Individual Article: Efficacy of Over-The-Counter Cream in Reducing Eczema Signs.

BACKGROUND: Eczema (also called atopic dermatitis) is a chronic, relapsing skin disease characterized by erythema, scaling, and pruritus. METHODS: Study 1. A double-blind, uncontrolled study in patients with mild-moderate eczema, ≥2 flares in prior 2 months, and baseline Scoring Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) score ≤15. Participants applied Eczema Flare-Up Relief Cream (EFRC) (N=65) BID for 56 days. Efficacy was assessed by SCORAD, patient-oriented SCORAD, skin sensitivity, Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), and digital photography. Standard safety assessments were performed. STUDY 2: A 21-day open study of EFRC (N=50) to evaluate tolerability as well as its effect on eczema.  Results: Study 1. EFRC significantly reduced overall SCORAD scores from baseline to day 56 (11.6 to 4.9, or a 57% reduction). The patient-oriented SCORAD was reduced from 18.6 to 6.8 from baseline to day 56. At day 56, itch and pain improved in 70.4% of children and 62% of adults. DLQI scores were decreased by 75% in adults and 61% in children by day 56. Global skin sensitivity, assessed by the Sensiscale 10-item questionnaire, was 13.1 at baseline and 3.6 at day 56, an improvement of 72%. STUDY 2: EFRC improved eczema-prone skin after 7 and 21 days.  Conclusions: Study 1 showed that EFRC had good efficacy with significant reductions in overall SCORAD scores and subscores for the extent and intensity of eczema and subjective symptoms. Skin sensitivity also improved along with quality of life. Studies 2-3 also had significantly positive results and good tolerability. J Drugs Dermatol. 2023;22:10(Suppl 2):s5-9.

Prevention of polymorphic light eruption by oral administration of a nutritional supplement containing lycopene, ß-carotene, and Lactobacillus johnsonii: results from a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded study.

BACKGROUND: Polymorphic light eruption (PLE) is the most common photodermatosis. Little is known about the efficacy of systemic photoprotection provided by nutritional supplements in PLE patients. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess efficacy of nutritional supplement containing lycopene, ß-carotene, and Lactobacillus johnsonii to diminish skin lesions induced by 'photoprovocation' testing in PLE patients. METHODS: In this randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded study, 60 PLE patients were supplemented with the nutritional supplement or placebo. For inducing skin lesions, patient skin was exposed to single daily doses of 100 J/cm2 ultraviolet A1 (UVA1) for two consecutive days. Skin lesions were evaluated using a PLE score. Skin biopsies were taken before and after supplementation from unexposed and exposed skin, and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) mRNA expression was assessed by real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Prior to supplementation, skin lesions were induced in all patients with comparable PLE scores. After 12 weeks, intake of the supplement significantly reduced the PLE score after one exposure as compared with patients taking placebo (P<0.001). After two exposures, these differences were no longer significant. At a molecular level, the development of skin lesions was associated with an increased expression of ICAM-1 mRNA, which was significantly reduced after supplementation (P=0.022), but not with placebo. CONCLUSION: The nutritional supplement provides protection against the development of UVA-induced PLE lesions at clinical and molecular levels.

Effect of Different Nutritional Supplements on Glucose Response of Complete Meals in Two Crossover Studies.

Postprandial hyperglycemia is an important risk factor in the development and progression of type-2 diabetes and cardiometabolic diseases. Therefore, maintaining a low postprandial glucose response is key in preventing these diseases. Carbohydrate-rich meals are the main drivers of excessive glycemic excursions during the day. The consumption of whey protein premeals or mulberry leaf extract was reported to reduce postprandial glycemia through different mechanisms of action. The efficacy of these interventions was shown to be affected by the timing of the consumption or product characteristics. Two randomised crossover studies were performed, aiming to identify the optimal conditions to improve the efficacy of these nutritional supplements in reducing a glycemic response. The acute postprandial glycemic response was monitored with a continuous glucose monitoring device. The first study revealed that a preparation featuring 10 g of whey protein microgel reduced the postprandial glucose response by up to 30% (p = 0.001) and was more efficient than the whey protein isolates, independently of whether the preparation was ingested 30 or 10 min before a complete 320 kcal breakfast. The second study revealed that a preparation featuring 250 mg mulberry leaf extract was more efficient if it was taken together with a complete 510 kcal meal (−34%, p < 0.001) rather than ingested 5 min before (−26%, p = 0.002). These findings demonstrate that the efficacy of whey proteins premeal and mulberry leaf extracts can be optimised to provide potential nutritional solutions to lower the risk of type-2 diabetes or its complications.

