Search

A study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of a topical emollient in treating mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis (AD) in adolescents and adults. The study involved 100 participants and lasted for 24 weeks. The results showed that the group using the emollient had significant improvements in various measures compared to the placebo group. No safety concerns were reported. However, the study had limitations and further research is needed to explore other aspects of AD and the effects of the emollient. Overall, the emollient shows promise as a therapeutic option for long-term care of AD patients. [Extracted from the article]

Skin is an organ having a crucial role in the protection of muscle, bone, and internal organs and undergoing continuous self‐renewal and aged. The growing interest in the prevention of skin aging and rejuvenation has sparked a surge of industrial and research studies focusing on the biological and transcriptional changes that occur during skin development and aging. In this study, the aim is to identify transcriptional differences between two main types of human skin cells: the human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) and the human epidermis keratinocytes (HEKs) isolated from 30 neonatal and 30 adults (old) skin. Through differentially expressed gene (DEG) profiling using DEseq2, 604 up‐, and 769 down‐regulated genes are identified in the old group. A functional analysis using Metascape Gene Ontology and Reactome pathways revealed systematic transcriptomic shifts in key skin formation and maintenance markers, alongside a distinct difference in HOX gene families crucial for embryonic development and diverse biological processes. Among the 39 human HOX gene family, ten posterior HOX genes (HOXA10, 11, 13, HOXB13, HOXC11, and HOXD9‐13) are significantly downregulated, and anterior 25 genes (HOXA2‐7, HOXB1‐9, HOXC4‐6 and 8–9, and HOXD1,3,4 and 8) are upregulated, especially in the old HDFs. The study successfully demonstrates the correlation between HOX genes and the skin aging process, providing strong evidence that HOX genes are proposed as a new marker for skin aging assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Oriental herbs have been used as medicines in the folk remedy for their numerous phytochemicals and bioactivities. In this study, we have selected five Korean traditional medical herbs and applied bio conversion extraction technology, named it as Bioconversion Oji complex, to identify phytochemicals and evaluate skin related efficacies. Material and methods: The process of two‐step bio conversion was sequentially conducted. The first step of fermentation was to produce biosurfactants using macadamia seed oil with Candida bombicola, and then five natural plants were added to carry out the main fermentation. To evaluate skin improvement efficacy of Bioconversion Oji complex, in vitro and in vivo studies were conducted. We studied HaCaT cells cultured to assess viability, skin anti‐inflammatory, moisturizing and barrier improvement‐related mRNA expression. For efficacy study, 21 participants were tested evaluating anti‐inflammatory, skin moisturizing and skin barrier improving effects of Bioconversion Oji complex compared to Water extraction of Oji (placebo) for the 4 weeks test period. Results: The application of bioconversion technology highly increased the content of amino acids and lipids within Bioconversion Oji complex, and 23 flavonoids were also identified. Bioconversion Oji complex was found to be non‐toxic and showed significant effects in all parameters tested, including anti‐inflammation, skin moisture, and skin barrier in both in vitro and in clinical studies. Conclusions: Bioconversion Oji complex has demonstrated skin‐friendly properties with significant beneficial effects on anti‐inflammatory, skin hydration and barrier function properties. This study provides evidence for the use of Bioconversion Oji complex as an active ingredient in cosmetics and skincare products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Tetraodontidae family are known to have relatively small and compact genomes compared to other vertebrates. The obscure puffer fish Takifugu obscurus is an anadromous species that migrates to freshwater from the sea for spawning. Thus the euryhaline characteristics of T. obscurus have been investigated to gain understanding of their survival ability, osmoregulation, and other homeostatic mechanisms in both freshwater and seawater. In this study, a high quality chromosome‐level reference genome for T. obscurus was constructed using long‐read Pacific Biosciences (PacBio) Sequel sequencing and a Hi‐C‐based chromatin contact map platform. The final genome assembly of T. obscurus is 381 Mb, with a contig N50 length of 3,296 kb and longest length of 10.7 Mb, from a total of 62 Gb of raw reads generated using single‐molecule real‐time sequencing technology from a PacBio Sequel platform. The PacBio data were further clustered into chromosome‐scale scaffolds using a Hi‐C approach, resulting in a 