Keratin-mediated hair growth and its underlying biological mechanism.

Here we show that intradermal injection of keratin promotes hair growth in mice, which results from extracellular interaction of keratin with hair forming cells. Extracellular application of keratin induces condensation of dermal papilla cells and the generation of a P-cadherin-expressing cell population (hair germ) from outer root sheath cells via keratin-mediated microenvironmental changes. Exogenous keratin-mediated hair growth is reflected by the finding that keratin exposure from transforming growth factor beta 2 (TGFß2)-induced apoptotic outer root sheath cells appears to be critical for dermal papilla cell condensation and P-cadherin-expressing hair germ formation. Immunodepletion or downregulation of keratin released from or expressed in TGFß2-induced apoptotic outer root sheath cells negatively influences dermal papilla cell condensation and hair germ formation. Our pilot study provides an evidence on initiating hair regeneration and insight into the biological function of keratin exposed from apoptotic epithelial cells in tissue regeneration and development.

Inactivation of Airborne Avian Pathogenic E. coli (APEC) via Application of a Novel High-Pressure Spraying System.

Infectious diseases of livestock caused by novel pathogenic viruses and bacteria are a major threat to global animal health and welfare and their effective control is crucial for agronomic health and for securing global food supply. It has been widely recognized that the transmission of infectious agents can occur between people and/or animals in indoor spaces. Therefore, infection control practices are critical to reduce the transmission of the airborne pathogens. ViKiller®-high-pressure sprayer and Deger®-disinfectant are newly developed spraying systems that can produce an optimal size of disinfectants to reduce airborne microbes. The system was evaluated to reduce the infection caused by avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC), an airborne bacterium which survives in indoor spaces. pH-neutral electrolyzed water (NEW) containing 100 ppm of free chlorine, laboratory-scale chambers, a recently developed sprayer, and a conventional sprayer were used in the study. A total of 123 day-of-hatch male layer chicks (Hy-Line W-36) were randomly classified into five groups (negative control (NC): no treatment; treatment 1 (Trt 1): spraying only NEW without APEC; treatment 2 (Trt 2): spraying NEW + APEC using a high-pressure sprayer; treatment 3 (Trt 3): spraying NEW + APEC using a conventional sprayer; positive control (PC): spraying only APEC). Experimental chicks in the chambers were daily exposed to 50 mL of NEW and/or APEC (1.0 × 106 cfu/mL) until the end of the experiment (day 35). APEC strains were sprayed by ViKiller®. At least four chicks in each group were evaluated weekly to monitor APEC infection and determine the lesion. Data showed that our spraying system significantly reduced airborne APEC concentrations, mortality rate, respiratory infection, and APEC lesions in birds in the chamber space (p < 0.05). The results demonstrate that the antibacterial effect of the novel spraying sprayer with NEW on APEC was far superior compared to the conventional sprayer. This study provides a new insight for preventive measures against airborne microorganisms in indoor spaces.

Highly bioavailable curcumin powder suppresses articular cartilage damage in rats with mono-iodoacetate (MIA)-induced osteoarthritis.

This study was performed to investigate the effects of highly bioavailable curcumin as Theracurmin® (TC) in rats with monosodium iodoacetate (MIA)-induced osteoarthritis (OA). Seventy-seven male Wistar rats were divided into six groups: normal, negative control (MIA only), positive control (Cerebrex), and three experimental groups treated with 500, 1300, or 2600 mg/kg of TC for 5 weeks. MIA injection-induced OA caused 30% weight-bearing imbalance whereas weight bearing imbalance was significantly improved in the TC groups. Mankin scores revealed TC treatment had significantly ameliorated cartilage damage and chondrocyte decrease. The expressions of nitrotyrosine, tumor necrosis factor-α, phosphorylated nuclear factor kappa B cells, and cleaved caspase-3 were markedly increased in rat with MIA-induced OA, but the TC-treated groups exhibited a significant reduction in the number of immunoreactive cells in a dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, administration of TC contributes to the anti-arthritic effect in rat with MIA-induced OA.

Preclinical studies of ropivacaine extended-release from a temperature responsive hydrogel for prolonged relief of pain at the surgical wound.

