Oxidative Stress-Protective and Anti-Melanogenic Effects of Loliolide and Ethanol Extract from Fresh Water Green Algae, Prasiola japonica.

Loliolide is a monoterpenoid hydroxylactone found in many algae, including fresh water green algae, Prasiola japonica. To date, loliolide and compounds in P. japonica have not been studied systematically with respect to skin pharmacology. In this study, we investigated oxidative stress-protective and anti-melanogenic effects of loliolide and P. japonica ethanol extract (Pj-EE), known to contain loliolide, in human keratinocyte (HaCaT) cells and mouse melanoma (B16F10) cells. Loliolide suppressed the transcription of genes encoding matrix metalloproteinases (MMPS), which were induced in HaCaT cells by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) treatment. Loliolide and Pj-EE not only reduced the melanin secretion and content in B16F10 cells but also increased the expression of the antioxidant proteins nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (NRF2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in HaCaT cells subjected to H2O2 treatment. Furthermore, loliolide and Pj-EE decreased expression of the anti-melanogenic protein microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) and tyrosinase in B16F10 cells subjected to α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) treatment. Our findings demonstrate that loliolide and Pj-EE have antioxidant and anti-melanogenic effects on skin.

Single Image Super-Resolution Using Global Regression Based on Multiple Local Linear Mappings.

Super-resolution (SR) has become more vital, because of its capability to generate high-quality ultra-high definition (UHD) high-resolution (HR) images from low-resolution (LR) input images. Conventional SR methods entail high computational complexity, which makes them difficult to be implemented for up-scaling of full-high-definition input images into UHD-resolution images. Nevertheless, our previous super-interpolation (SI) method showed a good compromise between Peak-Signal-to-Noise Ratio (PSNR) performances and computational complexity. However, since SI only utilizes simple linear mappings, it may fail to precisely reconstruct HR patches with complex texture. In this paper, we present a novel SR method, which inherits the large-to-small patch conversion scheme from SI but uses global regression based on local linear mappings (GLM). Thus, our new SR method is called GLM-SI. In GLM-SI, each LR input patch is divided into 25 overlapped subpatches. Next, based on the local properties of these subpatches, 25 different local linear mappings are applied to the current LR input patch to generate 25 HR patch candidates, which are then regressed into one final HR patch using a global regressor. The local linear mappings are learned cluster-wise in our off-line training phase. The main contribution of this paper is as follows: Previously, linear-mapping-based conventional SR methods, including SI only used one simple yet coarse linear mapping to each patch to reconstruct its HR version. On the contrary, for each LR input patch, our GLM-SI is the first to apply a combination of multiple local linear mappings, where each local linear mapping is found according to local properties of the current LR patch. Therefore, it can better approximate nonlinear LR-to-HR mappings for HR patches with complex texture. Experiment results show that the proposed GLM-SI method outperforms most of the state-of-the-art methods, and shows comparable PSNR performance with much lower computational complexity when compared with a super-resolution method based on convolutional neural nets (SRCNN15). Compared with the previous SI method that is limited with a scale factor of 2, GLM-SI shows superior performance with average 0.79 dB higher in PSNR, and can be used for scale factors of 3 or higher.

Low Temperature Synthesis of Fluorine-Doped Tin Oxide Transparent Conducting Thin Film by Spray Pyrolysis Deposition.

Transparent conducting oxide (TCO) is widely used for the application of flat panel display like liquid crystal displays and plasma display panel. It is also applied in the field of touch panel, solar cell electrode, low-emissivity glass, defrost window, and anti-static material. Fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) thin films were fabricated by spray pyrolysis of ethanol-added FTO precursor solutions. FTO thin film by spray pyrolysis is very much investigated and normally formed at high temperature, about 500 degrees C. However, these days, flexible electronics draw many attentions in the field of IT industry and the research for flexible transparent conducting thin film is also required. In the industrial field, indium-tin oxide (ITO) film on polymer substrate is widely used for touch panel and displays. In this study, we investigated the possibility of FTO thin film formation at relatively low temperature of 250 degrees C. We found out that the control of volume of input precursor and exhaust gases could make it possible to form FTO thin film with a relatively low electrical resistance, less than 100 Ohm/sq and high optical transmittance about 88%.

Valorization of electric arc furnace primary steelmaking slags for cement applications.

To produce supplementary cementitious materials from electric arc furnace (EAF) slags, FeO was reduced using a two-stage reduction process that included an Al-dross reduction reaction followed by direct carbon reduction. A decrease in FeO was observed on tapping after the first-stage reduction, and further reduction with a stirred carbon rod in the second-stage reduction resulted in final FeO content below 5wt%, which is compatible with cement clinker applications. The reduced electric arc furnace slags (REAFS) mixed with cement at a unit ratio exhibited physical properties comparable to those of commercialized ground granulated blast furnace slags (GGBFS). Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) was used to obtain fundamental information on the cooling characteristics and conditions required to obtain amorphous REAFS. REAFS can be applied in cement mixtures to achieve the hydraulic properties needed for commercial use.

