Quantitative Assessment of Ultraviolet-Induced Erythema and Tanning Responses in the Han Chinese Population.

Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) can induce erythema and tanning responses with strong diversity within and between populations, but there were no precise method for evaluating the variation in these responses. In this study, we assessed the time course of ultraviolet (UV)-induced responses based on the erythema index (EI) and melanin index (MI) over 14 consecutive days in a pilot cohort study (N = 31). From safety evaluations, we found that no skin blisters occurred at a UV dosage of 45 mJ/cm2, but there were significant skin reactions. Regardless of UV dosage, the measurements and variances of EI peaked on day 1 after UV irradiation, and those of MI peaked on day 7. Dose-response curves, including erythema dose-response (EDR) and melanin dose-response (MDR), could measure UV-induced phenotypes sensitively but more laboriously. As an alternative, we directly represented the UV-induced erythema and tanning responses using the erythema increment (ΔE) and melanin increment (ΔM). We found that ΔE and ΔM at 45 mJ/cm2 significantly correlated with erythema dose-response (EDR) (R 2 > 0.9) and melanin dose-response (MDR) (R 2 > 0.9), respectively. Therefore, ΔE and ΔM on day 1 and day 7 after UV irradiation at a dosage of 45 mJ/cm2 might be ideal alternative measures for assessing individual erythema and tanning responses. Then, a second cohort (N = 664) was recruited to validate the UV-induced phenotypes, and, as expected, the results of the two cohorts were in agreement. Therefore, we developed a simplified and precise method to quantify the UV-induced erythema response and tanning ability for the Han Chinese population. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s43657-023-00105-1.

Advancements in research on the association between the biological CLOCK and type 2 diabetes.

Due to the Earth's rotation, the natural environment exhibits a light-dark diurnal cycle close to 24 hours. To adapt to this energy intake pattern, organisms have developed a 24-hour rhythmic diurnal cycle over long periods, known as the circadian rhythm, or biological clock. With the gradual advancement of research on the biological clock, it has become increasingly evident that disruptions in the circadian rhythm are closely associated with the occurrence of type 2 diabetes (T2D). To further understand the progress of research on T2D and the biological clock, this paper reviews the correlation between the biological clock and glucose metabolism and analyzes its potential mechanisms. Based on this, we discuss the potential factors contributing to circadian rhythm disruption and their impact on the risk of developing T2D, aiming to explore new possible intervention measures for the prevention and treatment of T2D in the future. Under the light-dark circadian rhythm, in order to adapt to this change, the human body forms an internal biological clock involving a variety of genes, proteins and other molecules. The main mechanism is the transcription-translation feedback loop centered on the CLOCK/BMAL1 heterodimer. The expression of important circadian clock genes that constitute this loop can regulate T2DM-related blood glucose traits such as glucose uptake, fat metabolism, insulin secretion/glucagon secretion and sensitivity in various peripheral tissues and organs. In addition, sleep, light, and dietary factors under circadian rhythms also affect the occurrence of T2DM.

Comparison of different treatment strategies for T3N1-3 stage gastric cancer based on the SEER database.

Treatment options for T3N1 stage gastric cancer exhibit regional variation, with optimal approach remaining unclear. We derived our data from the SEER database, using Cox proportional risk regression models for univariate and multivariate analyses of 5-years overall survival (5yOS) and 5-years cancer-specific survival (5yCSS). The results showed that younger age, female, non-white race, highly differentiated histologic grade, non-Signet ring cell adenocarcinoma, low N stage, lesser curvature of the stomach, OP followed by adjuvant C/T with or without RT, partial gastrectomy, C/T and others, Radiation therapy, and Chemotherapy were significantly associated with better 5yOS and 5yCSS. For patients with stage T3N1-3 gastric cancer, multimodal treatment regimens demonstrate superior survival outcomes compared to surgery or radiotherapy alone. Among them, OP followed by adjuvant C/T with or without RT emerges as particularly efficacious, potentially offering enhanced benefits for non-Asian populations.