SARS-CoV-2 infection among employees working from home and on site: An occupational study in Switzerland.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many companies implemented working from home to mitigate the spread of the disease among their employees. Using data from Corona Immunitas Nestlé, a seroepidemiological study conducted among employees from two Nestlé sites in Switzerland, we aimed to investigate whether there was a difference in SARS-CoV-2 infection rates between employees working most of the time from home and employees mobilized in a workplace equipped with a specialized occupational safety unit and strict sanitary measures. We also investigated whether this association was modified by household size, living with children, vulnerability, worries about an infection, and worries about adverse health consequences if infected. Data were collected between 8 December 2020, and 11 February 2021. Previous SARS-CoV-2 infections were ascertained by the presence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies in the blood. Of the 425 employees included (53% women; mean age 42 years ranging between 21 and 64 years), 37% worked most of the time from home in 2020 and 16% had been infected with SARS-CoV-2. Participants who worked most of the time from home in 2020 had slightly higher odds of being infected with SARS-CoV-2 compared to participants who never or only sometimes worked from home (adjusted OR 1.29, 95% CI 0.73-2.27). The association was stronger in participants living alone or with one other person (adjusted OR 2.62, 95% CI 1.13-6.25). Among participants living with two or more other persons (adjusted OR 0.66, 95% CI 0.30-1.39) and among vulnerable participants (adjusted OR 0.53, 95% CI 0.13-1.93), working from home tended to be associated with lower odds of infection. In conclusion, in a context of strict sanitary measures implemented in the workplace, employees working from home did not seem to be at lower risk of infection compared to those working on site, especially if living alone or with one other person.

A Decentralized Study Setup Enables to Quantify the Effect of Polymerization and Linkage of α-Glucans on Post-Prandial Glucose Response.

The complexity of the carbohydrate structure is associated with post-prandial glucose response and diverse health benefits. The aim of this study was to determine whether, thanks to the usage of minimally invasive glucose monitors, it was possible to evaluate, in a decentralized study setup, the post-prandial glycemic response (PPGR) of α-glucans differing systematically in their degree of polymerization (DP 3 vs. DP 60) and in their linkage structure (dextrin vs. dextran). Ten healthy subjects completed a double-blind, randomized, decentralized crossover trial, testing at home, in real life conditions, four self-prepared test beverages consisting of 25 g α-glucan dissolved in 300 mL water. The incremental area under the curve of the 120 min PPGR (2h-iAUC) was the highest for Dextrin DP 3 (163 ± 27 mmol/L*min), followed by Dextrin DP 60 (-25%, p = 0.208), Dextran DP 60 (-59%, p = 0.002), and non-fully caloric Resistant Dextrin (-68%, p = 0.002). These results show that a fully decentralized crossover study can be successfully used to assess the influence of both polymerization and structure of α-glucans on PPGR.

New emollient with topical corticosteroid-sparing effect in treatment of childhood atopic dermatitis: SCORAD and quality of life improvement.

Emollients are commonly used for their effectiveness on atopic skin, supported by a few clinical studies suggesting their potential role as corticosteroid sparing agents. We investigated the effect of a new natural emollient on corticosteroid sparing and quality of life of young atopic children and their family. Eighty-six patients (4-48 mos) with moderate atopic dermatitis were randomized by 20 pediatricians to five groups for 21 days: corticosteroids (from twice daily to one application every other day) combined or not with the studied cream (twice daily), and evaluated by SCORAD and specific quality of life questionnaires. At the end of the study, all five groups were statistically improved in terms of SCORAD and quality of life index. Thus, application of a topical corticosteroid every other day in addition to the studied cream was as effective as a once or twice daily application of the steroid alone. The studied cream had a significant impact on lichenification, excoriation and quality of life. A twice daily application of a new natural emollient provided a major corticosteroid sparing, improved lichenification and excoriation and improved the quality of life in children and their parents.

Lupinus albus, a novel vegetable extract with metalloproteinase inhibitory properties: a potential periodontal therapy.

BACKGROUND: In this study we examine the properties of a vegetable extract from seeds of Lupinus albus (LU 105). In previous works we demonstrated that LU 105 reduced the expression, by gingival fibroblasts, of both matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9. We decided to study the impact of LU 105 on cell proliferation and morphology. Using organ culture media we also studied the MMP and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (timp) expression AND THE cytokines secretion. METHODS: Healthy and inflamed gingival biopsies were placed in appendage culture with or without LU 105. The organ culture media were analyzed using Western blottings (MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-3, MMP-7, MMP-9, MMP-13, TIMP-1, and TIMP-2) and gelatine zymography. A reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was also performed on healthy and inflamed gingival biopsies, which were maintained in culture with or without LU 105 0.1%. Then, we decided to determine the amount of cytokines present in the organ culture media such as interleukin (IL)-1 beta, IL-4, IL-6, transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha. RESULTS: When gingival biopsies derived from inflamed tissues were cultured with LU 105 0.1% in the culture media, the MMP and TIMP expression and activity decreased significantly when compared to cultures without LU 105. Moreover, we did not note any statistical difference in the cell proliferation compared with human gingival fibroblast cultures without LU 105. Furthermore, IL-1 beta, IL-6, TGF-beta, and TNF-alpha amounts in the culture media decreased significantly, whereas IL-4 increased significantly when LU 105 0.1% was added to the culture media. CONCLUSION: LU 105, a novel metalloproteinase inhibitor with few consequences on cell proliferation and morphology, is a vegetable extract with potential clinical capacity.

