Influence of cosmetic foundation cream on skin condition during treadmill exercise.

BACKGROUND: There is a growing trend of individuals wearing cosmetics while participating in physical activities. Nonetheless, there remains a need for further understanding regarding the effects of makeup on the facial epidermis during exercise, given the existing knowledge gaps. PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a cosmetic foundation cream on skin conditions during physical activity. METHODS: Forty-three healthy college students, 20 males (26.3 ± 1.5 years) and 23 females (23.1 ± 1.0 years), were enrolled in this study. Foundation cream was applied to participants on half of the face in two different areas (MT: makeup T zone and MU: makeup U zone). The other half of the face served as internal control (T: non-makeup T zone and U: non-makeup U zones). Skin levels of moisture, elasticity, pore, sebum, and oil were measured using a skin analysis device (Aramhuvis, Gyeonggi, Republic of Korea) before and after a 20-min treadmill exercise. Paired t-test and independent t-test were performed for skin condition measurements at pre- and postexercise. RESULTS: The skin moisture levels in both the T and MT significantly increased after exercise (p < 0.05) (pre-T: 24.5 ± 1.3, post-T: 38.5 ± 3.5 and pre-MT: 18.7 ± 0.7, post-MT: 40.4 ± 4.8). Elasticity also significantly improved in both the T and MT (p < 0.05) (pre-T: 25.6 ± 1.3, post-T: 41.5 ± 3.5 and pre-MT: 20.0 ± 0.9, post-MT: 41.7 ± 3.7). The size of the pores in the T zone observed a significant increase after exercise (p < 0.05) (pre-T: 41.7 ± 2.1, post-T: 47.8 ± 2.4). The sebum levels in the T zone exhibited a reduction following physical activity, whereas there was a notable increase in sebum levels in the makeup zones (p < 0.05) (pre-MT: 2.4 ± 0.7, post-MT:4.2 ± 0.8 and pre MU 1.8 ± 0.34, post MU 4.9 ± 0.9). The oil level was increased in the non-makeup zones (pre-T: 6.1 ± 1.4, post-T: 11.8 ± 2.0 and pre-U: 7.3 ± 1.5, post-U: 11.9 ± 1.9; p < 0.05) and decreased in the makeup zones (pre-MT: 13.3 ± 1.9, post-MT: 7.4 ± 2.3 and pre-MU: 22.1 ± 2.4, post-MU: 3.2 ± 1.0; p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that using foundation cream during aerobic exercise can reduce skin oil, causing dryness. Additionally, makeup can clog pores and increase sebum production. Therefore, wearing makeup may not be recommended for people with dry skin conditions based on the results of the current study. This research offers important insights to the public, encouraging them to consider the possible consequences of using makeup while exercising.

The effects of treadmill exercise on brain angiogenesis in ovariectomized rats.

Menopause is associated with vascular dysfunction attributed to reduced estrogen levels. Exercise has been proposed to promote angiogenesis and vascular dysfunction. However, studies of brain angiogenesis during menopause are limited. We analyzed the effects of exercise on angiogenesis-related factors in menopausal rat model. Twenty-week-old female Sprague-Dawley rats (N = 18) were randomly divided into a normal control group (N, n = 6), an ovariectomized control group (OVX, n = 6), and an ovariectomy + exercise group (OVX-EX, n = 6). Treadmill exercises were conducted in the OVX-EX group for 8 weeks (15-60 m/min, 1 h/day, and 5 days/week). The current study showed that the expression of angiogenesis-related factors (platelet-derived growth factor subunit A, B, vascular endothelial growth factor, angiopoietin 1, and angiopoietin 2) significantly decreased in the cortex of the OVX group. However, these factors were significantly restored in the cortex of the OVX-EX group after 8 weeks of treadmill exercise. In summary, estrogen deficiency causes vascular dysfunction by inhibiting the expression of angiogenesis-related factors. However, exercise can restore angiogenesis-related factors in OVX rats. Exercise eventually prevents vascular dysfunction in the brain and may help prevent cognitive dysfunction in menopausal women.

