Lagerstroemia macrocarpa extract inhibits Th2-mediated STAT6 signaling pathway in human keratinocytes.

In this study, we examined physiological functions as a key material to develop cosmeceuticals using extracts of Lagerstroemia macrocarpa Wall. Ex Kurz (L. macrocarpa). Initially, the L. macrocarpa extract was treated by different concentration and antioxidant assay (DPPH and ABTS) were performed to measure free radical scavenging ability. In the cytotoxicity experiment, the extract was treated into human epidermal keratinocytes with different concentrations to measure cytotoxicity. We found that the extract induces differentiation markers such as keratin (KRT)1, KRT2, KRT9, KRT10 in keratinocytes. Furthermore, the extract significantly induces involucrin (IVL), loricrin (LOR), claudin1 (CLDN1), and filaggrin (FLG) expression, suggesting that it may enhance skin barrier functions. Especially, the extract restored FLG expression inhibited by interleukin (IL)-4/IL-13 in in vitro atopic dermatitis-like model. Therefore, we expect L. macrocarpa extract will be an effective material to develop the therapeutic and cosmeceutical of atopic dermatitis.

Acupuncture and Acupoints for Low Back Pain: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Acupuncture has been used as a therapeutic intervention for the treatment of numerous diseases and symptoms for thousands of years, and low back pain has been studied and treated the most in acupuncture clinics. Traditional theory strongly suggests that the selection of acupoints will influence their clinical effects and combinations (e.g., the clinical effects of a particular acupoint or combination on reducing pain), but this idea was not considered in earlier systematic reviews and meta-analyses. We performed a systematic review, meta-analysis, and network analysis to evaluate the magnitude of the effects of acupoints used to treat low back pain in randomized controlled clinical trials. We found that acupuncture significantly reduced pain in patients with low back pain compared with the control group. The most frequently prescribed acupoints were BL23, GV3, BL20, BL40, and BL25, whereas the acupoints with the highest average effect size scores were BL20, GV3, GB30, GB34, and BL25. Further, the combinations of BL23-BL40, BL23-B25, and BL23-BL60 were the most frequently prescribed, while BL23-GV3, BL40-GV4, and BL23-BL25 showed the largest average effect size. By calculating clinical outcomes based on average effect sizes, we found that the most popular acupoints might not always be associated with the best results. Although a more thorough investigation is necessary to determine the clinical effects of each acupoint and combination on patients, we suggest that our approach may offer a fresh perspective that will be useful for future research.

Effects of auricular acupressure using Sinapsis alba seeds on obesity and self-efficacy in female college students.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the effects of auricular acupressure with Sinapsis alba seeds on obesity and self-efficacy. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. SETTINGS: College settings located in metropolitan areas of Korea. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 49 female college students who were overweight or obese (body-mass index [BMI] ≥25.0 kg/m(2)) were recruited and randomly assigned to the experimental group (n=25) or the control group (n=24). INTERVENTIONS: The experimental group applied three S. alba seeds to each of five auricular points (Shenmen, mouth, stomach, endocrine, and small intestine points). These participants were asked to stimulate those points 10 times at a rate of two times per second 30 minutes before mealtime, three times daily, for 1 month. They performed the procedure for each earlobe for alternating weeks (a total of 2 weeks' treatment for each ear). OUTCOME MEASURES: The obesity index included weight (kg), BMI (kg/m(2)), percentage body fat, and waist-to-hip ratio. Self-efficacy was measured by using a self-efficacy scale. RESULTS: Female students in the experimental group showed significant decreases in weight (t=10.76; p<0.001) and BMI (t=9.60; p<0.001) and significant improvement in self-efficacy (t=1.85; p<0.05) compared with those in the control group. However, percentage body fat (t=1.27; p>0.05) and waist-to-hip ratio (t=0.60; p>0.05) changes did not significantly differ between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that auricular acupressure using S. alba seeds may be an effective intervention for decreasing weight and BMI and increasing self-efficacy of overweight and obese individuals.

Hybrid composite membranes based on polyethylene separator and Al2O3 nanoparticles for lithium-ion batteries.

A hybrid composite membrane is prepared by coating nano-sized Al2O3 powder (13 and 50 nm) and poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropene) (P(VdF-co-HFP)) binder on both sides of polyethylene separator. The composite membrane shows better thermal stability and improved wettability for organic liquid electrolyte than polyethylene separator, due to the presence of heat-resistant Al2O3 particles with high-surface area in the coating layer. By using the composite membrane, the lithium-ion cells composed of carbon anode and LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 cathode are assembled and their cycling performances are evaluated. The cells assembled with the composite membranes are proven to have better capacity retention than the cell prepared with polyethylene separator, due to the enhanced ability to retain the electrolyte solution in the cell. The cell assembled with the composite membrane containing 13 nm-sized Al2O3 particles has an initial discharge capacity of 173.2 mA h g(-1) with good capacity retention.