Analysis of the temporal change in biophysical parameters after fractional laser treatments using reflectance confocal microscopy.

BACKGROUND: Fractional photothermolysis is a popular treatment option for photorejuvenation. Previous literature studies have demonstrated the clinical effectiveness of fractional photothermolysis on cutaneous photoaging; however, the associated changes in biophysical properties of the skin following fractional photothermolysis have not been fully elucidated. This study was conducted to investigate the temporal changes in biophysical parameters after fractional laser treatment on Asian skin. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eleven female subjects underwent a single treatment with an erbium glass fractional laser. Skin roughness, elasticity, transepidermal water loss (TEWL), dermal thickness were evaluated before and immediately after treatment and 3 days, 1 week, 2 weeks, and 4 weeks after treatment. The changes in the dermal papilla were analyzed using a reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM). RESULTS: Skin roughness showed the greatest improvement at the first week and net elasticity was most improved at the second week. TEWL and the percentage of melanized and active dermal papillae (DP) were mostly increased for 3 days. At 4 weeks after treatment, the number of total dermal papillae showed a significant increase compared with pretreatment. CONCLUSION: This is the first study of the characterization and quantification of dermal papilla reflecting the dermal repair process after fractional photothermolysis through an RCM.

Molecular delineation of gamma-ray-induced NF-kappaB activation and pro-inflammatory genes in SMP30 knockout mice.

Exposure to gamma radiation causes a wide variety of biological damages and alterations, including oxidative stress. Among the key cellular components that are exquisitely sensitive to oxidative stress is the transcription factor nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB, which plays a central role in the activation of various pro-inflammatory genes. Recently, senescence marker protein 30 (SMP30), which has been used as an aging marker, was shown to have an antioxidant property. In the current study, using SMP30 knockout (SMP30(-/-)) mice that are vitamin C-deficient, we explored the effect of radiation on the activation of NF-kappaB and several key pro-inflammatory genes. Six groups of mice were studied. Group 1 mice were not irradiated and were supplemented with vitamin C (2.5 mg/kg/day). Group 2 mice were irradiated and were not supplemented with vitamin C. Group 3, 4 and 5 mice were irradiated with 1, 3 and 5 Gy of gamma radiation ((60)Co), respectively, without vitamin C supplementation. The wild-type mice (SMP30(+/+)) in group 6 were not irradiated or supplemented. At 24 h after irradiation, mice were killed humanely and the kidneys were removed analysis. The results showed that gamma radiation induced oxidative stress with corresponding NF-kappaB activation; this activated NF-kappaB led to the up-regulation of several major pro-inflammatory mediators such as COX-2, iNOS, VCAM1, ICAM1 and E-selectin in irradiated groups with no vitamin C supplementation. Our data provide molecular insights into mechanisms through which gamma radiation enhances oxidative stress-induced inflammation by showing the activation of NF-kappaB signaling pathway in vitamin C-deficient SMP30(-/-) mice. In addition, our present study produced evidence that gamma radiation exerts its deleterious action by activating the inflammatory process that are known to be a major risk factor for many chronic diseases. Furthermore, our data revealed vitamin C may play an important protective role in attenuating the adverse gamma-radiation-induced adverse effects by suppressing adverse oxidative effects and pro-inflammatory mediators.