Inhibition of APE1 Expression Enhances the Antitumor Activity of Olaparib in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a highly aggressive subtype of breast cancer that is prone to recurrence and metastasis. Because of the lack of expression of estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) in TNBC, treatment methods are greatly limited. In this study, the proliferation inhibition and apoptosis-inducing effects of PARP1 inhibitors in TNBC breast cancer cells and in vivo xenograft animal models were examined to investigate the molecular role of APE1 in PARP1-targeted therapy. In TNBC patients, the expression of APE1 and PARP1 were positively correlated, and high expression of APE1 and PARP1 was associated with poor survival of TNBC. Our results indicated that knockdown APE1 could increase the sensitivity of olaparib in the treatment of TNBC. In conclusion, the results of this study will not only clarify the molecular role of APE1 in PARP1-targeted therapy for TNBC but also provide a theoretical basis for the future clinical application of targeting APE1 and PARP1 in the treatment of refractory TNBC.

Relationship Between Tea Drinking Behaviour and Rosacea: A Clinical Case-control Study.

The exact mechanisms of rosacea development are unknown, but it has been suggested that tea consumption may be associated with its development. To determine the relationship between tea drinking behaviour and rosacea, this clinical case-control study recruited 2,063 participants, who completed a questionnaire about tea drinking behaviour. A 1:1 ratio propensity score matching method was used to generate 619 cases and 619 controls. High-frequency tea drinking (3 times/day: adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 2.592; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.225-5.485; ≥ 4 times/day; aOR 8.86; 95% CI 3.43-22.887), non-fermented tea (aOR 2.172; 95% CI 1.562-3.022), and hot tea (aOR 2.793; 95% CI 1.796-1.344) were associated with an increased risk of rosacea. Further results showed that these tea drinking behaviours were significantly associated with an increased risk of flushing (aOR 1.41; 95% CI 1.07-1.87) and erythema (aOR 1.48; 95% CI 1.10-2.00). Tea drinking behaviour is closely related to rosacea and.

Comparison of Fractional Micro-Plasma Radiofrequency and Fractional Microneedle Radiofrequency for the Treatment of Atrophic Acne Scars: A Pilot Randomized Split-Face Clinical Study in China.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Both fractional micro-plasma radiofrequency (RF) and fractional microneedle RF are novel devices that can be applied for the treatment of atrophic acne scars, and they have both been proved to be effective. To compare the clinical effectiveness and adverse reactions of fractional micro-plasma RF and fractional microneedle RF for the therapy of facial atrophic acne scars in a randomized split-face study. STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty patients with facial atrophic acne scars received three applications at 2-month intervals in a randomized split-face study using fractional micro-plasma RF and fractional microneedle RF on different sides of the face. Three independent dermatologists evaluated the improvement in acne scars using the ECCA grading scale (Echelle d'Evaluation Clinique des Cicatrices d'Acné) by comparing the digital images and graded the improvement in the acne scars. Patients were asked to provide a self-evaluation of satisfaction for efficacy and safety. Adverse effects were also recorded after each treatment. RESULTS: In total sixty patients completed the entire study. A significant improvement was observed in the appearance of acne scars, and the mean ECCA scores improved significantly after both modalities. The mean decrease in ECCA scores from the baseline was significantly more pronounced in fractional micro-plasma RF as compared with fractional microneedle RF (41.33 ± 20.19 vs 32.17 ± 17.35; P < 0.05). The degree of clinical improvement was also significantly better for fractional micro-plasma RF. Pain, erythema, and swelling were observed in all patients after both treatments. The pain was more intense during micro-plasma RF treatment (P = 0.000), and the duration of pain and erythema were longer than with fractional microneedle RF (P = 0.000). Postinflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) was observed in one patient on the fractional micro-plasma RF side while no PIH was observed on the fractional microneedle RF side. No infections or worsening of scarring was observed with either treatment. No subject was dissatisfied with the efficacy of either device. Rolling scars tended to respond better to fractional micro-plasma RF treatment compared with fractional microneedle RF (P = 0.000). CONCLUSIONS: Both fractional micro-plasma RF and fractional microneedle RF are effective and safe methods for improving atrophic acne scars. Fractional micro-plasma RF is significantly more effective for atrophic acne scars, especially for rolling scars. However, fractional microneedle RF has fewer side effects plus shorter downtime, and patients are more comfortable after the treatment. Lasers Surg. Med. © 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC.

