Dietary Lycopene Protects SKH-1 Mice Against Ultraviolet B-Induced Photocarcinogenesis.

Lycopene, an acyclic hydrocarbon, non-provitamin A carotenoid, is a potent antioxidant with well-documented anticancer properties. In this study, we investigated the effects of dietary lycopene on sub-acute and chronic ultraviolet B (UVB)-induced skin carcinogenesis in SKH-1 mice. Groups of three mice were fed with a nonsupplemented or 1% lycopene diet for two weeks before and throughout two weeks of UVB irradiation (30 mJ/cm2 UVB, thrice weekly).

Chinese herbal medicine Pill reduces exogenous glucocorticoid-induced apoptosis in anterior pituitary cells.

Long-term glucocorticoid use may result in sustained suppression of one or more secreted components from the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis, and often results in apoptosis. Pill (YGP), a 10-component traditional Chinese herbal medicine, has been shown to be clinically effective for glucocorticoid-induced suppression of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis. However, the pharmacological and molecular mechanisms remain unclear.

The effects of topical L-selenomethionine on protection against UVB-induced skin cancer when given before, during, and after UVB exposure.

Previous studies in mice have shown that topical L-selenomethionine (SeMet) can prevent UVB-induced skin cancer when applied continuously before, during, and after the radiation exposure. With topical application of SeMet, selenium levels were shown to increase in the skin and liver, as well as in tumor tissue. Thus, possibly, the timing of SeMet application could affect the degree of inhibition of UVB-tumorigenesis (or maybe even enhance tumorigenesis at some stage).

Higher 17α-hydroxyprogesterone levels aggravated the severity of male adolescent acne in Northeast China.

Background: The relationship between serum hormone levels and adolescent acne is not fully clarified.

Objective: To determine the relationship between levels of androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), testosterone, estradiol and 17α-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) with adolescent acne in Northeast China.

Methods: A transversal study included 242 acne cases and 188 controls.

Baicalein inhibits DMBA/TPA-induced skin tumorigenesis in mice by modulating proliferation, apoptosis, and inflammation.

Baicalein, one of the four major flavanoids extracted from the root of Scutellaria baicalensis, has been shown to exert chemopreventive effect against several cancers, including skin cancer. However, the precise mechanisms remain to be elucidated. In the present study, we investigated the chemopreventive activity of baicalein against 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)/12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-mediated skin tumorigenesis in C57BL/6 mice.

Local hyperthermia treatment of extensive viral warts in Darier disease: a case report and literature review.

Background: Darier disease is an autosomal dominant hereditary skin disease that is susceptible to secondary bacterial or fungal infections, but rarely to human papillomavirus (HPV) infections. Multiple or extensive warts from HPV remain a therapeutic challenge, but local hyperthermia is effective. We treated a patient with Darier disease who had superimposed warts in the genital and neck regions.

Kanglaite attenuates UVB-induced down-regulation of aquaporin-3 in cultured human skin keratinocytes.

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of skin photoaging. Depending on the wavelength of UV, the epidermis is affected primarily by UVB. One major characteristic of photoaging is the dehydration of the skin.

Production of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolites from a peroxynitrite/iron(III) porphyrin biomimetic model and their mutagenicities.

Some polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are typical promutagens that require metabolic activation to exhibit their mutagenicities and carcinogenicities. The metabolites of three PAHs, pyrene (PY), fluoranthene (FLU), and benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), produced from the peroxynitrite/T(p-Cl)PPFeCl(peroxynitrite/(chloride)iron(III)tetrakis(p-chlorophenyl)porphyrin) system, have been identified with high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electron spray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. The results demonstrated that three major metabolites were the quinone group, OH group, and nitro group.

A Chinese experience of fractional ultrapulsed CO₂laser for skin rejuvenation.

Background And Objectives: The ablative fractional CO₂ laser has been successfully used in treating photoaged skin in the Caucasian population. However, its application in Asian skin has not been widely reported. The purpose of this study is to observe the efficacy and safety of the protocol 'ActiveFX' for photodamaged facial skin in Chinese patients.

Co-existence of cutaneous alternariosis and tinea corporis in a renal transplant recipient.

Alternariosis, caused by Alternaria spp., is a rare opportunistic infection often observed in immunocompromised patients. Alternaria is a ubiquitous saprophytic fungus that naturally is found on decaying plant materials.

Local hyperthermia could induce antiviral activity by endogenous interferon-dependent pathway in condyloma acuminata.

Local hyperthermia has been successfully used in the treatment of viral warts by mechanisms that have largely remained unclear. Using an organotypic culture system, we found that hyperthermia at 42 °C and 45 °C could induce a significant increase in the transcriptional expression of interferon (IFN)-α, IFN-β and IFN-γ, in a temperature-dependent manner in condyloma acuminata (CA), but not in normal skin. Accordingly, local hyperthermia could enhance the expression of 2'-5' oligoadenylate synthase and double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-dependent protein kinase, two antiviral enzymes downstream of the IFN-dependant pathway.

Increased expression of MAP2 inhibits melanoma cell proliferation, invasion and tumor growth in vitro and in vivo.

Malignant melanoma (MM) is characterized by aggressive metastasis and high mortality rate. Microtubule-associated proteins 2 (MAP2) is expressed abundantly in majority of melanocytic nevi and primary melanomas, but absent in metastatic melanomas. To determine whether MAP2 correlates with tumor progression of MM, we investigated the effects of MAP2 inhibition on the biological behaviour of metastatic melanoma in vitro and in vivo.