DHEA Induces Sex-Associated Differential Patterns in Cytokine and Antibody Levels in Mice Infected with Plasmodium berghei ANKA.

Malaria is the most lethal parasitic disease worldwide; the severity of symptoms and mortality are higher in men than in women, exhibiting an evident sexual dimorphism in the immune response; therefore, the contribution of 17ß-estradiol and testosterone to this phenomenon has been studied. Both hormones differentially affect several aspects of innate and adaptive immunity. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is the precursor of both hormones and is the sexual steroid in higher concentrations in humans, with immunomodulatory properties in different parasitic diseases; however, the involvement of DHEA in this sexual dimorphism has not been studied. In the case of malaria, the only information is that higher levels of DHEA are associated with reduced Plasmodium falciparum parasitemia. Therefore, this work aims to analyze the DHEA contribution to the sexual dimorphism of the immune response in malaria. We assessed the effect of modifying the concentration of DHEA on parasitemia, the number of immune cells in the spleen, cytokines, and antibody levels in plasma of CBA/Ca mice infected with Plasmodium berghei ANKA (P. berghei ANKA). DHEA differentially affected the immune response in males and females: it decreased IFN-γ, IL-2 and IL-4 concentrations only in females, whereas in gonadectomized males, it increased IgG2a and IgG3 antibodies. The results presented here show that DHEA modulates the immune response against Plasmodium differently in each sex, which helps to explain the sexual dimorphism present in malaria.

Influence of Gestational Hormones on the Bacteria-Induced Cytokine Response in Periodontitis.

Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease that affects the supporting structures of teeth. The presence of a bacterial biofilm initiates a destructive inflammatory process orchestrated by various inflammatory mediators, most notably proinflammatory cytokines, which are upregulated in the gingival crevicular fluid, leading to the formation of periodontal pockets. This represents a well-characterized microbial change during the transition from periodontal health to periodontitis; interestingly, the gestational condition increases the risk and severity of periodontal disease. Although the influence of periodontitis on pregnancy has been extensively reviewed, the relationship between pregnancy and the development/evolution of periodontitis has been little studied compared to the effect of periodontitis on adverse pregnancy outcomes. This review is aimed at summarizing the findings on the pregnancy-proinflammatory cytokine relationship and discussing its possible involvement in the development of periodontitis. We address (1) an overview of periodontal disease, (2) the immune response and possible involvement of proinflammatory cytokines in the development of periodontitis, (3) how bone tissue remodelling takes place with an emphasis on the involvement of the inflammatory response and metalloproteinases during periodontitis, and (4) the influence of hormonal profile during pregnancy on the development of periodontitis. Finally, we believe this review may be helpful for designing immunotherapies based on the stage of pregnancy to control the severity and pathology of periodontal disease.

A Practical Approach for the In Vitro Safety and Efficacy Assessment of an Anti-Ageing Cosmetic Cream Enriched with Functional Compounds.

(1) Background: Cosmeceuticals are topical products applied to human skin to prevent skin ageing and maintain a healthy skin appearance. Their effectiveness is closely linked to the compounds present in a final formulation. In this article, we propose a panel of in vitro tests to support the efficacy assessment of an anti-ageing cream enriched with functional compounds. (2) Methods: biocompatibility and the irritant effect were evaluated on reconstructed human epidermis (RHE) and corneal epithelium (HCE) 3D models. After a preliminary MTT assay, normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDF) and keratinocytes (HaCaT) were used to evaluate the extracellular matrix (ECM) protein synthesis, and interleukin-6 (IL-6) and metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) production. (3) Results: data collected showed good biocompatibility and demonstrated the absence of the irritant effect in both 3D models. Therefore, we demonstrated a statistical increase in collagen and elastin productions in NHDF cells. In HaCaT cells, we highlighted an anti-inflammatory effect through a reduction in IL-6 levels in inflammatory stimulated conditions. Moreover, the reduction of MMP-1 production after UV-B radiation was demonstrated, showing significant photo-protection. (4) Conclusion: a multiple in vitro assays approach is proposed for the valid and practical assessment of the anti-ageing protection, anti-inflammatory and biocompatible claims that can be assigned to a cosmetic product containing functional compounds.

