Cutaneous neurogenic inflammation mediated by TRPV1-NGF-TRKA pathway activation in rosacea is exacerbated by the presence of Demodex mites.

Background: Rosacea is a common chronic inflammatory skin condition that is often refractory to treatment, with frequent relapses. Alterations in the skin immunological response and Demodex mite infestation are the primary aetiologic factors targeted for treatment. Transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1 (TRPV1) is a nociceptive cation channel that plays a role in cutaneous neurogenic pain and can be activated by various rosacea triggers.

(-)-Gallocatechin gallate from green tea rescues cognitive impairment through restoring hippocampal silent synapses in post-menopausal depression.

Post-menopausal depression (PMD) is a common psychological disorder accompanied by a cognitive deficit, which is caused by a series of uncontrolled emotional disruptions by strong environmental stressors during menopause. To overcome PMD-induced cognitive deficit, Green tea has been suggested as a dietary supplement because of its ameliorating effect on cognitive dysfunction induced by normal aging or neurodegenerative syndromes; however, its clinical use to improve PMD-accompanied cognitive deficit is still limited due to the controversy for the active ingredients and ambiguous mechanism of its action. Here, we developed modified high-temperature-processed green tea extract (HTP-GTE), which showed lower neuronal toxicity than the conventional green tea extract (GTE).

Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Micelle Properties and Behaviors of Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate Penetrating Ceramide and Phospholipid Bilayers.

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations with the umbrella sampling (US) method were used to investigate the properties of micelles formed by sodium lauryl ether sulfate with two ether groups (SLE2S) and behaviors of corresponding surfactants transferring from micelles to ceramide and DMPC bilayer surfaces. Average micelle radii based on the Einstein-Smoluchowski and Stokes-Einstein relations showed excellent agreement with those measured by dynamic light scattering, while those obtained by evaluating the gyration radius or calculating the distance between the micelle sulfur atoms and center of mass overestimate the radii. As an SLE2S micelle was pulled down to the ceramide bilayer surface in a 400 ns constant-force steered MD (cf-SMD) simulation, the micelle was partially deformed on the bilayer surface, and several SLE2S surfactants easily were partitioned from the micelle into the ceramide bilayer.

Amelioration of Alcohol Induced Gastric Ulcers Through the Administration of APSulloc 331261 Isolated From Green Tea.

Gastric inflammation is an indication of gastric ulcers and possible other underlying gastric malignancies. Epidemiological studies have revealed that several Asian countries, including South Korea, suffer from a high incidence of gastric diseases derived from high levels of stress, alcoholic consumption, pyloric infection and usage of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Clinical treatments of gastric ulcers are generally limited to proton pump inhibitors that neutralize the stomach acid, and the application of antibiotics for eradication, both of which are known to have a negative effect on the gut microbiota.

Effective Suppression of Oxidative Stress on Living Cells in Hydrogel Particles Containing a Physically Immobilized WS Radical Scavenger.

We report a tungsten disulfide (WS) nanosheet-immobilized hydrogel system that can inhibit oxidative stress on living cells. First, we fabricated a highly stable suspension of WS nanosheets as a radical scavenger by enveloping them with the amphiphilic poly(ε-caprolactone)- b-poly(ethylene oxide) copolymer (PCL- b-PEO) during in situ liquid exfoliation in aqueous medium. After the PCL- b-PEO-enveloped WS nanosheets were embedded in three types of hydrogel systems, including carrageenan gum/locust bean gum bulk hydrogels, physically cross-linked alginate microparticles, and covalently cross-linked PEG hydrogel microparticles, they retained their characteristic optical properties.

Adjustable Intermolecular Interactions Allowing 2D Transition Metal Dichalcogenides with Prolonged Scavenging Activity for Reactive Oxygen Species.

There is an increasing demand for control over the dimensions and functions of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) in aqueous solution toward biological and medical applications. Herein, an approach for the exfoliation and functionalization of TMDs in water via modulation of the hydrophobic interaction between poly(ε-caprolactone)-b-poly(ethylene glycol) (PCL-b-PEG) and the basal planes of TMDs is reported. Decreasing the hydrophobic PCL length of PCL-b-PEG from 5000 g mol (PCL ) to 460 g mol (PCL ) significantly increases the exfoliation efficiency of TMD nanosheets because the polymer-TMD hydrophobic interaction becomes dominant over the polymer-polymer interaction.