Improvement of Cognitive Function by Fermented Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer Berries Extracts in an AF64A-Induced Memory Deficit Model.

This study investigated the potential therapeutic properties of fermented ginseng berry extract (GBE) for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Fermented GBE was examined for its ginsenoside content and physiological properties, which have been suggested to have neuroprotective effects and improve cognitive function. The results showed that fermented GBE contains high levels of major active ginsenosides and exhibits antioxidant and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities. Post-fermented GBE demonstrated therapeutic potential in AF64A-induced damaged neural stem cells and an animal model of AD. These findings suggest that fermented GBE may hold promise as a candidate for developing new therapeutic interventions for memory deficits and cognitive disorders associated with AD and other neurodegenerative conditions. However, further studies are needed to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of fermented GBE in human subjects and to determine its clinical applications. In conclusion, our study provides evidence that fermented GBE has potential as a natural product for the prevention and treatment of AD. The high levels of active ginsenosides and antioxidant and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities of fermented GBE suggest that it may be a promising therapeutic agent for improving cognitive function and reducing neurodegeneration.

The Neuroprotective Effects of Exosomes Derived from TSG101-Overexpressing Human Neural Stem Cells in a Stroke Model.

Although tissue-type plasminogen activator was approved by the FDA for early reperfusion of occluded vessels, there is a need for an effective neuroprotective drug for stroke patients. In this study, we established tumor susceptibility gene (TSG)101-overexpressing human neural stem cells (F3.TSG) and investigated whether they showed enhanced secretion of exosomes and whether treatment with exosomes during reperfusion alleviated ischemia-reperfusion-mediated brain damage. F3.TSG cells secreted higher amounts of exosomes than the parental F3 cells. In N2A cells subjected to oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD), treatment with exosomes or coculture with F3.TSG cells significantly attenuated lactate dehydrogenase release, the mRNA expression of proinflammatory factors, and the protein expression of DNA-damage-related proteins. In a middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) rat model, treatment with exosomes, F3 cells, or F3.TSG cells after 2 h of occlusion followed by reperfusion reduced the infarction volume and suppressed inflammatory cytokines, DNA-damage-related proteins, and glial fibrillary acidic protein, and upregulated several neurotrophic factors. Thus, TSG101-overexpressing neural stem cells showed enhanced exosome secretion; exosome treatment protected against MCAO-induced brain damage via anti-inflammatory activities, DNA damage pathway inhibition, and growth/trophic factor induction. Therefore, exosomes and F3.TSG cells can affect neuroprotection and functional recovery in acute stroke patients.

Improvement of Cognitive Function in Ovariectomized Rats by Human Neural Stem Cells Overexpressing Choline Acetyltransferase via Secretion of NGF and BDNF.

Menopause is associated with memory deficits attributed to reduced serum estrogen levels. We evaluated whether an increase in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve-growth factor (NGF) levels, through transplantation of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT)-overexpressing neural stem cells (F3.ChAT), improved learning and memory in ovariectomized rats. PD13 mouse neuronal primary culture cells were treated with estradiol or co-cultured with F3.ChAT cells; choline transporter1 (CHT1), ChAT, and vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT) expression was evaluated using real-time PCR. The relationship between estrogen receptors (ERs) and neurotrophin family members was analyzed using immunohistochemistry. After the transplantation of F3.ChAT cells into OVx rats, we evaluated the memory, ACh level, and the expression of ER, neurotrophin family proteins, and cholinergic system. Estradiol upregulated CHT1, ChAT, and VAChT expression in ER; they were co-localized with BDNF, NGF, and TrkB. Co-culture with F3.ChAT upregulated CHT1, ChAT, and VAChT by activating the neurotrophin signalling pathway. Transplantation of F3.ChAT cells in OVX animals increased the ACh level in the CSF and improved memory deficit. In addition, it increased the expression of ERs, neurotrophin signaling, and the cholinergic system in the brains of OVX animals. Therefore, the estradiol deficiency induced memory loss by the down-regulation of the neurotrophin family and F3.ChAT could ameliorate the cognitive impairment owing to the loss or reduction of estradiol.