373 Mb genome assembly with a contig N50 length of 15.2 Mb and and longest length of 28 Mb. When we directly compared the 22 longest scaffolds of T. obscurus to the 22 chromosomes of the tiger puffer Takifugu rubripes, a clear one‐to‐one orthologous relationship was observed between the two species, supporting the chromosome‐level assembly of T. obscurus. This genome assembly can serve as a valuable genetic resource for exploring fugu‐specific compact genome characteristics, and will provide essential genomic information for understanding molecular adaptations to salinity fluctuations and the evolution of osmoregulatory mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Sun irradiation is one of major extrinsic stressors responsible for premature skin aging through activation and expression of 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β- HSD1), which converts inactive cortisone to active cortisol. The aim of this study was to evaluate the inhibitory effects of red ginseng extract containing high concentrations of ginsenoside Rg3 (S) ( GERg3) on 11β- HSD1-induced skin photoaging. Methods To evaluate the inhibitory effects of GERg3 on ultraviolet- ( UV) or infrared ( IR)-induced skin photoaging, human dermal fibroblasts or a normal human 3D skin model was exposed to UV or an IR. RT- PCR, ELISA, Western blot, and H&E staining were used for evaluations. GERg3 was isolated from crude red ginseng. Results GERg3 inhibited the increased expressions of 11β- HSD1, interleukin ( IL)-6, and matrix metalloproteinase-1 ( MMP-1) in UVB- or IR-exposed Hs68 cells. Additionally, the increased cortisol, IL-6, and MMP-1 expressions were effectively reduced by GERg3 in UVA-exposed 3D skin models. The photoinduced decrease in type 1 procollagen also recovered as a result of GERg3 treatment in Hs68 cells and the 3D skin model. In addition, the UVA-exposed dermal thickness was decreased in comparison with the UVA-protected 3D skin model, recovered with GERg3 treatment. Conclusion GERg3 had antiphotoaging effects in UV- or IR-exposed human dermal fibroblasts and normal human 3D skin model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Ultraviolet ( UV) irradiation triggers skin photoaging processes, which disrupt the normal three-dimensional integrity of skin. UV-induced oxidative stress, both directly and indirectly, stimulates complex signaling pathways. UV radiation activates skin cell surface receptors on a molecular level and triggers severe changes in extracellular matrix ( ECM) proteins, resulting in skin photoaging. Aims Sclareol isolated from Salvia officinalis is widely used as a fragrance material. Sclareol is known to exert various biological activities, but its antiphotoaging effect has not been elucidated to date. Therefore, we evaluated wrinkle improvement efficacy of sclareol. Methods Human dermal fibroblast cell line (Hs68) and a reconstructed human epidermis ( RHE) model were used to evaluate the antiphotoaging effect of sclareol in vitro. A clinical study treated with 0.02% sclareol-containing cream was conducted to identify the ability of sclareol to improve wrinkles. Results First, sclareol enhanced cellular proliferation and blocked UVB-induced cell death. Sclareol inhibited the UVB-induced mRNA expression of matrix metalloproteinases ( MMPs) by regulating the protein expression of AP-1 constituents. In RHE model, sclareol recovered the UVB-induced decrease in epidermal thickness and the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen ( PCNA). In clinical trial, visually assessed changes and several wrinkle parameters were considered to be statistically different between the test and control groups at 12 weeks. Conclusions In this study, sclareol inhibited various photoaging phenomena in human fibroblasts and RHE model. In addition, sclareol-containing cream improved wrinkles in a clinical trial. Taken together, sclareol alleviates facial wrinkle formation via an antiphotoaging mechanism and may be an effective candidate ingredient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sebum production and excretion is a primary function of the sebaceous glands, but abnormally increased sebum production is a major cause of acne vulgaris. To identify a new candidate that regulates sebum production, we investigated the possible inhibitory effects of apple polyphenols ( APP) purified from unripe apples on primary cultured human sebocytes and in patients with acne vulgaris. Dexamethasone (Dex) increased lipid synthesis and expression of the sterol response element-binding protein 1 ( SREBP 1) and its target enzymes, acetyl-CoA carboxylase ( ACC) and fatty acid synthase ( FAS), in the sebocytes. However, APP inhibited Dex-induced lipid production and expression of SREBP-1, ACC and FAS. APP also inhibited the increase in the expression and activation of glucocorticoid receptor in the sebocytes. Taken together, these results suggest that APP may be useful to regulate sebum production and may alleviate sebum-involved skin disease, such as acne vulgaris. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]