Individual Article: Efficacy of Over-The-Counter Cream in Reducing Eczema Signs.

Background: Eczema (also called atopic dermatitis) is a chronic, relapsing skin disease characterized by erythema, scaling, and pruritus.

Methods: Study 1. A double-blind, uncontrolled study in patients with mild-moderate eczema, ≥2 flares in prior 2 months, and baseline Scoring Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) score ≤15.

SARS-CoV-2 infection among employees working from home and on site: An occupational study in Switzerland.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many companies implemented working from home to mitigate the spread of the disease among their employees. Using data from , a seroepidemiological study conducted among employees from two Nestlé sites in Switzerland, we aimed to investigate whether there was a difference in SARS-CoV-2 infection rates between employees working most of the time from home and employees mobilized in a workplace equipped with a specialized occupational safety unit and strict sanitary measures. We also investigated whether this association was modified by household size, living with children, vulnerability, worries about an infection, and worries about adverse health consequences if infected.

Effect of Different Nutritional Supplements on Glucose Response of Complete Meals in Two Crossover Studies.

Postprandial hyperglycemia is an important risk factor in the development and progression of type-2 diabetes and cardiometabolic diseases. Therefore, maintaining a low postprandial glucose response is key in preventing these diseases. Carbohydrate-rich meals are the main drivers of excessive glycemic excursions during the day.

A Decentralized Study Setup Enables to Quantify the Effect of Polymerization and Linkage of α-Glucans on Post-Prandial Glucose Response.

The complexity of the carbohydrate structure is associated with post-prandial glucose response and diverse health benefits. The aim of this study was to determine whether, thanks to the usage of minimally invasive glucose monitors, it was possible to evaluate, in a decentralized study setup, the post-prandial glycemic response (PPGR) of α-glucans differing systematically in their degree of polymerization (DP 3 vs. DP 60) and in their linkage structure (dextrin vs.

Prevention of polymorphic light eruption by oral administration of a nutritional supplement containing lycopene, β-carotene, and Lactobacillus johnsonii: results from a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded study.

Background: Polymorphic light eruption (PLE) is the most common photodermatosis. Little is known about the efficacy of systemic photoprotection provided by nutritional supplements in PLE patients.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess efficacy of nutritional supplement containing lycopene, β-carotene, and Lactobacillus johnsonii to diminish skin lesions induced by 'photoprovocation' testing in PLE patients.

Nutrition and nutritional supplementation: Impact on skin health and beauty.

Skin acts as a natural barrier between internal and external environments thus plays an important role in vital biological functions such as protection against mechanical/chemical damages, micro-organisms, ultraviolet damage. Nutrition has a critical impact on strengthening skin's capabilities to fight against these multiple aggressions.Nutritional deficiencies are often associated with skin health disorders, while diets can either positively or negatively influence skin condition.

Clinical evidence of benefits of a dietary supplement containing probiotic and carotenoids on ultraviolet-induced skin damage.

Background: Lactobacillus johnsonii (La1) has been reported to protect skin immune system homeostasis following ultraviolet (UV) exposure.

Objectives: To assess the effects of a dietary supplement (DS) combining La1 and nutritional doses of carotenoids on early UV-induced skin damage.

Methods: Three clinical trials (CT1, CT2, CT3) were performed using different UV sources: nonextreme UV with a high UVA irradiance (UV-DL, CT1), extreme simulated solar radiation (UV-SSR, CT2) and natural sunlight (CT3).

New emollient with topical corticosteroid-sparing effect in treatment of childhood atopic dermatitis: SCORAD and quality of life improvement.

Emollients are commonly used for their effectiveness on atopic skin, supported by a few clinical studies suggesting their potential role as corticosteroid sparing agents. We investigated the effect of a new natural emollient on corticosteroid sparing and quality of life of young atopic children and their family. Eighty-six patients (4-48 mos) with moderate atopic dermatitis were randomized by 20 pediatricians to five groups for 21 days: corticosteroids (from twice daily to one application every other day) combined or not with the studied cream (twice daily), and evaluated by SCORAD and specific quality of life questionnaires.

Effects of AV119, a natural sugar from avocado, on Malassezia furfur invasiveness and on the expression of HBD-2 and cytokines in human keratinocytes.

AV119 is a patented blend of two sugars from avocado that can induce human beta-defensin-2 production by normal human keratinocytes. In this study, we analysed the effect of AV119 on growth and invasiveness of Malassezia furfur, a dimorphic, lipid-dependent yeast that is part of the normal human cutaneous commensal flora. The ability to modulate the expression of the proinflammatory and immunomodulatory cytokines in normal human keratinocytes was also investigated.

Piascledine modulates the production of VEGF and TIMP-1 and reduces the invasiveness of rheumatoid arthritis synoviocytes.

Background: In rheumatoid arthritis (RA), hypertrophy of the synovial membrane generates a tumour-like pannus that invades the joint cavity and erodes cartilage and bone. Invasion of the extracellular matrix (ECM) is accompanied by angiogenesis, in which vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs), produced by synoviocytes lining the pannus, have a primary role. Piascledine (PSD) is used in the treatment of osteoarthritis and has anti-inflammatory effects in vitro.

Avocado/soybean unsaponifiables prevent the inhibitory effect of osteoarthritic subchondral osteoblasts on aggrecan and type II collagen synthesis by chondrocytes.

Objective: To determine the effects of avocado/soybean unsaponifiables (ASU) on osteoblast-induced dysregulation of chondrocyte metabolism.

Methods: Human chondrocytes were isolated from osteoarthritis (OA) cartilage and cultured in alginate beads for 4 or 10 days in the absence or presence of osteoblasts isolated from nonsclerotic (NSC) or sclerotic (SC) zones of OA subchondral bone plate in monolayer. Before co-culture, osteoblasts were incubated or not with 10 microg/ml ASU for 72 hours.

