Evaluation of Mucociliary Clearance by Three Dimension Micro-CT-SPECT in Guinea Pig: Role of Bitter Taste Agonists.

Different image techniques have been used to analyze mucociliary clearance (MCC) in humans, but current small animal MCC analysis using in vivo imaging has not been well defined. Bitter taste receptor (T2R) agonists increase ciliary beat frequency (CBF) and cause bronchodilation but their effects in vivo are not well understood. This work analyzes in vivo nasal and bronchial MCC in guinea pig animals using three dimension (3D) micro-CT-SPECT images and evaluates the effect of T2R agonists.

Adjusting tidal volume to stress index in an open lung condition optimizes ventilation and prevents overdistension in an experimental model of lung injury and reduced chest wall compliance.

Introduction: The stress index (SI), a parameter derived from the shape of the pressure-time curve, can identify injurious mechanical ventilation. We tested the hypothesis that adjusting tidal volume (VT) to a non-injurious SI in an open lung condition avoids hypoventilation while preventing overdistension in an experimental model of combined lung injury and low chest-wall compliance (Ccw).

Methods: Lung injury was induced by repeated lung lavages using warm saline solution, and Ccw was reduced by controlled intra-abdominal air-insufflation in 22 anesthetized, paralyzed and mechanically ventilated pigs.

A broad-spectrum sunscreen prevents cumulative damage from repeated exposure to sub-erythemal solar ultraviolet radiation representative of temperate latitudes.

Background: We have previously shown the detrimental effects of 19 sub-erythemal exposures to daily ultraviolet radiation (DUVR, which mimics non-extreme exposure conditions), delivered over 4 weeks to volunteers. This source had UVA (320-400 nm) to UVB (290-320 nm) irradiance ratio of 25, instead of that close to 10 that is typically the case with solar-simulated radiation (SSR) that represents summer global sunlight with a clear sky and quasi-zenith solar irradiance.

Objective: Here, we report on an extension of this previous study, in which we evaluated the photoprotection afforded by a broad-spectrum daily-care product with a low-sun protection factor (SPF 8, UVA-PF 7 and 3* rated UVA protection).

Biological effects of simulated ultraviolet daylight: a new approach to investigate daily photoprotection.

Background: The irradiance of standard ultraviolet daylight (UV-DL) is representative of most frequently encountered UV exposure conditions and simulators of UV-DL can now be used to properly investigate the biological effects of a non-extreme UV radiation. One of the characteristics of the simulated UV-DL used in this study is its dUVA to dUVB irradiance ratio, which amounts to 24, instead of close to 10, for the simulated zenithal UV radiation (UV-SSR).

Purpose/methods: The aim of our study was to compare photobiological effects induced, in human skin, by acute and semi-chronic exposure to simulated UV-DL with those induced by UV-SSR.

Measurement of sunscreen immune protection factors in humans: a consensus paper.

It is increasingly accepted that sunscreens should protect against ultraviolet radiation (UVR)-induced immunosuppression, with an index of protection that can be compared with the sun protection factor (SPF). Five groups of immunoprotection researchers met to discuss the status of immune protection factor (IPF) evaluation in human skin in vivo. Current methods rely on a suncreen's inhibition of UVR-induced local suppression of the contact hypersensitivity (CHS) response or the delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) response, using either the induction or the elicitation arms of these responses.

Performance of porcine corneal opacity and permeability assay to predict eye irritation for water-soluble cosmetic ingredients.

The purpose of this paper is to report on the ability of an in-house porcine corneal opacity and permeability assay (PCOP) to predict eye irritation for cosmetic ingredients. Preliminary studies showed that the PCOP assay could accurately predict eye irritation class for liquid and water soluble materials. To broaden our experience a larger study on 50 cosmetic ingredients of this group was conducted.

Histological evaluation of a topically applied retinol-vitamin C combination.

Two double-blind studies versus vehicle were carried out to investigate the effects of a topically applied retinol plus vitamin C combination on epidermal and dermal compartments of aged or photoaged human skin. The two studies were performed on postmenopausal women who were selected for treatment based on the mild level of elastosis of their facial skin. At completion of treatment, skin biopsies were collected and processed for classical histology and immunohistochemistry.

Modulation of gene expression induced in human epidermis by environmental stress in vivo.

Environmental insults on the skin induce biologic responses through the modulation of expression of genes implicated in different cell functions. The aim of this study was to investigate the modulation of gene expression profile in human epidermis in vivo following different stresses. We determined the modulations of gene expression using cDNA macroarray in the epidermis of 28 healthy volunteers, following mild and physiologic insults, including: (1), tape stripping; (2) application of 10% sodium dodecyl sulfate; (3) daily application of vaseline; and (4), exposure to one minimal erythema dose of solar-simulated radiation.

High ultraviolet A protection affords greater immune protection confirming that ultraviolet A contributes to photoimmunosuppression in humans.

Solar radiation causes immunosuppression that contributes to skin cancer growth. Photoprotective strategies initially focused on the more erythemogenic ultraviolet B. More recently, the relationship of ultraviolet A and skin cancer has received increased attention.

Differential molecular profiling between skin carcinomas reveals four newly reported genes potentially implicated in squamous cell carcinoma development.

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) are skin tumors with different invasive potential. In this work, we analysed mRNA differential expression between seven BCC and five SCC and their normal skin counterparts using 1176 cDNA macroarrays and verification by RT-PCR to identify genes modulated in each tumor type. We identified 37 genes commonly modulated in both tumors and four genes specifically modulated in SCC.

Alterations in human epidermal Langerhans cells by ultraviolet radiation: quantitative and morphological study.

Background: Ultraviolet (UV) exposure of human skin induces local and systemic immune suppression. This phenomenon has been well documented when UVB radiation (290-320 nm) is used. The mechanism is thought to involve Langerhans cells (LCs), the epidermal dendritic cells that play a crucial role in antigen presentation.

Improved protection against solar-simulated radiation-induced immunosuppression by a sunscreen with enhanced ultraviolet A protection.

Ultraviolet radiation-induced immunosuppression is thought to play a part in skin cancer. Several studies have indicated that sunscreens that are designed to protect against erythema failed to give comparable protection against ultraviolet radiation-induced immunosuppression. One possible reason for this discrepancy is inadequate ultraviolet A protection.

Efficacy and safety of postdischarge administration of enoxaparin in the prevention of deep venous thrombosis after total hip replacement. A prospective randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial.

Although venous thromboembolism has occasionally been reported after hospital discharge in patients who have undergone total hip replacement (THR), this risk has not been fully quantified and the usefulness of a prophylactic treatment has not been evaluated. We conducted a single-centre prospective randomised double-blind clinical trial in 2 parallel groups of patients who had undergone THR and were free of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) at discharge, as assessed by bilateral ascending venography. During hospitalisation, all patients received a low molecular weight heparin, enoxaparin (enoxaparin sodium), as a prophylactic treatment for venous thromboembolism.