Oral Hyaluronan Relieves Wrinkles and Improves Dry Skin: A 12-Week Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Study.

Hyaluronan (HA) is present in all connective tissues and organs, including the skin and joint fluid. However, few clinical trials have comprehensively evaluated the impacts of oral HA on skin conditions, including wrinkles and moisturization. In this study, we conducted a placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind trial of daily HA (120 mg) intake for 12 weeks in 40 healthy Asian men and women (aged 35-64 years). Skin condition was determined by the evaluation of wrinkles, stratum corneum water content, the amount of transepidermal water loss, elasticity, and through image analysis. After 12 weeks, skin condition was significantly improved in terms of wrinkle assessment, stratum corneum water content, transepidermal water loss, and elasticity in the HA group compared to the placebo group. Regarding the percentage change from baseline, wrinkle assessment, stratum corneum water content, and skin elasticity were significantly improved in the HA group versus the placebo group after 8 and 12 weeks of ingestion. The present findings indicate that oral ingestion of HA may suppress wrinkles and improve skin condition.

Subcutaneous injection of recombinant heat shock protein 70 ameliorates atopic dermatitis skin lesions in a mouse model.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease and sometimes is a tough challenge for physicians. We previously reported that in Th2 environment, the production and secretion of thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) from human keratinocytes was inhibited by recombinant heat shock protein 70 (rHSP70). The present study assessed the therapeutic effectiveness of rHSP70 in a mouse model of AD. An experimental model of AD was reproduced by systemic sensitization and local epicutaneous challenge with ovalbumin (OVA). Treatment of rHSP70 was performed by subcutaneous administration. The levels of OVA-specific IgE, as well as cytokines, were detected by ELISA. Skin samples from patch areas were also taken for histologic examination. Injection of rHSP70 improved the histologic picture by reducing the thickness of epidermis and allergic inflammation. Skin sonography revealed rHSP70 ameliorated skin remodeling. rHSP70 also significantly decreased the protein expression of TSLP of skin from patch areas. Furthermore, in ex vivo studies also showed group of rHSP70 treatment decreased IL-13, RANTES, MIP-1ß and increased IFN-γ secreted from splenocytes stimulated with OVA. The rHSP70 intervention in the mouse model of AD reduced the skin expression of TSLP and attenuated the clinical appearance of OVA-induced AD mice. The effect was achieved by suppressed Th2 immune response in injected skin tissue and enhanced systemic Th1 immune response. These results suggest that rHSP70 have potential as a promising protein for the treatment of AD.

Kinetics of Tyrosinase Inhibitory Activity Using Vitis vinifera Leaf Extracts.

Natural medical plant is considered as a good source of tyrosinase inhibitors. Red vine leaf extract (RVLE) can be applied to a wide variety of medical disciplines, such as treatments for chronic venous insufficiency over many decades. This study investigated the tyrosinase inhibitory activity of RVLE containing gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, epicatechin, rutin, and resveratrol which are effective for skin hyperpigmentation. The five components contents are 1.03, 0.2, 18.55, 6.45, and 0.48 mg/g for gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, epicatechin, rutin, and resveratrol. The kinetic study showed the tyrosinase inhibitory of RVLE via a competitive reaction mechanism. RVLE solution has an IC50 (the half inhibitory concentration) value of 3.84 mg/mL for tyrosinase inhibition, that is, an effective tyrosinase inhibitory activity, and can be used as a whitening agent for cosmetic formulations in the future.

Sugar intakes from snacks and beverages in Japanese children.

While sugar intake is an important factor for obesity, diabetes and dental caries, sugars are also important energy sources, especially for rapidly growing children. Children like sugar-rich sweet foods. However, intake for Japanese children is not known due to a lack of studies and sugar composition data. This study was designed to determine sugar intakes from snacks and beverages in Japanese school children. A nutrition survey was conducted for 3 weekdays for 283 Japanese school children (7, 10 and 13 y old) in 8 prefectures from different areas of Japan. The methods for the survey were the weighing method for school lunches and the 24-h recall method for other foods. To estimate sugar intakes, the sugar composition table that was recently compiled by us for 135 beverages, cakes and other sweets was used. Height and weight were measured. They were similar to Japanese averages. Energy intakes were also similar to the results of the Japanese National Health and Nutrition Surveys. Sugar eaten outside meals was 24.7±15.5 g/d. From the National Health and Nutrition Surveys conducted in 2009, the mean sucrose intake from meals including some home-made cookies for 7-14-y-old children was 5.5 g/d, suggesting the mean total sugar intake of these children was about 30 g/d. This was within the range of FAO/WHO recommendation (less than 10% of energy intake, 49 g for these children. Mean intakes among age groups were not significantly different (p>0.05), but the intake for girls was lower than for boys in the oldest age group (p<0.05). Contributions of each sugar to total intake were sucrose 64%, fructose 14%, glucose 13% and lactose 9%. Fructose and glucose were mainly from isomerized sugar. Contributions of food groups to total intake were beverages 25%, baked goods 19% and ice cream 17%, respectively, covering 61% of all. In conclusion, we revealed that the average sugar intake of Japanese children was within the range of the FAO/WHO recommendation, though the effects of the kind of sugars on health remain to be clarified.

