Aging rather than sun exposure is a major determining factor for the density of miR-125b-positive epidermal stem cells in human skin.

Sunlight exposure and aging are two major factors in the deterioration of skin function. In the present study, we used eighty formalin-fixed human skin samples from sun-exposed and unexposed areas from old and young individuals to evaluate the presence of miR-125b-positive epidermal stem cells (ESCs) by in situ hybridization. miR-125b-positive ESCs were detected in the basal layer of the epidermis. The density of miR-125b-positive ESCs was significantly associated with age rather than sun exposure, whereas the density of miR-125b-positive ESCs tended to decrease in the sun-exposed area. These data suggest the potential use of miR-125b as a surrogate marker for the quality of epidermal cells.

Efficacy and safety of a low-energy double-pass 1450-nm diode laser for the treatment of acne scars.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a 1450-nm diode laser on acne scars in Asian patients. BACKGROUND DATA: Acne and acne scars affect individuals during puberty and adolescence, and decrease their quality of life. METHODS: An open study was performed on 24 Japanese patients (17 female and 7 male, aged 15-44 years) with acne scars on the face treated with five sessions of low-energy double-pass 1450-nm diode laser at 4-week intervals. The mean duration of the acne scars prior to receiving laser therapy was 4.8 years (range 1-9). Clinical evaluation by physicians and with photographs was conducted at baseline, 1 month after the final treatment, and at a 3-month follow-up visit. Topical therapies for acne vulgaris were permitted during the follow-up period. RESULTS: All patients completed the five treatment sessions. Seventy-five percent of the subjects showed at least 30% improvement of acne scars. At the 3-month follow-up evaluation, 92.9% of the subjects with >30% improvement maintained the effectiveness. Vesicle formation and transient hyperpigmentation also occurred in one case. CONCLUSIONS: The 1450-nm diode laser therapy was effective and well-tolerated in patients with acne scars, suggesting that this may be an appropriate modality for treating facial acne scars.

Age- and sun exposure-dependent differences in 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine and N-(carboxymethyl)lysine in human epidermis.

Aging and exposure to sunlight are two major factors in the deterioration of skin function. In this study, thirty-six fixed human skin samples from sun-exposed and unexposed areas from young and old individuals were used to evaluate the localization of oxidative stress according to levels and distribution of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine and N(ε)-(carboxymethyl)lysine in samples using immunohistochemistry. In the epidermis of the young, negligible amounts of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine and N(ε)-(carboxymethyl)lysine were detected in unexposed areas, whereas nuclear 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine and cytoplasmic N(ε)-(carboxymethyl)lysine were increased in the lower epidermis in sun-exposed areas. In contrast, the aged presented prominent nuclear 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine and nuclear N(ε)-(carboxymethyl)lysine in the epidermis of unexposed areas, concomitant with dermal increase in N(ε)-(carboxymethyl)lysine. However, the immunostaining of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine and N(ε)-(carboxymethyl)lysine revealed a decrease in the epidermis of sun-exposed areas in the aged. These results suggest an age-dependent difference in the adaptation and protective mechanisms of the epidermis against sunlight-associated oxidative stress, thus necessitating distinct standards for evaluation in each age group. Further investigation is warranted to elucidate underlying molecular mechanisms.

Clinical effectiveness of intense pulsed light therapy for solar lentigines of the hands.

Intense pulsed light (IPL) treatment, as a nonablative phototherapy, is known to improve various signs of facial photoaging skin, e.g., solar lentigines, fine wrinkles, and telangiectasias. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the efficacy and tolerability of IPL with a 515-nm filter in patients with solar lentigines on the back of hands. An open study was performed in 31 patients who were treated with a 1-month interval up to five times. Sixty-two percent of patients had more than 50% improvement and 23% had more than 75% improvement. No patients discontinued due to adverse effects, and no patients showed hyperpigmentation or scarring after the treatments. Phototherapy using this IPL source was effective and well tolerated in the patients, suggesting that this phototherapy may be an appropriate modality for the treatment of solar lentigines of the hands.

Adult T-cell leukemia-lymphoma associated with follicular mucinosis.

Follicular mucinosis (alopecia mucinosa) is often associated with malignancies including mycosis fungoides and Sézary syndrome, but not adult T-cell leukemia-lymphoma (ATLL). We report a 49-year-old male patient who had pruritic follicular papules and erythemas clinically, and follicular and perifollicular infiltrates and follicular mucin deposition histopathologically. The patient showed 11% of flower-shaped atypical lymphocytes in blood examination and positive human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 antibody in serology, consistent with the chronic type of ATLL. This case seems to be a very rare association of follicular mucinosis and chronic ATLL, suggesting that malignant T cells may have a feature of folliculotropism as well as epidermotropism.