Blue light protection factor: a method to assess the protective efficacy of cosmetics against blue light-induced skin damage in the Chinese population.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that visible light (VL), especially blue light (BL), could cause significant skin damage. With the emergence of VL protection products, a harmonization of light protection methods has been proposed, but it has not been widely applied in the Chinese population. OBJECTIVE: Based on this framework, we propose an accurate and simplified method to evaluate the efficacy of BL photoprotection for the Chinese population. METHODS: All subjects (n = 30) were irradiated daily using a blue LED light for four consecutive days. Each irradiation dose was 3/4 MPPD (minimum persistent pigmentation darkening). The skin pigmentation parameters, including L*, M, and ITA°, were recorded. We proposed the blue light protection factor (BPF) metric based on the skin pigmentation parameters to evaluate the anti-blue light efficacies of different products. RESULTS: We found that the level of pigmentation rose progressively and linearly as blue light exposure increased. We proposed a metric, BPF, to reflect the anti-blue light efficacy of products based on the linear changes in skin pigment characteristics following daily BL exposure. Moreover, we discovered that the BPF metric could clearly distinguish the anti-blue light efficacies between two products and the control group, suggesting that BPF is an efficient and simple-to-use metric for anti-blue light evaluation. CONCLUSION: Our study proposed an accurate and simplified method with an easy-to-use metric, BPF, to accurately characterize the anti-blue light efficacies of cosmetic products, providing support for further development of anti-blue light cosmetics.

Cardiovascular safety of zoledronic acid in the treatment of primary osteoporosis: A meta-analysis and systematic review.

PURPOSE: Osteoporosis is intimately linked to cardiovascular disease and it has been uncertain that zoledronic acid is not correlated with cardiovascular disease. We intended to assess the cardiovascular safety of zoledronic acid in the treatment of primary osteoporosis. METHODS: We included only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of patients with osteoporosis receiving zoledronic acid or a placebo. We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane CENTRAL, Scopus, the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, ClinicalTrials.gov, and ICTRP from the time of database creation to April 5, 2023. Two investigators extracted data independently on study characteristics, outcomes of interest, and risk of bias based on PRISMA guidelines. RESULTS: As of April 5, 2023, our search identified 32,361 records, and after excluding these records, 9 RCTs were included in the meta-analysis. The overall risk ratio for cardiovascular events with zoledronic acid for primary osteoporosis compared with placebo was 1.15 (95 % CI 1.05-1.26, I2=12 %, P = 0.002), while the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events with zoledronic acid (RR 1.03, 95 % CI 0. 89-1.18, I2=21 %, P = 0.71) was not significant, possibly due to atrial fibrillation (RR 1.21, 95 % CI 0.99-1.47, I2=0 %, P = 0.06) versus the increased relative risk of arrhythmia (RR 1.30, 95 % CI 1.11-1.52, I2=34 %, P = 0.001). Overall, the cardiovascular risk of zoledronic acid for the treatment of primary osteoporosis was not significant; however, the relative risk of elevated atrial fibrillation and arrhythmias remains to be further studied. CONCLUSIONS: In women with primary osteoporosis, zoledronic acid may increase the risk of atrial fibrillation (P = 0.06) and arrhythmias (P = 0.001) compared with placebo, independent of the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events, angina, and heart failure. However, the sample size of men with primary osteoporosis is small, and the cardiovascular risk of zoledronic acid in men with osteoporosis is uncertain.

An optimal method for quantifying the facial sebum level and characterizing facial sebum features.

BACKGROUND: Evidence suggests that sebum content is important in skin disorders such as acne. However, sebum levels change depending on the external environment, and quantifying skin sebum levels is challenging. Here, we propose an optimal method for quantifying the facial sebum level. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four hundred and sixty participants (160 males and 300 females) aged 20-40 were enrolled in this study. A Sebumeter SM 810 was used to measure the sebum level at five facial locations: the forehead, the chin, the left cheek, the right cheek, and the nose. The participants were divided into two groups; one group underwent a one-time measurement (n = 390, male: female = 120: 270), and the other underwent three consecutive measurements (n = 70, male: female = 40: 30). The casual sebum level (CSL) was measured in all patients after a 30-min acclimatization; subsequently, the sebum removal process was conducted, followed by a resting period of 1 h to determine the sebum excretion rate (SER). Spearman's correlation analysis and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test were used to compare the sebum level consistency and differences between the groups. RESULTS: Although three consecutive measurements better reflected the sebum content, the one-time measurement also represented the relative sebum level. One hour after sebum removal, the sebum level recovered to 70%-90%; thus, this method was applicable for use in SER quantification. Of the five testing points, the sebum content was highest in the nose and lowest in the cheeks (both left and right). In addition, the cheeks were the most stable sites in terms of testing points, testing times, and CSL/SER values. A one-time measurement of the CSL could represent the SER 1 h after the sebum removal. In our cohort, the sebum level of males with oily skin was decreased at age 32-35, and that of males with non-oily skin increased at 28-35. The opposite trend was observed in female participants. CONCLUSION: Sebum measurement methods were assessed, including testing times, indices (interval of time) and sites in a conditioned external environment. A one-time measurement of the CSL 1 h after sebum removal was sufficient to determine the sebum level and SER, and the cheeks are recommended as the testing site. Sex and skin type differences were observed in sebum level changes with age.

