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Faculty members and students are invited to submit their research publications, theses, dissertations, and scholarly works to increase visibility, access, and long-term preservation.
Recent Submissions
Comparative efficacy of minoxidil and 5-alpha reductase inhibitors monotherapy for male pattern hair loss: Network meta-analysis study of current empirical evidence
(John Wiley and Sons Inc, 2025-07-01) Gupta A.K.; Bamimore M.A.; Williams G.; Talukder, Mesbah; School of Pharmacy
Treatment options for male androgenetic alopecia (AGA) range from pharmacologic agents—such as minoxidil, finasteride, and dutasteride—to newer procedural and experimental therapies. We determined the relative effect of the various dosages and administrative routes of minoxidil, finasteride and dutasteride through network meta-analysis (NMA) of relevant outcome measures. We conducted a systematic review to identify eligible studies. Our NMAs included studies that investigated monotherapy with minoxidil, finasteride, and dutasteride of any dosage and route on the following 5 outcomes: 24- and 48-week changes in total and terminal hair density, and 24-week change in independent observer assessment (IOA). We assessed evidence quality and performed sensitivity and node-splitting analyses of inconsistency. Each NMA produced estimates for pairwise relative effects and surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) values. Results: Our search found 33 eligible studies across which 19 comparators (18 interventions and 1 control) were identified. The active comparators included minoxidil (oral, topical, sublingual), finasteride (oral, topical, mesotherapy) and dutasteride (oral, mesotherapy). The control node amalgamated placebo and vehicle arms. We found dutasteride 0.5 mg/day to be the most effective option. Among FDA-approved treatments, topical minoxidil 5% was the most effective topical monotherapy, while finasteride 1 mg/day was the most effective oral option. Dutasteride mesotherapy appears significantly less effective than oral administration (0.5 mg/day).
The relative efficacy and safety of monotherapies for alopecia areata: A network meta-analysis study
(John Wiley and Sons Inc, 2025-04-01) Gupta A.K.; Bamimore M.A.; Mirmirani P.; Piguet V.; Talukder, Mesbah; School of Pharmacy
Scant evidence exists for the relative efficacy of therapies for alopecia areata (AA)—including those approved by the Food and Drug Administration, namely, baricitinib, deuruxolitinib, and ritlecitinib. We determined the relative efficacy and safety of monotherapy with janus kinase inhibitors (JAKIs), apremilast, and dupilumab. Following a systematic review, we conducted Bayesian network meta-analysis (NMAs) that produced Surface Under the Cumulative RAnking (SUCRA) values and point estimates for pairwise relative effects; we also performed sensitivity analyses. Results: In total, regimens with eight various JAKIs were compared, namely, ruxolitinib, ATI-501, baricitinib, brepocitinib, deuruxolitinib, ivarmacitinib, ritlecitinib, and tofacitinib. Our analyses ranked “deuruxolitinib 12 mg twice daily for 24 weeks,” the most efficacious insofar as “proportion of participants achieving SALT ? 20 at 24 weeks” (SALT20) (SUCRA = 92.6%), and “proportion of participants achieving SALT ? 10 at 24 weeks” (SALT10) (SUCRA = 97.7%). As per SALT20, the highest-ranked regimen was more efficacious than “baricitinib 2 mg once daily for 24 weeks” (odds ratio [OR] = 5.37, 95% credible interval [CI] = 1.59, 13.70, p < 0.05). Furthermore, the efficacy of the FDA-approved JAKIs exhibited a dose-dependent relationship; for instance, baricitinib 4 mg once daily for 24 weeks was more efficacious than “baricitinib 2 mg once daily for 24 weeks” in terms of SALT20 (OR = 2.25, 95% CI = 1.56, 3.21, p < 0.05). Results from our sensitivity analyses support that our base analyses were robust. We produced high-quality evidence on the comparative effectiveness of monotherapies for AA with various regimens of 8 JAKIs, including the FDA-approved ones. Our findings can improve clinicians' decision-making and update guidelines for medical practice.