Relationship between rosacea and dietary factors: A multicenter retrospective case-control survey.

Although patients with rosacea often consult dermatologists for dietary factors that might be related to their skin disorders, few studies have been conducted to research the relationship between rosacea and dietary factors. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential relationship between rosacea and diet among the large Chinese population with rosacea, which would provide dietary guidelines for patients with rosacea. A multicenter case-control study was conducted. The feeding frequency 2 years before the occurrence of rosacea was collected by standardized questionnaires. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to calculate risks related to the diet. One thousand three hundred and forty-seven patients with rosacea and 1290 controls were enrolled in our study. We found that high-frequency intake of fatty food and tea presented a positive correlation with rosacea, while high-frequency dairy product intake showed significant negative correlation with rosacea. Sweet food, coffee and spicy food appeared to be independent of any subset of rosacea in our study. However, high-frequency dairy product intake showed a borderline beneficial effect on rosacea severity. We further analyzed the correlation between diet and the subtype of rosacea. We found that high-frequency fatty intake was associated with erythematotelangiectatic rosacea (ETR) and phymatous rosacea, while high-frequency tea intake was only associated with ETR. In addition, high-frequency dairy product intake showed negative correlations with ETR and papulopustular rosacea. Rosacea is associated with some dietary factors, and our study is valuable in establishing dietary guidelines to prevent and improve rosacea.

Induction of melasma by 1064-nm Q-switched neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser therapy for acquired bilateral nevus of Ota-like macules (Hori nevus): A study on related factors in the Chinese population.

Laser treatment has emerged as a common treatment modality for acquired bilateral nevus of Ota-like macules (ABNOM). To identify the ratio of melasma induction and exacerbation before and after laser therapy for ABNOM and to observe the risk factors related to the induction and exacerbation of melasma by laser therapy, we analyzed related factors of 1268 adult Chinese patients who underwent 1064-nm Q-switched neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser (QNYL) treatment using case series and case-control studies. Overall, 24.0% of the ABNOM patients had mixed melasma. Among the ABNOM patients without melasma, after laser therapy the development of melasma was more frequently noted in patients older than 35 years (P < 0.0001), as well in patients whose ABNOM was less than 10 cm(2) (P = 0.027), ABNOM were light (similar to yellow-brown) in color (P = 0.021) and skin types were closer to type IV (P < 0.0001). New melasma lesions also appeared most frequently in the zygomatic region (P < 0.0001). Among the ABNOM patients with melasma, 89.5% experienced worsening of their melasma, irrespective of their related factors above. We concluded that the risk of inducing melasma is great after 1064-nm QNYL treatment in ABNOM patients, and particularly in the patients with both ABNOM and melasma. ABNOM patients should be treated as early as possible and before the age of 35 years.

Formulation, characterization and clinical evaluation of propranolol hydrochloride gel for transdermal treatment of superficial infantile hemangioma.

The objective of the present study is to formulate and characterize propranolol hydrochloride (PPL · HCl) gel, and to evaluate the efficacy of this formulation in transdermal treatment for superficial infantile hemangioma (IH). The transdermal PPL · HCl gel was prepared by a direct swelling method, which chose hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) as the matrix and used terpenes plus alcohols as permeation enhancer. Permeation studies of PPL · HCl were carried out with modified Franz diffusion cells through piglet skin. Our results pointed to that among all studied permeation enhancers, farnesol plus isopropanol was the most effective combination (Q24, 6027.4 ± 563.1 µg/cm(2), ER, 6.8), which was significantly higher than that of control gel (p < 0.05). High percutaneous penetration with related lower plasma drug level of PPL · HCl gel was confirmed by microdialysis technique in rats using the homemade PPL · HCl oral solution as a control. Clinical studies also confirmed the excellent therapeutic response and few side effects of the PPL · HCl gel. These results suggest that transdermal application of the PPL · HCl gel is an effective and safe formulation in treating superficial IH.