A bacterial strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa B0406 pathogen opportunistic, produce a biosurfactant with tolerance to changes of pH, salinity and temperature.

A bacterial strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa B0406 catalogued as pathogen opportunistic was capable to grow with waste cooking oil as only carbon source and produce a biosurfactant. Stability to pH (from 2 to 12), salinity (% NaCl from 0 to 20%) and temperature (from -20 °C up to 120 °C), of biosurfactants was evaluated using a response surface methodology. Biosurfactants reduced surface tension from 50 to 29 ± 1.0 mN/m. Pseudomonas aeruginosa B0406 showed a high biosurfactant yield 4.17 g/L ± 0.38. Biosurfactants stability applying a response surface methodology was observed with combining effect of pH, salinity and temperature. The three factors combined do not affect surface tension of biosurfactants produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa B0406. Therefore, this biosurfactants are of interest for medical, cosmetic even environmental applications.

Bactericidal effect of silver nanoparticles against propagation of Clavibacter michiganensis infection in Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.

This study explored the use of silver nanoparticle as a bactericidal against the propagation of Clavibacter michiganensis onto tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill). In Mexico, tomato production covers about 73% of the total vegetable production but it is affected by outbreak of bacteria canker caused by Clavibacter michiganensis subspecies michiganensis (Cmm). Silver ions possess inhibitor properties, bactericides and high specter antimicrobials. In this study, 6 groups of culture were prepared using 6 different petri dishes where silver nanoparticles of varying concentrations (120, 84, 48, 24, 12 and 0 µg) were added. Furthermore, each group was observed for 20 min, 1, 2, 12 and 24 h. The optimum concentration is 84 µg, which shows an average of 2 Cmm colonies after 20 min. Further increase to 120 µg shows no significant change. However, the average colonies was observed for 48 µg after 1, 2, 12, and 24 h. The obtained results indicate that silver nanoparticles are a promising inhibitor, bactericide and high a specter antimicrobial for treatment or prevention of Cmm.

Sex-Associated Differential mRNA Expression of Cytokines and Its Regulation by Sex Steroids in Different Brain Regions in a Plasmodium berghei ANKA Model of Cerebral Malaria.

Cerebral malaria (CM) is the major complication associated with death in malaria patients, and its pathogenesis is associated with excessive proinflammatory cytokine production. Notably, the severity and mortality of natural infections with Plasmodium are higher in males than females, suggesting that sexual hormones influence both the pathogenesis of and immune response in CM. However, no studies on inflammation mediators in the brains of both sexes have been reported. In this work, the mRNA expression levels of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-1ß, IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-2 were measured in the preoptic area, hypothalamus, hippocampus, olfactory bulb, frontal cortex, and lateral cortex regions of gonadectomized female and male CBA/Ca mice infected with P. berghei ANKA (a recognized experimental CM model). Our findings demonstrate that both infection with P. berghei ANKA and gonadectomy trigger a cerebral sex dimorphic mRNA expression pattern of the cytokines IL-1ß, TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-2. This dimorphic cytokine pattern was different in each brain region analysed. In most cases, infected males exhibited higher mRNA expression levels than females, suggesting that sexual hormones differentially regulate the mRNA expression of proinflammatory cytokines in the brain and the potential use of gonadal steroids or their derivates in the immunomodulation of cerebral malaria.

Co-infection: the outcome of Plasmodium infection differs according to the time of pre-existing helminth infection.

