Comparison of rheological properties between Mixolab-driven dough and bread-making dough under various salt levels.

The properties of wheat dough according to salt level and type of mixer were investigated, and parameters derived from each analysis were comprehensively compared. Mixolab analysis showed that water absorption decreased with salt level while the dough strength increased. In the Mixolab C2 stage, related with thermal strength, C2 temperature and time had stronger correlation with other dough strength parameters than C2 torque. Thickness increase of gluten strand was dominant in the doughs prepared by vertical mixer (VMD) than in those prepared by Mixolab device (MLD), for the same salt level. In large deformation, increase in resistance to extension by salt level was much greater in VMD than in MLD. In small deformation, relationships of salt level with G', G'' and power-law exponent (n) were linear and non-linear in MLD and VMD, respectively. Since MLD could not perfectly reflect VMD, properties of dough should be considered in multiple ways for its comprehensive understanding.

Daphne odora Exerts Depigmenting Effects via Inhibiting CREB/MITF and Activating AKT/ERK-Signaling Pathways.

Daphne odora, a blooming shrub, has been traditionally used for various medicinal purposes. However, information on its anti-melanogenic activity and dermal application is limited. In this study, the Daphne odora extract (DOE), with constituents including daphnetin, was used to investigate depigmenting activity and the underlying mechanism of Daphne odora. DOE inhibited in vitro and cellular tyrosinase activity in a dose-dependent manner, and reduced the α-MSH-induced melanin biosynthesis to a control level. The protein expressions of melanin synthesis-related enzymes were also significantly reduced by DOE. Moreover, DOE decreased the phosphorylation of cAMP-response element binding proteins (CREBs) induced by α-MSH in B16F10 cells, while it activated phosphorylated extra-cellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs) and protein kinase B (AKT) expression. These results suggest that DOE might inhibit the melanogenesis signaling pathways by activating ERK- and AKT-signaling pathways to regulate the expression of CREB and MITF and its downstream pathways. Therefore, DOE could potentially be developed as a depigmenting agent.

The Potential Anti-Photoaging Effect of Photodynamic Therapy Using Chlorin e6-Curcumin Conjugate in UVB-Irradiated Fibroblasts and Hairless Mice.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been used to treat cancers and non-malignant skin diseases. In this study, a chlorin e6-curcumin conjugate (Ce6-PEG-Cur), a combination of chlorin e6 (Ce6) and curcumin via a PEG linker, was used as a photosensitizer. The in vitro and in vivo effects of PDT using Ce6-PEG-Cur were analyzed in UVB-irradiated fibroblasts and hairless mice. The UVB-induced expression of MMPs was reduced in Hs68 fibroblast cells, and procollagen type Ⅰ expression was enhanced by Ce6-PEG-Cur-mediated PDT on a Western blotting gel. Moreover, UVB-induced collagen levels were restored upon application of Ce6-PEG-Cur-mediated PDT. Ce6-PEG-Cur-mediated PDT inhibited the expression of phosphorylated p38 in the MAPK signaling pathway, and it reduced the expression of phosphorylated NF-κB. In animal models, Ce6-PEG-Cur-mediated PDT inhibited the expression of MMPs, whereas procollagen type Ⅰ levels were enhanced in the dorsal skin of UVB-irradiated mice. Moreover, UVB-induced dorsal roughness was significantly reduced following Ce6-PEG-Cur-mediated PDT treatment. H&E staining and Masson's trichrome staining showed that the thickness of the epidermal region was reduced, and the density of collagen fibers increased. Taken together, Ce6-PEG-Cur-mediated PDT might delay and improve skin photoaging by ultraviolet light, suggesting its potential for use as a more effective photo-aging treatment.

Proteomic analysis of human follicular fluid from polycystic ovary syndrome patients.

Comparative proteomic profiling of human follicular fluid (HFF) from polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and non-PCOS patients who displayed low levels of fertility was carried out via two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) combined with mass spectrometry. HFF, an important reproductive fluid, was used for the proteomic analysis of PCOS patients to determine the effect of PCOS on folliculogenesis. HFF was obtained from 10 women (average age, 35 years) undergoing in vitro fertilization at two hospitals. The proteins of HFF were separated using 2-DE analysis and validated by Western blot assay. Approximately 250 protein spots were separated on the 2-DE gel. Among them, the expression levels of seven proteins were found to change at least 1.5-fold in the PCOS patient group. Three protein spots, albumin, uncharacterized protein 1, and uncharacterized protein 2, were downregulated in PCOS patients. However, four protein spots, gelsolin, vitamin D binding protein, serum albumin, and complement factor B, were upregulated in PCOS patient group. These proteins may serve as a panel of potential pathological biomarkers during fertilization and oocyte development.