A method of evaluating facial pores using optical 2D images and analysis of age-dependent changes in facial pores in Koreans.

Background: Enlarged facial pores and changes in pore area are of concern for cosmetic reasons. To evaluate pores, measuring tools based on 3D methodology are used. Yet, these methods are limited by their measuring ranges.

Complete Genome Sequence of Dolsongi-HT1, a Green Tea Isolate with Keratinolytic Activity.

The complete genome sequence of Dolsongi-HT1 is reported here. Dolsongi-HT1, having keratinolytic activity, was isolated from green tea leaves in the Dolsongi tea garden in Jeju, South Korea. The strain Dolsongi-HT1 has 28 candidate protease genes, which may be utilized in further studies and industrial applications of keratinase.

Smart Cellulose Nanofluids Produced by Tunable Hydrophobic Association of Polymer-Grafted Cellulose Nanocrystals.

Cellulose fibrils, unique plant-derived semicrystalline nanomaterials with exceptional mechanical properties, have significant potential for rheology modification of complex fluids due to their ability to form a physically associated semiflexible fibrillary network. Here, we report new associative cellulose nanocrystals (ACNCs) with stress-responsive rheological behaviors in an aqueous solution. The surface-mediated living radical polymerization was employed to graft poly(stearyl methacrylate-co-2-methacryloxyethyl phosphorylcholine) brushes onto the nanofibrils, and then 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl radical (TEMPO)-mediated oxidation was conducted to produce nanoscale ACNCs in the aqueous solution.

Correction: Double-emulsion drops with ultra-thin shells for capsule templates.

Correction for 'Double-emulsion drops with ultra-thin shells for capsule templates' by Shin-Hyun Kim et al., Lab Chip, 2011, 11, 3162-3166.

Multi-cellular natural killer (NK) cell clusters enhance NK cell activation through localizing IL-2 within the cluster.

Multi-cellular cluster formation of natural killer (NK) cells occurs during in vivo priming and potentiates their activation to IL-2. However, the precise mechanism underlying this synergy within NK cell clusters remains unclear. We employed lymphocyte-laden microwell technologies to modulate contact-mediated multi-cellular interactions among activating NK cells and to quantitatively assess the molecular events occurring in multi-cellular clusters of NK cells.

Comparison of skin properties in individuals living in cities at two different altitudes: an investigation of the environmental effect on skin.

Background: Skin properties vary depending on exogenous factors. Various studies have been used for comparing skin properties between cities for studying environment influence on skin properties. However, for comparison of skin properties between cities, various environmental factors have to be considered.

Synthesis of Monodisperse Bi-Compartmentalized Amphiphilic Janus Microparticles for Tailored Assembly at the Oil-Water Interface.

Janus particles endowed with controlled anisotropies represent promising building blocks and assembly materials because of their asymmetric functionalities. Herein, we show that using the seeded monomer swelling and polymerization technique allows us to obtain bi-compartmentalized Janus microparticles that are generated depending on the phase miscibility of the poly (alkyl acrylate) chains against the polystyrene seed, thus minimizing the interfacial free energy. When tetradecyl acrylate is used, complete compartmentalization into two distinct bulbs can be achieved, while tuning the relative dimension ratio of compartmented bulb against the whole particle.

Histone H3K27 Demethylase JMJD3 in Cooperation with NF-κB Regulates Keratinocyte Wound Healing.

Histone H3K27me3 demethylase JMJD3 has been shown to be involved in keratinocyte differentiation and wound healing. However, the exact molecular mechanism underlying JMJD3-mediated keratinocyte wound healing has not been fully elucidated. In this study, we report on the biological function of JMJD3 in keratinocyte wound healing using in vitro cell and in vivo animal models.

Biocompatibility Evaluation of Dental Luting Cements Using Cytokine Released from Human Oral Fibroblasts and Keratinocytes.

Dental luting cements are commonly used in dentistry for cementation of prosthetic restoration. Many previous studies focused on the measurement of the cell viability as the method of cytotoxicity evaluation during biocompatibility study for the material. In this study, the biocompatibility of various dental luting cements were evaluated using the new method of cytokine release measurement in order to better simulate inflammatory reactions in animal or clinical model using two different oral cells; immortalized human gingival fibroblast and immortalized human oral keratinocytes.

Nanoparticle imaging. 3D structure of individual nanocrystals in solution by electron microscopy.

