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The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a combination of inositol-stabilized arginine silicate complex (ASI) and magnesium biotinate (MgB) on hair and nail growth in an animal model. Twenty-eight female Sprague-Dawley rats (8 weeks old) were randomized into one of the following groups: (i) group (control), shaved; (ii) group (ASI), shaved + ASI (4.14 mg/rat/day); (iii) group (ASI + MgB I), shaved + ASI (4.14 mg/rat/day) + MgB (48.7 μg/rat/day); and (iv) group (ASI + MgB II), shaved + ASI (4.14 mg/rat/day) + MgB (325 μg/rat/day). On day 42, compared with the control group, while hair density (p 0.05, p 0.01, and p 0.0001, respectively) and anagen ratio (p 0.01, p 0.01, and p 0.001) increased in the ASI, ASI + MgB I, and ASI + MgB II groups, telogen ratio decreased (p 0.01, p 0.01, and p 0.001, respectively). In the molecular analysis, VEGF, HGF, and KGF-2 increased in the ASI (p 0.01, p 0.01, and p 0.05, respectively), ASI + MgB I (p 0.0001 for all), and ASI + MgB II (p 0.0001 for all) groups when compared to the control group. FGF-2 (p 0.01) and IGF-1 (p 0.001) were found to be increased in the ASI + MgB I and ASI + MgB II groups. SIRT-1 and β-catenin increased in the ASI (p 0.05 and p 0.01), ASI + MgB I (p 0.001 for both), and ASI + MgB II (p 0.0001 for both) groups. Wnt-1 increased in the ASI + MgB I (p 0.001) and ASI + MgB II (p 0.0001) groups. In conclusion, the combination of ASI and MgB could promote hair growth by regulating IGF-1, FGF, KGF, HGF, VEGF, SIRT-1, Wnt, and β-catenin signal pathways. It was also established that ASI did not affect nail growth, whereas the MgB combination was effective using a higher dose of biotin.

Introduction: Inositol-stabilized arginine silicate (ASI; Nitrosigine®) significantly increases circulating arginine and nitric oxide (NO). We examined ASI effects on objective and subjective indicators of muscle recovery, blood flow and energy. Methods: In a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover-design, subjects (n=16) were given ASI (1,500 mg/day) or placebo for 4 days, with a 7-day washout period. Measurements occurred at baseline, 24, 48, and 72 h. On test days, subjects performed stress inducing leg extension exercises associated with muscle soreness. Following exercise, recovery markers creatine kinase (CK), myoglobin and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), doppler ultrasound blood flow, leg circumference, salivary nitrite tests were measured. The Profile Mood States (POMS), VAS scales, vigor-activity cognitive tests were administered. Results: Serum CK but not LDH was significantly reduced in the ASI group on day 1 and 24, 48, and 72 h post-exercise (p

Demyelination is generally observed in different neurodegenerative disorders, including Multiple sclerosis (MS). It is known that high-dose biotin supplementation stabilizes MS progression. To reduce the effective dose of biotin, here we synthesized a new and superior form of biotin, which is a complex of magnesium ionically bound to biotin (MgB) and compared its dose-dependent effect with biotin alone after lysolecithin (LPC)-induced demyelination in rats. Myelination was studied with luxol fast blue staining and revealed that the most significant remyelination occurred in the MgB groups. We observed dose-dependent improved spatial memory in both biotin and MgB combined animals. Furthermore, we detected decreased inflammatory proteins in both treatment groups, which were more prominent in high-dose MgB treated animals, associated with improved NF-κB, OP, and MMP-9 proteins. We further analyzed biotin-related proteins and observed that both biotin and particularly MgB reverses the LPC-induced reduction of these proteins. Furthermore, we have observed that biotin but particularly MgB improves neuronal transmission proteins, Synapsin-1, PSD-93, and PSD 95. Moreover, increased BDNF, GAP-43, and ICAM were detected in both treatment groups, especially significant in high-dose MgB treated animals. Increased GFAP, which indicates reactive gliosis, was observed in LPC treated animals, which were reversed particularly by high-dose MgB treatment. The present data reveal the dose-dependent beneficial effect of biotin on demyelination processes. However, a combination of biotin with Mg resulted in a more potent effect than biotin alone. The robust impact of MgB encourages proof-of-concept studies with MgB in human MS patients.

P1 Impact of antioxidant-enriched nutrient bar supplementation on the serum antioxidant markers and physical fitness components of track and field athletes

JDS–chromium–insulin (CRI)-003 is a novel form of insulin that has been directly conjugated with chromium (Cr) instead of zinc. Our hypothesis was that CRI enhances insulin’s effects by altering insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE) and proteasome enzymes. To test this hypothesis, we measured hepatic IDE content and proteasome parameters in a diabetic animal model. Male KKAy mice were randomly divided into three groups (n = 8/group); Sham (saline), human regular insulin (Reg-In), and chromium conjugated human insulin (CRI), respectively. Interventions were initiated at doses of 2 U insulin/kg body weight daily for 8-weeks. Plasma glucose and insulin were measured. Hepatic IDE, proteasome, and insulin signaling proteins were determined by western blotting. Insulin tolerance tests at week 7 showed that both insulin treatments significantly reduced glucose concentrations and increased insulin levels compared with the Sham group, CRI significantly reduced glucose at 4 and 6 h relative to Reg-In (P

MS Contin tablets and Oramorph SR tablets are two forms of oral controlled-release morphine sulfate available for the alleviation of pain. Our objective was to compare their analgesic effects in a relative potency assay. In this study, 151 patients undergoing caesarean section or abdominal hysterectomy and reporting moderate or severe postoperative pain received a 30 or 90 mg dose of either drug in a balanced, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, single-dose experimental design. Patients provided self-ratings of analgesia. Relative potency for pain relief were calculated from log dose-effect curves. For total pain relief (rated by visual analog scales) over 12 hours, the log dose relative potency estimate for MS Contin tablets/Oramorph SR tablets was 1.9 (95% confidence limits, 0.89 to 11.1); for peak pain relief (visual analog scales) the relative potency estimate was 1.7 (95% confidence limits, 0.65 to 48.3). Overall, the 90 mg dose of MS Contin was more effective than 30 or 90 mg doses of Oramorph SR and the 30 mg dose of MS Contin at hours 6 to 12. Adverse experiences (mainly drowsiness) were mostly mild to moderate, with no significant differences in their overall incidence or severity between equivalent doses. MS Contin tablets provided greater peak, total, and duration of analgesia, without higher incidence of adverse experiences. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (1993) 53, 469–478; doi:10.1038/clpt.1993.53