Different effects of clopidogrel and clarithromycin on the enantioselective pharmacokinetics of sibutramine and its active metabolites in healthy subjects.

In this study, we assessed the effects of clopidogrel and clarithromycin, known CYP2B6 and CYP3A inhibitors, respectively, on the enantioselective disposition of racemic sibutramine in conjunction with CYP2B6 polymorphisms in humans. Sibutramine showed enantioselective plasma profiles with consistently higher concentrations of R-enantiomers. Clopidogrel and clarithromycin significantly increased the sibutramine plasma concentration, but their effects differed between enantiomers; a 2.2-fold versus 4.1-fold increase in the AUC in S-enantiomer and 1.8-fold versus 2.0-fold for the R-enantiomer, respectively. The AUCs of S- and R-desmethyl metabolites changed significantly during the clopidogrel phase (P < .001 and P < .001, respectively) but not during the clarithromycin phase (P = .099 and P = .090, respectively). Exposure to sibutramine was higher in subjects with the CYP2B6*6/*6 genotype, but no statistical difference was observed among the CYP2B6 genotypes. These results suggest that the enantioselective disposition of sibutramine and its active metabolites are influenced by the altered genetic and environmental factors of CYP2B6 and CYP3A activity in vivo.

The virological response in Koreans infected with HCV genotype 1 did not differ between groups treated with a full dose or reduced dose (≥80 % full dose) of peginterferon alfa-2a: a prospective randomized multicenter trial.

PURPOSE: A high rate of sustained viral response (SVR) in Koreans with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) is related to a favorable IL28B genotype. We compared two dosing strategies for peginterferon alfa-2a in Koreans with CHC and defined the combined effect of polymorphisms and dosing on the virological response. METHODS: A total of 178 treatment-naïve patients with CHC genotype 1 were prospectively enrolled. All patients were randomly assigned to treatment with one of two peginterferon alfa-2a regimens: 180 µg per week for 48 weeks (full-dose group) or 180 µg per week during the first 12 weeks followed by 135 µg per week for the next 36 weeks (dose-reduction group). Polymorphisms related to IL28B, ITPA, C20orf194 and SLC29A1 were studied. RESULTS: SVR rates did not differ between the full-dose and dose-reduction groups (56.5 and 51.2 %, respectively, p = 0.474). The frequency of additional reductions of the peginterferon dose because of adverse events was higher in the full-dose group than in the dose-reduction group. SVR rates in patients homozygous for the IL28B major allele were higher than those in patients for the other IL28B alleles. For patients with unfavorable IL28B genotypes, SVR was less likely to be achieved in the dose-reduction group than in the full-dose group. CONCLUSIONS: In Koreans with HCV genotype 1, the virological response to treatment did not differ between a full dose and reduced dose (≥80 % of full dose) of peginterferon alfa-2a. However, in the patients with unfavorable IL28B genotypes, the full-dose treatment of peginterferon alfa-2a may be beneficial.

Alternative therapeutic advantages of catfish bile on atopic dermatitis: protection of T cell-mediated skin disease via antioxidant activities.

OBJECTIVES: In the present study, we aimed to examine the anti-atopic properties of bile from the cat fish, Silurus asotus, to determine its possible use as a pharmaceutical product. METHODS: The anti-atopic activities of cat fish bile were examined in a non-cell antioxidant, in-vitro assay (splenocytes and mast cells) and a 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB)-induced atopic dermatitis-like mouse model. RESULTS: The results of these experiments revealed that Silurus asotus bile (SAB) scavenges radicals and protects proteins from superoxide attacks, suggesting that SAB suppresses the T helper (Th) type 2-skewed immune response. Th1/Th2 mRNA cytokines (interleukin (IL)-2, interferon (IFN)-γ and IL-4) from mouse splenocytes were effectively inhibited, and the release of ß-hexosaminidase in RBL-2H3 mast cells was significantly suppressed by SAB. These results were supported by screening the Th1/Th2 cytokine mRNAs (IL-2, IFN-γ and IL-4) from lymph nodes in DNCB-treated mice. More dramatic results were observed in the histological changes at higher SAB concentrations (5%) compared to the therapeutic control, visualized using hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining. CONCLUSIONS: The results presented in this study suggest that SAB may provide functional advantages with regard to treating atopic dermatitis because of its antioxidant and immune-suppressive effects.