Stamina-Enhancing Effects of Human Adipose-Derived Stem Cells.

Stamina-enhancing effects of human adipose derived stem cells (hADSCs) were investigated in young Sprague-Dawley rats. Ten-day-old male rats were transplanted intravenously (IV) or intracerebroventricularly (ICV) with hADSCs (1 × 106 cells/rat), and physical activity was measured by locomotor activity and rota-rod performance at post-natal day (PND) 14, 20, 30, and 40, as well as a forced swimming test at PND 41. hADSCs injection increased the moving time in locomotor activity, the latency in rota-rod performance, and the maximum swimming time. For the improvement of physical activity, ICV transplantation was superior to IV injection. In biochemical analyses, ICV transplantation of hADSCs markedly reduced serum creatine phosphokinase, lactate dehydrogenase, alanine transaminase, and muscular lipid peroxidation, the markers for muscular and hepatic injuries, despite the reduction in muscular glycogen and serum triglycerides as energy sources. Notably, hADSCs secreted brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor in vitro, and increased the level of BDNF in the brain and muscles in vivo. The results indicate that hADSCs enhance physical activity including stamina not only by attenuating tissue injury, but also by strengthening the muscles via production of BDNF.

Pharmaceutical Advantages of GenoTX-407, A Combination of Extracts from Scutellaria baicalensis Root and Magnolia officinalis Bark.

BACKGROUND: Extracts of Scutellaria baicalensis root (SBR) and Magnolia officinalis barks (MOB) possess significant antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties; however, these also exert adverse effects such as cytotoxicity. To overcome the adverse effects, we formulated a combination of the extracts, named GenoTX-407, with SBR and MOB extracts mixed in 5:1 ratio. The antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory activities of SBR and MOB extracts and GenoTX-407 were evaluated. METHODS: To optimize the extraction conditions of SBR and MOB, different ethanol concentrations and extraction times and treatments of the extracts with different solvents for varying time periods were tested. Anti-inflammatory activity was assessed via NO scavenging assay and analysis of anti-inflammatory activity-related gene expression in RAW 264.7 cells. Agar disk diffusion and microdilution assays were used to determine the antimicrobial activity. Antioxidant activity was evaluated through DPPH assay and analyses of peroxidation and antioxidant-related protein expression in HeLa cells. RESULTS: Extraction with 0% ethanol for 2 h and 1.5% phosphoric acid for 0.5 h yielded maximum SBR extracts. For MOB, 50% ethanol extraction for 2 h followed by further extraction in hexane for 0.5 h yielded the highest extracts. SBR (46.1 ± 0.9 %) and MOB (48.9 ± 1.0 %) extracts effectively inhibited NO production, and dose-dependently reduced the expression of TNF-α, iNOS, NF-κB, COX2, and IL-6. MOB and GenoTX-407 inhibited the growth of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans, and Propionibacterium acnes, as evidenced in disk diffusion and microdilution assays. SBR (EC50, 107.7 µg/mL and 38.3 µg/mL), MOB (62.41 µg/mL and 72.45 µg/mL), and GenoTX-407 (7.7 µg/mL and 26.4 µg/mL) exhibited excellent antioxidant potency and could scavenge free radicals of DPPH and lipid peroxidation; additionally, SOD, CAT, HO-1, and Nrf2 expression was increased in HeLa cells. SBR showed more potent antioxidant activity than MOB. Contrastingly, MOB exhibited more potent anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities than SBR. Interestingly, GenoTX-407 was the most efficient in all the assays, compared with SBR and MOB. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that GenoTX-407, the combination of SBR and MOB, is a potential drug candidate exerting antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects via the Nrf2/HO-1 and NF-κB signaling pathways.

Effect of Body Fat Percentage on Muscle Damage Induced by High-Intensity Eccentric Exercise.

