Integrating serum pharmacochemistry and network pharmacology to reveal the mechanism of chickpea in improving insulin resistance.

Although chickpea have great potential in the treatment of obesity and diabetes, the bioactive components and therapeutic targets of chickpea to prevent insulin resistance (IR) are still unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the chemical and pharmacological characteristics of chickpea on IR through serum pharmacochemistry and network pharmacology. The results revealed that compared with other polar fractions, the ethyl acetate extract of chickpea (CE) had the definitive performance on enhancing the capacities of glucose consumption and glycogen synthesis. In addition, we analyzed the components of CE in vivo and in vitro based on UPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS technology. There were 28 kinds of in vitro chemical components, among which the isoflavones included biochanin A, formononetin, ononin, sissotrin, and astragalin, etc. Concerningly, the chief prototype components of CE absorbed into the blood were biochanin A, formononetin, loliolide, and lenticin, etc. Furthermore, a total of 209 common targets between IR and active components of CE were screened out by network pharmacology, among which the key targets involved PI3K p85, NF-κB p65 and estrogen receptor 1, etc. Specifically, KEGG pathway analysis indicated that PI3K-AKT signaling pathway, HIF-1 signaling pathway, and AGE-RAGE signaling pathway may play critical roles in the IR remission by CE. Finally, the in vitro validation experiments disclosed that CE significantly balanced the oxidative stress state of IR-HepG2 cells and inhibited expressions of inflammatory cytokines. In conclusion, the present study will be an important reference for clarifying the pharmacodynamic substance basis and underlying mechanism of chickpea to alleviate IR.

Hair follicle extraction combined with an expanded scalp flap for facial organ reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: Use of scalp skin for facial organ reconstruction represents a mainstream procedure for organ reconstruction. In most cases, adequate amounts of skin can be obtained by using tissue expanders, but harvesting sufficient scalp tissue in patients with low hairlines is challenging. Hair follicular unit extraction (FUE) is one approach to resolve this problem. With FUE, hair follicles are removed from the scalp skin, which can then be prepared as a donor site to obtain sufficient amounts of hairless skin. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of FUE when combined with an expanded scalp flap for facial organ reconstruction. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients with low hairlines requiring facial organ reconstruction were selected for this study. The area of skin extension and hair removal were determined prior to surgery, a process which was performed in three stages. Stage I consisted of hair follicle removal using the FUE technique at the donor site. Stage II involved expander implantation using water injections. In Stage III facial organ reconstruction was completed. RESULTS: With the use of the FUE technique, hair follicles from the donor scalp were thoroughly removed and the donor scalp tissue was successfully expanded. Postoperatively, no evident scar formation at the reconstruction site or contracture of the expanded flap was observed. All patients were satisfied with the outcome of their reconstruction procedure. CONCLUSION: FUE provides a means for hair follicle removal from the donor site and can be employed to achieve a safe and effective procedure for facial reconstruction in patients with low hairlines.

Characterization and Risk Factors of Folliculitis after Hair Transplantation: A Multicenter Retrospective Study.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative folliculitis is a common complication of hair transplantation (HT) requiring effective preventive interventions. This study characterized postoperative folliculitis and determined risk factors in patients underwent HT. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 1317 patients who underwent HT and completed 9-month follow-up between January 2018 and June 2021 at four medical centers. The incidence of postoperative folliculitis and patient demographics were assessed. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify risk factors, and the characteristics of different types of folliculitis were compared. RESULTS: The overall incidence of postoperative folliculitis was 12.11%, and clinical characteristics varied among the different types of folliculitis. Surgery in summer (odds ratio [OR], 1.772, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.05-2.992), number of transplant grafts ≥4000 (OR: 4.818, 95% CI: 1.45-16.014), transplant density >45 grafts per/cm 2 (OR: 2.152, 95% CI: 1.376-3.367), and first nursing time >3 days (OR: 1.555, 95% CI: 1.088-2.223) were the main risk factors for postoperative folliculitis. CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative folliculitis after HT presents different characteristics. Surgical factors and postoperative nursing were demonstrated to be related to folliculitis. Therefore, we propose a preventive folliculitis model based on preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative factors.

A clinical trial of treating androgenic alopecia with mesenchymal stem cell suspension derived from autologous hair follicle.

BACKGROUND: Androgenic alopecia (AGA) is characterized by progressive hair follicle miniaturization, and novel treatments are needed to intervene in the miniaturization process. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy, safety, effectiveness, and effective population of autologous hair follicle mesenchymal stem cell therapy for the treatment of advanced AGA in Chinese people. METHODS: 50 patients ranging from 25 to 45 years old, with an average age of 32 ± 1.24 years were included. None of them had ever used minoxidil, finasteride, or other drugs to promote hair growth. Healthy hair follicles were extracted from the occipital area and treated to obtain hair follicle mesenchymal stem cells suspensions. The recipient sites were divided into two groups. Nine points were injected in a 1 cm 2 area, and 100 µl of solution containing either 1 × 10 5 cells or normal saline was injected at each point. The follow-up duration was 9 months. Observers were blinded to patient groupings and measurements. RESULTS: An increased proportion of terminal hair and hair shaft diameter was observed in the experimental group at 1 month; the effect lasted until 3 months. The hair thickening effect of advanced miniaturized hair follicles with hair shaft diameter less than 60 µm was more notable than that above 60 µm. None of the patients experienced any obvious side effects. CONCLUSIONS: Hair follicle mesenchymal stem cells were effective in the treatment of Chinese advanced AGA, and a hair shaft diameter of 60µm can be used as a key index to predict the effectiveness of the therapy.