Effects of Citrus Peel Hydrolysates on Retrogradation of Wheat Starch.

Retrogradation is the principal cause for bread staling and, therefore, it has attracted a lot of interest from the food industry. In this study, the inhibitory effect of citrus peel hydrolysates (CPH) on retrogradation of wheat starch (WS) in the presence of sucrose was investigated. The pasting properties showed that further addition of CPH caused a lower setback value than the addition of sucrose alone. Hardness of the gel, retrograded at 4 °C for five days, showed a similar tendency, which was reduced more in CPH addition than WS itself or sucrose addition alone. The low retrogradation enthalpy of the CPH including starch gel also indicated the positive effect of CPH on retarding retrogradation. These results suggested that incorporation of CPH in starch-based foods would be effective for inhibiting retrogradation, preventing the deterioration of the quality of food products.

Chlorin e6-mediated photodynamic therapy modulates adipocyte differentiation and lipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells.

BACKGROUND: Chlorin e6-mediated photodynamic therapy (Ce6-mediated PDT) is a therapeutic modality that consists of a photosensitizer, source of light at a suitable wavelength, and molecular oxygen. PDT has been widely used for the treatment of cancers and non-neoplastic disorders. However, information on the inhibitory activity of Ce6-mediated PDT on adipogenesis and lipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells is not available to date. METHODS: MTT assay, Oil Red O staining, and Nile red staining were used to investigate lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells to clarify adipocyte differentiation. The expression levels of various molecular signals associated with adipogenesis and lipogenesis were examined by RT-PCR and western blot analysis. RESULTS: Adipocyte differentiation and lipid accumulation were reduced by Ce6-mediated PDT in 3T3-L1 cells. Inhibition of the expression of PPAR-γ, C/EBPα, ß, δ, SREBP-1, FAS, and LPL and the activation of AMPK, revealed concise modulation of adipogenic and lipogenic molecules by Ce6-mediated PDT. The anti-adipogenic effect of Ce6-mediated PDT was reversed by AMPKα siRNA. CONCLUSION: Ce6-mediated PDT inhibits adipocyte differentiation and lipogenesis via regulating AMPK. Ce6-mediated PDT might serve as a potential therapy for the treatment of obesity and obesity-associated diseases.

Suppressive effects of dehydrocostus lactone on the toll-like receptor signaling pathways.

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are a group of pattern-recognition receptors (PRRs) that are at the core of innate and adaptive immune responses. TLRs activation triggers the activation of two downstream signaling pathways, the myeloid differential factor 88 (MyD88)- and toll-interleukin-1 receptor domain-containing adapter inducing interferon-ß (TRIF)-dependent pathways. To evaluate the therapeutic potential of DHL, a natural sesquiterpene lactone derived from Inulahelenium L. and Saussurea lappa, we examined its effect on signal transduction via the TLR signaling pathways. DHL inhibited the activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3), the representative transcription factors involved in the inflammatory response, induced by TLR agonists, as well as the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 and interferon inducible protein-10. DHL also inhibited the activation of NF-κB and IRF3 induced by the overexpression of downstream signaling components of the TLRs signaling pathways. All results suggest that DHL might become a new therapeutic drug for a variety of inflammatory diseases.

Effect of oligoarginine conjugation on the antiwrinkle activity and transdermal delivery of GHK peptide.

GHK (Gly-His-Lys), a natural peptide found in human skin and plasma, has been widely used in the cosmeceutical and pharmaceutical fields. The hydrophilic GHK and GHK-Cu are limited in their abilities to penetrate deeply into skin; because of this, various strategies for their skin delivery have been developed. In this investigation, Arg4 was conjugated with GHK to get heptapeptide, GHK-R4, and then in vitro antiwrinkle activity and transdermal delivery were compared between GHK and GHK-R4. Notably, Arg4 conjugation accelerated the cellular penetration of GHK both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, higher in vitro antiwrinkle activity and collagen biosynthesis was obtained with GHK-R4 at much lower doses than with control R4-free GHK. The enhanced activity and delivery of GHK-R4 might be due to the cell penetrating ability and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitory activity of R4 itself.

The Potential Roles of Extracellular Vesicles in Cigarette Smoke-Associated Diseases.

Cigarette smoke contains more than 4,500 chemicals; most of which are highly reactive free radicals, which induce proinflammatory and carcinogenic reactions. Numerous efforts have focused extensively on the role of cigarette smoking as a cause of many diseases. Extracellular vesicles and exosomes have recently received increasing interest for their diagnostic and therapeutic roles in many diseases. However, research done on the role of extracellular vesicles and exosomes on cigarette smoke-induced chronic disease is still in its infancy. In this review, we summarize the recently addressed roles of extracellular vesicles and exosomes in the pathogenesis of cigarette smoke-related diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiovascular disease, lung cancer, and oral cancer. Moreover, their potential utilization and future prospects as diagnostic biomarkers for cigarette smoke-related diseases are described.

