A prospective, split-face study comparing 1,064-nm picosecond Nd:YAG laser toning with 1,064-nm Q-switched Nd:YAG laser toning in the treatment of melasma.

BACKGROUND: Recently, a low-fluence picosecond (ps) laser is an emerging option for removing pigmented lesions. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a 1,064-nm ps Nd:YAG laser as compared to a 1,064-nm Qs Nd:YAG laser for melasma treatment in an Asian. METHODS: Twenty Korean patients with facial melasma were enrolled and randomly treated with a 1,064-nm ps Nd:YAG laser on one side of the face and 1,064-nm Qs Nd:YAG on the other side at 2-week intervals for five sessions. At each visit, the modified Melasma Area Severity Index (mMASI), patient satisfaction scores, visual analogue scale (VAS) scores, and adverse events were assessed. RESULTS: Both groups showed significant clinical improvement and decreased mMASI scores compared to the baseline. No statistically significant difference was observed in the mMASI score between the two treatment techniques at any time point. The melanin index showed no statistically significant improvement in both groups, and no significant differences were observed in patient satisfaction scores and VAS scores between both modalities. CONCLUSIONS: A 1,064 nm ps Nd:YAG laser is as effective and safe as a conventional 1,064 nm Qs Nd:YAG laser in the treatment of melasma in Asian skin, but no superior outcome was observed.

Effects of moderate intensity static magnetic fields on osteoclastic differentiation in mouse bone marrow cells.

Although we recently demonstrated that static magnetic fields (SMFs) of 3, 15, and 50 mT stimulate osteoblastic differentiation, the effects of SMFs on osteoclastogenesis are still poorly understood. This study focused on the suppressive effects of SMFs on receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption. Direct SMFs inhibit RANKL-induced multinucleated osteoclast formation, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase activity, and bone resorption in mouse bone marrow-derived macrophage cells. The conditioned medium from osteoblasts treated with SMFs also resulted in the inhibition of osteoclast differentiation as well as resorption. The RANKL-induced expression of osteoclast-specific transcription factors, such as c-Fos and NFATc1, was remarkably downregulated by SMF at 15 mT. In addition, SMF inhibited RANKL-activated Akt, glycogen synthase kinase 3ß (GSK3ß), extracellular signal-regulated kinase, c-jun N-terminal protein kinase, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) formation. These findings indicate that SMF-mediated attenuation of RANKL-induced Akt, GSK3ß, MAPK, and NF-κB pathways could contribute to the direct and indirect inhibition of osteoclast formation and bone resorption. Therefore, SMFs could be developed as a therapeutic agent against periprosthetic or peri-implant osteolysis. Additionally, these could be used against osteolytic diseases such as osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis. Bioelectromagnetics. 39:394-404, 2018. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Potent Anti-Inflammatory and Antiadipogenic Properties of Bamboo (Sasa coreana Nakai) Leaves Extract and Its Major Constituent Flavonoids.

The pro-inflammatory response and recruitment of macrophages into adipose tissue contribute to metabolic dysfunction. Here, we reported the anti-inflammatory and antiadipogenic effects of the methanol (MeOH) extract and ethyl acetate (EtOAc) fraction of bamboo leaf and its molecular mechanism in RAW264.7 cells and 3T3-L1 adipocytes, respectively. Functional macrophage migration assays also were performed. Surprisingly, the EtOAc fraction of MeOH extracts from native Korean plant species Sasa coreana Nakai (SCN) has shown potent anti-inflammatory properties; SCN pretreatment inhibited nitric oxide (NO) production (p < 0.01) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages. Inflammatory genes induced by LPS, including TNFα, IL-1ß, and IL-6, were significantly attenuated by SCN (p < 0.01). Pretreatment with SCN antagonized NF-κB nuclear translocation and the simultaneous degradation of inhibitory κB protein. Furthermore, SCN selectively inhibited the LPS-induced phosphorylation of JNK (p < 0.01) and p38 (p < 0.05) but not ERK (p > 0.05). Similar to leaf extracts of other bamboo species, we identified that SCN contained several flavonoids including orientin, isoorientin, and vitexin; these compounds inhibited LPS-induced NO production (p < 0.05) and iNOS expression. In addition, SCN inhibited adipocyte differentiation in a dose-dependent manner, as demonstrated by Oil Red O staining and the protein expression of mature adipogenic marker genes. Treatment with the major flavonoids of SCN also inhibited adipogenesis. Furthermore, conditioned medium obtained from adipocytes stimulated macrophage chemotaxis, whereas medium from adipocytes treated with SCN significantly inhibited macrophage migration. Therefore, SCN is a potential therapeutic agent for the prevention of inflammation and obesity.

