The Role of Cacao Powder in Enhancing Skin Moisture and Reducing Wrinkles: A 12-Week Clinical Trial and In Vitro Study.

Skin aging is driven by a combination of internal and external mechanisms, with ultraviolet (UV) radiation being a prominent external factor contributing to photoaging. Photoaging manifests through several signs, including decreased skin hydration, diminished elasticity, coarse wrinkles, and dyspigmentation. Cacao beans, known for their flavonoids and polyphenols, offer potential anti-aging benefits.

Comprehensive Study on the Adsorption and Degradation of Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane on Bifunctional Adsorption-Photocatalysis Material TiO/MCM-41 Using Quantum Chemical Methods.

The adsorption and degradation capacities of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) on a photocatalyst composed of TiO supported on the mesoporous material MCM-41 (TiO/MCM-41) were investigated using density functional theory and real-time density functional theory methods. The van der Waals interactions within the PBE functional were adjusted by using the Grimme approach. The adsorption of DDT was evaluated through analyses involving adsorption energy, Hirshfeld atomic charges, Wiberg bond orders, molecular electrostatic potential, noncovalent interaction analysis, and bond path analysis.

Computational, optical and feasibility studies of organic luminescence TMB-PPT blend for photovoltaic application.

For enhanced applications of solar cells, organic luminescence materials like long persistent luminescence (LPL) present one of the promising avenues for light enhancement. Currently, most existing luminescent materials are based on an inorganic system that requires rare elements such as europium and dysprosium, with a very high processing temperature. Adopting organic luminescence materials that are free from rare elements is necessary, considering the low-temperature fabrication and low material cost.

Role of consumer ethnocentrism on purchase intention toward foreign products: Evidence from data of Vietnamese consumers with Chinese products.

This study aims to determine the influence of consumer ethnocentrism and general country image on Vietnamese consumers' perception of product origin and purchase intention toward Chinese goods. The research model is developed based on consumer ethnocentrism and country image perception theory. Analysis results by structural equation modeling from 448 consumers in three regions (North, Central, South) showed that consumer ethnocentrism harms the country's image perception and purchase intention of Vietnamese consumers toward Chinese imported products.

Adsorption of lindane (γ-hexachlorocyclohexane) on nickel modified graphitic carbon nitride: a theoretical study.

Adsorption of lindane (HCH) on nickel modified graphitic carbon nitride (Ni-gCN) was investigated using a novel, accurate and broadly parametrized self-consistent tight-binding quantum chemical (GFN2-xTB) method. Two graphitic carbon nitride (gCN) models were used: corrugated and planar, which represent the material with different thicknesses. Electronic properties of the adsorbates and adsorbent were estimated vertical ionization potential, vertical electron affinity, global electrophilicity index and the HOMO and LUMO.

Closed Reduction and Percutaneous Pinning for Supracondylar Fractures of Humerus in Vietnamese Children.

Background: Pediatric supracondylar humerus fracture (SHF) is a complicated injury which can result in severe sequela. Nowadays, closed reduction and percutaneous pinning (CRPP) is the most popular treatment.

Aim: This study had two aims (1) checking the result of treating pediatric SHF patients without neurovascular injury by CRPP under image intensifier, and (2) analysing neurovascular complications of CRPP in treating these patients.

Predictors of renal function after open and robot-assisted partial nephrectomy: A propensity score-matched study.

Objective: To investigate parameters predicting short- and long-term renal function after open partial nephrectomy and robot-assisted partial nephrectomy.

Methods: Medical records of 896 patients who underwent open partial nephrectomy or robot-assisted partial nephrectomy from 2004 to 2017 at a single large-volume institution were retrospectively reviewed. Propensity score matching of open partial nephrectomy and robot-assisted partial nephrectomy group was carried out with a ratio of 1:1.

Personalized 3D kidney model produced by rapid prototyping method and its usefulness in clinical applications.

Background: Three-dimensional (3D) printing has been introduced as a novel technique to produce 3D objects. We tried to evaluate the clinical usefulness of 3D-printed renal model in performing partial nephrectomy (PN) and also in the education of medical students.