This study aimed to investigate the impact of percent body fat (%BF) on muscle damage after high-intensity eccentric exercise. Thirty healthy male undergraduates (mean age: 22.0 ± 2 years, height: 176.9 ± 5 cm, weight: 75.8 ± 11.6 kg) participated in this study, and they were classified according to their %BF into a high %fat group (HFG, ≥20%, n = 15) and a low %fat group (LFG, ≤15%, n = 15). For eccentric exercise, two sets of 25 reps were performed on a modified preacher curl machine using the elbow flexor muscle. Maximal isometric strength, muscle soreness (passive and active), creatine kinase (CK), and myoglobin (Mb) were measured as indices of muscle damage. The data were analyzed with repeated measures ANOVA. The results show that there is a significant group-time interaction for both CK and Mb after eccentric exercise (p = 0.007, p = 0.015, respectively), with a greater increase in the HFG than in the LFG. However, there was no significant group-time interaction for maximal isometric strength and muscle soreness (passive and active) (p > 0.05). These results suggest that %BF is a factor that alters the muscle damage indices CK and Mb, which indicate membrane disruption, after eccentric exercise.

Association between Reallocation Behaviors and Subjective Health and Stress in South Korean Adults: An Isotemporal Substitution Model.

This study used an isotemporal substitution (IS) model to determine the potential reallocation effects of sedentary behavior (SB) and physical activity (PA) on subjective health and stress in South Koreans with data from the Sixth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2015. The analysis included 791 participants whose accelerometer-measured PA was available, divided into three age groups (young adults = 151; mid-age adults = 334; older adults = 306). We adopted SB, light PA (LPA), and moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) to determine how time was allocated to each activity level, then examined the effects of reallocation on subjective health and stress across age groups. The analyses were performed in three steps: single-activity, partition, and IS model. An additional ANCOVA was conducted on statistically significant outcomes (i.e., subjective health of young and older adults). We found that among young adults, reallocating 30 min/week of SB to LPA and to MVPA was linked to high levels of subjective health. In older adults, reallocating 30 min/week of SB and LPA to MVPA was associated with high subjective health. However, this relationship was not observed in mid-age adults. None of the age groups showed a relationship between any activity reallocation and stress. Our findings provide the first insight on the development of interventions aimed at promoting active, healthier lifestyles on the basis of behavior reallocation in South Koreans.

Metabolomic Analysis of Morus Cultivar Root Extracts and Their Ameliorative Effect on Testosterone-Induced Prostate Enlargement in Sprague-Dawley Rats.

We investigated the metabolite changes of Morus roots (MRs) according to different cultivar families (Simheung, Daesim, Cheong-il, Sangchon, Daeseong, Suhong, Suwon, and Igsu) using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-MS) to understand the relationship between different cultivars and metabolite changes. Data were analyzed by partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), and samples were successfully separated in PLS-DA scores. Eight metabolites in the electrospray ionization (ESI)-positive mode and 16 metabolites in the ESI-negative mode contributed to the separation in PLS-DA. Our data suggest that comparative analysis of MR metabolites according to different cultivars is useful to better understand the relationship between the different cultivars and metabolite changes. Furthermore, we analyzed the MRs for their ability to improve benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). LNCaP cells were used to evaluate the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) inhibitory activity of MRs, and, amongst them, the extract with the highest activity was selected. Igsu demonstrated the highest inhibition effect of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) expression among the MR cultivars. Igsu was also evaluated by administration in a testosterone-induced benign prostatic hyperplasia model in Sprague-Dawley rats. Igsu was shown to ameliorate BPH as evidenced by the prostate index, expression of androgen receptor (AR) signaling-related protein, growth factors, cell proliferation-related proteins, apoptosis-related proteins, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling proteins, and histological analysis. Hence, this study strongly suggests that Igsu may have a beneficial effect of on BPH.

Evaluation of the BD Phoenix M50 Automated Microbiology System for Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing with Clinical Isolates in Korea.