Knowledge about the synthesis, growth mechanisms, and physical properties of colloidal nanoparticles has been limited by technical impediments. We introduce a method for determining three-dimensional (3D) structures of individual nanoparticles in solution. We combine a graphene liquid cell, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, a direct electron detector, and an algorithm for single-particle 3D reconstruction originally developed for analysis of biological molecules.

Lignans from the root of Paeonia lactiflora and their anti-β-amyloid aggregation activities.

Four new neolignans (1-4), together with two known lignans (5 and 6), were isolated from the root of Paeonia lactiflora. Compounds 1 and 2 were two racemates and were separated by chiral high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to give all of the four stereoisomeric forms sharing a common planar structure. Compounds 3 and 4 were two neolignan glycoside diastereomers but interestingly appeared to be enantiomers: they had the extremely similar (1)H and (13)C NMR spectra and had to be solved only by chiral HPLC.

A quantitative evaluation method using processed optical images and analysis of age-dependent changes on nasolabial lines.

Background/purpose: Nasolabial lines (NL) and wrinkles of the face are major features of aging. Wrinkles have been studied widely by morphological methods using 3-dimensional (3D) photographic analysis instrument, but NL were evaluated by visual scoring usually. To evaluate NL quantitatively, another method is needed.

Quantitative analysis of ligand effects on bioefficacy of nanoemulsion encapsulating depigmenting active.

Efficient skin delivery of active molecules is the main challenge to overcome in order to achieve significant therapeutic efficiency of cosmetics or dermo-pharmaceutical products. Nanocarriers such as nanoemulsions have been envisaged to overcome main challenges of active solubilization, protection and transport to their site of biological action. Nonetheless, their skin permeation is still limited and a new approach is required to significantly improve bioavailability.

Microfluidic fabrication and permeation behaviors of uniform zwitterionic hydrogel microparticles and shells.

This study introduces a flexible and straightforward method for generating monodisperse complex hydrogel microparticles. For this, a water-in-oil emulsion was generated in a microcapillary device and then the emulsion drops were photo-polymerized to transfer them to hydrogel particles. The hydrogel microparticles were made of poly (2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine) that has an enhanced biocompatibility due to the phosphatidyl choline moiety in the backbone.

Nanoemulsification of pseudo-ceramide by molecular association with mannosylerythritol lipid.

Ceramide molecules in water-based solutions readily attract each other to form molecular crystals, which seriously hampers to diversify their formulations. This paper describes a facile method that allows fabrication of stable ceramide emulsions through an effective molecular association with a lipid having an asymmetric molecular geometry. The lipid considered in this study is mannosylerythritol lipid (MEL).

Polymer-hybridized liposomes of poly(amino acid) derivatives as transepidermal carriers.

This work describes the use of a novel transepidermal drug carrier system composed of phospholipids and amphiphilc poly(amino acid)s. We polymerized poly(asparagine) grafted with octadecylamine (PAsn-g-C18), poly(aspartic acid) grafted with octadecylamine (PAsp-g-C18), and poly(aspartic acid) grafted with phytosphingosine (PAsp-g-PHS). We then prepared polymer hybridized liposomes (PHL) anchored with alkyl grafted poly(amino acid)s and encapsulated hydrolyzed ginseng saponins (HGS).

Biofilm-forming ability of Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from human skin.

Background: Staphylococcus aureus produces various toxins and enzymes, and its presence can exacerbate skin conditions. Previous studies have shown that S. aureus is involved in skin deterioration, even in normal tissue.

Age-related changes in skin bio-mechanical properties: the neck skin compared with the cheek and forearm skin in Korean females.

Background: There are many reports on regional variations in skin bio-mechanical properties, but few studies have been performed on the neck. The neck is sun-exposed and continues to move so the neck skin can be more apt to aging.

Methods: The skin properties of the neck, cheek, and ventral forearm of 58 Korean female volunteers in good health (25-64 years old, 42.

Liver X receptor activation inhibits melanogenesis through the acceleration of ERK-mediated MITF degradation.

Liver X receptors (LXRs) are nuclear receptors that act as ligand-activated transcription factors regulating lipid metabolism and inflammation. In the skin, activation of LXRs stimulates differentiation of keratinocytes and augments lipid synthesis in sebocytes. However, the function of LXRs in melanocytes remains largely unknown.