Mercury telluride colloidal quantum-dot focal plane array with planar p-n junctions enabled by in situ electric field-activated doping.

Colloidal quantum dot (CQD)-based photodetectors are promising alternatives to bulk semiconductor-based detectors to be monolithically integrated with complementary metal-oxide semiconductor readout integrated circuits avoiding high-cost epitaxial growth methods and complicated flip-bonding processes. To date, photovoltaic (PV) single-pixel detectors have led to the best performance with background-limit infrared photodetection performance. However, the nonuniform and uncontrollable doping methods and complex device configuration restrict the focal plane array (FPA) imagers to operate in PV mode. Here, we propose a controllable in situ electric field-activated doping method to construct lateral p-n junctions in the short-wave infrared (SWIR) mercury telluride (HgTe) CQD-based photodetectors with a simple planar configuration. The planar p-n junction FPA imagers with 640 × 512 pixels (15-µm pixel pitch) are fabricated and exhibit substantially improved performance compared with photoconductor imagers before activation. High-resolution SWIR infrared imaging is demonstrated with great potential for various applications including semiconductor inspection, food safety, and chemical analysis.

Induced skin aging by blue-light irradiation in human skin fibroblasts via TGF-ß, JNK and EGFR pathways.

BACKGROUND: Studies indicate that blue light (BL) irradiation can damage human skins, but the impact of BL irradiation on skin aging is unknown. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to give an insight to phenotypic characteristics and molecular mechanism of blue light-induced skin aging, and thus provide a theoretical basis for the precise protection of photodermatosis. METHODS: The effect of BL on skin photoaging in mice was evaluated by non-invasive measurement equipment and histopathology analysis. The effect of BL irradiation on the proliferation of HFF-1 cells was detected by the Real-Time Cell Analyzer. The expression and protein levels of genes associated with skin aging were examined. RESULTS: Our studies indicated photoaging caused by BL irradiation, including collagen disorder and increased MMP1. BL irradiation also inhibited cell proliferation and collagen expression in human skin fibroblasts by inhibiting TGF-ß signaling pathway, based on in vitro experiments. Importantly, BL irradiation promoted the degradation of collagen by increasing MMP1 activated by the JNK/c-Jun and EGFR pathways. Moreover, ROS levels were significantly increased after BL irradiation in human skin fibroblasts. Yet, the transcriptional change in human skin fibroblasts caused by BL irradiation was unable to be completely restored by ROS scavenger. CONCLUSION: BL irradiation down-regulated expression of type I collagen genes and up-regulated MMP1 expression to inhibit the proliferation of human skin fibroblasts. Multiple key pathways including TGF-ß, JNK, and EGFR signaling were involved in BL-induced skin aging. Our results provide theoretical bases for the protection of photoaging caused by BL irradiation.

The role and safety of UVA and UVB in UV-induced skin erythema.

Background: Different wavelengths of ultraviolet (UV) light cause skin damage through different mechanisms. Minimal erythema dose (MED) is usually used to clinically evaluate skin sensitivity to ultraviolet radiation by inducing skin erythema using ultraviolet B (UVB) or ultraviolet A (UVA) + UVB. Aims: In this study, we detected changes in the blood flow at the MED erythema caused by UVB and UVA + UVB radiation through optical coherence tomography (OCT) to explain the role of different bands of ultraviolet rays in erythema induction. Methods: Two MED irradiation areas on the subjects' back were irradiated with UVB alone or UVA + UVB (UVA: UVB = 8:1). The absolute energy of UVB remained the same in UVB and UVA+UVB. At 24 h after the irradiation, the changes in the blood flow in the MED area were detected using OCT. Results: Compared with the blank control, the maximum blood flow depth, blood flow peak, and total blood flow of UVB-MED and UVA+UVB-MED were significantly increased. Notably, the maximum blood flow depth and blood flow peak of UVB-MED were higher than UVA+UVB-MED. There was no significant difference in total blood perfusion between UVA+UVB-MED and UVB-MED. Under the same UVB energy, the skin erythema caused by UVA + UVB was weaker than UVB alone. Conclusions: The analysis of local blood flow by OCT showed that the peak and maximum depth of local blood flow caused by UVB alone were significantly higher than UVA + UVB.

