Doctor Sadoughifar Roxanna
Bidar Skin Center, Teheran, Iran

Advances in the treatment of Alopecia Areata: Emerging therapies and future perspectives

Author: Roxanna Sadoughifar
Bidar Skin Center, Tehran, Iran

Alopecia areata (AA) is a chronic, immune-mediated disorder characterized by non-scarring hair loss, which can range from localized patches to complete scalp (alopecia totalis) or body hair loss (alopecia universalis). The pathogenesis of AA is primarily driven by autoreactive CD8+ T cells and the interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) signaling pathway, leading to an inflammatory attack on hair follicles. Until recently, treatment options were limited and often ineffective for severe cases. However, novel targeted therapies, particularly Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors, have revolutionized the management of AA, offering new hope for patients with extensive or recalcitrant disease. Emerging Therapies: 1. JAK Inhibitors: These small-molecule inhibitors block the JAK-STAT signaling pathway, which plays a crucial role in the immune dysregulation seen in AA. The FDA has recently approved baricitinib, an oral JAK1/2 inhibitor, for severe AA, marking a major milestone in treatment. 2. Biologic Therapies: Targeted monoclonal antibodies, such as dupilumab (IL-4/IL-13 inhibitor) and secukinumab (IL-17 inhibitor), are being explored for their potential role in modulating the inflammatory response in AA. 3. Low-Dose Oral Minoxidil: Traditionally used for androgenetic alopecia, low-dose oral minoxidil has shown promise as an adjunct therapy in AA, potentially enhancing hair regrowth through its vasodilatory and pro-survival effects on hair follicles. 4. Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) and Exosome Therapy: Regenerative approaches such as PRP and mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes have demonstrated potential in reducing inflammation and promoting hair regrowth in AA patients. While not first-line treatments, they may be beneficial as adjuncts, especially for patients seeking non-systemic options. 5. Microbiome-Based and Immunomodulatory Approaches: The role of the gut-skin axis in AA is an emerging area of interest. Probiotic therapy and microbiome modulation may hold potential for immune regulation, though clinical evidence is still limited. Future Directions and Challenges: The advent of JAK inhibitors represents a paradigm shift in AA management; however, long-term safety, risk of relapse, and optimal patient selection remain key concerns. Combination therapies, such as JAK inhibitors with PRP, minoxidil, or biologics, may enhance treatment outcomes. Additionally, predictive biomarkers for treatment response and disease progression are needed to personalize therapeutic strategies. Conclusion: Alopecia areata treatment has entered a new era, with JAK inhibitors offering the first FDA-approved systemic therapy for severe disease. Ongoing research into biologics, regenerative medicine, and immunomodulation will further expand treatment options. As we refine our understanding of AA pathophysiology, personalized approaches integrating emerging therapies will likely become the standard of care, improving long-term outcomes for patients.

Scurt CV

WORK EXPERIENCE
Professor – Pediatric Dermatology Department
University of Marconi, Rome, Italy

09/2014 – Present
Owner
Bidar skin center Tehran-Iran

2000 – 2002
Head of the clinical education sector
Medical University of Qom, Iran

2000 – 2003
University Lecturer
Medical University of Qom, Iran

2020 – 2021
Associated editor
Dermatologic therapy by Wiley

Member:

Honorary president
International Dermatolgy and Cosmetology Congress

Faculty
IMCAS Paris

President
World Health Academy Medical Aesthetic section

Founder
Fatemiyeh University Journal

Editor
Hair and Scalp disorders book,Springer,Nature

Iran Representative
FUE ASIA
Facial Aesthetic Dermatology Society

Dr. Spandidos Demetrios
Medical, School, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece
Spandidos Publications, Athens, Greece and London, UK

Author: D.A. Spandidos
Medical School, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece

There is no doubt that the discovery of cellular oncogenes changed our views on the most devastating of human diseases: cancer. That is the reason why it is considered the most significant discovery of the 20th century. From the time of Hippocrates, the father of medicine who first described cancer, until the discovery of cellular oncogenes, very little progress had been made concerning an explanation to the causes of cancer, its diagnosis and treatment. The fact that under the category of cancer approximately 200 forms of diseases are included affecting almost every part of the human body, made it difficult to pinpoint the cause as well as control its result. However, the development of a variety of technological achievements, namely tissue culture, recombinant DNA technology, gene transfer techniques and so on, made the ideological approach feasible. By using the above techniques, it was possible to isolate human oncogenes; in other words, the genes responsible for the creation of benign or malignant growth of human tumours (oncos). The role of oncogenes in cutaneous melanoma will be discussed.
Spandidos Publications was established in 1991 with the International Journal of Oncology. Since then, another 11 journals have been established, which are: Oncology Reports, the International Journal of Molecular Medicine, Oncology Letters, Molecular Medicine Reports, Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, Molecular and Clinical Oncology, Biomedical Reports, World Academy of Sciences Journal, the International Journal of Functional Nutrition, International Journal of Epigenetics and Medicine International. The aims and scopes of these journals will be discussed during the conference.

Scurt CV

Professor Demetrios A. Spandidos obtained his BSc in Chemistry from the University of Thessaloniki, Greece, his PhD in Biochemistry from McGill University in Montreal, Canada, and his DSc in Genetics from the University of Glasgow, Scotland, UK. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Pathology (in Clinical Virology) (FRCPath), a Fellow of the Royal Society of Health (FRSH), a Fellow of the International Society of Hematology (FISH), a Fellow of the American Society of Angiology (FASA), a corresponding member of the National Academy of Buenos Aires, Argentina and an elected member of Academia Europeae (MAE). He is an Honorary Doctor of the Universities of Bucharest and Cluj-Napoca in Romania. He worked at the Theagenio Cancer Institute in Thessaloniki, the Hellenic Anticancer Hospital, the Hellenic Pasteur Institute and the National Hellenic Research Foundation in Athens, and the Medical School and University Hospital in Heraklion, Greece. His main fields of research are in the areas of Molecular Oncology, Biochemistry, Genetics and Virology, with the discovery of cellular oncogenes by gene transfer being his most prominent achievement. He has published over 1,000 papers in recognized journals, he has written 9 books and he has taught in many universities in various countries, including Greece, Italy, Japan, USA and China. He founded Spandidos Publications that includes 12 international journals and has organized 63 international conferences in Greece and abroad. He is Professor Emeritus at the Medical School of the University of Crete, Greece. An updated list of publications and citations can be found in Google Scholar.

Prof. Dr. Torello Lotti
University of Studies Guglielmo Marconi, Roma, Italia

Medical management of bitiligo: Present and future

Author: Torello Lotti  
University of Rome “Guglielmo Marconi”, Rome, Italy 
President World Health Academy of Dermatology

Vitiligo is an acquired pigmentary disorder afflicting 0.5-2% of the world population for both sexes and all races with a capricious and unpredictable course. It has a complex etiology and varies in its manifestation, progression and response to treatment. Even if the precise aetiology and pathobiology of the disease are complex and still debated, recent evidence supports that vitiligo is a T CD8+ cell- mediated autoimmune disease triggered by oxidative stress. To date no clinical, biological and histological criteria allow us to establish the prognosis with certainty. The choice of the best therapy for adult and childhood vitiligo is based on various factors, such as the patient’s age, psychological condition and expectations, distribution and extension of skin lesions, type of vitiligo (stable or not) and availability and cost of therapeutic options. Since vitiligo has a deep psychological impact on patients and their quality of life, treating the disease is very important. As dermatologists, we have important goals in the treatment of vitiligo patients: stabilization of the disease progression, repigmentation of the lesions and especially the persistence of the aforementioned repigmentation. Although several medical and surgical therapeutic options have been proposed, no definite cure has yet been developed and the long-term persistence of repigmentation is unpredictable.