Postoperative pain is a common form of acute pain that has been treated commonly by local anesthetics through regional nerve blocking. In this study, a series of experiments were conducted using rats to investigate the pharmacokinetic, distribution, and efficacy of a temperature responsive hydrogel-based drug delivery device (PF-72) containing ropivacaine (0.75%) for extended relief of postoperative pain by allowing the prolonged release of ropivacaine. When the ropivacaine was administered using PF-72, its concentration-time curve (AUClast) and peak concentration (Cmax) were 577.0 h*ng/mL and 271.9 ng/mL, respectively. In contrast when the ropivacaine solution was administered using saline solution, its AUClast and Cmax were 982.8 h*ng/mL and 423.6 ng/mL, respectively. In the tissue distribution study, the peak concentration and mean area under the curve of the ropivacaine in injection area (target tissue) were found about 2-fold higher in the case of PF-72 compared with the case of conventional ropivacaine solution. These results clearly demonstrate the capability of PF-72 hydrogel to retain the ropivacaine at the injection site for an extended period. Effective extended (at least 24 h) pain relief of ropivacaine administered using PF-72 was found in the pharmacodynamic study of prolonged analgesic effect. The results of this study indicated that local drug delivery by PF-72 hydrogel formulation may be an effective method to achieve extended relief of pain. Other advantages of ropivacaine administration using PF-72 include reduced systemic side effects and high localization of a drug in target tissues.

Cervicogenic vertigo treated by c1 transverse foramen decompression : a case report.

Cervicogenic vertigo was known as Bow hunter's syndrome. Occlusion of vertebral artery causes vertebrobasilar insufficiency and we reported cervicogenic vertigo case which was treated by simple decompression of transverse foramen of C1. The patient was 48 years old female who had left side dominant vertebral artery and vertigo was provoked when she rotated her head to right side. Angiography showed complete obliteration of blood flow of left vertebral artery when her head was rotated to right side. The operation was decompression of left vertebral artery at C1 level. Posterior wall of transverse foramen was resected and vertebral artery was exposed and decompressed. After surgery, vertigo of the patient was disappeared, and angiography showed patent left vertebral artery when her head was rotated to right side. Vertigo caused by compression of cervical vertebral artery could be treated by decompression without fusion or instrumentation, especially in C1 transverse foramen.

Granular cell tumor of brachial plexus mimicking nerve sheath tumor: a case report.

Primary tumors of the brachial plexus region are rare and granular cell tumors arising from the brachial plexus region is an extremely rare disease. We present a case of granular cell tumor arising from of the brachial plexus which appeared to be a usual presentation of nerve sheath tumor before the pathological confirmation. We report a granular cell tumor of the brachial plexus with literature review. Total resection is important for good clinical outcome and prognosis in the treatment of granular cell tumor.

Therapeutic effect of gamma knife radiosurgery for multiple brain metastases.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the therapeutic effects of gamma knife radiosurgery (GKRS) in patients with multiple brain metastases and to investigate prognostic factors related to treatment outcome. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed clinico-radiological and dosimetric data of 36 patients with 4-14 brain metastases who underwent GKRS for 264 lesions between August 2008 and April 2011. The most common primary tumor site was the lung (n=22), followed by breast (n=7). At GKRS, the median Karnofsky performance scale score was 90 and the mean tumor volume was 1.2 cc (0.002-12.6). The mean prescription dose of 17.8 Gy was delivered to the mean 61.1% isodose line. Among 264 metastases, 175 lesions were assessed for treatment response by at least one imaging follow-up. RESULTS: The overall median survival after GKRS was 9.1±1.7 months. Among various factors, primary tumor control was a significant prognostic factor (11.1±1.3 months vs. 3.3±2.4 months, p=0.031). The calculated local tumor control rate at 6 and 9 months after GKRS were 87.9% and 84.2%, respectively. Paddick's conformity index (>0.75) was significantly related to local tumor control. The actuarial peritumoral edema reduction rate was 22.4% at 6 months. CONCLUSION: According to our results, GKRS can provide beneficial effect for the patients with multiple (4 or more) brain metastases, when systemic cancer is controlled. And, careful dosimetry is essential for local tumor control. Therefore, GKRS can be considered as one of the treatment modalities for multiple brain metastase.

Estimation of the rate of increase in nitrogen dioxide concentrations from power plant stacks using an imaging-DOAS.