Inhibition of Arterial Myogenic Responses by a Mixed Aqueous Extract of Salvia Miltiorrhiza and Panax Notoginseng (PASEL) Showing Antihypertensive Effects.

The dried roots of Danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza) and Sanchi (Panax notoginseng) have been widely used in traditional Chinese medicine for promoting blood circulation as well as various other bodily functions. Here we investigated the effects of a mixture of aqueous extracts of Danshen and Sanchi, named PASEL, on blood pressure and vascular contractility in rats. Orally administered PASEL (62.5 mg/kg and 250 mg/kg, for 5 weeks) lowered the blood pressure of spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHR) but this was not observed in normal Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKR). We then investigated the effects of PASEL on the arterial contraction of the small branches of cerebral arteries (CAs) and large conduit femoral arteries (FAs) in rats. PASEL did not affect high-K (KCl 60 mM)- or phenyleprine (PhE)-induced contracture of FAs. The myogenic response, a reactive arterial constriction in response to increased luminal pressure, of small CA was dose-dependently suppressed by PASEL in SHR as well as control rats. Interestingly, the KCl-induced contraction of small CAs was slowly reversed by PASEL, and this effect was more prominent in SHR than control WKR. PASEL did not inhibit angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity. These results demonstrated that the antihypertensive effect of PASEL might be primarily mediated by altering the arterial MR, not by direct inhibition of L-type Ca(2+) channels or by ACE inhibition.

Effects of mixed herbal extracts from parched Puerariae radix, gingered Magnoliae cortex, Glycyrrhizae radix and Euphorbiae radix (KIOM-79) on cardiac ion channels and action potentials.

KIOM-79, a mixture of ethanol extracts from four herbs (parched Puerariae radix, gingered Magnoliae cortex, Glycyrrhizae radix and Euphorbiae radix), has been developed for the potential therapeutic application to diabetic symptoms. Because screening of unexpected cardiac arrhythmia is compulsory for the new drug development, we investigated the effects of KIOM-79 on the action potential (AP) and various ion channel currents in cardiac myocytes. KIOM-79 decreased the upstroke velocity (V(max)) and plateau potential while slightly increased the duration of action potential (APD). Consistent with the decreased V(max) and plateau potential, the peak amplitude of Na+ current (I(Na)) and Ca2+ current (I(Ca,L)) were decreased by KIOM-79. KIOM-79 showed dual effects on hERG K+ current; increase of depolarization phase current (I(depol)) and decreased tail current at repolarization phase (I(tail)). The increase of APD was suspected due to the decreased I(tail). In computer simulation, the change of cardiac action potential could be well simulated based on the effects of KIOM-79 on various membrane currents. As a whole, the influence of KIOM-79 on cardiac ion channels are minor at concentrations effective for the diabetic models (0.1-10 microg/mL). The results suggest safety in terms of the risk of cardiac arrhythmia. Also, our study demonstrates the usefulness of the cardiac computer simulation in screening drug-induced long-QT syndrome.

A novel role for the TRPV1 channel in UV-induced matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 expression in HaCaT cells.

Transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1) is a molecular sensor for detecting adverse stimuli, such as capsaicin, heat, and acid. TRPV1 has been localized in keratinocytes and is suggested to be a mediator of heat-induced matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1). With regard to the multimodal activation of TRPV1, we hypothesize that TRPV1 might also mediate UV-induced MMP-1 in keratinocytes. In HaCaT, a human keratinocyte cell line, we initially confirmed capsaicin-induced membrane current and Ca(2+) influx. UV irradiation induced slow and persistent calcium influx and increased membrane current, which was inhibited by TRPV1 inhibitors (capsazepine and ruthenium red). The UV-induced MMP-1 expression in HaCaT was also decreased by TRPV1 inhibitors and was facilitated by capsaicin. Knock-down of TRPV1 using siRNA transfection also decreased MMP-1 expression, as well as UV-induced Ca(2+) influx in HaCaT. UV failed to induce MMP-1 expression in HaCaT cells cultured in Ca(2+)-free media. Both the UV-induced increase in [Ca(2+)](i) and MMP-1 were suppressed by Gö6976 (a calcium-dependent PKC inhibitor), but not by rottlerin (a calcium-independent PKC inhibitor). In addition to a plausible role of TRPV1 in UV-induced MMP-1 expression, we showed that UV increased TRPV1 expression in both HaCaT cells and human skin in vivo. From these results, we suggest that UV-induced MMP-1 expression might be mediated in part by PKC-dependent activation of TRPV1 and subsequent Ca(2+)-influx in human keratinocytes. J. Cell. Physiol. 219: 766-775, 2009. (c) 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.