Scurt CV

Prof. Lotti is Full Professor and Chairman of Dermatology and Venereology at University of Rome Guglielmo Marconi, Rome, Italy. He is President of the World Health Academy, Dermatology since 2013. Director, Centro Studi per la Ricerca Multidisciplinare Rigenerativa (CSRMR), of the University of Rome “G.Marconi”, Rome, Italy, since 2015.
He is Honorary Professor of Dermatology – China Medical University Shenyang (2011), Lecturer at the New York Academy of Sciences “Howard Fox Memorial Lecture” (14 March 2012 – New York, NY – USA), and Chair, Executive Scientific Committee Vitiligo Research Foundation, New York, NY USA. He has been Full Professor of the Dermatology and Venereology Division at University of Florence School of Medicine, Florence, Italy, from 2006 to 2010. He is Visiting Professor in six International Universities worldwide, and Key Note Lecturer in several international dermatology Societies.
His activities in serving Dermatology have been numerous: President of the Italian Society of Dermatology and Venereology (SIDeMaST , 2009-2011) and President of the International Society of Dermatology ( ISD, 2009-2011), President of the European Society for Cosmetic and Aesthetic Dermatology (2003-2004), Editor in Chief of the Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (1992-2002), Editor “Therapeutic Hotline”- Dermatologic Therapy (2007-) and served as Editor in Chief of the Giornale Italiano di Dermatologia in the period of presidency of the Societa’ Italiana di Dermatologia (2009-2011).
He is Ordinary Member of the main Scientific Societies worldwide (EADV, SIDEV, ESDR, ISD, AAD, SID) and Honorary Member of several Scientific Societies of the Dermatology field.
Moreover, he is a Scientific reviewer of ten sectorial journals, among which are the British Journal of Dermatology, Journal of Investigative Dermatology, Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology , Dermatologic Therapy.
Professor Lotti is presently Editor in Chief of Dermatologic Therapy by Wiley-Blackwell (Oxford U.K, Chicago IL).
Professor Lotti is Full Professor of Dermatology of the 1st Medical Univeristy of Moscow, since January 2020 and Full Professor and Chairman of Dermatology at Univeristy of Rome G. Marconi, Rome, Italy.
He has been invited as Keynote Speaker in 2.136 international and national Congresses and has served as Congress President or Chair of a Scientific session in 827 Congresses.
Prof. Lotti has authored 3.507 scientific publications (629 peer-reviewed articles, 388 book chapters, 3.650 abstracts and has edited or co-edited 59 books in the field of Dermatology and related fileds.

Prof. Dr. Aristides Tsatsakis
Director of the Department of Toxicology and Forensic Sciences of the Medical School at the University of Crete and the University Hospital of Heraklion

Telomeres and more about well-being and successful aging

Authors: Stella Baliou1,2, A. Tsatsakis1,2
1Laboratory of Toxicology, Medical School, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece
2Lifeplus S.A., Science & Technological Park of Crete, Heraklion, Greece

Telomere length is a vital indicator of biological aging. It gradually decreases with each cell division, although environmental and genetic factors can accelerate telomere shortening. Cells with critically short telomeres trigger a DNA damage response (DDR), resulting in senescence and apoptosis. Impaired maintenance of telomere length may contribute to a higher incidence of age-related disorders and cancer. Determining telomere length values can provide valuable insights into susceptibility to increased disease risk since telomere length is a prognostic tool for various diseases, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, solid tumors, leukemia, neurodegenerative diseases, and autoimmune disorders. Beyond its prognostic significance, telomere length is also a predictive tool for monitoring disease progression. In a molecular context, oxidative stress and inflammation are the primary mechanisms driving telomere shortening, leading to premature aging and heightened disease risk. As reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulate, the increased occurrence of 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-oxoG) at telomeres disrupts replication and DNA repair processes, causing telomere shortening, accumulation of DNA damage at telomeres, and impaired cellular function. Drawing from our expertise in telomere research, LifePlus utilizes state-of-the-art biomedical tools to provide essential professional insights into cellular health based on personalized telomere length values. Specifically, LifePlus employs quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and telomere length metaphase quantitative fluorescence in situ hybridization (Q-FISH) to reveal individuals’ biological age. The telomere-length metaphase Q-FISH method estimates an individual’s telomere length distribution at both the cell and chromosome-specific levels with high molecular resolution. Utilizing the telomere-length metaphase Q-FISH method, we can also assess the median of short and critically short telomeres, evaluating each individual’s genome stability, which is crucial for well-being and successful aging.