Effect of a nutritional supplement on hair loss in women.

BACKGROUND: Female pattern hair loss is a frequent and distressing condition. AIM: To evaluate vs. control, the effects on hair loss of a 6-month supplementation with specific omega 3&6 and antioxidants. METHODS: One hundred and twenty healthy female subjects participated in this 6-month, randomized, comparative study. The primary endpoint was the change in hair density evaluated on standardized photographs. Secondary endpoints included changes in telogen hair percentage and diameter distribution of anagen hair (>40 µm vs. ≤40 µm) measured by trichogram. Overall changes in hair density and diameter were also measured by trichometer and by subjects' self-assessment. RESULTS: After 6 months of treatment, photograph assessment demonstrated a superior improvement in the supplemented group (P < 0.001). The telogen hair percentage was significantly (P < 0.001) reduced in the supplemented group. The proportion of nonvellus anagen hair (>40 µm) increased compared to the control group. The trichometer index increased in the supplemented group, while it decreased in the control group. A large majority of supplemented subjects reported a reduction in hair loss (89.9% of subjects at 6 months), as well as an improvement in hair diameter (86.1%) and hair density (87.3%). CONCLUSION: A 6-month supplementation with omega 3&6 and antioxidants acts efficiently against hair loss in improving hair density and reducing the telogen percentage and the proportion of miniaturized anagen hair. Objectively measured improvements were confirmed by the subjects' perception of efficacy.

Nutrition and nutritional supplementation: Impact on skin health and beauty.

Skin acts as a natural barrier between internal and external environments thus plays an important role in vital biological functions such as protection against mechanical/chemical damages, micro-organisms, ultraviolet damage. Nutrition has a critical impact on strengthening skin's capabilities to fight against these multiple aggressions.Nutritional deficiencies are often associated with skin health disorders, while diets can either positively or negatively influence skin condition. More recently, the concept of nutritional supplementation has emerged as a new strategy in the daily practice of dermatology as well as a complementary approach to topical cosmetics in the field of beauty. Focusing on human clinical data, this paper proposes to illustrate the link between skin health and nutrition and to exemplify the beneficial actions of nutritional supplementation in skin health and beauty.

Effects of AV119, a natural sugar from avocado, on Malassezia furfur invasiveness and on the expression of HBD-2 and cytokines in human keratinocytes.

AV119 is a patented blend of two sugars from avocado that can induce human beta-defensin-2 production by normal human keratinocytes. In this study, we analysed the effect of AV119 on growth and invasiveness of Malassezia furfur, a dimorphic, lipid-dependent yeast that is part of the normal human cutaneous commensal flora. The ability to modulate the expression of the proinflammatory and immunomodulatory cytokines in normal human keratinocytes was also investigated. Microbiological assay demonstrated that this sugar induced the aggregation of yeast cells and inhibited the invasiveness of M. furfur, without affecting its growth. Real-time PCR analysis demonstrated that AV119 was able to modulate the HBD-2 response in treated keratinocytes, reaching a maximum after 48-h treatment, and to induce the recovery of a satisfactory proinflammatory response in human keratinocytes. As AV119 can induce aggregation of yeast cells, thus inhibiting their penetration into the keratinocytes, the sugar could be used in the preparation of cosmetics or pharmacological drugs to inhibit colonization of the skin by pathogenic strains of M. furfur.