Evaluation of a Novel Graft-Holding Solution in Hair Transplantation: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Study.

BACKGROUND: Hair transplantation has become a popular choice for alopecia treatment; however, postsurgical hair shedding still annoys both patients and surgeons. OBJECTIVE: To explore the impact of graft-holding solution on postsurgical hair shedding and testify the protective efficacy of histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate solution with adenosine triphosphate and deferoxamine (HTK-AD). METHODS: There were 240 patients enrolled in the study, and the follicles were placed into either HTK-AD or Ringer solution (RS). Masson staining and live/dead staining were performed to evaluate graft morphology and apoptosis levels, respectively. The between-group comparison of postsurgical graft shedding, survival rate, complications, and patient satisfaction was performed. RESULTS: Grafts in HTK-AD maintained organized dense collagen construction and higher cell viability, but those preserved in RS became soft, which hindered implantation. Histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate solution with adenosine triphosphate and deferoxamine significantly reduced the incidence of postsurgical hair shedding (73.81% vs 95%), delayed shedding onset, and diminished shedding amount versus RS ( p < .05) when ≥3,000 grafts were transplanted. The shedding duration was shortened, and hair regrowth started earlier in HTK-AD versus RS ( p < .05); thus, satisfaction was increased. The final survival rate showed no difference between 2 groups. CONCLUSION: Histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate solution with adenosine triphosphate and deferoxamine is superior to RS for hair graft preservation because it improves graft viability and alleviates postsurgical shedding.

Black Phosphorus Nanosheets Induced Oxidative Stress In Vitro and Targeted Photo-thermal Antitumor Therapy.

Black phosphorus (BP) nanosheets with excellent features have been broadly employed for cancer therapy. BPs in blood were known to form BP nanomaterial-corona complexes, yet not explored their biological effects. In this study, BPs as delivery vehicles loaded with doxorubicin (DOX) (BP-DOX) by electrostatic interaction had been successfully prepared for photo-thermal/chemotherapy with a tumor inhibition rate of 81.47% more than the rates of BPs (69.50%) and free DOX (51.91%) in the Hela-bearing mice model by a pH/photo-responsive controlled drug release property. Then, in vivo experiments demonstrated that the treatment of healthy mice with BPs led to mild inflammation in the body and oxidative stress in the liver and lung which caused cell apoptosis. In vitro studies further showed that oxidative stress and metabolic disorders could be induced by BPs in A549, HepG2, Beas-2B, and LO2 cells. Lastly, the RGD peptide-conjugated red blood cell (RBC) membrane-coated BPs (RGD-RBC@BP) was prepared by lipid insertion and co-ultrasound methods for efficient photo-thermal therapy (PTT) cancer via a tumor-targeted strategy. RGD-RBC@BP showed positive biocompatibility, photo-thermal properties, and increased cellular uptake by Hela cells benefited by the long circulation property of RBC and RGD peptides. Pharmacokinetics and bio-distribution study of RGD-RBC@BP were found to prolong circulation time and tended to accumulate in the tumors, which overexpression of ανß3 integrin rather than livers after intravenous injection 24 h in vivo. After 808 nm laser irradiation, RGD-RBC@BP nanoparticles exhibited a better PTT than PEGylated BPs (BP-PEG). The active-targeting strategy of biomimetic nanomaterials based on the tumor microenvironment have been proved to have favorable biological prospects in cancer PTT.

Ligand-Modified Erythrocyte Membrane-Cloaked Metal-Organic Framework Nanoparticles for Targeted Antitumor Therapy.

Systemic chemotherapy for treating tumors often leads to serious systemic side effects and affects patient compliance. Although the emerging technology of drug delivery systems (DDSs) can deliver the required cargo to tumor sites, DDSs are limited due to insufficient targeting ability or deficient pharmacokinetics. Herein, we assembled a novel targeting DDS for precision tumor therapy by applying a tumor-targeting polypeptide cyclic RGD (cRGD)-modified erythrocyte membrane (eM-cRGD) cloaked on zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) nanoparticles (NPs) with encapsulated doxorubicin (DOX). For a mass ratio of ZIF-8:DOX = 1:1, the loading capacity was up to 49%. The nanoscale-sized targeting DDS promoted NP accumulation in tumor tissues via enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effects, and the NPs actively targeted ligands and were then transferred to endosomes. The pH-sensitive carriers released higher DOX levels under the low pH mimicking that of a tumor microenvironment and tumor intracellular organelles, allowing enhanced inhibition of cancer cell growth. The cumulative release rate of DOX from DOX@ZIF-8 NPs reached 82.8% at 48 h in acidic conditions of pH = 5.0, while the cumulative release rate of DOX from the DOX@ZIF-8 NPs reached only 24.92% at pH = 7.4. The internalization of the DDS was approximately 44.35% that of the unmodified DDS by immune cells, as confirmed by flow cytometry. In vivo studies verified that the RGD-modified DDS had the ability to prolong blood circulation (t1/2 = 6.81 h), enhancing the tumor-specific accumulation of NPs by means of the integrin αvß3 receptor-mediated pathway, which was further valuated in mice bearing human cervical cancer (HeLa) cells, and yielding a significant antitumor effect; the tumor inhibition rate was as high as 85.46%. Under the same conditions, the blood circulation half-life of the unmodified DDS was only 3.22 h, and the tumor inhibition rate of free DOX was 81.34%. Moreover, the RGD modified with a carrier could achieve a satisfactory chemotherapeutic effect while minimizing side effects. In summary, our novel targeting DDS could contribute to the development of intelligent DDSs for tumor precision therapy.