Melanoma Detection by AFM Indentation of Histological Specimens.

Melanoma is visible unlike other types of cancer, but it is still challenging to diagnose correctly because of the difficulty in distinguishing between benign nevus and melanoma. We conducted a robust investigation of melanoma, identifying considerable differences in local elastic properties between nevus and melanoma tissues by using atomic force microscopy (AFM) indentation of histological specimens. Specifically, the histograms of the elastic modulus of melanoma displayed multimodal Gaussian distributions, exhibiting heterogeneous mechanical properties, in contrast with the unimodal distributions of elastic modulus in the benign nevus.

Optimization and validation of a method to identify skin sensitization hazards using IL-1 α and IL-6 secretion from HaCaT.

Although many methods to assess sensitization have been investigated to replace animal testing, it is still imperative to develop an in vitro method to minimize the use of animals and to classify sensitizers. Recently, an assay using the human keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT) was developed as an alternative method. Our aim was to optimize this method and validate its ability to assess sensitization.

Transfer Function Between Intracranial Pressure and Aortic Blood Pressure and Carotid Blood Flow.

The compliance of the intracranial space is such that the intracranial pressure (ICP) waveform is approximately the aortic blood pressure (BP) waveform minus the dominant harmonic (heart rate (HR)) of that waveform. This has been tested across species of different resting HR. Whether this filter characteristic holds true for large changes in HR, or under changed ICP, has not been examined.

Cerebral Haemodynamics: Effects of Systemic Arterial Pulsatile Function and Hypertension.

Purpose Of Review: Concepts of pulsatile arterial haemodynamics, including relationships between oscillatory blood pressure and flow in systemic arteries, arterial stiffness and wave propagation phenomena have provided basic understanding of underlying haemodynamic mechanisms associated with elevated arterial blood pressure as a major factor of cardiovascular risk, particularly the deleterious effects of isolated systolic hypertension in the elderly. This topical review assesses the effects of pulsatility of blood pressure and flow in the systemic arteries on the brain. The review builds on the emerging notion of the "pulsating brain", taking into account the high throughput of blood flow in the cerebral circulation in the presence of mechanisms involved in ensuring efficient and regulated cerebral perfusion.

Normal cerebral vascular pulsations in humans: changes with age and implications for microvascular disease.

Background: Cerebral syndromes in older humans, secondary stroke in younger persons following trauma, and sickle cell anaemia in children, are linked by unexplained microvascular damage and high cerebral pressure or flow pulsations. The aim of this study was to characterize age-related pressure and flow waveforms patterns entering the brain, to explain these in terms of disturbed physiological function, and to consider clinical implications.

Method: Blood flow velocity waves were measured in four cerebral vascular territories by transcranial Doppler of 1020 apparently normal patients (497 men, 21-78 years).

Cannabidiol upregulates melanogenesis through CB1 dependent pathway by activating p38 MAPK and p42/44 MAPK.

Melanogenesis plays a critical role in the protection of skin against external stresses such as ultraviolet irradiation and oxidative stressors. This study was aimed to investigate the effects of cannabidiol on melanogenesis and its mechanisms of action in human epidermal melanocytes. We found that cannabidiol increased both melanin content and tyrosinase activity.

Problems with health information technology and their effects on care delivery and patient outcomes: a systematic review.

Objective: To systematically review studies reporting problems with information technology (IT) in health care and their effects on care delivery and patient outcomes.

Materials And Methods: We searched bibliographic databases including Scopus, PubMed, and Science Citation Index Expanded from January 2004 to December 2015 for studies reporting problems with IT and their effects. A framework called the information value chain, which connects technology use to final outcome, was used to assess how IT problems affect user interaction, information receipt, decision-making, care processes, and patient outcomes.

Melanocyte-protective effect of afzelin is mediated by the Nrf2-ARE signalling pathway via GSK-3β inactivation.

Vitiligo is an acquired condition characterized by depigmented, cutaneous lesions that result from the death of pigment-producing cells, melanocytes. The occurrence of oxidative stress has been proposed as a pathogenetic mechanism for melanocyte degeneration in vitiligo. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the cytoprotective effects of afzelin against oxidative stress and its mechanism of action in human epidermal melanocytes.