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the performance of the BD Phoenix™ M50 system with two antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) panels against clinical isolates in South Korea and the accuracy of determining carbapenem and colistin susceptibility compared with reference methods. A total of 825 nonduplicated clinical isolates were included in this study. Bacterial identification was performed using Bruker Biotyper and 16S rDNA sequencing. Antimicrobial susceptibilities were tested by disk diffusion, broth microdilution, and agar dilution methods. AST with the Phoenix system was performed following the manufacturer's instructions. The categorical agreement (CA), very major error (VME), major error (ME), and minor error (mE) rates were calculated for each antibiotic. CA rates between the results of the Phoenix system and reference methods were more than 90% for most antibiotics except for ciprofloxacin in enterococci (82.7%, 163/197) and cefepime in Acinetobacter species (88.9%, 88/99). VME and ME rates were less than 3% for all the antibiotics tested in this study. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values for carbapenem and colistin determined by the Phoenix system were highly correlated with those of dilution methods, exhibiting 99.2% (384/387), 96.7% (374/387), and 98.5% (129/131) of the agreement rate within onefold dilution difference for imipenem, meropenem, and colistin, respectively. The BD Phoenix M50™ system showed reliable performance for AST in clinical microbiology laboratories and for detecting carbapenem and colistin resistance in Gram-negative clinical isolates.

In vivo efficacy of alpha-galactosidase as possible promise for prolonged durability of bioprosthetic heart valve using alpha1,3-galactosyltransferase knockout mouse.

The immune response due to Galα1,3-Galß1-4GlcNAc-R(α-Gal) epitopes is an important factor in bioprosthetic heart valve failure. The aim of this study was to evaluate the immune reaction and anticalcification effect of α-galactosidase and decellularization for glutaraldehyde (GA)/genipin fixed bovine pericardium using α1,3-galactosyltransferase knockout(α-Gal KO) mouse(C57BL/6). Bovine pericardial tissues were decellularized and treated with α-galactosidase before fixation with 0.25% GA/0.4% genipin in organic solvent (75% ethanol and 5% octanol) and treatment with glycine. The removal of α-gal epitope from the bovine pericardium was analyzed by 3,3'-Diaminobenzidine staining intensity. The bovine pericardial tissues were subcutaneously implanted into wild type mice (n=19) and α-Gal KO mice (n=66), which had been presensitized with rabbit red blood cells to maximize immunologic response or not, and anti α-Gal antibodies were measured at various time intervals. Calcium contents of the explanted tissues (n=104) were measured 3 months after implantation. The treatment of α-galactosidase effectively removed the α-gal epitopes expressed on bovine pericardial tissues. In both GA and genipin groups, titers for both anti α-Gal IgM and IgG of α-Gal KO mice increased according to the duration of implantation, and were lower in the groups with decellularization than without decellularization, and were lower in the groups with α-galactosidase+decellularization than with decellularization. The calcium contents of GA/genipin fixed tissues were lower in the groups with decellularization than without decellularization, and were lower in the groups with α-galactosidase+decellularization than with decellularization. Treatment of α-galactosidase with decellularization is useful for removal of the immunogenicity, and reduced calcification in both GA and genipin fixed bovine pericardia, supporting the hypothesis that the immune reaction may cause the calcification. Treatment of α-galactosidase has possible promise to enhance durability of bioprosthetic heart valve. To our knowledge, this is the first report that demonstrates the in vivo efficacy of α-galactosidase using presensitized α-Gal KO mouse to mimic the human immunologic environment.

The effect of space fillers in the cross-linking processes of bioprosthesis.

Glutaraldehyde (GA) is largely used in the cross-linking of collagen matrices to improve their mechanical and biological properties for applications in cardiovascular surgery. However, GA has major drawbacks, including graft degeneration, calcification, and durability. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that filling the interstitial space in the bovine pericardium with various space fillers could prevent tissue calcification. GA, genipin, and 1-ethyl-3(-3 dimethyl aminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride fixation with spacefiller treatment have been studied in order to improve the properties of heart valve xenografts. Crosslinking efficiency of GA treated group was better than genipin or 1-(3-dimethyl aminopropyl)-3-ethyl carbodiimide/N-hydroxysuccinimide treated group in vitro mechanical, enzymatic degradation resistance tests. Space-filling samples have shown significantly reduced calcification in the rabbit intramuscular implantation model. Regardless of the filling effect, the level of calcification and the cytotoxicity was low in a genipin-treated group compared to levels in the GA-treated group. The results indicated that GA and genipin fixation with space-filler treatment were effective in anticalcification for biological tissue preservation.