Metabolism-related biomarkers, molecular classification, and immune infiltration in diabetic ulcers with validation.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) can lead to diabetic ulcers (DUs), which are the most severe complications. Due to the need for more accurate patient classifications and diagnostic models, treatment and management strategies for DU patients still need improvement. The difficulty of diabetic wound healing is caused closely related to biological metabolism and immune chemotaxis reaction dysfunction. Therefore, the purpose of our study is to identify metabolic biomarkers in patients with DU and construct a molecular subtype-specific prognostic model that is highly accurate and robust. RNA-sequencing data for DU samples were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. DU patients and normal individuals were compared regarding the expression of metabolism-related genes (MRGs). Then, a novel diagnostic model based on MRGs was constructed with the random forest algorithm, and classification performance was evaluated utilizing receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. The biological functions of MRGs-based subtypes were investigated using consensus clustering analysis. A principal component analysis (PCA) was conducted to determine whether MRGs could distinguish between subtypes. We also examined the correlation between MRGs and immune infiltration. Lastly, qRT-PCR was utilized to validate the expression of the hub MRGs with clinical validations and animal experimentations. Firstly, 8 metabolism-related hub genes were obtained by random forest algorithm, which could distinguish the DUs from normal samples validated by the ROC curves. Secondly, DU samples could be consensus clustered into three molecular classifications by MRGs, verified by PCA analysis. Thirdly, associations between MRGs and immune infiltration were confirmed, with LYN and Type 1 helper cell significantly positively correlated; RHOH and TGF-ß family remarkably negatively correlated. Finally, clinical validations and animal experiments of DU skin tissue samples showed that the expressions of metabolic hub genes in the DU groups were considerably upregulated, including GLDC, GALNT6, RHOH, XDH, MMP12, KLK6, LYN, and CFB. The current study proposed an auxiliary MRGs-based DUs model while proposing MRGs-based molecular clustering and confirmed the association with immune infiltration, facilitating the diagnosis and management of DU patients and designing individualized treatment plans.

Research on the intrinsic mechanism of the darkening of liquid foundation.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the intrinsic mechanism that causes the darkening of liquid foundations. MATERIALS AND METHOD: A total of 36 commercial liquid foundations were firstly studied for preliminary screening of influencing factors. A basic liquid foundation was developed for controlling variables to study the influence of each single factor. These samples were evenly spread on the standard opacity charts with the thickness of 100 µm and applied onto human inner forearm skin with the dosage of 2 mg/cm2 . The discoloration of each sample was continuously recorded using spectrophotometers and reported in the CIE 1976 L*a*b* color space for at least 120 min, and ΔE was calculated to describe the severity of darkening. RESULTS: One hundred twenty-minute ΔE of all commercial foundations was highly negatively correlated with their 120-min ΔITA° (R2  = 0.88, p < 0.01). A strong positive correlation was found between the severity of darkening and the volatilization of the basic foundations (R2  = 0.83, p < 0.01). And the darkening of silicone-based basic foundations using pigment coating with silicon is weaker than those without silicon (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The process of the discoloration of liquid foundation is accompanied by the decrease of ITA° and manifested as darkening. The volatilization rate of the product and the coating method of the pigments used in the formula can noticeably affect the darkening of the liquid foundation.

Sheng-ji Hua-yu ointment ameliorates cutaneous wound healing in diabetes via up-regulating CCN1.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Diabetic ulcers (DUs) are one of the most severe complications of diabetes, and efficacious therapeutic means are currently lacking. Sheng-ji Hua-yu (SJHY) ointment is a classical Chinese traditional prescription that can significantly attenuate DU defects, but the specific mechanism remains to be fully elucidated. AIM OF THE STUDY: In order to verify the underlying mechanism of SJHY ointment in accelerating the closure of DUs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Modular pharmacology and molecular docking were utilized to predict the therapeutic targets of SJHY ointment against DUs. Male db/db diabetic mice and HaCaT cell models induced by methylglyoxal were used to validate the findings. RESULTS: CCN1 was proven to be the core target of SJHY ointment involved in DUs treatment. CCN1 up-regulated by SJHY treatment (0.5 g/cm2/day) at the mRNA and protein levels was detected on Day9 after wounding. With CCN1 knockdown, accelerated cell proliferation, migration, and anti-inflammatory effect of SJHY treatment (10 mg/L) were reversed. CONCLUSIONS: SJHY ointment ameliorates cutaneous wound healing by up-regulating CCN1.