Scurt CV

Prof Tsatsakis has published well over 1000 works (articles in journals, books and abstracts proceedings), over 600 of them in ISI journals and PubMed. He is the holder of several patents and has an extensive array of citations (over 41,200 GS) and reads /downloads (over 297,000 RG) of his papers. His current IF index is 90 (GS) and 73 (Web of Science).
Prof Tsatsakis has given over 300 keynote and plenary lectures in international congresses and has been the promoter and chair of numerous Symposiums and workshops in International Forum.
He has coordinated as a PI in over 60 scientific research and technology projects and has established worldwide collaborations.
Prof. Tsatsakis has a long-standing activity as Editor and Guest Editor in toxicology journals, such as Toxicology Reports, Toxicology, Food and Chemical Toxicology, Toxicology Letters.
Aristidis Tsatsakis was elected EUROTOX President-Elect in 2012 served as President (2014-2016) of the Federation of European Toxicologists and European Societies of Toxicology.
He is Emeritus Professor for the Federal Institute of Hygiene and Toxicology in Moscow (2014), Doctor Honorary Causa of the Mendeleev Moscow University (2016), of the Far East Federal University (FEFU), Vladivostok 2017 and of the Carol Davila, in Bucharest (2017).
In 2016 he was elected Foreign Member of the National Academy of Sciences of Russia (FMRAS), in 2017 Foreign Member of Fellow Academy of Toxicological Sciences (FATS, USA) and in 2018 Full Member of The World Academy of Sciences (FMWAS). In 2017 he was elected Honorary Member of Bulgarian Toxicology Society, in 2018 Honorary President of the European Institute of Nutritional Medicine (E.I.Nu.M.) and Honorary Member of EUROTOX and in 2019 Honorary Member of Slovak Society of Toxicology (SETOX).
Prof. Tsatsakis was recognized for two consecutive years as Highly Cited Researcher 2020 and 2021 in the field of Pharmacology – Toxicology.
Currently, he was presented the EUROTOX Merit Award 2022 by the Federation of European Toxicologists and European Societies of Toxicology for his important contribution to the advancement of the field of Toxicology.
He is also the inspirator, founder and chief scientific leader of the University of Crete spin-off Company ToxPlus S.A.
The main research interests of Professor Tsatsakis include biomonitoring and risk assessments of xenobiotics as well as links of chronic exposure to them at low doses with health problems and diseases. He developed numerous biomarkers of exposure and of effects for various chemicals, in particular pesticides, pharmaceuticals, etc., uncovering the mechanistic understanding of the mode of action and adverse outcome pathways leading to clinical effects and chronic diseases (metabolic, autoimmune, cancer etc.)
Professor Tsatsakis’ long-standing public activities in disseminating science for safety health and wellbeing of the society and the environment have often been endorsed and awarded by state and municipal authorities. His motivation and basic concept highlight the important role of academia involvement in social life problems. The postulation of real-life risks simulation based on low dose combined long term exposures related to health issues, is a crucial element and the central driving force for application of theory to practice on safety evaluations in 21st century.

