Dietary Ceramide Prepared from Soy Sauce Lees Improves Skin Barrier Function in Hairless Mice.

Dietary sphingolipids such as glucosylceramide and sphingomyelin are known to improve the skin barrier function of damaged skin. In this study, we focused on free-ceramide prepared from soy sauce lees, which is a byproduct of soy sauce production. The effects of dietary soy sauce lees ceramide on the skin of normal mice were evaluated and compared with those of dietary maize glucosylceramide.

Appearance of Intact Molecules of Dietary Ceramides Prepared from Soy Sauce Lees and Rice Glucosylceramides in Mouse Plasma.

Although the beneficial effects of dietary sphingolipids have recently been reported, the mechanism of their intestinal absorption has yet to be fully elucidated. In this study, the absorption and metabolism of dietary ceramides and glucosylceramides were evaluated by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis in the plasma of mice after a single oral administration. Ceramide molecules prepared from soy sauce lees (mainly composed of phytosphingosine and its derivatives) were undetectable or minor compounds in the plasma of control mice but appeared 1-6 h after administration.

A simple and highly sensitive method of measuring heme oxygenase activity.

Heme oxygenase (HO) is a rate-limiting step of heme degradation, which catalyzes the conversion of heme into biliverdin, iron, and CO. HO has been characterized in microorganisms, insects, plants, and mammals. Previously used assays of HO activity were complicated and had low sensitivity.

Carbonyl compounds generated from electronic cigarettes.

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are advertised as being safer than tobacco cigarettes products as the chemical compounds inhaled from e-cigarettes are believed to be fewer and less toxic than those from tobacco cigarettes. Therefore, continuous careful monitoring and risk management of e-cigarettes should be implemented, with the aim of protecting and promoting public health worldwide. Moreover, basic scientific data are required for the regulation of e-cigarette.

Determination of carbonyl compounds generated from the E-cigarette using coupled silica cartridges impregnated with hydroquinone and 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine, followed by high-performance liquid chromatography.

Carbonyl compounds in E-cigarette smoke mist were measured using coupled silica cartridges impregnated with hydroquinone and 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine, followed by high-performance liquid chromatography. A total of 363 E-cigarettes (13 brands) were examined. Four of the 13 E-cigarette brands did not generate any carbonyl compounds, while the other nine E-cigarette brands generated various carbonyl compounds.

Collagen coating on hydroxyapatite surfaces modified with organosilane by chemical vapor deposition method.

Type I collagen was coated onto the modified surfaces of hydroxyapatite (HAp) sintered body. The interfacial interaction between collagen and HAp in a nano-region was controlled by depositing the organosilane of n-octadecyltrimethoxysilane (ODS: -CH3) or aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTS: -NH2) with a chemical vapor deposition method. The surfaces were elaborated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, zeta-potential, and contact angle measurements; the Si and/or N peaks were detected, and the contact angles and surface energies were apparently different on the modified surfaces.

Preparation and characterization of hydroxyapatite/collagen nanocomposite gel.

The self-organized hydroxyapatite/colagen (HAp/Col) nanocomposite fiber (79.6/20.4 weight ratio) was synthesized by a co-precipitation method using Ca(OH)2, H3PO4, and Col as starting substances.

Fabrication and mechanical and tissue ingrowth properties of unidirectionally porous hydroxyapatite/collagen composite.

This study investigated the effects of the three-dimensional (3-D) pore structure of a porous hydroxyapatite/collagen (HAp/Col) composite on their mechanical properties and in vivo tissue ingrowth. The unique 3-D pore structure, comprising unidirectionally interconnected pores, was fabricated by the unidirectional growth of ice crystals by using a cooling stage and a subsequent freeze-drying process. The unidirectional pores had a spindle-shaped cross section, and their size gradually increased from the bottom to the upper face.