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Sweet potato shochu oil is one of the by-products of sweet potato shochu production. We investigated the functionality and industrial use of shochu oil as a food-derived raw material. Because of the increased incidence of self-consciousness in people owing to thinning hair, in this study, we examined the hair growth-inducing effects of shochu oil. Minoxidil, the only topical medication approved for hair growth treatment in Japan, was used as a control for the evaluation of hair growth-promoting activity of shochu oil. Human follicle dermal papilla cells treated with shochu oil showed upregulated expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in a concentration-dependent manner, indicating that shochu oil induced the activation of the hair growth cycle. In vivo , epidermal treatment with shochu oil also promoted hair growth in C3H mice. More than 35 components were detected in shochu oil via gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The main components, accounting for 98.5% of shochu oil, were as follows, in order of decreasing concentration: ethyl palmitate, ethyl linoleate, ethyl oleate, ethyl stearate, ethyl caprate, ethyl laurate, ethyl myristate, and ethyl α-linolenate. Among these, ethyl palmitate, ethyl linoleate, and ethyl α-linolenate promoted hair growth in C3H mice. These results indicate that shochu oil can be used as a hair restorer. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to demonstrate the hair growth-promoting activity of shochu oil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Assessment of physiological states by measuring biomarkers, such as cortisol, has significantly contributed to the monitoring of health, welfare and management of animals. Immunoreactive cortisol in hair (hC) has been used widely for deciphering 'stressful' past-events in various wild and captive animals. However, no such studies have been done in long-lived mammals. Methods. In this first exploratory study in elephants, we assessed (i) tail-hair growth rate (TGR) and (ii) hC levels in tail-hair samples from six captive Asian elephants from two zoos in Japan for comparing hC levels with zoo-keepers' records of distinct biological events over a c.0.5-2.0-year period. Tail-hair samples were cut into segments (based on monthly growth rate), pulverized or minced and a validated cortisol enzyme- immunoassay employed to measure hC levels. Results. When the hC levels of all individuals were compared with the keepers' records, a posteriori, most of the high hC levels were found to be associated with 'stressful' or distinct behavioural events such as pathological (anaemia, colic infection, skin infection, oral sores), psychosocial (reluctance in entering the enclosure, presence of a calf) and husbandry practice-related (contact trials/ space sharing) conditions, indicating that tail-hair indeed can be a potential 'retrospective' calendar of physiological health of an animal. Conclusions. Our observations open up the possibility of using the tail-hair as an alternative matrix to reconstruct the physiological history of elephants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A dietary supplement developed in Japan, OM-X®, is the result of extended fermentation of dozens of edible vegetables, fruits, seaweeds, mushrooms, and includes 12 strains of Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and Bifidobacterium. The supplements powerful antioxidant, antiinflammatory properties, and regulatory effect on metabolizing liver enzymes have been reported. Senescence marker protein-30 (SMP30)/Gluconolactonase (GNL) Knockout (KO) mice, which lack the ability to biosynthesize Vitamin C (VC) in the body, were used in this study. The mice exhibited decreased antioxidant capacity in the blood, decreased liver function, and had poor hair growth due to the VC deficiency. The aim of the study was to examine the effects of oral Methods: SMP30/GNL KO and C57BL/6 (WT) mice were used in this study. The KO mice were divided into the following three groups: VC non-administration (VC minus), VC (0.15 W/V %) administration (VC plus), and no VC plus 0.6% OM-X® administration (OM-X®) groups (n = 6 per group). Mice were kept under experimental conditions until they were euthanized at week 8 (age: 16 weeks old). Body weight and plasma biochemistry levels were measured.. Metabolomic analyses of harvested livers were performed. Results: In the VC minus group, a significant decrease in body weight and significant changes in plasma biochemistry parameters compared with the WT control or VC plus groups was observed. In the OM-X® group, significant suppression or a suppressive trend was observed compared with the VC minus group. Liver metabolomic analysis showed that total adenylate levels decreased in the VC minus group, whereas OM-X® administration significantly elevated total adenylate levels. In addition, the ratios of Glutathione (GSH)/Glutathione disulfide (GSSG) and Sadenosylmethionine (SAM)/S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine (SAH) and total glutathione levels were all significantly higher in the OM-X® group than in the VC minus group. The glycerol 3-phosphate/Dihydroxyacetone phosphate (DHAP) and putrescine/spermidine ratios were elevated in the VC minus group, whereas it was significantly lower in the OM-X® group.. Conclusion: The results showed that in SMP30/GNL KO mice, some organ damage may have occurred during VC deficiency, as indicated by weight loss, hepatic injury, and changes in triglyceride-related markers. OM-X® had an effect on energy charge maintenance by elevating total adenylate levels, inducing antioxidant capacity via enhancing glutathione levels, and promoting protein synthesis, including polyamine synthesis. Altogether, the results revealed that OM-X® prevents the adverse biological changes caused by VC deficiency in SMP30/GNL KO mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adenosine is an effective treatment for androgenetic alopecia (AGA) in Japanese men and women. Adenosine exerts its effects by significantly increasing the proportion of thick hair. In this study, we assessed the clinical outcome of adenosine treatment for 6 months in 38 Caucasian men. The change in proportion of thick hair (≥60 μm) compared with baseline in the adenosine group was significantly higher than that in the placebo group (P < 0.0001). The change in vellus hair proportion (<40 μm) was significantly lower in the adenosine group than that in the placebo group (P = 0.0154). The change in hair density compared with baseline of the adenosine group was also significantly higher compared with that of the placebo group (P = 0.0470). No adverse effects due to treatment were noted during this study by dermatological evaluation. Adenosine is effective in increasing the proportion of thick hair in Caucasian men with AGA as well as in Japanese men and women., (© 2015 Japanese Dermatological Association.)

Objective: Hair thickness is more important than hair density in the appearance of baldness in male with androgenetic alopecia (AGA). Adenosine improves hair loss by stimulating hair growth and by thickening hair shafts in women. The objective of this study was to evaluate the hair growth efficacy and safety of topical adenosine in men with AGA., Methods: A lotion containing either adenosine or niacinamide was administered to the scalps of 102 Japanese men twice daily for 6 months in a double-blind, randomized study. Efficacy was evaluated by dermatologists who assessed the quality of the hair and by calculating the percentages of vellus-like and thick hairs among the vertex hairs, as well as hair density., Results: Adenosine was significantly (P < 0.05) superior to niacinamide in terms of global improvement of AGA, increase in the percentage of thick hairs (at least 60 μm) and self-assessment of hair thickness by the study participants. No causal adverse event due to the adenosine lotion was observed., Conclusion: These data indicate that adenosine increases thick hair ratio in Japanese men with AGA, and this compound is useful for the improvement of AGA., (© 2015 Society of Cosmetic Scientists and the Société Française de Cosmétologie.)