Cotreatment with darbepoetin and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor is efficient to recruit proangiogenic cell populations in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

UNLABELLED: To determine whether newer combination cytokine treatment with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and darbepoetin can improve efficacy of stem cell therapy, we evaluated safety and peripheral blood stem/progenitor cell (PBSC) mobilizing effects of combination cytokine in comparison with G-CSF alone in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). We randomized 60 patients with AMI into two groups under 2:1 ratio; combination treatment with darbepoetin and G-CSF (n = 41: Combicytokine group) and the G-CSF alone (n = 19: G-CSF group). After coronary angioplasty, G-CSF was treated for 3 days with dose of 10 µg/kg/day in both groups. Only in the combicytokine group, additional single intravenous injection of 4.5 µg/kg of darbepoetin was administrated immediate after coronary angioplasty. Combination cytokine treatment was well tolerated as was G-CSF alone. PBSCs were obtained by apheresis for intracoronary infusion after completion of cytokine treatment and were analyzed by flow cytometry. The purity of proangiogenic cells was higher in combination cytokine group than the G-CSF group. Specifically, proportion of CD34(+)/KDR(+) endothelial progenitor cells, CD3(+)/CD31(+) angiogenic T cells and Tie2(+)/CXCR4(+) cells in apheresis products were higher in the combicytokine group. These meant that the combicytokine treatment recruited PBSCs in higher purity and fewer unwanted inflammatory cells than G-CSF alone in apheresis products. Combination treatment with darbepoetin and G-CSF is safe and more efficient to mobilize and recruit proangiogenic cells than G-CSF alone in patients with AMI. ( TRIAL REGISTRATION: www.ClinicalTrials. gov identifier: NCT00501917).

Principal components ancestry adjustment for Genetic Analysis Workshop 17 data.

Statistical tests on rare variant data may well have type I error rates that differ from their nominal levels. Here, we use the Genetic Analysis Workshop 17 data to estimate type I error rates and powers of three models for identifying rare variants associated with a phenotype: (1) by using the number of minor alleles, age, and smoking status as predictor variables; (2) by using the number of minor alleles, age, smoking status, and the identity of the population of the subject as predictor variables; and (3) by using the number of minor alleles, age, smoking status, and ancestry adjustment using 10 principal component scores. We studied both quantitative phenotype and a dichotomized phenotype. The model with principal component adjustment has type I error rates that are closer to the nominal level of significance of 0.05 for single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in noncausal genes for the selected phenotype than the model directly adjusting for population. The principal component adjustment model type I error rates are also closer to the nominal level of 0.05 for noncausal SNPs located in causal genes for the phenotype. The power for causal SNPs with the principal component adjustment model is comparable to the power of the other methods. The power using the underlying quantitative phenotype is greater than the power using the dichotomized phenotype.

2-[2-Substituted-3-(3,4-dichlorobenzylamino)propylamino]-1H-quinolin-4-ones as Staphylococcus aureus methionyl-tRNA synthetase inhibitors.

New analogues of 2-[2-substituted-3-(3,4-dichlorobenzylamino)propylamino]quinolin-4-ones, 26a, 26b, 31a-e, 34, 35, 38 and 40, have been synthesized and evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus methionyl-tRNA synthetase. All of the synthesized compounds were less active than the reference compound 2. The compounds were also screened against various strains of S. aureus and Enterococci for their antibacterial activities. Among the compounds, 26b, 31c and 31e displayed significant inhibitory properties against various strains of Enterococci compared to compound 2.