Clinical Safety and Efficacy Evaluation of a Dissolving Microneedle Patch Having Dual Anti-Wrinkle Effects With Safe and Long-Term Activities.

Background: Anti-aging products are widely used, but the desire for safe and more efficient anti-aging products continues to increase. Dissolving microneedle patches (MNPs) have provided a more efficient transdermal drug delivery solution. MNP is a promising candidate for developing better anti-aging products.

Protection against tuberculosis achieved by dissolving microneedle patches loaded with live in a BCG prime-boost strategy.

Introduction: Skin vaccination using dissolving microneedle patch (MNP) technology for transdermal delivery is a promising vaccine delivery strategy to overcome the limitations of the existing vaccine administration strategies using syringes. To improve the traditional microneedle mold fabrication technique, we introduced droplet extension (DEN) to reduce drug loss. Tuberculosis remains a major public health problem worldwide, and BCG revaccination had failed to increase the protective efficacy against tuberculosis.

Production and characterization of long-acting recombinant human albumin-EPO fusion protein expressed in CHO cell.

A long-lasting recombinant human albumin-linker-erythropoietin (EPO) is a human albumin gene fused to the N-terminal of EPO with a (GGSGG)(n)-repeated linker inserted between albumin and EPO. Albumin-EPO fusion genes were co-transfected with the dhfr gene. Albumin-EPO fusion protein has three kinds of sub-types (IALE, AD2LE, AD1LE).

[In vitro culture of hepatitis C virus (HCV) using immortalized hepatocyte].

Background/aims: It is essential to develop an in vitro culture model of primary hepatocytes for the study of hepatocellular function and the pathogenesis of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. In this study, we have established the immortalized primary human hepatocyte (IPHH) and performed in vitro culture of HCV derived from human patient.

Methods: Primary human hepatocytes were isolated from surgically resected liver tissue and then were immortalized by transfection with the SV40 large T antigen.

Characterization of human cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4-immunoglobulin (hCTLA4Ig) expressed in transgenic rice cell suspension cultures.

The avidity for CD80Ig/CD86Ig and the in vitro immunosuppressive effect of recombinant human cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4-immunoglobulin, produced by transgenic rice cell suspension cultures (hCTLA4Ig(P)) with CHO-derived recombinant hCTLA4Ig (hCTLA4Ig(M)), were measured. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) was used for kinetic binding analysis: hCTLA4Ig(P) and hCTLA4Ig(M) had higher avidity for CD80Ig/CD86Ig than for CD28Ig, and the avidity for CD80Ig/CD86Ig was similar. hCTLA4Ig(P) and hCTLA4Ig(M) had similar in vitro immunosuppressive activity against the expression of T cell-derived cytokines, such as IL-2, IL-4, and IFN-gamma, but did not suppress the expression of macrophage-derived cytokines, including TNF-alpha and IL-1beta, as well as NO.

HCV core protein promotes liver fibrogenesis via up-regulation of CTGF with TGF-beta1.

Liver cirrhosis is one of the major complications of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, but the mechanisms underlying HCV-related fibrogenesis are still not clear. Although the roles of HCV core protein remain poorly understood, it is supposed to play an important role in the regulation of cellular growth and hepatocarcinogenesis. The aim of this study was to examine the role of HCV core protein on the hepatic fibrogenesis.

[Prediction of hepatic fibrosis using serum hyaluronic acid in patients with chronic liver disease].

Background/aims: The extent of hepatic fibrosis is important in chronic liver disease. Liver biopsy is essential for diagnosis of fibrosis. However, biopsy is invasive and may not represent the whole liver state.

[The role of hepatitis C virus core protein on liver fibrogenesis: a study using an in vitro co-culture system].

Background/aims: The study of liver fibrogenesis by hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been limited due to the lack of an efficiency in vitro culture systems. In the present study, we investigated whether or not HCV core protein is directly related to liver fibrogenesis through stimulation of hepatic stellate cells (HSC).

Methods: Human and rat HSC were isolated and we established an in vitro co-culture system of a stable HepG2-HCV core cell line which was transfected with HCV core gene and primary HSC.