Apple ethanol extract promotes proliferation of human adult stem cells, which involves the regenerative potential of stem cells.

Tissue regeneration using adult stem cells (ASCs) has significant potential as a novel treatment for many degenerative diseases. Previous studies have established that age negatively affects the proliferation status and differentiation potential of ASCs, suggesting a possible limitation in their potential therapeutic use. Therefore, we hypothesized that apple extract might exert beneficial effects on ASCs.

Anti-inflammatory effects of Zea mays L. husk extracts.

Background: Zea mays L. (Z. mays) has been used for human consumption in the various forms of meal, cooking oil, thickener in sauces and puddings, sweetener in processed food and beverage products, bio-disel.

Vanillin attenuates negative effects of ultraviolet A on the stemness of human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells.

Ultraviolet A (UVA) irradiation induces various changes in cell biology. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of vanillin on UVA irradiation-induced damages in the stemness properties of human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hAMSCs). UVA-antagonizing mechanisms of vanillin were also examined.

Afzelin positively regulates melanogenesis through the p38 MAPK pathway.

Melanogenesis refers to synthesis of the skin pigment melanin, which plays a critical role in the protection of skin against ultraviolet irradiation and oxidative stressors. We investigated the effects of afzelin on melanogenesis and its mechanisms of action in human epidermal melanocytes. In this study, we found that afzelin increased both melanin content and tyrosinase activity in a concentration-dependent manner.

Central Pulsatile Pressure and Flow Relationship in the Time and Frequency Domain to Characterise Hydraulic Input to the Brain and Cerebral Vascular Impedance.

In the time domain, pulsatile flow and pressure can be characterised as the ratio of the late systolic boost of flow or pressure to the pulse amplitude so as to estimate the hydraulic input to the brain. While vascular impedance has been widely used to represent the load presented to the heart by the systemic circulation, it has not been applied to the cerebral circulation.We set out to study the relationship between the pressure and the flow augmentation index (AIx) in the time domain and to determine cerebral vascular impedance using aortic blood pressure and cerebral blood flow waveforms in the frequency domain.

Change in Pulsatile Cerebral Arterial Pressure and Flow Waves as a Therapeutic Strategy?

While intracranial pressure (ICP), arterial pressure and transcranial middle cerebral artery flow velocity (MCAFV) are often monitored in unconscious patients following stroke or head injury, the value of waveform indices has not been fully established. We retrospectively analysed the data of eight adults (aged 19-36 years) with closed head injury who had spontaneous and repeated episodes of elevated ICP (i.e.

Intracranial Pressure Waveforms are More Closely Related to Central Aortic than Radial Pressure Waveforms: Implications for Pathophysiology and Therapy.

In patients with subarachnoid haemorrhage, pulsatile intracranial pressure (ICP) is more strongly associated with adverse events than mean ICP. Furthermore, patients with idiopathic normal-pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH), and pulsatile ICP of 5 mmHg or more, gain more benefit from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunting than those whose pulsatile ICP is lower than 5 mmHg.Our study aims to investigate the morphological relationship between ICP pulsations, aortic pressure pulsations and radial artery pulsations.

Emodin isolated from Polygoni Multiflori Ramulus inhibits melanogenesis through the liver X receptor-mediated pathway.

Melanogenesis is a physiological process that results in the synthesis of melanin pigments, which play a crucial protective role against skin photocarcinogenesis. We investigated the effects of a Polygoni Multiflori Ramulus extract on melanogenesis and isolated emodin from Polygoni Multiflori as an active compound. In addition, the possible mechanisms of action were examined.

cAMP Promotes Cell Migration Through Cell Junctional Complex Dynamics and Actin Cytoskeleton Remodeling: Implications in Skin Wound Healing.

Stem cells have attracted great interest for their therapeutic capacity in tissue regeneration. Cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP), existing in high concentration at wound sites, mediated various signaling pathways such as cytoskeleton dynamics, cell adhesion, and cell migration in stem cells, which suggest the critical roles of cAMP in the wound healing process through functional regulation of stem cells. However, the mechanisms behind the effect of cAMP on mouse embryonic stem cell (mESC) motility and its roles on skin wound healing remain to be fully elucidated.

Principles of cerebral hemodynamics when intracranial pressure is raised: lessons from the peripheral circulation.