The emission of nitrogen compounds from power plants accounts for a significant proportion of the total emissions of nitrogen to the atmosphere. This study seeks to understand the nature of chemical reactions in the atmosphere involving nitrogen, which is important in undertaking quantitative assessments of the contribution of such reactions to local and regional air pollution. The slant column density (SCD) of power-plant-generated NO(2) was derived using imaging differential optical absorption spectroscopy (I-DOAS) with scattered sunlight as a light source. The vertical structure of NO(2) SCD from power plant stacks was simultaneously probed using a pushbroom sensor. Measured SCDs were converted to mixing ratios in calculating the rate of NO(2) increase at the center of the plume. This study presents quantitative measurements of the rate of NO(2) increase in a rising plume. An understanding of the rate of NO(2) increase is important because SO(2) and NO(x) compete for the same oxidizing radicals, and the amount of NO(x) is related to the rates of SO(2) oxidation and sulfate formation. This study is the first to directly obtain the rate of NO(2) increase in power plant plumes using the I-DOAS technique. NO(2) increase rates of 60 and 70 ppb s(-1) were observed at distances of about 45 m from the two stacks of the Pyeongtaek Power Plant, northwest South Korea.

Spatial and temporal variations in NO(2) distributions over Beijing, China measured by imaging differential optical absorption spectroscopy.

During the CAREBEIJING campaign in 2006, imaging differential optical absorption spectroscopy (I-DOAS) measurements were made from 08:00 to 16:00 on September 9 and 10 over Beijing, China. Detailed images of the near-surface NO(2) differential slant column density (DSCD) distribution over Beijing were obtained. Images with less than a 30-min temporal resolution showed both horizontal and vertical variations in NO(2) distributions. For DSCD to mixing ratio conversion, path length along the lines of I-DOAS lines of sight was estimated using the light-extinction coefficient and Angstrom exponent data obtained by a transmissometer and a sunphotometer, respectively. Mixing ratios measured by an in-situ NO(2) analyzer were compared with those estimated by the I-DOAS instrument. The obtained temporal and spatial variations in NO(2) distributions measured by I-DOAS for the two days are interpreted with consideration of the locations of the major NO(x) sources and local wind conditions. I-DOAS measurements have been applied in this study for estimating NO(2) distribution over an urban area with multiple and distributed emission sources. Results are obtained for estimated temporal and spatial NO(2) distributions over the urban atmosphere; demonstrating the capability of the I-DOAS technique. We discuss in this paper the use of I-DOAS measurements to estimate the NO(2) distribution over an urban area with multiple distributed emission sources.

Chemoprevention of 4-NQO-induced oral carcinogenesis by co-administration of all-trans retinoic acid loaded microspheres and celecoxib.

All-trans retinoic acid (atRA) is one of the most potential chemopreventive agents for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). However, the induced metabolism of atRA by cytochrome P450s in the liver limits its clinical applications. To overcome such limitation, we had developed atRA-loaded microspheres designed to release atRA for a long period. Unfortunately, the atRA-loaded microspheres severely induced inflammatory responses: that is, atRA released from the microspheres significantly induced the proliferation of fibroblasts and collagen deposition, thereby causing a permeability barrier for drugs from entering the blood stream. In the present study, the effects of celecoxib as an anti-inflammatory drug are investigated when it is concurrently used with atRA-loaded microspheres to treat 4-NQO-induced oral carcinogenesis. We investigated if it might influence the plasma concentration of atRA and its metabolism by preventing the fibroblast proliferation and collagen deposition, reduce the toxicity level of atRA, and improve the chemopreventive efficacy of atRA-loaded microspheres. The concurrently administered celecoxib prevented inflammatory responses and suppressed the number of fibroblasts and collagen deposition in the fibrous capsules for 14 days. The atRA concentration in plasma was also increased and the metabolism of atRA was significantly decreased within 2 weeks. In the 4-NQO-induced oral carcinogenesis study, the incidence of invasive SCC was above 44% when F344 rats were treated with atRA-loaded microspheres. However, the treatment using atRA-loaded microspheres and celecoxib concurrently could reduce the incidence of invasive SCC up to 28%, and three of 25 rats were found to have no tongue lesions. In conclusion, the concurrent use of celecoxib could maintain the atRA concentration in plasma at a higher level while reducing its metabolism by preventing inflammatory responses, thereby improving their chemopreventive effects against 4-NQO-induced oral carcinogenesis.