Molecular Mechanism of Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA)-induced Target Organ Toxicity in Sprague-Dawley Male Rats.

Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) are present in many consumer products ranging from fabrics to plastics and electronics. Wide use of flame retardants can pose an environmental hazard, which makes it important to determine the mechanism of their toxicity. In the present study, dose-dependent toxicity of tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), a flame retardant, was examined in male prepubertal rats (postnatal day 18) treated orally with TBBPA at 0, 125, 250 or 500 mg/kg for 30 days. There were no differences in body weight gain between the control and TBBPA-treated groups. However, absolute and relative liver weights were significantly increased in high dose of TBBPA-treated groups. TBBPA treatment led to significant induction of CYP2B1 and constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) expression in the liver. In addition, serum thyroxin (T4) concentration was significantly reduced in the TBBPA treated group. These results indicate that repeated exposure to TBBPA induces drug-metabolising enzymes in rats through the CAR signaling pathway. In particular, TBBPA efficiently produced reactive oxygen species (ROS) through CYP2B1 induction in rats. We measured 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), a biomarker of DNA oxidative damage, in the kidney, liver and testes of rats following TBBPA treatment. As expected, TBBPA strongly induced the production of 8-OHdG in the testis and kidney. These observations suggest that TBBPA-induced target organ toxicity may be due to ROS produced by metabolism of TBBPA in Sprague- Dawley rats.

Evaluation of liver and thyroid toxicity in Sprague-Dawley rats after exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ether BDE-209.

Our goal in the present study was to evaluate whether decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209), which is the most abundant polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) found in human samples, affects against target organs. Sprague-Dawley male rats were exposed to vehicle or BDE-209 (100, 300, or 600 mg/kg body weight, daily) from postnatal day (PND) 10 to PND 42. There was no significant difference in body and male reproductive organ weight changes compared with controls. However, liver, thyroid and adrenal gland weights were significantly increased in the high-dose of BDE-209 group. BDE-209 significantly induced the expression of cytochrome P450 (CYP1A2, CYP3A1, and CYP2B1) enzymes in the liver. Furthermore, constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) and pregnane xenobiotic receptor (PXR) expression levels were also increased in a dose-dependent manner. Total serum triiodothyronine (T3) concentration was significantly reduced in a dose-dependent manner, whereas the level of thyroid-stimulating hormone was significantly increased with BDE-209 treatment. In the histological findings, multiple areas of degenerated follicular epithelium and slight attenuation of the follicular epithelium were observed in the thyroid glands by high doses (300 and 600 mg/kg) of BDE-209 treatment. The presence of hepatocytic fatty degeneration and inflammatory foci were also observed in the 300 and 600 mg/kg of BDE-209 group. These findings demonstrate that BDE-209 induces hyperthyroidism and hepatotoxicity. In the future, further research is needed to determine the relationship between target organ toxicity and blood concentrations of BDE-209.

A new stilbene glucoside gallate from the roots of Polygonum multiflorum.

A new stilbenoid (1) was isolated from the root extract of Polygonum multiflorum together with eight known constituents (2-9). The chemical structure of 1 was established as the 6''-O-monogalloyl ester of (E)-2,3,4',5-beta-tetrahydroxystilbene-2-beta-D-glucopyranoside based on physicochemical and spectroscopic analyses, particularly by NMR spectroscopic data, i.e., COSY, HMQC and HMBC. Compound 1 weakly inhibited acetylcholinesterase in vitro.

Anti-acne activity of Selaginella involvens extract and its non-antibiotic antimicrobial potential on Propionibacterium acnes.

Acne is a typical condition of adolescence and is caused by multi-factorial events including hormonal, microbiological and immunological mechanisms. Although there has been much debate about the direct involvement of bacteria, Propionibacterium acnes is now believed to contribute to the inflammatory stages of the condition, and thus initiate the inflamed lesion. The present study examined the anti-acne properties of the Selaginella involvens extract (SIE) in cell models. Primarily, SIE was not found to be cytotoxic under 50 microg/mL, and revealed the inhibitory effect on both nitric oxide (NO) production and iNOS/IL-1beta expression as well as the NO scavenging effect. The IL-1alpha and IL-8 cytokines, triggering the inflammatory acne response, were also inhibited in keratinocytes when stimulated with viable P. acnes. Furthermore, SIE was found to have an antioxidant effect in a dose-dependent manner in the hydroxyl radical-mediated oxidation test. Finally, it was found that SIE has non-antibiotic antimicrobial activity at a dose greater than 100 microg/mL on P. acnes. In conclusion, SIE may be a safe non-antibiotic anti-acne source in the therapeutic application of the treatment of acne development by reducing the chance of non-specific initiation and augmentation phase of the inflammatory response.