Activation by IL-1 of bovine articular chondrocytes in culture within a 3D collagen-based scaffold. An in vitro model to address the effect of compounds with therapeutic potential in osteoarthritis.

Objective: To determine the best protocol for the preparation of a tissue-engineered cartilage to investigate the potential anti-arthritic and/or anti-osteoarthritic effects of drugs.

Methods: Calf articular chondrocytes, seeded in collagen sponges were grown in culture for up to 1 month. At day 14 cultures received interleukin (IL)-1beta (ranging from 0.

Osteoblasts from the sclerotic subchondral bone downregulate aggrecan but upregulate metalloproteinases expression by chondrocytes. This effect is mimicked by interleukin-6, -1beta and oncostatin M pre-treated non-sclerotic osteoblasts.

Objective: To determine the effects of osteoarthritic (OA) subchondral osteoblasts on the metabolism of human OA chondrocytes in alginate beads.

Methods: Human chondrocytes were isolated from OA cartilage and cultured in alginate beads for 4 days in the absence or in the presence of osteoblasts isolated from non-sclerotic (N) or sclerotic (SC) zones of human OA subchondral bone in monolayer (co-culture system). Before co-culture, osteoblasts were incubated for 72 h with or without 1.

Subchondral bone osteoblasts induce phenotypic changes in human osteoarthritic chondrocytes.

Objective: To determine the influence of osteoarthritic (OA) phenotype of subchondral osteoblasts on the phenotype of human chondrocytes.

Methods: Human chondrocytes were isolated from OA cartilage and cultured in alginate beads for 4 or 10 days in the absence or in the presence of osteoblasts in monolayer. The osteoblasts were either isolated from non-sclerotic (N) or sclerotic (SC) zones of human subchondral bone.

Novel protein kinase C and matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors of vegetable origin as potential modulators of Langerhans cell migration following hapten-induced sensitization.

Background: Migration and maturation of epidermal dendritic cells, the Langerhans cells (LC), are central events in the initiation of the cutaneous immune response. LC migration from skin to draining lymph nodes is regarded as an indispensable step for the early phase of antigen-specific sensitization. Among the several agents which influence the ability of LC to migrate, previous studies have revealed that matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and protein kinase C (PKC) contribute to promoting LC migration.

Protective effect of a vegetable extract from Lupinus albus (LU 105) on human gingival elastic fibers degradation by human leukocyte elastase.

The aim of this study was to determine if a vegetable extract from seeds of Lupinus albus (LU 105) has the capacity to inhibit human leukocyte elastase and/or protect gingival elastic fibers against proteolytic degradation. LU105 was extracted from seeds of L albus and is freely soluble in water. In this study the ex-vivo elastolytic activity of human leukocyte elastase and the potential inhibitory effect of LU 105 were determined using human gingival cryostat tissue sections and computerized morphometric analysis.

Avocado/soybean unsaponifiables increase aggrecan synthesis and reduce catabolic and proinflammatory mediator production by human osteoarthritic chondrocytes.

Objective: To investigate the effects of avocado (A)/soybean (S) unsaponifiables on the metabolism of human osteoarthritic (OA) chondrocytes cultured in alginate beads over 12 days.

Methods: Enzymatically isolated OA chondrocytes were cultured in alginate beads in a well defined culture medium for 12 days, in the presence or not of 10-10 M interleukin 1beta (IL-1beta). DNA content was measured using a fluorometric method.

Effects of a vegetable extract from Lupinus albus (LU105) on the production of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP1, MMP2, MMP9) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP1, TIMP2) by human gingival fibroblasts in culture.

This study examined the effects of a vegetable extract from Lupinus albus (LU105) on MMPs and TIMPs secreted by human gingival fibroblasts in culture. LU105 was extracted from seeds of L. albus and is freely soluble in water.

Effect of avocado and soybean unsaponifiables on gelatinase A (MMP-2), stromelysin 1 (MMP-3), and tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP- 1 and TIMP-2) secretion by human fibroblasts in culture.

Background: In inflamed periodontal tissues, gingival fibroblasts are able to express matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their natural inhibitors, tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (TIMPs). They can also respond to growth factors and cytokines. In this study, the in vitro effects of avocado and soybean unsaponifiable residues (ASU), their fractions (avocado unsaponifiable [ASF] or soy unsaponifiable [SSF]) on MMP-2 and MMP-3, and the activity and secretion of their inhibitors TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 were investigated using cultured human gingival fibroblasts.

1,5-Benzodiazepine tricyclic derivatives exerting anti-inflammatory effects in mice by inhibiting interleukin-6 and prostaglandinE(2)production.

The 1,4- and the 1,5-benzodiazepines (BDZ) are commonly used as anxiolytic and anticonvulsive drugs. It has been suggested that they influence, particularly through stimulation of peripheral BDZ receptors, some immune cell properties such as pro-inflammatory cytokine production. The availability of a new class of [1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a][1,5]benzodiazepine derivatives (compounds IV), endowed with anti-inflammatory and/or analgesic properties but no anti-pentylenetetrazole activity, prompted us to investigate in more detail the anti-inflammatory properties of three selected compounds IV (N,N-dimethyl-1-phenyl-4H-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a][1,5]benz- odiazepin-5-amine; N,N-dibutyl-4H-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a][1,5]benzodiazepin-5-amine; 1-methyl-N,N-dimethyl-4H-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a][1,5]benzodiazepin-5-amine) and one structurally related compound (1-phenyl-4H-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a][1,5]benzodiazepin-5(6H)-one).