Materials And Methods: We prospectively produced personalized renal models using 3D-printing methods from preoperative computed tomography (CT) images in a total of 10 patients.

Characterization of thermochemical properties of Al nanoparticle and NiO nanowire composites.

Thermochemical properties and microstructures of the composite of Al nanoparticles and NiO nanowires were characterized. The nanowires were synthesized using a hydrothermal method and were mixed with these nanoparticles by sonication. Electron microscopic images of these composites showed dispersed NiO nanowires decorated with Al nanoparticles.

Study of the adsorption step in the oxidative dehydrogenation of propane on V(2)O(5) (001) using calculations of electronic density of states.

The calculations of electronic density of states were applied to obtain insights into the molecular mechanisms of chemical reactions. They are able to predict the active sites and to explain the Mars-van Krevelen redox mechanism of the oxidative dehydrogenation of propane on V(2)O(5)(001). From the calculated results of this reaction, directions for selecting a reasonable catalyst for other processes can be derived.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers induce developmental neurotoxicity in a human in vitro model: evidence for endocrine disruption.

Background: Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are persistent and bioaccumulative flame retardants, which are found in rising concentrations in human tissues. They are of concern for human health because animal studies have shown that they possess the potential to be developmentally neurotoxic.

Objective: Because there is little knowledge of the effects of PBDEs on human brain cells, we investigated their toxic potential for human neural development in vitro.

Differential effects of TR ligands on hormone dissociation rates: evidence for multiple ligand entry/exit pathways.

Some nuclear receptor (NR) ligands promote dissociation of radiolabeled bound hormone from the buried ligand binding cavity (LBC) more rapidly than excess unlabeled hormone itself. This result was interpreted to mean that challenger ligands bind allosteric sites on the LBD to induce hormone dissociation, and recent findings indicate that ligands bind weakly to multiple sites on the LBD surface. Here, we show that a large fraction of thyroid hormone receptor (TR) ligands promote rapid dissociation (T(1/2)<2h) of radiolabeled T(3) vs.

Complex actions of thyroid hormone receptor antagonist NH-3 on gene promoters in different cell lines.

It is desirable to obtain new antagonists for thyroid hormone receptors (TRs) and other nuclear receptors (NRs). We previously used X-ray structural models of TR ligand binding domains (LBDs) to design compounds, such as NH-3, that impair coactivator binding to activation function 2 (AF-2) and block thyroid hormone (triiodothyronine, T(3)) actions. However, TRs bind DNA and are transcriptionally active without ligand.

Pharmacological profile of the thyroid hormone receptor antagonist NH3 in rats.

NH3 is a thyroid hormone receptor (TR) antagonist that inhibits binding of thyroid hormones to their receptor and that inhibits cofactor recruitment. It was active in a tadpole tail resorption assay, with partial agonist activity at high concentrations. We determined the effect of NH3 on the cholesterol-lowering, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)-lowering, and tachycardic action of thyroid hormone (T(3)) in rats.

Rapid nongenomic actions of thyroid hormone.

The binding of thyroid hormone to the thyroid hormone receptor (TR) mediates important physiological effects. However, the transcriptional effects of TR mediated by the thyroid response element (TRE) cannot explain many actions of thyroid hormone. We postulate that TR can initiate rapid, non-TRE-mediated effects in the cardiovascular system through cross-coupling to the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase)/protein kinase Akt pathway.

Analysis of thyroid hormone receptor betaA mRNA expression in Xenopus laevis tadpoles as a means to detect agonism and antagonism of thyroid hormone action.

Amphibian metamorphosis represents a unique biological model to study thyroid hormone (TH) action in vivo. In this study, we examined the utility of thyroid hormone receptors alpha (TRalpha) and betaA (TRbetaA) mRNA expression patterns in Xenopus laevis tadpoles as molecular markers indicating modulation of TH action. During spontaneous metamorphosis, only moderate changes were evident for TRalpha gene expression whereas a marked up-regulation of TRbetaA mRNA occurred in hind limbs (prometamorphosis), head (late prometamorphosis), and tail tissue (metamorphic climax).

