Characteristics and decreased Vitiligo Area Scoring Index of vitiligo patients with narrowband-UVB phototherapy in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

Narrowband ultraviolet-B (NB-UVB) phototherapy is the mainstay of vitiligo therapy. The response can be evaluated using the vitiligo area scoring index (VASI) and repigmentation grade. However, few studies used VASI to evaluate phototherapy response and there are no definitive data on the reduction of VASI.

Topical Timolol Maleate 0.5% for Infantile Hemangioma: Its Effectiveness Compared to Ultrapotent Topical Corticosteroids - A Single-Center Experience of 278 Cases.

Background: Infantile hemangioma (IH) may have implications on parental distress and cosmetic disfigurement. To date, ultrapotent corticosteroids are used as a treatment of choice for superficial IH. However, due to their side effects and sometimes lack of IH regression, it is necessary to find alternative topical therapies.

Platelet-Rich Fibrin Lysate Can Ameliorate Dysfunction of Chronically UVA-Irradiated Human Dermal Fibroblasts.

To determine whether platelet-rich fibrin lysate (PRF-L) could restore the function of chronically ultraviolet-A (UVA)-irradiated human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs), we isolated and sub-cultured HDFs from six different human foreskins. HDFs were divided into two groups: those that received chronic UVA irradiation (total dosages of 10 J cm⁻²) and those that were not irradiated. We compared the proliferation rates, collagen deposition, and migration rates between the groups and between chronically UVA-irradiated HDFs in control and PRF-L-treated media.

Cellular viability, collagen deposition, and transforming growth factor β1 production among ultraviolet B-irradiated keloid fibroblasts.

Background: A keloid is a fibrous tumor produced by fibroblast hyperproliferation and excessive collagen accumulation due to overproduction of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1). High keloid incidence is found among individuals with unexposed skin, especially in Negroid and Mongoloid people with high melanin contents in their skin. Because melanin serves as an ultraviolet B (UVB) light absorber, it is assumed that lack of UVB light penetration may play a role in the keloid pathomechanism.

Inhibition of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor and PI3K/Akt Signaling Suppresses Cell Proliferation and Survival through Regulation of Stat3 Activation in Human Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Recent studies have emphasized the important role of Stat3 activation in a number of human tumors from the viewpoint of its oncogenic and antiapoptotic activity. In this study, we examined the role and related signaling molecules of Stat3 in the carcinogenesis of human cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). In 35 human cutaneous SCC samples, 86% showed overexpression of phosphorylated (p)-Stat3, and most of those simultaneously overexpressed p-EGFR or p-Akt.

8-Oxoguanine formation induced by chronic UVB exposure makes Ogg1 knockout mice susceptible to skin carcinogenesis.

8-Oxoguanine is one of the oxidative DNA damages that can result in stable mutations. The Ogg1 gene encodes the repair enzyme 8-oxoguanine-DNA glycosylase, which removes the oxidized base from DNA. In this study, we investigated the role of 8-oxoguanine in skin carcinogenesis induced by UVB irradiation using Ogg1 knockout mice (C57Bl/6J background).

Decreased expression of Apaf-1 with progression of melanoma.

Defects in apoptotic system may contribute in the pathogenesis and resistance of malignant melanoma cells to chemotherapy. Apoptotic protease-activating factor-1 (Apaf-1) is a cell death effector that acts with cytochrome c and caspase-9 to mediate apoptosis. Recently it was shown that metastatic melanomas often lose Apaf-1 and are concomitantly resistant to apoptosis.

Inhibition of the epidermal growth factor receptor suppresses telomerase activity in HSC-1 human cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma cells.

Activation of telomerase, which stabilizes the telomere length of chromosomes, is crucial for the continued growth or progression of cancer cells. In a previous study, we showed that telomerase is frequently activated in skin tumors. Because epidermal growth factor plays an important role during the tumorigenesis of epithelial tissue, we have now examined the role of epidermal growth factor signaling in regulating telomerase activity using HSC-1 human cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma cells.

Formation of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers and 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine in mouse and organ-cultured human skin by irradiation with broadband or with narrowband UVB.

Narrowband UVB (NB-UVB) is a newly developed UVB source that, in addition to the previously used broadband UVB (BB-UVB), has been effectively used in phototherapy of various skin diseases. Besides its therapeutic effectiveness, NB-UVB also has some adverse effects that should be evaluated. As with all phototherapies, the photocarcinogenic potential of NB-UVB is the major concern.