Although helminth-Plasmodium coinfections are common in tropical regions, the implications of this co-existence for the host immune response are poorly understood. In order to understand the effect of helminth infection at different times of coinfection on the immune response against Plasmodium infection, BALB/c mice were intraperitoneally infected with Taenia crassiceps (Tc). At 2 (Tc2) or 8 (Tc8) weeks post-infection, mice were intravenously infected with 1 × 103 Plasmodium yoelii (Py) 17XL-parasitized red blood cells. Py 17XL-single-infected mice developed cachexia, splenomegaly, and anemia, and died at 11 days post-infection. Importantly, Tc2 + Py-coinfected mice showed increased survival of 58% on day 11, but developed pathology (cachexia and splenomegaly) and succumbed on day 18 post-coinfection, this latter associated with high levels of IL-1ß and IL-12, and reduced IFN-γ in serum compared with Py 17XL-single-infected mice. Interestingly, Tc8 + Py-coinfected mice showed increased survival up to 80% on day 11 and succumbed on day 30 post-coinfection. This increased survival rate conferred by chronic helminth infection was associated with a decreased pathology and mixed inflammatory-type 1/anti-inflammatory-type 2 immune profile as evidenced by the production of high levels of IL-12 and IL-10, and reduced TNF-α from macrophages, high levels of IL-4 and IL-10, and low levels of IFN-γ from spleen cells. Also high serum levels of IL-1ß, TNF-α, IL-12, IL-4, and IL-10, but a significant reduction of IFN-γ were observed. Together, these data indicate that polarization of the cell-mediated response modulated by a pre-existing helminth infection differentially impacts on the host immune response to Py 17XL in a time-dependent manner.

Sex hormones modulate the immune response to Plasmodium berghei ANKA in CBA/Ca mice.

Susceptibility to malaria differs between females and males, and this sexual dimorphism may have important implications for the effects of vaccines and drugs. However, little is known about the mechanisms mediating these sexual differences. Because the main differences between sexes are dictated by sex hormones, we studied the effect of gonadal steroids on immune responses to malaria in CBA/Ca mice. We decreased sex hormones levels by gonadectomy and evaluated the splenic index and the cells involved in the immune response, including T cells (CD3(+), CD4(+), CD8(+) and NK(+)), B cells and macrophages (Mac-3(+)) in the spleens of female and male mice infected with Plasmodium berghei ANKA. In addition, we measured antibody and cytokine levels in blood. Gonadectomy increased T(+) and B(+) splenic cells in both sexes but increased Mac-3(+) cells only in male mice. By contrast, gonadectomy decreased the NK(+) cell population only in male mice. In general, female mice developed higher antibody levels than males. Contrary to our expectations, gonadectomy increased the synthesis of IgG1, IgG2b, IgG3, and total IgG in female mice, indicating negative regulation of antibody production by female sex hormones. Gonadectomy increased the synthesis of tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) only in female mice, suggesting that female sex hormones have anti-inflammatory properties. This work demonstrates that the levels of sex hormones affect the immune response and should be considered when designing malaria vaccines.

Development of a Database for the Estimation of Heme Iron and Nonheme Iron Content of Animal-Based Foods.

Background: Total iron (TI) intake and differentiation between heme iron (HI) and nonheme iron (NHI) are uncommon despite markedly different bioavailability. Objectives: To create a database compiling information from studies that directly assessed the HI content of animal products using the Hornsey method, and to explore differences in estimates of HI intake between the data compiled and the Monsen method. Methods: A literature search identified studies that chemically characterized the HI content of animal-based foods using the Hornsey method; HI, NHI, and TI contents (mg/100 g) were compiled. Information was grouped by animal type and cooking method, and mean (± SD) HI% was calculated. Using a 24-h dietary record, differences in HI and NHI intake using the compiled information and the Monsen approach were explored. Results: Actual HI% values ranged from 7% to 94%. Raw foods had the highest HI% [raw duck (94% ± 4%), raw blood curd (82% ± 4%), and raw beef (79% ± 9%)]. Boiled foods had the lowest HI% [boiled shrimp (11% ± 5%) and meatballs (15% ± 6%)]. Cooked foods with the highest HI% were beef (70% ± 10%) and lamb (70% ± 9%). In many instances, applying actual HI% from the complied database produced markedly different measures of the HI content of foods [cooked beef (Monsen: 1.3 mg/100 g); (Hornsey: 2.3 mg/100 g)]. Estimation of iron intake in a 24-h recall demonstrated that using animal-specific HI% results in different estimates of HI intake [Monsen: 1.2 mg HI (40%); Hornsey: 1.8 mg HI (59%)]. Conclusions: Animal-based foods have variable HI%. A fixed HI:NHI ratio does not reflect this variation and could give rise to inaccurate estimates of HI content in food and HI intake. Consideration of this variation in HI% may improve our ability to link dietary intake with iron status and important health outcomes.