5-(Diphenyl-methyl-idene)pyrrolidin-2-one.

In the title compound, C(17)H(15)NO, the dihedral angle between the phenyl rings is 80.1 (2)°. In the crystal, mol-ecules are linked by pairs of N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming inversion dimers.

Measurement of aflatoxin M1 in milk by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry.

A sensitive method was developed using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC)/MS/MS with positive electrospray ionization for determining aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in milk and milk powder. A 50 mL quantity of low-fat liquid milk containing 100 ng/L AFM1, was prepared using immunoaffinity columns with a mean recovery rate of 79% (n = 3). UHPLC columns (BEH C18, BEH HILIC, and HSS T3) greatly reduced the chromatographic time and lowered the instrumental detection limits (IDLs) 16 to 58 times compared to an HPLC column (Betabasic C18). The HSS T3 column was chosen because it provided a low IDL (0.11 pg) and the lowest ion suppression of signal intensity (63.4%) among the tested columns. Matrix-fortified calibration curves were used for quantification and showed good linearity (r > 0.997) at 0.05-500 ng/mL. The LOD was 0.18 ng/kg for milk and 2.08 nglkg for milk powder, based on the signal intensity of the confirmatory product ion (m/z 259.1), which was less abundant than the quantitative product ion (m/z 273.1). Certified reference materials of milk powder at three levels (<0.05, 0.111 +/- 0.018, and 0.44 +/- 0.06 microg/kg) were measured within a day and between days; the results were all close to the certified levels with low variations (RSDs < 15%), showing good precision and accuracy.

Effect of dietary lipids on longevity and memory in the SAMP8 mice.

The senescence-accelerated mouse (SAMP8) is an animal model used in studies of aging. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of different types of dietary lipids on longevity and age-related deterioration in memory in SAMP8 mice. Eight-month-old mice were fed diets with 5% lard (Lard group), 5% soybean oil (Soy group), 2% lecithin +3% soybean oil (Lecithin+Soy group) or 2% fish oil+3% soybean oil (Fish+Soy group), and learning and memory were examined by passive avoidance test at 8 and 10 mo of age. At the end of the experiment, the mice were killed, and the brain fatty acid composition was analyzed. The results indicated that the survival rates at 12 mo decreased in the order: Fish+Soy>Soy>Lecithin+Soy>Lard and were 50, 40, 30 and 20%, respectively. The rate of the lard group was lower than that of the Fish+Soy group, but this difference was not statistically significant. At 10 mo of age, the passive avoidance times of the Fish+Soy, Lecithin+Soy, Soy and Lard groups were 166, 170, 149 and 127 s, respectively. The passive avoidance times of the Fish+Soy and Lecithin+Soy groups were longer than that of the Lard group (p<0.01) at 10 mo. The brain DHA concentration was the highest in the Fish+Soy group SAMP8 mice, the linoleic acid levels was highest in the Soy group and the palmitic acid level was lowest in the Lard group (p<0.05). In conclusion, compared with SAMP8 mice fed a high saturated fatty acid diet, SAMP8 mice given a high poly-unsaturated fatty acid diet had higher brain concentrations of poly-unsaturated acid, better memory and greater longevity.

Treatment and toxicity evaluation of methylene blue using electrochemical oxidation, fly ash adsorption and combined electrochemical oxidation-fly ash adsorption.