Finasteride use: Evaluation of depression and suicide risk
(John Wiley and Sons Inc, 2025-03-01) Gupta A.K.; Bamimore M.A.; Williams G.; Talukder, Mesbah; School of Pharmacy
Oral finasteride 1 mg/day is indicated for androgenetic alopecia (AGA), while 5 mg/day is for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Oral finasteride has been linked with depression and suicide; however, a causal association is uncertain. The so-called post-finasteride syndrome (PFS) refers to a “cluster” of side effects experienced by some men (i.e., cis men) after taking oral finasteride. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the association of depression and suicide with oral finasteride in males, using data from the United States Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). As a secondary objective, we conducted disproportionality analyses of FAERS data to assess whether oral dutasteride use was linked to psychological symptoms related to depression and suicidality. We conducted disproportionality analyses for 5 AEs using MedDRA terms. Associations were metricized with the reporting odds ratio (ROR) across 3 time periods, namely, 2006–2011, 2013–2018, and 2019–2023. Results: No significant AEs/signals were detected with oral finasteride from 2006 to 2011 for any of the 5 AEs (completed suicide, depression suicidal, suicidal behavior, suicidal ideation, attempted suicide). Signals were detected for some AEs during 2013–2018 and 2019–2023. For example, there was a greater likelihood of reporting suicidal ideations in individuals taking oral finasteride during 2013–2018 (ROR = 2.8, p < 0.05) and 2019–2023 (ROR = 5.0, p < 0.05). In contrast, no signals were detected with oral dutasteride during 2006–2011, 2013–2018, and 2019–2023. The study found no significant correlation between oral finasteride and depression/suicide reports from 2006 to 2011 but noted a significant number of such reports in 2013–2018 and 2019–2023. This increase may be linked to heightened awareness of AEs following the recognition of so-called PFS in 2012.
Relative impact of monotherapies for vitiligo: A network meta-analysis study
(John Wiley and Sons Inc, 2025-03-01) Gupta A.K.; Bamimore M.A.; Seneschal J.; Piguet V.; Talukder, Mesbah; School of Pharmacy
Vitiligo, a stigmatizing condition characterized by patchy depigmented skin, has an estimated global prevalence of 0.36%. This condition is a risk factor for anxiety, depression, and even suicidal ideation. Hitherto, no network meta-analysis has investigated the relative effect of vitiligo on relevant monotherapies. The current study determined the relative effect of monotherapies for vitiligo through network meta-analyses (NMAs). The peer-reviewed literature was systematically searched through PubMed and Scopus; studies that were eligible for quantitative analyses were those that were published in English and had an arm that investigated the effect of a monotherapy on vitiligo at 6 months. Studies of the randomized and observational designs were included. The retrieved data were sufficient to analyze networks for phototherapy, Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKIs), calcineurin inhibitors, cyclosporine, corticosteroids, azathioprine, and minocycline. Modalities' effects, in each of the networks, were ranked with the surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) metric; league tables were produced to depict agents' pairwise relative effects. Our secondary outcome was discontinuation due to any adverse event (AE) at 6 months. No significant differences are observed among JAK inhibitors; however, upadacitinib, cyclosporine, ritlecitinib, and dexamethasone are significantly more effective than minocycline. Psoralen (oral) + ultraviolet A (PUVA) and narrow band ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) regimens show similar efficacy for repigmentation. Ruxolitinib 1.5% cream (once or twice daily), ruxolitinib 0.5% cream once daily, and ruxolitinib 0.15% cream once daily for 6 months do not differ significantly in efficacy. Mometasone furoate and tacrolimus 0.1% ointment are more effective than tacrolimus 0.03%.
The role of patient- and drug-related factors in oral minoxidil and pericardial effusion: Analyses of data from the United States food and drug administration adverse event reporting system
(John Wiley and Sons Inc, 2025-02-01) Gupta A.K.; Bamimore M.A.; Haber R.; Williams G.; Piguet V.; Talukder, Mesbah; School of Pharmacy
While oral minoxidil (OM) has been associated with pericardial effusion (PE), its etiology is presently inconclusive. We characterized patient- and drug-related factors across reports from the United States Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) for PE and OM. Our observation period spanned 18.5 years. Parametric and non-parametric analyses were used; we stratified our findings according to two groups of adverse events (AEs), namely, PE and all other AEs. Across reports of OM (n = 2747), positive dechallenge (complete resolution or subsiding of AE upon discontinuation of OM) was significantly more likely to occur for PE than for all other AEs (p < 0.05). Furthermore, OM was significantly more likely to play a primary role in PE compared to all other AEs (p < 0.05). The proportion of men was significantly higher in OM reports of PE than in OM reports of all other AEs (p < 0.05). We also identified six reports of PE and topical minoxidil.Though findings from spontaneously reported data never prove causality, our findings on dechallenge and purported role may suggest one. There were no reports of PE at a dose < 2.5 mg/day, 2/35 reports at 2.5 mg/day, and 8/35 reports at 5 mg/day. Overall, the results of statistical analyses support that the relationship between OM and PE is dose independent. Caution should also be taken when applying minoxidil topically because of reports of PE associated with this route of administration.