Antimicrobial Efficacy Assessment and Rheological Investigation of Two Different Hand Sanitizers Compared with the Standard Reference WHO Formulation 1.

(1) Background: recently, the use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers (ABHSs) has become very frequent, and an evaluation of the stability and effectiveness of their formulations is a critical topic which should be carefully considered. (2) Methods: starting from the characterization of the hand sanitizers object of the study, our interest was focused on their rheological behavior in order to confirm their intrinsic features, but also the stability of each formulation in different conditions of shear and temperature; the second aspect concerns the antimicrobial assessment through a panel of in vitro and in vivo experimental trials. (3) Results: rheological investigation confirmed good stability for the two hand sanitizers in gel formula with respect to the reference in liquid formula; the antimicrobial activity evaluation showed good efficacy of each formulation both in vitro and in vivo. (4) Conclusions: altogether, our overview presents a valid quality control assessment to ensure the stability and efficacy of an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

Immunomodulatory effects of testosterone and letrozole during Plasmodium berghei ANKA infection.

Introduction: Malaria is one of the leading health problems globally. Plasmodium infection causes pronounced sexual dimorphism, and the lethality and severity are more remarkable in males than in females. To study the role of testosterone in the susceptibility and mortality of males in malaria, it is common to increase its concentration. However, this strategy does not consider the enzyme CYP19A1 aromatase, which can transform it into oestrogens. Methods: To avoid the interference of oestrogens, we inhibited in vivo CYP19A1 aromatase with letrozole and increased the testosterone level by exogen administration before infection with Plasmodium berghei ANKA. We measured the impact on free testosterone, 17ß-oestradiol and dehydroepiandrosterone levels in plasma; additionally, we evaluated parasitaemia, body temperature, body mass, glucose levels and haemoglobin concentration. Furthermore, we evaluated the effects of testosterone on the immune response; we quantified the CD3+/CD4+, CD3+/CD8+, CD19+, Mac-3+ and NK cells in the spleen and the plasma concentrations of the cytokines IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IFN-, IL-10, TNF-α and IL-17A. Finally, we quantified the levels of antibodies. Results: We found that mice treated with the combination of letrozole and testosterone and infected with Plasmodium berghei ANKA had increased concentrations of free testosterone and DHEA but decreased levels of 17ß-oestradiol. As a result, parasitaemia increased, leading to severe anaemia. Interestingly, testosterone increased temperature and decreased glucose concentration as a possible testosterone-mediated regulatory mechanism. The severity of symptomatology was related to critical immunomodulatory effects generated by free testosterone; it selectively increased CD3+CD8+ T and CD19+ cells but decreased Mac-3+. Remarkably, it reduced IL-17A concentration and increased IL-4 and TNF-α. Finally, it increased IgG1 levels and the IgG1/IgG2a ratio. In conclusion, free testosterone plays an essential role in pathogenesis in male mice by increasing CD8+ and decreasing Mac3+ cells and mainly reducing IL-17A levels, which is critical in the development of anaemia. Our results are important for understanding the mechanisms that regulate the exacerbated inflammatory response in infectious diseases and would be useful for the future development of alternative therapies to reduce the mortality generated by inflammatory processes.

The Similarities and Differences between the Effects of Testosterone and DHEA on the Innate and Adaptive Immune Response.

Androgens are steroids that modulate various processes in the body, ranging from reproduction, metabolism, and even immune response. The main androgens are testosterone, dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). These steroids modulate the development and function of immune response cells. Androgens are generally attributed to immunosuppressive effects; however, this is not always the case. Variations in the concentrations of these hormones induce differences in the innate, humoral, and cell-mediated immune response, which is concentration dependent. The androgens at the highest concentration in the organism that bind to the androgen receptor (AR) are DHEA and testosterone. Therefore, in this work, we review the effects of DHEA and testosterone on the immune response. The main findings of this review are that DHEA and testosterone induce similar but also opposite effects on the immune response. Both steroids promote the activation of regulatory T cells, which suppresses the Th17-type response. However, while testosterone suppresses the inflammatory response, DHEA promotes it, and this modulation is important for understanding the involvement of androgens in infectious (bacterial, viral and parasitic) and autoimmune diseases, as well as in the sexual dimorphism that occurs in these diseases.