Treatment of a basic dye, methylene blue, by electrochemical oxidation, fly ash adsorption, and combined electrochemical oxidation-fly ash adsorption was compared. Methylene blue at 100 mgL(-1) was used in this study. The toxicity was also monitored by the Vibrio fischeri light inhibition test. When electrochemical oxidation was used, 99% color and 84% COD were removed from the methylene blue solution in 20 min at a current density of 428 Am(-2), NaCl of 1000 mgL(-1), and pH(0) of 7. However, the decolorized solution showed high toxicity (100% light inhibition). For fly ash adsorption, a high dose of fly ash (>20,000 mgL(-1)) was needed to remove methylene blue, and the Freundlich isotherm described the adsorption behavior well. In the combined electrochemical oxidation-fly ash adsorption treatment, the addition of 4000 mgL(-1) fly ash effectively reduced intermediate toxicity and decreased the COD of the electrochemical oxidation-treated methylene blue solution. The results indicated that the combined process effectively removed color, COD, and intermediate toxicity of the methylene blue solution.

Shear stress induces synthetic-to-contractile phenotypic modulation in smooth muscle cells via peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha/delta activations by prostacyclin released by sheared endothelial cells.

RATIONALE: Phenotypic modulation of smooth muscle cells (SMCs), which are located in close proximity to endothelial cells (ECs), is critical in regulating vascular function. The role of flow-induced shear stress in the modulation of SMC phenotype has not been well defined. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to elucidate the role of shear stress on ECs in modulating SMC phenotype and its underlying mechanism. METHODS AND RESULTS: Application of shear stress (12 dyn/cm2) to ECs cocultured with SMCs modulated SMC phenotype from synthetic to contractile state, with upregulation of contractile markers, downregulation of proinflammatory genes, and decreased percentage of cells in the synthetic phase. Treating SMCs with media from sheared ECs induced peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-alpha, -delta, and -gamma ligand binding activities; transfecting SMCs with specific small interfering (si)RNAs of PPAR-alpha and -delta, but not -gamma, inhibited shear induction of contractile markers. ECs exposed to shear stress released prostacyclin (PGI2). Transfecting ECs with PGI2 synthase-specific siRNA inhibited shear-induced activation of PPAR-alpha/delta, upregulation of contractile markers, downregulation of proinflammatory genes, and decrease in percentage of SMCs in synthetic phase. Mice with PPAR-alpha deficiency (compared with control littermates) showed altered SMC phenotype toward a synthetic state, with increased arterial contractility in response to angiotensin II. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that laminar shear stress induces synthetic-to-contractile phenotypic modulation in SMCs through the activation of PPAR-alpha/delta by the EC-released PGI2. Our findings provide insights into the mechanisms underlying the EC-SMC interplays and the protective homeostatic function of laminar shear stress in modulating SMC phenotype.

Sensitive voltage-dependent diffraction of a liquid crystal Fresnel lens.

This investigation proposes a Fresnel liquid crystal (LC) lens with high diffraction efficiency and a low driving voltage. A Fresnel zone electrode was fabricated on a glass plate. A Fresnel zone-distributed electric field in the LC cell was induced by a proper driving voltage, yielding a concentric structure of LCs as a Fresnel phase lens. A remarkable diffraction efficiency of ~39%, close to the theoretical limit of 40.5%, was detected when the LC lens was probed using a polarized incident beam with a wavelength of 632.8 nm. The diffraction efficiency of the Fresnel LC lens was demonstrated to depend sensitively on the applied voltage. The most suitable driving voltage of the Fresnel LC lens was as low as 0.9 V. This study may support progress in the electrical modulation of the optical properties of various optical systems.

Effects of pre-germinated brown rice on blood glucose and lipid levels in free-living patients with impaired fasting glucose or type 2 diabetes.

White rice (WR) is made by polishing brown rice (BR) and has lost various nutrients; however, most people prefer it to BR, maybe because of the hardness of BR. Pre-germinated brown rice (PGBR) improves the problem of BR. It is made by soaking BR kernels in water to germinate and becomes softer than BR. In this study we compared the effects of WR and PGBR on blood glucose and lipid concentrations in the impaired fasting glucose (IFG) or type 2 diabetes patients. Six men and 5 women with impaired fasting glucose (IFG) or type 2 diabetes were randomly allocated to 6 wk on WR or PGBR diet separated by a 2 wk washout interval in a crossover design. Each subject was instructed to consume 3 packs of cooked WR or PGBR (180 g/pack) daily in each intervention phase. Blood samples were collected 4 times (in study weeks 0, 6, 8 and 14) for biochemical examination. Blood concentrations of fasting blood glucose, fructosamine, serum total cholesterol and triacylglycerol levels were favorably improved on the PGBR diet (p<0.01), but not on the WR diet. The present results suggest that diets including PGBR may be useful to control blood glucose level.