Avocado/soybean unsaponifiables prevent the inhibitory effect of osteoarthritic subchondral osteoblasts on aggrecan and type II collagen synthesis by chondrocytes.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of avocado/soybean unsaponifiables (ASU) on osteoblast-induced dysregulation of chondrocyte metabolism. METHODS: Human chondrocytes were isolated from osteoarthritis (OA) cartilage and cultured in alginate beads for 4 or 10 days in the absence or presence of osteoblasts isolated from nonsclerotic (NSC) or sclerotic (SC) zones of OA subchondral bone plate in monolayer. Before co-culture, osteoblasts were incubated or not with 10 microg/ml ASU for 72 hours. Aggrecan, type II collagen, matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) and MMP-13, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP-1), transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) and TGF-beta3, inducible NO synthase (iNOS), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) mRNA levels in chondrocytes were quantified by RT-PCR. Aggrecan, osteocalcin, TGF-beta1, interleukin 1beta (IL-1beta), and IL-6 production were assayed by immunoassays. RESULTS: In co-culture, SC osteoblasts induced a significant inhibition of matrix protein production and a significant increase of MMP synthesis by chondrocytes. In contrast, SC osteoblasts did not modify TIMP-1, TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta3, iNOS, or COX-2 mRNA levels in chondrocytes. The pretreatment of SC osteoblasts with ASU fully prevented the inhibitory effects of SC osteoblasts on matrix component production, and even significantly increased type II collagen mRNA level over the control (chondrocytes alone) value. In contrast, pretreatment of SC osteoblasts with ASU did not significantly modify the expression of MMP, TIMP-1, TGF-beta1, TGF-beta3, iNOS, or COX-2 gene by chondrocytes. CONCLUSION: ASU prevent the osteoarthritic osteoblast-induced inhibition of matrix molecule production, suggesting that this compound may promote OA cartilage repair by acting on subchondral bone osteoblasts. This finding constitutes a new mechanism of action for this compound, known for its beneficial effects on cartilage.

Avocado/soybean unsaponifiables increase aggrecan synthesis and reduce catabolic and proinflammatory mediator production by human osteoarthritic chondrocytes.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of avocado (A)/soybean (S) unsaponifiables on the metabolism of human osteoarthritic (OA) chondrocytes cultured in alginate beads over 12 days. METHODS: Enzymatically isolated OA chondrocytes were cultured in alginate beads in a well defined culture medium for 12 days, in the presence or not of 10-10 M interleukin 1beta (IL-1beta). DNA content was measured using a fluorometric method. Production of aggrecan (AGG), stromelysin-1 (MMP-3), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1), macrophage inflammatory protein-1beta (MIP-1beta), IL-6, and IL-8 were assayed by specific enzyme amplified sensitivity immunoassays. Prostaglandin (PG) E2 was measured by a specific radioimmunoassay and nitrite by a spectrophotometric method based on the Griess reaction. A commercial avocado and soybean mixture of unsaponifiables (A1S2) and each component separately were tested in a range of 0.625 to 40.0 micro g/ml. RESULTS: After 12 days' incubation, A1S2 increased AGG synthesis and accumulation in alginate beads in a dose and time dependent manner. A1S2 promoted the recovery of aggrecan synthesis after 3 days of IL-1beta treatment. A1S2 was a potent inhibitor of basal and IL-1beta stimulated MMP-3 production. The procedure also weakly reversed the inhibitory effect of IL-1beta on TIMP-1 production. A1S2 inhibited basal production of MIP-1beta, IL-6, IL-8, NO*, and PGE2 by OA chondrocytes and partially counteracted the stimulating effect of IL-1 on PGE2. Compared to avocado or soybean added separately, the mixture had a superior effect on NO* and IL-8 production. CONCLUSION: A1S2 stimulated aggrecan production and restored aggrecan production after IL-1beta treatment. In parallel, A1S2 decreased MMP-3 production and stimulated TIMP-1 production. These results suggest A1S2 could have structure-modifying effects in OA by inhibiting cartilage degradation and promoting cartilage repair.

Effects of cadmium and zinc on solar-simulated light-irradiated cells: potential role of zinc-metallothionein in zinc-induced genoprotection.

Zinc is an essential oligoelement for cell growth and cell survival and has been demonstrated to protect cells from oxidative stress induced by UVA or from genotoxic stress due to UVB. In a recent work we demonstrated that the antioxidant role of zinc could be related to its ability to induce metallothioneins (MTs). In this study we identified the mechanism of zinc protection against solar-simulated light (SSL) injury. Cultured human keratinocytes (HaCaT) were used to examine MTs expression and localization in response to solar-simulated radiation. We found translocation to the nucleus, with overexpression of MTs in irradiated cells, a novel observation. The genoprotective effect of zinc was dependent on time and protein synthesis. DNA damage was significantly decreased after 48 h of ZnCl(2) (100 microM) treatment and is inhibited by actinomycin D. ZnCl(2) treatment (100 microM) led to an intense induction, redistribution, and accumulation of MT in the nucleus of irradiated cells. MT expression correlated with the time period of ZnCl(2) treatment. CdCl(2), a potent MT inducer, did not show any genoprotection, although the MTs were expressed in the nucleus. Overall our findings demonstrate that MTs could be a good candidate for explaining the genoprotection mediated by zinc on irradiated cells.