How can community participation strengthen a health insurance system? The case of health insurer's user associations in Colombia.

BACKGROUND: Colombia's universal health coverage programme has enrolled 98% of the population, thereby improving financial protection and health outcomes. The right to participate in the organisation of healthcare is enshrined in the 1991 Colombian Constitution. One participatory mechanism is the legal and regulatory provision that citizens can form user associations. This study examines the functionality of health insurance user associations and their influence on citizen empowerment and health insurance responsiveness. METHODS: The mixed methods study includes document review (n=72), a survey of beneficiaries (n=1311), a survey of user associations members (n=27), as well as interviews (n=19), focus group discussions (n=6) and stakeholder consultations (n=6) with user association members, government officials, and representatives from insurers, the pharmaceutical industry, and patient associations. Analysis used a content-process-context framework to understand how user associations are designed to work according to policy content, how they actually work in terms of coverage, public awareness, membership, and effectiveness, and contextual influences. FINDINGS: Colombia's user associations have a mandate to represent citizens' interests, enable participation in insurer decision-making, 'defend users' and oversee quality services. Insurers are mandated to ensure their enrollees create user associations, but are not required to provide resources to support their work. Thus, we found that user associations had been formed throughout the country, but the public was widely unaware of their existence. Many associations were weak, passive or entirely inactive. Limited market competition and toothless policies about user associations made insurers indifferent to community involvement. CONCLUSION: Currently, the initiative suffers from low awareness and low participation levels that can hardly lead to empowered enrollees and more responsive health insurance programmes. Yet, most stakeholders value the space to participate and still see potential in the initiative. This warrants a range of policy recommendations to strengthen user associations and truly enable them to effect change.

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor contributes to immunopathogenesis during Plasmodium yoelii 17XL infection.

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a cytokine recognized regulator of the inflammatory immune response associated with several immune cells that produce inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-12, IL-18, and TNF-α. This study aimed to understand the effect of MIF on the immune response and pathogenesis during Plasmodium infection. Wild-type (Wt) and MIF knockout (Mif -/-) mice were intravenously infected with 1×103 Plasmodium yoelii (Py) 17XL-parasitized red blood cells. Our data showed that Py17XL-infected Wt mice died 11 days postinfection, while Mif -/- mice showed reduced parasitemia and an increase in their survival at day 11 up to 58%, importantly they succumb up to day 21 postinfection. The increased survival rate in Mif -/- mice was associated with less severe cachexia and anemia as a result of a mixed Th1/Th2 cytokine profile, high levels of IL-12, IL-17/IL-4, and IL-10 in serum; and high levels of IL-4 and IL-10, and low levels of IFN-γ in spleen cells compared to Py17XL infected Wt mice. Moreover, macrophages (Mφs) from Mif -/- mice exhibited higher concentrations of IL-10 and IL-12 and reduced levels of TNF-α and nitric oxide (NO) compared to Py17XL-infected Wt mice. These results demonstrate that MIF has an important role in regulating the immune response associated with host pathogenesis and lethality, which is relevant to consider in preventing/reducing complications in Plasmodium infections.

Testosterone induces sexual dimorphism during infection with Plasmodium berghei ANKA.