Background: The brain is highly vascular and richly perfused, and dependent on continuous flow for normal function. Although confined within the skull, pressure within the brain is usually less than 15 mmHg, and shows small pulsations related to arterial pulse under normal circumstances. Pulsatile arterial hemodynamics in the brain have been studied before, but are still inadequately understood, especially during changes of intracranial pressure (ICP) after head injury.

Glucosamine-induced OGT activation mediates glucose production through cleaved Notch1 and FoxO1, which coordinately contributed to the regulation of maintenance of self-renewal in mouse embryonic stem cells.

We aimed to study the relationship between glucosamine and FoxO1/Notch in gluconeogenesis and maintenance of mouse embryonic stem cell (mESC) self-renewal. Glucosamine (GlcN) increased glucose production and gluconeogenic enzyme (G6Pase and PEPCK) expression. GlcN also increased the percentage of cells in S phase, number of cells, and the protein expression of cell cycle regulatory proteins that were blocked by 3-mercaptopicolinic acid (gluconeogenesis inhibitor) or glucose transporter (GLUT) 1 neutralizing antibody.

Reactive oxygen species induce MMP12-dependent degradation of collagen 5 and fibronectin to promote the motility of human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells.

Background And Purpose: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are potent regulators of stem cell behaviour; however, their physiological significance as regards MMP-mediated regulation of the motility of human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UCB-MSCs) has not been characterized. In the present study, we investigated the role of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2 ) and associated signalling pathways in promoting UCB-MSCs motility.

Experimental Approach: The regulatory effects of H2O2 on the activation of PKC, MAPKs, NF-κB and β-catenin were determined.

Glucosamine-induced Sp1 O-GlcNAcylation ameliorates hypoxia-induced SGLT dysfunction in primary cultured renal proximal tubule cells.

The aim of this study is to determine whether GlcN could recover the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-induced dysfunction of Na(+) /glucose cotransporter (SGLT) in renal proximal tubule cells (PTCs) under hypoxia. With the rabbit model, the renal ischemia induced tubulointerstitial abnormalities and decreased SGLTs expression in tubular brush-border, which were recovered by GlcN. Thus, the protective mechanism of GlcN against renal ischemia was being examined by using PTCs.

Primary anaplastic large cell lymphoma of the lung presenting with acute atelectasis.

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma only rarely occurs as a primary lung mass. We report a very rare case of primary pulmonary anaplastic large cell lymphoma presenting with acute atelectasis in a 55-year-old man. Chest computed tomography revealed a consolidated central mass in the left lung with obstructive pneumonia that had developed into total atelectasis.

Glucosamine-induced reduction of integrin β4 and plectin complex stimulates migration and proliferation in mouse embryonic stem cells.

We investigated the role of glucosamine (GlcN) on the integrin β4/plectin complex and its role in the regulation of mouse embryonic stem cell (mESC) migration and proliferation. GlcN significantly decreased integrin β4 mRNA/protein expression, whereas plectin protein expression did not change. Also, decrease of integrin β4 expression caused reduction of integrin β4/plectin complex formation, and then increased cell migration.

Frequency dependent transmission characteristics between arterial blood pressure and intracranial pressure in rats.

The pulsatile energy transmission between arterial blood pressure (BP) and intracranial pressure (ICP) is affected by cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and brain tissue. Studies in dogs have shown that the transfer function (TF) between BP and ICP shows damping of pulsatile energy around heart rate frequency (1-3Hz) with notch filter characteristics, and the amount of damping is sensitive to cerebral compliance. This investigation aimed to assess whether this notch filter characteristic is an intrinsic property of the brain enclosed in a rigid skull and therefore applies across species with a large difference in body size.

C(16)-Ceramide-induced F-actin regulation stimulates mouse embryonic stem cell migration: involvement of N-WASP/Cdc42/Arp2/3 complex and cofilin-1/α-actinin.

Ceramide, a major structural element in the cellular membrane, is a key regulatory factor in various cellular behaviors that are dependent on ceramide-induced association of specific proteins. However, molecular mechanisms that regulate ceramide-induced embryonic stem cell (ESC) migration are still not well understood. Thus, we investigated the effect of ceramide on migration and its related signal pathways in mouse ESCs.