Establishment and validation of visual assessment for the severity of lacrimal groove wrinkles in Chinese females.

OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to establish and validate a new wrinkle clinical assessment scale to measure Chinese Han women`s validated lacrimal groove. METHODS: Three clinical investigators asked to rate lacrimal groove wrinkles severity one each side for 30 photographic images from 15 subjects. Five-grade rating scale has been used in this clinical assessment. Scale definitions was standardized by 6 researchers in visual and descriptive formats. Assessments were conducted independently and were repeated after 1 week. RESULTS: For 30 photos from 15 subjects, test-retest of three investigators analyzed by Spearman's correlation were between 0.967 and 0.993 (p < 0.001), and by ICC Cronbach's α were between 0.989 and 0.997 (p < 0.001); intraobserver agreement of three investigators analyzed by Spearman's correlation were between 0.652 and 0.897 (p < 0.001), and by ICC Cronbach's α were between 0.840 and 0.959 (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: This lacrimal groove wrinkles visual assessment scale is a valid and reliable instrument for quantitative assessment of China woman skin folds with inter- and intraobserver consistency. This assessment scale should prove a useful clinical tool by allowing objective and reproducible grading for assessing the effectiveness of lacrimal groove area.

Efficacy and safety of Gegen Qinlian decoction in the treatment of type II diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

Aim: The study aims to systematically assess the efficacy and safety of Gegen Qinlian decoction in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods: We systematically searched a total of nine databases from the time of creation to 20 March 2023. The quality of the literature was assessed using the risk of bias assessment tool in the Cochrane Handbook. RevMan 5. 3 and Stata 14.0 were applied to conduct meta-analysis. Results: A total of 17 studies, encompassing 1,476 patients, were included in the study. Gegen Qinlian decoction combined with conventional treatment was found to significantly reduce FBG (MD = -0.69 mmol/L, 95% CI -0.84 to -0.55, p < 0.01; I2 = 67%, p<0.01), 2hPG (MD = -0.97 mmol/L, 95% CI -1.13 to -0.81, p < 0.01; I2 = 37%, p=0.09), HbA1c (MD = -0.65%, 95% CI -0.78 to -0.53, p < 0.01; I2 = 71%, p<0.01), TC (MD = -0.51 mmol/L, 95% CI -0.62 to -0.41, p < 0.01; I2 = 45%, p=0.09), TG (MD = -0.17mmol/L, 95% CI -0.29 to -0.05, p < 0.01; I2 = 78%, p<0.01), LDL-C (MD = -0.38mmol/L, 95% CI -0.53 to -0.23, p < 0.01; I2 = 87%, p<0.01), HOMA-IR (SMD = -1.43, 95% CI -2.32 to -0.54, p < 0.01; I2 = 94%, p<0.01), and improved HDL-C (MD = 0.13 mmol/L, 95% CI 0.09-0.17, p < 0.01; I2 = 30%, p=0.24). Only three studies explored the differences in efficacy between GQD alone and conventional treatment in improving glucose-lipid metabolism and insulin resistance, and some of the outcome indicators, such as 2hPG and HDL-C, were examined in only one study. Therefore, the effect of GQD alone on glucose-lipid metabolism and insulin resistance cannot be fully determined, and more high-quality studies are needed to verify it. Publication bias analysis revealed no bias in the included studies. Conclusion: Gegen Qinlian Decoction has certain efficacy and safety in enhancing glycolipid metabolism and alleviating insulin resistance, potentially serving as a complementary therapy for type 2 diabetes mellitus. Rigorous, large-sample, multicenter RCTs are needed to verify this. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42023413758, PROSPERO CRD42023413758.

Direct Optical Lithography Enabled Multispectral Colloidal Quantum-Dot Imagers from Ultraviolet to Short-Wave Infrared.

Complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) silicon sensors play a central role in optoelectronics with widespread applications from small cell phone cameras to large-format imagers for remote sensing. Despite numerous advantages, their sensing ranges are limited within the visible (0.4-0.7 µm) and near-infrared (0.8-1.1 µm) range , defined by their energy gaps (1.1 eV). However, below or above that spectral range, ultraviolet (UV) and short-wave infrared (SWIR) have been demonstrated in numerous applications such as fingerprint identification, night vision, and composition analysis. In this work, we demonstrate the implementation of multispectral broad-band CMOS-compatible imagers with UV-enhanced visible pixels and SWIR pixels by layer-by-layer direct optical lithography of colloidal quantum dots (CQDs). High-resolution single-color images and merged multispectral images were obtained by using one imager. The photoresponse nonuniformity (PRNU) is below 5% with a 0% dead pixel rate and room-temperature responsivities of 0.25 A/W at 300 nm, 0.4 A/W at 750 nm, and 0.25 A/W at 2.0 µm.

Abnormal expression of interleukin-6 is associated with epidermal alternations in localized scleroderma.

OBJECTIVES: Localized scleroderma (LSc) is a disease characterized by the excessive deposition of collagen and thereby thickening of the dermis. In recent years, studies reported that LSc demonstrated compromised skin barrier related to the progression of the disease. However, human studies examining epidermis in scleroderma are still sparse and lack systematic research. This study aims to investigate the structural and functional changes in the LSc epidermis and further explore the underlying mechanisms, providing a new angle to treat LSc in the clinic. METHODS: A total of 136 skin sites, including lesion and non-lesion control, from 27 LSc patients were analyzed. Ultrasonic testing, trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL), and epidermal hydration were assessed to investigate the structural and functional alternations; correlations between these parameters were analyzed. To explore the underlying mechanism, skin-fibrosis mouse model and cellular model by bleomycin (BLM) were deployed. RESULTS: The epidermal thickness was markedly increased, with a significant decline of hydration (dryness) in the LSc lesion skin. Epidermal hydration presented a negative correlation with the thickness. TEWL was not altered. The mouse model validated these morphological changes in the epidermis and indicated that interleukin-6 (IL-6) was significantly elevated. Furthermore, cellular study demonstrated that increased phosphorylation of p38 in keratinocyte promoted the secretion of IL-6, stimulating cell proliferation. CONCLUSION: This study characterized the epidermal alterations in LSc patients, suggesting that keratinocyte-derived abnormal IL-6 secretion can lead to the thickening of the epidermis, promoting dryness. The topical application of moisturizer may largely relieve dryness and related pruritus, thus improve the quality of life in LSc patients. Key Points • Epidermal thickness was increased in LSc lesion skin with declined hydration level. • Skin fibrosis mouse model validated the epidermal alteration in LSc patient. • p38-dependent IL-6 overexpression in keratinocyte result in epidermal thickening.

Analysis of factors influencing skin reactions to sunscreens, skin whitening products, and deodorants: Results from a large-scale patch test dataset in China.

BACKGROUND: Cosmetic products are widely used in daily life and can cause skin reactions. However, to date, few studies have investigated the prevalence and associated factors of skin reactions to different types of cosmetic products using patch test results. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the frequency and associated factors of skin reactions to sunscreens, skin whitening products, and deodorants using patch test results in China. METHODS: This cross-sectional analysis used data collected during 2004-2017 at the Shanghai Skin Disease Hospital, China. Skin reactions were measured using patch tests following internationally standardized protocols. RESULTS: In total, 151 280 patch tests comprising 16 477 cosmetic products conducted in 4029 healthy volunteers were analyzed. The frequencies of skin reactions to different cosmetic products were 1.07%, 1.28%, and 4.41% for sunscreens, skin whitening products, and deodorants, respectively. With increasing age, a higher frequency of reactions to sunscreens in women (p < 0.001) and a lower frequency of reactions to skin whitening products in men (p < 0.05) were observed. In addition, men were more likely to develop skin reactions to deodorants compared to women (p < 0.05). Skin reactions were more frequent in winter (p < 0.05), which was true for different types of cosmetic products. CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of patch testing for different cosmetic products was 1.07-4.41%. The effects of age, sex, and season vary among the different types of cosmetic products. We hope that these findings can offer guidance for a healthy skincare concept.

Analysis of factors influencing patch test reactions: Results from a large- population-based study in Chinese.