Malaria is the most lethal parasitic disease worldwide; men exhibit higher mortality and more severe symptomatology than women; however, in most studies of immune response in malaria, sex is not considered a variable. Sex hormones 17ß-oestradiol and testosterone are responsible for the main physiological differences between sexes. When interacting with their receptors on different immune cells, they modify the expression of genes that modulate cell proliferation, differentiation, and synthesis of cytokines. The immunosuppressive activity of testosterone is well accepted; however, its participation in the sexual dimorphism of the immune response to malaria has not been studied. In this work, we analysed whether altering the concentration of testosterone, through increasing the concentration of this hormone for exogenous administration for three weeks, or gonadectomy before infection with Plasmodium berghei ANKA affects different cells of the immune response necessary for parasite clearance. We also assessed the concentration of pro-and anti-inflammatory cytokines in male and female CBA/Ca mice infected or not with the parasite. Our results show that testosterone changes affect females more than males, resulting in sex-associated patterns. Testosterone administration increased parasitaemia in intact males while reducing it in intact females leading to a dimorphic pattern. In addition, gonadectomy increased parasitaemia in both sexes. Moreover, testosterone administration prevented both weight loss caused by the infection in females and hypothermia in gonadectomized mice of both sexes. Boosting testosterone concentration increased CD3+ and CD8+ populations but decreased the B220+ cells exclusively in females. Additionally, testosterone reduced IFN-γ concentration and increased IL-6 levels only in females, while in males, testosterone increased the number of NK cells. Finally, gonadectomy decreased TNF-α concentration in both sexes. Our results demonstrate that testosterone induces different patterns depending on sex and testosterone concentration. The results of this work contribute to understanding the impact of modifying testosterone concentration on the immune response specific against Plasmodium and the participation of this hormone in sexual dimorphism in malaria.

Effect of pH and Carbon Source on Phosphate Solubilization by Bacterial Strains in Pikovskaya Medium.

Phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) transform precipitated inorganic phosphorus into soluble orthophosphates. This study evaluated the efficiency of tricalcium and iron phosphate solubilization in Pikovskaya medium using five bacterial strains (A1, A2, A3, A5, and A6) cultured in acidic and alkaline pH levels. The bacterial strain that proved to be more efficient for P solubilization and was tolerant to pH variations was selected for assessing bacterial growth and P solubilization with glucose and sucrose in the culture medium. The bacterial strains were identified through 16S rRNA gene sequencing as Pseudomonas libanensis A1, Pseudomonas libanensis (A2), Bacillus pumilus (A3), Pseudomonas libanensis (A5), and Bacillus siamensis (A6). These five bacterial strains grew, tolerated pH changes, and solubilized inorganic phosphorus. The bacterial strain A3 solubilized FePO4 (4 mg L-1) and Ca3(PO4)2 (50 mg L-1). P solubilization was assayed with glucose and sucrose as carbon sources for A3 (Bacillus pumilus MN100586). After four culture days, Ca3(PO4)2 was solubilized, reaching 246 mg L-1 with sucrose in culture media. Using glucose as a carbon source, FePO4 was solubilized and reached 282 mg L-1 in six culture days. Our findings were: Pseudomonas libanensis, and Bacillus siamensis, as new bacteria, can be reported as P solubilizers with tolerance to acidic or alkaline pH levels. The bacterial strain B. pumilus grew using two sources of inorganic phosphorus and carbon, and it tolerated pH changes. For that reason, it is an ideal candidate for inorganic phosphorus solubilization and future production as a biofertilizer.

Genotoxic Biomonitoring in Children Living near the El Fraile Mine Tailings in Northern Guerrero State, Mexico.

A genotoxic study was conducted with 101 elementary school children (56 girls and 45 boys) in the 6-7, 8-9, and 10-12 age ranges from El Fraile rural community, which is located beside the El Fraile mine tailings in Taxco of Alarcon City, in northern Guerrero State, Mexico. For this, we used the alkaline comet assay in exfoliated buccal mucosa cells, scoring three genotoxic parameters: tail intensity, tail moment, and tail length. Additionally, we detected oxidative DNA damage through urinary 8-OHdG levels by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We also evaluated a control group consisting of 101 children in the same age ranges from Chilpancingo City, Guerrero, who had never lived near mining zones. Genotoxic results showed that there was a significant increase in three genotoxic parameters and urinary 8-OHdG levels in the exposed children group compared with the control group. Analysis of MANOVA revealed that boys aged 8 and 9 years had higher DNA damage than girls from the same exposure group, and Spearman's analysis identified a positive correlation between DNA damage and sex and age. This study provides the first valuable genotoxic data in children living in areas with environmental pollution.

Temporal variation of phytoplankton from the tropical reservoir Valle de Bravo, Mexico.

