Tumor Suppressive Function of NQO1 in Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) Cells.

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a common cancer that significantly decreases the quality of life. It is known that external stimulus such as ultraviolet (UV) radiation induces cutaneous SCC via provoking oxidative stress. NAD(P)H dehydrogenase 1 (NQO1) is a ubiquitous flavoenzyme that functions as a guardian against oxidative stress.

Antitumor Effect of Albendazole on Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) Cells.

Drug repurposing and/or repositioning is an alternative method to develop new treatment for certain diseases. Albendazole was originally developed as an anthelmintic medication, and it has been used to treat a variety of parasitic infestations. In this study, we investigated the antitumor effect of albendazole and putative action mechanism.

Inhibition of Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1-Induced Sebum Production by Bilobetin in Cultured Human Sebocytes.

Background: Sebocytes are the major cells of sebaceous gland. The essential role of sebocytes is the production of sebum, a specific lipid mixture, that covers the body surface and provides the barrier function. At puberty, sebum production increases under the effects of various stimuli including androgens and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1).

Inhibition of Poly(I:C)-Induced Inflammation by Salvianolic Acid A in Skin Keratinocytes.

Background: Skin keratinocytes participate actively in inducing immune responses when external pathogens are introduced, thereby contributing to elimination of pathogens. However, in condition where the excessive inflammation is occurred, chronic skin disease such as psoriasis can be provoked.

Objective: We tried to screen the putative therapeutics for inflammatory skin disease, and found that salvianolic acid A (SAA) has an inhibitory effect on keratinocyte inflammatory reaction.

Inhibition of collagen synthesis by IWR-1 in normal and keloid-derived skin fibroblasts.

Aims: Keloid is a benign tumor that is characterized by the hyperproliferation of dermal fibroblasts and excessive deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) especially the collagen. Aberrant activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling is implicated in the pathogenesis of keloid. In this study, we investigated the effects of IWR-1, a small molecule inhibitor for Wnt/β-catenin signaling via the inhibition of tankyrase, on production of collagen and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) in dermal fibroblasts.

[Atmospheric emission of PCDD/Fs from modern dry processing cement kilns with preheating in the southwest area, China].

Six cement kilns were measured for emissions of PCDD/Fs in the Southwest Area, China. The results indicated that the emission levels of PCDD/Fs were 0.0029-0.

[Atmospheric emission of PCDD/Fs from secondary aluminum metallurgy industry in the southwest area, China].

Five secondary aluminum metallurgy enterprises in the southwest area of China were measured for emissions of PCDD/Fs. The results indicated that the emission levels of PCDD/Fs (as TEQ) were 0.015-0.

[Concentrations of PCDD/Fs in the atmosphere of Chongqing City and its seasonal variation].

As a comprehensive monitoring survey on polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) in Chongqing, 20 ambient air samples taken from 5 locations in four seasons were studied. The PCDD/F TEQ concentrations varied from 0.017 pg x m(-3) to 0.

Induction of connective tissue growth factor expression by sphingosylphosphorylcholine in cultured human skin fibroblasts.

Sphingosylphosphorylcholine (SPC) is a bioactive sphingolipid metabolite that can enhance wound healing. In an effort to find downstream effectors of SPC, we performed microarray analysis and found that the expression of the gene for connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) was significantly affected in human skin fibroblasts cultured in vitro. Northern blot analysis showed that SPC markedly induced CTGF mRNA expression in a dose- and time-dependent manner.

Involvement of urokinase-type plasminogen activator in sphingosylphosphorylcholine-induced angiogenesis.

Sphingosylphosphorylcholine (SPC) has been shown to accelerate wound healing. As angiogenesis is fundamental to proper wound healing, we examined the effect of SPC on angiogenesis using a well-established rat aortic ring assay. SPC significantly stimulated the sprouting of endothelial cells from rat aortic ring.