Red light-promoted skin barrier recovery: Spatiotemporal evaluation by transepidermal potential.

The light-promoted recovery of epidermal barrier of skin was evaluated by the associated recovery of transepidermal potential (TEP), the potential difference between the surface and dermis of skin, by using porcine skin samples. An accelerated recovery of TEP was observed by irradiation of red light with the irradiance of 40 mW/cm2 and a duration of > 10 min. The influence of the light stimulation to the surroundings (~ 20 mm) was also observed. The irradiations of blue and purple lights were ineffective in accelerating the barrier recovery. These characteristics of the light stimulation would be useful for the design of effective and safe phototherapy devices for skin. The present study proves that the TEP can serve as a spatiotemporal indicator of the epidermal barrier function.

Anti melanogenic effect of Croton roxburghii and Croton sublyratus leaves in α-MSH stimulated B16F10 cells.

Croton roxburghii and Croton sublyratus have been used as skin treatments in traditional medicine. The objective of the present study was to investigate the antimelanogenic effect of ethanol extracts of Croton roxburghii (CRE) and Croton sublyratus (CSE) leaves on cellular melanin content and cellular tyrosinase activity as mediated by the action of microthalmia transcription factor (MITF) and melanogenic enzymes. Croton roxburghii and Croton sublyratus leaves were extracted by petroleum ether, dichloromethane and absolute ethanol, sequentially. The ethanolic crude extracts were examined for antimelanogenic activity by their ability to decrease melanin content and cellular tyrosinase activity in alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone-stimulated B16F10 melanoma cells. In addition, the extracts were evaluated to determine a plausible mechanism of melanogenesis suppression through determining the activation of MITF transcription factor and melanogenic proteins (tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein 1 or TRP-1 and tyrosinase-related protein 2 or TRP-2) at the transcriptional and translation levels in α-MSH-induced B16F10 cells. Upon treatment with CRE and CSE, the cells showed significant decreases in melanin content and cellular tyrosinase activity. CRE and CSE also suppressed MITF, tyrosinase, TRP-1 and TRP-2 at the transcription and translation levels in α-MSH-stimulated melanin biosynthesis in B16F10 cells. Our finding shows that CRE and CSE inhibit melanin content and cellular tyrosinase activity through suppressing MITF and melanogenic enzymes. CRE and CSE may be useful to combine with skin whitening agents for cosmetic uses.

Accelerated Wound Healing on Skin by Electrical Stimulation with a Bioelectric Plaster.

Wound healing on skin involves cell migration and proliferation in response to endogenous electric current. External electrical stimulation by electrical equipment is used to promote these biological processes for the treatment of chronic wounds and ulcers. Miniaturization of the electrical stimulation device for wound healing on skin will make this technology more widely available. Using flexible enzymatic electrodes and stretchable hydrogel, a stretchable bioelectric plaster is fabricated with a built-in enzymatic biofuel cell (EBFC) that fits to skin and generates ionic current along the surface of the skin by enzymatic electrochemical reactions for more than 12 h. To investigate the efficacy of the fabricated bioelectric plaster, an artificial wound is made on the back skin of a live mouse and the wound healing is observed for 7 d in the presence and absence of the ionic current of the bioelectric plaster. The time course of the wound size as well as the hematoxylin and eosin staining of the skin section reveals that the ionic current of the plaster leads to faster and smoother wound healing. The present work demonstrates a proof of concept for the electrical manipulation of biological functions by EBFCs.

Changes in skin structure of the Zip13-KO mouse by Makomo (Zizania latifolia) feeding.

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) is a group of disorders caused by abnormalities in the extracellular matrix (ECM). Transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß) plays a crucial role in formation of the ECM by the SMAD (Sma-and Mad-related protein, mothers against decapentaplegic homolog) pathway. It has been reported that loss of function of zinc transporter ZRT/IRT-like protein 13 (ZIP13) is the cause of the spondylocheiro dysplastic form of EDS (SCD-EDS: OMIM 612350). Our previous study suggested that TGF-ß1 has a relationship with the skin pathological condition in the Zip13-Knockout (KO) mouse, which is a model of SCD-EDS. Thus far, effective treatment based on modern medicine for this syndrome has not yet been established. According to an approach of traditional Chinese medicine, the present study investigates the medicinal effects of Makomo (Zizania latifolia) on certain aspects of SCD-EDS, such as skin morphology and plasma TGF-ß1, in Zip13-KO mice. Increases in densities of collagen fibers and fibrils without a significant change in thickness of the dermal layer were observed in the group of mice fed a Makomo-containing diet. No change in the amount of collagen suggests that Makomo feed does not elevate collagen synthesis, but changes the length of glycosaminoglycan chains and decreases the distance between collagen fibrils. In conclusion, the changes of the skin structure suggest that Makomo can increase the mechanical strength of skin.

Prognostic Impact of Loop Diuretics in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure　- Effects of Addition of Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System Inhibitors and ß-Blockers.

BACKGROUND: It remains to be elucidated whether addition of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) inhibitors and/or ß-blockers to loop diuretics has a beneficial prognostic impact on chronic heart failure (CHF) patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: From the Chronic Heart failure Analysis and Registry in the Tohoku district 2 (CHART-2) Study (n=10,219), we enrolled 4,134 consecutive patients with symptomatic stage C/D CHF (mean age, 69.3 years, 67.7% male). We constructed Cox models for composite of death, myocardial infarction, stroke and HF admission. On multivariate inverse probability of treatment weighted (IPTW) Cox modeling, loop diuretics use was associated with worse prognosis with hazard ratio (HR) 1.28 (P<0001). Furthermore, on IPTW multivariate Cox modeling for multiple treatments, both low-dose (<40 mg/day) and high-dose (≥40 mg/day) loop diuretics were associated with worse prognosis with HR 1.32 and 1.56, respectively (both P<0.001). Triple blockade with RAS inhibitor(s), mineral corticoid (aldosterone) receptor antagonist(s) (MRA), and ß-blocker(s) was significantly associated with better prognosis in those on low-dose but not on high-dose loop diuretics. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic use of loop diuretics is significantly associated with worse prognosis in CHF patients in a dose-dependent manner, whereas the triple combination of RAAS inhibitor(s), MRA, and ß-blocker(s) is associated with better prognosis when combined with low-dose loop diuretics. (Circ J 2016; 80: 1396-1403).