Valle de Bravo reservoir is used for aquatic, fishing and as a source of drinking water to Mexico City. Annual data on composition, abundances, species richness and diversity of the phytoplankton surface community and some physical-chemical parameters variations were discussed. Results showed a spatial homogeneity for environmental descriptors and phytoplankton samples but a temporal significant difference between months. Pulses of high algal densities corresponded to late stratification (October, 103 x 10(3) cell ml(-1)), early stratification (April, 107 x 10(3) cell ml(-1)) and plenty stratification (June, 69 x 10(3) cell ml(-1)). Taxa that reached higher densities were: Microcystis spp., Snowella septentrionalis, Anabaena spp., Aphanizomenon yezoense and Fragilaria crotonensis. Contribution of each taxon to the total phytoplankton density showed that majorities were rare (41%) or dominants (40%). Frequent alternation between pulses and low densities and diversity of phytoplankton as well as a relative high number of taxa found (68), could be explained by daily strong winds, unstable epilimnion thickness and incorporation and extraction of substantial volumes of water occurred in the reservoir. Dominances of cyanobacteria and some chlorococcal species and a high temporal fluctuated Shannon-Wiener diversity index (0.45- 2.35 bits) pointing to eutrophic and perturbed conditions.

Biological Efficacy Evaluation of a Non-Cross-Linked Hyaluronic Acid Dermal Filler for Biomedical Application in Inflammatory Scalp Conditions.

(1) Background: The dysbiosis of some cutaneous commensal microorganisms is the trigger factor for the activation of the inflammatory cascade by keratinocytes in many skin disorders. Mesotherapy is an innovative technique for many scalp disorders, with the function of restoring the physiology of the skin. (2) Methods: the antimicrobial, antibiofilm and anti-inflammatory activity of the non-cross-linked HA formulation (Hydro Deluxe, Matex Lab S.p.a., Brindisi, Italy) was investigated against the most common microorganisms of the scalp (Staphyloccoccus epidermis, Staphyloccoccus aureus, Cutibacterium acnes and Malassezia furfur). Anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated on an internal 3D model of Reconstructed Human Epidermis (RHE) inserts infected with the strains as pro-inflammatory stimulus. (3) Results and Conclusions: the data collected showed a good antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity against all selected strains. The HA-based formulation did not show cytotoxicity on RHE, either alone or in presence of the infectious stimulus. The analysis of the expression of Interleukin (IL)-8 levels showed an excellent ability to reduce this pro-inflammatory marker. Overall, the efficacy assessment of the formulation supported its potential effectiveness in mesotherapy for the treatment of scalp disorders.

The Anti-Ageing and Whitening Potential of a Cosmetic Serum Containing 3-O-ethyl-l-ascorbic Acid.

Skin ageing has many manifestations such as wrinkles, dryness, hyperpigmentation, and uneven skin tone. Extrinsic and intrinsic factors, especially solar ultraviolet light (UVB), contribute to skin ageing; its main features are brown spots, alterations in melanin pigmentation, and a decrease in collagen and hyaluronic acid linked to oxidative stress. Several studies showed that topical products containing ingredients with antioxidant activity can reduce oxidative damage; to provide a maximum anti-ageing effect to the skin, topical products can combine various ingredients. C-SHOT SERUM contains a combination of two molecules with a proven anti-ageing activity: a high percentage (30%) of a more stable vitamin C derivative, 3-O-ethyl-l-ascorbic acid, and lactic acid (1%). The product showed a high biocompatibility, assessed through an MTT assay on keratinocytes and on Reconstructed Human Epidermis (RHE, SkinEthic); the anti-ageing activity was demonstrated on human dermal fibroblasts and keratinocytes by a statistically significant increase in collagen production and a reduction of a UVB-induced DNA damage marker (γ-H2AX histone), indicating DNA protection. Moreover, a depigmenting activity, shown by a highly significant decrease in melanin content on treated Reconstructed Human Pigmented Epidermis (RHPE), was assessed. According to the data of our study, the tested product contrasts the effect of skin ageing and irregular pigmentation due to the physiological decline of the skin.