Polychlorinated biphenyls disturb differentiation of normal human neural progenitor cells: clue for involvement of thyroid hormone receptors.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are ubiquitous environmental chemicals that accumulate in adipose tissues over the food chain. Epidemiologic studies have indicated that PCBs influence brain development. Children who are exposed to PCBs during development suffer from neuropsychologic deficits such as a lower full-scale IQ (intelligence quotient), reduced visual recognition memory, and attention and motor deficits.

Hammett analysis of selective thyroid hormone receptor modulators reveals structural and electronic requirements for hormone antagonists.

Selective thyroid hormone modulators that function as isoform-selective agonists or antagonists of the thyroid hormone receptors (TRs) might be therapeutically useful in diseases associated with aberrant hormone signaling. The most potent thyroid hormone antagonist reported to date is NH-3. To explore the significance of the 5'-p-nitroaryl moiety of NH-3 and understand what chemical features are important to confer antagonism, we sought to expand the structure-activity relationship data for the class of 5'-phenylethynyl GC-1 derivatives.

Quantitative proteomics of the thyroid hormone receptor-coregulator interactions.

The thyroid hormone receptor regulates a diverse set of genes that control processes from embryonic development to adult homeostasis. Upon binding of thyroid hormone, the thyroid receptor releases corepressor proteins and undergoes a conformational change that allows for the interaction of coactivating proteins necessary for gene transcription. This interaction is mediated by a conserved motif, termed the NR box, found in many coregulators.

Effects of the thyroid hormone receptor agonist GC-1 on metabolic rate and cholesterol in rats and primates: selective actions relative to 3,5,3'-triiodo-L-thyronine.

Current drug therapies for obesity are ineffective, and existing treatments for lipid disorders can be further improved. Thyroid hormones affect both conditions, although currently available nonselective thyromimetics are not clinically useful for such treatment due to cardiac side effects. Recent studies suggest that thyroid hormone receptor subtype beta (TRbeta) selective agonists have a profile in which cholesterol can be reduced with minimal tachycardia.

Design of thyroid hormone receptor antagonists from first principles.

It is desirable to obtain TR antagonists for treatment of hyperthyroidism and other conditions. We have designed TR antagonists from first principles based on TR crystal structures. Since agonist ligands are buried in the fold of the TR ligand binding domain (LBD), we reasoned that ligands that resemble agonists with large extensions should bind the LBD, but would prevent its folding into an active conformation.

Rational design and synthesis of a novel thyroid hormone antagonist that blocks coactivator recruitment.

Recent efforts have focused on the design and synthesis of thyroid hormone (T(3)) antagonists as potential therapeutic agents and chemical probes to understand hormone-signaling pathways. We previously reported the development of novel first-generation T(3) antagonists DIBRT, HY-4, and GC-14 using the "extension hypothesis" as a general guideline in hormone antagonist design.(1-3) These compounds contain extensions at the 5'-position (DIBRT, GC-14) of the outer thyronine ring or from the bridging carbon (HY-4).

A thyroid hormone antagonist that inhibits thyroid hormone action in vivo.

We have characterized the newly developed thyroid hormone antagonist NH-3 in both cell culture and in vivo model systems. NH-3 binds Xenopus laevis thyroid hormone receptors directly in vitro and induces a conformation distinct from agonist-bound receptors. Transcriptional activation of a thyroid hormone response element-containing reporter gene is strongly inhibited by NH-3 in a dose-dependent manner.

Synthesis and biological activity of novel thyroid hormone analogues: 5'-aryl substituted GC-1 derivatives.

Compounds that selectively modulate thyroid hormone action by functioning as isoform-selective agonists or antagonists of the thyroid hormone receptors (TRs) might be useful for medical therapy. We have synthesized a high affinity TRbeta-selective agonist ligand, GC-1, and optimized the synthetic route to provide large quantities of the compound for animal testing. In addition to an improvement in efficiency, the new synthetic route offers a chemical handle for selective modification of the thyronine skeleton to produce new derivatives.