Prof. Dr. Stanislava Tzaneva
Head of the Department of Dermatology in Hera Hospital, Vienna, Austria

The swollen leg: what the dermatologist needs to know

Author: Stanislava Tzaneva
Head of the Department of Dermatology in Hera Hospital, Vienna, Austria

Many patients seek medical help because of swollen legs. The reasons are varied and additional examinations are often necessary. The most important pathophysiological causes behind the symptoms include venous and lymphatic pathology, volume overload, increased capillary permeability, and lower oncotic pressure.
The most frequent diseases associated with leg swelling are deep vein thrombosis and chronic venous disease, lymphedema, lipedema, cardiac failure, hypoproteinemia due to liver or renal failure, drug-induced edema, inflammatory processes, infections, different kind of cancer, compression syndromes, malformations and many others. In many cases cooperation between different disciplines is necessary to make the correct diagnosis.

SHORT CV

Position: Head of the Department of Dermatology in Hera Hospital, Vienna, Austria
Trainings: Dermatologist, Specialist for venous diseases and vascular medicine
Affiliations: Member of the board of the Austrian Society of Phlebology
Member of Austrian Society of Dermatology and Venereology
Member of Austrian Society of Dermatosurgery
Member of the Austrian Working Group Aesthetic Dermatology and Cosmetology
Member of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology

Prof. Dr. Yan Valle
Vitiligo Research Foundation (New York, USA)

AI in patient education: Insights from a multi-year vitiligo use case

Author: Yan Valle
VR Foundation & Vitiligo.ai

Patient education is a cornerstone of chronic dermatological care, yet significant gaps persist due to limited specialist availability, inconsistent information, and barriers to psychosocial support. This presentation explores insights from the multi-year implementation of Vitiligo.ai, an innovative artificial intelligence-driven digital companion designed to bridge these gaps. Launched publicly in September 2023 and recognized at last year’s PDI Dermatological Congress, Vitiligo.ai leverages advanced large language models (ChatGPT 4o and DeepSeek R1) enhanced by specialized dermatological knowledge and ethical guidelines to deliver personalized, multimodal (text, audio, video) patient support.
Through engagement with over 1,200 vitiligo patients achieving a 94% satisfaction rate, the project has provided valuable insights into effectively integrating AI into patient education and support workflows. This presentation will discuss key lessons learned, practical considerations for successful AI implementation, and future opportunities to expand AI-driven patient education in dermatology. Attendees will gain actionable knowledge on how to leverage AI technology to enhance patient outcomes, healthcare accessibility, and psychosocial wellbeing.

Scurt CV

Distinguished leader in vitiligo research and patient advocacy with extensive expertise in digital health technologies and artificial intelligence. Executive Director of the Vitiligo Research Foundation and pioneer of global health initiatives.

Academic Position
Invited Professor (2014-present)
Università degli Studi Guglielmo Marconi, Rome, Italy
• Specializing in multidisciplinary research and digital health applications

Executive Experience
Executive Director (2010-present)
Vitiligo Research Foundation, New York, USA
• Leading global initiatives including World Vitiligo Day and Vitiligo CloudBank

Areas of Expertise
• Digital Health Technologies
• Artificial Intelligence in Dermatology
• Global Health Initiatives
• Patient Advocacy and Research Management

Selected Publications
Yan Valle has authored and co-authored multiple peer-reviewed articles in dermatology and vitiligo research. Notable publications include:
– Mapping the Vitiligo Patient Journey – Frontiers in Rehabilitation Science, 2025
– World Vitiligo Day: Real-World Impact – Frontiers in Medicine, 2024
– Mental Health Burden Among Vitiligo Patients – JAMA Dermatology, 2023
– Exploring the Natural and Treatment History of Vitiligo – British Journal of Dermatology, 2023
– Emerging Drugs for Vitiligo Treatment – Expert Opinion on Emerging Drugs, 2020

Books and Monographs
– A No-Nonsense Guide To Vitiligo (2nd edition, 2024)
– Vitiligo: A Step-By-Step Guide to Diagnosis, Treatment And Prophylaxis (2017)
– Methods of Vitiligo Treatment (2016)
For a full list of publications, visit Google Scholar.