Ageing processes influence keratin and KAP expression in human hair follicles.

In many cultures, a youthful look is strictly linked to strong and healthy hair. Source of the hair fibre is the hair follicle, a highly specialized skin appendage. Biological alterations because of intrinsic or extrinsic stimuli can destabilize this perfectly organized system, thus effecting hair growth or metabolism.

Hydrolysed wool: a novel chelating agent for metal chelant-assisted phytoextraction from soil.

Phytoextraction has revealed great potential, however it is limited by the fact that plants need time and nutrient supply and have a limited metal uptake capacity. Although the use of synthetic chelators, such as EDTA, enhances heavy metal extraction, it also produces the negative side effects of high phytotoxicity, as well as leaching of essential metals. The aim of this research was to investigate the application of wool, in mobilising metals and in improving the phytoextraction of metals-contaminated soil.