Objectives: Application of the picosecond laser in the field of dermatology has expanded from tattoo removal to skin rejuvenation on a clinical basis. Although various mechanisms of pigment removal have been elucidated, the molecular changes associated with skin rejuvenation have yet to be identified. The aim of this study was to explore the theoretical basis and to evaluate the efficacy of skin rejuvenation using a 1064-nm fractional picosecond laser in a mouse model.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Reduced lipid content in the stratum corneum is a major cause of skin-barrier dysfunction in various pathological conditions. Promoting lipid production is a potential strategy to improve skin-barrier function. Recent evidence supports the beneficial effects of adiponectin on lipid metabolism and senescence in keratinocytes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFReportedly, decreases in fatty acid (FA) chain length of ceramide (CER) are associated with interferon-γ (IFN-γ), which shows increased expression in psoriasis. However, the underlying mechanism of this association remains unclear. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to clarify this association between FA chain length of CER, IFN-γ, and the major transcriptional factors involving psoriasis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Fractional picosecond lasers is effective for the treatment of wrinkles or acne scars.
Objective: To investigate the safety and efficacy of treatment with a fractional 1,064-nm picosecond laser with a diffractive optic element for facial wrinkles and acne scars.
Methods: This prospective open-labeled trial comprised 22 subjects with facial wrinkles or acne scars.
Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic disorder, with a vicious cycle of repetitive inflammation and deterioration of the epidermal barrier function. Adiponectin, an adipokine, has anti-inflammatory effects on various metabolic and inflammatory disorders. Recently, its level was found to be reduced in serum and tissue samples from AD patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAdiponectin is known to have beneficial effects on lipid and insulin metabolism, wound healing, and cellular senescence, but its effect on skin barrier formation remains unknown. We investigated the effects of adiponectin on keratinocyte lipid synthesis with respect to skin barrier function. Lipid staining revealed an adiponectin-mediated increase in keratinocyte intracellular and reconstructed epidermal lipid content.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPicosecond lasers have emerged as the leading technology for tattoo removal due to their shorter pulse lengths. To clarify the features of picosecond lasers, we compared picosecond and nanosecond lasers in their ability to remove multi-colored tattoo in an animal model. We first compared a nanosecond quality-switched Nd:YAG laser with picosecond Alexandrite and quality-switched Nd:YAG lasers and then the picosecond quality-switched Nd:YAG laser with the picosecond Alexandrite laser, using a guinea pig model.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAstrocytes are ubiquitous in the brain and have multiple functions. It is becoming clear that they play an important role in monitoring the neuromicroenvironment, information processing, and signaling in the central nervous system (CNS) in normal conditions and that they respond to CNS injuries. During the development of the CNS, astrocytes play a key role as a substrate for neuronal migration and axonal growth.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCandida albicans exhibits the ability to grow in either a yeast or a mycelia form in response to different environmental factors. The mycelia form, found in infected tissues, is important as a virulence factor in the adherence of the organism to the host epithelium. In vitro, the morphological transition can be induced by environmental shifts in the growing conditions, or by a variety of exogenous factors, including ambient pH, nutritional status and temperature.
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