Chlorin e6-mediated photodynamic therapy promotes collagen production and suppresses MMPs expression via modulating AP-1 signaling in P. acnes-stimulated HaCaT cells.

BACKGROUND: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a clinically approved therapeutic for cancers and non-neoplastic diseases, based on the use of a photosensitizer activated by light. The feasibility of PDT depends on several factors, such as PDT dose, photosensitizer efficacy, type of light source, and target tissue irradiated. METHODS: In this study, the second generation photosensitizer chlorin e6 (Ce6) and halogen light were used to investigate their PDT effect on the collagen production and MMPs expression of heat killed P. acnes-stimulated HaCaT cells. The mRNA levels of COL1A1, c-Jun, and c-Fos were detected by RT-PCR. The protein levels of MMPs, ERK and JNK were detected by western blot. The transactivation of AP-1 was detected by luciferase assay. RESULTS: Ce6-based PDT markedly upregulated the mRNA level of COL1A1 and type I procollagen level; and at the same time downregulated the expression of MMPs in P. acnes-infected HaCaT cells. Moreover, Ce6-mediated PDT, in a dose dependent manner, inhibited P. acnes-induced phosphorylation of JNK and ERK, as wells as the phosphorylation of their downstream targets c-Jun and c-Fos. P. acnes-induced mRNA expression of c-Jun and c-Fos were also suppressed by Ce6-mediated PDT. The transactivation of AP-1 induced by P. acnes infection was also downregulated. CONCLUSION: These results indicated that Ce6-mediated PDT with halogen light enhanced collagen production, but inhibited the expression of MMPs in P. acnes-infected HaCaT cells, by regulating AP-1 signals. This investigation provided the first molecular basis for the increase in collagen production by Ce6-mediated PDT, suggesting its potential use for scar amelioration and skin rejuvenation in acne treatment.

Chlorin e6-Mediated Photodynamic Therapy Suppresses P. acnes-Induced Inflammatory Response via NFκB and MAPKs Signaling Pathway.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT), consisting of photosensitizer, light, and oxygen has been used for the treatment of various diseases including cancers, microbial infections and skin disorders. In this study, we examined the anti-inflammatory effect of chlorin e6-mediated PDT in P. acnes-infected HaCaT cells using photosensitizer chlorin e6 (Ce6) and halogen light. The live and heat-killed P. acnes triggered an upregulation of inflammatory molecules such as iNOS, NO, and inflammatory cytokine in HaCaT cells and mouse model. Ce6-mediated PDT notably downregulated the expression of these inflammatory molecules in vitro and in vivo. Similarly, chlorin e6-mediated PDT was capable of regulating inflammatory response in both live and heat killed S. epidermidis exposed HaCaT cells. Moreover, phosphorylation of p38, JNK, and ERK were reduced by Ce6-mediated PDT. Ce6-mediated PDT also reduced the phosphorylation of IKKα/ß, IĸBα and NFκB p65 in P. acnes-stimulated HaCaT cells. In addition, the dramatic increase in the nuclear translocation of NFκB p65 observed upon stimulation with P. acnes was markedly impaired by Ce6-based PDT. This is the first suggestion that Ce6-mediated PDT suppresses P. acnes-induced inflammation through modulating NFκB and MAPKs signaling pathways.

The protective role of phytochemicals on TiO2 nanoparticles-induced DNA damage in lymphocytes.

The adverse health effect of nanoparticles is of concern for humans and environment. In the present study, TiO2-nanoparticles (TiO2-NPs)-induced oxidative DNA damage in lymphocytes was measured by comet assay. 80 mg ml-1 TiO2-NPs induced approximately 3-fold increase in DNA damage than in the PBS-control group as measured by olive tail moment. However, on treating vitamin C and N-acetylcysteine, DNA damage was effectively protected in a concentration dependent manner. Moreover, the protective effect of several phytochemicals including berberine, resveratrol, sulforaphane, and curcumin on DNA damage caused by TiO2-NPs was manifested. The increased olive tail moment induced by TiO2-NPs was effectively inhibited by treatment with these phytochemicals. Especially, olive tail moment of 5 mg ml-1 berberine-treated group was significantly reduced down to the level of control group, showing almost complete protection. Taken together, the protective effect of phytochemicals against DNA damage by TiO2-NPs may be applied for the development of antidote for TiO2 toxicity.