) daily ; all for 1 year . Twelve similar patients were observed without treatment for 1 year . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S ) Ludwig scores for hair thinning as well as patient and investigator assessment s of treatment effectiveness . RESULT ( S ) Flutamide result ed in a reduction of 21 % in Ludwig scores ( 2.3 + /- 0.2 to 1.8 + /- 0.1 ) . The other treatment effects were not statistically significant . Patient and investigator assessment s showed a similar trend . CONCLUSION ( S ) Flutamide at a dose of 250 mg daily induced a modest improvement in alopecia after 1 year , whereas cyproterone acetate and finasteride were not effective . Treatment for more than 1 year may be required for better results Background : The pathogenesis of and rogenic alopecia is not fully understood . A microbial-driven inflammatory reaction abutting on the hair follicles might participate in the hair status anomaly . Objective : The aim of our study was to determine if ketoconazole ( KCZ ) which is active against the scalp microflora and shows some intrinsic anti-inflammatory activity might improve alopecia . Method : The effect of 2 % KCZ shampoo was compared to that of an unmedicated shampoo used in combination with or without 2 % minoxidil therapy . Results : Hair density and size and proportion of anagen follicles were improved almost similarly by both KCZ and minoxidil regimens . The sebum casual level appeared to be decreased by KCZ . Conclusion : Comparative data suggest that there may be a significant action of KCZ upon the course of and rogenic alopecia and that Malassezia spp . may play a role in the inflammatory reaction . The clinical significance of the results awaits further controlled study in a larger group of subjects BACKGROUND Finasteride , a type II-selective 5alpha-reductase inhibitor , as a causative agent of decreasing dihydroxy testosterone ( DHT ) level , is effective in the treatment of male and rogenic alopecia . AIM We compared the local and oral finasteride in the treatment of and rogenic alopecia . METHOD This is a double blind , r and omized clinical trial study of 45 male patients , who were referred with alopecia to the private clinics and departments in Boo-Ali Sina Hospital , in Sari . Patients with male and rogenic alopecia were selected according to the history and physical examinations . The patients were r and omly divided into two : topical finasteride ( A ) and oral finasteride ( B ) groups . Topical finasteride group ( A ) received a topical gel of 1 % finasteride and placebo tablets , while the oral finasteride group ( B ) received finasteride tablets ( 1 mg ) and gel base ( without drug ) as placebo for 6 months . The patients were followed by clinical observation and recording of side effects prior to the treatment and at the end of first week , and then by a monthly follow-up . The size of bald area , total hair count , and terminal hair were studied . Data were analyzed by descriptive and Chi-square statistical test . RESULTS The mean duration of hair loss was 18.8+/-23.10 months . Each month the terminal hair , size of bald area and hair count between the two groups were compared . There were no significant differences between the two groups as a viewpoint of hair thickness , hair counts and the size of bald area . Serial measurements indicated a significant increase in hair counts and terminal hair counts between the two groups . CONCLUSIONS The results of this study showed that the therapeutic effects of both finasteride gel and finasteride tablet were relatively similar to each other OBJECTIVE The effects on scalp and serum dihydrotestosterone ( DHT ) of different doses of a novel topical solution of 0.25 % finasteride ( P-3074 ) , a type 2 5α-reductase , were investigated in men with and rogenetic alopecia . METHODS Two r and omized , parallel-group studies were conducted . Study I : 18 men received 1 mL ( 2.275 mg ) P-3074 , applied to the scalp once a day ( o.d . ) or twice a day ( b.i.d ) , or 1 mg oral tablet o.d . for 1 week . Study II : 32 men received  P-3074  at the dose of 100 ( 0.2275 mg ) , 200 ( 0.455 mg ) , 300 ( 0.6285 mg ) , or 400 ( 0.91 mg ) μL or the vehicle o.d . for 1 week . Scalp and serum DHT and serum testosterone were evaluated at baseline and treatment end . RESULTS Change from baseline in scalp DHT was -70 % for P-3074 o.d . and approx . -50 % for P-3074 b.i.d . and the tablet . Serum DHT decreased by 60 - 70 % . The doses of 100 and 200 μL P-3074 result ed in a -47/-52 % scalp DHT reduction , similar to the 300 and 400 μL doses ( i.e. , -37/-54 % ) . A -5.6 % inhibition was observed for the vehicle . Serum DHT was reduced by only -24/-26 % with 100 and 200 μL P-3074 and by -44/-48 % with 300 and 400 μL P-3074 . No relevant changes occurred for serum testosterone . CONCLUSIONS The novel finasteride 0.25 % solution applied o.d . at the doses of 100 and 200 μL results in an appropriate inhibition of scalp DHT potentially minimizing the untoward sexual side-effects linked to a systemic DHT reduction BACKGROUND The synergism of combined use between oral finasteride and topical minoxidil has been established in treating and rogenetic alopecia among men . However , the concern regarding adverse effects of finasteride use has been rising . OBJECTIVE To compare the efficacy and safety of topical solution of 0.25 % finasteride admixed with 3 % minoxidil vs. 3 % minoxidil solution in men with and rogenetic alopecia . METHODS Forty men aged 18 - 60 years with and rogenetic alopecia were r and omized to 24 weeks of treatment with a finasteride/minoxidil or minoxidil solution twice daily . Primary efficacy endpoint was the change from baseline in hair density and hair diameter at week 24 . Secondary endpoints included global photographic assessment by treatment-blinded investigators and subjects . Changes in plasma dihydrotestosterone levels and adverse events were recorded . RESULTS At week 24 , the combined solution of finasteride and minoxidil was significantly superior to minoxidil alone in improvements of hair density , hair diameter and global photographic assessment ( all P < 0.05 ) . About 90 % of patients treated with the combined solution experienced moderate to marked improvement . The combined solution also had minimal effect on plasma dihydrotestosterone levels , approximately 5 % reduction . There were also no systemic adverse events reported by patients in both groups . CONCLUSION Treatment with topical solution of 0.25 % finasteride admixed with 3 % minoxidil was significantly superior to 3 % minoxidil solution for promoting hair growth in male and rogenetic alopecia , and well tolerated Background The relationship between female pattern hair loss ( FPHL ) and and rogenic hormones is not well established , but some evidence indicates oral finasteride may be efficacious in FPHL . Use of a topical formulation has been 
    Output:
    
The results demonstrated that topical formulations of finasteride , ketoconazole , and C17P are promising treatments for male pattern hair loss  , especially topical finasteride in combination with topical minoxidil .
Limited studies have shown C17P to have potential in treating acne vulgaris in both males and females .
Minimal adverse effects have been reported in clinical trials for all topical therapies , although topical finasteride is still contraindicated in pregnancy .