BACKGROUND: Patch test, as a helpful tool in clinic diagnosis and safety assessment of cosmetics, is affected by many factors. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the influencing factors of patch test reactions in a highly standardized large-scale dataset of Chinese. METHODS: Patch test data (n = 151,280) from safety assessments of cosmetic products were obtained following internationally standardized patch testing protocols during 2004-2017 in China. RESULTS: The frequency of patch test reactions was 1.45% (2,191/151,280), with majority of the reactions being "score 1" reactions (also known as doubtful reactions, n = 2,075) and a small number being "score 2" reactions (weak reactions, n = 116). Patch test reactions were 67% more frequent in winter (p < 0.001), associated with temperatures (p < 0.001), rather than relative humidity (P:0.29). The frequency of reactions was higher in men than in women (p:0.001), especially in winter. The risk to develop reactions clearly increased with age in women (p < 0.001), but not in men (p:0.14). In women, the frequency of reactions in the old group (≥50 years old) was 30% more than the young group (<30 years old). CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of patch test reactions to cosmetic products was 1.45% in our large-scale study. The influencing factors of patch test include season, sex, and age, which should be considered when conducting and interpreting patch testing.

Novel cannabidiol aspartame combination treatment (JW-100) significantly reduces ISGA score in atopic dermatitis: Results from a randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled interventional study.

BACKGROUND: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common and chronic inflammatory skin disease that erupts periodically. Although the negative impact of the disorder on overall quality of life has been well established, new treatments for AD are still needed. Various studies have reported on cannabidiol's effectiveness in relieving pain and easing inflammation while not presenting major health risks. AIMS: In this communication, we aim to demonstrate the effectiveness of a novel cannabidiol (CBD) and aspartame formulation, JW-100, in relieving signs and symptoms of AD. PATIENTS/METHODS: We conducted a double-blinded placebo-controlled interventional study randomizing patients to one of three treatment groups: JW-100 (CBD plus aspartame), CBD only, or placebo topical formulations. The Investigator's Static Global Assessment (ISGA) score was used to document any changes in AD resulting from the applied interventions at 14 days. RESULTS: Fifty-seven patients completed the trial and were included in the final analysis. The ISGA score of the patients at baseline was 2.56, 2.24, and 2.24, for the JW-100, CBD, and placebo groups, respectively. After two weeks of treatment, the ISGA score reduced by 1.28, 0.81, and 0.71, for the JW-100, CBD, and placebo groups, respectively. The JW-100 cohorts demonstrated statistically significant ISGA score reduction (p = 0.042). 50% of patients in the JW-100 group achieved ISGA score of clear or almost clear (0 or 1) with at least a 2-grade improvement from baseline after treatment (p = 0.028). Only 20% and 15% of patients in the CBD only and placebo groups reported ISGA score of clear or almost clear (0 or 1). CONCLUSIONS: JW-100, a novel topical formulation containing CBD and aspartame, was demonstrated to produce statistically significant improvements in AD following 14 days of topical application.

Evaluation and detection of early nail damage caused by nail enamel.

BACKGROUND: Many nail cosmetics have components that are considered irritants or allergens. Due to the current clinical assessment limitations, it is often too late to identify nail enamel hazards until they cause disease. Thus, it is essential to investigate effective methods of detecting minor changes and early lesions in nails before they worsen. OBJECTIVES: To provide a reliable method to investigate and evaluate nail enamel hazards on nails earlier using ultrasonic equipment. METHODS: Eighty-three volunteers with smooth, lustrous nails were enrolled after being clinically examined. The thumbnails and middle nails were evaluated before and after using nail enamel for 2 weeks. Nail health was then assessed using three methods: clinical evaluation, nail surface image analysis, and an ultrasonic device. RESULTS: Using clinical diagnostic and imaging methods for analyzing the nail surface showed no visible differences before and after using nail enamel for 2 weeks. However, there was a significant difference in the nails' depth and density (p < 0.001). The depth had increased 10% for thumbnails (about 20 µm), and the density had decreased by 3.0%. As for middle nails, the depth had increased by 9.4% (about 19 µm), and the density had decreased by 3.0%. CONCLUSION: The present study provided evidence that nail enamel can significantly irritate hyperplasia and decrease the density of the nails, but detecting that slow process of pathological changes cannot currently be assessed by conventional clinical evaluation and image analysis. Thus, our study provided a practical novel approach for evaluating these visually imperceptible nail changes.